He couldn’t control his pounding heart when he saw a woman completely opposite to Siena, a woman he once wished would disappear from this world.

Even to the extent of pretending to be sick to beg for her to stay by his side.

To the point of becoming an idiot who left more kisses on the palm where her scent lingered.

And… he didn’t mind using magic in a hurry, hoping for the safety of the Kitten Duchy where Elizabeth was.

The intense emotions spread like vines, and he couldn’t control his heart.
“Darn it, it seems like the others feel the same way.”

As Rus, wrapped tightly in a cocoon-like blanket, buried his face in the pillow, grinding his teeth with jealousy, a knocking sound echoed through the room.

“Lord Rus, I am Lena, Lady Kitten’s exclusive maid. I have brought cold medicine at the Duke’s command.”

When it comes to cold medicine, it usually refers to a liquid resembling a toxic concoction made of unpleasant odors and colors. Rus usually dealt with such remedies by ignoring them altogether and drinking my specially made recovery potion. However, today was different.

Walking over with the tightly wrapped blanket, Rus opened the door slightly and extended his hand.

“…Give it here. I’ll take it.”

“Ah, here it is!”

Lena handed him a slender cup.

‘…Ugh.’

As expected, the cold medicine, which resembled poison in both its foul-smelling mop water and the unpleasant sewer odor, made his stomach churn. The color was also unbelievably murky. He wondered if drinking it would lead to death.

Seeing Rus react in horror, Lena enthusiastically explained.

“T-This is a cold medicine made from the special recipe of the Duke’s personal physician! Lady Kitten also took it and quickly recovered. It should work well for a cold too. Really!”

“…Alright.”

He didn’t doubt the effectiveness of the medicine. If it was sent by Elizabeth Kitten, he would drink it even if it were a genuine poison.

In front of Lena, Rus quickly downed the bitter cold medicine in one go.

Gulp, gulp.

It tasted horrific enough to induce vomiting, but since it was sent by Elizabeth, he deemed it drinkable.

“Ugh, all at once…!”

Lena, who had been watching, was alarmed and hurriedly took out sweet candies from her pocket.

They were sour and sweet candies made from solidified honey and citron juice.

“Please have this quickly! It must be really bitter…”

Offering the candy, Lena was met with an outright refusal from Rus.

“I’m… fine. It’s drinkable.”

‘As if that could be true.’

Lena, having experienced the taste of that toxic-like cold medicine when she was young, knew well how horrible it was. Even if a witch made it, it boasted a taste so dreadful that one might need to eat something sweet immediately to soothe their palate. Lena couldn’t understand why someone would insist on the bitterness when they could have something sweet right away.

‘Maybe…?’

The story of Rus Krichevren, who devoted himself strangely to Elizabeth Kitten, the next successor of the Kitten Duchy, had spread even within the mansion.

As Rus, designated as the next heir to the mansion, fervently supported Elizabeth’s efforts to eradicate zombies, whispers about him were spreading subtly among the mansion’s servants.

〈That handsome mage, does he seem to have favor from our Duke?〉

〈Huh? But didn’t they hate each other so much that they could be sworn enemies in the past?〉
〈Why. There are also conventional novels where the relationship evolves from hatred to love. How interesting would that be? I think others might be sending similar glances to our Duke!〉

〈Oh, really?〉

Giggle. As there were times when the maids chattered, and Lena had joined in the conversation, she decided to test the waters of this off-topic matter.

Chuckle.

“Um, Mr. Wizard. These candies were also given by the Duke for you to share since he will be having the medicine… Um…”

“Give them here.”

Before Lena could finish her sentence, Rus snatched the lemon-colored candy and popped it into his mouth.

Crunch. Crunch. The sound of the candy breaking was loud.

Since Rus, who avoided everyone except Elizabeth and his zombie extermination companions, was wary, there were limits to gauging reactions through the narrow opening of the slightly ajar door. However, the sound that came through was clear enough to be heard.

‘This mage seems to like our young lady!’

Lena was surprised and delighted as if she had discovered an unexpected fact.

While it was true that Elizabeth instructed Rus to give him the cold medicine, she hadn’t mentioned anything about the candy. She simply told him to take anything sweet since the Duke’s personal physician would use it.

“…Tell the Duke that I enjoyed the candies.”

“Yes, understood!”

Seeing Lena hop along the corridor like a bunny, Rus could only wonder.

“…What’s going on?”

Unaware that his unrequited love had been exposed, Rus held onto both hands tightly and drifted off to sleep again.