“You look very healthy today as well.”

Heterson, who was taking the pulse, gave a satisfactory result.

“Yeah. I’m usually quite healthy.”

“No. You’re not that exceptionally healthy. You actually have a rather weak constitution.”

“Giving a disease after giving medicine, that’s a first.”

Heterson let out a chuckle, hehe, haha.

…He laughed?

Since our previous meeting, I had been speaking informally to Heterson.

It was thanks to Heterson’s consideration, saying that since we’re in the same boat, and given that I’m the Duchess, it’s fine to speak comfortably.

So I told Heterson that he could treat me more casually too, but.

“No matter how I think about it, Heterson, you just consider me as a friend, right?”

“How could I dare to consider the Duchess as a friend?”

No, but. I think that’s right.

After glaring at Heterson with narrowed eyes, I took out what I had prepared.

It was a small box about the size of a palm.

Heterson, who received the box, asked with shining eyes.

“Oh. Is this the Hosan fruit?”

“Yes. Look over there at the entrance to the yard. I picked it from there. If you’re curious about the tree, take a quick look on your way out.”

“Yes. I will. Wow. I never thought I’d see this in person.”

“Is this fruit really that precious?”

“Well, it’s not exactly rare, at least.”

Heterson examined the fruit from various angles with eyes full of curiosity.

Seeing the eyes of a science student full of inquisitiveness made me feel very reassured.

Somehow, I felt like he would bring a proper solution.

After observing intently, Heterson said he would observe more at home and carefully packed the fruit.

“It’s on your hands, Heterson.”

“Ah. Oh no.”

He sighed and busily wiped his fingertips with a handkerchief.

“Fortunately, it didn’t stain.”

Heterson smiled with satisfaction after confirming his clean fingertips.

Then he took something out of the bag he had brought and handed it to me.

“This is the nutritional supplement I gave you last time.”

“You really brought it?”

“Well, you need evidence to keep your word. And it’s really good for your body, so make sure to take it regularly.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“Ah. It means I’m grateful.”

Having finished our business, we stood up.

“I’ll be going now. I’ll contact you if there are any results.”

“Okay. I’ll contact you too if there’s any progress.”

“Yes. If you succeed in germination, you’ll give me a seedling too, right?”

When I mentioned that I was trying to sprout seeds to plant more Hosan fruit trees, Heterson showed a bit of greed.

“Sure. I will.”

It’s not difficult to share that much when we’re in the same boat anyway.

We finished saying goodbye well like that, but for some reason, Heterson wasn’t leaving right away and was hesitating at the door.

“What is it. Why aren’t you going?”

“Well, you see… Actually.”

“Actually?”

He let out a deep sigh and came back to sit at the tea table.

Wondering what it was about, I sat down again, and he showed a serious expression.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m scared.”

“Scared? Of what?”

To my question, Heterson widened his eyes and let out a lament.

“To be honest, my heart drops every time I come to the Duke’s residence. Don’t you think everyone seems to glare at me strangely?”

…It is a bit like that.

Last time too, they gave sharp glances as if looking at a con artist or a quack.

But since I couldn’t tell the truth, I awkwardly denied it.

“Come on. It must be your imagination. Why would they glare at Heterson?”

“Do you really think so?”

“…Do you really want to hear the truth?”

“No. I’ll just think it’s not true.”

“Right. There must be some misunderstanding. Don’t worry too much about it.”

Despite nodding at my comfort, his expression was still full of worry.

No. Is he really that worried?

At this point, I was starting to suspect if he had ever been dragged away…

“I hope I won’t get caught this time.”

Huh? This is real.

I widened my eyes at this new information and asked again.

“You were caught on your way out?”

“Yes. Last time when I came to give you medicine.”

Ah. That time.

According to Heterson, after giving the medicine and carefully leaving, he was caught by Barhan and practically dragged to Dante.

Well, he went on his own feet, but it was almost at the level of being dragged.

He was so scared that his expression while explaining seemed pitiful.

But why did they take Heterson?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Heterson shrugged and answered.

“They were just worried about Madam’s health condition? At that time, we didn’t know that Madam’s health issue was due to the Hosan fruit. The Duke must have been worried inside too.”

“Hmm. I guess that makes sense.”

It was a plausible story.

The people in our house are a bit excessive in their health concerns.

The problem is that the target is only me.

Since they seem to dislike asking me ‘Are you okay?’, it seems they caught Heterson to check on my health condition.

“So what did you answer then?”

“I just answered honestly. That I don’t know much yet, but I’ll research harder to find out.”

Oh. He answered quite honestly.

“By the way. Even if you get caught on your way out today, could you keep the Hosan fruit a secret?”

“Huh? Why?”

“We agreed to research in secret. Besides, this is supposed to be a surprise gift.”

“The Hosan fruit is a surprise gift?”

“Yes. My husband has quite severe cold hands and feet.”

“Ah. Cold extremities. That’s tough.”

“Yeah. I need to treat him with the Hosan fruit before it gets worse.”

For a moment, I thought I saw a question flash across Heterson’s face like ‘You’re researching the Hosan fruit for such a trivial reason?’, but I deliberately ignored it.

“Anyway, I didn’t call you because I’m sick today. So you probably won’t get caught. Don’t worry. I’m just telling you just in case.”

“I guess you’re right.”

Finally, Heterson stood up again with a much brighter expression.

“As you said, I’ll keep the secret about the fruit. Trust me!”

He didn’t forget to leave a brave promise before leaving the room.

However, not long after leaving the room, Heterson regretted his promise.

You said I wouldn’t get caught!

The situation was similar yet different from last time. Last time, he had sneaked around carefully.

‘Today, I am confident.’

Today, he was confident.

There was nothing to be afraid of since he had legitimately visited under the pretext of nutritional supplements.

Of course, he hadn’t entered illegally last time either. Ahem.

Heterson walked towards the main gate with his chest puffed out, looking grand and dignified.

Since he was leaving anyway, he planned to check the Hosan fruit tree as the Duchess had mentioned.

But before he could even reach the garden.

“The Duke wishes to see you for a moment.”

He was blocked by the head butler.

In a situation that seemed to overlap with the past, Heterson couldn’t help but flutter his eyelashes nervously.

Heterson, who had been obediently dragged, no, called to the office, faced the Duke with his arms neatly folded in front.

Wow! He’s really scary!

Please send me home!

Somehow, his gaze seemed even colder than last time.

Is this how a rabbit feels when placed in front of a beast? I should never eat rabbit meat again.

“So, did you deliver the nutritional supplements well?”

“Yes! Of course. I delivered them well!”

“But it seems to have taken quite a long time just to give the supplements.”

Gulp.

Heterson swallowed dry saliva at the sharp question.

Unlike his throat that was dry and cracking, his palms were damp with sweat.

Save me, Madam.

I’ve been caught.

“I, I, I did a simple examination.”

“Examination?”

Dante’s expression froze coldly.

“So how is her condition?”

“She’s veeeery healthy.”

“Ah. I see.”

What’s this? Why does his expression seem to be getting more ferocious?

“So, is there any progress on the issue you mentioned before?”

Heterson pondered for a moment.

What the Duke was talking about must be the ‘strange and unknown health issue’ that the Duchess had experienced before.

If asked if there was progress, there was. He had found out that the cause was from eating the Hosan fruit incorrectly.

However, to tell the truth about this…

He felt conflicted about the promise he had made so firmly before leaving.

…Should I just tell him, promise or not?

Don’t you need to have intact limbs to keep promises well?

If I say I felt a threat to my life, wouldn’t the Duchess just accept it?

But in the end, he decided to keep his loyalty.

Wasn’t she the only one who believed and supported him when everyone else thought he was a quack?

Thinking of the gratitude he felt then…

“I, I have nothing to report. I, really. It’s regr-, no. It’s unfortunate. I’m sorry.”

He did his best to spit out a lie. But unfortunately, he had no talent for lying.

“You’re speaking falsely.”

“How did you…!”

Gulp.

Heterson, who had reacted in surprise without realizing it, shut his mouth tightly.

Good heavens. Please send me home.