Upon leaving the Duke’s bedroom, Lea sighed deeply.

‘Bring back sanjoin?’

Sanjoin was a fruit that grew in the East or warm areas in the South.

Such a thing existing in the Heidern domain in the West…

Since her encounter with the Duke, Lea had been nursing a throbbing headache.

Initially, it was strange that the Duke ran out of sanjoin tea to drink. With deep suspicion rooted in her mind, Lea sought the housekeeper.

“Sanjoin? He has it regularly, it should be around. Check the storeroom.”

With a deep voice implying no room for further questions due to her busyness, the housekeeper responded. Eventually, Lea ended up at the storeroom.

Calling it the Duke’s storeroom was embarrassing, considering how empty it was. It likely lay with the medicinal ingredients, as it was classified as a herb.

‘Is it here?’

Before long, Lea found the medicinal ingredients displayed on the furthest shelves in the storeroom. As she skimmed the shelves, her eyes widened in surprise.

“There’s quite a bit of ingredient here than I thought.”

She thought the storeroom of the dispensary was all there was, but useful herbs were gathered in this storeroom.

It seemed as if bulk purchases were made and then transferred in small quantities to the dispensary storeroom.

Inspecting the herbs, she stumbled upon a pile of red seeds set aside.

“Look! They’re here.”

The sight of the welldried pile of sanjoin seeds brought about a sudden feeling of disappointment.

Of course, the quantity wasn’t substantial.

If taken frequently, it would suffice for about a couple of months as tea. It wasn’t as though she had to procure it immediately for tonight.

“Of course…”

The Duke, who was smirking annoyingly throughout the conversation. It was clear that he knew the sanjoin was there.

Lea held her forehead, lost in thought.

Since she confirmed the existence of sanjoin through the housekeeper, this information would have reached the Duke.

She would have procured it from the local medicine dealer in town if it wasn’t for the market day a few days ago.

‘It’s not easy to buy either.’

It would take time to import it from other regions.

‘No.’

In the first place, the Duke didn’t ask her to fetch the sanjoin. Tension seeped deep into her spine, and Lea clenched the hem of her dress tightly.

‘He’s watching to see how I will act.’

The Duke’s true nature, hidden beneath a deep hue of a fatal disease. He was testing if she was fit to be beneath him.

There is no correct answer to this, anyway. Lea swallowed her bitter smile.

“Well, if it’s a test, I’ll willingly accept.”

This was a matter of life and death for her. Besides, she couldn’t stop here considering the considerable amount of gold coins at stake.

.

.

.

Late in the evening when twilight descended, Lea headed to the mountain.

Although she knew there would be no sanjoin on the mountain. She thought to at least gather some herbs beneficial for sleeplessness.

But the day she went happened to be market day.

“Why is it suddenly raining like this?”

The rain, which had begun late in the evening, poured heavily as the sun set. The muddy ground soaked in rain slowed her steps.

‘What? The sanjoin has run out?’

Although it was safely stored in the storeroom. Thinking again, it was ridiculous that she chuckled.

“I have no choice but to do as instructed.”

Lea sighed deeply. Before she left the mansion, it was said that there are a few rare herbs growing on the mountain in the Heidern domain.

Among them, what Lea was looking for was Alpharadia. She recalled the Duke mentioning that he had been exposed to poison.

It was wellknown among the maids that the Duke hardly ate. She thought it was to appear frail, but was it because of the poison?

She didn’t know the full situation, but regardless. If she were to mix in Alpharadia and consume it, she would develop resistance to poison for about three months.

‘A detoxifier that lasts for three months.’

As a Duke always exposed to danger, he would definitely appreciate it.

Lea planned to prove her worth by bringing Alpharadia instead of sanjoin, if possible. But then,

“The rain is pouring heavily.”
She had been wandering the mountain for three hours. The thick rain veiling her vision soaked Lea’s clothes through and through.

Could Alpharadia really exist in such mountainous wilds?

“Where on earth is… the herb… Whoa!”

Lea, unaware of the drop due to the obscured visibility, misplaced her step and rolled down the slope.

A groan erupted from Lea’s mouth as she barely caught hold of a large tree.

“Ugh.”

Her whole body felt as though it had been beaten, with aches everywhere. Lea’s vision spun as she barely managed to open her eyes.

She felt as if she would die before she could even earn the Count’s trust. Besides, she doubted that precious herb could be found in such a mountain.

‘Showing sincerity to this extent is enough, isn’t it?’

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.