Before returning to the capital. And after returning. He had avoided her without proper explanation, and he thought she had every reason to feel resentment. If she were someone else, she might have been disappointed and left a long time ago.

So, he was grateful to Leia, but… he couldn’t accept Leia, swayed by emotions like this.

“We need to do a final check on the upcoming cabinet meeting.”

Leaving those words behind, Akkia left the study without hesitation.

“Ah… Yes!”

Rikel, looking awkwardly between Leia and the Duke, followed him.

Thump.

Leia, who was quietly standing there as if trying to understand the situation, murmured softly.

“Is he always like this?”

At first, it was true that Akkia, who rejected her, hurt her feelings. However, she had intended to approach him slowly without knowing why he acted like this.

‘He can ignore people like this.’

Now, Leia was confident. He still seemed like a pharmacist who trembled at his words. “Damn.”

‘Let’s see who wins, the Duke or me.’

Even though she had been rejected at the door for a week, she had no intention of stopping by for a while.

Now she wouldn’t seek him out first.

Even if he came to the Bellarus Duke’s mansion to find her, she wouldn’t meet him. She promised herself that if he came looking for her, she wouldn’t meet him. After returning to the palace, she had left without properly explaining herself.

After that, Leia really didn’t look for Akkia.

However, Akkia, who naturally thought Leia would visit the mansion, brought desserts when returning from the palace, presumably for Leia.

“Why dessert? Especially when he doesn’t like sweet things.”

Rikel accepted the dessert box Akkia handed her and asked in surprise.

“I saw it on the way today, so I bought it. Besides, Leia didn’t come today…”

Akkia, unbuttoning his cuffs, turned towards Rikel. He hadn’t seen Leia for the past few days.

“She didn’t come?”

“Yes. It seems she won’t come now. By the way, there’s quite a lot of dessert.”

Rikel looked puzzled as she turned the hefty basket around. Akkia’s lips twitched at the mention that Leia didn’t come.

‘Won’t she come from now on?’
Certainly, even though it was the answer he desired, Akkia’s mood plummeted in an instant. Afraid that his emotions might be exposed to Rikel, Akkia turned away.

“Right now, I will prepare tea in the car for you.”

“Enough.”

Without looking back, Akkia raised his hand.

“What? Did you bring the dessert because you wanted to eat it…?”

“I said enough, right? Go out.”

Akkia, speaking in a suppressed tone, ushered Rikel out of the bedroom. Then, he closed the door, preventing any further exchange.

‘Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?’

Rikel, scratching her head, turned away from the Duke, who seemed more sensitive for some reason.

Akkia was on his way to the study, where Ilay was waiting. The rumors circulating in the palace echoed in his ears like tinnitus.

“They say the Bellarus Duke’s son has excellent business skills.”

“Oh, the beauty business? Even without that, our household is in an uproar, wanting that potion. They say it’s very effective.”

“Indeed, but, well… it’s just the ladies’ talk. By the way, have you heard about that?”

Not only the maids but even the commoners were aware of Leia. She was known to be somewhat peculiar since her time at the Heidern Mansion.

Entering the Bellarus Duke’s family, Akkia hadn’t known Leia would create and sell something.

“Lately, the Bellarus Duke’s son is receiving numerous marriage proposals. They say he’s at a marriageable age.”

“Right. Moreover, he’s the sole heir of the venerable Bellarus family. Do you have any thoughts on that?”

“Our family has already sent a marriage proposal. Hahaha.”

Akkia narrowed his eyes as if recalling something he didn’t want to remember. Rumors had reached him about Leia openly receiving a marriage proposal at a party she attended.

The beauty of the Bellarus Duke’s son was said to be extraordinary, and suitors lined up.

In the midst of the news that Leia had become the flower of high society, Akkia felt a burning sensation within.

‘Crazy.’

Arriving at the alchemy laboratory, Akkia followed the guide inside. The Emperor, sitting in the center, smiled upon seeing Akkia.

“You’re here, Akkia.”

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“Oh, come on. Let’s dispense with such formalities between us.”

As Akkia took his seat, he glanced at Ilay with sharp eyes. He had called him to the palace without a proper reason, even though Ilay was busy with the development of the Belleritzkal.

There was definitely something fishy. It was the moment he was looking at Ilay, trying to figure out what was going on inside him.

“We are going to have a party for my birthday, and, of course, you’ll attend, right?”

“If I’m not urgently needed in the capital, I will attend.”

Ilay’s birthday was approaching. Akkia was planning not to attend the party by using the pretext of visiting Belleritzkal.

“Haha. That’s good. And there’s one more thing.”

Akkia picked up a teacup and, in response to Ilay’s voice, raised his head.

“I’m thinking of inviting the Bellarus Duke’s son. Is that okay with you, Akkia?”

“…….”

“But it should be fine, right, Akkia?”

Akkia clenched his hand around the teacup until it turned pale. Ilay was provoking him.

If he had simply asked him to come to the party, Akkia would have refused to attend, not wanting to meet Leia. It was clear that this was a cunning plan to lure him using Leia as bait.

“Whatever Young Master decides is none of my concern. Please proceed as Your Majesty wishes.”

Akkia spoke calmly, though his heart was boiling. When he was about to release his grip on the cup, Ilay’s meaningful words continued.

“By the way, Akkia, I sent a marriage proposal to the Bellarus Duke’s daughter.”

“……”

“I think she should have arrived by now.”

As Ilay’s significant words followed, Akkia’s forehead deeply furrowed. Facing him, Ilay was smiling a somewhat ominous smile, as if plotting something when making such a daring move.

“I sent a marriage proposal to the Bellarus family.”