“Do you have something to say?”

Lea, who had turned to the Duke who had summoned me, asked. But instead of replying, the Duke tossed a book onto the sofa across from him.

‘What’s this?’

Lea picked up the thick humanities book that had been thrown in front of her.

“Read it.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, read the book, aloud.”

What ridiculous thing is he saying? Lea’s eyes shook in bewilderment.

‘People outside are waiting for me, and he wants me to read a book?’

Noisy sounds were still continuing beyond the door.

Lea alternately looked at the bedroom door and the Duke. Surely the Duke must know there were people waiting for him outside.

“There are a lot of characters, and my eyes are tired. You read instead.”

In other words, he wanted her to act as an audiobook because reading was a hassle.

“Are you joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“No.”

Looking into his eyes, Lea knew the Duke was serious. After all, when did this man ever joke with me?

‘He was always serious about tormenting me.’

The more resigned Lea decided to sit on the sofa and open the book. A bookmark was stuck at the end of the book.

“Have you finished reading it?”

Seeing the bookmark, it seemed like he had read it all, so Lea asked.

“No. Read it from the beginning.”

Then was this bookmark left by someone else? Having no choice, Lea started to read the book aloud.

After a while, Lea’s melodic voice filled the room alone, and when she looked up, she saw the Duke had closed his eyes.

The man leaning his head against the sofa.

His long eyelashes facing the ceiling entered Lea’s view. Seeing him apparently asleep, Lea stopped reading.

‘Should I leave quietly?’

The Duke suffered from severe insomnia, so it seemed better to leave him to sleep. Lea surveyed her surroundings with a leisurely gaze.

The Duke’s bedroom, the quietest place in the Heidern mansion, was peaceful, as if it were an inviolable realm.

“……Are you asleep?”

Lea asked softly, but the Duke gave no reply. Lea, sure that the Duke had fallen asleep, rubbed her stiff neck.

“We got a store proposal from Magnolia. Magnolia is a big store, so I’m expecting a good revenue.”

Lea didn’t know why she was telling this story to a sleeping Duke. Just her mouth was moving on its own.

The fact that she could produce and sell nutritional supplements was all thanks to the Duke. It was he who allowed her to manufacture and sell them in his mansion, allowing for personal profit.

‘He can be annoying, but I’m grateful, that’s true.’

Maybe the world looked beautiful because of the contract proposal from Magnolia. Akihia with his eyes closed looked the same as usual, but somehow different.

Today, the gentlelooking Duke made Lea smile softly.

“I’ll repair your mansion when I become rich.”

When Lea lowered her gaze to the book again.

“That’s good.”

A deep, cavernous voice resounded in Lea’s ears.

‘Wasn’t he asleep?’

Halfclosing his eyes as if staring at Lea, the Duke closed his eyes again. Watching him, Lea asked carefully.

“Shall I leave if you’re going to sleep?”

“No, stay here.”

When Lea began reading the book, a faint smile appeared on Akihia’s lips. The tedious story of the book.

Perhaps because the heat from the body was melting away in peace, Lea fell asleep while reading.

.

.

.

Akihia looked at Lea, who had fallen asleep while leaning against the sofa. She was fast asleep, so much so that she wouldn’t notice if he lifted her.

‘A pharmacist who fell asleep in the Duke’s bedroom…….’

And this wasn’t the first time. Akihia, supporting his chin, sat at an angle, watching Lea.
Looking after herself was a challenge, let alone tending to the health of the mansion’s servants. And on top of that, she was developing a cure in the annex every night.

As if her given duties weren’t enough to fill her day, she had decided to take on the business of nutritional supplements as well.

‘Does she have two bodies?’

She knew she had been working less and less sleep recently. Her usually vibrant skin was losing its healthy glow.

Originally, she had planned to let her go after drinking the nutrient solution.

‘I must be insane.’

It seemed ridiculous to have her reading a book as an excuse. Akkia recalled the events of a little while ago and a subtle smile graced her lips.

Lea’s chattering voice, as melodious as ever, was not bad. She had almost fallen into a deep sleep for the first time in a long time.

At some point, she felt at ease. It hadn’t been long since they’d met.

Akkia lightly touched Lea’s hair, which was tickling her face. With a very soft and careful touch.

Until then, she had not known. She did not know with what eyes she was looking down at Lea, who had fallen asleep.

From the chirping of the birds outside the window to the warm sunlight seeping into the room.

It was a peaceful moment she hadn’t felt in a long time.

As time passed, Lea, whose eyelashes were quivering, slowly opened her eyes. And her gaze met with Akkia’s.

“…….”

As if trying to understand the situation, she blinked at Lea and he smiled slowly.