The longawaited peaceful morning at the mansion was shattered by a single letter.

“Come to the capital.”

Akia scoffed and tossed the letter stamped with the royal seal. He had been reluctant since he heard that a royal courier had arrived, and his intuition had been correct.

“What nonsense.”

“Still, shouldn’t you go to the capital? The Emperor is your cousin, after all.”

At that, Akia glared sharply at Lea. Even her brief mention of the Emperor seemed to change the atmosphere around him.

‘Surely, this has something to do with the Emperor.’

Rumors in the capital suggested that the Emperor had a particular fondness for the Count.

However, what Lea had personally seen and experienced here suggested the complete opposite. Observing the Count’s reaction, her vague suspicions solidified.

‘It must have something to do with the throne.’

Akia, the former crown prince, had not become Emperor due to his frailty. Instead, his cousin Illei had taken the throne.

From his perspective, the legitimately born Akia would be an inconvenience. Truth be told, the Count was the last person the Emperor would want alive.

‘Hmm. I don’t know.’

Issues about throne disputes and power were none of his concern. Yet, somehow, he had ended up on the same boat with the Count.

His life as an apothecary had become complicated since he discovered the Count’s inner workings. Lea had only intended to make an antidote for him and then quietly leave the mansion.

She sighed inwardly.

Days after being chased away from Bayern, news arrived that he had died on the way to the capital. Soon after, there was a massive reshuffling of personnel at the mansion.

The staff was reorganized with people connected to Magnolia, led by Rickel, and the housekeeper’s allies were all driven out.

‘Of course, Jane was also driven out.’

Initially, she should have paid for her sins with her life, but in the end, she was officially pardoned for her cooperation.

‘It was also for her sick younger brother…’

Although it was a wrongful act, it was bittersweet to think that she had done it for her ailing sibling. Thankfully, the Count had agreed to support the treatment for Jane’s younger brother.

It was not easy to forgive someone who had tried to kill him. The more Lea got to know the Count, the more her evaluation of him changed.

‘He seems like a decent person.’

Of course, considering how he had ridiculed her in front of Rickel a few days ago, he was also mischievous. Lea was lost in these thoughts when she was interrupted.

“Is the antidote coming along well? It’s been almost two months and no news.”

“……Huh?”

Startled out of her thoughts, Lea was surprised by the sudden question about the antidote.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all!”

Akia looked at her skeptically. She had been agonizing over that very antidote recently.

“What is the current progress?”

“Uh, it’s almost in the final stage. Just wait a little longer.”

“Don’t forget the promised deadline is near.”

Avoiding the Count’s intimidating gaze, Lea found him persistently watching her until he finally turned and left the room.

The door closed, and upon confirming the Count had left, Lea exhaled the breath she had been holding.

“What should I do?”

The antidote was actually already completed. She had left only the most crucial final step.

“I need to run clinical trials but…”

Another deep concern washed over Lea.

‘Clinical trials are fine. But who would be the test subject?’

No one would willingly volunteer to try an unknown drug with unknown risks.

Moreover, this new drug was from an apothecary who had been in the position for less than a year.
“Who would agree to participate in this experiment? I wouldn’t even if I were them.”

If I tell the Count about this, he would dismiss the need for a trial and try to take the antidote right away.

The Count, who was willing to consume the medicated food Jane had prepared based on his trust in Alphardia, came to mind.

“The Count has no reservations about sacrificing his own body.”

He was someone who didn’t know how to take care of himself. So, I resolved not to talk about the antidote until its safety was confirmed.

“Then the answer is clear.”

She let out a deep sigh. From the beginning, there was only one person suitable for this clinical trial.

Lea looked at her face reflected in the window opposite her.

“Is it only me after all?”

Theoretically, nothing was wrong. However, it was impossible to predict what variables would occur when administered to humans.

“But even if there’s a problem, it shouldn’t be lifethreatening.”

Lea reassured herself.

“You’ll be okay! Trust yourself, Lea.”

She stood still for a while. As if she had made a decision, Lea picked up the medicine bottle on the table.

Although her physical condition wasn’t identical to the Count’s, she needed to observe the effects of the antidote under similar conditions.

So, Lea picked up one of the two medicine bottles on the desk.