The Terminally-Ill Duke Clings to Me Every Night (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
Though wrapped in a shawl, Leah hunched her body against the cold wind seeping into her clothes.
Why is it so bitterly cold? Moreover, the intense sunlight glaring at the corner of her eyes had been bothering Leah since earlier.
‘So blinding.’
Blinding? That couldn’t possibly be.
Leah had risen early at dawn to decoct the sanjo-in the Duke had ordered her to prepare.
She distinctly remembered lighting the fire while gazing at the dim pre-dawn sky, then briefly closing her eyes—but something felt off, jolting Leah wide awake.
“Good heavens! Did I fall asleep?”
Overwhelmed by fatigue, she’d only meant to rest for a moment—but apparently, she’d dozed off. Leah sprang up from her seat and hurriedly extinguished the fire beneath the medicine pot.
‘Damn it. I promised to bring his morning tea first thing, yet I overslept!’
He’d instructed her to deliver it in time for breakfast, but seeing the sun already high in the sky made her heart sink.
“Excuse me! Has His Grace perhaps already started breakfast?”
Frantically scanning her surroundings, Leah grabbed a passing maid. If she recalled correctly, this maid worked in the kitchen.
“Yes. Jane should be bringing his meal up by now.”
The maid’s immediate, unwavering reply turned Leah’s face pale.
‘I’m late. Properly, thoroughly late!’
Afraid she’d ruin the decoction if she tried brewing it again, Leah hastily transferred the medicine into a serving bowl. After barely managing to portion out enough for the Duke, she hurried off.
Her mind was foggy and her body utterly drained, yet the thought of the Duke waiting for her sent chills down her spine.
“Cough, cough.”
Leah let out a dry cough. Staying outside all night since dawn must have given her a proper cold.
Moreover, her entire body ached as if every muscle were screaming in protest—likely from climbing the mountain.
I must deliver this quickly and then go to my room to rest a bit. Leah quickened her pace toward the Duke’s bedroom.
[This is the timeline separator]Unlike the flustered Leah, however, the Duke’s face bore a relaxed smile. Leah, who was supposed to bring the sanjo-in, hadn’t appeared.
‘I knew this would happen.’
Just as expected—her words were all talk.
She never truly intended to bring the labor-intensive sanjo-in every morning.
Yet it was strangely perplexing. He’d never imagined breaking a promise would feel so… peaceful.
Had he somehow caught this odd apothecary’s strange behavior? Akia shook his head, dissatisfied with his own inexplicable attitude—
Just then, a knock at the door made Akia’s lips twitch.
‘Surely not.’
He shifted from his seat beside the bed to the sofa. Tapping the table twice as a signal of permission, the closed door swung open.
“Your Grace is already awake? I’ll prepare your meal.”
Akia stiffened, having unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
‘So foolishness really is contagious, it seems.’
Lucky it wasn’t the apothecary. What exactly was so lucky about that?
“I’ll take my leave, then.”
Just as the maid turned to go, seemingly finished with her task, the door burst open with the sound of hurried footsteps.
“I-I’m so sorry!”
Leah rushed in, bowing deeply before Akia. Her cheeks were flushed bright red.
At first, he assumed she was simply flustered from running—but then he noticed her damp, tangled red hair, soaked with cold sweat as if she were in pain.
“I fell asleep while decocting the medicine. I’m terribly sorry for being late. Here—here’s your sanjo-in.”
Leah placed the tray she’d brought down before the Duke. Normally, it took four full hours of careful preparation to produce a single bowl worthy of being served to him.
But because she’d dozed off, the medicine had boiled slightly too long—and with no time left to start over, she’d brought it as-is.
‘It’ll probably taste a bit too bitter…’
Since the herb was naturally quite bitter, she anxiously watched the sanjo-in, worried the Duke might dislike it.
Akia stared blankly at the medicine bowl before him, then picked it up.
It was merely drinking medicine—yet the Duke sipped it with such elegant grace, as if sipping tea. Leah held her breath, watching intently.
‘He’ll definitely find it bitter—maybe even spit it out from how strong it is…’
But the Duke’s reaction was far more subdued than she’d anticipated.
“You may go now.”
“…Yes?”
Whether the medicine suited his taste or not, he drank every drop Leah had prepared without the slightest sign of discomfort.
“I’ll take care of the rest myself. You may leave.”
“Oh—yes! I’m sorry for being late today. I won’t be late tonight, I promise.”
After all, she and the Duke were scheduled to begin developing the antidote together in the annex that very night.
The Duke responded only with a quiet nod, and Leah left the room with a small smile.
– Thud.
Akia stared blankly at the bedroom door Leah had just closed behind her.
When was the last time someone showed him genuine care? Had it really been over ten years?
Ever since his mother died—and soon after, his devoted nursemaid as well.
Yes, he hadn’t felt it even once since then.
Steam curled gently from the teacup, slowly melting the chill in the air.
What exactly was this feeling? It sat uncomfortably in his chest, like a jagged stone protruding from an otherwise smooth floor.
‘Useless thoughts.’
He shook his head almost immediately.
She was only acting this way because his death would inconvenience her. Yet here he was, overthinking it.
Scoffing at his own foolishness, Akia lifted the teacup Leah had left behind and took a sip.
But then—
“Ugh—bitter.”
The medicine was unbearably bitter—so much so he could hardly bring it to his lips. Most likely, she’d brewed it poorly, making the taste this harsh. But why hadn’t he noticed the bitterness earlier?
Irritated for no good reason, Akia set the teacup down sharply.
[This is the timeline separator]That night, Leah pushed through the thick bushes along the garden wall and stepped into the courtyard. The lemony scent of lily-of-the-valley tickled her nose.
“Phew.”
Remembering the Duke’s curt demeanor in his bedroom, Leah grew tense at the thought of being alone with him in the annex.
As she entered the inner courtyard, she saw the annex door open in the distance.
‘He must have arrived first.’
Peeking her head through the doorway, she spotted the Duke seated at the table.
“Your Grace, it’s Leah. May I come in?”
As if granting permission, he stopped tapping his fingers against the tabletop. Once the door closed, the Duke—resting his chin in his hand—fixed her with a cool gaze.
Inside the pitch-black room, a single candle flickered faintly, casting just enough light to mark his place.
His crimson eyes, reflecting the moonlight brighter than the candle itself, glowed red.
‘Those eyes… I still can’t get used to them.’
Despite his frail appearance, those eyes alone held the fierce intensity of a predator. When would she ever grow accustomed to that gaze?
Leah shook her head softly and stepped closer. But the Duke merely leaned crookedly against his chair, watching her silently.
‘What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?’
She checked the time just in case—but she wasn’t late for their appointment.
In fact, she’d arrived a full thirty minutes early, yet the Duke’s expression as he looked at her seemed unusually serious.
Worried, Leah spoke carefully.
“I caught a chill from yesterday’s rain, so I’ve been feeling unwell. From now on, I won’t be late again, and I’ll make sure the medicine is properly prepared starting tomorrow.”
She’d let the morning incident slide, but upon reflection, perhaps he was angry about her tardiness—so she offered an unnecessary excuse.
At Leah’s timid explanation, the Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze then fell upon the bag she’d brought—unusual for her.
“What’s in that bag?”
“I brought it to examine you as well. It’s been half a month, so I need to check on the progression of your side effects.”
She’d expected him to scold her silently for being late—but contrary to her expectations, the Duke simply asked about her bag without comment.
Relieved, Leah carefully began unpacking her bag.
“Cough, cough. Ahem.”
Still unwell, Leah kept suppressing her persistent cough. Unfortunately, it had only grown worse since arriving at the annex, leaving her flustered.
She couldn’t afford to pass her cold to the Duke. Glancing cautiously at him, she asked,
“May I begin, then?”
The Duke, who had been staring blankly at her medical tools, clicked his tongue impatiently.
“Do as you please.”
‘Since when did he agree to an examination so willingly?’
Normally, she had to practically wrestle him into it. Perhaps the herbs she’d gathered yesterday had eased his suspicion toward her somewhat.
It was a rewarding moment for all her hard work in the mountains. Unbeknownst to herself, Leah was already beaming.
Watching her, the Duke finally spoke.
“What’s got you in such a good mood? Look at the state you’re in.”
“Oh—the scratches? I’m fine.”
Following his gaze, she saw her arms covered in fresh cuts—wounds from falling while searching for alpharadia.
“Alpharadia is an herb that glows in the rain, you know. I could only find it because it rained.”
The process had been tough, but the outcome was worth it. Besides, hadn’t the Duke started showing her some interest thanks to this herb?
‘Although I’m not sure if it’s positive interest…’
“It won’t benefit you at all. Your already plain face is now even more of a mess.”
Plain face? Leah bit back a surge of anger, forcing it deep down.
‘Would it kill you to say it nicely?’
“This is perfectly reasonable! Because of it, Your Grace has started eating again, and it’s eased my worries.”
“…”
“And I am Your Grace’s person, after all.”
His patron—soon to reward her with five gold coins.
Thinking of those gleaming coins, Leah continued with feigned innocence,
“For Your Grace’s long life and health, I’d gather anything, anytime.”
After all, only then could she leave with her gold.
Leah smiled sweetly, hiding her ulterior motive—but an awkward silence fell.
‘Huh?’
Based on her observations so far, she expected the Duke to scoff and say something like, “You’re spouting nonsense,” and scold her.
But the Duke said nothing. He just kept staring at her.
Unnerved by the strange turn of atmosphere, Leah gave him an uneasy smile.
“I talk too much, don’t I? I’ll start the examination now. So, if you’d just loosen your clothes for a moment…”
Leah leaned in close and slipped her hand inside his dress shirt. Her fingers brushed against his skin as she parted the fabric.
It was just an examination—so why was her heart pounding so fiercely?
Unconsciously, Leah swallowed hard. Just as she slowly moved her fingertips deeper inside his shirt—
– Thud!
The Duke seized her wrist and murmured,
“You have a fever.”
“Huh? I don’t think I have a fever…”
Flustered, Leah covered both cheeks with her hands. The Duke watched her silently before replying,
“Hah—never mind.”
Akia pushed her hand away, clearly annoyed.
“But I haven’t even properly examined you yet…”
“This is enough.”
Enough? How was this enough? She hadn’t even begun a proper examination.
Ever since their first meeting, aside from questioning, she’d never managed a proper check-up.
Leah struggled to hold back the words bubbling up in her throat.
“I know my own condition well enough. Just focus on making the antidote. I’ll let you know if there are any changes in the side effects.”
“But I need to know Your Grace’s exact condition…”
No matter how skilled the Duke was at mixing medicines, he couldn’t possibly know better than she, the apothecary.
Leah felt utterly frustrated, as if her chest were tightly clogged.
Why was the Duke being so stubborn?
Meeting Leah’s stubborn gaze, the Duke straightened in his chair.
“More importantly—”
He reached out and tugged the stethoscope hanging around her neck.
“You don’t seem fit to treat me right now. Quack.”
His low voice wrapped around her ear from mere inches away—so close it felt as if he might touch her at any moment.
Staring at the Duke now looming before her, Leah’s heart began to race wildly.
‘Quack?’
Confused by his words, Leah blinked rapidly.
“How can an apothecary who can’t even examine herself properly diagnose anyone else?”
The Duke looked up at Leah, who was practically straddling him, and smirked. Then, with a finger, he lightly flicked her forehead.
– Tuk.
Even from such a gentle tap, Leah stumbled backward helplessly. As she rubbed the spot where his finger had touched—
Akia walked over to the shelf stacked high with herbs, took out a few, and pointed to the table where he’d placed them.
“Stop wasting time. Come here and mix the herbs as I instruct.”
“Herbs…?”
Leah scanned the herbs the Duke had just taken out. They seemed odd—unlikely ingredients for his antidote.
‘Why is he asking me to mix these?’
She began examining the herbs carefully.
Pantin, Brus, Dern.
None of these were suitable for making the Duke’s antidote.
Rather, they seemed more fitting for… a cold remedy.
‘Could it be…?’
Leah looked at the Duke with new eyes—and he gave a slight nod.
“Well? What are you waiting for? Get to work.”
“Oh—right.”
‘Nah, that can’t be it.’
He surely hadn’t prepared these herbs for her sake.
Given how frail the Duke was, she assumed he simply wanted her to make his usual tonic.
After all, this combination could both cure a cold and restore one’s strength.
Convinced of this, Leah quickly began preparing the medicine.
“Cough, cough.”
Each time she coughed, the Duke’s sharp glare pierced her. She’d worried he might avoid the annex until her cold passed—
Once finished, Leah transferred the medicine into a small vial and held it out to the seated Duke.
“Here you go. You must take these often. Even if they’re good for restoring strength, you shouldn’t overdo it…”
“Drink it.”
The Duke, who had been staring fixedly at the vial Leah offered, lifted his chin.
“Huh?”
“I can’t afford to catch your cold. Drink it—now.”
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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