“You’re going to the capital?”

“Yes.”

I was internally tense when someone from the royal palace came, but the capital.

“His Majesty the Emperor is worried about his only younger brother, so he wants you to stay in the capital for a while.”

‘Is he trying to monitor me under the pretext of caring for his younger brother?’

After all, he must have been quite different from the rumored sickly duke. Moreover, Akkia showed that side of himself to the emperor’s person without hiding it before.

So the emperor couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the suddenly changed duke. Leah, who finished grasping the situation, nodded her head.

“Then please be careful on your way there. I will send the antidote to the capital as soon as it’s completed…”

“What are you talking about? Of course you’re going too.”

“Pardon? Me? Why?”

Leah looked at Akkia with surprised rabbit eyes.

“You have to make the antidote. By my side.”

“The antidote just needs to go through additional clinical trials to be completed. I can complete it and send it straight to the capital…”

Akkia cut off Leah’s words.

“Stop doing those clinical trials or whatever from now on.”

“Pardon? The trials are necessary to confirm the safety of the drug.”

“You said nothing much happened when you took it.”

Leah unknowingly nodded at the duke’s gaze that showed a firm will. Because there were no particular abnormalities except for a slight fever.

‘Well, I guess it’s okay then?’

There’s no one suitable to test it on anymore anyway.

Seeing that she was fine even after taking that much of the Porarium, the drug’s efficacy seemed quite good. Agreeing with the duke’s words, she made up her mind to no longer conduct clinical trials.

[This is the timeline separator]

I went to bed earlier than usual because I had to go to the capital the next day.

That day was no different from any other day. That’s why I thought I would have an ordinary dream like usual.

But.

[Duke… ha, haa… Sir. I, my body feels so hot…]

In the dream, I was moaning seductively and desperately calling for the duke. My body was burning hot as if I had swallowed a ball of fire.

The heat that filled the room, the tremors running through my body. And the hot breaths that burst out of my mouth on their own.

All of it was unfamiliar. And.

[…Leah.]

In my hazy consciousness, a man’s low and deep voice called my name.

‘Who is it?’

Maybe he came to cool down my hot body. As soon as the man’s voice reached my ears, my burning body seemed to get a little better.

[I can’t hold it… haa. In…]

As if quenching a long thirst at an oasis found in the desert. As soon as the man called my name like that, Leah swallowed his lips. And then a deep and rich kiss followed.

‘What the…’

In the pitch-black darkness that had descended on the room, she entangled with the man. He grabbed the back of my head, parted my lips and entered, engulfing me as if he was going to devour me.

Gradually quickening breaths.

And through the slightly opened eyelids, his magnificent golden hair was emitting more light than usual, soaked in moonlight.

And when the Leah in the dream lowered her gaze, she met the man’s red eyes.

‘…Duke?’

His two eyes were obsessive as if they would devour her thoroughly, and were enveloped in lust. With the eyes of a male that she had never seen before.

“Haa, haa-.”

The startled Leah sprang up from the bed as if bouncing. She covered her mouth with both hands in surprise, but low moans leaked through the gaps.

“What the… What is this damn dream…”

Is it sexual frustration?

No, even if it’s sexual frustration, why of all people is it the duke!

Even though it was just a dream, Leah’s face turned red as if she had actually experienced it. But the more her mind became clear, an inexplicable sense of self-loathing engulfed her.

“But why of all people! That extremely arrogant Duke…!”

Leah sat by the bed, hugging her elbows with goosebumps all over her body. Even then, the cold seeping in made her fingertips tremble.

To have such a nonsensical dream. The moment Leah got up from her seat to drink water while shaking her head. Leah’s body faltered.

“But, was it really a dream?”

The memory was oddly vivid for a dream. And above all, the sensation of the lips touched in the dream was not unfamiliar.

As if possessed by something, Leah ran her fingers over her own lips.

‘Seriously.’

But soon Leah, who shook her head, let out a hollow laugh.

“What am I thinking right now? If it’s not a dream, then what could it be?”

For a very brief moment, she had the delusion of wondering if it had actually happened. She must not have fully woken up from sleep yet.

Leah, who was trying to forcibly fall asleep again for tomorrow, got up from her seat nervously after tossing and turning in bed dozens of times.

“I can’t sleep!”

Moreover, the duke’s face she had seen in her dream had taken over her entire mind.

‘How can I face that man like this…’

The thought of having to make eye contact and converse with the duke tomorrow made her dizzy. Leah, who was groaning in agony while pulling her hair, muttered.

“There’s no other way.”

For now, she could only avoid the duke as much as possible. She clenched her fists while making a resolution in her mind. Although, that resolution could not be kept.

[This is the timeline separator]

‘Damn it.’

Leah, who entrusted her body to the rattling carriage, cursed inwardly. It had only been three days since she vowed not to go near the duke for a while.

‘Why am I riding in the same carriage as the Duke!’

She naturally thought she would ride in the carriage with the other attendants going to the capital together.

[Don’t tell me, it’s just the two of us riding in the carriage?] [If you don’t like it, sit in the coachman’s seat.]

The duke’s face as he spoke with a disinterested expression was still vivid. Surprisingly, it was just her and the duke going to the capital. The two of them alone.

‘No, what kind of nobleman in the world sets off on a long journey with just one pharmacist?’

She thought at least a few maids would be accompanying them, but the journey only consisted of the coachman and a few knights.

Even so, Leah, who had no confidence to sit in the coachman’s seat on this hot summer day, had no choice but to ride in the carriage.

Leah glanced at the duke and observed him. For a quick arrival, the carriage was very small, and thanks to that, their knees touched every time it rattled.

And every time she touched the duke, Leah flinched unknowingly.

At first he may not have noticed. But as it happened several times, the duke’s gaze towards Leah subtly changed.

“Anyone would think I’m transmitting germs.”

Unable to stand it any longer, the duke frowned and spoke to Leah.

“Th-that’s not it…”

What can I do when I keep thinking about that dream…!

However, Leah was frustrated that she couldn’t honestly tell him about her condition.

Every time she saw the duke’s red lips, the dream from that day popped up and tormented her. She was barely holding back her face from turning completely red.

Just as the duke was about to say something, irritated by Leah’s frustrating attitude.

– Thud.

The carriage swayed severely from side to side as if it had hit a boulder. And Leah’s body slowly leaned forward.

“!!!”

With a dizzy feeling, Leah unknowingly closed her eyes tightly.

With an ominous feeling of being wrapped in something, she cautiously opened her eyes, and as expected. She was in the duke’s arms. The startled Leah moved away from him.

“I-I’m sorry…!”

Leah, who took a seat in the corner far away from him, desperately turned her head. The heat that refused to cool down rose all over her body again, and she kept fanning herself with her hands.

‘Ha.’

The duke looked at Leah and swallowed a hollow laugh.

“What are you doing now?”

“Th-that’s… The weather is quite hot, right? Haha.”

Leah awkwardly changed the subject. But Akkia only looked at Leah with a dissatisfied gaze, not buying her excuse.

He felt uncomfortable seeing Leah who only looked out the window. He was already upset that Leah had been avoiding him, although he didn’t show it.

Even though she doesn’t even remember what happened that day, she won’t even make eye contact with him.

Akkia, who was unreasonably upset, didn’t say anything more.

“…”

After traveling for a long time in heavy silence. The carriage’s speed gradually slowed down and finally came to a stop, as if they had finally reached their destination.

“We have arrived.”

As soon as the carriage stopped, Leah got off as if she was rushing out. Akkia, who let out another hollow laugh, followed.

Leah, who was mindful of the duke’s mood, deliberately asked in a bright voice.

“Is this it? The place where we’re staying?”

She thought it would be big since it was the town house of the Heiderne Duchy. But Leah asked the duke with a surprised look at the unexpectedly cozy mansion.

“It’s like a villa where my mother stayed separately before entering the royal palace.”

“I see.”

Leah, who followed Akkia into the mansion, looked around and tilted her head.

‘Strange. Why is no one here?’

Since the owner had arrived, the mansion’s manager should naturally come out to greet them. But there was no sign of anyone, let alone a greeting, making the mansion’s atmosphere somehow chilly.

“But where did everyone go? I don’t see anyone.”

“Of course. Because there’s no one.”

“…Pardon?”

Leah froze at the duke’s words.

‘What do you mean there’s no one?’

“What does that mean… Don’t tell me. Right now, are you saying it’s just the two of us in this mansion?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

There is a problem, why wouldn’t there be!

But Leah, who was momentarily flustered, decided to think positively.

‘Well, it’s not like we’re alone in the same room.’

It didn’t seem like a big problem for the two of them to be in this spacious mansion.

‘Yeah, well. It’ll be more comfortable than having others around. No need to be mindful of others.’

In the Heiderne estate, she had to be mindful of others’ gazes every time she left the room to develop new drugs.

But here, there was no need for that, so it could actually be a good thing for her.

“I had Rikel roughly tidy things up, so there won’t be much inconvenience in living here. Reliable people who will manage the mansion will be coming in soon. Just bear with it for a bit.”

As if he had finished what he had to say, Leah grabbed the duke who was turning to leave.

“Duke. Then may I go out for a bit? There are a few things I’d like to buy.”

Akkia, who pondered for a moment at those words, nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“Yes! I’ll be back soon!”

Leah, who roughly unpacked her luggage, went back outside.