Upon arriving at the mansion, Leah absentmindedly touched her nape, seemingly lost in deep thought. Her fingers caught on an old key-shaped necklace with a red gemstone embedded in it.

It was a habit of hers to fiddle with the necklace whenever she was lost in thought. The Emperor had clearly said not to worry about it, but those words kept circling in her mind.

She sensed a change in the Emperor’s gaze as he looked at her subtly. Was it her imagination that the Emperor seemed to know her?

As an inexplicable uneasiness lingered in a corner of Leah’s heart.

“What are you thinking about so intently?”

Leah raised her head at the sudden low voice. Akkia was staring at her, his chin resting on the windowsill.

“It’s nothing…”

But contrary to her words, Leah’s eyes were filled with concern.

‘Biarlitzcal.’

Biarlitzcal, located at the northernmost tip, was so cool that people wore long sleeves even in midsummer.

Moreover, it was a place that took a full ten days by carriage from the capital.

The Duke was leaving for such a distant place. And Akkia had replied that he would depart tomorrow with only minimal luggage.

Even before the treatment for the side effects was completed. Leah was troubled, wondering if it was alright to let the Duke go alone like this.

“Your Grace. Are you leaving for Biarlitzcal right away then?”

“His Majesty ordered it, so what choice do I have.”

He threw his gaze out the window with an unreadable expression.

‘This trip will take at least a month.’

Including travel time both ways, they would be apart for over a month and a half.

Leah worried that the Duke’s side effects might worsen during that time.

But it seemed unlikely that the Duke, departing on imperial orders, would take her along.

‘Can’t be helped. Then I’ll have to make the treatment somehow during that time.’

Leah planned to create the treatment while the Duke was away from the capital. She spoke to the Duke, who was still looking out the window.

“Please take care of yourself. I hear that Biarlitzcal is as cold as early winter even in summer.”

At Leah’s words of concern, the Duke turned his gaze. Akkia’s face was peculiar as he stared at Leah.

“What is it? Do you have something to say?”

At Leah’s innocent inquiring look, Akkia’s brow furrowed deeply. Then he opened his mouth with an expression that seemed to say ‘what are you talking about’.

“You’re coming with me, of course.”

“…Pardon? Me?”

‘Why would I go there?’

Why would an apothecary like herself be needed on a trip to handle state affairs on imperial orders?

“Did you think you’d stay alone in the capital for who knows how long?”

‘That’s what I thought?’

Leah’s eyes widened at the Duke’s unexpected answer.

She was supposed to sell the newly developed aphrodisiac with the Magnolia Company. That was how she could deliver the huge sum of money she had promised the Duke.

But to go to Biarlitzcal together.

‘What about the aphrodisiac?’

“Of course. What would I have to do there? Besides, I have things to do here, don’t I? With Magnolia…”

“Nothing to do, you say.”

Akkia cut off Leah’s words with a seemingly firm tone.

“Do you really think that?”

Then he raised the corner of his mouth while resting his chin askew.

“…Pardon?”

“Surely the side effects will occur there too. What will you do then?”

“That, well.”

‘You’ll have to deal with it alone.’

Leah barely managed to swallow the words that couldn’t come out of her throat.

“You said you’d take responsibility, didn’t you? Right?”

“I did… say that. Haha.”

How long did he intend to milk those words she had uttered a few days ago? She forced a smile as she answered.

“Wherever I go, you’re with me.”

Akkia was resolute, as if there would be no reversal of that decision. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his red eyes.

– Swoosh.

The sound of clopping hooves was drowned out by the heavily pouring rain. It had been a week since they set out by carriage.

The sudden downpour made the muddy ground cause the carriage to rattle.

‘The weather seems quite ominous.’

Leah sank into worry, watching the raindrops falling like a waterfall, wondering if they could safely reach the northern region in such adverse weather.

But then. There was a feeling of the carriage body sinking, and her body tilted diagonally.

“Oh!”

It happened in an instant. The two bodies entangled in the narrow carriage.

Leah, who somehow ended up in the Duke’s arms, hurriedly raised herself.

“I’m sorry!”

The Duke, who had been quietly closing his eyes, looked at Leah with a drowsy gaze. Just as his lips parted as if to say something, the coachman knocked on the door.

“Are you alright?! I apologize. The wheel got stuck in the mud…”

The coachman, drenched by the rain in just a moment, spoke to the two.

“I’m fine. Are you alright, Your Grace?”

“I’m fine.”

When the Duke said nothing more than that, the coachman, seemingly relieved, said:

“Could you please step out for a moment? I need to pull out the carriage wheel. Please take shelter over there for a bit. I’ll get it out quickly.”

The coachman pointed to a large tree. Perhaps due to the dense leaves, there was less water pooled underneath.

At this, the two quickly took shelter under the tree.

“Phew…”

Perhaps due to the heavy downpour, both of their clothes were already completely soaked.

“It’s raining so much.”

Akkia’s gaze fell on Leah at the sound of her voice. Leah muttered while wringing out her rain-soaked skirt hem.

Though it was just a meaningless action.

In the pitch-black darkness, her figure illuminated by moonlight caught the Duke’s gaze.

Thick raindrops trickling down her delicate neckline. Even her silhouette, clearly revealed through the white dress soaked with rainwater.

The Duke’s gaze slowly scanned Leah. Did she know how she looked right now?

Leah, stretching both hands towards the air, looked as innocent as a child.

Not knowing what was going on inside himself as he watched.

The Duke’s Adam’s apple slowly bobbed as he stared at that sight.

Whether it was because it was drenched with rain, or because it sparkled in the faint moonlight, he simply couldn’t take his eyes off Leah’s red hair today.

The Duke reached out his hand towards Leah’s red hair, scattered like red paint smeared on white paper.

“Will we be able to fix the carriage today? It seems to have sunk quite deep.”

At the sudden voice, Akkia hastily withdrew his hand. Because his eyes met Leah’s, who had suddenly turned towards him.

Leah, facing him directly, had her body’s curves revealed more explicitly than expected. They say a wet body is more alluring, don’t they?

“This is maddening.”

“Pardon? What did you say?”

Akkia’s suppressed voice was drowned out by the fierce rain. And at that moment.

– Thud.

A heavy jacket covered Leah’s shoulders. Surprised, Leah looked up to see the Duke staring elsewhere.

“Why the jacket…”

“Have you seen what you look like right now?”

“My appearance?”

At Akkia’s disgruntled words, Leah looked down and hurriedly covered her chest.

‘Good heavens…!’

Why, oh why had she worn a white dress today of all days? Leah’s face flushed red as she belatedly realized the unexpected fact.

Feeling awkward, Leah changed the subject.

“…Thank you. But won’t you be cold?”

Perhaps because she was wet from the rain, Leah’s whole body began to tremble slightly.

If she felt this way, the Duke, dressed in just a thin silk shirt and vest, must be even colder.

Worried that the Duke might catch a cold for giving her his jacket, Leah’s gaze fell on him.

“…”

Akkia hastily turned his head away from Leah, who was meeting his eyes. Despite being in the cool downpour, the Duke felt hot as if he had a fever.

Feeling an unconscious deep thirst, he unbuttoned a few buttons of his tightly fastened shirt.

“I’m not cold.”

“…That’s a relief.”

As they were both feeling awkward, the coachman in the distance approached.

“This looks like it’s going to take a while, what should we do?”

The approaching coachman spoke to the two with a troubled expression. The Duke glanced at Leah and then stepped in front of her, blocking her from view.

As Leah was looking at the Duke’s broad back that completely obscured her vision, she heard the Duke’s low voice.

“How is it going?”

“The carriage seems to be stuck deeper than we thought.”

Listening to the conversation between the two, Leah peeked her head out from behind the Duke. Then she asked the coachman:

“Should we go and help push the carriage together?”

“What?”

“But working together might be better…”

“Out of the question.”

The Duke firmly rejected Leah’s suggestion without a moment’s hesitation. The coachman, sensing the strange atmosphere flowing between the two, waved his hand at Leah.

“Oh no, that won’t do. I hear there’s a village if you walk a little further down, so it might be best to stay there for tonight.”

“That sounds good. We’ll go ahead.”

Before Leah could answer, the Duke agreed with the coachman’s words first.

“Yes. Then I’ll come to pick you up at the inn where you’re staying tomorrow morning. Apothecary…”

“Then we’ll see you tomorrow.”

Just as the coachman was about to greet Leah, who was hidden behind the Duke, he was completely blocked from view by the Duke. The coachman, with his view completely obstructed by the Duke, had no choice but to turn away from the two.

As the coachman moved away, the Duke adjusted the jacket draped over Leah’s shoulders. He began buttoning up all the buttons of the jacket with a stern face.

“I knew you were careless, but.”

“Pardon?”

The Duke’s voice, seemingly directed at her, was tinged with dissatisfaction.

“How could you offer to help even after seeing your own state?”

After buttoning up all the buttons, perhaps fearing someone might see, he met Leah’s gaze. Then he grasped her hand.

“You need to be more cautious.”

Unaware that she was holding hands with the Duke, Leah began to be led down to the village.