The Terminally-Ill Duke Clings to Me Every Night - Chapter 69

Leah stood there blankly for a long time after Dmitri left.

‘The duke gave permission?’

The person who had absolutely refused before suddenly gave permission.

‘Could it be that he plans to go to the capital alone, leaving me here?’

When her thoughts reached that point, she felt inexplicably disappointed. Leah’s shoulders slumped as she left the library, feeling drained.

Then she racked her brain to find the reason why Akkia had given permission.

‘He might have allowed it for the side effect treatment.’

Even though he said it wasn’t urgent, he must have keenly felt the need for the treatment. The side effects were like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any time.

‘Right. He must have been uncomfortable. We can’t always be together after all.’

As a few harrowing incidents flashed through her mind, Leah’s whole body trembled. The new drug’s treatment was also an issue that could no longer be delayed.

‘Perhaps Duke Bellarus told the duke about Dr. Franken.’

That could be why he allowed her to stay here.

Unless she became the palace’s pharmacist, consulting with Dr. Franken was the only shortcut to the treatment.

However, while she understood Akkia’s actions rationally, the feeling of disappointment didn’t easily subside.

‘He once said I could use him as much as I wanted.’

How many days had passed for his behavior to change so drastically? Her mind was filled with complicated thoughts, wondering if being with her had become bothersome.

‘I should talk to the duke first…’

To ask how long they would have to be apart.

To ask when the duke planned to return to the capital. Just as she turned her steps towards Akkia’s room at that moment.

Their eyes met as he stood at the end of the stairs.

“Duke?”

“Leah.”

As if he too had been looking for her, he approached as soon as their eyes met.

“Where were you? You weren’t in your room.”

“I just went to the library for a bit. Were you looking for me?”

“I have something to tell you.”

“What a coincidence, I have something to say too.”

Leah asked Akkia as if she had been waiting.

“I heard from Duke Bellarus. He said you told me I could stay here?”

“You’ve already heard. I was just about to tell you that.”

Leah’s mouth turned bitter as she looked at Akkia answering with a calm face. The capital and the Bellarus territory were far apart.

If they parted now, it was clear they wouldn’t meet for at least a month, yet he acted so nonchalantly.

‘Really. He used to act like he couldn’t bear to be apart even for a moment.’

Leah’s heart swelled at the man’s attitude that changed like flipping a coin.

“Was I that bothersome to you?”

“What?”

“When I asked subtly before, you firmly said it was absolutely not allowed…”

Unlike her bold start, Leah’s voice gradually became smaller. The duke’s eyes wavered slightly.

“…I heard you allowed me to stay here. But you have to go to the capital, don’t you? Doesn’t that mean you’re telling me to stay here alone?”

Akkia, who had been blinking his eyes as if trying to grasp the situation, soon let out a short laugh.

“What are you talking about? I’m staying here too.”

“What?”

“I’m saying I’ll stay with you in the Bellarus territory. Did you think I would leave you alone?”

‘Wait. Then.’

Leah’s face turned red as her brain seemed to stop working, her lips moving wordlessly.

It was all her misunderstanding. Somehow, she ended up throwing a fit to Akkia not to leave her alone.

“Ah, I…”

She tried to smooth things over, but words wouldn’t come out properly due to her embarrassment. Watching Leah, Akkia smiled deeply and tilted his head.

“Besides, it seems you really didn’t want to be apart from me.”

“Pardon?”

“Pouting your lips and throwing a tantrum like that.”

“That’s…!”

But he shrugged his shoulders as if he had no intention of listening to Leah further.

“Well, this isn’t bad either. It’s quite cute.”

He lightly tapped Leah’s cheek with his index finger. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Leah changed the subject to clear the air.

“But what sudden wind blew for you to say you’ll stay here? You said you were busy with work in the capital.”

“I was. But something more important came up.”

He continued, pulling up one corner of his mouth.

“The hot spring development in Bialitzkal. I decided to take charge of it.”

“Hot spring development!?”

Leah’s eyes widened at the mention of hot springs.

‘Hot springs!’

Before Leah was reincarnated here, public bathhouses were her favorite thing. Of course, it’s a bit different from hot springs.

‘If it’s hot springs, it must be good for the skin… And what’s good for the skin is…’

Money.

It felt like there was an enormous smell of money coming from Bialitzkal. Akkia glanced at Leah, whose eyes were sparkling, and muttered.

“Suspicious.”

“What is?”

“Your expression. It looks really devious right now.”

That man was strangely quick-witted in odd ways. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Leah let out a fake cough.

State council room. Ilei irritably put down the letter he had been reading on the table.

Not only had Akkia, who was dispatched to Bialitzkal, returned alive and well, but he had also discovered hot springs.

However, Ilei, who had momentarily hardened his expression at the gaze of the ministers, feigned a benevolent smile as if nothing had happened.

“Duke Haidern has admirably resolved the salt mine issue, it seems.”

“…”

“All the trapped miners were rescued, and the duke and pharmacist who were trapped in the mine during a secondary collapse during the rescue process also came out safely. The goddess Helena must have helped.”

The nobles let out sighs at Ilei’s continued words.

“Moreover, he discovered hot spring water flowing under the mine and says he will develop a hot spring business. It’s truly remarkable. Don’t you think?”

Ilei smiled as he added the last words, but his mouth tasted bitter.

“To think there was a secondary collapse in the salt mine.”

“It’s surprising that the sickly duke suddenly became so healthy in an instant.”

“Speaking of which, hot springs… Is he trying to revive Bialitzkal’s economy?”

“That must be the intention. This will improve public opinion towards Duke Haidern.”

Ilei stroked his chin as he listened to the nobles’ conversation.

‘Public opinion, huh.’

Akkia’s reputation was already high among the commoners of the empire. The miners who survived thanks to Akkia were busy praising him.

Just going to Bialitzkal in person was enough to garner public attention. The duke even jumped into the mine himself to rescue the trapped miners.

‘Of all things, to have hot spring water flowing under the mine.’

Ilei bit his inner lip. The place he sent Akkia to die not only didn’t kill him but ended up elevating his position.

Moreover, at the end of the letter Akkia sent, it was written that he had obtained permission for hot spring development from Duke Bellarus.

Ilei recalled Duke Bellarus, known as the Empire’s Lion.

‘That fastidious Duke Bellarus allowed hot spring business?’

For Ilei, who had ascended to the emperor’s throne over Akkia, the weakened imperial authority was a headache. That’s why he visited Duke Bellarus right after his coronation ceremony.

Dmitri had served the previous emperor, Philips III, for the longest time. The most influential ducal family in the empire and the oldest family that made the greatest contribution to founding the country.

He intended to use the power of the Bellarus family to strengthen imperial authority.

[Ilei. No, I should call you Your Majesty now.] […..] [Your Majesty, this old man’s wish is to spend his remaining days quietly in the duchy.]

He flatly refused Ilei’s request, who had come all the way to the Bellarus duchy.

There was no trace of the imposing figure that once commanded the empire in Dmitri as he stared into space while drinking from his teacup.

The sharp eyes that used to make people cower had lost their light.

[What desire could remain in a father who has lost his only daughter?]

Ilei recalled Dmitri’s hollow eyes, which seemed to have lost the will to live. After the death of his daughter, Princess Ariel, Duke Bellarus withdrew from most of the duchy’s businesses.

It was said that he continued only some businesses like family enterprises.

‘Such a person allowed Akkia to develop hot springs?’

Ilei felt something was not quite right. Of course, Duke Bellarus wouldn’t have taken the initiative to allow hot spring development.

The Bellarus ducal family was overflowing with wealth.

And for Dmitri, who had lost his only heir, power was useless, so Akkia’s persistent efforts must have been behind the duke’s permission.

‘Right.’

It would be reasonable to think that Akkia was trying to regain the power of the Haidern duchy.

As he made various conjectures, Ilei cast a glance at Marquis Rodrigo sitting next to him. Reading Ilei’s eyes, the marquis carefully stepped forward in front of the ministers.

“But as you know, hasn’t Bialitzkal been a barren land for hundreds of years? What difference will it make to create a hot spring resort in such a place?”

At Marquis Rodrigo’s subtle question, the nobles began to stir.

“Indeed. If such tourism business could revive the local economy, it would have happened long ago.”

“Duke Haidern must be adventurous due to his youth. There are reasons why Bialitzkal hasn’t been developed until now.”

Only then did Ilei’s hardened gaze soften.

“Why don’t we let him try, Your Majesty.”

At that moment, a low and firm voice cut through the nobles’ chatter. Ilei naturally turned his head towards the source of the voice.

It was Count Leorod, the head of the Parthia trading company and the current empress dowager’s younger brother.

“Isn’t it admirable that the young duke wants to revive a dead land?”

As the count continued, silence fell around them.

As everyone seemed to be watching the count and Ilei’s reactions in silence, a low laugh echoed through the council room.

“Hahaha. That’s right.”

Ilei immediately grasped the meaning of Count Leorod’s words.

How far could a day-old puppy who had just shed its sickly nature go?

Yes. When the praise for Akkia was at its peak.

‘Just pull him down from the highest place, and that’s it.’

“Gerald. Prepare to send a reply.”

Ilei’s eyes were sharper than ever as he called for Marquis Rodrigo.