Nellia quickly approached and crouched down. As she gently stroked the Duke’s head, the snake-like appearance soon disappeared, and a person emerged.

“Nellia.”

Duke Hart embraced Nellia. While holding her, the Duke whispered softly, “I was worried. You disappeared suddenly.”

“It’s not the time to worry about me. Especially when the Duke suddenly transforms into a snake, and our brother comes rushing in…”

“It’s okay. I couldn’t help but admire how cleverly Nellia handled the situation.”

Although the Duke sincerely praised her ingenuity, Nellia, considering the perfect upper body in front of her, thought she should first get him dressed. As he had just returned to being human, he wasn’t wearing any clothes.

Nellia, being cautious with her gaze, slowly moved away from him.

“Duke… Please stay like that for a moment.”

Nellia searched the surroundings and found what seemed to be the Duke’s clothes scattered near a chair.

Holding the clothes, Nellia approached the Duke.

“Duke, here you go.”

Trying not to look at the Duke, Nellia handed him the clothes.

After the Duke put on the clothes, Nellia turned him around.

“I’m all dressed now.”

Seeing the Duke perfectly restored to his human form, Nellia held back what she was going to say earlier.

“I returned to the office, and you were not there, so I was surprised. Due to Viscount Clint suddenly collapsing, I had no choice. I had a high fever, so I had to bring him to the nearby clinic.”

Duke Hart gently grabbed Nellia’s shoulders, expressing his gratitude.

“Nellia, I’m fine. I was more worried that you might be surprised by my sudden transformation.”

“Duke…”

Looking at the Duke with moved eyes, Nellia was about to say something when Duke Hart asked.

“By the way, about what Nellia’s brother mentioned earlier.”

“Yes.”

“It seemed like he was looking for Elena’s tears. The reason for coming here also seems to be related to that. Were you aware?”

The Duke didn’t seem to ask out of curiosity but rather to let Layton explain the reason for coming here.

Trying to avoid looking at the Duke, Nellia answered slowly.

“Layton is also interested in Zigrith’s heart, and it seems there is some connection with Elena’s tears.”

In fact, Layton’s speculation is correct, but probably no one else thinks the same way. Not even the clever Duke Hart.

‘This irony…’

The fact that Hart Duke doesn’t know what Layton knows, a simple and foolish Layton, is as expected.

Hart Duke didn’t seem to care much about this story.

Just…

“It seems more people are interested in Zigrith’s heart than I thought. I should move faster as well.”

Feeling a sense of urgency but perceiving a different crisis, just like Nellia did.

However, everyone felt a considerable sense of crisis from what happened today.

If the Duke’s curse is not quickly lifted, who knows when such an incident might happen again.
The transformed Duke, now a snake, faced ordinary people. Someone might react with astonishment or even attempt to harm the Duke with a disdainful look, causing potential harm.

“Ugh, disgusting.”

Nellia vividly remembered Layton’s words when he saw the Duke as a snake.

How would the Duke feel upon hearing such words…

“Duke, I like you whether you’re in human form or a snake.”

The Duke, as if understanding why Nellia said such words, smiled gently.

“Nellia, I must have fallen in love with you regardless of how you appear.”

Nellia felt an inexplicable heaviness in her heart.

“So, you don’t have to worry. I am truly fine. As long as there’s someone who sees me for who I am, Nellia alone is more than enough.”

He was always excessively kind and affectionate.

Returning home as the Duke that day, Nellia had many thoughts.

They needed to find Zigrith’s heart as soon as possible. For that, they required sacred dew.

To get hints about sacred dew, they needed to meet Reunite again. However, Elena’s tears were blocked by the barrier named Carlos.

‘…What should I do?’

As Nellia contemplated quietly, she recalled the address given by Viscount Clint for the apothecary.

Apothecary…

Since the apothecary family had developed a remedy to alleviate the curse of Duke Hart, perhaps they could also develop a remedy to alleviate or cure Carlos’s symptoms. She had obtained the address, hoping they might create such a remedy.

If they could create such a remedy, it would be a good excuse to meet Carlos.

She could request a meeting under the pretext of giving Carlos medicine, and in return, ask to see Elena’s tears as gratitude for the medicine.

It didn’t seem like an unreasonable request, and Carlos would likely agree to it.

Moreover, if his arm improved, he might lose the motivation to find Zigrith’s heart. It would be eliminating one strong competitor.

‘Yes, let’s go see the apothecary.’

The only catch was that she had to keep this information hidden from Duke Hart.

If she said she was going to see the apothecary, the Duke would ask for reasons, and to explain, she would have to reveal the reason was to alleviate or cure Carlos’s symptoms.