“Shall we be cute like this even in the early morning? You woke up already.”

Nelia felt that she had thoughtlessly mentioned the curse, and Duke Hart playfully struggled in his arms.

“Yes, my fault. So please go back to sleep quickly.”

However, the Duke was already wide awake.

No, rather, it felt like he was going to devour her…

‘Ha…’

Nelia thought that she was in trouble again today.

When she returned to her room in the morning, Jeaneut, who sat on the bed with a neat appearance as if he had washed up alone, came into view.

Especially today, he sat exceptionally neatly, making Nelia feel even more embarrassed.

As Nelia walked quietly into the room, she could feel Jeaneut’s eyes following her.

“You were in the next room all night yesterday, right?”

“……Yes?”

As if caught in a trap, Nelia awkwardly stopped in her tracks.
“I know everything. You went into the Duke’s room yesterday and didn’t come out.”

“…”

Why ask when you already know everything?

Nelia felt heat rising on her face.

Seeing Nelia like that, Jeaneut shook his head.

“Anyway, that Duke, he’s like a beast drooling at the sight of you, wanting to devour you…”

Nelia urgently walked over and covered Jeaneut’s mouth.

“You shouldn’t say such things in a child’s form…!”

Jeaneut removed Nelia’s hand covering his mouth.

“I don’t care how old you are now; isn’t saying such things in this form strange?”

“I know Jeaneut is quite old. But saying such things in that form is a bit…”

Even if there was a dragon with a mysterious essence inside, hearing such things like wanting to devour someone in that cute childlike appearance made Nelia feel a sense of guilt as an adult.

“Then don’t do such things!”

“What things are you talking about?”

Jeaneut, with his legs crossed somewhere, clenched his fist.

“You’re not the Duke’s official wife, you know.”

Nelia felt embarrassed.

Jeaneut, with a strict instructor-like face, continued to speak.

“But hey! Is it okay for you two to spend the night together without love…!”

Nelia snapped at Jeaneut’s words.

“There’s love…!”

“If so, are you two in a loving relationship without even getting married?”

Nelia couldn’t answer impulsively.

She knows that the Duke likes her. However, if asked whether she feels the same way…

“See, you’re not even in a loving relationship. These days, things like this are unacceptable! In my time, such things should never have happened!”

“What era are you talking about exactly?”

“A few thousand years ago…?”

Nelia pressed her forehead.

“Jeaneut, why do you lecture so much? Such dragons are unpopular.”

“Just… I’m worried about you two!”

“Is Jeaneut our parent or something?”

Jeaneut suddenly shut his mouth for a moment.

Then he muttered, “In any case, it’s a different era,” shook his head, and turned away.

Nelia left Jeaneut like that and prepared to go to work. The weekend had passed, and another workday awaited Nelia.

After changing into clothes in the bathroom and coming out, Jeaneut, leaning against the window, had soaked the curtain and was looking out.

Nelia, drying her wet hair, asked, “Jeaneut, what are you looking at like that?”

“I’m seeing the sky with rain for the first time in a long while.”

Rain?

Nelia hurriedly approached and stood next to Jeaneut, looking out the window. Indeed, the sky was dark with thick clouds, and thin raindrops were falling to the ground.

Seeing Nelia’s dark complexion, Jeaneut said somewhat puzzled.

“Do you hate the rain?”

“No… Some people can’t get their act together when it rains.”

Nelia became uneasy. The Duke was sensitive to the climate, and when it rained, he seemed to lose his mind, much like being drunk.
On a day like today, it would be nice to take a day off, but he mentioned that he has an important meeting today.

‘Maybe the weather could influence the curse…’

If he’s close, he doesn’t turn into a snake even without taking the medicine, but with the rain, the Duke’s condition might deteriorate, leading to unpredictable situations.

“Does the Duke lose his mind when it rains?”

“Yes… I mentioned before that the Duke is cursed to turn into a snake, right?”

“That’s right.”

“If it rains, his condition worsens, and he might unexpectedly transform into a snake. If people happen to witness that appearance, the Duke might…”

Just the thought of it made Nelia sigh deeply.

“Is that the only thing you’re worried about?”

“Is it ‘only’? Am I speaking of others’ affairs?”

“No, I’m here.”

Nelia tilted her head.

“What can Jeaneut do…?”

“I can do anything. I can’t lift the Duke’s curse, but I can keep him in human form for about a day.”

“Really?”

“That’s right.”

Nelia hugged Jeaneut.

“Jeaneut, you’re the best!”

“H-Hey, let go of me!”

When Jeaneut pushed her away, Nelia let him go. Perhaps embarrassed by the praise, his cheeks turned a bit red.

“Hmm, I’ll allow the Duke to maintain a human appearance for today.”

“Thank you, Jeaneut!”

“Of course, I won’t do it for free.”

Nelia’s lifted spirits dwindled as soon as conditions were set.

“What do you want?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

What does he want by making such demands?

“By the way, I don’t have money. I have responsibilities, so I can’t do anything risky.”

“Who do you take me for? I’m not asking for that!”

Seeing Nelia’s tail perk up in excitement, she felt relieved.

As long as it’s not something like that…

“Alright. If you help the Duke avoid turning into a snake today, I’ll grant your request.”

By the time they arrived at the palace, it was raining even harder.

The Duke couldn’t maintain his usual appearance. He looked like a flickering campfire between the raindrops.

Arriving at the study, the Duke slumped into a chair.

His already pale face seemed to have turned even whiter.

Seeing this, Jeaneut clicked his tongue.

[A young person can’t handle a little rain like that.]

In my time, if someone acted like that, they wouldn’t receive any adult treatment. Jeaneut grumbled.

Of course, only Nelia could hear Jeaneut’s words. Nelia raised her head and glared at Jeaneut.

Jeaneut avoided eye contact.

‘That darn Latte series…’

While Nelia didn’t like Jeaneut complaining about Duke Hart, she refrained from further comments since he decided to alleviate the Duke’s curse today.

[Oh, Nelia. There seems to be a note-like thing on your desk.]

A note?
In response to Jeaneut’s words, Nelia approached the desk. Indeed, there was a note placed there.

‘Who could it be from at the palace…’

It was an embarrassing situation. Despite having been working at the palace with the Duke for quite some time, there had been no one to initiate a conversation with.

Although she frequently saw the Duke’s aide, their personalities clashed, making it challenging to become acquainted. Moreover, there were very few women in the palace.

Ironically, except for the Duke, the person who spoke the most at the palace was Carlos.

Nelia contemplated these thoughts as she unfolded the note.

[Come to the Star Palace to the west of the main palace tonight.]