TLDOWN 53

Chapter 53……………..

: I’ll Take Responsibility

Lea stood dazed for a long moment, replaying the Duke’s words in her mind. He had emphasized it three times, as if to make absolutely sure.

“At least it wasn’t me… What did he mean just now…?”

Lea drew in a breath, feeling as if the truth she had tried so hard to deny had been confirmed: the man’s words meant that he hadn’t been intimate with her due to the drug’s side effects.

And that implied the Duke saw her as a woman—enough to consider a physical relationship.

“Hoo…”

Lea exhaled silently and clenched her fists. She felt as though she was facing a very complicated problem.

“Why me…? Could he be mistaken?”

She considered the possibilities. The Duke had lost his empress at a young age and had lived quietly, pretending to be frail.

He had probably spent long, lonely years with no one on his side.

To such a man, she might have seemed special.

“Maybe he’s mistaking kindness for affection…”

Lea glanced at Akkiya, who still stood firmly before her. He looked very different from the hostile figure of the past.

“Or maybe he’s confusing physical instinct with emotion.”

Perhaps his behavior was also an extension of the drug’s side effects.

“It’s all because of the drug I made.”

Whatever the reason, Lea felt a faint, nagging sense of responsibility for the side effects.

“Then… it really is up to me.”

Lea met Akkiya’s gaze with determination.

“I understand.”

Her response broke the long silence—a simple acknowledgment. Akkiya furrowed his brows deeply as he observed her.

“What do you mean by ‘understand’?”

Lea drew a deep breath.

Yes, I can do this.

“I’ll take responsibility for you, Duke.”

Her declaration hit like a bomb. Akkiya froze, realizing that her resolute expression was genuine.

A brief silence hung between them, broken first by the Duke.

“…Take responsibility? You mean… for me?”

At first, Akkiya thought she was joking, but her expression left no room for doubt—she was serious.

Who’s taking responsibility for whom?

Akkiya’s look was hesitant yet curious.

“Yes. I’ll take responsibility.”

Despite her bold words, Akkiya noticed the mental calculations running through her mind.

Responsibility… huh.

And he didn’t dislike her answer. On the contrary, he found it intriguing.

Akkiya’s narrowed eyes glimmered with interest as they fixed on her.

“So… how exactly do you plan to take responsibility?”

He was curious about how she intended to fulfill the duty of that night. A subtle smirk traced his lips.

“Hmm… I think I need a little time to figure that out. I’ll let you know after I’ve sorted out my thoughts by evening.”

Seeing her genuinely contemplating it made a peculiar warmth stir in his chest. The way she bit her lip shyly seemed unexpectedly endearing.

Lea had always bitten her lips when facing difficult problems.

I thought she only had sharp words, but she can be pretty cute too.

Without realizing it, he almost reached toward her lips, but quickly retracted his hand and spoke instead.

“Then, come to my room once you’ve finished thinking it over.”

With that, he turned to leave, his face full of anticipation.

❀ ❀ ❀

That night, Lea carried small sheets of paper toward the Duke’s bedroom. He had told her to come after she had finished thinking.

She walked down the empty corridor, muttering to herself.

“When will they even hire servants?”

Although she had been living there for several days, there was no one she could call a servant. Occasionally someone would come to clean or serve meals, but they were rarely seen, and the people seemed to keep changing.

Well, at least that means I can…

“I can’t believe I just thought that!”

She shook her head sharply at the strange thought.

Knock, knock.

As if expecting her, a voice called without asking who it was.

“Come in.”

Not long ago, knocking only brought the sound of falling objects.

When she entered, Akkiya, sitting at the table, tilted his gaze toward her. His eyes glimmered with curiosity, as if eager to see what she had prepared. Lea approached and handed him the documents she had prepared.

“What’s this?”

“Please read it first.”

Curious, the Duke picked up the papers. His eyes scanned them quickly.

A manual for the drug’s side effects…?

Lea nodded slightly. She had spent some time naming it, deciding that “manual” suited the content best.

“I think side effects will continue to appear with the new drug. In fact, I’ve experienced them twice… ahem.”

She coughed nervously, recalling what had happened in the bathroom.

“For now, until I make an antidote, please follow the instructions written here.”

[Manual for New Drug Side Effects]

1. Mild: For slight fevers, consult the pharmacist for antipyretics. Lowering body temperature is important, so take cold baths or stay in cool places.
2. Severe: If a high fever begins…

The Duke tossed the paper aside, clearly unimpressed.

“What is this? You said you’d take responsibility, yet you brought me this manual?”

“…”

“I told you the other night wasn’t a side effect. And this useless manual only explains how to handle mild effects.”

He rose from his chair, approaching her with a serious expression.

“A cold bath… You’re the only one who’d suggest resolving desire this way.”

Lea flinched at the blunt word. Akkiya’s lips twisted into a faint sneer as he observed her.

“And if that doesn’t work…”

She placed a hand over her chest and met his gaze unwaveringly.

“I’ll help you.”

“You? How?”

“Well… we’ll discuss that in detail when the time comes.”

Lea had no clear solution for when the high fever—or side effect—would begin. She only knew it wouldn’t subside easily by any method.

The side effect just had to be increased virility… Lea sighed in frustration.

Akkiya studied her quietly, then finally nodded.

“Alright. I understand.”

She hadn’t expected him to accept so easily. After a brief moment of surprise, Lea bowed slightly.

“Very well. Then let’s leave it here for today. It’s late, so you should sleep. I’ll take my leave.”

She rose to leave, unaware that she would see the Duke again that night.

❀ ❀ ❀

Bang, bang!

What now?

Having resolved one problem, Lea was finally falling into a deep sleep when someone banged on her door, waking her abruptly.

“What on earth…?”

Half-asleep, she rose and opened the door.

“What time is it? What are you doing?”

At the door stood the Duke, disheveled and flushed, his face excited.

“Lea. I feel a fever coming on.”

“Eh?!”

What? A fever? He had seemed perfectly fine moments ago. Shocked, Lea pressed her hand to his forehead.

Hmm?

She tilted her head, sensing nothing unusual.

“…I don’t think you have a fever.”

His skin was warm, but not feverish.

“I do have a fever!”

He ignored her words and walked smoothly into her room.

No, he doesn’t.

If anything, her own body was warmer. There was no way he could have a fever.

Why was he acting like this? Lea sighed quietly at his childish behavior.

Nodding as if to play along, she said,

“Yes, yes. I’ll prescribe something to reduce your fever.”

She began rummaging through the desk drawer for antipyretics.

Where did I put the medicine…

Thunk.

Lea sensed someone behind her.

“…Duke?”

He had quietly approached and placed both hands on the desk, trapping her within his arms.

Her neck felt the heat of his breath and the familiar weight of his presence.

“No need to look for it.”

He pressed closer, leaving no space between them.

He said he didn’t have a fever…

That claim was clearly withdrawn. He radiated heat against her back.

Lea lifted her stiffened head and faced forward. The window reflected two figures in the dim light.

Herself, staring resolutely ahead, and him, with crimson eyes gazing down at her.

Those burning eyes glimmered in the darkness, brimming with a strange, almost thirstful heat.

Finally, the Duke spoke in a firm voice.

“I don’t think it’s the kind of fever you’re talking about.”