TLDOWN 67

Chapter 67……………………..

I Can Satisfy You

‘I did say I’d stay here a little longer, but…’

After finishing her teatime with Dmitri, Lea let out a sigh. Yet, on her way back to her room, she bit her lip nervously as if uneasy about something.

‘The Duke didn’t look well earlier.’

Oddly enough, Akkia hadn’t seemed in good spirits throughout the meal. Even when she glanced at him, silently asking what was wrong, he gave no response.

‘What on earth was the problem?’

From what she could tell, Akkia and the Duke of Belarus didn’t seem to get along too well.

Could something have gone wrong while working together? She was vaguely pondering that possibility when—

Right in front of her door, she ran into Akkia. For a moment, Lea wondered if she had the wrong room, quickly scanning her surroundings. But no, this was definitely her room.

Which meant Akkia was here to see her.

“Your Grace? Why are you here? You seemed to have urgent business earlier—did it go well?”

“Urgent business?”

Akkia’s expression darkened as if recalling the earlier moment. As if there could really be anything urgent for him in this mansion.

And indeed, the so-called “urgent business” the butler had mentioned turned out to be nothing but a letter from Rickel, simply asking after his well-being.

‘Transparent.’

It was obvious to anyone: just an excuse to leave Lea alone with the Duke of Belarus.

The thought of competing with that old duke over Lea left Akkia feeling deeply sour.

“Ah… and the duke made a request of me.”

Lea trailed off, avoiding his eyes. Akkia’s eyebrow twitched. What kind of request could make her hesitate like this?

He hadn’t even heard the request yet, and already he was annoyed.

“Why are you beating around the bush? Out with it.”

“Well…”

Urged on by his sharp tone, Lea reluctantly spoke.

“He said it would be nice if I could stay at the mansion for a while longer.”

“What?”

Lea cast him a wary glance as she delivered the message. Seeing her gauge his mood only stoked Akkia’s irritation.

‘What is he plotting?’

Surely the old man hadn’t developed improper feelings toward a girl young enough to be his granddaughter. If he had, it would’ve happened long ago.

The Duke of Belarus had lost his duchess at a young age, yet there had never been any scandal or rumors about him.

The idea that he would suddenly, at his age, take on a mistress was absurd.

‘Then why?’

Why show so much interest in Lea, whom he had only just met yesterday?

Lea, meanwhile, seemed unaware of Akkia’s inner turmoil. Her face was filled with worry for the duke.

“I think… he sees his late daughter when he looks at me. Without his duchess by his side, he must be so lonely. He mentioned her birthday is in three days. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to stay until then…”

Her voice carried such heartfelt sincerity that she spoke more than usual. Akkia folded his arms and looked down at her.

“So you mean to stay here longer?”

“…If you permit it, Your Grace.”

Seeing the duke’s frown, Lea lowered her voice timidly.

She had only thought to offer a little companionship to a lonely old man before leaving.

“No. We have much to do back in the capital.”

“Yes… I thought so.”

Resigned, Lea nodded slowly, as though expecting this answer. She realized she would have to inform the Duke of Belarus that she could not stay.

“I’ll go and explain it to him.”

“Lea.”

Akkia’s low voice stopped her before she could leave. But even after calling her, he hesitated, silent for a long moment.

‘The Duke of Belarus wouldn’t… but just in case.’

Akkia didn’t think Dmitri shameless enough to harbor indecent thoughts toward Lea. The man hadn’t even taken distant relatives as heirs, so cold-blooded was he.

He recognized only direct blood. Anyone not of his line was treated without mercy.

‘So why show such favor to her simply for resembling his daughter?’

Akkia’s sharp gaze flickered to Lea, then away.

‘This feels wrong.’

The duke’s excessive kindness couldn’t be without reason. It gnawed at him. And during dinner, he had felt oddly excluded from their rapport.

Worse still, seeing Lea worry only for the duke left him feeling hurt.

‘Until I know what the Duke of Belarus is really thinking, I’ll need to keep her at a distance.’

Lea, sensing his heavy gaze, looked up at him quietly. After a long pause, Akkia finally spoke.

“Just so you know…”

“Yes?”

“My rank is higher.”

Lea blinked, unsure she’d heard correctly. What was he even saying?

But Akkia’s serious face made it clear he meant it.

“…Excuse me?”

She stared, wide-eyed.

“And I’m young. Handsome, too. You can see my physique speaks for itself.”

Lea gaped at his absurd boasting.

‘Is this another side effect of the new medicine?’

She could only stare in disbelief at the man suddenly listing his virtues.

“And most importantly—”

Akkia stepped closer, pulling her waist toward him.

Startled, Lea barely stopped herself before falling into his arms. His warm breath brushed her skin as he spoke.

So close their noses might touch, Akkia smiled faintly, almost wickedly.

“I can satisfy you.”

Lea’s eyes widened, shaken by the meaning in his words.

‘Satisfy me…?’

There were countless kinds of satisfaction—financial, culinary, domestic. But among them, her mind went straight to that one night they had shared.

‘Is… is he really talking about that?’

She groaned inwardly.

Seeing his lips curve slowly upward, her heart pounded wildly.

Meanwhile, Dmitri felt a chill, as though even in midsummer the garden still carried Ariel’s absence.

“You must feel the same way, Barton.”

The Duke of Belarus spoke as he strolled through the deserted garden, addressing the butler who followed behind.

“Yes, my lord. She bears an uncanny resemblance to Lady Ariel, as I last saw her.”

Barton bowed his head as Dmitri suddenly stopped and turned.

“Indeed. None of that cursed father’s face shows in her. For a moment, I thought my daughter had returned to me.”

Grinding his teeth, Dmitri’s agreement carried deep conviction.

He had been told the child Ariel bore had died—but something felt wrong. As if someone had spirited away his granddaughter.

“Send men south to find the midwife who oversaw Ariel’s birth. Have her questioned again.”

“At once.”

Dmitri’s instincts, sharpened by decades as head of house, told him Lea was his granddaughter.

The evidence was there: Ariel’s legume allergy, which Lea also had. Allergies were often hereditary.

And her hair—that fiery red, blazing like flame—was too much like his own.

“And another thing.”

Dmitri called Barton back as he turned to leave.

“What do you make of that young duke’s relationship with Lea?”

“…You mean Duke Heidern and the young lady?”

Barton recalled escorting Akkia away earlier under the excuse of urgent business. Akkia’s gaze had lingered stubbornly on Dmitri and Lea as they walked away.

Barton answered honestly.

“It doesn’t seem… ordinary.”

“As I thought.”

Dmitri stroked his chin, remembering Akkia’s behavior at dinner. Clearly, the boy’s attitude was not that of a man toward a mere apothecary.

When Dmitri had invited Lea for tea, he’d seen fire spark in Akkia’s eyes.

As though he harbored tender feelings for her.

‘So the boy fancies my granddaughter.’

Dmitri was already convinced.

Though it had been only a few days since they arrived, Dmitri was forced to reevaluate Akkia.

Once, the boy had cowered before him in the imperial palace, unable even to raise his head.

But now—grown strong, his sickliness gone—Akkia stood tall, looking every inch the emperor. Perhaps even more suited to the throne than the reigning emperor, Illei.

‘Or perhaps… he’s simply hidden his claws until now.’

Dmitri imagined Illei back at the palace. If even he felt this way, what must the emperor have thought when he saw Akkia again?

For the first time, Dmitri found himself intrigued by the young man. He hadn’t cared whether Akkia lived or died in the mines.

‘But if my granddaughter is involved, the matter changes.’

The Duke of Belarus allowed a faint, cryptic smile to spread.

“Duke Heidern, is it…”

Lost in thought, he paused for a long while, then gave Barton an order.

“Summon Cox.”

“My lord, you don’t mean…”

Barton’s voice faltered in surprise.

“Just this once—I’ll lend a hand.”

A meaningful smile crossed Dmitri’s face.