TLDOWN 21

Posted by zahid, Released on July 26, 2025

CHAPTER 21
No Taste in Men

Lea slowly awoke from her reverie. Having grown up in an orphanage, she had begun to recall strange memories starting from the age of eight.

A world filled with tall buildings and odd machines—these were the memories of her past life as Yoon Ji. At first, Lea thought something was wrong with her for having such strange dreams.

But once she realized they were memories from a previous life, much of her current life changed. Lea didn’t want to repeat the lonely life she had once lived.

From that moment on, she was able to accept the people at the orphanage as her family.

“Lea, when you were just a newborn, I found you crying at the front of the orphanage. You were only a tiny infant. You must’ve had a story, but…”

“So I was abandoned right after birth. I wonder why.”

“I don’t know the reason either. But you had this necklace with you. It must be something precious, so take good care of it.”

And when she was old enough to hear the details from the headmistress, Lea remained calm.

“It wasn’t the first time I was abandoned by my parents.”

Lea fidgeted with the necklace beneath her dress. Inlaid with a red ruby, it was the only proof she had that she once had a family.

Saying she didn’t resent the parents who abandoned her would be a lie. Even in this new life, being a lonely orphan constantly tormented her.

But she let go of that pain.

“They must’ve had their reasons.”

Letting go of her resentment was her way of surviving. And in doing so, Lea gained more peace of mind than she’d ever had in her past life.

Family didn’t have to be bound by blood. The people from the orphanage were precious family to her.

“I need to send this first.”

There was no time to get lost in thought. Lea gathered the down payment she’d received from Richel and the profits from selling her supplements.

It was a decent amount, but not enough to cover both the orphanage’s food expenses and repairs for the flood-damaged facilities.

“And the rest…”

She had just started her job as an apothecary and couldn’t ask for an advance on her salary. There was no immediate way to get more money.

“Looks like I have no choice.”

With a troubled look, she stared into her pocket, then got up and grabbed a letter she’d prepared to send. She stepped out of the apothecary office.

❀ ❀ ❀

Akkia sat at a table, reading a small note—a kind of daily report.

Since he rarely left his bedroom, the note detailed all major and minor events happening in the mansion. His eyes stopped at one line as he skimmed through it.

“Next is the apothecary. A letter arrived this afternoon from her hometown, Tren. The sender is someone named ‘O’.”

“‘O’? What a strange name. If it’s from her hometown, it’s probably family or a friend. But since she grew up in an orphanage, it can’t be family. Maybe someone from the orphanage?”

Just as Akkia was pondering over it, a knock came at the door.

— “Duke, it’s Lea.”

With a small smile, he tucked the note into his sleeve. Though hidden by the curtains, the sun was already starting to set.

“She’s not here for a check-up at this hour.”

He leaned back deeply in his chair as Lea approached.

“What brings you here? Doesn’t seem like a medical visit.”

“Well… I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

His eyes narrowed slightly as they landed on her. She stood politely, hands clasped, clearly serious.

“Yes. I have an urgent situation. I need to send money back home. But I don’t have any cash on hand.”

“…”

“Could I possibly get the contract down payment in advance?”

She asked shamelessly, as if the money were already hers. Akkia crossed his arms at her bold request.

“I said the down payment would be based on your performance, didn’t I?”

“I know, but it’s really urgent. Could you at least give me a part of it?”

“Haven’t you made a decent amount selling supplements?”

Even just from the servants in the mansion, the income should’ve been substantial.

“That money… well, no. Please, I’m asking you.”

She lowered her head again. Clearly, it was an emergency.

“What could she have spent all that money on? Why is she asking for the down payment now?”

Akkia examined her. Same plain dress, same white apothecary coat. No jewelry or signs of extravagance.

His eyes lowered—she was holding a letter.

And suddenly, the name ‘O’ came to mind.

“You planning to send that down payment to the letter’s recipient?”

“The letter?”

Lea followed his gaze, then lifted the letter with a small smile.

“Yes! It’s actually for Theo. I was going to send it as soon as I got the down payment.”

“Theo?”

It was clearly a man’s name. Akkia’s brow twitched.

“Wait… is ‘O’ short for Theo? Like a nickname?”

Come to think of it, she’d mentioned the down payment right after receiving that letter. The realization that she was sending all her earnings to some man darkened Akkia’s expression.

He felt inexplicably suffocated. A deep, unpleasant feeling swelled inside him.

“The down payment isn’t a small amount. You’re seriously planning to send it to him?”

He remembered how Lea had hounded him about the down payment.

He had thought she was just unusually responsible—but it was all for this Theo.

“He must be pretty special, huh?”

“Theo? Of course he’s important. I can’t live without him.”

She answered without hesitation, her face glowing with a radiant smile. A smile brighter than he’d ever seen.

“Can’t live without him? Are they… engaged?”

As that thought struck him, Akkia’s face darkened completely.

She’d earned money using his mansion’s resources—only to send it to another man?

Irritation boiled over.

“So, you’ll give me the down payment?”

Unaware of Akkia’s inner turmoil, Lea pressed for an answer.

“Why would I do that?”

Just imagining Theo grinning as he received the money made Akkia’s mood plummet.

Even his stomach turned.

“No. Just like I said—when you show results, you’ll get paid.”

“…What?”

“If you want money, then work for it.”

His voice was firm, cutting off her plea.

“But I—”

She had been working hard. How much more was he expecting? But Akkia turned away without letting her finish.

— Thud.

Left staring blankly where he had been, Lea let out a heavy sigh.

She must’ve annoyed him again somehow.

“What is wrong with him?”

People say dysfunction down there makes a man irritable.

For the sake of her peaceful working environment, she had to cure the Duke’s… unspeakable condition as soon as possible.

“I’ll work on a treatment for that area while developing the antidote.”

But first, she had to raise money for the orphanage. Most of the mansion’s staff had already bought supplements.

“Wait, isn’t there a market opening next week?”

It wasn’t a regular event—most villagers would be there. Lea’s eyes lit up.

“That’s the perfect day to sell supplements.”

People from nearby towns would gather too. It was the ideal opportunity.

“Alright! I’ll make as many supplements as I can and sell them!”

Lea had full confidence in her ability to sell.

Her supplements were gaining a good reputation. If she offered them at a discount, she could sell out quickly.

With a determined smile, Lea got busy. She spent days and nights tirelessly making supplements.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Late again.”

The Duke glanced at the ticking clock and gave a dry chuckle.

He’d lost count of how many times this had happened.

Ever since a few days ago, Lea had begun showing up late to their meetings—first by five or ten minutes, but now it was thirty minutes past and she was nowhere to be seen.

She had never been late for medical check-ups before. But today, even on a check-up day, she was late.

“What on earth is she doing?”

He heard she’d been holed up in the apothecary making supplements all day.

Judging by her recent leave request—likely planning to sell them at the market.

Tch. What kind of lousy guy is she sending that money to?

Her salary wasn’t small. If she needed that much extra, he must be a gambling, good-for-nothing leech.

The kind of man who mooches off women.

Thinking of Lea working herself to the bone for such a man made a bitter taste fill his mouth.

“She really has no eye for men.”

Annoyed, Akkia stood up.

No point waiting around. It seemed she wasn’t going to show.

He headed toward the apothecary.