TLDOWN 37

chapter 37:

 A Kiss Between Us

“Your Grace, why are you here…?”

Leia, caught completely off guard, could only stare as Akkia walked confidently into the room—like he owned the place.

She blinked, trying to make sense of what was happening, while Akkia lounged casually on the sofa and tilted his chin at her.

“How long are you going to stand there with that dumb look on your face?”

At his words, she automatically took a seat.

‘What on earth is going on?’

This was the reception room of the Magnolia Trading Company—specifically, the room reserved for the company’s elusive master to meet with guests.

And the man lounging on the sofa as if it were his own living room… clearly meant only one thing.

“…Your Grace. Don’t tell me—”

She started to speak but hesitated, hoping she was wrong. The sickly Duke who had been cooped up in the mansion all his life… was the owner of Magnolia?

It didn’t make sense. But Akkia’s answer crushed her doubts completely.

“You look shocked. Your usually quick mind seems to be stalling.”

He rested his chin on his hand and smirked like he was enjoying every second.

“It’s me. I’m the master of Magnolia.”

Leia’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

“The Duke is the head of Magnolia…?!”

Magnolia wasn’t just any trading company—it was the only rising power strong enough to rival the empire’s largest firm, the Parchia Guild.

And the man behind it was the frail, tragic prince who could’ve died any day?

She was sure of one thing: if this ever got out, it would be the scandal of the year.

‘That’s why no one’s ever seen the master of Magnolia…’

He must’ve always sent representatives in his place—rotating them frequently to protect his identity.

A chill ran down Leia’s arms at the realization.

Then another memory suddenly flashed through her mind—Baron’s startled reaction when he saw Akkia in Trenn.

‘Wait. That means… the order to buy my supplements—’

Leia, now composed, looked at Akkia and asked:

“Then… the contract to supply my supplements. That was your doing too, wasn’t it?”

“I figured you looked pathetic trying to scrape together a few coins. So yeah, I told them to make the offer.”

“…Ha.”

Leia let out a short, disbelieving breath.

“And that’s not all.”

“…”

“I also sent emergency supplies to Trenn after hearing about the flood. I figured if something happened to your hometown, you’d lose focus on your antidote research.”

A decent person might’ve kept quiet about such good deeds or at least shown some humility—but unfortunately, Akkia wasn’t that kind of person.

As if hoping for her appreciation, he started listing every minor thing he’d done for her.

“So you sent me to Trenn so I wouldn’t be distracted from my research?”

“Exactly.”

“Then why did you come to Trenn?”

“To keep an eye on you, of course. Make sure you were doing your job.”

He answered without a shred of hesitation.

“And the donation to the orphanage?”

“Well…”

He paused mid-sentence for the first time.

“That place is basically your home. Let’s just say it was for staff welfare.”

He said it casually, like it was no big deal—but Leia’s heart started pounding hard in her chest.

As awkward silence filled the room between them, a knock came at the door and a voice called out.

“Pardon the interruption…”

They thought they were alone—but apparently someone had been standing outside the whole time.

A man entered.

“I was wondering when you were going to introduce me…”

Leia stared in disbelief.

“…Richel?”

“Hey, Leia.”

He gave her a sheepish wave and smile.

Why was he here?

Leia glanced between the two men as she pieced it together.

“Wait… don’t tell me… the ‘important figure’ Richel serves is…”

“Correct. The very man sitting in front of you—the Duke.”

Leia felt like she’d been hit in the back of the head.

‘They’ve been fooling me this whole time!’

She had unknowingly been dancing in the palm of the Duke’s hand—and the realization stung. But soon, another question arose in her mind.

‘But why reveal it now?’

Sure, the Duke had reason to keep it a secret—especially from a housekeeper hired by the former butler. He had every right to be cautious.

But if he was going to hide it, why not keep it hidden? Why reveal everything now?

Something didn’t feel right.

Like she’d stepped into a trap she couldn’t escape.

Leia looked at Akkia with wary eyes. Noticing her unease, he spoke.

“I wasn’t planning to tell you…”

A smirk curled at his lips.

“…but I changed my mind.”

“…Changed your mind?”

Could you stop making life-changing decisions on your own, please?

“We’re not strangers anymore, right?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean—we’ve kissed. Can’t be keeping secrets after that.”

Akkia added nonchalantly, a sly smile playing on his face.

Afternoon sunlight streamed into the office.

A blond man sat at his desk, listening as Marquis Rodrigo reported.

His only cousin—Akkia.

Exiled to the remote Heidern territory, living as a sickly, dying noble… and now news had arrived suggesting his end was near.

“The Duke of Heidern is in a coma.”

The moment he heard how serious the condition was, the man had immediately dispatched imperial personnel—his secretary, Marquis Rodrigo, and several trusted palace physicians.

According to the letter from the territory, the Duke had no hope of waking. The man had sent his people to essentially confirm Akkia’s death.

But what the Marquis returned with was… very different.

“It turns out the Duke only pretended to be poisoned. He seems to have suspected the butler, Bayern, was monitoring him.”

“…”

“He carefully set a trap and waited for the right chance to remove Bayern…”

Clack.
The pen in the blond man’s hand hit the desk with a sharp sound. The Marquis fell silent at once.

“So you’re telling me Akkia wasn’t actually poisoned?”

The man’s voice turned icy cold as his eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.

“So I’ve been played by my dying little cousin all this time.”

“…”

“By someone who could’ve dropped dead any day.”

The Marquis flinched under the weight of those words. Despite his own rank and experience, he could feel the oppressive force of the man before him.

“I… I deeply apologize. I believed Bayern was the right man for the job—he seemed competent and loyal…”

The Marquis dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.

Even though they were half-brothers, any misstep here could cost him his life.

After all, this man possessed the kind of power that could make—or break—empires.

“Yes. I’m quite disappointed in you this time, Marquis.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make up for it…”

Marquis Rodrigo, grinding his teeth, silently cursed.

‘Damn that Bayern…’

That lowborn bastard always called him “brother” just because they shared blood. The Marquis had never liked the man.

But he had seemed shrewd—useful. So he’d used him.

And now… it had backfired, tarnishing his standing with the one man he couldn’t afford to anger.

He clenched the carpet beneath his knees in frustration.

“…Still. I suppose I should give you one more chance, since I value you.”

The man’s tone softened slightly, and the Marquis finally exhaled.

“But what I don’t get is—how did Akkia pull all that off? From your report, it sounds like you’d need considerable knowledge of herbs.”

The Marquis looked up. The man’s face was clearly puzzled.

Even Rodrigo had initially found it strange. Sure, Akkia had spent his youth in the imperial palace, but he’d only received a basic heir’s education—nothing like pharmacology.

‘He couldn’t have done it alone.’

Which meant… someone was helping him.

Immediately, the image of Leia came to the Marquis’s mind.

That bold little apothecary who had presented Jane as a witness and dared accuse Bayern right to his face.

With that striking red hair…

Yes. That girl had been a thorn in his eye.

‘She must be the accomplice.’

After a moment of thought, the Marquis finally spoke.

“I believe the apothecary assisted him.”

“The apothecary?”

“Yes. The new one. She’s sharp.”

At the unexpected name, a flicker of interest sparked in the man’s eyes.

“Most of the staff in the Duke’s household were loyal to Bayern. If there’s an ally, it’s likely the new apothecary.”

“I see. Investigate her.”

“Understood.”

The order had already been given.

As the Marquis stood at the man’s signal, he bowed and turned to leave—when a quiet voice stopped him.

“By the way, what happened to Bayern?”

“He was taken care of. Cleanly.”

Officially, Bayern had been killed by bandits on his way to the capital.

In reality, the Marquis had arranged it. Even if he was the son of a previous Marquis, anyone who brought disgrace to the family had to go.

“Good. Greed always leads to downfall.”

The man’s cold approval passed without fanfare. Then, the Marquis asked:

“What should we do now? With the butler gone, no one is monitoring the Duke.”

The man rubbed his chin in thought. Without Bayern, there was no longer a pretext to monitor the Heidern estate.

Bayern had originally been placed there under the guise of protecting his only cousin.

But now, that reason was gone. And the newly emboldened Akkia couldn’t be left alone.

‘There’s only one option.’

The man made his decision.

“Bring Akkia to the capital.”

‘If I can’t watch him from afar, I’ll keep him close.’

Somewhere always within reach of his gaze.

“…Pardon? You want the Duke here in the capital?”

Surprised, the Marquis looked up.

“Yes. My younger brother has been through enough—I should look after him now.”

But despite the warm tone, the man’s icy blue eyes were sharp as blades, glinting like steel in the sunlight.

“Tell them it’s the elder brother’s wish—to keep his frail sibling close.”

A cold smile tugged at his lips. And the Marquis, seeing that expression, couldn’t look away.

This man—Ileis Magnum von Croatea—was the Emperor. The sun of the Croatea Empire.