TLDOWN 41

CHAPTER 41…..

 Strange Dream

“You’re going to the capital?”

“Yes.”

Lea had been tense ever since hearing that someone from the imperial family had arrived, but the capital?

“His Majesty says he’s worried about his one and only younger brother, so he wants me to stay in the capital for a while.”

So… under the guise of caring for his brother, he’s planning to keep him under watch.

Well, it made sense. The duke now was nothing like the sickly man rumored in the past. On top of that, Akkia had shown that change openly to the emperor’s envoy.

Naturally, the emperor would be uneasy about such a sudden transformation. Lea, having pieced the situation together, nodded.

“Then travel safely. Once the antidote is complete, I’ll send it to you in the capital—”

“What are you talking about? Of course you’re coming with me.”

“Me? Why?”

Lea stared at him wide-eyed, like a startled rabbit.

“To make the antidote. By my side.”

“The antidote only needs additional clinical trials before it’s complete. I can finish it and send it right to the capital—”

Akkia cut her off.

“That clinical trial thing, or whatever it is—don’t do it anymore.”

“What? But we need trials to confirm the drug’s safety.”

“You did it yourself and nothing happened, right?”

Under his unwavering gaze, Lea nodded almost automatically. Other than a slight fever, there hadn’t been any major issues.

Well… I guess that means it’s fine.

And there wasn’t anyone else to test it on, anyway. The fact that she’d survived a high dose of Polarium without harm suggested the antidote worked well. She agreed with him and decided to skip further trials.

❀ ❀ ❀

The next day, she went to bed earlier than usual, since they were leaving for the capital.

It had been an ordinary day, so she expected her dreams to be just as mundane.

But then…

[Duke… ha, haah… I… my body feels so hot…]

In the dream, she was moaning breathlessly, calling for the duke with desperate urgency. Her body burned as though she’d swallowed fire.

The heat was enough to warm the entire room, her whole body trembling with shivers of pleasure, hot breaths spilling from her lips.

Everything about it felt foreign. And then—

[…Lea.]

Through the haze, a low, deep male voice called her name.

Who…?

Was he here to cool her fevered body? The moment his voice reached her, the unbearable heat seemed to ease.

[I… can’t… haa…]

Like a parched wanderer finding an oasis in the desert, Lea swallowed the lips of the man calling her name. A deep, lingering kiss followed.

What… is this?

In the pitch-dark room, she tangled with him. His hand gripped the back of her head, prying her lips apart, devouring her whole.

Her breathing grew ragged.

Between half-lidded eyes, she glimpsed brilliant golden hair, shining even more brightly in the moonlight.

Then her gaze dropped—and met a pair of crimson eyes.

…The Duke?

His eyes were intense, predatory, and full of desire—unlike any look she’d seen from him before.

“Haa… haa—”

Lea bolted upright in bed, hands clapping over her mouth in shock. A muffled moan still slipped through her fingers.

“What… kind of garbage dream was that…?”

Was she that… frustrated?

Even if she was, why him?

It was just a dream, but her face flushed as if it had really happened. The clearer her head became, the heavier the sense of self-loathing that sank over her.

“Why, of all people, the arrogant Duke…?”

Sitting by the bed, she hugged her arms against the goosebumps covering her skin, her fingers trembling in the chill that seeped in.

To dream something so ridiculous… She shook her head and got up to drink some water—then froze.

“Wait… was it really a dream?”

The memory was strangely vivid. And more than anything, the sensation of his lips in the dream didn’t feel unfamiliar.

As if bewitched, Lea brushed her fingers over her own lips.

Ridiculous.

She shook her head sharply, letting out a short, incredulous laugh.

“What am I thinking? If it wasn’t a dream, then what else could it be?”

Still, for a moment, she’d actually wondered if it had happened. She must still be half-asleep.

She tried to force herself to sleep again for tomorrow’s trip. But after tossing and turning dozens of times, she finally sat up in frustration.

“I can’t sleep!”

The duke’s face from that dream filled her mind, suffocating her thoughts.

How am I supposed to face him like this tomorrow…?

The thought of meeting his eyes and talking to him in the morning made her dizzy. Clutching her head in agony, she muttered:

“No helping it.”

She would just avoid him as much as possible. She clenched her fists, vowing to herself—though that vow didn’t last long.

❀ ❀ ❀

Damn it.

Bouncing along in the carriage, Lea cursed under her breath. It had been only three days since she’d sworn to stay far away from the duke.

Why am I in the same carriage as him?!

She’d assumed she’d be riding with the other attendants heading to the capital.

[Wait—just the two of us in this carriage?]

[If you don’t like it, you can sit up front with the driver.]

His indifferent face as he’d said it was still vivid. Somehow, the journey to the capital consisted of just her and the duke.

What noble travels a long distance with only a single apothecary in tow…?

She’d expected at least a few maids, but it was only the driver and a few knights accompanying them.

And since she had no desire to sit in the driver’s seat under the blazing summer sun, she had no choice but to ride inside.

She stole glances at the duke. The carriage was small for speed’s sake, so whenever it jolted, their knees touched.

Each time they brushed, she flinched involuntarily.

At first he ignored it, but after it happened several times, his gaze toward her turned… odd.

“If anyone saw, they’d think I was contagious.”

Unable to hold back, he frowned at her.

“I-It’s not that…”

How was she supposed to explain that the dream kept popping into her head…?

She couldn’t possibly tell him. Every time her eyes landed on his red lips, the dream returned to torment her. She barely managed to keep her face from turning crimson.

As her awkward behavior continued, he looked about ready to say something—

—when the carriage suddenly jolted hard, as if hitting a rock. Lea’s body pitched forward.

“!!!”

She squeezed her eyes shut in alarm—only to open them and find herself in his arms.

Startled, she pulled away at once.

“S-sorry…!”

She retreated to the farthest corner of the seat, turning her head away. The heat that had been simmering inside flared up again, and she fanned herself rapidly.

Ha.

He let out a short, incredulous laugh.

“What exactly are you doing right now?”

“I-I mean… it’s hot today, right? Haha.”

She tried to play it off awkwardly, but he only looked at her with obvious dissatisfaction.

Watching her gaze stubbornly fixed out the window irked him. He didn’t show it, but her constant attempts to avoid him had gotten under his skin.

She didn’t even remember that day’s incident, and now she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Annoyed, Akkia said nothing more.

“…”

They traveled on in heavy silence until at last the carriage slowed to a stop.

“We’ve arrived.”

The moment the wheels stopped, Lea bolted out as if fleeing. Akkia followed with a wry smile.

Trying to ease the awkwardness, she asked brightly,

“This is where we’ll be staying?”

She’d imagined the Haidern duke’s townhouse would be grand, but the modest estate surprised her.

“It’s like a villa. My mother stayed here before moving into the palace.”

“I see.”

Following him inside, Lea glanced around curiously.

Strange… where is everyone?

If the master had arrived, the caretaker should have greeted him. But there was no one—no footsteps, no voices. The atmosphere was almost cold.

“Where is everyone? I don’t see a soul.”

“Of course not. No one’s here.”

“…What?”

She froze at his words.

What do you mean, no one?

“What… don’t tell me—are you saying it’s just the two of us in this whole house?”

“Yes. Why, is that a problem?”

Of course it was!

But after a moment’s fluster, she decided to think positively.

Well, it’s not like we’re in the same room.

In such a big house, just the two of them didn’t seem too bad.

Actually… it might be more comfortable without other people watching.

Back in Haidern, she’d always had to watch for prying eyes whenever she left her room to work on the new medicine.

Here, she wouldn’t have to. In a way, it might even be a good thing.

“Rickel’s tidied it up enough for now, so you won’t have much trouble living here. Trusted staff will arrive soon to manage the place. Just bear with it for a bit.”

As he turned to go, she caught him.

“Your Grace, can I step out for a bit? I want to pick up a few things I need.”

He hesitated, then nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“Great! I’ll be back soon!”

Leaving her unpacked bags behind, Lea headed back out.