TLDOWN 43

CHAPTER 43……….

It’s Not a Dream

The man repeated the exact same words those traffickers had said to Leah earlier.

Who is he?

His movements were as light as a knight’s. The man who had suddenly appeared and subdued the traffickers approached her.

“You’re quite fearless, coming into a slum like this alone.”

“…Ah. I just… couldn’t ignore it when this child said her mother was sick.”

“It’s one of the traffickers’ tricks—using children to lure people in.”

Then he knelt down to meet the little girl’s gaze.

“Do you see that man over there?”

The child, who had been hiding behind a wall, looked where he pointed and nodded.

“If you go talk to him, he’ll be able to help you.”

The girl started in that direction, but paused, turned to Leah, and gave a deep bow before hurrying off.

“What will happen to her?”

“Most of them are orphans, so they’ll arrange some work for her or something similar.”

“I see.”

“In any case, I assume it’s your first time in the capital. Don’t be so quick to get attached to strangers here.”

His words were a gentle warning, spoken with the warmth of sunlight but without any rudeness—almost as if he were addressing a young noblewoman. Leah, caught up in his manner, blinked and collected herself.

“I’ll keep that in mind. And… thank you for your help today. You saved me from serious trouble.”

She bowed to him. He smiled faintly, as though amused by her fluster.

“Think nothing of it. You’re not hurt anywhere?”

“Not at all…! Thanks to you, not a scratch!”

“That’s good to hear.”

“…Yes.”

What is this?

There was an odd sense of familiarity about him, though she was sure they had never met before. She tried to search her memory for where she might have seen him.

“Where are you headed? I’ll escort you there.”

“I need to go to Delta’s herbalist shop… but I can go alone. If you could just point me in the right direction?”

She didn’t know where she was after chasing the child. Rikel or the merchant guild employee might be looking for her, but rather than wait for them, it seemed better to head back.

“I’ll take you. I’m going that way anyway.”

“If you’d be willing, I’d be very grateful.”

His kindness was reassuring.

…

“If you keep going that way, you’ll reach Delta’s herbalist.”

“Thank you again for today. I feel like I should give you something in return…”

“Then… could you tell me your name?”

“…My name?”

The request startled her. Still, a name was harmless enough.

“I’m Leah.”

“Then, Miss Leah—”

He suddenly took her hand and kissed the back of it.

“I hope we meet again someday.”

Before she could respond, she heard a familiar voice from behind.

“Rikel?”

“What happened?! I was on my way to the slums—are you okay?”

Rikel came running up, face flushed and dripping with sweat, clearly having rushed over after hearing the report from the merchant guild staff.

“Sorry… I tried to help a child and ran into traffickers… but this gentleman helped me.”

Rikel frowned, as if confused.

“What gentleman?”

“Huh? He’s right—”

She turned, but there was no one there.

“Anyway, I’m just glad you’re safe. Let’s go. The Duke will be waiting.”

“Okay.”

Leah followed him, still puzzled.

From a distance, someone else was watching them leave.

“Red hair…”

The man murmured as he watched Leah’s hair flutter—brilliant as if it held burning flames.

“Haken.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Find out everything about that woman.”

“Do you mean the red-haired one?”

“Yes. I have a feeling there’s something about her.”

Her unusual hair and strangely familiar face made his eyes turn cold as he watched her disappear from sight.

❀ ❀ ❀

It had already been two days since they’d arrived in the capital.

As the strange dream faded from her memory, Leah stopped avoiding Akkia—though it was still awkward to be around him.

I can’t avoid the Duke forever.

From the way he’d been sulking, he seemed displeased with her evasiveness.

That day, she was pretending to be calm while reading with him in the study when the sound of a horse kicking—a racket more suited to a circus—came from outside. Leah jumped.

“Wh-what was that? Did you hear it too, Your Grace?!”

“…Sigh.”

Akkia shut his book with a snap and rubbed his forehead, clearly knowing the cause.

“Your Grace?”

Seeing her expectant look, he rubbed his face and explained.

“I have a mare I used to keep back in Heidern—Grace. I couldn’t keep her there, so I left her with Magnolia. I brought her here when we came to the capital.”

Leah recalled that two horses had been brought into the townhouse stables a few days ago.

No wonder they looked like such fine stock—they were his.

Their glossy coats and well-built forms were far beyond what carriage horses usually had. He must have left Grace in Magnolia to avoid suspicion about why a sickly duke would own such a fine horse.

“Yes. But why—?”

“The black mare is Grace. The brown stallion is just a spare for emergencies. The problem is, those two keep trying to mate.”

That’s it?

She’d thought it was something serious, but it was almost trivial—though naming his horse “Grace” somehow suited his arrogant personality.

“Then why not just let them?”

Mares could be bred from March to September—this was exactly the season. The townhouse wasn’t large enough to muffle the sounds from the stable.

So that’s what those strange noises were this morning.

“They’ll keep going into heat until she’s pregnant,” she thought, shuddering.

But Akkia replied firmly, “Absolutely not. I won’t pair Grace with some low-blooded stallion. I should have brought her a stallion worthy of her lineage.”

He sounded genuinely regretful.

“Then you should find a good-blooded stallion quickly. It’s best to relieve those frustrations as soon as possible—horses get stressed too.”

“You’re right. If I don’t, I’ll probably dream about their whining.”

“Yes, that’s best—”

She froze mid-sentence.

Frustration… and dreams. Those two words suddenly took over her mind.

“Something wrong? Did you think of another solution?”

Seeing her face stiffen, Akkia’s voice also hardened.

“N-no. Nothing…”

She hid behind her book.

Why did that damned dream come back now?

She had thought she’d forgotten it, but just hearing those words had brought it back.

She lowered the book, her eyes drawn to his lips.

Ugh… I’m losing it.

Overcome with self-reproach, she jumped up—if she stayed here, her face would turn as red as a tomato.

“Where are you going?”

“I-I just remembered something important! I’ll be going now!”

She hurried to put her book back on the shelf—but shoved it in too forcefully, making the stack above wobble.

A thick book began to fall toward her, but Akkia was suddenly there, catching it.

“What’s the rush?”

His warm breath brushed her ear.

“What’s so urgent?”

She could feel the heat of his body at her back, his arm around her waist. She knew her face must be crimson.

“Leah.”

He spoke softly—

[Leah.]

Huh?

There was something familiar in the way he said her name, as though she’d heard it before.

What memory is this?

Her eyes darted.

“You’re hot… feverish,” he said, placing a hand on her forehead.

[Your Grace… I-I’m so hot…]

His words triggered another memory—one she’d dismissed as a meaningless dream.

“I think you have a fever.”

[I… can’t… hah…]

In the memory, her own voice was breathy and low. Suddenly, the rest of it crashed over her like a wave.

No way.

That dream she’d assumed was just some frustrated fantasy—

“Leah?”

The vivid feel of lips, the air, the heat of breath—it had all been real.

The coolness of his palm wasn’t enough to calm the heat surging through her now.

Ah… I’m screwed.

For the first time, she regretted taking the new medicine that day.