Chapter 5

The heavy aura of his dragon blood pressed down on me, making me gasp for air.

The novel had said that ordinary people couldn’t even meet his eyes.

It wasn’t an exaggeration at all.

I never imagined I’d meet Cain like this.

While my mind froze from nervousness, my body faithfully carried out the greeting I had practiced countless times.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace…!”

“You know who I am?”

His deep yet smooth voice reached my ears.

I cautiously raised my head and looked at him.

Still…

He really was unbelievably handsome.

Even without his dragon blood, that unreal appearance alone would make people unable to look him in the eye.

Come to think of it… I feel like I saw someone just as handsome recently.

Maybe I’m imagining it.

This wasn’t the time to think about that.

I hurriedly answered his question.

“I-I think there are fewer people who don’t know who you are…!”

I blurted out complete nonsense because I was so nervous.

Fortunately, the Duke didn’t seem to mind.

“Sit down first.”

“Y-Yes!”

Cain gave a small nod and sat on the sofa across from me.

I awkwardly sat down as well.

Honestly…

I still couldn’t believe this was happening.

I came here to meet Cain, so this is great…

But why?

It felt strange.

This was like the company president personally interviewing an entry-level employee.

Pretending to look at the table, I secretly glanced at him.

Cain crossed one leg over the other and slowly looked through my documents.

Then the interview began.

“I’ve read your résumé. It’s rather simple. There’s no record of you attending an academy. Did you have a teacher?”

Ouch… He’s getting straight to the point.

“I… taught myself!”

“Yourself?”

Cain narrowed his eyes slightly.

He clearly didn’t believe me.

I understand why he’s suspicious.

But it’s true.

Remembering the saying, Always tell the truth, I gathered my courage.

“Yes… I didn’t have the opportunity to study under anyone.”

Studying pharmacy wasn’t easy.

Most people either became apprentices or attended an academy.

After that, they took the national examination.

I had skipped the first part.

More accurately… the Marquis’s family never gave me the chance to learn.

“I see.”

Fortunately, Cain didn’t question me further.

Instead, he asked several simple questions.

Trying to hide my sweaty hands by wiping them against my skirt, I answered each one carefully.

Most of the questions were about medicine and herbs.

They weren’t particularly difficult.

After a while—

Tap.

Cain placed my documents on the table.

“Let’s end the interview here.”

…I’m finished.

I closed my eyes.

I failed, didn’t I?

This was an interview at the Duke’s mansion.

There was no way it could end this quickly unless I’d been rejected.

It was disappointing.

But it couldn’t be helped.

After all, getting the job had never been my real goal.

Right.

Now that the interview is over, it’s time to tell him why I really came.

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

Then—

“I’d like you to start working tomorrow.”

“…What?”

“You’ve passed.”

“…Me?”

Why?

I stared blankly at him and pointed at myself.

I haven’t even shown him what I can do yet.

Before I could ask any more questions, Cain took out a pen and quickly wrote something on the contract.

“This salary should be acceptable.”

The number was far larger than I had expected.

My eyes widened.

“Um… Is this my monthly salary?”

“That’s the weekly salary. Would you prefer to be paid monthly?”

I couldn’t stop myself from gasping.

I had heard the Duke’s mansion treated its employees well.

But this was far beyond my expectations.

Wow.

So this is why people say it’s good to work for a rich family.

With this much money…

I could buy Melody new clothes every day.

I could stack expensive macarons into little towers for her.

And…

I tried thinking of more things.

But I quickly ran out of ideas.

I guess you have to be rich before you know how to spend money.

Either way…

It was an incredibly tempting amount.

But—

“No. The salary is fine.”

“More importantly…”

Come on, Viola.

You can do this.

Think about Melody waiting for you.

My heart pounded wildly.

After gathering my courage for what felt like the hundredth time, I finally spoke.

“Before I continue… I respectfully ask that everyone else leave the room.”

Cain tilted his head slightly.

For the first time, a small crack appeared in his expressionless face.

“If you’re trying to catch my interest… you’ve succeeded.”

His deep voice was calm.

He gestured toward the servants.

Within seconds, only the two of us remained.

Cain motioned for me to continue.

My mouth had gone completely dry.

I had no idea what would happen after I said this.

This involved one of the Duke family’s greatest secrets.

He might even kill me.

But if I didn’t speak first…

I could never propose my deal.

After reviewing my plan one last time, I clenched my fists.

“I’d like to suggest different terms.”

“…”

“I can cure your nephew, Young Master Jayden’s Tamutar Disease.”

“In return… please protect a young girl who is a candidate to become the Saintess.”

“Hah.”

A short laugh broke the silence.

The faint interest in Cain’s eyes vanished.

They became as cold as ice.

“So you’re a spy.”

“N-No, I’m not.”

***

Cain Ashelrn had two nephews.

Noah.

And Jayden.

They were the children his older brother had left behind after he and his wife died in an accident.

Although Cain was now the Duke…

Only a few years earlier, he had never expected to live this kind of life.

It was because of his dragon blood.

Among the direct descendants of House Ashelrn, his dragon blood was unusually powerful.

His very presence frightened people.

From a young age, he had spent little time at the mansion.

Instead, he wandered throughout the Empire, hunting monsters.

Then everything changed overnight.

His older brother, the heir, died.

Soon after, his father also passed away.

Suddenly…

He inherited the title of Duke.

And became the only guardian of two young children.

Neither was a future he had wanted.

Still…

Cain quietly fulfilled his duty.

Every day he traveled across the Empire, dealing with monster outbreaks.

In doing so, he protected both his territory and the Empire itself.

People feared him.

But they also respected him as a powerful ruler.

The only thing that didn’t go according to plan…

…was his nephews.

To be honest, Cain wasn’t comfortable around either Noah or Jayden.

He had never known how to deal with children.

They were little beings who cried and ran away without him doing anything.

How could he possibly feel comfortable around them?

Even so…

He tried.

He might not have been the perfect guardian.

But he always did his best.

Although monster hunts kept him away from home most of the time…

His nephews gradually grew up.

They still feared their uncle.

It doesn’t really matter.

Cain was used to fearful eyes.

In fact…

It felt stranger when people weren’t afraid of him.

Maybe that was why…

This woman kept staying on his mind.

“Stay still!”

She had scolded him exactly as though he were a mischievous child.

Even now, thinking about it left him speechless.

He had used the ointment as an excuse to bring her to the mansion.

But when he thought about it…

Perhaps it had only been an excuse.

From the very beginning…

He had been interested in her.

A pharmacist this skilled is rare.

Even after returning home, he couldn’t stop remembering her soft pink hair.

But he had never imagined she would attract his attention again like this.

Or that she would dare mention Jayden’s illness.

“Spies these days have become quite fearless.”

“They even dare make deals in front of me.”

A mocking smile appeared on Cain’s lips.

“So.”

“Where did you hear about it?”

“H-Huh…?”

“I asked who sent you.”

Her eyes grew round.

Just moments ago, she had boldly proposed a deal.

Now she trembled under the pressure of his aura.

All color drained from her pink lips.

“N-No… That’s absolutely not it…”

“No?”

“…No.”

Even while being crushed by his overwhelming presence, she forced herself to answer.

Cain smiled coldly.

What an unconvincing lie.

Jayden’s Tamutar Disease was one of House Ashelrn’s greatest secrets.

He had kept it hidden because it was his nephew’s greatest weakness.

An ordinary person could never have discovered it.

Someone had definitely sent her.

Was she from the temple?

Or perhaps the imperial family?

No…

This didn’t feel like something the Emperor would do.

Still…

Only someone with that level of power could possibly know.

While Cain considered the possibilities…

The woman stubbornly continued denying everything.

“I’m really not a spy!”

She kept shaking with fear.

Yet she refused to confess.

“Do you think simply denying it is enough?”

Cain stepped closer.

She gasped.

“Why don’t you just claim you figured it out yourself?”

He spoke like a warning.

The woman lowered her head.

Is she about to cry?

Honestly…

It was impressive she had held out this long.

Then—

“Yes!”

“T-That’s right!”

“That’s exactly it!”

“What?”

Cain frowned.

Her sudden cheerful voice was the last thing he had expected.

“Just like you said!”

“I… figured it out!”

She lifted her head and looked directly at him.

Her body was still trembling from the pressure of his dragon blood.

But her fresh green eyes looked completely honest as they met his.