TLDOWN 11

CHAPTER 11 –

 “Good for the Night”

“Duke, I’ve brought your meal.”

It was a day like any other. 8 a.m. sharp. As usual, the maid entered the Duke’s room pushing a trolley with breakfast.

A warm mushroom soup and freshly baked bread, steaming as if it had just come out of the oven. Visually, it was a meal befitting a duke.

The problem was that Akkia didn’t think so.

It had happened not long after she arrived at the Heidern ducal estate following her departure from the palace. Akkia had fallen ill for several days from being poisoned by the soup.

Fortunately, it hadn’t been a fatal dose—just enough to put her in serious pain for a few days. But even water droplets can drill through stone.

Even trace amounts of poison are dangerous with sustained exposure. And that was likely exactly what they intended.

‘To die slowly in this tiny land, with no one on my side.’

Yes, in this duchy, there was no one on her side.

That’s why Akkia stayed on alert, suspicious of everyone, and waited. Waited for the day she could escape this wretched, transparent prison.

But then—

[“I don’t want to catch your cold, you know. Just drink it already.”]

Using such a ridiculous excuse to pull something so childish… Akkia furrowed her brows as she recalled last night.

It had been an entirely impulsive act—to have medicine made for the apothecary who had caught a cold.

For some reason, she had gotten under his skin that day.

Her pale cheeks flushed red with fever, her usually clear voice broken and raspy with coughs—everything.

‘Red hair, huh…’

Maybe it was because that hair color was rare in the Empire. Like a drop of blood on untouched snow, she stood out vividly.

Perhaps it was simply because she was the first woman to ever leave such an impression on him.

Or maybe… it was just sympathy for the apothecary who had ventured into the rain to forage herbs after hearing his words.

[“I heard you were once poisoned. You might still be ingesting toxins. So I made you an antidote.”]

Had she said that out of genuine concern?

“No way,” he muttered to himself.

How long had it even been since they met? She wouldn’t seriously care about him. She was probably only worried because she stood to lose something if he died or got hurt.

No one genuinely cared for him anymore. Everyone who did was already dead.

For a moment, he thought he caught a whiff of the blood scent that used to engulf him. Feeling nauseated, Akkia shoved the food trolley with his foot.

And just then, there was a knock, and Lea entered the room.

“Sorry I’m late, Duke.”

She came rushing in with jujube tea in her hands. Likely overslept again. She placed a teacup on the table in front of him.

“Thank goodness you hadn’t started eating yet. I was worried you might’ve already begun.”

He gazed at Lea, who was panting slightly from her rush. Her flushed cheeks suggested her cold hadn’t fully gone away.

‘There I go again, thinking unnecessary things.’

He scoffed softly at himself, then looked at Lea as she began moving busily.

She took small tastes of the soup and bread from the trolley, then flipped over an hourglass. Her movements were practiced, as if it were routine.

‘What if there really is poison in it?’

As an apothecary, she should know better than anyone how dangerous poison could be. Was she fearless? Or just thoughtless?

While he observed her like an unsolvable riddle, she suddenly spoke:

“Everything seems fine with the food, Duke. But drink your tea first—jujube works better on an empty stomach.”

Lea smiled brightly as she offered him the cup. After eating food that might be poisoned, she still smiled like that.

A woman like her started to get on Akkia’s nerves.

After lunch, Lea stepped out into the garden to get some fresh air. Perhaps still affected by her recent bad cold, her body felt heavy at times.

“Oh, right. I should drink this.”

She took out a small vial glowing with a golden hue—her homemade vitamin supplement, made by blending berries and herbs rich in nutrients.

It had originally been something she was researching to boost the Duke’s stamina.

She’d needed a human test subject anyway, so she had decided to take it herself.

“Ugh, sour…”

‘Maybe I should add a flavoring to cut the sourness?’

The concentrated vitamins were potent, and after a week of taking them, she definitely felt less fatigued. Her skin even seemed brighter.

As she stood lost in thought, staring at the empty bottle, a group of passing maids approached.

“Miss Apothecary, what are you drinking?”

“Oh, it’s a vitamin supplement!”

“Supplement? What’s that?”

“Something to give you nutrients?”

The maids tilted their heads at the unfamiliar word.

Lea froze a moment. She had taken it for granted that everyone would know what vitamins were, just like in Korea.

“It’s made from herbs and fruits rich in vitamins and minerals—it boosts your energy.”

“Really? What happens if you take it? Do you get healthier?”

Their eyes sparkled with interest, as if they’d discovered something fascinating.

‘Oho?’

Surprised by their unexpected enthusiasm, Lea’s mind raced. In this world, the concept of supplements didn’t even exist. If she started making and selling them…

She could make a lot of money.

‘Yes, this could be a goldmine!’

Her tone instantly lifted with excitement.

“Of course it helps with health! I’ve been taking it for a week, and look—my skin’s visibly brighter! Can you see how smooth it is?”

Stress from dealing with the Duke had made her skin dull lately, so the supplement’s effects looked even more dramatic.

She couldn’t be 100% sure the supplement was the reason, but it clearly played a part.

“Oh wow. It’s true—your skin looks like polished porcelain.”

“Miss Apothecary, can I buy one too? I’m so exhausted these days.”

“Me too! My skin’s all dry from the season change. I need one.”

With Lea’s smooth pitch, the maids eagerly expressed their intent to buy.

Across time and culture, skincare was always a major concern for women. The atmosphere around Lea heated up in an instant.

“What’s going on here? Why’s there a line?”

As the garden got livelier, a group of male servants, finished with lunch, approached.

“They’re lining up to buy supplements.”

“Supplements? What are those?”

“They boost energy! Make you less tired, stronger, and they’re great for your skin too! Look at this!”

One male servant looked interested at first but scoffed when he saw the small golden vial handed to him.

“Tch. What the—this is women’s stuff.”

“Luca, of course there’s a version for men too.”

Lea smiled at Luca, who looked unconvinced. In truth, she hadn’t made a men’s version yet, but she could start now.

Luca handed the vial back to her, unimpressed.

“Come on, Lea. Look at these arms. Do I look like I need some vitamin thing?”

He flexed his brawny arms, veins popping with muscle—clearly a man who did heavy labor.

He even tilted his head proudly toward her, inviting her to feel them. Normally, Luca wasn’t this showy.

‘Must be because of that maid he’s been seeing lately.’

Just then, she made eye contact with a maid walking behind him—Luca’s rumored girlfriend.

“I don’t need stuff like that, right?” he said louder, clearly aware of his girlfriend nearby.

‘Men and their pride…’

Lea clicked her tongue inwardly, then a great idea hit her.

“Forget health—this is something you really need, Luca.”

“I need it?”

Lea leaned in close and whispered seductively.

“It’s really good… for night performance.”

“Wh-what?!”

Luca blushed furiously, clearly shocked she would say such a thing outright.

‘How did she know…?!’

He had recently started dating Amy, the girl he’d crushed on for ages. Nervous about disappointing her, he’d been working out like mad.

It felt like discovering an oasis in the desert—his eyes sparkled with hope.

“R-really?”

‘Gotcha.’

He took the bait. Lea smiled triumphantly.

“Of course. It’s called an energy booster for a reason. That definitely counts.”

Encouraged, Luca whispered to the other male servants.

In no time, the entire group swarmed around, eagerly signing up on the reservation list.

“Lea, I’ll take one too!”

“Me too! This really works, right?”

“Of course. It’s a premium-grade supplement.”

It might not be as effective as traditional aphrodisiacs, but male stamina was linked to physical endurance anyway. So there had to be some connection.

The list, once full of only maid names, was now crammed with male ones too.

Lea hugged the list to her chest proudly, already planning to start production that very day.

Just as she turned to head back to the apothecary lab, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure disappearing into the mansion from afar.

‘The Duke?’

It looked just like him—but she shook her head. He never left his bedroom unless it was dawn.

“I must’ve imagined it.”

Lea turned away, already giddy thinking about all the money she was about to make.