TLDOWN 17

CHAPTER 17:

 The Annoying and Troublesome Woman

In the still silence of dawn, with everyone fast asleep, Lea took a key out of the pouch Rikel had given her.

“You must succeed in the treatment. ‘He’ will be watching you.”

Her grip tightened instinctively on the doorknob. Rikel’s chilling voice still echoed in her ears.

It felt like someone was watching her even now.

‘This isn’t the time for that.’

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Lea focused her mind. The only thing she needed to think about now was the Duke.

Click.

As she turned the knob, the pitch-black darkness inside the room enveloped her.

Imagining the man suffering in that darkness, Lea let out a small sigh.

Her steps toward the bed were more cautious than ever.

She had come and gone from this room like it was her own these past few days. But perhaps because she had snuck in secretly tonight, her nerves were sharper than usual.

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she spotted the faint outline of a figure on the bed.

‘He’s still unconscious.’

Sure enough, the pale Duke lay there with his eyes closed like a corpse. Lea set the medicines she brought down on the nightstand.

Then, she scooped some fever medicine onto a spoon.

‘Lowering his fever is the first priority.’

As she leaned in to give him the fever reducer, a sudden force pulled her down onto the bed.

Eyes wide, Lea found herself on top of the Duke. Looking down, she saw his hand gripping her wrist.

“…Your Grace?”

His rough touch burned like fire. When she looked up, his half-lidded eyes met hers.

Even in the darkness, his crimson eyes gave off a chilling intensity.

“You’re awake?!”

Startled by his regained consciousness, Lea raised her voice.

“Too… noisy.”

His low voice came with hot breaths that brushed against her skin.

He gripped her wrist even tighter, showing no intention of letting go.

‘Thank goodness…!’

The fact that he had regained consciousness was a good sign. Relieved by his unexpected stability, Lea exhaled softly.

‘But is he really sick? What’s with this strength?!’

The Duke was gradually pulling her down toward him. If this kept up, she’d end up in his arms.

“W-Wait a second.”

Her voice quivered with panic. As she pressed her hand against his chest to stop him, she felt an irregular heartbeat through her fingers.

‘This is…’

Lea’s hands explored his body, trying to find the cause.

Peeking through his disheveled shirt, she saw it—his skin was covered in red splotches.

‘Just as I thought, it’s a side effect.’

The red spots marked the beginning of vascular inflammation—an allergic reaction to the lynxweed.

Lea bit her lip at the sound of his labored, painful breaths. His forehead, when she touched it, was burning like a furnace.

There was no time to waste.

As she reached toward the nightstand to grab the fever medicine again, the Duke suddenly seized both her arms.

“So… fearless.”

His breath, hot as boiling water, came with every word. Even in pain, he spoke.

“I never said you could come into my room…”

Was that really important right now? Treating him was far more urgent.

Even amid the heat, his red eyes pierced through her.

“You speak… as if you were actually worried about me.”

‘How can he say that?!’

Frustrated after having spent the entire day worrying about him, Lea snapped.

“Of course I was worried! I was afraid something might happen to you!”

The Duke, drenched in cold sweat, let out a scoffing laugh.

“Who are you to worry about me… ugh.”

“Your Grace!”

But he suddenly groaned and let go of her wrist. Alarmed, Lea reached out to touch his forehead again.

‘He’s burning up.’

Not just his head—his whole body was radiating dangerous heat. Unable to withstand the searing fever, the Duke’s breathing grew shallow.

Seeing him collapse, Lea quickly grabbed the fever medicine.

“Your Grace, just try to take a little of this.”

She tilted the spoon toward his lips, but the unconscious Duke couldn’t swallow it.

The medicine simply dripped from between his lips.

“What do I do…?”

He needed both the fever reducer and the antidote. At this rate, she’d waste all of it before she could even begin the treatment.

Then, staring at him for a moment, Lea mixed the fever reducer with the antidote. She would make it work in one go.

‘Even if I have to force it.’

With one arm, she held down his firm upper body and cupped his face with the other. Carefully, she let the medicine drip into his open mouth.

Her hands trembled violently—but she didn’t stop.

‘Please… you have to swallow it all.’

Whether it was her desperation that got through to him or not, the medicine finally went down. Lea sighed in relief, pressing her palm to her forehead.

“Whew. That’s done.”

The worst had passed, but she couldn’t relax yet. The side effects might come back at any time.

Lea decided to stay by his side through the night to monitor his condition.

She prayed that the medicine would work.

❀ ❀ ❀

Even the thick curtains couldn’t block out the morning birdsong that woke Akkia.

‘Where am I…?’

Opening his eyes slowly, he tried to make sense of his surroundings. Then he heard quiet breathing near his pillow.

Turning his head, he saw Lea sleeping against the bed.

“…Why is she here?”

Was she asleep? As he tried to remember why she was in his room, something clicked.

“I’m… not in pain.”

He had felt like he was burning alive. But now, the fever was gone, and even the sharp, stabbing pain throughout his body had vanished.

“What the hell happened…?”

As he muttered in disbelief, a faint, cool scent tickled his nose.

It came from his own body—fresh mint.

He got out of bed and walked toward the window, brushing the curtain aside.

Light flooded into the room, revealing a table littered with medicine bottles.

It looked like the aftermath of a medical emergency.

Wanting a closer look, the Duke approached where Lea was still asleep.

“Fever reducer.”

One small bottle gave off a familiar scent. Another ointment smelled like the one applied to his body.

It was clearly the work of the sleeping woman.

“…Ha.”

And she had dozed off in his room, just like that. With that innocent, peaceful expression.

‘Unbelievable.’

She looked completely at ease, like it was her own room. Akkia clicked his tongue.

Sitting on the bed, he stared at her face.

“What are you thinking…”

She was different. This apothecary.

Was it her strong sense of duty? Or an unusual sense of responsibility toward her patient?

He couldn’t quite understand why she would go this far.

But—

“She’s different.”

She was definitely unlike anyone else who had been around him before. Akkia recalled the desperate way she had tried to make him take the medicine.

“Of course I was worried! I was afraid something might happen to you!”

“Worried, huh…”

No, it wasn’t worry—it was fear that something might happen to him, which would cause her trouble.

Yet, for some reason… it didn’t feel bad.

In fact, it felt a little nice. Hearing someone say they were worried about him.

Akkia’s gaze deepened as he looked down at Lea. He brushed back his sweat-drenched hair.

Then slowly, he reached for her pale neck.

She was annoying. Her lips, always chattering in front of him. Her eyes, making him think she actually cared.

“So annoying… I almost want to erase her.”

No one who knew his secrets had ever survived.

Akkia had always kept his life under tight wraps. If anyone found out—he killed them without hesitation.

It was the only way he could survive.

His hand hovered over her fragile neck… but instead, he gently brushed her swollen cheek.

The apothecary who had fought so hard to save him.

‘Well. I suppose she’s earned a little more time.’

After all, it was thanks to her he was alive and well now.

As he withdrew his hand, the rustling of the sheets woke Lea. Squinting against the bright light, she slowly opened her eyes.

“You’re awake.”

Their eyes met midair—his red ones, her green ones widening in surprise.

As he looked down at her, Akkia spoke quietly.

“You must’ve slept quite well.”

“…Your Grace?”

“In my room. Like it’s your own.”

At his words, Lea’s eyes darted around the room. Realizing she had fallen asleep in the Duke’s bedroom, she bolted upright.

“I-I’m sorry! I must’ve dozed off. I meant to leave once your fever came down…”

“….”

“You were burning up, and I couldn’t just leave you like that.”

Lea stood up and bowed deeply in apology. Then she began explaining the entire situation, even though he hadn’t asked.

To Akkia, she looked like a little chick chirping in protest. It was amusing.

“All right, that’s enough. Go now. If someone sees you here, it’ll be a problem.”

Lea blinked in surprise at his words. Her face changed expressions rapidly, and Akkia found it oddly entertaining.

Realizing the situation, Lea’s face turned sheepish. She fixed the bedding and gave him a quick bow.

“Th-then… I’ll take my leave.”

As she hurried out, stumbling over herself, the Duke’s lips curved into a lazy smile.