TLDOWN 26

CHAPTER 26: 

“Stay With Me!”

“G– D–!”

Leah instinctively clamped both hands over her mouth, nearly blurting out “Duke.” Sensing the strange tension between the two, Theo cautiously asked,

“Leah… Do you know him?”

“Ah, well… he’s…”

How was she supposed to explain this? She couldn’t very well say the Duke of Heidern had followed her on her vacation.

As Leah scrambled to find an appropriate answer, the Duke took a step toward them and opened his mouth.

“I’m this apothecary’s—”

He’s not seriously going to say ‘Duke,’ is he?

It was clear he would soon be meeting Tren’s local lord. But if it got out that the Duke had visited, the orphanage could be put in an awkward position.

So Leah cut him off quickly.

“He’s my assistant!”

It wasn’t the best excuse, but it was the best she could manage.

“What?”

“What?!”

Both men replied in unison — one with a stunned face, the other—

“An assistant? You have your own assistant now? That’s amazing, Leah!”

Theo’s eyes sparkled as he grabbed Leah’s hands in excitement.

She avoided his enthusiastic gaze.

Thank goodness Theo’s so clueless.

Anyone could tell the Duke’s attitude was far from what you’d expect of an assistant, but innocent Theo didn’t question it.

The real problem is the Duke…

She glanced at him — and sure enough, his expression looked like he’d just bitten into something rotten.

Well, fair. Calling your boss your assistant? Of course he’s pissed.

Leah forced an awkward smile at Theo, cold sweat dripping down her back.

Even if the Duke was annoyed, there was nothing she could do. She ignored the intense gaze he fixed on her.

“Nice to meet you! I’m Theo. I’ve known Leah since we were kids.”

Akkia, reluctantly, accepted Theo’s outstretched hand with visible distaste.

“…James.”

Apparently, he wasn’t planning to reveal his identity either. He threw out the name of a gardener who worked at the Heidern estate.

But when he didn’t offer even basic pleasantries, Leah jumped in to smooth things over.

“He’s just really shy around new people. Haha…”

“Well, that happens.”

Theo chuckled and grabbed the bags he’d set down earlier.

“Let’s head in. Everyone’s waiting.”

“Ah, right. Then… um, James should get going now, huh?”

Leah gave Akkia a pointed look, clearly urging him to leave. But then—

“Your name’s James, right? Would you like to join us for dinner?”

Theo, come on. There’s no way the Duke is going to eat dinner at a rundown orphanage.

Leah nodded, expecting a polite refusal.

Instead—

“If you don’t mind, I’d be glad to.”

“What?! You’re really joining us? Why?”

He could’ve had a royal feast at the lord’s mansion — why would he choose this?

Despite Leah’s bewildered stare, Akkia just snorted.

“Haha! That’s great.”

Theo laughed, thinking Leah had chosen an interesting assistant.

“Theo, my assistant actually has somewhere else—”

“James! Come on in!”

Leah tried to protest, but Theo had already walked ahead, clearly not hearing her.

Seriously. How can someone be so clueless?

❀ ❀ ❀

At the orphanage, an older woman welcomed Leah.

“Director!”

Maribel, the orphanage’s headmistress, had been like a mother to Leah. Leah rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

“I hear you’re working in the Heidern territory now. How’s the job?”

“Well…”

Leah glanced awkwardly at Akkia.

You’re asking about my job… right in front of my boss…

“It’s wonderful!”

The only correct answer in such situations. No matter the truth, the answer was pre-decided.

“And this gentleman?”

Maribel gestured toward Akkia, who had followed them inside.

“He— I mean, this is my assistant. He came to help with the Magnolia merchant group.”

“Helping Leah? Thank you so much. And your name is…?”

This time, before Leah could introduce him—

“Nice to meet you. I’m James.”

Akkia answered smoothly and even kissed the back of Maribel’s hand.

“Oh my.”

What the—?

Leah blinked in confusion at the sudden shift in the Duke’s demeanor.

Following Theo’s lead, “James” and Leah entered the dining hall.

As usual, dinner was chaotic. Warm bread, soup, and crispy roasted chicken.

The kids, who’d been eating nothing but potatoes and mush, were visibly thrilled by the rare treat.

“Chew slowly, okay?”

Leah hadn’t even touched her own plate, too busy helping the children. Akkia noticed, poking half-heartedly at his chicken.

I gave her time off, and this is how she spends it?

She’d worked all day helping the merchant group. Now she was managing dinner and taking care of the kids.

She hadn’t even taken a single bite.

Akkia looked down at the neatly cut chicken on his plate, sighed, and picked it up to switch with Leah’s.

Just as he opened his mouth—

“Here, eat this.”

Theo beat him to it.

He placed a plate of neatly cut chicken in front of Leah.

“You haven’t had a single bite. I’ll take care of the kids — just eat something.”

“You’re the best, Theo. I was starving.”

As Leah happily ate the food Theo gave her, Akkia found a strange bitterness rising in his mouth.

“James? Something wrong? You don’t like the food?”

Leah asked, seeing Akkia scowling at his untouched plate.

Akkia was about to say it was nothing, but he noticed a bit of sauce at the corner of Leah’s mouth and scoffed.

“So careless, as always…”

He reached out to wipe it—

“Leah, you’ve got something here.”

But Theo got there first, gently dabbing the corner of her lips with a handkerchief.

Akkia’s hand awkwardly froze midair.

Seriously, what is with this guy?

After a few such moments, Akkia’s brows furrowed. He stared across the table at Theo.

Was he eating dinner, or just gazing at Leah?

Theo kept watching her with concern when she didn’t eat, and smiled whenever she laughed with the kids.

He likes her.

That much was obvious.

Now, Akkia turned his gaze toward Leah.

“Thanks, Theo. You should eat, too.”

Despite usually being quick to read the room, Leah didn’t seem to notice Theo’s feelings. She kept smiling at him so openly.

At first, Akkia had assumed Theo was her fiancé — they had exchanged letters, after all. But now it was clear.

It was one-sided.

Akkia felt his mouth go dry and gulped down his water.

Gulp, gulp.

Even after draining his glass, the tightness in his chest didn’t fade.

It felt like eating more would just make him sick. He put down his utensils.

“James, you’re done eating?”

Leah glanced at his half-eaten plate.

Despite the effort put into the meal, maybe the orphanage food really didn’t suit a Duke’s palate.

“I guess the long carriage ride ruined my appetite.”

And with that, Akkia left the dining hall.

Leah found her gaze following his retreating figure.

“Theo, can you watch the kids for a bit?”

She got up and quietly followed him.

❀ ❀ ❀

Outside the orphanage, Leah looked around and spotted Akkia staring off into the distance.

“Duke!”

He turned at the sound of her voice.

“Funny. You were calling me your assistant earlier.”

“Well… I can’t exactly call you ‘Duke’ in front of everyone, can I?”

She gave him a sheepish smile. Clearly, he was still miffed about being introduced as a mere assistant.

“Are you heading to see the local lord? Should I call a carriage?”

She still didn’t know why he was here. The Duke never left the estate unless it was for something important.

She looked into his eyes, trying to figure it out—

Not that he’d ever show his true thoughts.

She gave up. It was easier to assume he had his reasons.

“Duke?”

She looked up at him again. But he didn’t answer her question about the carriage.

In the darkness of the night, without any lights, the Duke stood out — as if he himself was the source of light.

Golden hair that shimmered in the dark. Crimson eyes that slowly locked onto her.

His gaze gave away nothing. After a long silence, he turned away.

“No. This is an unofficial visit. I won’t be seeing the lord.”

“Huh? Then where are you staying?”

That made no sense. If he wasn’t here as the Duke of Heidern, then why…?

Most inns were flooded or being used to shelter evacuees by the lord’s orders.

“I plan to stay here.”

He said it so casually, without even a hint of hesitation, that Leah’s eyes widened.

“W-what? But there’s nowhere to sleep here!”

“…”

“Look! That building over there used to be the kids’ dormitory, but now it’s buried in mud. We’re only using the main building.”

She pointed to a building nearby, its foundation caked in dirt from the flood.

“The kids are all crammed together in one big room…”

Was he seriously still planning to stay?

The main building was ancient — crawling with bugs and possibly even cockroaches.

“You saw the main building, right? It’s ancient. Bug central!”

So please, give up this ridiculous idea already! she was about to say.

She thought that would be enough to dissuade him.

“It’s fine. I’m not that inconsiderate. Besides, if there are no rooms… then there’s no helping it.”

He gave her a mischievous smile.

As if it didn’t bother him at all. Then, he took a step closer and added—

“I’ll just sleep with you.”

Before he could finish the sentence—

Creak!

The front door opened and Theo popped his head out.

“Leah.”

Ugh, him again.

Akkia shot Theo the same look one gives an annoying interruption.

“What are you two doing out here?”

“Ah, uh… James doesn’t have a place to stay, so…”

Before Leah could finish, Theo responded without hesitation.

“Oh, then he can just sleep with me.”

“Huh?”

Leah looked just as stunned.

Akkia — the only prince of the empire — sharing a room with Theo?

If Theo made any mistakes, it could be disastrous.

Leah was about to stop him, horrified, but once again Theo beat her to it.

“It’s fine, right?”

Theo smiled brightly — more radiant than ever.

“Brother.”