TLDOWN 45

CHAPTER 45…….

I Want That Man

They were on their way back from the palace to the Duke’s townhouse. Before the carriage had even reached the estate, Akkia asked Lea, who was about to get down:

“You said you’re going to see Professor Rams?”

“Yes. I met him at the apothecary the other day. He said he was studying poisons. Since I also wanted some advice for an antidote, we arranged to meet today.”

She worried he might disapprove, but to her surprise, the Duke gave permission without any fuss.

As his carriage departed, Lea turned and headed toward Rams’ laboratory, located not far from the city.

Standing before the large mansion befitting his reputation, she felt a twinge of nervousness. Guided inside by one of his attendants, she soon heard his voice.

“Welcome.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Professor.”

“Not at all. I wanted to speak with you myself. I’m grateful you came.”

Rams’ hearty laugh echoed in the study. Several researchers were also present, likely engrossed in their own work.

Through the wide-open windows, sunlight poured into the office.

“So—you used spider venom in your compound?”

“Yes. I wanted to consult you about the side effects.”

Lea produced a sheet detailing the composition and a chart of the side effects, handing them to Rams. He studied the papers silently for a long time.

“Hm. This combination is new. Using spider venom to neutralize Porarium poison…”

“……”

“And as you mentioned before, the only side effect was a high fever?”

On the chart she had written only temporary memory loss caused by high fever. But the new drug’s side effects had not ended there.

The first time they met, Rams had seemed to know about “the other side effect” she experienced.

[‘That’s one of the typical side effects of Priapos. But surely there were others, weren’t there?’]

[‘Are there… other side effects?’]

[‘There are… but it’s not the kind of thing I can discuss here. Why don’t you visit my lab sometime?’]

He definitely knows something.

Rams adjusted his spectacles, eyes gleaming as he looked at her.

“The fever wasn’t the only side effect, was it?”

“Well… no. My memory is blurry, but…”

She remembered her body burning hot with fever… remembered kissing the Duke… but after that, her memory was blank.

“I can’t exactly ask His Grace what happened that night…”

Her voice faltered. She couldn’t just blurt out: “I lost control and did something reckless.”

As she hesitated over how to phrase it—

“Wasn’t excessive… vitality one of the side effects?”

“Y–you knew?!”

Lea nearly knocked over her teacup in shock.

“So it was that side effect after all. Interesting. I’d heard rumors that Priapos spiders were used as aphrodisiacs since ancient times.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“So the legend was true?”

Folklore claimed the venom of the Priapos spider enhanced virility, though no proper study had proven it.

Academic research had only confirmed that when decocted—after removing the venom sac—it could restore strength in patients.

“You must not know the origin of its name. In ancient myth, Priapos was the god of fertility.”

“I know… but I always thought it was just hearsay.”

Who would believe something out of mythology…?

Lea hastily snatched back the formula sheet, her trembling eyes fixed on it in disbelief.

“I used the venom directly.”

“Yes, normally the venom sac is removed before decoction. Still, even trace amounts can invigorate the body.”

Her face turned pale.

“Then… what happened that night really was the drug’s side effect?”

That such a side effect existed at all—her hands trembled as she clutched the chart.

“Then, Professor… isn’t there any antidote? Or at least research on it?”

Her voice revealed her desperation. She couldn’t possibly prescribe a drug like this to the Duke. And the deadline she had promised him was fast approaching.

“Well… no treatment exists for that kind of side effect. Even if you hear otherwise, it’s nothing more than rumor.”

“……”

“We are studying spider venom here, but your formulation is unique. Hm.”

If Rams himself admitted it, then no physician could treat this.

“I’ll come back another time, Professor.”

“Oh? You’re leaving already?”

“Yes, I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

Knowing she had no time to waste, she rose quickly and left, even before Rams could finish speaking.

“Side effects…”

Rams stroked his chin, murmuring to himself.

“It won’t end with just once.”

❀ ❀ ❀

That night, back at the townhouse, Lea lay restless, unable to sleep. Knowing the truth about the side effect only made her more unsettled.

“How can I cure this side effect?”

The symptoms might manifest differently for each person. What she experienced might appear differently in Akkia. After all, male and female bodies were not the same.

But Rams’ words kept circling in her head:

[“There is no known treatment. Any so-called cures are mere superstition.”]

Her heart in turmoil, she opened her eyes again.

“It’s hot.”

Was it just anxiety raising her body temperature? The room felt stiflingly warm.

Her shift was damp with sweat. She pulled off the thin garment she had draped over it.

“Ha… why is it so hot?”

Undressing helped only for a moment before the heat returned, searing her body as though she were standing next to the sun.

“What is this…?”

The capital was windier than Heidern’s domain—it shouldn’t feel this suffocating. She tried fanning herself, but soon the heat overwhelmed her. She shot up from bed.

“It’s not even mid-summer yet…”

Feeling her own body, she flinched. Everywhere her hand touched burned like fire.

“What… why is my body like an ember?”

Her whole being felt like a glowing lump of iron. A creeping unease seized her.

This sensation was familiar. Her hands trembled.

“No… it can’t be.”

That dull ache in her lower abdomen—she had felt this before.

Like that night.

“That night, it was the same.”

The memory flooded her—the night she had straddled the Duke, lowering her head toward him.

Panic gripped her. If this really was the side effect flaring up, that night would repeat itself.

“No. Absolutely not!”

Even just remembering was unbearable—living through it again was impossible. She bit down hard on her lip.

She couldn’t afford to hesitate. She had to cool her body, somehow. A cold bath—yes, that was her only option.

Lea stumbled out of her room, searching for the bathroom.

At first, she thought she could hold on for an hour, but the drug advanced faster than expected. Her legs grew heavy, trembling with each step.

Soon, she had to support herself against the wall, breath ragged. Sweat drenched her thin shift.

“Haa… haa…”

Her legs quivered as though they might give out any moment. She clung desperately to consciousness, fearing collapse.

If she fainted in the hallway, the Duke might find her. She had to reach the bath, no matter what.

Each movement brought waves of heat and shudders up her spine.

“This is insane…”

She couldn’t find the bathroom in the unfamiliar mansion, her senses clouded. Then—her eyes caught a door, partly blocked by a small table.

Without a second thought, she pushed past and entered.

She didn’t even undress fully. She sank into the tub of cold water, which sloshed over the sides as her burning body slipped in.

The icy water quenched her raging heat just enough for her to sigh in relief.

“Ah…”

The water quickly warmed from her body, but at least she had bought herself time.

“This will do.”

Her strength drained away. “If I could just fall asleep like this… maybe the side effect will pass.”

As her eyes drifted shut, a sound shattered the silence.

Click.

The doorknob rattled.

Who…?

Half-lidded eyes turned toward the slowly opening door.

Even in her hazy vision, the figure approaching was all too clear—etched into her memory.

Why…

Why was he here? He was the one she had to avoid most.

Lea bit her lip hard.

“Lea.”

At the sound of his voice, her entire body trembled awake. One word from him, and her carefully held defenses melted away.

“Why are you… here?”

The long struggle she had endured to resist came crashing down in an instant. Lea could no longer deny it.

She wanted that man.