Chapter 29

Elena was making extra batches of the medicine she had successfully formulated.

 

“You’re amazing, miss. How did you even know? And your ideas—so clever.”

 

Humming a little tune, Elena kept her hands busy. It was Lepina who had given her the lead that allowed her to create a more effective medicine. Lepina’s knowledge of herbs often impressed Perio as well.

 

“That’s how she is. She acts as if it’s nothing.”

 

“Watching her push herself makes me feel like I can’t fall behind either.”

 

Perio looked at Elena with satisfaction. He had no worries about the next generation at all. A fine physician was growing under his care. Seeing them motivate each other to work even harder warmed him.

 

“Master, is the young lord’s condition still very bad? I mean, hasn’t it been quite a while since we reached the point where—even if it’s not a complete antidote—the poison’s activity is almost fully halted?”

 

Elena asked about Evan’s condition. Lepina constantly worried about him, but in truth, Evan had improved a great deal. As long as he took his medicine regularly, he had little trouble going about his daily life.

 

The medicine they had now was far superior to what Lepina had used in the original story. With Lepina’s cheat-like game knowledge, Perio’s seasoned experience, and Elena’s innate genius, the three of them working together could create exceptional medicine with relative ease.

 

After numerous experiments with newly developed formulas, Evan’s condition improved dramatically. With this new upgraded version as well, anyone looking at him would never guess he was someone poisoned to the brink of death.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then why is the young lady still…?”

 

“Heh, love works wonders.”

 

Elena’s eyebrow twitched upward.

 

She’d disliked him from the very beginning. When Lepina first brought her to him, Evan had glared at Elena with fierce eyes—as if silently telling her she didn’t belong here.

 

It had made her shrink. Lepina insisted he wasn’t like that, that he was a good person, but his sharp gaze was anything but gentle.

 

Elena could see nine tails behind Evan, yet Lepina happily kept him close and cherished him. Even when Elena timidly suggested something seemed… off, it went unheard. So Lepina continued treating him as if he were made of glass.

 

Elena didn’t like it one bit. To her, Evan—this fox who had deceived her savior and stolen Lepina’s attention—was no different from a trickster spirit!

 

Whenever Elena spoke with Lepina, Evan would somehow find a way to intrude and interrupt them. And when he grew healthy enough to walk around and occasionally attend the academy, Lepina always stuck by his side. Even after he graduated, she frequently left the academy early so she could check on him, sacrificing sleep to do so.

 

Lepina didn’t realize it, but she was rather well known—in both good and bad ways. Elena blamed Evan for the fact that Lepina couldn’t fully enjoy academy life like other noble girls, couldn’t participate in the glamorous social world.

 

When Elena had first seen Lepina in childhood, she had thought her a princess-like figure, yet now she spent her days serving her fiancé. Elena didn’t like it.

 

Her dream had come true thanks to Lepina. She wanted Lepina to live a bit more freely—for herself.

 

“I’ve told her countless times, but she won’t listen.”

 

“You’re not the only one. I tried too. She likes doing it, so let her.”

 

Perio had once felt so sorry watching Lepina exhaust herself that he told her she didn’t need to fuss over Evan so much. In return, Lepina had scolded him so fiercely he nearly went deaf.

 

“How could you, his physician, say something like that? If we don’t worry about him, who will?” she yelled.

 

‘There’s a reason other people don’t worry,’ Perio thought ruefully.

 

He had raised a white flag. Worse, Evan overheard that Perio had said such a thing and told him off thoroughly. Evan warned him sternly not to speak nonsense.

 

“I like love that’s reciprocated. But the young lady only gives and never receives anything back.”

 

“That depends on the person. She’s happy as she is.”

 

“Whatever the case, I don’t like him!”

 

Perio smiled awkwardly as Elena turned her head away with a huff. She acted mature, but she was still only seventeen—a girl who likely imagined love in idealistic colors.

 

Perio pictured Evan and Lepina.

 

“The young lady is too protective of the young lord…”

 

Because Evan’s health was fragile, Lepina believed it was her duty to protect him. But from an outsider’s perspective, Lepina was more like a little rabbit crawling into the arms of a sleeping lion.

 

‘It’s almost time…’

 

And soon, that lion pretending to sleep would quietly devour the rabbit so she wouldn’t get startled.

 

With graduation from the academy, they would officially become adults. And noble ladies typically married their childhood fiancés soon after.

 

At this rate, they’d finish developing a complete antidote soon anyway. But even without it, she’d likely be swallowed whole as soon as she graduated.

 

Perio chuckled, amused. Growing old made simply watching young people flourish enjoyable.

 

Elena tilted her head, puzzled by his sudden laughter.

 

 

***

 

 

“—Huh!? What time is it?!”

 

I shot upright. Evan’s sudden talk of marriage had scrambled my mind until it overheated. Judging from the fact that I’d fallen asleep without realizing it, I must’ve completely short-circuited.

 

Right beside me was the other culprit—peacefully asleep. I stared blankly at Evan’s face, amazed. He grew more handsome by the day.

 

‘Wow… those eyelashes are long.’

 

I didn’t know when we had gotten so close, but he had one arm wrapped around me as he slept. Snapping out of my daze, I carefully inched out of his hold, making sure not to wake him.

 

Whenever his brow twitched, I held my breath.

 

But all my effort went to waste as the door slid open.

 

“Young master, the duke—oh.”

 

It was Liman. Our eyes met directly. He blinked once, then quietly closed the door.

 

“W–wait! Why are you leaving!!”

 

When I shouted, he reopened it with a grin.

 

“…It felt like I should give the two of you some space.”

 

“What kind of space!?”

 

At the commotion, Evan slowly stirred awake. He yawned and rested his head against my shoulder as if it were natural.

 

“Liman…? What is it?”

 

“It’s time for your meal, sir.”

 

“Already…?”

 

I turned toward the window and saw that the sun had long set. The sky was stained red. My mouth dropped open.

 

‘I’m going to get scolded again…’

 

“I didn’t realize the young mistress was still here. My mistake. In that case, would you like to dine with the young lord before leaving? I’ll also contact Count Clies on your behalf.”

 

“…Yes. Please do.”

 

He was quick as always—this wasn’t the first time.

 

“Are you okay with that?” Evan asked quietly.

 

“Yeah… it’s late anyway. And it’s been a while, hasn’t it? Back in the academy we always ate lunch together.”

 

“Even with all the unwelcome guests.”

 

I smiled faintly. Those unwelcome guests were my brother and Elena. They always bickered yet got along surprisingly well.

 

“Is there anything you’d like to eat? I’ll relay it to the chef.”

 

“No, it’s fine. I can’t be picky when I’m being treated to a meal. And… can’t you do something about that title?”

 

I glared at Liman with narrowed eyes. He called me “young mistress” every chance he got.

 

“What other title could suit the future lady who’ll stand beside the young master?”

 

He wasn’t even pretending. I gave up and shook my head. I was the only one in this household bothered by that title.

 

‘I need to fix this soon…’

 

The duke’s family seemed convinced I would definitely marry Evan. What about Elena? Had no one noticed the pink glow between them?

 

As I mulled it over, Evan guided me forward, and we followed Liman.

 

Then I spotted someone speaking animatedly with the duke.

 

“…Ugh.”

 

I quickly hid behind Evan.

 

‘Count Montana…’

 

That tall man with striking blue hair was unmistakable. Few people could converse casually with the duke. And his massive frame stood out even from afar.

 

Count Montana was the duchess’s brother and the duke’s right-hand man—one could say.

 

Evan immediately understood my reaction.

 

“Oh, it’s my uncle.”

 

Of course he understood. Siblings tend to resemble one another. The count and the duchess shared the same severe, dignified expression—the kind that made you wilt just by meeting their eyes.

 

And the count didn’t particularly like me. He had openly stated during our first meeting that I was unfit for the duchy.

 

‘Well, from his perspective, that’s fair…’

 

He knew exactly why the duke had so readily entrusted me with the merchant guild and knew the full circumstances of how Evan had been poisoned. He had never explicitly said he disliked me, but his eyes had been clear enough.

 

Even now—look. He clearly noticed me hiding behind Evan. The corner of his eye twitched.

 

“Your Grace, I’ll take my leave. Please send my regards to my sister.”

 

“Hm? Why not stay and dine with us?”

 

“I appreciate the offer, but I have pressing business.”

 

Count Montana approached us slowly. I bowed quickly, and Evan bowed as well. He gave us a curt nod before passing by.