“We’re not exactly on such close terms. If you want to have a proper conversation, show some manners.”
“Not close? We’ve been entangled naked and done everything possible—I’d say we’re beyond close.”
“Rushia!”
Ashika bit her lip tightly. She’d been so lost in thought that the name she’d been calling him in private slipped out.
“…Rushia, is it.”
Drushia slowly savored his own name. It was an endearing nickname that felt good on the tongue, almost sweet. Without realizing it, the corner of his mouth curved upward.
“I like it. So should I call you Ashika now?”
“No, Your Grace, that’s not what I—”
“Why do you keep confusing me, going back and forth like this?”
“It was a mistake. This is just…”
She had no words. How could she explain creating and using a pet name for him after treating him like a mortal enemy?
“I don’t mind you calling me Rushia.”
Ashika’s face flushed red.
‘This is strange. Why is he acting like this?’
Since waking from his comatose state, something about him had changed. His gruff voice remained the same, but the thorns that had been embedded in it were completely gone. Was it just her imagination that he even seemed affectionate?
A Drushia who clung to her desperately—this was an attitude and a gaze she had never experienced before. Except in that strange fantasy.
“Your Grace, perhaps you haven’t fully recovered yet.”
As Ashika struggled to break free from his hand, Drushia’s brow furrowed.
“I’ll explain everything. Please let me go.”
Her plea of “please” weakened his resolve. The strength gradually left the hand gripping her wrist. The touch that slowly withdrew while grazing her delicate skin somehow seemed regretful.
The moment her hand was free, Ashika quickly stepped back. Seeing her create distance as if escaping, Drushia’s handsome forehead creased.
“You’re running away like I’m going to eat you alive.”
“I just want to talk seriously.”
“Why? Is that impossible when we’re close? Do I make you nervous?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Ashika’s flustered face turned red, then pale, then flushed again repeatedly.
The sight of the woman losing her composure was unlike anything Drushia had seen before. It was as if she had thrown off her cold, mask-like exterior and revealed her bare face.
‘That must be her true nature.’
This pleased him, causing unnecessary words to keep spilling out.
Ashika, trying not to get caught up again, rubbed her sweaty wrist.
“So why did you rush into my bedroom?”
“I’ll skip the process and just tell you the conclusion. I confirmed that what you were poisoned with wasn’t an ordinary poison but an alchemist’s potion.”
“An alchemist’s potion?”
Drushia’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer. It sounded quite unfamiliar since alchemists were rare within the Empire.
“It’s called ‘Puppet Sorcery.’ I heard it’s a potion that doesn’t kill you but renders you unable to do anything of your own will.”
Drushia’s face hardened instantly.
“I confirmed it with an alchemist I know, and got the medicine from there. There are three potions in total.”
Ashika took out three vials from inside her clothing.
“You’ve already taken two, and one remains. You need to drink it within a day after waking up, and only after taking all three will your body fully recover its functions.”
“That medicine.”
A memory that had passed like a dream just before his consciousness returned came to mind.
“Did you feed it to me directly?”
Ashika’s face flushed again. Her tightly pressed lips while blushing answered his question.
It was something unimaginable until just a short while ago. The soft sensation that had penetrated his mouth was more vivid than the bitter taste of the medicine. Drushia felt strange, finding it not unpleasant despite his confusion.
“Anyway, the urgent matter is that you need to take the third medicine.”
Ashika held out the last vial. However, Drushia only stared at her silently.
“Even if you don’t trust me, you must take this final dose.”
Her voice was calm, but anxiety was evident within it. As Drushia’s mind grew clearer, strong doubts arose.
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why are you going this far for me?”
A sharper gaze than before turned toward Ashika. Once doubt took hold, all the questions from before followed.
The two had been hostile toward each other. Although Ashika had conceded many points at the negotiation table, that was purely official business. Otherwise, they had thoroughly ignored each other.
Ashika’s attitude had completely changed after the Imperial Palace banquet. Drushia too had been swept up in it, committing acts he could never have imagined before.
“My question is this: regardless of whether I was poisoned or not, why would Lady Igraine go out of her way to help?”
Drushia subtly lowered his still damp hand, removing it from his sight. With the warmth that had been touching him moments ago now gone, he finally felt fully clear-headed.
“That’s…”
The change in atmosphere was so obvious that Ashika hesitated. Somehow it hurt to see the man who had been holding onto her and refusing to let go just moments ago turn cold.
“Think of it as repaying the favor since you helped me break off my engagement.”
“Ah,” Drushia let out a small exclamation.
There had been so many incidents between them. It was a memory he had pushed far away, but it made for a rather plausible excuse.
“That’s right.”
Ashika held out the vial again.
“Now get back on your feet. I don’t want to see you like this.”
Beyond her calmly delivered words, he seemed to hear another voice saying the same thing.
[Wake up. I’m scared seeing you like this.]
Perhaps that hadn’t been an auditory hallucination after all. Drushia accepted the vial with an enigmatic smile.
As the corners of his mouth curved upward, his distinct features gained more vitality. However, some inexplicable threat was felt in that smile that could captivate a woman’s heart.
‘What is he thinking?’
An uneasy feeling crept up in Ashika’s chest. Wasn’t that the smile he used to wear just before squeezing her dry at the negotiation table?
Drushia obediently accepted the medicine and opened the lid. Making eye contact with Ashika, he drank it in one gulp. After confirming he had swallowed the medicine completely, Ashika let out a long breath.
‘Now it’s done.’
She had saved him. He could return to his place completely whole. She felt like she might burst into tears at the relief that Drushia was alive.
Ashika fought back tears as she stepped backward. Having completed her task, it was time for her to exit.
“Duke Talion, I hope you recover soon.”
Drushia did not answer Ashika’s farewell. He simply pulled the bell cord next to the bed without breaking eye contact.
“You called, Your Grace?”
Shortly after, Aegonite appeared instead of a servant. He must have been waiting outside the door all along.
“Escort Lady Igraine to the adjacent room and bring Mia. Have Mia attend to her exclusively.”
“What?”
“Your Grace, what are you…?”
Both Ashika and Aegonite were taken aback.
“Did you think I would simply let an intruder into my estate leave without any verification?”
“I told you. I came to help you. You took all the medicine I gave you.”
“That’s separate from the current situation. Multiple intruders entered my estate, and coincidentally, you appeared on the same day. Are you telling me not to be suspicious under these circumstances?”
It was a reasonable suspicion, but something didn’t add up.
‘If you’re so distrustful, why did you take the medicine I gave you?!’
She wanted to shout that, but no opening could be seen in Drushia’s stern face.
‘How can someone’s attitude flip like turning over a palm?’
She had let her guard down thinking he was a patient. In her desperation to save him, she had forgotten what kind of person he was.
Aegonite made no attempt to hide his discomfort.
“Do you really mean to escort her to the adjacent room?”
The adjacent room was the Duchess’s room. It had long been empty with no one using it, but it wasn’t a place for just anyone.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
At his cold voice, Aegonite bowed his head with a stiff face.
“How about calling a maid instead? Mia doesn’t know how to attend to a Lady.”
“No, it must be Mia. She needs to both attend and monitor.”
“Ha.”
Ashika let out a laugh in disbelief.
‘This is insane. Are you really going to imprison me?’
For the first time, she regretted entering Talion’s estate without warning. Of course, she could only have these regrets because Drushia had woken up.
“Let’s set up an appointment and talk later instead. If you need to investigate, I’ll cooperate. Somewhere other than Talion’s estate.”
“No changes to the decision.”
“Your fiancée…Lady Maiheller is here, but you’re going to confine me in the room next to yours? Does that make any sense?”
“Ah, my fiancée. So that’s the problem?”
Drushia smiled coldly. His complexion was improving, but conversely, his expression seemed to be growing more twisted.
“So I should first…”
However, their conversation was interrupted by a sharp voice from outside the door.
“I heard Dru is awake! I said I would see him!”
“It’s the Duke’s orders. No one is allowed to enter the room.”
“I’m Dru’s fiancée. Move aside right now!”
Ashika’s expression instantly hardened. She truly did not want to face Shafri. She couldn’t fathom what expression to wear when meeting this man’s fiancée.
Drushia looked toward the door where the commotion had erupted, then gestured to Aegonite.
“Take Lady Igraine to the adjacent room.”
At his firm command, Aegonite reluctantly stood before Ashika. Fearing she might be heard from outside, Ashika couldn’t even object.
Better to hide in the Duchess’s room than be discovered. There was another door inside the bedroom that connected to the Duchess’s room. As soon as Ashika entered the adjacent room and Drushia gave his permission, the bedroom door opened.
