IAYA 15

Chapter 15

The world had changed.

That was the only way I could describe it.

If before, I had been like a speck of dust, existing yet invisible, now I had become someone whose every step was followed by people’s stares.

“Aren’t they saying it’s her?”
“That girl from the dispensary? The one Duke Acruse supposedly sided with?”
“Yeah. That woman from the rumor.”

Even though my coworkers were whispering loud enough for me to hear, I carried my plate and walked on as if nothing had reached my ears.

Since yesterday—when students had plastered themselves against the pharmacy windows just to catch a glimpse of me—now even the staff in the dining hall had started gossiping.

I didn’t need anyone to explain. It was obvious. The incident with Theansis in the dispensary yesterday had already spread.

After he left, Petrine had stormed out looking wronged. She must have run around telling everyone.

‘It’s fine. It’ll pass in a few days. People will lose interest soon.’

I knew this well—I had once been among those whose ears perked up at the mention of Theansis.

Me, tied to him by rumor? Ridiculous.

He was surrounded by the most prominent young ladies of the Vulcanus Empire. There was no story to be told between him and me—just an ordinary academy employee.

The only reason attention was on me now was because it happened to be Theansis. Soon enough, the smoke would dissipate.

It wasn’t the first time, either. Rumors always swirled around him—about whom he had escorted, what he had said—but within a few days, they were forgotten.

‘Thank goodness. Today’s menu looks normal.’

Yesterday’s trauma of being served raw liver and blood pudding still haunted me, so I had feared something strange again. Thankfully, breakfast was entirely ordinary.

I took a seat in the corner, spread butter on fresh bread, and smiled in contentment.

Just as I bit into the bread—

Clack—

Someone placed a plate across from me.

Before I could see who it was, the dining hall filled with gasps and chatter.

‘What…?’

When I lifted my head, I saw a face that had, once upon a time, only appeared in my dreams, but had now become a part of my daily reality.

Theansis.

“C–cough, cough!”

The shock made the bread lodge in my throat.

He glanced at me, then wordlessly handed over the white milk he’d brought for himself.

“Eat slowly. You’ll choke.”

This was his fault to begin with!

Eyes watering, I accepted the milk. Without it, I might have suffocated.

But to others watching, the sight of me drinking from Theansis’s milk was shocking—beyond shocking.

The cold, untouchable Theansis… offering milk to a woman?!

Their faces screamed disbelief without needing words.

After managing to swallow, I glanced around nervously and asked quietly:

“Your Grace, what brings you here?”

“What else? I came to eat.”

That made no sense. He had the Empire’s top chefs in his residence. There was no reason to be in the staff cafeteria.

Much less at my table!

“Wouldn’t your meals be better in your quarters…?”

“I’m tired of them.”

His answer was crisp and firm. He cast me a sidelong glance.

“Besides, isn’t this cafeteria open to students as well? Why—problem?”

It wasn’t against the rules. Still, a bad feeling twisted in me: the rumor wouldn’t die down easily.

“…No, please, eat.”

For a moment, I considered moving, but that would only worsen the gossip. And honestly—I was starving. I hadn’t eaten properly in days.

I decided to deal with the situation later and focus on the food in front of me.

I ate as naturally as possible. The stares were uncomfortable, but the food was delicious.

‘Nothing tastes better than a meal someone else made.’

Just as I smiled, biting into a sausage—

Slide—

Theansis speared one of his sausages and placed it on my plate.

The dining hall erupted, the noise ten times louder than before.

“Did you see that?!”
“Oh my god, what are they to each other?!”

Even I gaped at him.

This was… strange. He was doing this on purpose.

“Your Grace, what are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why give me your sausage…”

I glanced down at it, uncertain. Once, I would have been thrilled. Now, I couldn’t just be happy.

“No special reason. You seemed to enjoy eating, so I offered it.”

“I’m fine—”

“Eat well. Your health is precious to me, too.”

What?

I froze, staring at him wide-eyed.

I couldn’t begin to guess what he was thinking.

The rumor, far from dying out, spread even faster thanks to the cafeteria incident.

The once-quiet dispensary was now swamped.

People faked illnesses just to get a look at me. I was drowning in work.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

“Look—it really is Duke Acruse.”
“He’s actually inside the dispensary…”

Incredibly, Theansis never left.

Once, I had only wished to see him once in real life. Now I was seeing him too much—it was burdensome.

The day I wished to push him away had come.

Keeping an eye on the gawkers outside the window, I whispered:

“Don’t you have classes to attend?”

He turned those peculiar violet eyes on me.

“There aren’t many professors who can teach me.”

“Not only swordsmanship—surely there are other fields—”

“I’m not only a genius with the sword.”

“…Ah.”

I had watched him long enough to know he excelled in every field, not just combat. I had nothing to say.

“Then when do you plan on leaving the dispensary?”

“Why? Is my presence unwelcome?”

He said it so calmly it almost sounded brazen. And yet—even that was dazzling.

“Can you say that after looking at all the students plastered outside the windows?”

He finally glanced at the girls pressed against the glass, but looked entirely unmoved.

“Is this uncomfortable? For me, it’s routine.”

I was speechless—but could feel the truth in his words.

Wherever he went, people’s eyes followed. Unlike me, he wasn’t unsettled by it.

“I’m not comfortable with crowds. If you’re not actually unwell, please return—”

Before I could finish—

Theansis clutched his stomach awkwardly.

“Ah.”

He groaned. Startled, I stared, but he simply murmured:

“My stomach suddenly hurts.”

“Again?”

“Perhaps something I ate yesterday was spoiled.”

“You said that earlier.”

“Yes. I don’t think I’ve recovered yet.”

And with that, he lay down on the dispensary’s bed like it was his own.

I gaped, and he laced his fingers behind his head, murmuring:

“I’ll nap.”

“What?!”

Despite my protest, he shut his eyes, motionless.

He looked like a god painted by a master artist—so beautiful it was infuriating.

Then—

“Kyaaah! It’s the Duke!”
“Look, look!”

Screams came from outside.

With no choice, I drew the curtains around his bed.

People jeered at me for blocking their view, but I couldn’t just leave him exposed.

Just as I finished—

From inside, I thought I heard a faint chuckle.

So faint, I might have imagined it. But I had felt something like this before.

‘Hmm?’

Puzzled, I returned to my work. Thanks to him, I had a mountain of prescriptions to prepare.

Because Petrine and I were at odds, teamwork in the dispensary was nonexistent.

I ended up doing most of the work. And with my shallow knowledge, I had to work more slowly and carefully.

With Theansis hanging around, I was utterly swamped.

‘Diarrhea, he said? This medicine should help…’

As I checked each preparation, the door creaked faintly.

When I turned, no one was there. Shrugging, I went back to work—

“Duke! Please accept my love!”

A girl’s shrill cry cut the air.

Before I could react, a student threw herself at the curtained bed, clutching Theansis in a desperate embrace.

I froze.

But—

Boom!

The instant she touched him, she was flung away.

A surge of blue aura burst from his body, crashing into the room. The girl slammed into a bookshelf, shattering it.

“A–ah…”

My jaw dropped.

But then—I heard harsh, ragged breathing.

Not from the unconscious girl. From Theansis.

Alarmed, I yanked the curtains back.

There he was—ashen, drenched in cold sweat.

The man who had faced monsters with composure now looked like he was collapsing.

“Your Grace?”

I couldn’t understand. Sure, being assaulted by a stranger was unpleasant, but this?

Then I saw them—angry red welts spreading across his neck.

Not just his neck—his hands, his arms. Breaking out everywhere.

“Y-you’ve got hives…”

It hit me. This was what he had mentioned before.

“…Khh…”

He doubled over, pained.

I had seen him fake illness many times to linger in the dispensary.

But this—this was real.

“Hold on, I’ll get medicine!”

I rushed to the desk, scanned the shelves, and grabbed an antihistamine with pain relief—broad enough to help.

Carrying the pills and water back, I tried to support him.

He slapped my hand away.

“…Don’t touch me.”

The first time he had spoken to me in informal speech.

I froze.

His violet eyes lifted to me, filled with wariness—like a wounded beast.

I couldn’t speak.

Why? Why did someone who seemed to have everything look at the world with such shadowed eyes?

Gradually, his gaze steadied. He seemed to confirm my face, then murmured:

“I’m fine. Don’t touch me.”

His voice was calmer now, formal again. But his rejection was clear.

His eyes screamed it: no one was allowed near.

I exhaled softly.

“How could I just leave you like this?”

“Stop—”

Ignoring him, I seized his hand—hot with angry welts—and lifted him enough to take the pill.

I wasn’t a skilled healer, but I worked in the dispensary. I couldn’t abandon someone suffering in front of me.

His skin was shockingly cold—like ice.

He stared at my hand holding his, stunned, motionless.

I placed the pill in his palm, guiding it to his lips.

“Swallow it. You’ll feel better soon.”

I trickled water past his lips until he obediently swallowed. Relief washed over me.

He had looked close to death.

I wiped the sweat from his brow with my sleeve, just as I used to for my ailing mother.

His eyes, unreadable, lingered on me.

“This is the first time.”

“What is?”

“That someone’s warmth doesn’t feel unpleasant.”

“…Then I’m glad.”

Slowly, the hives began to fade.

It couldn’t just be the medicine. This wasn’t normal.

“If it’s not rude… may I ask why you break out like this?”

His violet eyes locked onto mine, as though holding entire constellations.

“Do you… want to know about me?”