IAYA 20

Chapter 20

At Teansis’s question, I suddenly found myself at a loss for words. What should I say? Would it be all right to tell him the truth honestly?

It had always been my dream to one day confess that I admired him and to ask for a handshake. Even if the situation had turned out a little strange, would it still be okay?

It felt like the moment I had been dreaming of for so long had finally arrived.

I swallowed dryly and spoke in a small voice.

“There isn’t a woman in the Valkanus Empire who doesn’t know of Your Grace.”

Teansis frowned slightly, as though my answer didn’t satisfy him.

But my words weren’t finished.

“I’m one of the countless women who admire you, Duke. That’s why I always hope that you won’t get hurt or sick, and that you’ll always be happy.”

At my words, Teansis froze as if time itself had stopped. His expression was a mix of surprise and… confusion.

After a moment of thought, he looked at me and asked:

“Are you saying that you… like me?”

“Ah… well…”

It wasn’t wrong. I had admired Teansis for a long time, and I liked him enough to daydream about him on my own.

But the reason I couldn’t answer right away was…

If I said I liked him here, it would feel like confessing to him directly.

That wasn’t what I wanted. I just wanted to convey my feelings as someone who had admired him from afar for so long.

“What I meant was…”

Sensing that things were starting to take an odd turn, I hurried to clarify.

Bang!

Suddenly, the door of the log cabin burst open, and the coachman walked in.

“It took me a while to find dry wood in this weather—”

But he didn’t finish his sentence. He seemed to notice the strange position we were in.

Teansis was shirtless, and he was holding my hand.

“My timing couldn’t be worse. Forgive me.”

The coachman quickly set down the bundle of wood he had wrapped in his coat and turned to leave.

But Teansis spoke in a low voice.

“It’s fine. Come in.”

“But…”

“Quickly.”

At Teansis’s words, the coachman hurried inside.

Even though the coachman looked much more intimidating on the outside, it was clear who held the authority here.

Teansis wasn’t only a duke by birth. His subordinates were loyal to him as well.

At last, Teansis carefully released my hand and said,

“Wait a little. Once the fire is lit, it will get warmer.”

“Ah, yes.”

He acted as though nothing had happened, as if my earlier words hadn’t weighed on him at all.

Then he stood and went over to where the coachman was, picking up the wood to start a fire.

‘Huh?’

Maybe it was just my imagination, but his ears seemed bright red.

Thanks to the wood the coachman had gathered, we were able to start a fire in the cabin.

It was impressive that he had found it in this weather, and just as impressive that Teansis managed to get damp wood to burn at all.

The two of them seemed oddly used to this kind of situation.

As I warmed myself by the fire, the coachman approached with a cup he had been heating.

“Here, drink. It’s rainwater I warmed up.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I accepted the warm cup. Just one sip made my chilled body relax.

“I was worried you wouldn’t find it suitable, since you must be of noble birth as an apothecary. I’m relieved you don’t seem bothered.”

It was only rainwater, not fresh drinking water, and under normal circumstances it might have felt unpleasant. But in this situation, I was just grateful.

I had taken care of a mother with dementia for years and managed a household, so I wasn’t quite like other noble ladies who knew nothing of hardship.

“Not at all. I’ll drink it gratefully.”

I smiled as I spoke, and for some reason the coachman scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“My name is Rix. Please call me freely from now on.”

“Yes, I will.”

By now, I had met two of Teansis’s people—Fabian and Rix.

If Fabian was like a sharp sword, Rix felt more like a heavy hammer. Oddly, I didn’t dislike either of them.

As I sipped the hot water again, I suddenly noticed that Teansis, sitting a little ways away, wasn’t drinking anything.

“What about Your Grace? Don’t you need some?”

“There was only one cup, so I gave it to you, Lady.”

I was startled.

I was the one who had been protected by both Teansis and Rix, and yet I was also the one hogging the only warm drink. That wasn’t right.

“I think Your Grace needs this more than I do.”

I held out the cup toward Rix, but he quickly waved his hands.

“No. His Grace ordered me to give it to you personally. I cannot take it back.”

And before I could insist again, Rix hurried away.

I glanced at Teansis, who sat with his eyes closed. He hadn’t moved since Rix had brought the water.

I wanted to walk over and hand him the cup myself, but given Rix’s words, he probably wouldn’t accept it.

‘I really don’t mind…’

I fiddled with the cup, staring at Teansis curiously, wondering what he might be thinking.

Chirp, chirp.

Birdsong echoed through the forest.

By morning, the rain had finally begun to clear.

Thanks to the fire, our wet clothes had all dried. Once ready, we got back into the carriage.

But Teansis hadn’t spoken a word to me since.

He wasn’t usually very talkative, but his silence—so deep in thought—kept drawing my attention.

“Your Grace?”

At my call, his violet eyes turned toward me.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Thanks to you, Lady, I am perfectly fine.”

Despite having had a fever the previous night, he now seemed completely well. His constitution must truly be extraordinary.

“Still, I should prepare you some medicine, just in case. Please take this pouch of remedies. If you feel feverish again, drink what’s inside.”

I pulled out the pouch and placed it in his hand.

He looked surprised at the touch, then studied me with a complicated expression.

Puzzled, I began to explain which herbs were which.

“This one here is for fever—”

“I’ve been confessed to by women before.”

“…Excuse me?”

His sudden words stopped me in my tracks.

His face was serious, and I couldn’t tell where this was going.

“But none of them were as direct as you.”

“Ah, that’s…”

He had clearly taken my words yesterday as a confession. It wasn’t entirely wrong, but it wasn’t quite right either.

I hadn’t intended to win him over. I had never had such ambitions. I knew my place better than anyone.

I needed to set things straight.

“Your Grace, I think you misunderstood me.”

“Misunderstood?”

He gave me a puzzled look.

I nodded firmly and continued.

“I never wished to become close to you, or to stay by your side, or anything like that. I only want the Duke I admire to be happy. That’s all. You don’t need to feel any burden from me.”

But the more I spoke, the darker Teansis’s expression became.

When I finished, he looked at me and asked,

“Is that all?”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m asking if that’s the extent of your feelings for me.”

“Y-yes.”

At my reply, he nodded with a subtle, unreadable expression, as though something inside him had grown more tangled.

“I understand.”

Then he turned to gaze out the window.

Now that it was daylight, I could clearly see his ears glowing red.

I opened my mouth to say something, but stopped. My admiration and my wish for his happiness were true.

Even if things had taken an unexpected turn… they were still true.

As we neared the gates of Kamar Academy, I sensed something strange.

Men in academy guard uniforms were questioning every person passing through.

I frowned in confusion just as Rix spoke from the driver’s seat.

“Your Grace, word just came that Kamar Academy is in an uproar. They’re searching for the apothecary, the Lady here.”

At once, Teansis’s violet eyes darkened.

“Who gave the order?”

“Marquis Fredov.”

At that, I remembered—I had missed last night’s scheduled experiment with Jer. I had planned to return by evening, but the rain had disrupted everything.

“I need to go back quickly.”

I moved to step out of the carriage—

Knock, knock.

But guards were already outside, rapping on the door. Their voices were sharp.

“There will be an inspection.”

As I hesitated, Teansis glanced at me, then opened the door himself.

“What is this about?”

The guards started to answer, but the moment they spotted me inside, they shouted.

“She’s here! We found the wanted woman!”

Fweeet!

A piercing whistle split the air. In an instant, the carriage was surrounded.

I froze.

Then—

Shing!

A guard drew his sword and aimed it at me.

“Come quietly, or—”

But before he finished,

Thud!

Teansis kicked him away in a flash, knocking the blade aside.

“How dare you behave so rudely toward my guest?”

His voice was deeper, colder than usual.

From my seat, I couldn’t see his face, but I could see the guard’s—twisted with fear.

Other guards suddenly noticed the crest on the carriage.

“The Acruze family…” they muttered.

Blue aura shimmered around Teansis like a mirage, beautiful yet terrifying in its deadly strength.

“From now on, anyone who draws a sword must also be ready to die.”

In other words, if they unsheathed their weapons, he would kill them.

Even I was startled, staring at his back.

The air was tense when—

Jer came running from afar, having clearly been informed. He looked even more worn out than before.

“Where have you been? Do you know how long I’ve been searching for you?”

I flinched at his cry.

“I…”

I tried to explain, but Teansis spoke first.

“How dare you put the academy’s apothecary on a wanted list as though she were a criminal—and draw blades on her in my presence?”

Jer’s gaze finally landed on the guards with swords. He frowned and said quietly,

“Put away your weapons and step back.”

“Yes, Professor.”

The guards dispersed immediately. Jer’s authority at the academy was clear.

But Jer didn’t spare Teansis a glance. His eyes were fixed only on me as he spoke gently.

“I was worried when you disappeared. If you were frightened by this, I apologize. Come, let’s go back.”

He extended his hand toward me.

I looked between Jer and Teansis, who still stood in front of me protectively.

But my decision had already been made.

I was about to take Jer’s hand when—

Teansis suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking the way.

“Your Grace?”

Startled, I stared at his back, still unable to see his face.

Jer’s features twisted in anger.

“Why does the Duke of Acruze block my assistant’s path?”

Teansis’s voice dropped lower still as he answered.

“Are you speaking to me?”

He glanced back at me. The morning sunlight lit his golden hair, making him look as breathtaking as ever.

“I am the man this lady likes.”