DHATP 01

Chapter 1

Prologue

[To Medeia,

I was so happy to get your quick reply, it felt like a stroke of luck. Honestly, when your reply didn’t come for a while, I was worried that you had gotten tired of me. …(omitted)…

Do you perhaps have the same problem as me? I mean, when someone keeps forcing you to do things you don’t want to do.

Recently, a woman has been bothering me even though I keep refusing her. It’s really troublesome.

Is there a way to make her give up completely? (omitted)

With respect, always,
From Forest Keeper]

That was the letter she had recently received.

Kiria replied like this:

[To Forest Keeper,

Whoever she is, she really sounds like a leech, right? For someone like that, you should fight fire with fire.

Push them into a position where they have no choice but to refuse. Like saying: If you don’t stop, then I won’t do this either.

I guarantee it’ll work.

From Medeia.]

Her reply was short and to the point.

Unlike Forest Keeper’s letter that filled five whole pages, her reply didn’t even cover half a page.

But that was just the “Medeia” style.

‘People usually call this a second persona.’

Kiria had been exchanging letters with someone called “Forest Keeper” using her other name, “Medeia,” for over a year now.

She had no intention of revealing her real identity, and that man was the same.

After twelve months of letters, the only thing they knew about each other was their gender.

‘Oh, right. I also told him my eye color once.’

Sometimes, when she felt tired, she wanted to share her troubles with him.

Like why she came “here,” or why she made this other persona.

‘Good thing you didn’t, Kiria.’

If she had confessed, she probably would’ve been the one to stop writing letters first.

Because “Medeia” was the secret Kiria needed to protect in order to keep her freedom for research.

“Anyway… why is this letter still here? I thought I cleaned my desk last time.”

She shoved the letter and the rest of the desk clutter into a drawer.

Time was precious. She had things to do before the night was over.

“Alright then.”

Kiria kicked off her shoes and slipped on feather slippers.

They were made from the plucked feathers of a harpy. The poor harpy had cried from the forced molting, but when given an apple slice, she smiled happily again.

‘That was a good deal.’

Thanks to the slippers, Kiria’s footsteps became silent like an assassin’s. She opened the old door and stepped into the hallway.

Hoo―

Her breath turned white in the freezing air.

The ancient castle in the middle of the forest was as cold as winter at night.

Carrying a small lamp, Kiria walked for a while until she stopped in front of a large, fancy bedroom door.

‘Phew.’

Inside slept the final boss.

‘Excuse me for intruding.’

She asked for forgiveness silently and entered.

On the bed, behind its curtains, lay a man with a face like a statue, sleeping defenselessly.

He was like a real-life Sleeping Beauty.

‘The medicine must’ve worked!’

He always had dark circles under his eyes and even suffered from insomnia.

So she had secretly slipped a sleeping aid into his tea.

He wouldn’t drink it if she gave it directly, so she had to sneak it in.

Now he could sleep well, and she could accomplish her goal. A win-win.

While pulling things out of her bag, Kiria glanced at the man nervously.

His loose nightclothes revealed his collarbone and strong chest.

Even the blanket couldn’t hide his broad, knightly build, trained through endless battles.

‘…I want to touch it.’

Gulp.

‘Oh no, that sounded way too perverted!’

Luckily, he didn’t wake up.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Kiria carefully pulled out a sharp tool from her bag.

A syringe.

‘Just once… Please, just this once, let me succeed!’

Resolute, she lifted the syringe and gently pulled back the blanket.

His sleeves were unusual—wide and long, covering his hands like traditional eastern clothes.

At first she almost asked if he was interested in Eastern culture, but now she knew the real reason.

‘…His left arm was the one not deformed, right?’

She chose the left, since the needle would just break against his right arm.

Slowly, she rolled up his sleeve, revealing a firm arm with veins standing out.

‘Why does this arm look so holy? Is it because he’s a former holy knight commander?’

Touching his arm felt like committing a crime.

‘Stop thinking nonsense. Just do it.’

She pressed along his inner arm to find a vein and was about to insert the syringe when—

“Eek!”

His hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward.

She fell right into the gaze of his bored, crimson eyes—wide awake.

“……!”

Kiria was so shocked that she…

“Hiccup.”

…started hiccuping.

“……”

He just stared at her, speechless.

Embarrassed, Kiria clapped her hands over her mouth. But her shoulders kept jerking with each hiccup.

Hic, hic.

“You really are… something else.”

He sighed, then sat her up and patted her back.

“Hic.”

“Drink some water.”

“Tha—hic—nk you.”

“Hold your nose.”

She followed his instructions, pinched her nose, tilted her head back, and gulped down the water.

It spilled down her chin, but she kept drinking.

Sighing again, he handed her a handkerchief from the bedside table.

But instead, she wiped her mouth with her hand.

Silently, he put the handkerchief away and asked,

“Are you done hiccuping?”

“Yes. But you scared me!”

Instead of apologizing, he calmly replied,

“…I was the one scared. Someone was touching me while I slept.”

“Wh-why do you say it like that?! I just touched your arm a little!”

Ignoring her excuse, he asked,

“Why did you sneak into my room?”

“I… got lost.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“Um… yeah…”

“Then why leave your own room?”

“That’s… well…”

Cornered, Kiria blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Because I wanted to see you, Duke?”

Wink.

“……”

No reaction. If anything, the air grew colder.

So she tried again, pretending,

“As your doctor, I was just doing late-night rounds because I was worried about my patient!”

“……”

Still no response.

Finally, she admitted,

“You never let me draw your blood. But if I can’t get it, I can’t cure your illness. That’s why…”

“…I see.”

At last, he reacted—but his face stayed cold.

“As I’ve told you, you’re only here to manage my condition, not to cure it. No treatment is needed.”

“Don’t say that, please try just once.”

“No.”

“Just close your eyes and let me?”

“No.”

“Please, just one time!”

“No matter how much you beg, the answer is no.”

“Why are you so stubborn? If we do this, it’s good for both of us!”

“……”

“Come on, let’s break the rules just for tonight!”

Wait…

Did she really just say that?

On a man’s bed, at midnight, begging him to “break the rules” with her?

Her face burned bright red.

The Duke tilted his head slightly.

“Break the rules?”

“Y-yeah… break the rules…”

He kept staring at her, unreadable.

What on earth was he thinking?

While fanning her hot face, she suddenly noticed something odd about his words earlier.

“Wait… you didn’t say you won’t do it. You said you can’t. Is there some reason you can’t be treated?”

“……”

For the first time, his face stiffened.

“Do you have a reason it’s impossible?”

“……”

After a long silence, he suddenly changed the subject.

“The monsters here tolerate you, so I’ve let you stay. But if you cross the line again, I’ll expel you. That’s a warning.”

His tone was cold and weary.

But Kiria wasn’t discouraged.

“I wouldn’t go this far if it weren’t important. But my life depends on this, so I have no choice.”

“Your life? What do you mean?”

‘Ah, slip!’

Kiria quickly shut her mouth. She couldn’t explain her situation yet.

So instead, she put on a serious, sharp gaze—like her other self, Medeia.

For the first time, the Duke’s steady eyes wavered.

After a long hesitation, he finally said,

“If your will is that strong… may I add one condition?”

Finally! He’s agreeing?!

“Yes, of course!” Kiria answered quickly.

“Then… would you be willing to marry me?”

“…What?”

“You’d live here with me forever. If you promise that, then I’ll accept treatment. How about it?”

Kiria was speechless.

Marriage?! He said it with such a grim face too, like it was punishment.

‘He looks like he doesn’t even want this. Like he already has someone else he loves.’

‘Well, excuse me, but I don’t want you either!’

Pouting, she shook her head firmly.

“Sorry, Duke, but you’re not my type.”

“…Phew.”

“Wait, did you just sigh with relief?!”

“No.”

That was way too quick! Even ruder.

Expressionless again, he said,

“Then that’s the end of it. It’s late. Please leave.”

“Wah!”

Suddenly, she found herself lifted and carried out.

The Duke placed her gently in the hallway.

“Wait a minute!”

She quickly blocked the closing door with her foot.

“Whatever your reason is, trust me. I really can cure your illness.”

“You said I’m not your type, didn’t you?”

“Well, you’re not mine either. So we’re even, right?”

“……”

The Duke sighed again.

“My illness isn’t something that ends with treatment.”

“…What do you mean?”

“It’s something that must never be cured. No one may touch it. …Except her.”

“Her?”

“Medeia. She’s a brilliant apothecary and an expert in poisonous herbs.”

“Oh? Really? But I heard others saying she only makes illnesses worse…”

“They’re ignorant fools.”

His voice sharpened.

“Don’t listen to people who can’t see her true worth. Remember that.”

“Ah… okay.”

His tone was still stiff, but when Medeia’s name came up, all his weariness vanished.

It was like he wanted to explain how amazing she was but was forcing himself to stay calm.

‘This is like…’

…like a hardcore fan protecting his favorite idol.

“Medeia is the one I trust most. Only she can touch my illness. So give up.”

With that cold statement, he shut the door.

Left alone, Kiria tilted her head.

The Duke’s most trusted, his favorite person—

Medeia.

“…But that Medeia is actually me.”