Chapter 13
Ah, whatever! Let’s just go out together! He promised to make the medicine, so he probably won’t kill me yet.
“Okay. Let’s go together.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll go change into my outing clothes—could you please wait inside for a moment?”
“Sure.”
Thanks to that, I ended up entering the duke’s main estate with him. While he was changing and getting ready, I played with Luka and Tofu in the room next door.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”
Once he came out dressed up, Calix’s already stunning appearance had somehow leveled up even more.
Wow, I feel like I’m going blind from his looks.
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I didn’t even notice the time passing while playing with the pups.”
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
For some reason, the duke decided to escort me.
Shh, quiet, heart. Please don’t act up.
My temperature rose as I tried to calm my rapidly climbing heart rate. I was sure my face was just about to explode.
With his escort, I made it into the carriage.
No, this isn’t good. This really isn’t okay. Good-looking men may be good for the eyes, but they’re hazardous to the heart. I steeled myself and called out to him.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
“You really don’t have to go this far.”
“Escorting a lady is only proper. Please don’t feel burdened.”
His gentle smile was like a delicate lily in bloom.
I like it, but I hate it! I hate it, but I like it! In the end, all I could say was…
“Uh, okay.”
That dumb response was the best I could manage.
Idiot. Elena, you idiot. Why am I like this? There are some faces you’re allowed to fall for and some you just shouldn’t. Really, this must be what people mean when they say they want to cry.
I felt so pathetic, yet the sight of the duke was so divine that I didn’t know what to do with myself.
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“Are you feeling unwell? Your face is red.”
“N-No! Not at all! I feel perfectly fine! I-I mean, it’s just a little warm! Yeah, it’s hot in here! Hahaha!”
As he leaned in to take a closer look, I was so startled I nearly jumped out of my seat. It was a miracle I didn’t hit my head on the ceiling of the carriage.
I started fanning myself and looked away, while the duke smiled and said it was a relief.
Stop smiling. I might die.
Although I’d been alone with the duke (plus two dogs) several times before, being trapped in such a small space made things feel far more awkward and tense.
Please, carriage, move. Faster!
Maybe the driver understood my heart, because we soon arrived in front of the herbal medicine shop.
“Are you coming in too?”
I asked the duke before getting off, and he nodded with a smile.
It’s cold, so he could’ve waited inside the carriage.
Instead, he got off first, cradled Tofu in one arm, and offered me his other to escort me inside. The two guards who had accompanied us remained quietly outside.
Since we were already out, I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to look at some pet supplies. Luka and Tofu were just so cute that the thought naturally popped into my head.
As we opened the door together, the cheerful ring of the shop bell greeted us warmly.
“Welcome! Miss, you’re back again!”
“Hello, sir.”
“The gentleman with you looks pretty important. Is he your boyfriend?”
“No. Definitely not.”
I cut the shopkeeper off before he could say anything more ridiculous.
That old man is seriously playing with fire. It’s a miracle he’s still breathing after saying something like that. If Calix took offense to such a comment, I’d be dead by now.
But the shopkeeper kept eyeing us curiously, and Duke Calix just smiled mysteriously, so I figured I’d better give a proper explanation.
While I could brush off the shopkeeper’s assumptions, the duke might actually be offended. He’s a high-ranking noble, after all. And who knows what that smile even means? That’s what’s scary.
“He’s… my employer.”
“Ah-ha! With a boss like him, I bet work feels worth it, huh, miss?”
“Uh… yes.”
“And you, young man, you’re lucky to have such a smart and pretty subordinate!”
The shopkeeper babbled on, clueless.
There were widespread rumors that Duke Calix was bedridden due to poor health, so no one in the duchy had actually seen him in person. In that sense, it wasn’t surprising the shopkeeper didn’t recognize him.
“Elena is a good doctor.”
The duke nodded and responded sincerely to the shopkeeper’s words.
From that alone, I could tell he wasn’t a bad person. Watching his unexpectedly kind and gentle demeanor, it was impossible to imagine him as a killer. He wasn’t just good-looking; even with his servants, he rarely got angry.
The shopkeeper changed the subject in his usual bright, upbeat tone.
“So, what are you buying today?”
“Everything listed on this paper. I’ll need a bit more of the Chinese cork tree bark, dandelion, and Houttuynia.”
“That’s quite a bit today. Just a moment!”
The shopkeeper cheerfully disappeared into the back to gather more ingredients and prepare them.
The duke looked around the store with curious eyes—it seemed like this was his first time visiting.
“Is there anything you’re curious about?”
I approached and asked gently.
“I don’t know much about medicinal herbs, so I can’t tell what anything is.”
“That’s normal if you haven’t studied medicine or pharmacology. This one here is mandrake. It’s rare, and this batch looks to be in good condition. The shopkeeper must’ve worked hard to find it.”
“Is it good for your health?”
“No. Usually, it’s used as a hallucinogen or aphrodisiac. Sometimes it’s used for terminal patients to relieve pain, since it can’t be cured. But if you take too much, it can be fatal.”
Oh no, that’s not something I should’ve said.
“I see.”
The duke nodded thoughtfully while still staring at the mandrake.
Please, don’t take interest in stuff like that.
“These red ants over here are also used in medicine. Be careful though—they bite.”
Trying to divert his attention, I pointed to a jar filled with ants. The glass was packed with wriggling insects.
“You can use ants in medicine too, huh?”
“If it’s for treatment, you’d be surprised what gets used. Even, for example… animal droppings…”
I trailed off, realizing I almost said something ridiculous—especially with two dogs right beside me. The last thing I needed was the duke gathering their poop and handing it to me for medicinal use.
“All done!”
While we were looking around, the shopkeeper returned with an armful of packaged herbs.
“That’s a lot. Are you sure you can carry it? It’s more than last time.”
“Please deliver it to the ducal estate.”
The duke answered for me.
“Oh! Of course! Then I’ll add the cost to the ducal tab as well!”
“Elena, shall we go?”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
Led out by Duke Calix, I felt a bit dazed. I knew more about herbs than he did, yet somehow he ended up taking the lead.
“Are you heading straight back to the estate?”
“Actually… there’s somewhere I’d like to go first. If you don’t want to come with me, you can head back.”
“Where is it? Let’s go together.”
“I wanted to check out a new scone shop. Since we’re already out, I figured I’d stop by.”
“Scones, huh? Sounds good. Let’s go together.”
So I ended up going to the scone shop with the duke and his dogs.
Luka and Tofu are surprisingly well-behaved. How do they not bark once or get distracted? Most dogs would be curious and sniff around, but these two were oddly calm.
Did the duke train them well? Or were they just naturally this gentle? I couldn’t tell.
As we got closer to the scone shop, a rich, buttery aroma filled the air.
“They must be baking scones constantly! The smell is amazing!”
“Yeah. Smells delicious.”
Excited, I chirped energetically, and the duke smiled and agreed.
When we finally entered the shop, a familiar yet unexpected name rang out.
“Rosemary! You burned the scones again! If you keep this up, just quit already!”
The angry shop owner was yelling and pointing at a woman with water-colored hair tied back.
Rosemary? The adulteress connected to the second victim? Is it really her?
The owner didn’t seem to notice new customers had entered and kept shouting.
“I only hired you because I pitied you living like a beggar, but you can’t do a single thing right! Can’t even bake bread properly—no wonder your husband left!”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Rosemary kept bowing and apologizing, but the owner’s rage didn’t subside.
“Get out! And don’t even think about today’s pay!”
Eventually, Rosemary was kicked out and trudged away from the shop.
