IATVWAMOLS 79

79. That Darn Antidote Won’t Stop My Love (1)

The carriage carrying Icart had left the heart of the Empire and was entering the Ainton Mountains.

The Duchy of Serteia had long since disappeared from view. The castle walls of the imperial palace were gradually fading into the distance.

Icart stared out the window, his eyes heavy with sorrow.

Though his body was moving further away, his mind remained firmly anchored at the ducal estate. The things he had left behind weighed heavily on him.

Philip felt a pang of concern for the young duke lost in his thoughts.

“Your Grace, you should at least try to rest during the journey. It will take a full half-day to reach our destination. You haven’t had much sleep lately, have you?”

“I never told you that you were allowed to speak.”

“Yes, sir.”

Philip immediately shut his mouth.

Count Vermon sat across from him, watching silently.

Thump… thump… thump…

Merely looking at Icart made his heart race uncontrollably.

The wind blowing through the window scattered Icart’s hair.

The golden sunset swept across his straight forehead, the bridge of his nose, and his sharply defined jawline.

Yet his golden eyes remained untouched by the fiery light, shining coolly in their natural color.

That picturesque sight etched itself into Count Vermon’s chest.

He had abandoned everything in his life to follow him, and he did not regret it in the slightest.

It was enough to simply behold a man so chillingly cool and unrealistically beautiful.

“Hey.”

Suddenly sensing the persistent gaze, Icart turned his head toward Count Vermon.

“I-I’m sorry for looking secretly!”

“……What?”

“I didn’t mean to offend you. But I couldn’t help looking… I swear I’ll gouge out these dirty eyes of mine if I ever sneak another glance!”

Count Vermon slapped his own cheek sharply.

Icart exhaled lightly and took out a small vial.

“No, forget that. Take this instead.”

“What is this?”

“An antidote. Judging by your recent behavior, I’ve concluded that you’re in some kind of addictive state.”

“Me? Addicted?”

“Yes. Haven’t you recently come into contact with some mild drugs?”

Count Vermon, confused, suddenly remembered something.

“If by ‘mild drugs’ you mean… a love potion, perhaps? I did obtain one recently for a dinner engagement, but how could you—”

“I don’t know the full details yet, but I received reports suggesting that you took it.”

“Eh?”

Count Vermon jumped to his feet.

“Then all my passionate feelings were just the effect of the drug?”

“Most likely.”

“Impossible…”

Count Vermon sank back down in dismay.

He had been completely intoxicated by the fever of love, his rationality utterly paralyzed.

All this time, he had focused solely on winning Icart’s heart, never questioning the source of these burning emotions.

“Once you drink the antidote, you’ll feel better. If your feelings change after taking it, we can turn the carriage back immediately. Just make a few promises, and I’ll stop the carriage for you at once.”

“But—”

Count Vermon hesitated.

The passion that had upended his entire life was merely the effect of a drug?

During those days consumed by burning desire, love had been everything to him. His every want, goal, and sense of purpose—all had revolved around it.

He had been nothing more than a host conquered by powerful emotions.

Now, being told to shake off the master of his own heart left him with an unexpected sense of loss.

“I understand.”

But his hesitation didn’t last long.

After staring back and forth between Icart and the vial for a long moment, Count Vermon took the vial.

“If you are giving it to me, I will accept it gladly—even if it’s poison.”

The moment Icart handed him the antidote, the answer had already been decided.

Count Vermon opened the vial without a moment’s hesitation. The pink liquid inside rippled.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

The antidote slid down his throat.

The moment the pink liquid was absorbed and its effect spread through his body,

“……!”

Count Vermon’s pupils loosened.

His facial muscles relaxed, leaving his mouth agape. He stared blankly at nothing.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

His heart, which had been racing painfully, gradually returned to its normal rhythm.

His brain, previously refusing normal thought in ecstasy, began functioning again. His heightened body temperature returned to normal.

Feeling every physical change, Count Vermon looked at Icart once more.

The vacant focus in his eyes lasted only for a brief instant.

Then—

Clatter—

“Ah!”

The carriage came to a sudden stop, jolting the passengers violently.

“Are you all right, Your Grace?”

Philip rubbed his tailbone while checking on Icart.

“…Am I still forbidden to speak?”

“No.”

Icart replied briefly, scanning the surroundings.

Since the sudden jolt, the carriage had stopped completely.

The driver shouted toward the passenger compartment.

“Your Grace, I noticed the wheels were stiff, but now they’ve frozen solid!”

“What?”

“We’ll have to stop and check their condition immediately!”

“Your Grace, I’ll get out and take a look as well.”

Philip stepped out of the carriage.

The sun had already begun to set. Darkness was falling over the mountains.

“We can’t waste any more time.”

As Icart casually looked out the window,

Thud, thud, thud!

A deafening roar erupted from the luggage compartment.

“Your Grace!”

“Ugh.”

A tremor, far more intense than before, shook the entire carriage.

It was a destructive force so strong that they could barely maintain their balance.

“Your Grace, dodge!”

But the searing heat that surged like a tidal wave struck Icart first.

The scorching flames engulfed him.

[SYSTEM: Unexpected Event ‘Death of Icart’ has occurred!]

Buzz—

At the same time, my pendant resonated.

“This is….”

It was the pendant Icart had given me just before departure.

It was supposed to send an immediate signal to Icart if my life were threatened.

I didn’t know if it worked the other way around, but my instincts told me something was wrong.

I couldn’t wait any longer and jumped to my feet.

“Steward. Can you locate my brother’s position immediately?”

“If it’s the carriage Master rode, then… considering the departure time, he should be somewhere in the Ainton Mountains by now. But why do you ask?”

“My brother is in danger. Use whatever means necessary—dispatch a search party immediately. As soon as possible.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Steward William hurried out of the reception room.

I instructed a maid to bring my traveling clothes. I was preparing to depart for the Ainton Mountains myself.

“Why are you leaving in such a hurry with guests present?”

Countess Gott, who had been sipping tea quietly, spoke.

“There’s no time to explain. We can discuss this later.”

Just as I was about to rush out, Countess Gott fixed me with an icy glare.

“It’s probably too late already.”

“…Are you implying you already know what happened?”

“Some things can be read without seeing them directly.”

I had many questions, but no time to ask them.

“No. I must see for myself. Let’s go.”

“Brother!”

I rode toward the foot of the Ainton Mountains.

We had only summoned part of the ducal forces, using teleportation scrolls to arrive in the nearby area.

The rest of the troops, equipped with proper search tools, would follow.

We began the search using magical instruments that detect life and radiant stones that illuminated the surroundings.

But progress was slow.

No life signs were detected, and the thick darkness couldn’t be dispelled by the magical stones. Only faint outlines could be seen. In the distance, a faint animal cry echoed.

Anxiety began creeping in.

“Miss! Over here! There’s debris from the carriage!”

“……!”

I urged my horse toward the site indicated by the searcher.

It seemed an explosion had occurred. A shallow pit marked the suspected epicenter.

The carriage wreckage lay in pieces, unrecognizable, a grim testament to the calamity.

One searcher looked up at me, a hollow expression on his face.

In his hands was a half-burned emblem of the ducal house.

“It seems there was an accident with the carriage Your Grace rode. If the explosion was this large, then Your Grace might…”

He swallowed the rest of the sentence.

The searchers dared not raise their eyes. Overcome with horror, they were speechless.

“Ah….”

I felt my strength leave me.

I couldn’t believe it.

I didn’t want to believe it.

Icart, who had become a part of my life and supported me, my steadfast brother, could not have vanished so tragically.

I should have clung to him and begged him not to leave.

I should have told him to look after himself before worrying about me.

Fragments of regret pierced me sharply.

My vision blurred. Wetness streamed endlessly from my eyes.

Buzz—

At that moment, my pendant glowed and pointed toward a specific spot.

“There! Over there!”