Chapter 80
The Sickly Duke’s Obsession (2)
“If you want to fight, then go fight outside. I still have a lot to do here, you know?”
“Lucy, that’s not it. Your Highness keeps insisting on staying in this chair.”
“Then that’s between you two to resolve.”
Elusiana cut Noel’s whining off with a sharp remark and sprang to her feet. The two men, startled, quickly closed their mouths. As if they had never fought at all, the fierce tension in the room suddenly dissipated, leaving them nervously glancing at each other.
At that moment, Elusiana sighed and pressed her hand to her forehead.
Seeing this, Aster quickly pulled a small bottle from his pocket in the pocket dimension.
“Elusiana, take this.”
Elusiana eyed the tiny bottle, barely the size of a pinky finger, filled with a blue liquid, and frowned in confusion.
“What is this?”
“A headache medicine. Haven’t you had a headache for a while now?”
Aster handed the small glass bottle to Elusiana, stopping Noel from stepping forward. She silently opened the cap and prepared to drink.
If only someone had given me this sooner…
She briefly felt a twinge of resentment, but her headache was unbearable.
“…Thank you.”
She gulped it down in one swallow. Soon after, her eyes widened in surprise.
“…! What… what is this?”
Noel, who had been anxiously watching her, jumped up in alarm.
“What kind of medicine did you give her?!”
Aster calmly ignored Noel’s outburst and explained gently.
“This is the most effective headache medicine produced by the Sestain family.”
The potion Aster handed over contained magic reserved only for the duke’s direct line. Its effects were so powerful it could almost be considered an extra life if one were barely alive, and it was incredibly rare—there were very few in existence.
And yet, Aster had disguised such a precious potion as a simple headache remedy and had Elusiana take it.
For a moment, Elusiana forgot her anger and marveled at its effect.
Wow—why does my head feel so refreshed?
It was as if she had been overworked for years and had just woken up after several days of deep sleep—the heaviness was gone, and her body was light and full of energy.
“…This really works well.”
Blushing slightly, Elusiana looked at Aster with gratitude.
“I’m glad it helped.”
“Is this all I should do?”
Noel, who had quietly positioned himself behind her, gently pressed his fingers to her temples.
“W-What are you doing, Noel? Take your hands away.”
“Just stay still. This kind of massage is more effective for a headache. How does it feel? Relief, right?”
“I-It feels good, but… hmm…”
Noel’s hands moved gently, cradling Elusiana as she squirmed. Her expression soon softened, relaxed by his touch.
Seeing this, Aster grabbed the empty bottle Elusiana had set down and gave a cold smile.
“Very ill-mannered and rude.”
He burned the empty bottle with blue flames and draped his hand over Noel’s shoulder.
“Didn’t you hear me, Sir Klaus?”
“Just wait a moment. It’s not over yet.”
Noel playfully brushed off Aster’s words and returned to massaging Elusiana, casting a sidelong glance at the duke.
“Are you testing my patience?”
“Does His Grace dislike Lucy being comfortable?”
“This is childish. I can’t stand hearing such nonsense—”
“Please! Stop it!”
“…!”
“…!”
The sharp, high-pitched shout silenced both men instantly. The once-fierce glares from the two men alternated under Elusiana’s piercing, crimson eyes.
Feeling the deadly glint in her seemingly gentle eyes, both men flinched and averted their gaze.
“I don’t need any of you, so leave immediately. Now!”
Elusiana shook off Noel’s hands from her temples and spun around. She no longer wanted to be a pawn in these men’s power games.
At that moment, Aster suddenly pressed his chest and hunched forward.
“Ugh.”
Elusiana, sensing what this could mean, flinched and turned toward him.
Sure enough, Aster’s normally healthy complexion had turned pale.
Her heart sank, and she quickly rushed to the duke’s side.
“Your Grace, the medicine—what about it?”
“….”
Elusiana urged him to give it to her, but Aster avoided her gaze.
“What? You didn’t bring it again? Someone with access to a pocket dimension, yet you didn’t prepare pain relief?”
If he could carry headache medicine for her, shouldn’t he take care of his own as well?
What kind of ridiculous situation was this?
Seeing Elusiana’s distressed expression, Aster muttered in a small voice:
“…The pain will subside soon. Until then, just… rest.”
“What are these two doing? Who’s hurt?”
Noel glanced between them, completely baffled.
“Surely His Grace isn’t the one in pain? Speak up, Your Grace. Why are you pretending to be hurt when you’re perfectly fine?!”
She glared at him with deadly intensity, yet he claimed he was in pain? Where exactly?
What a ridiculous joke.
Noel snorted in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Elusiana looked at Aster in realization. His expression was calmer now, so the pain must have eased somewhat—but his rigid posture still indicated discomfort.
What should I do?
The duke’s condition was meant to be a secret, and the butler had instructed extreme caution. Yet here it was, revealed so carelessly.
After pondering briefly, Elusiana quietly approached Noel.
“Noel, let’s talk for a moment.”
“Talk? About what?”
“Come here for a second.”
Noel followed her a few steps into a secluded corner, wearing a curious expression.
“What is it?”
“Well… um… can you pretend you didn’t see what just happened?”
“…?”
Elusiana glanced toward Aster and lowered her voice.
“I’m asking you, Noel.”
Noel looked at her, asking silently what she meant. Interpreting his gaze as doubt, Elusiana quickly explained.
“You know how delicate these matters are for the family. His Grace’s position isn’t… well, anyway, if it’s known that he’s in pain, it could be problematic. So please, keep it a secret.”
“….”
“…Noel?”
“So, you’re saying that since the duke is in significant pain, we should keep today’s events a secret?”
“That’s right.”
Noel let out a hollow laugh. So this terrifying, glaring duke really was actually in pain.
Unbelievable.
Even now, just a few words with Lucy, and he’s ready to tear someone apart.
But why is the duke pretending to be hurt?
His position is secure; he has no need to lure enemies. Since becoming head of the Sestain family, he first weeded out opposing forces. Only friendly factions remain.
Yet he goes through all this trouble, exposing a weakness?
I just can’t understand it.
Aster, leaning against the chair and gasping, looked pitiful—if not for the deadly gaze he directed at her, she might have believed it.
Ah… could it be…?
Even in front of her, the duke couldn’t stop himself from testing Lucy.
Seeing her worried expression, Noel understood instantly what the ruthless duke was aiming for.
Pity. That’s what he wants.
Noel was too stunned to even laugh.
“Will you keep this a secret, Noel? Okay?”
Noel met her anxious gaze gently.
“Don’t worry, Lucy. I’ll keep it a secret.”
Elusiana’s face lit up as she grabbed his hand.
“Thank you, Noel! I knew you’d understand.”
Noel coughed quietly as he looked at the hand she held.
“In that case, I’ll escort His Grace myself.”
“You don’t need to trouble yourself, Sir.”
Aster, his eyes cold, stood and walked toward them.
Noel gently pulled Elusiana closer.
“No need to worry, Your Grace. We’re just passing by.”
Noel smiled teasingly, and Aster’s jaw tightened.
“Oh, you needn’t worry about that.”
Then—
“I’m here!”
A large man with a cheerful voice burst through the shop door.
“Sir Logan! Just in time, you’re perfect!”
Elusiana waved to him happily.
“Was it hard to find the place? The shops are so close together; it might have been confusing.”
“Haha, I found it easily. I’m an expert at finding my way around.”
Logan, smiling broadly as he entered, suddenly froze.
