Translator and Editor: Lea and Aki

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Chapter 27

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For days, April had been heaving a sigh through her mouth. Research had also been sluggish. Although the research was based on the first successful fever reducer, the cure could not be derived aside from only the temperature reduction and sleep causing effects.

“I haven’t seen the Marquis since……”

What always came to her mind after every thought was Ian. Recalling the moment after the duel that took place a few days ago continued to make her cheeks warm. Because of his confession.

‘I’m afraid I owe you a lot.’

With his words, the clear scent of him and the clean image of his face surged up before her. Bashful, she buried her face in her notebook. His words were still lingering around.

“It’s because of me that the disease got worse.”

Now that she was aware of the feelings she didn’t have to know, meeting the one he had feelings for was the only way to suppress his illness. Placing her hand over her chest, she felt her heart drumming against her palm. She curled up her fingers.

“I don’t deserve to be next to him.”

Hampering with her worries, if she had to be realistic, she had to find a way to improve the cure of his illness based on his feelings. That was how much April could do as a doctor, but her heart felt heavy.

‘Let’s do something that is possible.’

She picked up a book on reagenthology – a record of her mother, Elise.

When she had just reopened the topic of “For those who are not honest with their emotions”, she heard footsteps outside the door. She hurriedly placed a pen inside the page and shut it as the door creaked open behind her.

“April.”

Ian, who rarely visited the separate house nowadays, was standing there. His appearance and demeanor was unchanged, but his gaze did not meet April’s like it used to before.

Since the duel, the two had barely made any eye contact.

“Marquis, how may I help you?”“I decided to stop by since you rarely came outside except during mealtimes these few days.”“Ah, I was thinking of doing some backlogs. I’ve had quite a break since the day I was kidnapped.”

When she stammered, he nodded. Half of it was true. It was also because she was not confident enough to face him as before. Every moment she saw him, her heart split in two pieces.

“Would you like to join me for tea? I have something to discuss.”“Discuss? With me? Mm……”

Slightly turning her eyes, she fell silent. She was also worried if he could hear her heart racing with his sharp sense when her red cheeks were hidden from his view.

“You’re avoiding me, April.”

Ian, who had been silently observing her, finally talked. The words came as spears, striking her. Unable to deny it, she dropped her head.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how to accept that. If I’d ever be able to……”“Why are you apologizing?”

He asked sternly, interrupting her. As she looked up blankly, she faced his eyes upon her.

“If you are confused by my actions, feel free to let me know.”

As soon as he finished talking, he turned away from her. She could not spot any agitation from those broad shoulders. As if no drop of blood will be spilled even if he was stabbed.

She wondered if he could tear away the contract so easily. When he was finally out and pushing the door shut, April turned around to him.

“Wait, Marquis!”“Hmm?”“I have a lot of work to finish today. Please call for me tomorrow if you don’t mind.”“I said it’s fine if it feels burdensome.”“I was wondering what you wanted to tell me.”“I see.”

After answering in a firm tone, he walked out before closing the door.

Countless thoughts gripped her, while several knots began to entangle in her stomach. Even though she was burdened, she was far from regretting accepting his invitation. This was a good opportunity to know his thoughts.

***

As she kept herself busy with heating the glass tube with all the necessary ingredients, a scent similar to mint reached her.

“We have all the ingredients ready, and all that’s left is……”

Stopping the tip of the pen at the last sentence on the book, she sighed. Beside her, she had a sharp needle heated by the fire.

“Can I do this?”

Until a few days ago, she was half determined and half hesitant, but after her talk with Ian yesterday, she had no choice but to complete her task. The only solution for him was April, which she was confident about.

“Let’s do it.”

She brought her finger over the glass tube that was still hot. After taking a deep breath, she stabbed the tip of her finger with the heated needle.

Red blood oozed out in a small circle and fell into the glass container. The moment the drop of blood made contact with the transparent liquid, it spread like a flower in the water. But soon, the red color disappeared, leaving nothing but the transparent liquid.

‘This will be the last.’

The last hope that she could cure him. After wrapping a pre-cut cloth around her index finger, she began to head to Ian’s place with the finished bottle of reagent.

“Miss April, you’re here. I was on my way to call you.”

Smiling, Klaus greeted April. However, the place where he took April was Ian’s office, not his usual place of enjoying tea.

“I thought the discussion would sound a little heavy, so I prepared a seat here. Would that be all right?”“I see. Yes, I’m fine.”

Klaus knocked twice on the tightly closed door before opening it only for her to enter. She could feel Ian’s scent again as she entered the room. The scent seemed nice, but it was thick enough to make her wonder if it was originally like this.

“Please have a seat, April.”“Yes.”

As she sat down, Ian sat in front of her with some documents in his hand. Thinking why he was trying to break the contract, April’s grip around the bottle tightened. She only had this weapon.

“Haven’t the Marquis’s scent become much stronger?”“Well, that’s true. Perhaps, the time has arrived.”

He answered awkwardly. Hearing this blatantly from the person he lost his heart to, he couldn’t stand it.

It was not easy to suppress the heat that crawled up in him like a lizard as soon as April came and his sense of smell that reacted too much to her scent. There was no breakthrough other than his wish to talk about business affairs.

“May I ask what you have to say?”“I’m thinking of buying the Northern mining area.”

He said as he held out the papers. It was supposed to be over when Ian signed the contract that had already been written.

April bit her lips. Two things crossed her mind at the same time. The relief that her contract was not terminated, and a question of what this action of his meant.

“This is the conclusion I’ve come to after listening to a story and thinking a lot about you these days. There are many reasons, but now that guns are being distributed, this place will be a military point.”“I see. What’s the other reason?”“That’s for later…..ugh.”

Suddenly, while grabbing his left chest, he exhaled a hot breath. Surprised, April went to approach him. His hand on the table was trembling, as if he was having a seizure.

“Marquis!”

When she reached out to help him, Ian shook his hand at her, stopping her. He thought it would be more difficult if April touched him even a little.

“Don’t touch me. I…I’m fine. Ha……..”

He inhaled, briefly touching his forehead. As his jagged breathing calmed down a little, he continued.

“I called you because I wanted you to be the first to know about the purchase.”“I don’t have the right to decide anyway, Marquis. I can’t get it back, so don’t feel discomforted.”“It’s not that you abandoned it. If the Witzer family had been strong, it would still be yours.”

The fate of the Witzer family now was irreversible. Everything owned by its people was swallowed by the law and the influence of some noble families who were now in power.

Nevertheless, April could vaguely see why Ian was the first to think of himself when he bought the mining region.

“Are you worried about me?”“Yes.”“You don’t have to go that far. It’s natural for someone who has the ability to conquer it.”“My heart, ha, it’s not like that…….Hrk.”

Ian, who was continuing to talk between his jagged breaths, eventually trembled. His huge body bent forward and his hand tightened on his chest. His other hand, which was grabbing the edge of the table, also went numb, shaking even the table.

“Damn it.”

He desperately tried to stand up, but the heat attacking him made him unable to move his body like his drumming heart.

“Ma-Marquis! Are you okay? Klaus! Klaus!”

Her figure became blurry and her voice became distant to him.

The sharp desire to have her was squeezing his last fading sense. He believed he could hold it in, but it eventually exploded. In front of April.

“Master!”

Hearing April’s voice, Klaus rushed in through the door. She was trembling as she watched Ian, who had fallen to the floor.

This was the first time she had seen his fever explode before her eyes.

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