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Chapter 7

“There’s nothing even more surprising knowing that your potion had side effects.”

“I have been invited.”

“What? Didn’t he take you for granted?”

Dalia jumped excitedly. She had always put April in an awkward situation in front of countless nobles, and still now, she was thinking of it as a request.

Count Rose was the one who set things up, but April was the one who made them for money.

“He just seems to appreciate your help. Are you turning a blind eye now?”

“Are you sure? What if he was lying?”

“I think you should still meet him whether or not what he was saying was true. I hope this wouldn’t cause any problems in the pharmacy at least.”

Dalia was a little worried too. April also did not know what the consequences of facing the Marquis, who himself was a topic of interest among the same aristocrats right now, would lead to.

“All right then, I’ll go talk to him. No matter how important money is, we can’t miss shaping our future.”

April smiled coyly to reassure Dalia.

She did not want Dalia to be caught up in her business, who had once saved April when she used to have nothing.

***

April looked around, unable to capture both the ends of the Marquis’ building in her eyes at the same time. The tall walls and the buildings were much more daunting than she had imagined.

However, the garden was much more cheerful and brighter than her expectations.

The finely trimmed trees were stretched along the path and flowers for the season bloomed, adding color to the scenery. Klaus greeted April in front of the huge mansion at the end of the path.

“We’ve been waiting, Lady April.”

“Yes, hello.”

“We have arranged a table for you, so I’ll take you there.”

“A table?”

“My master suggested that it would be more comfortable than the drawing room.”

April entered the patronage, admiring at his seemingly meticulous consideration.

It was the wide lake that caught April’s eye in a much more peaceful environment than the garden. Ian was sitting beside a small table under the shade of a tree by the lake. There was no one else around him.

“Miss Quen.”

“This is my master, Marquis Ian Reykis.”

“And Master, this is…..Miss April Quen.”

Klaus introduced her briefly before Ian stood up and greeted her. April sat opposite to him while Klaus went to stand behind Ian.

“Klaus, will you please leave us for a moment?”

“Yes. Master.”

While Klause was on his way, a vast silence fell upon the table between the two of them. Although they have already met several times before, April fidgeted with her fingers, unable to say even a simple greeting.

As she was about to turn her eyes towards him, Ian started with a light topic.

“This place has quite a fruity scent, but I don’t know if you like it or not.”

Ian spoke politely even though she was just a commoner, but still, she did not feel relieved. She simply nodded lightly, while lifting the teacup with her trembling hands.

“Thank you very much for your help.”

“No, I just did what was necessary at that time.”

“Was it because you were a good pharmacist, or was it because of your own medicine?”

At his question, April was so surprised that she almost spit the hot tea. She thought he already knew a lot from Count Rose.

“You’ve got some interesting medicines.”

Ian rose from his seat and slowly approached April. He lowered his posture before lifting her chin lightly with his hand.

“W-Why?”

She asked for the reason, but no answer came back. His slightly languid gaze lingered around her lips. Somehow, when it reminded her of the night at the banquet, she shut her lips tightly.

“My memory can never be wrong.”

He muttered. April leaned backward, but he did not budge. The strong scent and energy that was emanating from him seemed to devour her.

But in this situation, her mind went blank.

“Sorry, Marquis…..”

As she spoke in a trembling voice, Ian stopped before shifting his eyes towards hers.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because I made the potion at the request of Count Rose.”

“I didn’t call you here to hear an apology. Rather, I should be the one who should apologize for my rude behavior. That day, I got high on the drug, and I…..”

“Oh! Ah! That’s all right. It’s really fine, so please don’t talk about it.”

When she desperately shook her head, interrupting him, Ian smiled faintly before returning back to his seat. April tried to wave her hands to calm her fiery face when he was facing the other side.

“I couldn’t believe it. The one who saved my life could put me in danger.”

“I couldn’t ask for it even after I found out that Count Rose was after you, Marquis. That’s why I made a fever reducer. I was worried about the side-effects of the potion because of your energy.”

“Is it that easy to make a fever reducer? No, do you mean you felt my energy before that?”

“Ah, that…..”

“I’ve always noticed a curious gleam in your eyes every time we met. Do you know who I am?”

Ian’s eyes glistened sharply with his every word, causing April to stay silent. She tried to restrain his eyes, but she could not help but twist open her trembling lips.

“Aren’t you…..a Lang?”

April answered in a low voice while the harshness of her throat, which was almost strangling, subsided. But she could not just let go of the tension as she did not have the ability to read someone’s thoughts.

“B-But, I will never disclose anything.”

“I know. I know that you’re different from others too.”

“The moment I came to know who you were, I was expecting it. I knew that the Marquis would face it.”

“You’re clever.”

The sixth sense of the Langs, which was several times better than the humans, could never be ignored. There must be a reason why she did not lose her composure even when she was caught hiding something. April replied confidently, but she hid her trembling hands under the table.

“Excuse me, Marquis, but what’s the real reason that you called me here for? I also heard about the predecessor of the Reykis household.”

“You’re much bolder than I thought. I can’t believe that you brought up my family history.”

“I-I’m sorry if I was rude.”

“No, I’ve called you here to make a deal. I would like to hire you as a doctor.”

The statement, made by Ian, was so out of the blue that April furrowed her eyebrows, confused.

“Uh…..but, I’m not a doctor. I’m a pharmacist.”

“I know.”

April could hardly understand this absurd situation. She never rebuked herself from making the strange potion, but she also could not understand whether or not she could trust a man of the Reykis family.

“It’s a disease that doctors can’t cure. That’s why I called you.”

“So it was true that you were looking for a fever reducer that never even existed in the world.”

“Yes. The Langs’ fever does not heal unless certain conditions are established. But alternatively, the drugs can suppress the symptoms.”

“Symptoms?”

It was the first time that she heard it. April, who was only shallow about the nature of the Langs, tilted her head sideways. But Ian kept smiling vaguely without answering.

“However, such a sudden proposal…..”

“I can promise you the best support.”

“Best support?”

“Yes, I’ll provide you with a dedicated laboratory, along with good security. I’ve heard that you work overnight to make money, so isn’t this a better deal?”

She could tell it was quite a tempting offer. If she agreed, she would be able to make a large sum of money with which she could clear up all her debts.

However, she was unable to respond to the proposal promptly.

“But it’s not just up to me. I also have to talk with Dalia about the pharmacy.”

“You don’t have to decide here. Here.”

When April hesitated, he held out his right hand towards her while smiling. Similar to how someone would do when they were asking for a dance at a ball.

The moment April laid her hand gently over his, he squeezed her palm. Suddenly, from his fingertips, the energy that she had felt since their first meeting stretched out through her arm and struck her. Somehow, it seemed to have gotten stronger since that day.

She hurriedly withdrew her hand.

“I hope it helps you choose.”

‘To know about each other’s existence and secrets. Depending on your choice, you will be my medicine or my poison.’

Ian made April aware of the point with just one gesture. It was more pressing than using any threatening expressions and words.

“You’re a threat too.”

“Do you really feel that way?”

“….Please give me a week to think about it.”

“All right then, I’ll come see you in person in a week.”

“No, I’ll visit you. The other guests might feel uncomfortable if someone like you visits the pharmacy.”

April replied hurriedly, recalling the day when Count Rose suddenly came to the pharmacy in broad daylight. Ian nodded.

“I-If you don’t mind, may I ask you a question?”

“Go for it.”

“What exactly is the symptom of your fever?”

At her question, Ian lost his composure for the first time while his expression stiffened. He tried to answer her several times. It seemed as if he was embarrassed. When April was about to apologize again for her blank question, he finally muttered.

“…..it’s like a rut, as in the terms of an animal.”

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