I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 45

 

Harvie had been too compliant.

 

Harvie wasn’t the type of person who would immediately take someone’s side just because they could make medicine for his grandson.

 

“The spy I planted has disappeared… and it doesn’t make sense that the guild master knows nothing.”

 

It was a spy he had placed to roam around the manor. He had told him to eliminate that stupid bastard locked in the underground prison and find out about the fire spirit.

 

It shouldn’t have been that difficult a task.

 

Yet the lack of contact meant he had been captured.

 

As long as Crea’s drug existed, there was no chance of escape.

 

If he was captured at the manor, then Harvie, who had stayed at the manor, would have noticed something was strange. At the very least, he would know that something had happened.

 

That meant he was lying.

 

“Well, does it really matter? We’ve got the Noven guild master firmly in our grasp. We even fed him Studyworm this time. Though it’s a bit incomplete.”

 

“That’s right. He drank the Floem.”

 

The amount he drank didn’t matter.

 

As long as even a drop had entered, the effect of Studyworm was certain.

 

“Whatever the guild master is thinking, he can’t harm us. Then what could he possibly do in the duchy? Nothing but wither away and die.”

 

Nerhi still shook his head.

 

“I’d prefer to avoid variables.”

 

“How thorough of you. Then what would you like me to do?”

 

“Release it.”

 

In a way that would make him unable to focus on anything else.

 

“Ah, that drug you mentioned, Nerhi? There’s still not enough to spread throughout the entire village. We need more materials too.”

 

Crea raised her hand and stroked Nerhi’s back.

 

“We have about a week. Making it would take just a day, right?”

 

“Oh my, of course! As expected of Nerhi!”

 

Crea wrapped her arms around his neck.

 

“While we’re at it, can I request some other herbs too?”

 

“Do as you please. But… what kind of drug are you trying to make anyway?”

 

“If it succeeds, I’ll tell you about it too, Nerhi.”

 

Crea kissed Nerhi’s cheek and left the room with light steps. Nerhi casually rested his chin on his hand and watched Crea’s retreating figure.

 

‘I heard she was a woman with great ambitions…’

 

Since it was said by the person who introduced her, it was likely true.

 

But rather than demanding other things, she was completely focused on concocting drugs.

 

Even her current flattery toward him was to obtain materials.

 

That meant the drug Crea wanted to create was her ambition.

 

Nerhi pondered for a moment before stopping his thoughts.

 

All he needed to do was make good use of Crea’s drugs.

 

**

 

The Northern Region’s Pruina Domain.

 

The Duke’s Office.

 

Clemente and Zephyrus were having a conversation.

 

“Why do you look so tired?”

 

When Clemente asked, Zephyrus looked at her with slightly resentful eyes.

 

“What did I do wrong?”

 

“No, never mind…”

 

Zephyrus turned his head to stare at the door.

 

“Shouldn’t they be here soon? It’s the first time the physician asked to meet first.”

 

The people they were waiting for were Airite and Tei.

 

Dragons do come when they say they will. So did these two.

 

But something was strange. One person’s footsteps were dragging heavily across the floor.

 

Before the knock could be heard, Clemente opened the door.

 

Airite with his usual stern expression that seemed impenetrable.

 

And Tei standing beside him, wiping away sweat.

 

“Tei. Are you in a lot of pain?”

 

Clemente asked with drooping eyebrows.

 

“Ah, no… I’m fine… I don’t know.”

 

It was different from Tei’s usual clear and intelligent responses. His eyes were clear as glass beads, but his gaze was somehow vacant.

 

Airite led Tei to a seat and said.

 

“The drug’s effects are gradually wearing off.”

 

“Then is he really sick?”

 

“Ah, I misspoke. More precisely, the addiction effects are manifesting. He’ll start craving the drug now.”

 

“I need… to take the medicine so it won’t hurt. It hurts so much.”

 

The symptoms appeared in an instant. His gradually flushing face turned bright red with fever. Having no strength in his body, he slid down from the chair as if collapsing.

 

“It hurts so much. This is strange. Please give me medicine, gasp. Medicine…!”

 

Unable to lift his body and gasping for breath, he still searched for medicine.

 

“Has he never been like this before?”

 

Airite asked coldly while watching Tei. Tei, who had been clutching at his chest clothes as if suffocating, writhed his body.

 

“Medicine…!”

 

The fear that had crept in from thinking his condition was strange disappeared. His mind was completely filled with thoughts of medicine. Tei squirmed and reached out his hand.

 

Only then did Airite get up and give Tei the medicine. The medicine dissolved as soon as it entered his mouth, requiring no water.

 

Tei, who had been thrashing like a freshly caught fish, became docile again. Having instantly lost all his strength, he collapsed and quickly fell asleep.

 

With Tei lying on the cold floor, Airite, Clemente, and Zephyrus made eye contact with each other.

 

More precisely, Zephyrus stared intently at Airite.

 

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“Can’t you see what a physician should be doing? Clemente, you stay still…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You’ve already moved.”

 

Clemente, who had moved first to lift Tei in a princess carry, stopped abruptly. Zephyrus shook his head while looking at Clemente standing there dumbfounded.

 

“Shouldn’t the person who can do it just do it? I can’t lift such a sturdy young man.”

 

Airite raised one corner of his mouth. Clemente, who had been quietly looking back and forth between him and Zephyrus, carefully placed Tei on Airite’s lap.

 

“Catch him properly.”

 

When Tei started to slide down, Airite, who caught him reflexively, raised his eyes and looked at Clemente.

 

“What? You told the physician to do it.”

 

“Since when have you been so obedient?”

 

“Starting from now, I suppose.”

 

Airite, with a disgusted expression, eventually took Tei and left. Tei’s feet dragging behind really looked pitiful.

 

Clemente giggled.

 

“You have something you want to say to me alone, don’t you?”

 

“Did you know?”

 

Seeing Zephyrus’s wide eyes, Clemente laughed again.

 

“Yes. It showed. Hurry up before the physician comes back.”

 

“Isn’t it a bit strange? That something this easy to make was never even attempted before.”

 

“That is true.”

 

It was fast enough that it wouldn’t be strange to think Airite had made Tei’s medicine.

 

“The Noven Merchant Guild isn’t a place to be underestimated just because it’s a guild. It’s quite large even within the Empire. Even if the guild master wasn’t in his right mind because his grandson was sick, it doesn’t make sense that he couldn’t find a solution and was played by Nerhi.”

 

Moreover, no matter how capable Airite was, the time it took to identify an unknown drug and reach its solution was too short.

 

Not even a week.

 

Just 4 days.

 

Being able to accomplish that meant there was something more to it.

 

“Whether the guild master is hiding something, or the physician is the one who made that mysterious drug. Or both. Isn’t it suspicious?”

 

Clemente stroked her chin.

 

“You can’t trust anyone?”

 

“That’s also why we decided to send the guild master away.”

 

“And you won’t even accept firewood!”

 

“That’s why you said you’d help, didn’t you.”

 

Food could be rationed. It wouldn’t last long, but it would be enough to hold out until Harvie returned.

 

Firewood? With Clemente’s help, they could last much longer. There were even rumors that every village had firewood to spare.

 

“Yes. So what are you going to do about the physician?”

 

“Interrogate him.”

 

“Master, you really love interrogations. But will it work…?”

 

Clemente trailed off at the end.

 

“I didn’t catch that last part.”

 

“It’s nothing. What are you going to ask?”

 

Zephyrus slightly furrowed his brow.

 

“You seem to think differently.”

 

“I’m not sure. But he doesn’t seem like someone who would deliberately make medicine to harm people.”

 

“Is that so… Am I too suspicious?”

 

“Master’s thinking could be right too. There doesn’t seem to be a clear answer here.”

 

He thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Either way, we need to clear up the suspicious points. Right, not an interrogation.”

 

Before his whispered last words could scatter into the air.

 

Just then, a knock was heard. Clemente opened the door. It was Airite.

 

“You came back quickly?”

 

“I entrusted it to a passing knight and came back. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to return.”

 

As expected of a child from a wealthy family, his development is different, Airite muttered.

 

“Medicine to aid development…?”

 

He had thought of a new research topic.

 

However, that wasn’t important right now.

 

“So now if I clear His Highness’s suspicions, do I pass?”

 

As if he had long known about Zephyrus’s suspicious gaze, Airite asked in an indifferent tone.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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