It was when Akia was just staring blankly at Lea’s hand. Lea, looking at the hardened count’s face, was smiling inwardly with triumph.
‘As expected, he’s disconcerted.’
As per her plan, the count seemed quite flustered. He had a face that didn’t think she would actually go to the mountain to get the sanjoin.
‘Things are going according to plan.’
Lea managed to keep a straight face, barely holding back a smile that naturally rose.
In fact, all of this was part of Lea’s plan to fluster Akia.
Having observed the way the mansion’s inhabitants treated the count, she realized that there was no one completely on the count’s side here.
And she also knew that the more a person is isolated and alone, the greater their sense of caution towards others.
‘I must also prepare for the situation where I can’t make the antidote in time.’
Unless great fortune came her way, completing the antidote within three months was impossible.
So, Lea planned to lower the count’s guard and win his trust in anticipation of any situation that might arise.
The strategy she came up with was called.
‘The operation that I am thinking of you, even if others don’t know!’
Her plan was to pretend to be his loyal servant, granting the count’s absurd requests that others would ignore.
Although her appearance was a mess, ridiculous enough to be seen beyond the mirror she glanced at, seeing the count’s flustered face was quite satisfying.
However, what she had prepared was not yet over.
‘Have it while it’s warm.’
Lea, with a slight smile, placed a cup of tea. His shaking gaze met the steam rising from the cup.
‘…What is this?’
Next to the steaming cup on the table, there was a mound of pills.
‘By chance, there was Alpharadia there.’
‘…Alpharadia?’
Alpharadia was one of the excellent medicinal herbs with a detoxifying effect.
Recalling the count’s words that poison often came out in meals, she had made pills using Alpharadia.
‘Although the count said it in passing, I didn’t forget and prepared a gift.’
There was no choice but to somewhat soften his fortresslike heart with this.
‘Yes. You said that there was poison in the meal. You might have been steadily taking the poison, so I made a detoxifying medicine. Alpharadia is so bitter, so I purposely made it into pills.’
‘Ah, really, isn’t it a very good way to win the count’s favor.’
It was not enough to bring sanjoin from the mountain through this rain, but she even made pills using Alpharadia for the count.
Lea’s voice seemed proud.
“You know how to use it, but if you take one, the effect should last for about three months. Unfortunately, I could only get enough to make one. After three months, I’ll go back to the mountain….”
“……You’re wasting your time.”
Contrary to his negative words, the count’s voice was more relaxed than before.
‘He’s probably taken aback by all this.’
He might be confused by the hospitality different from the mansion’s people. But that unfamiliar feeling would be temporary, gradually loosening his guard against her.
‘If only things can stay this way.’
Hiding her content expression, Lea asked as if puzzled.
“……Is there a problem?”
“I didn’t realize you were worried about me like this.”
“Well, I am your apothecary.”
“Is that why you’re doing all this for me?”
“Yes.”
‘Maybe it’s time to hit the nail on the head.’
Lea, who had been looking at the count as if questioning what the problem was, continued.
“From now on, I will bring you a sanjoin brew every morning at breakfast.”
“……Every morning at breakfast?”
“Yes. Sanjoin works better when taken on an empty stomach.”
At Lea’s answer, the count frowned.
No wonder, to fully see the effects of sanjoin, you have to steep the herbs in a pot like a decoction for more than four hours.
And she’s going to bring that every morning before breakfast.
He was curious about what was going on in the apothecary’s head. Somehow, he had a strange feeling that he shouldn’t allow it as is, and Akkia refused.
No, he tried to refuse.
“There’s no need for that. Just bring the sanjoin before dinner…….”
“No.”
But before the count could finish, Lea answered.
“Please allow me to bring the sanjoin every morning. You know it’s better that way, don’t you?”
With an innocent smile.
“You’ll allow it, right?”
Looking at the woman who was sparkling with her deep green eyes and asking for permission, Akkia eventually turned his head.
“……Fine.”
At his answer, Lea smiled more brightly than ever.
“Thank you, Count.”
Watching Lea, Akkia concluded.
The new apothecary was the strangest and dumbest person he had ever met.
In the room where Lea had left, contrary to his harsh judgment of the apothecary, he stared at the teacup she had brewed for a long time.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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