12
Of course, her eyes were still scanning the study.
‘So this is where Ren oppa works.’
The space was as straightforward and unadorned as Alferen’s personality, clean as if it were brand new.
He spent most of his time holed up in the magic tower, yet his office was overly sparse.
It looked just like a temporary room.
It feels a bit empty.
“I should have bought more snacks if I’d known it would be like this.”
She was thinking that as she finished emptying the teapot.
The door opened, and Alferen entered.
“Delly? What brings you here?”
From his surprised face, it seemed he hadn’t heard from Ethan.
What was he so busy with that he skipped the report? That guy.
No, wait. If he hadn’t slept, it’s understandable if he’s a bit off.
Plus, it seemed like things had gotten busier because of me…
“Ren oppa!”
It was the moment she was about to greet him cheerfully.
Suddenly, her stomach churned.
‘Huh?’
The instant she saw him, it felt like her body was floating, as if walking on clouds.
It wasn’t like being drunk.
Somehow, her heart was pounding, and an unfounded confidence surged, like she could do anything.
Wasn’t this tea supposed to help calm the mind and body?
This seems to be making me excited instead?
I feel like I’m going to cause some trouble!
At that moment, Alferen, sensing something off, called her.
“Delly?”
“Oppa, I feel weird…”
As she barely squeezed out the words and her body went limp, Alferen supported her.
Right then.
The door burst open, and Ethan shouted.
“Lady Rodellia, I’m sorry! You can’t drink that!”
In Ethan’s hand was a teapot.
It was the same color as the tea she’d just drunk.
“Gasp! Y-you already drank it all…”
Ethan, pale as a ghost, stared blankly at the empty teapot sitting alone on the table.
In the midst of the terrifying silence that followed, a bright, cheerful voice echoed through the room.
“Uung? I already drank it all? Huh. Why’s my tongue twisting?”
Before she knew it, she was shaking the empty teacup and grinning broadly.
At the cutesy tone she’d never use normally, Ethan and Alferen both panicked at the same time.
And the one most flustered was her.
“Heehee, this is so yummy~. I wanna drink more, uung?”
Her mouth, now beyond the control of her reason, chattered away.
She tried to snatch the teapot from Ethan’s frozen hands.
Ethan hid the teapot behind him and said,
“M-Milady. Please calm down first…”
“Give it to meee?”
As she even started to wobble, Alferen supported her and growled at Ethan.
“What on earth did you feed Delly?”
His expression was murderous, like no matter what, you’re dead today.
“Huh? Did I drink something I shouldn’t have? Hehe.”
As she chirped brightly, Alferen’s face grew even fiercer.
“Th-that’s… It seems the new recruit temporarily stored an experimental potion in the teapot. I took it without knowing…”
“So you’re saying you fed Delly a potion you don’t even know what it is?”
“P-please kill me!”
Ethan prostrated himself flat on the floor in apology, but it didn’t faze Alferen one bit.
“Even if you die, it won’t make what Delly drank disappear from her body.”
As the interrogation continued, Ethan’s body began to tremble like an aspen leaf.
“I-I’ll check right away!”
“Don’t tell me you came without even checking?”
“I-I’m sorry, hic! So sorry, hic!”
It was the moment Ethan, unable to withstand the killing intent that seemed like someone had to die to end it, started hiccupping.
“Uing, scary~. Ren oppa is so cold to his subordinates.”
A lilting voice, completely out of place with the atmosphere, filled the room.
Following that, she poked Alferen’s furrowed brow and grinned broadly.
“Don’t get mad. You’ll get wrinkles.”
She swore, this was something she’d never do normally. For real.
“Eek! Hic!”
Seeing this, Ethan waved his hands in fright, but her actions didn’t stop there.
She even grabbed the corners of his mouth with both hands and pulled them up, then brightly exclaimed,
“Smile~ Oppa looks the coolest when he’s smiling. Come on, smile for meee!”
In that instant, Alferen’s stiff face seemed to crumble as if wondering when he’d ever been angry, then it flared up red.
“Your face is turning reeerd~.”
“……”
“Alferen’s a shy guy~ Shy guy~.”
As she sang a ridiculous song, Alferen let out a deep sigh and ordered,
“……Hurry and find out what potion it is.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Ethan fled the study as if running for his life.
What Rodellia had drunk was a potion that maximized the imprinting effect.
Also known as the “love potion,” it had the effect of making one feel infinite affection for the first person they laid eyes on.
Unfortunately, the one Rodellia had consumed was an experimental potion that doubled the potency, making it difficult to prepare an antidote.
If they weren’t careful, the potions could clash and cause internal injuries.
In the end, they had no choice but to isolate Rodellia until the effects wore off.
Eden, drenched in sweat, spoke up.
“Since the young lady drank more than twice the standard dose, the effects are likely to last until tomorrow morning. And because it’s an experimental potion, we can’t predict what side effects might occur.”
Eden continued, glancing at Rodellia, who was clinging tightly to Alferen.
“At the moment, she seems to be in a state of excessive elation, completely fixated on the Duke……. Rather than leaving her alone like this, wouldn’t it be better for you to keep an eye on her until the effects subside?”
“That does seem wise.”
Alferen gazed at Rodellia with a complicated expression.
She was plastered against him, her eyes sparkling.
“Ren oppa. I’ve been curious about this for a while—when do you ever get a break?”
“I’m planning to rest this weekend.”
“Liar! Your beauty is always on duty! Your looks don’t take vacations or anything like that.”
On top of that, an endless stream of cheesy flattery was pouring from her lips.
It seemed the overdose of the elixir had escalated things beyond mere affection to outright adoration.
What was truly surprising was Alferen’s reaction.
“Is my face to Delly’s taste?”
Even though her clingy behavior should have been annoying, he was responding to every single thing.
Recalling how he was usually so curt with the ladies who pursued him, this was astonishing.
‘Perhaps he’s more indulgent with his friend’s little sister?’
Normally, by this point, he would have shown her the door or locked her away in a solitary room, regardless of whether she was suffering or not.
Yet Alferen was personally feeding Rodellia cookies while carrying on the conversation.
And his expression was so incredibly sweet. It was the first time Eden had seen such a look on him since joining the Magic Tower.
“Aw, come on. Oppa’s face is everyone’s taste. Tell anyone who says they don’t like you to step forward. There won’t be a single one in the whole world.”
“Then does Delly like me?”
“Of course! More than that, oppa, did you know? They say when you see a handsome person, you lose your memory.”
“First I’ve heard of it.”
“Really? … Ah, right! Oppa, did you know? When you see a handsome person, you lose your memory.”
“Delly, you just said that a moment ago.”
“Oh, really? … But oppa, did you know? When you see a handsome person, you lose your memory.”
“Haha, I haven’t heard a thing.”
Alferen let out a soft chuckle as he sipped his tea.
At first glance, it looked like he was gazing at an adorable little sister, but it couldn’t fool the eyes of his closest aide, Eden.
‘Strangely, it seems like the Magic Tower Lord is the one who’s flustered.’
Especially the way he flinched every time Rodellia made contact—it looked like he was on high alert, tense as could be.
Just then, Alferen and Eden’s eyes met.
“You—how long are you planning to stand there? Don’t you need to go contact Adrian?”
“Ah, yes, sir! I—I’ll be on my way. H-have a good time!”
Eden bolted out of there without even realizing what he was saying.
At that, Alferen frowned and muttered under his breath.
“He’s spouting nonsense.”
It was while he was thus playing along with Rodellia’s flattery.
Suddenly, Rodellia began fanning herself with her hand and whining.
“Oppa, I’m suddenly so hot.”
“Delly?”
“Uum. I think I have a fever.”
Alferen stiffened at once and placed his hand on her forehead.
“Let me check.”
It was because the potion was experimental, so he had no idea what kind of abnormal symptoms might manifest in her body.
He was already on edge, fretting over the possibility that she might be in pain.
“Uung, it’s so hooot.”
Unable to endure the heat any longer, Rodellia began untying the ribbon on her blouse.
