CH 11.1

“What kind of disease do you have? The sergeant said you would get better if I meet, but you seemed so relaxed at the moment.”

Archduke Kyar devoured her with his straight, unwavering gaze. “It hurts a lot. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. All I could think about is you these past few days.”

She didn’t think that it was a lie.

She couldn’t look him in the eye because his muscled body was too exposed that she could have seen his soul, but he swore that his cheekbones had become even more prominent.

Did he become thinner after five days since she last saw him?

She felt sorrier the longer he stared at his face.

Isabella never imagined that the love potion would have such troubling side effects that Duke Kyar couldn’t sleep and eat because she was not around.

Even if she was determined to make the antidote, she never intended to make the love potion again.

She didn’t mean to make money out of these dangerous drugs.

“I’m sorry. I’ll work harder in creating an antidote. I’m sure you’ll get better after drinking it.”

“Yes. You have to do what you are supposed to do.”

It seemed like Archduke Kyar hated being swayed by his emotions.

She nodded eagerly when Archduke Kyar repeated his words for emphasis.

“Yes,  I will. But you’re not going to remove another article of clothing, aren’t you?”

Archduke Kyar was still in a state of undress.

That is why she couldn’t look him straight in the eye.

“You seem to like it, though.”

Amusement was evident in his tone.

Warmth flushed her cheeks in chagrin.

“You-You’re mistaken.”

“Your eyes tell me the opposite. They seemed to be very interested.”

He hit the nail right on its head, and Isabella waved her hand in dismissal.

“You misunderstood me. I don’t have any ulterior motive, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Are you sure you don’t have any ulterior motive?”

“Of course. Your heart and what you feel for me right now isn’t true, Your Highness. Anything about you doesn’t interest me, and you, of all people, know that.”

There was a teasing note in her voice, and Archduke Kyar frowned at her.

“That disappointed me for some reason.” He mumbled quietly as he plucked his tunic hanging at the back of his chair.

Isabella was instantly relieved when she saw him getting dressed.

Honestly, his solid chest and sinewy abdomen had tempted her curious eyes.

She wasn’t aware that she could become so weak with desire.

It never happened before.

Well, she had never seen a man’s naked body in her life, so she didn’t have time to explore such desires.

“It’s a relief that you have such a strong will as if you wouldn’t feel shaken no matter what I do.” He said as he approached her, fully dressed now.

Tension filled the air the more he erased the distance between them.

“What are you going to do?”

As soon as she uttered the question, his large hands wrapped around her face, which was slightly cooler than usual.

He bent his neck and glanced down at her, staring deep into the depths of her eyes.

“I missed you.” She heard him murmur lazily into her ears.”I think I can survive now.”

His caresses were so gentle and caring as if she was the most precious thing in the world that he had ever touched.

She felt her heart flutter in her chest from his deep baritone, but she also realized that his feelings were not real.

This was all because of that gorgeous face he possessed.

Even his intense gaze was a foul.

Her innocent heart was too weak when it came to him, and her expression reflected her guilt.

“Your Highness.”

Fortunately, she came to her senses when she heard a voice outside the barracks.

“Come in.”

Duke Kyar looked disappointed when he withdrew his hand from her face, and he was pretty annoyed at the sudden presence of the uninvited guest.

Yet, she found herself lucky for the sudden interruption.

“The meal is ready. Are you going to eat today, Your Highness?” The man who entered the barracks asked Archduke Kyar with his head down.

She heard that he hadn’t eaten or slept in the past few days, and the man had affirmed it at that moment.

“Bring it here.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The man quickly exited the barracks as if he was glad to hear that the Archduke was going to eat.

After a while, two men entered the barracks again and brought her and Archduke Kyar’s meals.

The two bowed their heads to greet them, placed their meals at the table, and went straight out of the barracks.

“You didn’t eat?” She asked worriedly as she regarded his sunken face.

“If you didn’t come and visit me, I might have starved to death.”

Hearing him say such scary things so casually made her swallow hard.

Yet, somehow his symptoms seemed to get worse and worse.

Isabella had neglected her mission of finding the herbs for the antidote since she was busy caring about Kyle the past few days.

She had to make an antidote as soon as possible for Archduke Kyar.

“Hurry up and eat.”

“Yes. I feel hungry whenever I see you.”

She quietly watched him eat like a savage beast, but somehow, she felt like she was the one being swallowed whole and not his food.