Chapter 17
There's Nothing to Worry About
The level of excitement during heat varied greatly from person to person.
Some were barely affected by it, while others found it impossible to go about their daily lives or even committed crimes.
This was precisely why people despised and loathed Lupus.
However, Shed was one of those Lupus who were unaffected by heat. In fact, rumors even circulated that he might be impotent, going beyond simply being unaffected.
Thanks to this, Shed, despite being Lupus, had managed to gain a foothold in aristocratic society.
Josef Duke Leicester, the previous Duke, must have carefully considered this point when adopting Shed.
If it became known that he was seeking a Sedative, it would cause quite a stir in aristocratic society.
"I'd like to give the Vittel Merchant Group exclusive rights to a few businesses in exchange for them taking care of something personal for me."
Knowing him, Shed had proposed a deal to Vittel.
Regarding business rights in Ideana.
'I managed to get a decent deal with confidentiality as a condition, but...'
Eclaus quietly rubbed the gold coin he habitually held in his hand.
It was strange that he was suddenly looking for a Sedative, something he had never sought before.
Of course, Eclaus was intelligent and quick-witted. He could well guess the cause of this strange change.
It must be that woman.
Indeed, since Liana Serpens appeared, Shed Lester had been acting impulsively more often. He seemed to get excited more easily, too.
'Even if it's different from the excitement of heat.'
It was a somewhat proven fact that environmental changes affected heat.
Shed, as always, was intuitively feeling it. That some uncontrollable change was happening to him.
'If that's really the case, it's going to be troublesome...'
Eclaus wanted to know in detail what kind of change was happening to that blockhead of a man.
However, it was forbidden to pry into the secrets of nobles. He couldn't risk ruining an important deal by being nosy.
Therefore, Eclaus refrained from hasty interference and instead subtly pointed out a few unsettling points.
"As you know, although Sedatives have advanced a lot, they are not without side effects."
He pointed out the things Shed Lester should be aware of if he were to use a Sedative.
It was true that awareness of Lupus had improved and their treatment had been bettered since the invention of Sedatives.
The fact that Shed was able to obtain the Dukedom was also thanks to such a trend of social change.
However, it had only been a little over ten years since Sedatives were invented. Reports and incidents regarding side effects were still constantly being heard.
"Be sure to avoid taking it before a battle."
"I know."
Shed nodded indifferently, as if he already knew.
As Lupus, he had already seen other Lupus die or get injured due to Sedatives.
Sedatives were, in the first place, drugs to suppress intense excitement. Therefore, taking a Sedative basically weakened the body and restricted movement.
Going into battle after taking a Sedative would surely result in having one's head chopped off by the enemy's sword without even being able to draw one's own.
For that reason, military science already treated it as a principle to prohibit Lupus deployed in battle from taking Sedatives three days prior.
He, who even had the nickname of an undefeated hero, was not foolish enough to forget such basic knowledge.
"Of course, you know better than I do."
Eclaus nodded.
"Just one more thing."
Eclaus added with a smile.
"I do take on many high-risk businesses. But I don't prefer fickle and unpredictable business partners."
Eclaus rolled the coin over the back of his hand before clenching it in his fist.
Shed's eyes narrowed at that. Eclaus's intention was clear, without even trying to hide it.
"There's nothing to worry about."
Shed stated indifferently.
He had never experienced heat before.
It was just a precaution, just in case.
As she stepped out of the barracks, the air was cool.
Liana took a deep breath, then took another deep breath.
The cold air seeping into her lungs in early spring felt refreshing.
While she was with Shed, she couldn't even breathe as she pleased.
Of course, she couldn't do anything different just by coming outside.
She had to stand quietly next to the knights and wait for Shed to call her back in.
But at least she felt like she had escaped from the prison created by his gaze, even if only for a moment.
"You."
At that moment, as she savored the scent of trivial freedom, a low voice was heard nearby.
Turning her head, she saw a tall man among the knights.
His stubborn gaze towards Liana sparkled with purple.
Purple eyes like Shed.
In other words, he was from Lupus.
"Did you call me, Sir Carlisle?"
Carlisle was Shed's closest aide and had been assisting him closely. When discussing military matters, Shed exchanged opinions most often with Carlisle.
As close as he was to Shed, Liana had crossed paths with Carlisle several times recently.
However, this was the first time he had directly spoken to 'Liana.'
He often frowned whenever he made eye contact with Liana. It was the same now.
It was a face that an ordinary person would find threatening, but Liana calmly waited for his words with unwavering eyes.
Then, after a moment of silence, Carlisle spat out prickly words.
"Don't expect anything from His Highness. And don't be mistaken."
Liana froze, unsure of how to respond to the unexpected advice.
"What do you mean..."
"It's best not to have fantasies about getting a promotion or squeezing out a lot of money."
Carlisle warned.
In an instant, heat surged from her chest, and her face flushed.
It wasn't so much embarrassment as anger.
She roughly knew what people thought of her and Shed.
Those who occasionally brought food or documents from outside would cast stinging glances at Liana, who was standing in a corner of the room.
Liana could understand the glares they sent.
There was also the matter of Caroline the head maid, and the trip to Ideana was delayed by two days because she had run away.
Even so, being in the closest place to the master, it was natural that she wouldn't be seen favorably.
However, she had ignored the stories they whispered among themselves, not wanting to interfere.
But being directly warned by Shed's aide was different.
"His Highness is different from the low-quality Godwin Baron. It's no use trying so hard."
It was an insult disguised as advice.
His voice clearly contained contempt for her.
Knowing the background of Shed bringing Liana, he roughly knew about the events at the Barony of Godwin. And he thought that the Godwin Baron's actions were also something she had brought upon herself, or rather, wanted.
Liana bit her lip.
'I wanted the Godwin Baron first? That horrible and filthy man?'
There was only one reason she had decided to work at the Barony of Godwin.
To see if she could find a way to undo the curse placed on her.
All knowledge of forbidden sorcery had been burned and disappeared, but she had heard that somewhere in the Temple, a forbidden book about it was kept in case of emergency.
So Liana had sought work at the Barony of Godwin, which had produced a librarian of the Temple.
But all she had learned from the Godwin Baron was that he was a vain and sleazy man.
Even his knowledge of doctrine was inferior to Liana's. He was all talk and no substance.
What the Baron wanted was hollow fame and a pretty, young, and controllable woman.
As a mere maid who had to hide her identity and live quietly, there was nothing Liana could do in front of him.
What maid could refuse when the master asked her to pour tea at night?
All Liana could do was exercise what the Godwin Baron would consider 'playing hard to get' or 'acting expensive.'
Liana couldn't stand the increasingly blatant and dirty touches. She even thought that she would rather the Baroness properly interfere and let her run away.
However, the Baroness did not possess intelligent wisdom either.
Instead of stopping her husband, she chose to unleash the hunting dogs.
But why couldn't those people think of anything other than that, even after seeing Liana bitten by the hunting dogs?
"It would be better for you to keep your distance."
Carlisle warned again.
At that, Liana swallowed a sneer.
"Then, would you help me keep my distance?"
Liana raised her eyes and looked up at Sir Carlisle.
Carlisle's brow furrowed slightly at the rebellious gaze.
Liana paused for a moment to calm herself with a deep breath, then lowered her voice again.
"It would be easier for you if you moved me to another department."
She asked Carlisle in her usual soft tone.
At that, Carlisle frowned.
"I am a knight serving His Highness, and I have no authority to interfere in decisions within the Leicester family."
"Then what about me?"
Liana tilted her head slightly and asked.
"...What?"
"How can you expect me, a mere powerless maid, to do something that even Sir Carlisle, the strong and excellent knight who is called His Grace's right-hand man, cannot do?"
She calmly looked up at him with a composed voice.
Carlisle's face contorted at Liana's audacious attitude.
He seemed to be trying to find a rebuttal, but he opened his mouth roughly, as if he couldn't think of a logical answer.
"You vulgar..."
"Sir Carlisle."
Just as Carlisle was about to spew out abusive language, the door to the barracks opened.
Both of their heads turned at the same time.
