My reflection appeared on the surface of his opaque gray eyes as I looked at him.

“I heard about what happened to my lady yesterday.”

“Ah…”

‘He must have heard about the fire incident at the Elemental Palace’

“Yes, well. There was an incident.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes. Pardon?”

I felt awkward when he suddenly asked about my well-being, expecting him to bring up strange percentage calculations instead.

Eden was staring at me intently.

After hesitating for a moment, I awkwardly nodded.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“….”

What’s this? The flow of conversation is somewhat different from last time.

As if he had learned how to properly treat people from books, Eden looked at me for several seconds as if he was genuinely worried.

Though I couldn’t be certain if real concern was actually present in his noble, arrogant expression.

“…I.”

“My lady.”

Eden and I spoke simultaneously.

When I closed my mouth with an awkward expression, gesturing for him to speak first, Eden cleared his throat with a “hem” and continued.

“I came to ask you for employment.”

“…Pardon?”

And the words that followed made no sense.

“…Whose employment request?”

“Mine, Eden Siegfried.”

“…What?”

I stared at Eden with eyes full of question marks.

First of all, we’re both young… and he’s already a young duke, so what’s this about employment? And why ask me?

“After our conversation last time, I contemplated my method of calculation. And after much consideration, my conclusion was that calculations without field experience are bound to be less accurate.”

“Ah…”

“Field experience would mean being at the frontlines of the economic market, namely a small retail shop. So I would like to help with your work for the time being.”

“But…”

“As you know, I am very intelligent. Though I have some weaknesses in dealing with people due to my cold rationality, my precise analytical and calculation abilities will certainly help with Mylar Shop’s prosperity.”

I stared blankly at Eden, taken aback by his sudden interview mode.

Eden’s expression was solemn and serious, without a trace of a smile.

“I want to experience things that cannot be learned from books, together with you, my lady.”

Eden’s thinking was so impressive it almost deserved applause. However…

“I’m sorry, but Mylar Shop has no plans to hire any employees for the time being.”

I had no intention of working with Eden.

Though as he said, he was incredibly intelligent and could probably help the shop, we had enough employees already.

“If Your Grace really wants to gain practical experience, there are frontline positions at the Academy or other shops. Even Hugo Brint would do. You could get in anywhere.”

“It wouldn’t be efficient to invest time in one thing and only get one result.”

What’s he talking about all of a sudden?

I twitched my eye slightly.

“My initial goal is to gain practical experience, and my longer-term goal is to become closer to you and make you mine.”

Eden explained his reasons for wanting to work at Mylar Shop without even blinking.

“As I mentioned before, I am considering you as a future spouse. Although the probability of His Highness the Crown Prince interfering approaches 200 percent.”

Eden looked at me with clear eyes and said.

“You never know until you try.”

It was an uncertain statement that seemed unlike Eden.

I was dumbfounded by Eden’s sudden flirting declaration right in front of the person in question.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

I spoke to Eden in a rather clear voice.

“If that’s your second reason, then I definitely cannot hire you.”

“Why is that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It would interfere with work!”

After firmly refusing, I puffed my cheeks slightly.

But Eden didn’t give up and countered.

“I am someone who keeps work and personal matters strictly separate. I have already thought of thirty-eight ways to sway your heart while thoroughly maintaining professionalism at work.”

That’s not something you should have already thought about!

Just earlier when he asked about my condition, I thought, hmm, maybe this person is surprisingly normal, but I was clearly mistaken.

“I’m sorry, but please give up. I…”

Before I could finish my sentence.

Someone knocked urgently.

As I glanced at the door and said come in, a maid entered and reported the current situation with an urgent expression.

“It’s terrible, my lady! Master Adam has collapsed and lost consciousness!”

I stood up abruptly from my seat with wide eyes.

***

Adam was a robust knight.

He was extremely tall with a solid build and seemed to have an iron constitution that rarely tired.

Had I been too negligent because of that?

Seeing this man as big as a house lying in bed with an ice pack on his forehead made my heart ache.

“Oh no, Adam…”

I looked at Adam with wavering eyes.

Behind me stood Eden, who had followed me from the drawing room.

Adam spoke to me with a weak smile.

“Please don’t worry too much, my lady. I’ll be better after resting for a few days… cough“

Adam covered his mouth with his sleeve as he coughed.

But what were those reddish spots on his wrist?

Shortly after, a traveling physician entered Adam’s room.

He examined various parts of Adam’s body with alchemical instruments, and after a while, opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“It’s the Aider disease.”

My eyebrows twitched at the unfamiliar term.

Could it be more than just a cold?

While I was confused by these thoughts, Eden spoke from behind.

“Aider disease is also called the famine disease as it tends to break out at the beginning of famines. Bad substances seep into the water from depleted soil and infect people, but there have been almost no cases in the past 10 years. Isn’t that right?”

The physician nodded at Eden’s explanation with a somewhat surprised expression.

“Yes, that’s correct. It’s a disease that doesn’t occur when the soil is rich in nutrients. Soil has a great impact on the ecosystem… However, in the past month, there has been an increase in patients with Aider disease.”

The physician said while putting his alchemical instruments back in his bag.

“It’s a harbinger of the coming great famine.”

“Then, what will happen to Adam?!”

I asked the most important question.

My heart was pounding with anxiety at the thought of Adam, who had run himself ragged for my sake, falling ill.

“My lady…”

Adam looked at me with tender eyes, as if moved by my intense concern.

“Well, about that…”

The physician briefly avoided the subject by looking away. Such a reaction usually indicates a serious prognosis.

It felt like anxiety was becoming a reality.

“Don’t tell me… will he die?”

Sniff, I felt like crying. Poor Adam! After all, I’ve put him through!

Adam closed his eyes resignedly.

“No. We can’t lose Adam.”

Just as I was preparing to wail, the physician shook his head as if to say ‘What nonsense.’

“Die? There hasn’t been a single death from Aider disease so far. Please calm down.”

“Huh?”

The emotional buildup that had reached its peak suddenly deflated at those words.

Thank goodness it’s not a fatal illness.

“…Phew.”

Adam too seemed relieved as he suddenly opened his eyes that had been closed.

“However, if left untreated, there’s a 72 percent chance of becoming impotent.”

And these words came from none other than Eden’s mouth.

At those words, Adam visibly flinched and crossed his legs more than ever before.

“Is, is that true?”

“Yes, the young duke is correct. Aider disease steals fertility. It affects not just humans but animals too, and without proper treatment, one loses the ability to produce heirs.”

Now I understood why the physician had briefly avoided the subject earlier.

“What treatment is needed?”

Adam pushed aside the ice pack from his head and sat up.

Though he still looked unwell, his eyes were very serious.