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Chapter 5




Rosenia unconsciously held her breath the moment they made eye contact.
Captivated by the clear, transparent emerald light, Rosenia’s mind blanked and she could not think properly.
As soon as Rosenia thought that she might become lost in the man’s eyes, his fingertips touched her slightly protruded shoulder blade.
“…!”
At that moment, an unknown sensation crawled up her spine. Startled, she tried to remove herself from his body in a hurry.
Then, as Rosenia was about to fall over the bed, the man grabbed her firmly by the waist with his big hand.
Pulling her closer and smiling slightly, his emerald eyes stared at her, glistening.
The man opened his mouth and spoke.
“You saved my life.”
“What? Ah…yeah…You were lying in the garden of our villa. I couldn’t just leave you…”
Rosenia muttered in a daze. This was driving her crazy and she wanted to get away from him, but somehow the hand that held her waist gripped even harder.
“With the rainstorm outside, I’m sure I would have died if left out there. Right now…my condition is very bad.”
When his words fell, Rosenia took a close look at his complexion.
‘Indeed, he regained consciousness, but he’s still in bad shape.’
The man’s feverish cheeks were flushed, and there was cold sweat on his forehead. Rosenia didn’t know if it was a cold or an illness, but he was definitely sick.
Nevertheless, in her eyes, it could not hide his dazzling beauty.
‘Seriously…How can he be so handsome? What’s more, he’s the male lead!’
“I’d like to know the name of the benefactor who saved my life. If it’s alright, could you tell me your name?”
“Ah…”
At the man’s question, Rosenia couldn’t answer right away and was troubled momentarily.
‘Should I tell him that I’m Rosenia Hill or not?’
In fact, it was clear that the man had already guessed her identity even without her having to tell him.
Because her scarlet hair and eyes resembling summer roses are the distinct characteristic of the famous Rosenia Hill.
Also, this was the Hill’s estate. There was no way that Llewellyn Rasiane wouldn’t be able to piece it together unless he was a fool.
‘It’ll be more convenient if I just tell the truth, right?’
‘I saved your life even though I’m Rosenia Hill. Shouldn’t that account for something?’
‘Surely this honest man will try to repay me, and perhaps even hate my family a little less.’
‘Unlike the original plot, Adrian became mild, so maybe I can escape the death ending if things go well!’
With such thoughts, Rosenia opened her mouth with an awkward smile like a salesperson.
“I’m…Rosenia. Rosenia Hill.”
“As expected.”
The man suddenly rose to his feet and came closer. Rosenia held her breath without realizing it as their distance narrowed. Her hand was touching his chest, and over the thin tunic she could feel the touch of hard muscles vividly.
The man’s big hand firmly held her back. He seemed to have no sign of letting go, having held her with his arm like this since a while ago.
“As expected, it was you.”
“Uh, you know me?”
It was a silly question, but Rosenia still asked in such a manner. He raised his beautiful lips and smiled. Somehow that playful smile made him look mischievous.
“There’s no way I wouldn’t know you, Rosenia Hill.”
With them being extremely close, Rosenia could sense the sluggishness in his soft voice. It was a sweet voice one would find themselves lost in. A man of such beauty was smiling softly at her.
“You are Adrian Hill’s one and only sister, the Mage Tower’s princess.”
“Ah, that, yes…”
Beside the fact that the man knew her identity, her heart was pounding madly by his charm.
Rosenia didn’t want to maintain eye contact with him, so she tried to avoid it by looking sideways.
“Rosenia, do you know who I am?”
The man asked casually, calling her name. Rosenia is normally addressed as ‘Lady Rosenia,’ but now a man had called her name on their first meeting.
It was like someone who is used to saying another person’s name. Strangely enough, she had that feeling.
Rosenia hesitated for a moment then answered.
‘I should be honest as well.’
“You’re Duke Llewellyn Rasiane.”
At her answer, Llewellyn smiled as if he had received a big present. Nonetheless, a handsome man such as him smiling broadly gave the illusion of flowers blooming around him.
Rosenia blinked as she blankly stared at him.
‘I don’t know why you’re so happy, but…you’re really pretty…’
Even the most beautiful flower in the world seems to wither and bow its head in front of him.
“You know me.”
“Well, you’re so famous…”
“I’m kind of famous, but I’ve only met you once.”
“Ah, well, your exceptional beauty, it’s impossible to forget…”
Looking at him, Rosenia was so flustered that she just said whatever came to her mind, and like an angel, Llewellyn smiled.
Once again Llewellyn smiled at her lovingly. As if to tempt her.
Somehow Rosenia felt uncomfortable and tried to wiggle out of his arms. Then, Llewellyn sighed heavily and fell over her shoulder, lowering his head.
“…”
Flinching greatly, her body stiffened. Llewellyn was breathing raggedly with his cheek leaning against her shoulder.
‘What, what, what’s going on?’
Rosenia was so taken aback that she didn’t know what to do and could only try to slightly push his shoulder away. Then Llewellyn let out a deep moan.
“Ugh…”
“Heuk, D-Duke?”
“Rose.”
“…?!”
Rosenia was startled when Llewellyn suddenly addressed her by her nickname.
It was because Llewellyn said it so naturally. It was so natural to the point that it was very strange and Rosenia couldn’t help but frown.
‘Was I close to Llewellyn Rasiane? No way. I’ve only seen him from afar.’
‘But why is this man so friendly? He keeps leaning on me…’
“Rose, now I’m… “
“H-hey…”
“It hurts so much that breathing is difficult.”
Llewellyn, cradled in her arms, was like a big wounded beast…He must be out of his mind now because he is sick. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so intimate knowing that she is Rosenia Hill.
‘Calling my name so casually….I’m afraid he’s deranged.’
Timidly touching his forehead, Rosenia asked.
“Hey, what illness is this?”
‘Anyway, what in the world, his forehead is like a fireball. Didn’t he already take the fever medicine?’
Far from going down, the fever had gone up even more. When Rosenia slid her hand in embarrassment, Llewellyn caressed her hand with his cheek as he raised his head.
His face, which looked up at her so precarious and vulnerable, made her heart flutter momentarily.
Flushed cheeks, slightly parted lips, and a somewhat dreamy look…
It was a dangerously perfect image enough to paralyze one’s reason.
“I’ve been running a fever…”
Llewellyn answered in a faint voice.
“It hurts all over, like I’m going to die…”
Llewellyn, who looked at her pleadingly, was like a man desperate for something. Perplexed, Rosenia blinked her eyes and pondered over his words.
‘He’s been running a fever, and feel like he’s going to die?’
‘Don’t tell me.’
‘It can’t be? It’s not what I’m thinking, is it?’
Rosenia muttered to herself, then carefully asked.
“Your whole body hurts?”
“Yes…That’s right.”
Llewellyn nodded and answered weakly. His answer made her heart thump like it will collapse. If it is what she thinks it is, his symptom, she is afraid it’s…
‘…Mana poisoning!’
The reason why the original novel is titled, ‘The Duke’s Lone Companion.’
It was because the female lead was the only one who could suppress the male lead’s mana poisoning.
In fact, it could be done by anyone to suppress the mana poisoning. But the male lead chose the female lead. Why? Because he fell in love with her at first sight!
It doesn’t seem real to fall in love at first sight, but it’s a novel, so that’s just how it is. Above all, the male lead was very pure, which made it understandable.
‘On the surface he’s kind, but it is all to hide his possessive disorder…’
‘Also, at the beginning of their relationship…it was just the mixing of bodies with no feelings for each other, the so-called ‘casual hookup!’
To be exact, the female lead, Sierra, was not interested in the male lead, Llewellyn.
In the author’s original setting of ‘eventually falls in love,’ Llewellyn fell in love at first sight when he saw Sierra, however, she didn’t reciprocate.
Which then begins Llewellyn’s desperate romance plotline to win Sierra’s heart.
‘That’s exactly my favorite part of the original plot…’
‘Male lead, why are you suffering from mana poisoning in front of me and not the female lead…?’
‘No, really…What can I do about this?’
Rosenia had no choice but to be genuinely, extremely, flustered.
Because there was only one way to calm the enormous amount of mana in the male lead’s body.
From lightly holding hands and hugging, to some kissing, to kissing everywhere, and to having sex…
Naturally, in the original novel, the male lead and Sierra go as far as they can. Even though the two were not emotionally connected, the tension between man and woman played a big role.
Moreover, Sierra needed the power of the Empire’s only Duke, Llewellyn, to avenge the villain (not Adrian) who had exterminated her family. That’s why she signed a contract with the male lead and spent many nights with him.
It was one of romance novels’ cliche.
But,
‘Why? Why did he collapse in front of our villa? Why was he suffering from mana poisoning in front of me!?’
Rosenia didn’t even know where and how it got twisted and how it got like this.
In fact, Rosenia didn’t remember exactly when Sierra would meet Llewellyn in the original plot. Just vaguely, she thought perhaps they would meet each other one day.
‘But, what the hell is going on here…’
‘Male lead, you should go to the female lead for this, why would you come to me?’
As Rosenia was perplexed on what to do, Llewellyn, who was writhing in her arms, slowly raised his head. His emerald pupils looked at her with a dull glow.
“Rose…”
At that moment, Rosenia sensed a great foreboding.
The longer the mana overloaded, the more and more Llewellyn became irrational. He was instinctively looking for someone to save him.
Also, he and her were the only two in this villa.
‘C-crazy! I’m in trouble!’
As Rosenia hurried to get away from him, Llewellyn held her tightly in his arms.
“Heuk…!”
Trapped in his sturdy arms, Rosenia couldn’t move.
Llewellyn whispered in a mournful voice.
“Don’t go, Rose…”
A distance so close Rosenia could feel his breath.
His eyes looking at her were so sad that Rosenia lost her sense of reasoning in trying to escape.
‘He’s looking at me like this, which woman can resist…?’
‘I’m screwed…completely…completely screwed.’
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Llewellyn slowly swept across her cheek. At his gentle touch as if caressing something precious, her heart pounded rapidly and she even felt excited.
Even though she knows that the only reason he’s doing this is because of the mana poisoning.
“Rose, I have a favor to ask you…”
His lips came closer. Like a herbivore with its neck bitten by a beast, Rosenia couldn’t move a muscle.
“…Kiss me.”