Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 2.16

The next afternoon, Mariadoll looked at Jerf with exasperation as he diligently spooned porridge toward her mouth.

“Lord Jerf, do you have nothing better to do?”

“Of course not. I’m busy spoiling Mariadoll. Here, one more bite—eat it all up.”

She couldn’t help but laugh at his tone, as if he were coaxing a small child.

Opening her mouth with an “Aaah,” she ate the final spoonful, only to have a plate of dessert placed before her eyes.

“Lord Jerf, I truly can’t hold back my laughter any longer. I’ll eat this myself.”

“What a shame. I was just about to pick some up and feed it to you.”

Saying this with genuine disappointment, Jerf handed the plate to Mariadoll. She had thought he was joking, but it seemed he had actually intended to do it.

The fresh oranges and cherries must have been picked just this morning. Their sweet and sour scent tickled her nostrils.

Of course, it was Jerf who had carried Mariadoll—who had collapsed at the inn—back to her room.

When she asked what he had told the knights and maids about staying by her side until morning to nurse her, he replied, “I told them you fainted from anemia.” Her still-feverish head spun dizzily.

Nursing someone all night for anemia was obviously suspicious. Without a doubt, people around them would find it strange.

Just as Mariadoll had predicted, since morning, the knights in particular had been giving the two of them warm, knowing looks.

She complained to Jerf that they were clearly being misunderstood, but he only laughed heartily, saying, “We can’t tell them the truth, so there’s no helping it,” and “It’s not a problem.” To top it off, he added with satisfaction, “This way, I can linger in your room during our stay, too.”

When she threw a pillow at his face with all her might, he caught it with one hand, kissed her cheek, and said, “I’m glad you’re feeling better.” At that point, Mariadoll had no choice but to give up.

“Lord Jerf, did Prince Dennis say anything about it?”

She had told Jerf what she desperately recalled seeing this morning, her mind hazy with fever.

Still, even talking drained her energy, so she omitted the first memory and described the second one she had seen in as much detail as possible.

She had paid special attention to the items on the desk, intending to draw them later.

“He was very grateful about the book and the drawer. He said he’d try to remember who was in the room at that time… but how much can someone remember from when their wife died?”

“That’s true. He was very distraught, and I recall many maids and knights coming and going. Speaking of which, could you tell me about the knight who died with Princess Carnah?”

“I don’t know the details either, but I heard they were together at the academy. He was the third son of a baron whose title lasted only one generation. It was concluded that he brought the poison, in a tragic love suicide regretted for their mismatched status. I heard his family was driven out of the royal capital.”

Blaming everything on the man was to preserve the royal family’s dignity, while exiling his family from the capital was Dennis’s decision, as he didn’t believe it was a love suicide.

Under normal circumstances, the proper punishment for killing the prince’s consort would be hanging, along with the culprit’s family and relatives.

“I see. Then all I can do now is draw the pictures. I’ll do my best.”

“Doing your best is fine, but don’t push yourself too hard. I’ll be away on a short trip starting tomorrow, but if your condition worsens, rest immediately. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow.”

“A trip? Where are you going?”

“To see the newly built highway that runs north to south. Even I do work-like things once in a while.”

The completion of the highway was a major factor in improving relations between the two countries.

Though shipwrecks were frequent due to rough winter seas, the land route now allowed trade with Cortaus and even more distant countries, regardless of the season.

For Cortaus as well, the increase in foreign merchant traffic would invigorate various industries, starting with inns and restaurants.

“Could I go with you? I’d like to see it with you, Lord Jerf.”

“No. You still have a fever, don’t you?”

“It’ll be mostly gone by tomorrow. Though my fingertips are still numb, so I can’t draw, but please take me along for a change of pace.”

Jerf groaned and gently pressed his forehead against Mariadoll’s.

The sudden closeness made her face grow hot.

“No, no. With a fever like this, I can’t let you overexert yourself.”

“That’s—! It’s because you suddenly got so close. If I take my medicine properly, I’ll recover enough to move by tomorrow.”

She pushed against his broad chest, urging him to move away, but Jerf only smiled more deeply and took her hand.

Grinning, he narrowed the distance further and this time touched Mariadoll’s lips.

“!!”

As if testing their softness, Jerf pecked at her lips, then narrowed his crimson eyes.

“See? Even your lips are this hot.”

“Th-that’s why! Oh, Lord Jerf, you’re being mean. I’ll definitely be well by tomorrow, so please take me with you. Ah, if possible, could we stop by Aiden’s shop on the way back? I want to give the finished paintings to Ben.”

Mariadoll pointed to two paintings, carefully wrapped in white cloth and leaning against the wall. She had wanted to deliver them while still in this country, but for someone from Dunbargas to go out, they needed a reason, procedures, and permission.

Even if she said she wanted to deliver the paintings, they’d probably tell her to have a servant do it, and she wouldn’t get permission to go out herself.

For Mariadoll, seeing for herself that the client is truly satisfied is part of the job. This is one point she absolutely won’t compromise on.

“Then, I’ll arrange some reason for us to stop by the Peterson Trading Company.”

“Thank you.”

Jerf leaned in to peer at Mariadoll’s delighted face.

Tilting his head, he brought his unusually alluring face closer.

“However, that’s only if you have no fever tomorrow morning. I’ll be the judge of that.”

Saying this, he kissed her again.

After a light touch and pulling away, he murmured, “Still hot,” before kissing her once more, and Mariadoll’s fever rose even higher.