Trap (6)
Anton ran out of the restaurant and stopped after running for a while.
"Ugh, ugh!"
Sweat poured down like rain.
Out of habit, he took out his handkerchief and stuffed it back into his pocket. He couldn't wipe anything with the already soaking-wet handkerchief.
If he were an ordinary nobleman, he would have stopped a passing servant and asked for a handkerchief.
But Anton turned to lesser-known patrons.
After a while, a place surrounded by garden trees appeared. It seemed like a good place to hide.
Anton went in there and rubbed his stinging eyes with the back of his hand, which were soaked with sweat.
"Ha..."
The sweat slowly cooled.
It was when he was shivering because he was feeling a little chilly when he heard a low voice from somewhere.
“Rahon, here.”
"Here? There's no one here?"
"I feel something."
"How did you find this place? I almost passed it by."
It was a voice that Anton also knew well.
Rahon Shancrecia and Ian Tennessee Eldern.
He had seen Rahon once before, but this was his first time meeting Ian.
Anton recalled the shock he felt when he first met Ian.
His trained body was beautiful and strong. His golden eyes were intimidating. It felt like he was facing a black panther.
It was so perfect that he didn't even feel jealous. He was amazed that the ideal type he had only dreamed of existed in real life. He thought, "There really is such a person."
Anton, who remembered that time, stood up hesitantly. The sound of footsteps was getting closer. The sweat that had stopped started to rise again.
Soon, an unrealistic face suddenly appeared between the trees in the garden where he had been hiding.
"Found it."
Rahon, who spoke nonchalantly, invaded the space where Anton was hiding.
Then Ian came in, and the already cramped space felt full.
Anton hunched his shoulders out of habit, worried that he might smell like sweat.
"What, what is it?"
Rahon stared at Anton persistently.
Anton lowered his head, stabbed by the sharp gaze that seemed to be trying to dig into his insides.
Did you come here because of MiIlenia?
The incident at the restaurant was clearly his own fault.
If it were the usual Anton, no matter how angry he was, he wouldn't have acted like that.
It's extremely rude to embarrass someone in front of others, and he never dared to do it in the first place.
But...
"Embarrass Millenia in front of everyone."
"If you love me, show me proof, Your Highness."
So Anton had no choice but to do it. He was afraid of disappointing Sierra..
Rahon Immediately extended his hand to Anton, who was very intimidated.
"You, give me your hand."
"Oh, your hand? Why?"
"Why, why? I want to examine you. Give it to me now. There's no time."
"Why do you need a checkup? I'm healthy..."
"Do you know that you're out of breath even when you're standing still? And you're healthy?"
The reason he was out of breath was because of Rahon and Ian, who were staring at him with a heavy gaze.
How can you not feel pressured when you have someone like that close to you?
Anton glanced at Ian and extended his arm.
Rahon grabbed the hand that was slowly reaching out like a turtle and pulled it towards him.
"What's wrong with this young person? Your heart is not in good condition, and your joints are on the verge of collapse. What's wrong with that? You also have asthma symptoms."
My body was that bad?
Anton's eyes widened.
"Are you out of breath even after just a little bit of walking? Your knees would hurt so much that you couldn't even walk a few steps."
"You're right."
"There must have been many times when you suddenly had trouble breathing. You couldn't sleep deeply either."
"How, how about that!"
Rahon shook his head and let go of Anton's hand.
"If you heal me with power, you'll feel better for now. But if you don't lose weight, it's no use."
Is it a matter of weight after all? Anton's shoulders slumped.
"Haven't I tried it? I've tried everything to lose weight, but it just keeps getting worse... What should I do?"
"That's because you're trying to lose weight by starving yourself. Even if you do that, the moment you increase your food intake, you'll only gain more weight than before. Didn't you know that?"
Now that he thinks about it, that might be the case. Anton slowly raised his head.
"Then..."
"You need to exercise."
"I'm not very athletic..."
"You can't even walk? Even if you have no athletic ability, you can do that."
"..."
"Eat as much as you want. But don't eat outside of the designated times. And walk whenever you have time. And when you reach a point where you can't lose weight, run."
Up until now, Anton had avoided any activity that would even slightly cause him to sweat.
Rahon put a hand on his shoulder, which he was reluctant to do.
"If you don't do as I say, it won't be easy to get through next year, right?"
"Is it that serious?"
"That's why I came to you on purpose."
It was a warning from not just an ordinary doctor, but a 'savior'. Anton's face turned pale.
I didn't want to die. So, wasn't that why I kept living without being treated like a human being?
"Oh, I understand. I will definitely lose weight."
Anton nodded with a determined expression, and Rahon's power seeped into him.
Anton instinctively closed his eyes.
The pain that had been stabbing him here and there disappeared immediately. His chest, which had felt heavy, also felt lighter.
My health is really bad.
He couldn't even remember when he had felt this comfortable. Anton, who had been in a trance, slowly opened his eyes.
"I know this may be a shameless question, but is there any way to stop sweating?"
"Do you know what happens when people don't sweat?"
"No, I don't know."
"Die. Because you can't regulate your body temperature."
"Oh, I see..."
Even if I lose weight, if I don't fix my sweaty body type, people will still hate me...
As Anton became gloomy at that thought, Rahon let out a deep sigh.
"Haa, I really treasure this..."
Then he took out a small pocket from inside his suit and handed it to Anton.
"I'm giving this only to you. Don't tell anyone."
Anton opened the pouch he had received in a panic. There were about thirty dark pills inside.
"What is this?"
"There are times when you feel like you're going to start sweating. Then eat. Then, the sweat will decrease."
"Is there such a medicine?"
"Of course not. I just made it by accident."
“Ah...”
Rahon suddenly lowered his voice. Anton's expression also became serious at the secretive tone.
"It's a medicine that can't be made again, so you shouldn't take it whenever you want. When you really can't stand It, think about it over and over again, and when you really can't stand it, take just one pill."
In fact, it was sweat rather than fat that bothered Anton. But this one medicine could solve his lifelong worries.
Anton clutched the pouch of medicine like a lifeline and spoke in a thin, trembling voice.
"Hey, can you give me this precious medicine?"
"Just give me 20 thousand gold."
"I, I will! Is there anything else I can do for you? I really want to repay you!"
"If that's true."
Rahon trailed off and then looked straight at Anton.
"Listen to Millenia's story."
"Yes?"
"I'm not asking you to believe her. I'm just asking you to give her a chance to speak."
"She already misunderstands my fiancée. And if I try to talk to her..."
At that moment, Ian's mouth, which had been closed the whole time, opened for the first time.
"Do you really think it was a misunderstanding?"
It was just a question asked softly. But Anton flinched as if he had been suddenly attacked.
Ian continued.
"When I entered the reception room, the two were tangled in an awkward position. And right in front of Lady Astrod."
"If you love me enough to want me back, shouldn't you at least stop rolling around with my friends in front of me?"
Was it true what Millenia said to Oslo at the grand ballroom yesterday?
'No! That can't be true. Sierra said it was a misunderstanding!'
"I love my fiancée. Her past doesn't matter."
"Then you don't mind meeting Young Lady anymore. No matter what I say, you will love your fiancée."
Anton was finally able to realize.
They came here to sow suspicion in Sierra.
Come to think of it, it didn't make sense for Rahon to come looking for Anton in the first place.
Why did he say he would heal Anton? What does it have to do with Anton?
Anton's eyes hardened.
"Rahon, did you heal me by chance at her request?"
Rajon snorted.
"This guy is really twisted. Can't you tell the difference between a request and help?"
"Why is he helping me?"
"That's right. Why did she want to help you while asking me to keep it a secret? You're such an ungrateful person."
Anton closed his mouth. Rahon's sarcastic expression suddenly turned cold.
"It's your choice whether to face the truth or turn away from it."
"..."
"Just know that your choice could change your life."
***
Rahon and Ian left Anton lost in thought and headed to the Great Library.
Only after Anton was far enough away that he couldn't hear him anymore did Ian ask quietly.
"Is it really true that the Grand Duke won't be able to survive until next year?"
"How would I know? I am not the 'first walker', I am the 'savior'."
"You told the Grand Duke that he had a heart attack and asthma symptoms."
"Originally, when you gain weight, you start to get pain in various places."
"..."
A wrinkle formed between Ian's eyebrows.
"What's the medicine? Is that fake too?"
"That's true. It's a digestive."
"... You're selling digestive medicine for 20,000 gold?"
"Then he can believe it works."
Anton's body was relatively healthy except for being obese.
That is, his hyperhidrosis is not a disease but a problem of the mind.
So, if he has something he can strongly rely on in a stressful situation, his symptoms may improve.
For the time being, Rahon's digestive medicine will do the job. Then, as he loses weight and regains his self-esteem, things will get better.
lan chuckled.
No matter how obsessed with money Rahon was, he never lied about the value of the medicine he made.
It was obvious who he was doing this for.
"You've become a conman."
"Why did you do something you've never done before? You wouldn't have even opened your mouth to say anything normally."
"..."
How can I tolerate Millenia being treated so carelessly, just believing the words of a woman like Sierra?
It was fortunate that Anton had not been challenged to a duel.
Rahon, who had been staring blankly at Ian's indifferent face, put an arm on his shoulder.
"We have changed a lot."
"I see."
Two people didn't mind the change.
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