I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 143

 

As soon as he heard the words, Carson stiffened as if he had been hit with a freezing spell.

 

I waited patiently for him to return to his senses.

 

It was a pleasure to watch him stiffen.

 

After what seemed like an eternity, his movements slowly returned. His throat clearing rose and fell wildly.

 

“…Really?”

 

My heart pounded pleasantly at the sound of his half-awake voice.

 

“I must be joking, then?”

 

His eyes narrowed as if he were giddy.

 

“Hmph…”

 

Finally, blood trickled down his nose.

 

The sight of his nosebleed makes me feel sick.

 

God, he’s still not used to it. It was a mistake to think that after a night without control magic, anything would be okay.

 

The recent kiss, the sharing of the bed.

 

All of these nights without control spells were me making progress when I was struggling.

 

No, that doesn’t mean you need to struggle mentally all the time.

 

I want to be happy now.

 

Carson hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.

 

But for some reason, he didn’t wipe the nosebleed, only dabbing it with one hand to stem the flow.

 

“Why aren’t you wiping it?”

 

He explained, frowning, “This is the handkerchief Leen gave me before.”

 

“And?”

 

“What do you mean, how could I waste it…?”

 

I raised my eyebrows.

 

“There’s nothing wrong with using it for its intended purpose.”

 

Carson grunted, “Using… my lucky handkerchief…”

 

It’s not the use I intended when I gave it.

 

“I’ll give you a handkerchief, so don’t waste it.”

 

“But this is the first handkerchief you ever gave me, so it means a lot.”

 

Carson said, as if to ask me to think about it.

 

“That’s discriminatory. Don’t the second and third handkerchiefs have their own meaning?”

 

“…I see. I’ll treat the next handkerchief I receive with the same importance.”

 

Hey, that’s not what I meant. I let out a small sigh and ended up smirking.

 

“Caon. But now that I think about it, shouldn’t we just wipe it with magic? I’m sure the nosebleed can be stopped with a healing spell.”

 

“Ahh.”

 

As if realization dawned on him, he cast the spell.

 

As I watched the satisfaction in his eyes as his face cleared, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten.

 

I was trying to seduce him, I realized.

 

“Come here, Caon.”

 

Carson walked over to me quickly and bent his head down so we were at eye level. I slowly brought my hand up to stroke his cheek.

 

“Even if you pass out halfway through, why don’t you try?”

 

Huh? You did fine yesterday without the control magic.

 

Carson’s eyes flickered blankly as he looked at me.

 

“You don’t want to?”

 

“…Pills!”

 

“Pills?”

 

I tilted my head at an angle, and he looked at me with a deep red face.

 

“…Do you mind if I take some pills? Come to think of it, I forgot yesterday when we got into the mood.”

 

Still, I was impressed that he hadn’t packed anything. I chuckled and ruffled his earlobe.

 

What’s the point of having pretty earlobes?

 

“I take my medication every day, you just need to be ready.”

 

Carson stammered, seemingly shocked at the idea of taking medication every day.

 

“Why, why every day…?”

 

“Why? Because I was coming for you every night.”

 

“You’ve been wanting me too…?”

 

“Isn’t that obvious?”

 

“Well, then…”

 

“Why didn’t you tell me like this?”

 

Carson shook his head quickly, as if that was what he wanted to say.

 

“I was wondering when you would reach out first.”

 

Wow, but how could I cuddle with him every day and never think to sneak a touch?

 

I thought Carson was some kind of saint. I mean, I could clearly see that he had a libido, but how could he have the patience…

 

Shaking my head, I was about to move on.

 

Suddenly, I remembered one of the shivers I had left after dealing with Rex.

 

“This has nothing to do with the current mood, Caon.”

 

“Mmm.”

 

“Don’t touch Erhan.”

 

There was silence between us for a moment.

 

“…You don’t consider that thing family, do you?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“Then why?”

 

My smile was as fresh as if a flower had just blossomed.

 

“I’ll do it by myself. The work has already been done.”

 

Carson, who had been staring at me, looked worried.

 

“Then take me with you when you screw him.”

 

“If you promise not to get involved.”

 

“I promise.”

 

He stood on his tiptoes, and only then did his expression soften.

 

“Shall we finish what we started yesterday, then, darling?”

 

Carson lowered his eyebrows and nodded quietly. I knew that despite his shy demeanor, he was going to do a 180 once we got into the game.

 

That’s when his body and mine slowly began to overlap.

 

Thud!

 

“Miss Leen, it’s urgent!”

 

Startled, I responded by shoving Carson in the chest.

 

“Wha— what is it?”

 

And the words that came out of the maid’s mouth were more serious than I thought.

 

“Professor George won’t wake up!”

 

🍃

 

I bit my lip and looked anxiously at Professor George.

 

He was unconscious. No matter how hard I tried to wake him, he wouldn’t wake up.

 

When I checked on him, I realized that his right hand and leg, which were still intact a moment ago, had become severely affected.

 

The progression was too fast.

 

It was as if he was suffering from Monstera.

 

Now that Professor George was unconscious, unless he miraculously shook himself free, I would have to create the cure on my own.

 

So I shook my head firmly. Despair settled over me.

 

I was not confident.

 

Could I create the cure on my own? And before Professor George died?

 

If I could, I wouldn’t have to worry about it. I wouldn’t have had to leave my parents in the first place.

 

Why do I always have to be powerless?

 

I thought I was supposed to be free of all shackles and happy with Carson.

 

Why not…

 

Suddenly, I remembered what Arcandus had given me as a graduation gift. I snapped out of it.

 

‘Someday, when the time is right, you’ll need this.’

 

No way.

 

‘When that day comes, you’ll know what I’m talking about. So don’t throw it away.’

 

Arcandus.

 

‘By the day you speak of, you mean the fad of Monstera?’

 

I stormed out of the room and retrieved the parcel, which I had set aside in the corner of my study.

 

It was just as he had sent it to me, except for a bit of dust gathering over the months.

 

I carefully unwrapped the package to reveal a small box.

 

And inside…

 

A vial of red liquid.

 

Was this really Monstera’s cure?

 

Or has the alchemical genius created a panacea?

 

Whatever it was, all that mattered now was that it might save Professor George’s life. I didn’t know what it was, but I trusted Arcandus.

 

The way he acted, the way he looked at me. It was unquestioningly directed at my family.

 

I couldn’t fake that kind of affection. I grabbed the vial and hurried to Professor George’s office.

 

Arcandus’s words echoed in my ears.

 

— ‘I want you to be selfish. Don’t pity anyone, don’t give up what is yours.’

 

It was meant for me. It might be a precious drug, the only vial in the world.

 

But Arcandus.

 

“I’m sorry, I can’t stand by and watch my people die.”

 

So without hesitation, I injected Professor George with the drug.

 

As I watched the red liquid slide into his mouth, I felt a strange sense of relief. I wasn’t even sure he was going to be okay.

 

The next day.

 

Professor George woke up, having lost consciousness.

 

🍃

 

One day.

 

It had only been a day on the medication, and his blackened fingertips and toes had regained their color.

 

Of course, his left hand, which was completely decomposed, showed no signs of improvement, but that was a big improvement.

 

His left hand would probably never be the same again, even if it were cured.

 

“Professor, don’t you think you should take a few days of rest?”

 

After regaining consciousness, Professor George went straight to the lab. He insisted on creating a cure as soon as possible.

 

“There’s no guarantee that what you fed me is really a cure.”

 

“But it worked for you, Professor.”

 

“…How on earth did Arcandus foresee this and create a cure.”

 

“That’s my question, too.”

 

Professor George narrowed his eyes at me.

 

“Didn’t you leave any of the medicine you gave me yesterday?”

 

I was so focused on keeping him alive that I didn’t think of that. I quickly averted my eyes and made an excuse that wasn’t an excuse.

 

“I have to stick to the dosage. What if I take one less drop, and you don’t get better?”

 

“You should have been flexible. I mean, I’m unconscious, and don’t even remember what it tastes like.”

 

“I’m sure there’s a vial with the medicine in it, unfortunately.”

 

“Give it to me, I hope that gives us a hint…”

 

I had the attendant fetch the vial.

 

Professor George looked at the empty vial and sniffed it cautiously. His brow creased in disbelief.

 

“You smell it, Leen. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m old.”

 

“What do you think it smells like?”

 

I shook my head, taking the vial from Professor George’s hand and sniffing it.

 

“Huh…?”

 

My breathing quickened, and my heart began to pound frantically. This wasn’t supposed to be happening.

 

Why does this smell like fruit?

 

My parents died after taking a cure made from the fruit.

 

So, up until now, when I was making Monstera’s remedies, I had completely excluded it and looked for other herbs.

 

Suddenly, a theory formed in my head, and it hit me like a sledgehammer to the head.

 

‘It’s not right, is it? It can’t be. No…’

 

If I, the family, don’t trust him, who can trust him?

 

‘Isn’t that right, Arcandus?’

 

You couldn’t have done that to me.