Side Effects Include Attachment

Smack!

With a light, sharp sound, Shana’s palm struck Lucian’s lips.

The moment her hand touched his mouth, however, Lucian began pressing kisses to her palm instead.

Kiss.

Kiss.

Kiss.

As the sounds continued, Shana’s expression gradually stiffened.

“Lucian, enough with the lip fixation…I’ll give you a gift later. One made with all my sincerity.”

Shana whispered as she pulled her hand away.

“That gift…It’s not an antidote, is it?”

She had no idea how he knew.

Shana drew out her final card.

“Lucian, listen carefully.

If you keep refusing to work and continue holed up like this, the imperial family will eventually come for you.

And when they do, they’ll find out about all your strange side effects.

I won’t be safe either, after making such a bizarre drug.

In the end, we’ll be separated forever. Either I go to prison, or you’re exiled somewhere else.”

It was a threat with real weight behind it.

Anyone could tell at a glance that something was wrong with Lucian, and there was no way the imperial court would leave alone the apothecary who had reduced the Empire’s hero to this state.

At the words separated forever, all the playfulness vanished from Lucian’s face.

“So from now on, at least pretend to act normal. Got it?”

“…Alright, Shasha.”

***

After being coaxed and threatened like that, Lucian behaved himself for a while.

The nonsense he’d been pulling for days seemed to ease up somewhat, as though he were consciously reining it in.

He still asked for kisses, of course, but at the very least, he was enthusiastic about moving to the capital, honoring his promise to Shana.

It seemed he had even sent a letter to his aide declaring his return to work.

“Shasha, I did well, didn’t I? My aide says a property should be available soon.”

Shana could practically see him wagging his tail like an oversized dog desperate for praise.

“Yes, very well done.”

‘But it’s still too early to relax.’

Now that they had decided to move to the capital, preparations had to be swift.

Shana began organizing the books and materials that had been piled up in a dusty corner of the apothecary.

‘The new treatment shouldn’t have side effects like this.’

The Mana Rejection Syndrome treatment she had ambitiously developed was meant to function as a stimulant.

Instead, it somehow produced effects closer to a love potion that turned its subject into a madman.

Worse still, it came with a horrifying side effect: if separated physically from the target, the subject experienced unbearable pain.

‘Is there any other medicine I can use as reference?’

Come to think of it, there was an ingredient she had seen in a book once…

It existed outside the Empire.

And only in lands made nearly inaccessible due to heretics.

“Shasha.”

“What.”

“We’re too far apart.”

“We’re only two steps away.”

Before Shana could even finish her sentence, Lucian dragged his chair across the floor and slid right up next to her.

“No, still. Being close feels better for my heart.”

“Didn’t you say the heart pain starts at four steps? Did the side effects get worse already?”

When Shana asked suspiciously, Lucian avoided her gaze.

“…Lately my condition hasn’t been great. I think I’ve gotten more sensitive.”

‘This damn medicine.’

Its effectiveness showed no sign of weakening.

Thankfully, Lucian hadn’t openly demanded to share her bed.

He simply stuck close, like a massive magnet quietly pulling her in.

His craving for physical contact seemed to have grown unnervingly strong.

Shana deliberately dragged her chair back two steps away from him.

In response, Lucian extended his hand and, with magic, pulled Shana’s chair—her and all—right back beside him.

The movement was so light and smooth it hardly seemed real, despite the fact that a full-grown woman was sitting in it.

“I don’t want to be apart, Shasha…”

Lucian whined like a puppy, slumped over the desk.

Shana let out a deep sigh.

What choice did she have? He was a patient.

“I keep thinking, Shasha.”

“Thinking what?”

“How far you’ll let me go.”

“…What are you even saying?”

As Lucian muttered incomprehensible words, a brilliant golden bird flew in through the window and gently landed on his finger.

The bird shattered into golden dust, leaving behind a single parchment scroll.

Lucian unrolled it, read briefly, then turned to Shana.

“A letter came, Shasha. My aide found a candidate location for the apothecary.

Right in the city center, on the street directly facing the Imperial Palace. What do you think? Take a look.”

“…Really?”

Shana checked the marked location on the map and sharply sucked in a breath.

‘This is—!’

It was prime real estate. The best spot in the capital.

If they moved there, the apothecary’s profits would skyrocket overnight.

“…So we’re really moving?”

In just one day.

Her emotions felt unsettled.

She regretted parting with the few regulars she had.

For example, Old Man Marcus who bought stamina tonics.

Her only friend, Erilot.

And Old Man Marcus’s wife.

And Erilot again…

‘That’s… not many.’

The only other memory was of a nasty customer who complained about why she ran a shop in such a remote place.

‘This is insane! Bring out the owner!’

“…Huh. I don’t feel sad at all.”

“What did you say, Shasha?”

Erilot could just be told the new address later.

“…Nothing. I was thinking we should finish packing.”

“Shasha, what should we move first? I’ll do everything.”

“Ah, first sort those books by category and put them into that box.”

At her words, Lucian lightly snapped his fingers.

All the books in the apothecary floated into the air, sorted themselves by type, then slipped neatly into the boxes one after another.

“…If you could do that, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Because you’re cute when you frown while concentrating, Shasha.”

“……”

Her brows knitted properly this time.

Seeing her expression darken, Lucian hurriedly apologized.

“Sorry, Shasha. That was my fault. I’ll prepare dinner right away.”

At that, her brow smoothed instantly.

It was convenient.

From cooking to chores, he handled everything flawlessly with magic.

No cohabitant could compare.

***

‘Convenient, my ass.’

That illusion shattered far quicker than expected.

That night, the moment Shana lay down, Lucian immediately pulled her into his arms.

Her face ended up buried in his solid chest muscles, and she sighed.

“Shasha, you’re just like a teddy bear. Small and soft…”

“Get off, Lucian.”

“Shasha…”

The armor-like chest muscles right in front of her made Shana let out a tiny, suffocated cry.

“Wah.”

Lucian had changed into his nightclothes, but the shirt was clearly too small for his muscular build.

The buttons were strained, gaps barely holding together.

Seeing the exposed cleft of his chest, Shana frowned.

“What is it, Shasha?”

“Button it up, Lucian.”

“Hm?”

Lucian looked down at his chest and fastened the shirt closed.

But the moment he relaxed, the buttons strained apart again.

“…It won’t stay closed. Sorry, Shasha. Is it uncomfortable?”

“No. Not at all. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Just sleep.”

Shana gritted her teeth as she spoke.

Then she wriggled like a caterpillar toward the very edge of the bed.

Watching her, Lucian smiled.

“Good night, Shasha. I like that the bed is small. It’ll be a shame when we move and get a bigger one.”

‘Ignore him. Just ignore him…’

As Shana closed her eyes, she felt someone gently brushing her hair.

‘…Am I hallucinating from exhaustion? It feels exactly like Lucian’s touch.’

She tried to ignore it and fall asleep, but the soft strokes continued.

When she finally turned around, Lucian really was touching her hair.

“…What are you doing?”

“I heard people sleep better when someone brushes their hair like this.”

Lucian carefully threaded her pink hair through his fingers.

“I think it’d just make you more aware and unable to sleep.”

Shana mimicked his tone.

Lucian withdrew his hand reluctantly.

“You don’t seem sleepy, Shasha.”

“…Obviously.”

“Go to sleep.
Sleeping early helps fatigue fade.”

“If you weren’t here, I’d have been asleep in ten seconds…”

Just then, Shana felt a steady patting on her back.

Not greedy, not suggestive.

It was careful and pure, like soothing a baby to sleep.

‘Since my mother passed away…
how long has it been since someone patted my back like this?’

She had always been the caretaker.

Being cared for felt awkward beyond words.

“How does anyone… fall asleep to this…”

Despite her words, warmth spread through her body.

“…Good night, my Shasha.”

That soft voice was the last thing she heard before sinking into deep sleep.

***

Hot.

Strangely hot.

Her whole body felt like it was wrapped in a massive heating pack.

‘What…?’

Shana’s eyes flew open.

And she froze in horror.

Lucian, who had definitely been sleeping at the far end of the bed, was pressed right up against her.

“Ahh!”

She sprang up like a coiled spring.

Thankfully, all her clothes were still on.

Had Lucian moved toward her in his sleep?

She blinked.

‘…No.
That’s not it.’

Looking properly, the situation was the opposite.

Lucian was still lying neatly at the edge of the bed.

She was the one who had rolled over and clung to him.

‘Since when did I have a sleeping habit like this?’

“Oh, you’re awake, Shasha?”

There wasn’t a trace of sleepiness in his voice.

“Lu—Lucian. When did you wake up?”

“Hm? Rather than waking up… I just kept my eyes closed today.”

So he hadn’t slept at all?

“Wh—why am I next to you?”

“Well…you came over here in your sleep.”

“I did? Really? Did I… hug you too?”

She vaguely remembered sleeping blissfully while clinging to something incredibly comfortable, even wrapping her legs around it.

Surely not Lucian.

“Hm. Yeah.”

Lucian lay there with his arms crossed, as if to prove he hadn’t laid a finger on her.

‘So I was the beast all along?’

“Because I pulled you in with magic.”

“You insane bastard!”

“…B-but since I couldn’t touch a sleeping Shasha, I spent the entire night meditating while praying for Saint Luciano’s blessing.”

He spoke solemnly, invoking the name of a saint famed for restraint and enlightenment.

‘He’s truly out of his mind.’

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Someone was pounding on the apothecary door like it was about to be torn off its hinges.

“Boss! Hey, boss! Open up!”