Instead, he reached out to touch the droplets, as if to pet them.

“Umm…”

Just then, a voice that shouldn’t be heard in this space echoed in his ears.

Had it not been for the water droplets blocking his path, he might have mistaken her for an intruder and killed her.

“…She treated me?”

Thanks to the spirit’s explanation, he held back his killing intent, but his suspicion and alertness didn’t wane.

After all, an ordinary person shouldn’t be able to enter a Spirit King’s space.

“…”

But staring at her peaceful, sleeping face for a long time, Merriam felt foolish.

The woman was frail.

Her pulse fluttered, and the blood flowed slowly. The heartbeat was barely audible, as if it could stop at any moment.

Her skin was as fragile as snow that melts in the sun, her wrists slender, and her frame small.

Rather than harming her, she seemed incapable of looking after herself.

Her dark blonde hair was striking, causing Merriam to furrow his brows involuntarily.

‘A strange woman.’

And then he realized, this fur coat wasn’t his.

She laid him down here and treated his wounds, then must have fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Making a clear decision, Merriam stood up from the fur coat. The water droplets cleaned it before he carefully picked her up.

She was so light, he had to consciously use his strength to hold her.

“Did this woman kiss my forehead?”

He laid her on the now-clean coat and suddenly asked. She had said something about a goodnight kiss in exchange for treating him.

However, the water droplets dispersed. ‘No,’ they seemed to say.

‘So she wasn’t lying about treating me first.’

Unexpected.

Merriam had never met someone who didn’t lie.

His current mission was an example.

Sitting next to her, he brushed over his chest, now healed to a faint red line, and clenched his teeth.

His current state was all because of his half-brother.
Preparing for the upcoming summit, Merriam’s mission was to infiltrate the Nyx Empire’s royal palace and obtain highly confidential information about the Empress.

In the desert kingdom, the Emperor’s orders were absolute, and defiance was unthinkable. To demonstrate loyalty, one must complete five missions assigned by the Emperor.

Although the offspring of noble families usually received safe assignments, Merriam, lacking a powerful maternal lineage, was always given dangerous tasks.

Yet, Merriam never complained, understanding how much his half-brother, the Emperor, saw him as a threat.

He was a dilemma: too valuable to kill because of his Spirit King asset, yet too dangerous to keep close. So, he was sent away, secretly hoped to die on his own.

Merriam had survived missions to volcanic regions and snow-covered lands.

Even though no one welcomed him back, he had to return to the desert kingdom, the only place he could call home.

But now, that was threatened to disappear because of a sudden “revelation”…

Merriam tried to brush off unnecessary sentimentality, killing his emotions time and again, hoping to one day feel nothing at all.

Reminding himself, he recalled the person who had inflicted these wounds on him.

‘That man was a monster.’

The information about Nyx he was given turned out to be all wrong, including the palace maps. Despite his caution, the Emperor caught him and attacked without hesitation.

After blocking the first strike, the Emperor, surprised, unleashed a fierce onslaught with immense divine power.

Merriam’s superior physical abilities and reflexes saved his life, but he was grievously injured, unable to return to the desert. So, the Spirit King created a protective barrier for him.

‘That was three days ago.’

The Emperor was ruthless, taking lives without hesitation. His eyes were void of life.

‘If only we had fought in the desert, it might have been an even match.’

Outside his homeland, Merriam’s power weakened significantly.

As he clenched and unclenched his fists, he gazed at the woman sleeping peacefully beside him.

Her relaxed face strangely comforted him.

Despite knowing stepping out of this space meant facing hell again, for the first time, Merriam found himself with someone he didn’t wish death upon.

He had never heard ‘it’s okay to live’ before. The fact that someone had treated and saved him was a profound shock.

“Is a goodnight kiss just pressing lips on the forehead?”

He asked in a low voice, and the water droplets burst into what seemed like laughter, teasing him. Merriam growled, pretending to be angry.

“Don’t laugh. I’ve never done or received such a thing.”

The thought alone made him feel ticklish. His nape burned, and he felt like running away.

Unsure why lips were even pressed in such a manner, but understanding a deal was a deal, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips briefly against her smooth forehead.

He felt breathless.

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.