As friends who grew up together in the orphanage, Ivy—the kind-hearted girl—added that they had promised to rely on and take care of each other.
There was no reason to refuse her request, especially when she pleaded with tears glistening in her eyes.
After all, Killian had already resolved to grant her anything she asked for, whether it concerned any object or desire within the Empire.
‘Alright. I will find your friend for you.’
The Crown Prince made this promise to Ivy—three months ago.
However, contrary to his words, the Crown Prince merely issued orders to his subordinates and showed little genuine interest in actually locating her friend.
There were two reasons for this. First, the more desperately Ivy begged for her friend’s return, the more intensely her healing power flowed into him, greatly satisfying the Crown Prince. Second, it was also for Ivy’s own sake.
He assumed she would naturally come to understand over time—but it seemed Ivy still remained unaware of what ultimately happened to Holy Maiden candidates who came to the temple.
Since the sudden collapse of the Grand Holy Maiden, Imperial laws had undergone multiple revisions. These amendments benefited the Grand Holy Maiden but worsened conditions drastically for the Holy Maiden candidates.
The revised law mandated that, aside from the Empire’s three strongest psychics, all other psychic knights must receive healing exclusively from the Holy Maiden candidates—a measure designed to protect the Grand Holy Maiden, whose life could vanish at any moment.
‘Ivy, whose healing power overflows even after simultaneously healing the three strongest psychics, will never know.’
That her own friend, possessing only a minuscule amount of healing power, would be consumed to death healing lower-ranked knights from the very moment she arrived at the temple—unlike herself.
Part of the reason he had not revealed this cruel truth sooner was precisely because of its brutality.
He feared that if Ivy learned her dear friend had been brought to the temple only to die, she would be overwhelmed by unbearable sorrow.
He had also hoped she would naturally discover the truth about the other Holy Maiden candidates and eventually abandon the idea of rescuing her friend.
Yet, since she still remained ignorant, he wondered whether the priests deliberately kept it secret to avoid shocking her gentle heart—or perhaps…
…she naively believed she could protect her beloved friend herself.
Or, perhaps, she already knew the truth but pretended not to.
‘Well, it doesn’t really matter anyway.’
Hillstain’s lips curled upward in a sneer.
After all, they only needed Ivy. The lives of other Holy Maiden candidates were utterly expendable—whether they lived or died made no difference.
However, on the very day Ivy was officially announced as the Grand Holy Maiden, she made her request once again.
‘If you find my friend for me, I will give you everything I have.’
This time, she made a new promise—not only to the Crown Prince, but in the presence of Hillstain and Dante.
‘I miss my friend so much.’
Though the Crown Prince disliked the terms of Ivy’s promise, circumstances had changed.
As the newly appointed Grand Holy Maiden, Ivy now held the right to choose whom she would prioritize healing.
And the condition she set—with her newly acquired authority—was Latieana Merigold.
The price of this promise was sweeter than anything else, something they desperately wanted to claim.
Whoever brought Latieana Merigold would gain first rights to Ivy’s healing power.
Thus, the three men agreed to find Latieana Merigold, all striving to stand closest beside Ivy.
That Latieana would later be dragged to the temple and die anyway—that was simply the fate awaiting her, and none of their concern.
If Ivy were wounded by her friend’s death and wept, they could always comfort her then.
“I will send you jewels to match your dress.”
Pulling himself from his reverie, Hillstain released Ivy’s hair and turned to leave.
Yet, after only a few steps, a sudden thought struck him, and he halted.
“By the way, Lady Ivy.”
“Yes?”
“Have you ever met Prince Edan Dietrich?”
Ivy tilted her head in confusion.
“If you mean Prince Edan Dietrich… are you referring to the Duke currently waging war against demons in the North?”
“Yes.”
Ivy shook her head.
“No. I’ve heard much about him, but I’ve never met him in person. But I’ll surely see him at the ball, right?”
Smiling innocently, Ivy voiced her naive hope.
“Yes, undoubtedly. It seems the Prince himself is also looking forward to meeting you.”
“I’m looking forward to it too. I want to meet Lord Edan as soon as possible.”
After exchanging goodnight pleasantries with Ivy and stepping out of the room, Hillstain’s eyes gleamed sharply.
Right. That couldn’t be. There was no way Prince Edan knew of Latieana Merigold’s existence. But…
‘The figure behind Ruben was unmistakably female. And though it was brief…’
In his mind’s eye, a few strands of pink hair fluttered slightly from beneath Ruben’s cloak, caught by the wind.
It had been chaotic in the darkness of the North, so he couldn’t be certain—but the possibility lingered.
If by any chance that was Latieana Merigold, she could never be surrendered to anyone else. And even if it wasn’t her, his curiosity was piqued.
‘Who on earth is she, that he hides her so carefully? A man who has never treasured anything before…’
Recalling how Edan had gazed at Ruben’s back—as if beholding a precious treasure or a cherished toy he refused to show others—Hillstain let out a cold, mocking sneer.
[This is the timeline separator]Clang-!
“Ugh!”
The white plate slipped from the counter and shattered mercilessly against the hard floor.
But that wasn’t the real problem.
I carelessly tossed aside the frying pan I’d been holding and clutched my right hand.
Just moments ago, I’d been momentarily distracted and grabbed the handle incorrectly—burning my hand.
Instantly, my palm swelled red, and a sharp, stinging pain surged through it.
“Ouch….”
Worse yet, I was wearing thin slippers, making it unsafe to move hastily—shards of the broken plate lay scattered between the counter and the sink. One wrong step, and not only my hand but my feet too could be injured, turning the kitchen into a disaster zone.
Creeping cautiously along the counter toward the sink, Edan suddenly appeared.
“Latieana, what was that noise just now…?”
His gaze swept over my reddened hand and the frying pan discarded on the counter.
Seemingly grasping the situation instantly, he strode without hesitation through the broken shards.
“Ah! Master! Your feet! Your feet! The plate shards…!”
“Is that really the issue right now?”
Edan snapped irritably, then swept me up into his arms. He carried me firmly to the sink, turned the tap on roughly, and plunged my hand under the cold stream.
Ssshhhh—Cold water splashed everywhere as my hand was thrust beneath it.
“Ugh….”
I winced at the forceful spray, and Edan clicked his tongue, adjusting the water pressure to something gentler.
Thankfully, the pain seemed to ease slightly.
Once the heat had subsided enough, I pulled my hand out—only to find blisters already forming.
“Thank you.”
Edan, who had been staring blankly at my reddened hand, finally shut off the tap upon hearing my words. Perched atop the sink, I now found myself nearly at eye level with him.
Though he was still tall enough that I had to look up slightly.
I lowered my head to check his feet. He’d dashed over barefoot across broken plate shards—I was worried, but thankfully, Edan wore dress shoes and appeared unharmed.
‘Good. I’ll clean up the shards after applying ointment.’
As I thought this and prepared to climb down from the sink, Edan—just like last time—pulled me securely into his embrace, standing motionless. Unlike usual, he lowered his head slightly and exhaled a low, weary sigh.
Seeing him like this for the first time, I grew cautious.
“Um… Master, I’d like to go apply some ointment.”
“Where is it?”
“In the drawer of the sitting room.”
Immediately, Edan lifted his head, picked me up again, and carried me toward the sitting room.
My damp dress soaked his shirt as water seeped through.
‘His feet aren’t hurt—he could walk properly.’
I thought this, but Edan’s expression was unusually fierce after so long, and I was too frightened to protest. I quietly obeyed, letting him do as he pleased.
We arrived at the stark, barren sitting room containing only a sofa and a table.
Back when I’d thought Edan was a shut-in, I’d even picked flowers to arrange in a vase here—but now, the room was completely empty and desolate.
After seating me on the sofa, Edan promptly opened the console drawer and pulled out the few bandages and ointments available.
“Don’t cook anymore.”
Surprisingly, while personally tending to my hand, Edan uttered something utterly unreasonable.
Wait—if I don’t cook, then what’s the point of me being here as a maid?
“Then what should I do? Are you planning to make me clean like a maniac…?”
“Do nothing at all.”
“…What?”
If he wasn’t going to assign me any tasks just because I burned my hand once, then why hire a maid in the first place?
Utterly dumbfounded, I stared blankly at him—until he finished wrapping the bandage with crisp, swift motions and finally met my eyes.
His crimson irises churned fiercely with irritation and displeasure.
His gaze was so cold and piercing I unconsciously held my breath.
“Understood?”
If I dared say ‘no’ or claimed I didn’t understand, something terrible would surely happen.
I took a deep breath and gave a small, obedient nod.
“Wait here. I’ll bring you painkillers.”
Edan stood and headed upstairs.
Watching his retreating back as he flicked droplets from his wet shirt sleeves, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten.
‘Ah… right…’
Edan’s true wounds weren’t the cuts on his body—but the searing agony caused by psychic ability side effects.
He understood this pain better than anyone else. So even if I was merely a maid, his hypersensitive reaction made sense.
Somehow, a dull ache stirred within my heart.
If even this small injury hurt so much, the suffering he endured daily from his psychic backlash must be unimaginable.
‘No wonder he’s obsessed with Ivy.’
My hand, freshly bandaged by him, throbbed faintly.
“Swallow this.”
Edan returned with painkillers and a glass of water.
Quietly accepting and swallowing the medicine as instructed, I briefly wondered—who was really the master, and who the maid?
Of course, this fleeting thought didn’t change the fact that Edan—insufferably arrogant as ever—remained unquestionably my master.
I was still utterly beneath him. After obediently swallowing all the medicine as ordered, I asked,
“Then… what should I do? If I can’t cook or clean, I’ll have nothing to do.”
“Who said you have nothing to do?”
Had I ever done anything else besides those tasks? I couldn’t recall anything significant.
He’d never even assigned me laundry or similar chores.
“Hmm… should I pull weeds in the garden or something?”
At my pitifully scraped-together suggestion, Edan clicked his tongue habitually—as if amused by my absurdity—and sat beside me.
With his large hand, he gently cupped my chin, squishing my cheeks so my lips pouted outward like a fish.
“Look at your face.”
“Huh?”
What on earth was this absurd statement now?
“You like my face, don’t you? You said it’s pretty.”
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
