Though he spoke gently with a full smile, Killian took a bold step forward at Edan’s clearly sarcastic words.
“You dare, to me, the Crown Prince……”
At that moment, the Empress’s attendant came running urgently from the opposite side of the ballroom and bowed deeply to Killian.
“Your Highness.”
Killian, who had been tensely on edge, let out a low sigh.
Unable to ignore the Empress’s attendant under the gaze of the crowd, Killian swiftly turned around and asked,
“What is it?”
“Her Imperial Majesty wishes to speak with you briefly.”
Killian glanced toward his mother, standing at the far end of the ballroom.
Among the duchesses, Henzela was covering her mouth with a fan, her eyes smiling.
Beside her stood a young lady, cheeks flushed with shyness, stealing a glance at Killian—until their eyes met.
The young lady quickly averted her gaze.
Apparently, she was the Empress’s newest candidate, recently selected in her ongoing search for Killian’s future wife.
“……Understood.”
Reluctantly replying, Killian stepped closer to Edan, pressed shoulder to shoulder, and whispered into his ear.
“This is the last time. I have no intention of lifting your ban from my temple for quite a while.”
“Brother, perhaps you didn’t hear what I said last night?”
At Edan’s question, Killian lifted one corner of his mouth mockingly.
“Of course I heard. That’s precisely why I’m even less inclined to lift it.”
“I see.”
“Yes. So perhaps you should consider ending your life amid the pain. It might be faster than waiting for healing in my temple.”
“Oh dear, I hadn’t even considered that—what a pity.”
“Next time, I’ll look forward to hearing your obituary.”
Though no blades were drawn, every exchange between them was as sharp as daggers piercing each other’s flesh.
Killian gave Edan’s shoulder a light pat and brushed past him; Edan muttered under his breath with an indifferent gaze.
“I have no desire to meet such expectations.”
Smirking, Edan adjusted his cravat neatly, then approached Ivy, who stood behind him.
Until then, Ivy had been intently watching the two men.
Other music echoed through the ballroom, voices mingling chaotically—unless standing very close, conversations were hard to hear. Though she couldn’t grasp every word, it was obvious at a glance these were not affectionate brothers.
Yet regardless of their relationship, Ivy’s eyes were now firmly fixed on Edan.
Moments ago, she had gazed at Killian as if he were the most magnificent man in the world—but the instant she saw Edan, her eyes sparkled brightly.
“It is an honor to meet you, Great Saintess.”
At Edan’s naturally charming, smiling greeting, Ivy—just as she had done earlier with Killian—gracefully clasped her dress hem and bowed her head,
Deliberately exposing her cleavage.
“I greet you, Prince Edan Dietrich, the Empire’s Star.”
Ivy deliberately straightened her shoulders slowly, then addressed Edan with an innocent expression.
“I’ve been so curious about what kind of person His Grace truly is.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I’ve heard so much about you. They say you fight harder than anyone else against that unbreakable wall.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Edan replied flatly.
From this point, Ivy began to sense something strange—her eyebrows twitched slightly.
Was it because she hadn’t yet activated her healing power? Edan’s reaction was utterly unlike anyone else’s.
This was odd. Before coming to the ball, the temple maidservant had told her Edan, blessed with extraordinary abilities, desired the Saintess’s blessing more than anyone.
She had even whispered details about what happened in the North last night.
Perhaps, the Northern Duke himself might beg at Ivy’s feet for her healing power.
With such expectations, Ivy had shivered with excitement the moment Edan first entered.
Imagining such a beautiful man kneeling before her—it felt like nothing could bring greater pleasure.
But Edan showed no sign of doing so. It wasn’t merely a matter of “normal condition.”
Was he suppressing himself to avoid making her uncomfortable? She considered it, but the side effects’ pain was not something one could simply endure.
Rather, Edan appeared entirely uninterested in the situation.
Yet if that were true, why would he approach her so amiably and smile? Ivy concluded he must simply be tired.
So she brought up the words she’d prepared in advance.
“There’s something I’ve been longing to ask you since meeting you……”
“What is it?”
“Will you hear me out?”
“Depends on the content—I’ll consider it.”
His tone was neither rejecting nor particularly warm—merely politely neutral—as Edan picked up a nearby wine glass.
Again, Ivy’s brow subtly furrowed.
‘What? Does he truly not yet realize my healing power? Fine. Then I’ll make him want me.’
No need for deliberate seduction. Just once, like Killian and others before him, he would become addicted to her power.
Without her even asking, he’d offer her everything.
Ivy grabbed Edan’s arm and pulled him toward the terrace.
Naturally, such feeble strength couldn’t actually drag Edan—but he willingly followed where she led.
Behind thick curtains, away from prying eyes, the two faced each other.
“Is this matter so secret it requires such privacy?”
At Edan’s question, Ivy pressed her fingertips together and whispered,
“It’s important.”
Moonlight poured from above; light spilled from behind the curtains. The soft glow enveloped her, intensifying her beauty—any man would find it impossible to refuse her request in this atmosphere.
As if aware of this herself, Ivy parted her lovely lips with a seductive gaze.
“I… am actually searching for a friend.”
“A friend, you say.”
“Yes. I’ve already spoken to the Crown Prince, the Knight Commander, and the Southern Duke… but there’s been no progress.”
“What kind of friend?”
“My one and only friend. Someone precious, raised with me in the orphanage—someone I’d trade my life for.”
Edan slowly rotated the glass in his hand.
“Oh my. How did you lose such a dear friend?”
“A carriage accident. We were on our way to the temple together… the carriage door opened, and… I must find her. Can you help me?”
“I see. Some information about your friend would help in the search.”
For a fleeting moment, coldness flickered in Edan’s eyes as he spoke.
It vanished as quickly as it appeared—masked by his smile, unnoticed by anyone.
“Her name is Latieana Merigold. She has beautiful cherry-blossom-pink hair. She knows no one, has nowhere to go… I’m terribly worried. Please look for her as soon as possible. I beg you. Okay?”
Edan, who had been listening with apparent interest, abruptly stopped rotating his glass and locked eyes with Ivy.
“What will you give me if I find her for you?”
At Edan’s sudden interest in bargaining, Ivy’s lips curved beautifully upward.
“Me.”
“The Saintess herself?”
“Did you know? I have the authority to choose anyone I desire and heal them before anyone else, at any moment I wish. So I’m certain I’ll be useful to His Grace.”
As she spoke, Ivy silently placed her hand upon Edan’s arm.
From her palm, crimson healing energy surged violently, climbing up Edan’s arm and spreading through his body.
Edan’s expression, as he felt it, was ambiguously caught between smiling and not—utterly unreadable.
Ivy intended to pour even more healing energy into him, but Edan gently removed her hand.
“Oh dear.”
“……?”
“I didn’t greet you because I truly desired your blessing.”
“……What?”
Ivy was bewildered. This reaction was nothing like what she’d expected.
Hadn’t she poured enough healing power into him? Shouldn’t he immediately promise to find Latieana?
“I’ll consider helping you find your friend.”
But Edan turned away as if all his curiosity had vanished. Then, just as he was about to leave the terrace, he turned back and asked,
“Saintess. Are you aware of this?”
“Of… what?”
Ivy, still slightly flustered as she watched Edan’s back, widened her eyes in confusion.
“Normally, Saintess candidates can only leave the temple… by dying.”
“……What?”
“Or they die having their healing power stolen. The chance of survival is extremely low.”
“That… that can’t be…”
Edan tilted his head slightly to one side.
Still smiling faintly.
“You didn’t know?”
Ivy flushed with embarrassment, hesitated, then slowly opened her mouth.
“That… that’s impossible. And I can protect my friend.”
“……Is that so?”
“Yes!”
At first glance, she appeared the most innocent Saintess imaginable.
This time, Edan hardened his lips, erased all traces of smile, and asked again.
“Then, what if your friend doesn’t want to?”
“What?”
“Even then, must you bring your friend to the temple?”
“……My friend will want to meet me too.”
After confirming her resolute nod, Edan turned away without another word.
And as if preoccupied by urgent matters, he swiftly left the ballroom.
The moment he returned to the fortress via portal, Edan—his expression more murderous than ever—immediately unleashed his ability without warning.
BOOM!
With a tremendous sound, a bomb-like explosion erupted from Hillstain Mathias’s shoulder as he gripped Latieana’s arm forcefully.
“Guh…!”
Hillstain released Latieana’s hand and clutched his own shoulder.
Blood streamed from between the torn shoulder bones.
“Latie, come here.”
Contrary to his icy expression, Edan’s voice was unbearably tender.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
Link to read
