Good work.
Though he hadn’t taken any potions since meeting Latieana, Edan still accepted the vial handed to him today by Priest Maxim.
It was Ivy’s potion—darker and redder than before.
A deep hue of healing power, distinctly different from Latieana’s clear pink.
As Edan stared at the shimmering liquid, Maxim asked,
“Your Grace. Have you found any information regarding Latieana Merigold?”
Slowly shifting his gaze, Edan frowned slightly, as if disappointed.
“Hmm. At least, she’s not in the North.”
Though it was impossible for her to be there anyway.
“Does the potion from the Grand Holy Maiden still have its effect?”
“More or less.”
Receiving such an unenthusiastic reply, Maxim tilted his head in confusion.
Though not an ability user himself, he could tell something was off about Duke Edan’s reaction.
The potion he brought was not a fake.
The Temple had stockpiled vials of pure, 100-percent healing potency deep underground, prepared for any unforeseen emergencies that might suddenly befall the Grand Holy Maiden.
That was precisely what Maxim had brought.
Even if not direct healing, he believed a potion of this caliber should have provided sufficient satisfaction.
Yet, both last time and now…
‘More or less?’
Was his condition so severely plagued by side effects that only direct healing would suffice?
“Your Grace, you must hasten your search for Latieana Merigold. Others will soon begin moving in response to the Grand Holy Maiden’s request.”
Edan gave a small nod.
“Indeed. Speaking of which, Maxim.”
Setting down the vial, Edan leaned back against the armrest of his chair and propped his chin on his hand.
“Are Holy Maiden candidates still dying at the Temple?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Even with the Grand Holy Maiden present, what’s still lacking?”
“Well…”
After the previous Holy Maiden’s death, a new decree was enacted: only three specific ability users may receive direct skin-contact healing from the Grand Holy Maiden.
If Holy Maiden candidates are still bearing the burden of healing other knights, their deaths are somewhat understandable—but…
“Do you not distribute potions to the knights?”
Edan gestured toward the vial, pressing Maxim, who offered no clear answer.
Even knowing Maxim looked deeply uncomfortable, Edan continued his interrogation.
“Must they necessarily receive the Grand Holy Maiden’s blessing directly? If potions were distributed as in the previous Holy Maiden’s era, surely the candidates’ lives could be preserved. Why not?”
Faced with this sharp accusation, Maxim reluctantly divulged the truth.
“We ourselves don’t fully understand yet. However… the Grand Holy Maiden’s position has remained vacant for several years, and during that time, we suspect the Holy Maiden candidates’ powers have weakened from being overused for healing.”
“Is that all?”
“For now, yes. Even with sufficient potion distribution to heal ability-bearing knights, the continued deaths of Holy Maiden candidates can only be explained by that reason.”
At this honest answer, Edan’s eyelids slowly closed once, then reopened.
“With Latieana Merigold’s level of healing power, how long could the Temple endure?”
“Given her power was much weaker than ordinary Holy Maidens, she wouldn’t last long. At most, one or two months.”
Edan’s gaze, previously relaxed during the conversation, hardened abruptly.
“Then, what’s the likelihood I could receive healing from her power?”
“…What?”
Maxim’s eyes widened incredulously.
If he delivered Latieana to Grand Holy Maiden Ivy, Edan would gain the right to use her healing power anytime—why ask such a question?
Yet Edan repeated it, as if amused by a game.
“Since she’ll likely die if brought to the Temple anyway, wouldn’t it be fine to use her a little for my sake before handing her over? What do you think?”
Hearing this, Maxim recoiled in horror, waving his hands frantically.
“No. Absolutely not. I believe the moment she begins direct healing on Your Grace, she will die.”
“I see. So I can’t play with her.”
“Only the Grand Holy Maiden can withstand Your Grace’s ability.”
Edan let out a soft chuckle.
You talk big for someone who knows nothing.
According to Maxim’s words, Latieana now stood a high chance of dying if brought to the Temple.
Conversely, as long as she remained by his side, she might not die.
After all, Edan was already quite satisfied with just the healing power infused in her cooking.
As long as no direct skin-contact healing occurred, it was fine.
‘I don’t want to die…’
Latieana’s tearful voice vividly echoed in his mind.
[This is the timeline separator]“Your Grace! The rift has collapsed!”
Edan’s face turned icy as he stood atop the fortress wall.
“Summon the mages.”
“Yes!”
Edan gazed down at the northern rift, now erupting with flames and thick fog across the trembling ground.
The previously repaired breach in the wall had collapsed again.
And this time, countless monsters—vastly larger and stronger than before—surged forward like a tidal wave.
“Your Grace, here it is.”
Amid the dire situation, Ruben handed Edan a sword unlike his usual one.
It was enchanted with magic to double the strength of his ability.
“Ruben.”
“Yes.”
Drawing the sword, Edan commanded,
“No matter what happens to me today, do not make any requests of Latieana.”
Ruben’s expression darkened.
In truth, Ruben had anticipated potential side effects the moment he offered the sword.
Knowing only Edan’s ability could resolve the current chaos, he had planned to request healing from Latieana Merigold if necessary.
But Edan had preempted him with this order.
“But Your Grace! In such a situation—!”
“Absolutely not. Ever.”
“…”
He knew Edan wouldn’t die from the pain of side effects alone.
But even with potions, he’d suffer excruciating agony for at least half a day—or up to several days.
“Ruben, do you understand?”
“Yes. Understood… sir.”
Ruben bowed his head.
In the battle where blood poured like rain, no matter how many monsters he cut down, their numbers showed no sign of diminishing.
Explosions and flames erupted everywhere. Amid this hellish battlefield, Edan swung his sword faster and more fiercely than anyone else.
“Your Grace! Stay conscious! Your Grace!”
Though the situation was under control, Edan’s body began burning with pain.
It felt as if scorching coals clung to his entire skin.
An unbearable agony, like needles scraping raw, flayed flesh, continued without pause.
He hadn’t felt pain this severe since his first battle at age fifteen, when he fought recklessly without restraint.
Pain he never wished to feel again. Everything was torment.
Even breathing to stay alive was agony. His body felt so shredded he’d rather die.
Then, at some point, a gentle warmth spread from his nape down his back, enveloping his entire body.
It was a sensation he’d recently come to know very well.
Latieana’s healing power. Perfect. Exactly the power he’d desired.
Edan lost his senses and covered her lips with his own.
Latieana, accepting his frantic, gasping breaths, tasted unbearably sweet—like a cake overflowing with cream, endlessly soft. He devoured and licked her again and again. His hands traced her slender shoulders, sliding down her back and waist.
The more his skin pressed against her supple flesh, the more sensual pleasure surged through his body. A healing sensation—vivid, warm, almost spine-chilling as it flowed through his veins—swiftly extinguished the pain. Everything was a beautiful ecstasy too overwhelming to bear. Edan wanted to tear Latieana apart right then and there.
More. More. I need more. Insanely more.
That single thought completely consumed him.
Until he lost all sense of reason.
“Your Grace, are you alright?”
When he regained consciousness and opened his eyes, not a trace of that excruciating pain remained.
And the thought that arose… guilt, regret.
Though his memories weren’t entirely clear, the fragments of last night’s recollection that surfaced carried vivid sensations of pleasure—he knew.
I stole Latieana’s healing power. I did something that might kill her.
Lying motionless without moving a finger, Edan murmured softly,
“…Latieana.”
Surely she hadn’t died.
I couldn’t have gone that far. I wasn’t that out of my mind.
If anything had happened to Latieana…
“It’s alright.”
Damn it.
With a sigh of relief, Edan pressed his lips together.
Seeing Edan clench his eyes shut and grimace, Ruben asked,
“If you’re still uncomfortable, shall I inform them you can’t attend the royal ball today?”
Slowly, Edan opened his eyes. His crimson irises gleamed sharply.
“No. I must go. Prepare everything.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Fully dressed for the ball, Edan sought out Latieana and looked at her.
Though disheveled, she appeared healthy as usual—and strangely, she smelled sweet.
And Edan knew the source of that sweetness.
Once, after attempting skin-contact healing with a Holy Maiden who had greedily sought his body, he’d been overwhelmed by a revolting, fishy stench that made him want to vomit.
This time, it was entirely the opposite.
The sweet scent Edan sensed from Latieana was proof she had truly risked danger for his sake.
A woman who usually struggled desperately to escape his grasp had offered him her only solace while he writhed in pain.
Even though she herself might die.
Therefore, Edan needed to confirm.
“I’ll be back, Princess.”
His long-absent Emperor father, the Empress who still couldn’t hide her hostility.
And his half-brother Killian. None of that mattered.
Edan faced Ivy.
She was the Grand Holy Maiden—a woman indistinguishable from others who coyly displayed their cleavage.
In a place she’d willingly followed him to, she demanded Latieana’s life while channeling her healing power.
“Oh dear. I didn’t greet you hoping for a blessing.”
Maintaining polite decorum just enough, Edan withdrew his arm and confirmed it.
This one was fake.
He didn’t know what blunder the Temple idiots had committed, but Ivy’s healing power was weaker and filthier than Latieana’s.
One thing bothered him: the sensation of power between Latieana and the Grand Holy Maiden felt similar.
Yet, despite the subtle difference, he was certain—Ivy’s healing power was utterly repulsive.
‘I don’t want to die…’
Perhaps Latieana had known. That going to the Temple meant death.
Eyes blazing with life, Edan slipped out of the royal ballroom and, the moment he exited the portal, shattered Hillstain’s shoulder.
Merely watching or preventing her escape wasn’t enough. I must take you for myself.
Therefore.
“Lati. Come here.”
No one else may touch you.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
