What is it? What do you mean?

According to the records, the power should be enough to fill an entire room with light and still have some left over. Today, Her Holiness’s light did rise high, but it only spread slightly around her.

Maxium spoke with a face full of suspicion, but Col replied indifferently.

Ah, that. I thought you meant something serious. Artifacts don’t always glow that way. Sometimes this happens when the Arch Saintess isn’t feeling well.

So isn’t that strange?

What’s strange about it? She’s already been thoroughly verified and seated as Arch Saintess. It’s been nearly a year.

Maxium narrowed his eyes suspiciously. It felt too unsettling to just let it go. Col shook his head as if Maxium himself was the odd one.

Hey, Maxium. What are you thinking? Do you know how many people were present when Lady Ivy demonstrated her healing power to ascend to the position of Arch Saintess? More than ten senior priests and the Grand Priest gathered to confirm it. That day, Saintess Ivy radiated an immense light—so vast and beautiful it covered the entire temple. Everyone knows that.

Of course, Maxium had heard it all before.

That’s exactly why it makes even less sense! You idiot! Maxium widened his eyes in disbelief, refusing to accept it.

The intensity of the light now is completely different from back then. It’s strange.

Don’t you know? Her Holiness is desperately searching for a friend.

What does that have to do with her condition?

She’s just too kind-hearted. She said she hasn’t been sleeping well because she’s worried about her friend, and her heart is constantly unsettled. Her Holiness mentioned that once she finds her friend, her condition will return to normal.

She looked far too healthy for that excuse. Col, not hearing Maxium’s muttered complaint, lightly tapped his shoulder.

Anyway, thanks for your help. I’ll treat you to something delicious next time!

Col took the artifact and headed straight for the Grand Priest’s chamber.

Maxium couldn’t shake off his uneasy feeling.

Upon arriving at the archives, he found a small note left on his desk. It was a message from Duke Edan.

Your Grace.

Edan, arms crossed and gazing blankly out the window, turned around.

Ruben.

Ruben, sword neatly fastened at his waist, bowed deeply.

As promised, Maxium will come on Friday.

Did you deliver the message?

I thought it better to explain the details in person, so I only mentioned that he wishes to secretly meet with Arch Saintess Ivy.

And her reply?

She said she’d take care of it. The rest will be finalized on Friday.

Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Edan slowly closed and reopened his eyes, then gave a light nod and shifted his gaze back out the window.

Ruben’s eyes followed Edan’s, landing on the front courtyard.

As expected, at the end of Edan’s gaze sat Latieana Merigold.

Lost in thought, Latieana was crouched in the garden, silently staring at the broken section of the castle wall.

Her expression was complex—sometimes appearing pained, sometimes lonely.

Several days had already passed since Jenald’s fraud had been exposed.

Ruben, quietly observing her alongside Edan, finally asked,

So… are you really going to send her to the temple?

She was the one and only woman they had waited for—the one possessing that unbelievable, perfect healing power.

Whatever the source or nature of Latieana’s healing ability, to Edan, she was now someone he absolutely refused to let go of—and Ruben felt the same. She was precious, capable of erasing his master’s suffering, even at the cost of her own life.

If she wishes to go, let her try.

But what if something goes wrong? Considering the Arch Saintess sent Commander Hillstain himself, this is clearly no trivial matter.

Ruben.

Yes, Your Highness.

Edan continued speaking, still gazing out the window.

Latieana knows.

Knows what…?

That going to the temple means death.

What?

How could she possibly know that highly classified information? Did she run away because she feared for her life?

Because unlike her friend the Arch Saintess, she realized her own healing power was insignificant?

Then we definitely shouldn’t send her.

Hmm. The situation has changed. Lord Hillstain revealed that Ivy is searching for her.

So does she know everything? That Arch Saintess Ivy set such a condition?

She doesn’t seem to know that much, but she clearly doesn’t want to go to the temple at all. I suspect—if my guess is right—she plans to beg Ivy to stop searching for her once they meet.

…Will it really be resolved that easily?

Impossible. Edan curled one side of his lips into a bitter smirk.

The Arch Saintess lied.

She offered her highest possible condition—just to bring one friend.

Does that even make sense? Ivy’s words and Latieana’s words are completely contradictory.

And naturally, Edan believed Latieana.

Ruben, still watching Latieana with a troubled expression, hesitated briefly before speaking seriously.

She looks exhausted. How many hours has she been like that…?

Two hours.

What?

Ruben looked at Edan incredulously, then back at Latieana.

Crouched down, she appeared even smaller. Her cherry-blossom-pink hair fluttered gently in the afternoon breeze behind her. The only warm-colored figure in the entirely green garden. Just then, sunlight shining above her was blocked by a large cloud, casting a shadow—making her silhouette look even lonelier.

No wonder she’s shocked. I thought she looked innocent, but to actually fall for such a scam… Even if she didn’t lose much money, being betrayed by someone she believed was her fiancé for months will leave deep scars.

Should I have crushed him to death after all?

Edan’s brow furrowed unpleasantly at the memory of Jenald.

…You already crushed him quite thoroughly.

But he didn’t die.

True. But he was moments from death.

Ruben briefly recalled Jenald’s final state.

Compared to Edan’s usual post-battle treatment—tearing monsters apart limb by limb—it was practically a warm-up. But the target was human, after all.

Still, considering how Jenald had recklessly insulted Latieana that day, Edan had actually shown remarkable restraint.

Edan let out a faint, regretful chuckle.

I let him live because it was only a financial scam. If he’d laid a finger on her, I would’ve killed him.

Yes. You showed great restraint. Miss Latieana will surely feel reassured by Your Grace’s mercy. Even if he was a fraudster, she might have felt guilty if he’d truly died.

Is that so?

Yes. Crimes like fraud are typically punished with penalties, not death.

What a pity.

Ruben looked back at Latieana.

Why not go comfort her?

Comfort…?

How?

Edan’s gaze, which had lingered on Latieana, shifted to Ruben.

Well… I’ve heard that buying something she likes might lift her spirits. Women usually enjoy pretty things—perhaps a gift?

What kind of gift?

Neither Edan nor Ruben—who had spent their lives avoiding women and immersed in war against monsters—had any idea. Ruben fumbled through memories of conversations among other knights before replying hesitantly.

Well… shiny jewels, like necklaces or earrings?

At that, Edan glanced down at Latieana. He paid her a generous salary—she couldn’t possibly lack funds, yet she wore no sparkling jewelry whatsoever.

Latieana doesn’t seem to like that sort of thing.

True, Your Grace’s princess is rather plain and owns few possessions. Still, I’ve never met a woman who dislikes such things.

Edan blinked slowly, as if deep in thought.

Shiny things, huh? Maybe I should buy out an entire boutique.

If you happen to recall anything Miss Latieana has mentioned as pretty or liked before, that would be even better.

At that, Edan smiled faintly, his eyes twinkling.

Something pretty and beloved… Come to think of it, I do know one thing.

I have nothing to do. I’m simply waiting for the day Edan arranges my meeting with Ivy.

If anyone saw me now, they’d assume I’m heartbroken over being scammed. Am I sad? No. Not at all.

It’d be a lie to say I wasn’t hurt—but right now, I don’t even have time to grieve over Jenald’s fraud.

My life is hanging by a thread. His scam? It only fueled my determination to thrive defiantly.

So for days now, I’ve been pondering the answer to the “homework” Edan threw at me:

“It’s not bad. So what exactly, how much, and how well will you treat me?”

I didn’t have any concrete plan. I just thought if I pleased him, he might grant my request sooner.

Every day, crouching in the garden for hours, I realized there was only one thing I could do.

I don’t have more money than Edan, no powerful connections, no physical strength—the only answer was to offer my healing power, as I always did.

But… the deeper I thought, the more troubled I became. Because Edan might interpret “treating me well” very differently than I intended.

Judging by his usual behavior…

Memories of various moments with Edan surfaced in my mind.

No way! Seriously?! Could he possibly interpret “treating me well” as… that?

I’m not Ivy, you know.

There are moments when I keenly realize this place is inside a 19+ novel—and those moments always coincide with Edan approaching me in that manner.

And it’s not just Edan. Hillstain, Crown Prince Killian, Dante—all the male leads behaved the same way in the original story.

First, to escape pain. Then, addicted to Ivy’s healing power. Finally, simply enamored with the pleasure of being with her. They spent day and night together without hesitation.

In that world, Ivy was the perfectly optimized protagonist for the role of Arch Saintess.

After all, healing power in this setting requires skin contact—or such acts—to be fully realized.

Even in the side story, where Edan—having sold his soul to dark magic—was subdued and treated, the scenes were filled with exactly that.

Rotating nights spent with each of the male leads.