You damn lunatic! Can’t you do one single thing that makes sense? This is blackmail!

Edan’s sharp gaze glared at me as if he wanted to devour me, but I didn’t panic—I wracked my brain desperately. I had to coax him, soothe him somehow.

“Master.”

“Hmm.”

“I promised I’d do well, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

“So… I fully understand and deeply appreciate that big, considerate heart of yours thinking of me—I’d even want to bow down in gratitude—but it’s. per.fect.ly. fine. I don’t particularly want to touch your face this way, especially since you dislike being touched…”

“I decided I don’t mind anymore.”

“…….”

You’re lying. You’ve hated it since childhood, didn’t you? You even blocked things with your body on the battlefield because you couldn’t stand anything touching your face. That doesn’t just change overnight. Why on earth do I have to be the one touching someone else’s face like this?

Who exactly benefits from this? Isn’t this a lose-lose for both of us?

“You’re sure it’s okay?”

“Yeah. Ah—if you’re doing this because you want to stay between my legs longer, I’ll gladly wait as long as you need.”

“No!”

As if I’d ever want that.

“Then… I’ll touch you right now!”

With no more escape routes left, I swallowed hard, then raised my hand.

After hesitating several times, my fingertips finally brushed against Edan’s cheek.

Edan let out a soft, silent chuckle and slowly lowered his eyes, no longer meeting mine directly.

His face, unmarked by even a single scratch, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Anyone who saw this face would be captivated. Honestly, it’s exactly my type too.

“How does it feel?”

Edan, who had been lazily closing his eyes, slowly lifted his gaze. It felt like watching a tranquil beast slowly awaken from slumber.

I didn’t understand why he’d ask about my feelings at this exact moment, but I gave a slight nod—offering a carefully neutral, ambiguous smile, just in case he demanded I touch him more.

“Then touch me more. You don’t have a fiancée anymore, so it’s fine now.”

As I tried to subtly pull my hand away, Edan caught it and gently pressed it back against his cheek.

Then he quietly stared at me.

“This is enough. And that’s not even the real issue.”

“Then what is the issue?”

The problem is we’re not nothing to each other. The problem is you’ll eventually feel Ivy’s healing power and abandon me.

I lowered my gaze, avoiding Edan’s eyes.

“You know, Latie.”

I tried to lower my hand and pull away, but Edan tensed his legs—and as if it had become habitual, placed one hand casually atop my head.

So, inevitably, I lifted my gaze again to meet his.

Edan wasn’t smiling. Beneath his half-lidded, languid eyes, his pupils moved slowly, deliberately.

From my crown, to my forehead, eyebrows, cheeks—

His gaze traced me intensely, obsessively, refusing to miss a single detail. When his eyes finally landed on my lips, he looked like someone staring hungrily at a delicious meal right before them. His tongue slipped softly between his parted lips, then retreated.

“You, you know…”

The hand resting atop my head slowly slid down until it brushed the corner of my eye. His fingers gently traced around my eyes, applying just a hint of pressure—and for a fleeting moment, Edan’s gaze turned chillingly cold.

“Should I eat you?”

Huh?

“If you’re this close, your scent is unbearably sweet—I’m genuinely curious what you’d taste like.”

“……What?”

“Especially those eyes.”

What is he even saying? Who talks like that with such a serious, solemn face? I’m not food!

In that shocked instant, it suddenly clicked—I remembered. After I healed him with skin contact, Edan had mentioned I smelled sweet to him.

“Y-you don’t actually mean you want to eat me, right?”

“I do, actually?”

Heavens, everyone—there’s a madman here! A serial killer of eyeballs!

I flinched and jerked backward.

Of course, as always, Edan’s hand yanked me right back into place.

“Let go. You’re never eating my eyes.”

Edan chuckled, tilting his head back as he laughed aloud—his shoulders shaking as if he were barely suppressing his amusement.

“Latie.”

“What?!”

What ridiculous thing was he going to say now? I raised my voice defiantly and glared fiercely at him.

“I’ll arrange for you to meet the High Saintess.”

It was a sudden shift in topic, but still welcome news.

“Uh… really?”

“Yeah.”

Edan pulled me tightly into his arms, his face beaming with a bright, amused smile.

Several days later, I stood before Edan’s Northern Dukedom Castle.

Though I’d used a portal, I couldn’t teleport directly inside the castle grounds.

“It’s cold, but please bear with it a little longer.”

Ruben asked me with concern.

“It’s more bearable than the Night of the Unbreakable Wall. I’m fine.”

“Because so many assassins target His Grace, the inner areas are magically sealed against portal installation. We have no choice.”

“Understood.”

Now I could scoff and wonder who’d be stupid enough to target Edan, but apparently, young Edan had many enemies.

Most likely, I guessed, Empress—Killian’s biological mother—or her loyal faction.

Fortunately, while the portal couldn’t enter the castle itself, it deposited us right outside. I boarded a carriage and headed inward.

The Dukedom Castle, seen for the first time, was far colder and more frigid than I’d imagined. The northern region maintained early-winter temperatures even in midsummer, making everything feel even more bitterly cold.

The dark gray castle was enormous and towering, encircled by an artificially dug moat.

At the bridge entrance leading to the castle and along both sides of the main gate stood tall defensive towers. As we crossed the bridge and reached the entrance, the massive gates swung open.

‘Wow. This looks straight out of a villain’s lair.’

The interior was even more impressive than what could be seen from beyond the moat.

Many people bustled about—and every single one I saw was a knight.

At the very center, within the defensive walls, stood the true Duke’s castle.

From outside the moat, I’d only seen one side, so I hadn’t realized how vast the inner grounds truly were. After traversing a long, uneven stone path, we finally arrived at our true destination.

A castle with sharply pointed triangular towers stood majestically at the center. Following Ruben’s guidance, I entered inside.

“This way, please.”

We passed through a hollow, barren-feeling lobby. Thanks to Edan and Ruben’s favor, I was led to Edan’s office at the very top of the castle.

“Your Grace, we’ve arrived.”

As Ruben positioned me slightly behind him and stood before the office door, the knights stationed on either side, holding spears, reported our arrival.

The door opened immediately.

Perhaps because of the high floor, bright sunlight streamed through the large windows into the office.

Though the interior wasn’t particularly different from other rooms, it felt uniquely bright.

Edan’s golden hair shimmered.

Someone else was already inside.

“Good heavens.”

The moment he saw me, the pale-faced man gasped aloud, eyes widening dramatically.

He reacted exactly like Ruben had when he first saw me.

Just how many people know me already?

“Latieana Merigold… correct?”

I gave a light nod, then quickly assessed him. Pale, almost sun-deprived skin, and a thin frame.

His clothes looked oversized; though his height masked it somewhat, he appeared physically frail.

He wore a priest’s robe with a hood, wide sleeves, and gold-patterned embroidery along the hem.

I’d been briefed on the way here, but apparently, this man hadn’t been informed.

That I was the one secretly requesting an audience with Ivy—no wonder he looked so shocked.

Disguised as a novice priest of the library, I wore pristine white priestly robes from head to toe.

Since Ivy was usually alone during evenings or nights, I figured this would be the safest approach.

Most library priests rarely left the temple, busy researching books—so even if I encountered knights, it shouldn’t raise suspicion.

Following Maxim’s plan, we smoothly passed through the temple entrance and headed toward the building where Ivy resided.

Walking through the garden—even at night, its vibrant green freshness was palpable—I felt a strange sensation.

The entire temple was pure white.

Yet it remained dazzlingly magnificent. It was hard to believe Saintess candidates had died here—it was that beautiful. Glancing around, I suddenly asked,

“Where do the Saintess candidates reside?”

Maxim pointed with his fingertip toward the left. There stood a wide, multi-storied tower-like building.

“Over there. Had you not escaped, Lady Latieana, you’d likely be staying there right now.”

At his words, the building—previously perceived as vaguely beautiful—suddenly seemed terrifying.

……If that had happened, I’d be dead by now. I stole a glance at the building and hurriedly followed Maxim.

Entering Ivy’s building, we passed through a wide, ornate corridor and saw Holy Knights standing guard, swords in hand.

“Thank you for your service.”

Before ascending the stairs, Maxim offered a polite greeting first to avoid suspicion. The Holy Knight turned toward us.

“What business brings you here at this hour?”

“We’ve come to retrieve a book borrowed by Her Holiness from the library. She assured us it was fine, even at this late hour.”

Though the temple was generally closed off, the entrance was easily passed merely by wearing priestly robes. But entering the inner buildings proved far more difficult.

The Holy Knight checked his watch, then turned his gaze toward me. My unusually small frame and fully concealed face naturally drew suspicion.

“Is the person behind you also a library priest?”

As Maxim had instructed me beforehand, I silently nodded.

“Just for confirmation, could you show your face?”

The unusually quiet atmosphere of the building made my heart pound as if it might burst from tension.

That was when—

Heavy footsteps echoed from behind us.

The Holy Knight, recognizing the newcomer faster than either Maxim or I could, immediately bowed deeply in perfect reverence.

“Commander! We greet you!”

What? Maxim and I nearly turned around simultaneously.

Silver hair shimmering, a man with sharply upturned eyes strode in, radiating an aura of lethal intensity.

It was Hillstain.

At the Holy Knight’s loud announcement, Maxim and I also jolted in surprise and bowed respectfully toward Hillstain.

We clasped hands at our chests, bowing shoulders and heads—thankfully, the priestly robes fully concealed our bodies.

In that moment, I was grateful I’d tied my hair up. Its unusual color would only draw more attention if left loose.

Beneath my bowed head, Hillstain’s black shadow glided across the marble floor, passing over Maxim and then me.

After two more steps, Maxim subtly gestured toward me with his eyes.

He also gave the faintest shake of his head, left to right.

The meaning was clear without words: Today’s attempt had failed.

Just as I prepared to lift my head and turn away—

“You there. You.”

Suddenly, Hillstain began walking toward me.

Within two or three strides, he stood before me again. My heart began pounding wildly with rising dread.

My silent plea—Please just walk past me—proved utterly useless.

In an instant, my hood was ripped off.

I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them—and at the edge of my vision, Hillstain stared at me with a cruel, sly smile.

“Ha. Well, look at this?”