Slowly, I lifted my head and looked at Edan.

Beneath the hood of the large black robe, golden hair swayed gently.

Strangely, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. But the moment I lowered my gaze, my entire body began trembling uncontrollably again.

My right hand— which I had hoped was merely an illusion— had withered into a mummy, shriveled all the way to the wrist.

My heart sank heavily.

“My… my hand…”

As I trembled helplessly, Edan casually seized my hand with his large one.

“It’s fine.”

Edan must truly be insane. This was no time for jokes. Genuine shock had flooded my body with fear. Fine? My hand— shriveled like an old woman’s, grotesquely twisted into something monstrous?

Edan held my hand, even though touching it myself sent chills down my spine.

I tried pulling away, but of course, it didn’t work— Edan gripped my hand firmly.

Gasping for breath from the shock, I stared at him with tears brimming in my eyes. Edan slowly closed and opened his eyes, then spoke gently.

“Look at me, Latie. It’s okay.”

It was an endlessly tender remark. As if to calm my anxious, speechless self, Edan stroked my mummified hand again and again. Thanks to him, I finally calmed down, and my ragged breathing steadied.

Once he confirmed I had regained focus, Edan lifted his head and looked ahead.

His gaze— suddenly sharp and unwavering— turned toward Ivy.

“Ugh….”

Ivy, who had lain motionless as if unconscious, twitched slightly.

“…Did you… hit me?”

“I merely removed the hand gripping your arm. You flew back on your own.”

Indeed, no one thrown by Edan could possibly remain that unharmed.

Edan calmly watched as she regained consciousness and stood up. Ivy recovered quickly.

Clad only in a barely-fastened cardigan revealing bare skin, her slender frame made her appear unmistakably like a victim.

Her expression— completely different from moments ago when she faced me— now radiated the innocent, pitiful gaze everyone knew.

Seeing Edan fiercely protecting me, pulling me close, Ivy suddenly shrieked.

“KYAAAAAAAH!”

I swear, it was the sharpest, most grating scream I’d ever heard in my life.

BANG—!

Hillstain burst through the door violently.

“Your Holiness, what’s going—!”

His face hardened the moment he spotted us. Maxim, entering behind him, clamped a hand over his mouth.

Edan’s gaze, briefly directed at Hillstain, swept past Maxim and returned to Ivy.

Confirming Hillstain’s arrival, Ivy slowly extended her hand toward Edan.

Unlike mine, her hand remained pale, softly plump, and delicate.

I hastily hid my right hand behind my left.

“My friend— please, hand her over to me.”

The corners of Ivy’s mouth lifted brightly. Composed and calm, her demonic demeanor had vanished entirely.

She now perfectly resembled the Ivy I knew— the beautiful, beloved High Priestess adored by male leads.

When Edan remained silent, Ivy spoke again.

“I already asked His Highness, remember? It’s not too late— please, hand her over now.”

With hypnotic elegance in her gaze, tone, and gestures, Ivy appeared capable of manipulating anyone she desired.

Having absorbed my power, she now radiated more brilliance than when I’d first entered the room.

Worried Edan might actually hand me over, I twitched my fingertips.

“Demanding a person as if asking for a lost object.”

Edan muttered under his breath, then replied with a cold gaze.

“Well… you’ve witnessed an unnecessary scene.”

“…Your Grace.”

“And did I ever promise to grant your request? I don’t recall.”

Edan smirked lightly, as if the notion were absurd. Ivy pressed her lips together briefly, then suddenly changed expression and turned tearfully toward Hillstain.

“Sir Hillstain! Please help me! Hurry! My friend is being held captive! Help me, please!”

Unbelievable. Held captive? To anyone watching, wasn’t it obvious Edan had come to rescue me?

Ivy spouted incomprehensible nonsense.

After stealing my power and trying to kill me, who exactly was she asking to save whom?

The more absurdly she spoke, the tighter I clung to Edan.

Moved by Ivy’s tearful, clinging plea, Hillstain immediately drew his sword.

The cold blade slid from its sheath with a sharp ring, its polished edge aimed squarely at Edan.

“Your Highness, please send Lady Latieana this way.”

Unlike before, Hillstain now exuded complete confidence. Arrogantly curling the corners of his eyes as if he’d forgotten his humiliating defeat at Edan’s hands last time, he watched as Edan’s gaze swept over his drawn sword.

“Have I been too lenient with you?”

Edan’s low voice flowed calmly. Hillstain smiled lightly and retorted.

“This isn’t the time for your usual leisurely demeanor. This isn’t your castle. You know perfectly well what the Temple represents.”

He was right. Even for Edan, this was the Temple.

He shouldn’t even be here. Merely entering the Temple broke the law— if it became known he’d fought Temple knights, it would be disastrous. Worse, if someone died during the fight, it wouldn’t be like killing an ordinary knight.

The royal court might seize this chance to brand Edan a traitor. Hence, Hillstain, knowing he held the advantage, behaved with arrogant confidence.

“Or do you intend to face me and every Holy Knight within the Temple?”

Hillstain taunted the silent Edan.

I looked up at Edan.

I expected him to show at least some discomfort— but Edan remained utterly composed.

“Well, perhaps.”

His complete lack of reaction made Hillstain’s brow furrow.

“This isn’t a joke. Even for you, Your Grace, one command from me will summon every Holy Knight in the Temple. Fighting the Temple equates to attacking the royal court.”

“So you want me to leave Latieana here and walk away?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t that be the wisest choice?”

Edan’s reply came swiftly.

“That’s your wisest choice.”

“What did you say?”

“Why don’t you tell me what my wisest choice is?”

Why on earth had Edan come all this way? To save me? Did he foresee this happening?

As my mind spun in confusion, Edan—who had briefly bent his body— suddenly swept me up in a princess carry.

‘Wait a minute.’

My heart began pounding wildly. I looked up at Edan.

So…

In the original story, Edan became obsessed with Ivy’s healing power.

And now, Edan…

“I wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone trying to take what’s mine.”

A cold, sinister smile played across Edan’s face, radiating palpable killing intent— chilling enough to make one shiver.

He wasn’t joking. This wasn’t casual talk. He meant it.

In hindsight, every word and action Edan had directed toward me at the castle hadn’t been playful at all.

His obsession with me— all of it.

But no.

I urgently looked toward Hillstain. That man was just as unhinged— if a fight broke out right now…!

‘Huh… what?’

Though in a favorable position and seemingly ready to attack immediately, Hillstain remained strangely motionless.

“Sir Hillstain! What are you doing?! Hurry and bring my friend to me!”

Ivy’s urgent voice rang out.

But for some reason, Hillstain didn’t react to her plea.

“‘Touch her and die’… even if it means becoming a traitor to the Temple and the royal court…?”

Muttering to himself as if something felt off, Hillstain stared intently at Edan.

His gaze, slowly taking in Edan holding me close as if memorizing the sight, gradually shifted toward me.

“Just what is it about this woman that makes you go this far?”

“You only need to know that touching her means death.”

“Ha….”

At that moment, Hillstain’s gaze toward me completely transformed.

Moments ago, he’d viewed me merely as prey to be delivered to Ivy— now, curiosity shimmered in his eyes.

His gaze crawled over me stickily, probing for the reason behind Edan’s obsession.

Smiling ambiguously, Hillstain twisted his lips and whispered to Edan.

“The High Priestess Ivy stands right before you. You even hid a spy here— surely you know. Handing over Latieana to the High Priestess would grant you privileges beyond compare— blessings from a High Priestess whose healing power dwarfs any stolen potion. Yet you choose to protect this woman instead of the High Priestess?”

Edan smirked, clearly having no intention of explaining.

“You’re far too greedy for things that belong to others.”

Determined to extract an answer, Hillstain’s brow furrowed again as he opened his mouth.

“What is it, truly? What is so special about this woman that you go to such lengths?”