What is this? Why did that come out from there?

I was pulling it out, thinking it might be the Book of Darkness because of its red cover. I never imagined it wouldn’t be the Book of Darkness at all, but instead contained a different kind of darkness.

“No! Wait! That’s not it! It was the book beside it!”

I improvised quickly.

Whirr—The book I pointed to with my finger had a sky-blue cover.

Though he clearly knew I was lying, Edan put the flaming skill book back in its place and picked up the sky-blue book I’d indicated.

“Hmph. So you study with this?”

I nodded vigorously.

Even if he tries to trick me again, surely a book with such a bright sky-blue cover couldn’t possibly be anything suspicious. I stared at Edan with confident eyes.

“Whatever you’re studying, it’s impressive.”

Edan twisted his lips into a mocking smirk.

Staring blankly at his smiling face, I rolled my eyes toward the book cover.

It was a children’s picture book featuring a giant acorn with huge limbs and feet, floating gently in the sky.

Boldly titled .

Damn it. Just who exactly was the previous owner of this mansion?

How could they possibly shelve children’s picture books alongside books about flaming skills?! With such a vast collection, their organizational skills were utterly hopeless!

My lips trembled slightly as I opened them, then I concluded that escaping this situation was the best course of action.

I immediately turned my body sideways.

But Edan stretched his arm past my shoulder, blocking the aisle, and leaned forward to offer me the book.

“Where are you going? You have to take the book.”

I felt genuinely embarrassed, yet I didn’t want to lose to Edan’s teasing.

So I lifted my chin slightly, pretending to be haughty.

“Thank you.”

It’s not a crime for an adult woman to read a book about a farting acorn.

I took the book and shoved it back onto the shelf with the most nonchalant gesture I could muster.

Kk—Edan’s snicker escaped through his teeth. Seriously!

“Could you please move aside now?”

“Latie.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“If you’re grateful, you can hug me.”

As he spoke, Edan’s fingers brushed my cheek, gently sweeping my hair back.

His tone was playful, but his touch was so tender, as if he were handling a precious gem.

As if he feared applying even the slightest pressure might break me, uncertain and hesitant.

His hand slid down to my nape, his thumb slowly tracing along my neck.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you grateful enough for that?”

“Of course not. I could’ve pulled out a book by myself.”

“You’re being cheeky. What about the gift? Did you like it?”

I briefly recalled the magnificent room’s interior, the dresses, the jewels, then nodded.

“Yes. Well. It was… pretty, I guess.”

“Are you confident you won’t feel embarrassed next time we go out to eat?”

So he really had been bothered by what I’d said earlier.

“Yes.”

As I nodded in confirmation, Edan smiled and tilted his head to one side.

Thick veins protruded along his neck, visible through the gap in his shirt collar.

“Then hug me.”

I’m grateful, sure—but why does it always end like this? I smiled sweetly back at Edan, whose eyes were lazily curved.

“No.”

“Should I beg?”

“Go ahead and try.”

“I’m warning you—I’m a bit sensitive right now.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“My headache came back while you were sick.”

Oh. I flinched, momentarily speechless. Come to think of it, while I was unconscious, Edan had been fighting monsters from the North every single night.

“Pepper? Wait. I’ll go get Pepper right now.”

“No.”

Edan pulled me back against him as I tried to turn away.

It felt like being caught by a giant predator.

Edan bent forward, nuzzling his face against my cheek; his warm breath sank deeply into the hollow of my neck.

“Do it yourself.”

“What?”

Stunned, I froze in place—but Edan swiftly spun me around to face him.

“You have to do it yourself.”

My breath grew hot.

His lazy yet sharp gaze felt like it would devour me.

It wasn’t impossible. But—

“I won’t force you. I just want to feel it directly.”

What does that even mean?! That sounded way too suggestive—I shook my head firmly.

“No. I mean, no! Pepper was enough until now…!”

“I already told you I’ll be gentle.”

I said that, but honestly, I’m a little scared.

Because I’m real—if I do this, will Edan become even more obsessed than he already is?

What if the future where he completely loses his mind arrives sooner because of this? What if direct healing while he’s still sane pushes him over the edge entirely?

Lost in these chaotic thoughts, I hesitated—when suddenly, Edan let me go.

I quietly stepped backward.

True, he could yank me back with just an arm’s reach, but even that slight distance made my racing heartbeat feel calmer.

Edan, who had been neatly buttoned up, began methodically unfastening his uniform, removing his cravat, then loosening his shirt.

His neck, with its moderately prominent Adam’s apple, became visible. I didn’t mean to look, but my eyes inevitably caught the collarbone peeking through the open shirt collar.

“Master? What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Keep saying no.”

“No, what—why?”

I don’t understand. What does that have to do with you taking off your clothes? What on earth are you doing?

I followed Edan’s hands with my eyes as he calmly undid his shirt buttons.

When he reached the third button, he lifted his lowered gaze to meet mine.

“Every time you say ‘no,’ I’ll take off another piece of clothing.”

Kiiiaaak! Is he insane?! This guy’s a total lunatic! He’ll do anything to win!

Hwaaak! My face flushed crimson as I jumped in alarm, raising my voice.

“Don’t do it!”

At my loud outburst, Edan’s brow twitched slightly.

“Why can’t I undress however I want? There’s clearly an issue here.”

The issue is you’re doing it right in front of me! The problem is your sinister intentions are completely obvious!

I scanned Edan’s neck with my burning-red face.

And then, unintentionally, my gaze drifted downward to the faintly visible muscular chest beneath. I didn’t mean to look—it just kept drawing my eyes. Eventually, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

Just a little. Just a tiny bit, carefully controlled like now.

So Edan won’t feel it too intensely.

It’s the pleasure of healing power that drives Gifted people mad. I’ll be careful—only enough to soothe the pain.

“Give me your hand.”

At my words, Edan obediently extended his hand.

I took a deep breath, then slowly channeled my healing power into Edan’s palm.

Even though Ivy had stolen so much from me, the healing power still flowed out in soft, pretty pink swirls.

“How is it? Better now?”

When I looked up, Edan was smiling.

“It’s better, but insufficient.”

Edan’s gaze shifted abruptly. I flinched and stepped back—only to bump into the bookshelf behind me.

He really has a talent for cornering people like this, seriously.

Before I even realize it, I’m trapped somewhere with no escape.

“What’s insufficient? Before, even less healing power was enough to calm it down!”

“Was it?”

“It was!”

Edan’s large hand slid from my forehead, gently stroking my hair down to the nape of my neck.

“I don’t remember.”

Don’t lie to me!

His lowered crimson eyes were fixed on my lips.

Light pressure entered his left hand gripping my waist, while the hand that had been playing with my earlobe slowly traced along my jaw.

“Master, please move a—”

“No.”

Edan cut me off and lowered his head.

“What?”

His beautiful eyes, which had rested on my lips, slowly lifted until they met mine.

“Say my name.”

His hot breath, hovering just shy of touching my lips, brushed between them.

“Go on.”

I tried to pull away, but I couldn’t escape.

“E, Edan.”

“One more time.”

“Edan.”

In that instant, Edan’s head tilted slightly—and his soft lips gently touched mine.

Again. Again.

He’s definitely enchanted by the healing power. This is exactly why I avoided direct contact.

I pressed my lips firmly together, and Edan pulled his lips slightly away.

“You have a talent for provoking my competitive spirit. You really know how to stimulate me.”

I shook my head vigorously.

“It’s not like that.”

I wouldn’t deliberately try to stimulate you. This is already overwhelming enough as it is.

“Mm. Fine.”

Edan, sounding indifferent, brought his lips close again—not as tense as before, unhurried, yet parched with thirst he couldn’t quench.

That was when—

Bang. The library door seemed to swing open, and someone approached us with heavy, unrestrained footsteps.

“Did I interrupt something?”

At those words, Edan’s fingertips, which had been frozen in place, tensed—and I whipped my head around.

Crap! Why are you here?!

An utterly unexpected person had appeared.

How did you even get in here? I glanced anxiously at Edan, my face gone pale.

“…….”

Edan turned his head slightly to confirm the intruder, already looking displeased as he slowly released his grip on my nape.

If a sword had been beside him, he would’ve drawn it immediately. He swept back his hair with a cold expression.

“Lord Hillstain.”

It was the lowest, heaviest bass I’d ever heard—as if his anger had fermented deep in his gut.