Darn it! This is exactly why I said there’s no such thing as a kind man!

Dante Ian, having lost his reason, was chillingly cold.

Swoosh, he brushed past me as is.

I clenched my fists as hard as I could, but my trembling arms wouldn’t stop.

Even so, I turned around and stopped him.

“Didn’t you plan to send me to the temple knowing I might die there?”

Dante Ian stopped walking and turned back to face me.

“What are you talking about? Why would you think you’d die when Ivy Violet, the High Saintess, cherishes you?”

That’s what Hillstain Mathias thought. There’s no way Dante Ian doesn’t know that saintess candidates die in the temple, so is he truly unaware? Or perhaps he genuinely believes Ivy Violet sees me as family and would protect me from such things.

Dante Ian spoke again, as if my question itself was strange.

“I heard your healing power is inferior to the High Saintess’s potion.”

“…That’s right.”

Though that wasn’t true.

“If you die while using that meaningless healing power, Noah might resent me until the day I die.”

“You really love your younger sibling.”

“They’re a soft-hearted child. I don’t want to hurt them.”

“…”

“So don’t make a fuss and go back to sleep quietly. Everything will be resolved by tomorrow.”

Through the crack in the door, Noah’s scream echoed once again, as if the brief calm had broken.

“I can’t do that.”

“What?”

How can you pretend not to know? A child is suffering unbearable pain right in front of you, pain even adults would struggle to endure.

“Open the door.”

“I told you clearly. Your healing power is useless. They’re in that state even after drinking hundreds of bottles of the High Saintess’s potion!”

“Move aside.”

I can’t pretend not to know.

“Do you really want to die?”

“I’ll take care of my own life, so move aside. I can heal your sibling.”

Dante Ian fell silent.

He said he was afraid Noah would resent him if I died while healing them.

I know he meant it.

And I know it’s a difficult choice for a different reason.

If I die here, I won’t gain the privileges from Ivy Violet, and I might have to take a harder path to help my sibling.

Only three people, chosen by the imperial family, can receive Ivy Violet’s direct healing.

Without those privileges, I might have to grovel before Crown Prince Killian Dietrich or the Emperor.

But that won’t happen.

Because I won’t die here.

I approached Dante Ian.

“Give me your hand.”

Dante Ian looked down at me with a puzzled expression.

“Give it to me.”

At my persistent request, Dante Ian extended his hand, as if curious to see how far I’d take this strange act.

Careful not to touch him directly, I placed my hand over his palm.

This man fought a beast today and hasn’t taken a potion yet.

He might look fine on the outside, but he’s likely suffering from a headache.

So he’ll feel it clearly. My power.

The moment the pink healing energy seeped into his hand, Dante Ian looked at me with shocked eyes.

“You… what is this…?”

I quickly pulled my hand back, afraid he might grab me.

“Now, let me see Noah.”

Bang! Dante Ian flung the door open and chased out all the attending physicians.

“Everyone, out!”

“D-Duke?”

“Duke! Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

The doctors, who had been tying Noah’s arms with cloth to restrain movement, were mercilessly driven out.

Only Noah, Dante Ian, and I remained in the room.

“Ugh…”

Noah, exhausted, collapsed on the bed, letting out faint moans.

I want to heal without touching as much as possible, but for this level of pain, I’ll have to make contact.

Having healed Edan Dietrich once before, I knew this wouldn’t be easy.

Direct healing carried a heavy psychological burden.

Still, I have to help. I can’t pretend not to know.

“Excuse me.”

I slowly climbed onto the bed, carefully embracing Noah’s neck to avoid startling them.

Their body, which looked frail even from a distance, felt even more emaciated in my arms.

“Guh!”

As I began channeling my healing power, Noah took a sharp breath, as if regaining consciousness.

Then, flailing in a panic, they started groping my body.

“Sob, ugh.”

Crying, feeling relief as the pain subsided, Noah kept touching me.

My head, arms, shoulders—everywhere. The desperate desire to escape the pain was conveyed through their bony, frail hands.

So I held Noah even tighter.

“Don’t be in pain.”

I felt like I might cry.

How much pain must this young child have endured?

Once again, memories of Edan Dietrich flashed through my mind.

Used as a political pawn by the Emperor’s orders, Edan Dietrich also suffered excruciating pain from the side effects of his abilities at a similar age.

He must have had to endure terrifying times like Noah.

In a world full of people who only wanted to kill him.

“Ugh…”

As time passed, I felt Noah trying to forcibly draw out my power.

It wasn’t the same sensation as with Edan Dietrich, perhaps because Noah is a child, but having my power forcibly taken was never a pleasant feeling.

“Latieana!”

Noticing my worsening expression, Dante Ian, who had been anxiously watching us, shouted.

I squeezed out every ounce of strength, letting my healing power burst into Noah’s body, then hurriedly pulled away.

“Haa, haa.”

My body, heavy as water-soaked cotton, slid off the bed as I gasped for breath.

Collapsing onto the floor, I brushed back my sweat-drenched hair and looked up. Dante Ian was checking on Noah. The pain had subsided, and Noah was peacefully closing their eyes. Dante Ian turned to me with eyes full of relief and concern.

“Hah… See? I didn’t die.”

I said I wouldn’t die. Breathing heavily, I closed my eyes.

When I woke up, as if I had fainted, I felt fine.

My body, that is.

“May I come in?”

“Yes.”

Confirming I was awake, Dante Ian entered the room and sent the maids out.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Dante Ian cleared his throat, his eyes darting around.

As if he was too embarrassed to look at me directly.

What’s wrong? Do I look strange right now? I checked my reflection in the mirror on the wall.

Wearing a thin robe, I looked far less embarrassing than yesterday, so why was he acting like this?

Though, under the robe, I was still in what was essentially underwear.

I asked if there were other clothes, but they said this was the only guest attire available.

Apparently, everyone who comes to the desert wants to wear clothes like this.

Anyway, Dante Ian’s odd gaze made me clutch the robe tighter.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Well, as you can see.”

I gave a small smile, mimicking the tone he had used with me.

“Did you carry me here last night, Duke?”

“Yes. I was quite startled, thinking you had fainted. It was a relief you were just asleep, but was it very difficult?”

“No. Not at all.”

It wasn’t the healing power that was difficult. It was my psychological issue.

I rubbed my arms, which had held Noah.

It was a relief I could heal them.

If something like that happened again in front of me, I’d do it again.

But yesterday’s events made me even more certain. I could never live like Ivy Violet.

I can’t do it. So I absolutely, absolutely won’t go to the temple.

Noah’s ability, craving my healing power, pulled at me.

There was no pleasure, but instead, an unpleasant sensation. A churning in my stomach, like being sucked into an endless tunnel.

To be honest, it was revolting. Completely unrelated to my genuine desire to heal Noah.

Having someone else’s energy enter my body felt like having my blood forcibly drained—a chilling sensation.

What remained after healing was a nauseating, intense mental anguish.

“How is Noah?”

“Thanks to you, they’re back to how they were before the pain.”

“That’s a relief.”

Dante Ian seemed to have a lot of questions for me.

Probably similar to the ones Hillstain Mathias had.

“May I ask what happened?”

As expected.

“Let me ask first.”

“Gladly.”

Dante Ian nodded.

“Does no one else know that Noah was suffering from the side effects of their ability?”

The maid clearly said Noah was attacked by a beast. That was a lie.

“In our family, siblings are born, and one of them manifests as an ability user. It was the same with the previous Duke. Our father was the one without abilities.”

“What? The one without abilities inherits the family?”

Isn’t it usually the stronger one who takes over the family?

Dante Ian let out a low chuckle.

“Ability users constantly suffer from pain. It’s problematic if they fall ill from side effects while handling family affairs, like Noah did. Even as adults, using strong powers causes that kind of suffering.”

“…”

“So the one who can handle family matters without such hindrances inherits the title. That was the plan this time too. I was to hold the Duke’s position temporarily until Noah grew up, then pass it to them. But then they suddenly awakened their abilities.”

Like I said.

Life doesn’t go according to plan.

“For Noah to take the Duke’s position, the fact that they’re an ability user must not be revealed. Other families would oppose it. Someone who dislikes us might even try to seize the title. That’s why we said they were attacked by a beast. I have no intention of informing the imperial family about Noah’s powers moving forward.”

“So that’s why you wanted Ivy Violet’s privileges?”

“Yes. I planned to quietly ask Ivy Violet for help. That way, it could be handled discreetly. But let me ask again—what exactly happened? That kind of healing is something only the High Saintess can do. How…”

I looked straight at Dante Ian.

“I’ll keep Noah’s secret. In return, keep my healing power a secret.”

“Why? With that kind of healing power…”

“I don’t want to go to the temple.”

I had just finished speaking.

Bang bang! Someone frantically pounded on the door.

“Who is it?”

As soon as Dante Ian spoke, the door burst open.

“Mind your manners.”

“S-Sorry! It’s an emergency!”

Dante Ian stood up, noticing the pale face of his subordinate, who looked like something serious had happened.

“Report.”

Swallowing hard, the subordinate pointed out the window.

“The Archduke of the North has blown up the city wall!”

What?