I approached Noah and met their gaze.

“I’m sorry, Noah.”

“Sister…”

“I hope we can meet again next time. Take care.”

“Are you going with that scary prince?”

Noah looked at me with genuine confusion.

“Yes.”

Nodding, I whispered softly into Noah’s ear.

“And this is a secret, but he’s quite kind to me.”

I can’t forget Noah’s wavering eyes, as if certain I was lying.

Even though it was to save me, Edan felt not even a speck of guilt, as small as a flea’s liver cell.

He smashed the city wall and portal, and even received thanks before heading to the north.

“Achoo!”

I didn’t want the location of the old castle to be exposed, so we came north, but I immediately started sneezing.

Moving from the hottest desert region in the empire to the coldest was only natural.

The dizziness faded, but this body wasn’t exactly healthy to begin with.

My stamina was pretty low too.

Even in the middle of the day, exposed to the chilly northern air, I coughed a few more times before returning to the old castle.

And Edan was irritated.

“Eek! W-Wait! Just a moment!”

As soon as we crossed the castle’s portal, Edan hoisted me over his shoulder and headed straight for the bedroom.

Struggling was pointless. I was dutifully laid on the bed as Edan wanted.

It was still broad daylight, with the sun shining brightly.

Edan’s shadow quickly loomed over me.

*Gulp.*

Tension made me swallow hard at the sight of Edan’s expressionless face, his lips tightly pressed.

“Lati.”

“Yes?”

Should I take back what I told Noah about this man being kind?

I hesitated briefly. It had been a while since Edan’s expression toward me was this menacing.

It made my voice tremble a bit.

“It’s me or that kid.”

…What? What nonsense is this? What does that even mean? Did I hear him right?

The tension I felt vanished as if it fled.

“Are you seriously acting like this because I told Noah they were pretty?”

“Answer me.”

Wow. Where do I even start with how absurd this is?

“Noah’s just a kid.”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

…And you’re acting like this knowing that?

Well.

“If you thought I’d go easy on a kid, you wouldn’t have smashed a wall in front of them…”

My thoughts slipped out before I could stop them.

Edan’s smooth brow furrowed in irritation.

“Did you enjoy the duke’s pampering that much?”

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just that you broke the wall…”

I trailed off, turning my head to avoid his gaze.

Seriously. That murderous look could kill me.

“That’s how it was. The duke kept apologizing…”

Edan’s body, which seemed about to crush me, slowly pulled back.

Though I could still feel his thigh near my legs.

“So, should I have just accepted a few apologies?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Or, when you were kidnapped at the festival last night while I wasn’t there, should I have been relieved that they treated you well despite taking you secretly?”

“…”

Of course, that’s not it either.

I shut my eyes tightly, then mustered the courage to face Edan directly.

“You didn’t have to do that in front of Noah. They’re still a kid.”

I heard Edan’s light scoff.

“Don’t be ridiculous. They’re the next duke. If they’re scared by something like this, they can’t hold the desert duke’s seat. They should learn what happens when you touch someone else’s—especially mine.”

“You already destroyed the portal.”

“You think that’s enough to satisfy me?”

Edan’s gaze burned as he spoke, suppressing his anger.

“You have no idea what I was thinking while looking for you.”

“Then what more do I need to do to calm you down?”

At that, Edan, who had been silent, narrowed his eyes slightly.

“The answer to the question I asked earlier.”

He meant for me to choose between him and Noah. So, he wants me to say he’s pretty…

When I looked at him in disbelief, Edan began unbuttoning his shirt one by one, his eyes cold.

“W-What are you doing?”

“You’ll say it if I show you.”

The buttons were undone down to his abs in no time, and I instinctively turned my head to avoid his gaze.

*Thud.* A black belt that had been tied over Edan’s shirt was tossed beside the bed.

My heart started pounding, racing as if it would burst any moment.

Edan hadn’t done anything yet, but thinking about the belt and the unbuttoned shirt, I could roughly imagine what he looked like now.

“Lati.”

Edan’s hand brushed my neck and gripped my chin.

He gently moved my face, making me look at him again.

“D-Don’t.”

I didn’t mean to, but my face was already flushed. Seeing my heated expression, Edan slightly lifted his tightly closed lips.

I really didn’t know where to look.

I thought his shirt would be completely unbuttoned or even off.

“Look properly.”

God, he’s insane!

Edan had his shirt half-off, hanging below his shoulders.

He even stuck out his tongue slightly, licking his own lips.

“Now, say I’m pretty.”

The sunlight illuminated Edan’s body vividly.

His handsome face needed no mention, but the veins on his neck, the exposed collarbone below.

His sharply defined shoulders.

The black shirt hanging loosely on his chiseled arms looked insanely sexy.

And his perfectly sculpted chest and abs.

Even the scars on his side and under his chest looked like they were drawn on.

“Want me to show more?”

He never backs down. He’ll keep this up until I say he’s pretty.

I quickly shook my head side to side.

“No need.”

“Really? Doesn’t seem like it.”

Edan was right.

It wouldn’t hurt to see more.

I even found myself thinking I wanted to touch him.

This is crazy.

I wanted to run my fingers through Edan’s hair, hug his veined neck, and feel the urge to trace his collarbone, chest, and abs.

Just thinking about reaching out in this situation sent a tingling ache through my lower stomach.

Touching Edan would surely feel insanely good.

Not the pleasure from healing powers, but just… normally, like anyone else.

I didn’t mean to, but I was lost in perverse fantasies, my neck burning hot. I didn’t want to be stimulated anymore, but oblivious to my feelings, Edan slid the shirt further down his arm, tempting me.

“Still not going to say it?”

“Ugh.”

“Say it. What I want to hear.”

I know. I know better than anyone that you’re gorgeous and amazing!

To avoid getting swept up in the moment, I changed the subject.

“Y-You always called me ugly!”

“What?”

“You said I was ugly.”

Yeah. You called me ugly, but now you want me to say you’re pretty? That’s selfish. I’m not saying it anymore.

“You held onto that?”

“Yes! I’m someone who’s ugly but had a fiancé. And I’m petty enough to hold grudges!”

“That’s not something to brag about, is it?”

I didn’t mean it as a brag.

I flinched inwardly but glared at him with determination.

“Ha.”

Edan’s hand, which had been holding my chin, fell away. So I grumbled a bit more boldly.

“Other people said I was pretty.”

“There are a lot of bad people with weird tastes in the world.”

Wow. So only weird, bad people like Hillstain or Jenald said I was pretty?

I was genuinely pissed for the first time in a while.

So I pursed my lips and sneered.

“Oh, sure. There’s also a guy who keeps trying to kiss the girl he called ugly. Whatever you say.”

You can insult me, but you’re the one losing out by calling me ugly.

Because you’re the one always coming onto me. I’ve only thought about it, never acted first.

I thought he’d get the hint, but shameless Edan wasn’t fazed at all.

“There are also girls who dodge guys who come onto them because they’re their type.”

I glared at Edan as fiercely as I could.

He was grinning like I was an amusing toy, but the moment our eyes met, he flung off his shirt entirely.

The faint sound of the shirt falling felt deafening to my heightened senses.

My lips were sealed, but my neck and cheeks were burning with heat.

“You don’t even have a fiancé anymore.”

Edan slid his hand under the robe tightly covering my body.

“Eek!”

My whole body tensed at the touch of his hand on my skin. Edan naturally pulled my robe up and over my head.

“You don’t have the strength to run either.”

Edan’s gaze, which had been locked on mine, slowly drifted downward.

From my face, along my jawline, down to my toes.

Since I was still in desert attire, his blatant stare was unbearably embarrassing.

I quickly reached for the fallen robe, but Edan grabbed both my hands, pinning them down.

“Now you can’t even slap me. What are you going to do?”

Are you crazy? You want to hear me say you’re pretty that badly?