It was an attitude excessively polite. Unlike me, who was awkwardly forcing a smile by lifting my lips, Maxium was deadly serious.

“Lady Latieana is truly the Grand Holy Maiden.”

I know.

“Ivy, I will take full responsibility to confirm that woman is a fraud! Once we dethrone her, you will never face any threat again. The Temple will protect you with full responsibility. Or, if you wish, I can go right now and show them this proof….”

Maxium seemed to misunderstand that I would head to the Temple. From his perspective, it was a natural assumption, but I shook my head.

“Maxium.”

“Yes.”

“I won’t go to the Temple.”

“…What?”

Maxium’s pupils lost focus like someone struck by lightning, utterly bewildered.

The position of Grand Holy Maiden is the highest in the Empire.

It is second only to the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince—a position where one can do anything they desire.

Though no formal power is granted, one can possess everything if they wish. A seat coveted by nobles, granting both wealth and honor.

Provided, of course, that one heals the Gifted.

“Ha, but… why? Lady Latieana is the real one, I’m certain. That woman is not a Holy Maiden. I admit I doubted Lady Latieana slightly before, but now I’m absolutely sure. Such radiant light can only belong to the healing power of the Grand Holy Maiden.”

“I know. I do too.”

“Then….”

No one knows better than I do that my healing power is real.

I turned my head to look at Edan.

Edan was silently gazing at me.

As if waiting to see what I would say, how I would respond.

“Maxium, I cannot heal others the way I healed Ivy.”

Maxium’s pupils trembled rapidly.

As if hearing an answer he never expected.

“I might manage making potions, but even the thought of direct healing makes me feel violently nauseous.”

Maxium frowned thoughtfully at the corners of his eyes. He tried hard, but still couldn’t comprehend. After all, every Grand Holy Maiden before had performed such duties as a matter of course.

“Ha, but we can’t just let that woman keep occupying the position of Grand Holy Maiden. At this rate, she might turn all Holy Maiden candidates into mummies….”

“I know.”

“I understand you don’t want to go because healing is difficult. But once her fraud is exposed and the Temple learns Lady Latieana’s true identity, they will never leave you alone. One way or another, you’ll be forced to go to the Temple.”

Maxium was genuinely worried for me. His expression revealed a mixture of two conflicting feelings.

The desire for me to faithfully fulfill my duty as Grand Holy Maiden, and the wish for me to follow my own will and not go to the Temple.

That complex emotion was clearly written across his face.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Maxium. That’s why I’ll find a way.”

“A way?”

“A way to avoid going to the Temple.”

“There’s no such way.”

“No. There must be.”

Ivy used the Eternal Spell to steal my power—utilized it in another fashion.

Therefore, there must be a solution for me too.

I carefully observed every corner of the Archmage’s secret chamber.

The Empire’s greatest Archmage. His secretly hidden collection of spellbooks.

With so many magics here, there must be a way.

I will find it.

A way to heal the Gifted without setting foot in the Temple.

Because only then….

Only then will Edan remain sane as long as I’m by his side.

Only then can we both survive.

We took only the few books that seemed immediately useful and left the secret chamber.

When exiting, Ruben accidentally touched another bookshelf and discovered a different entrance.

It was an entrance requiring one to stoop to exit, connected to the unused fireplace in the parlor.

“Oh?”

Apparently, there was more than one entrance.

Re-entering through the exit we had just used led directly back into the secret chamber.

“So this was the real entrance.”

It seemed the Archmage primarily used this one, while I had accidentally opened the most difficult route.

Regardless, we preserved our lives and found the books we needed—for now, that was enough.

After Maxium and Ruben left, only Edan and I remained in the mansion.

While I organized the books and returned, Edan stood bathed in moonlight pouring through the window.

In his hand was a small glass vial.

Inside it rested a single round, blue pill.

Had he taken it from the Archmage’s secret chamber?

Edan stood motionless for a long while, his expression solemn.

Something about the way he stared intensely at the vial made it hard for me to look away—I simply watched him quietly.

Suddenly, Edan ripped off the label with the contents’ name written on it, then shredded it into tiny, unreadable pieces—as if terrified someone might read it.

What on earth was it?

His tightly closed lips beneath his straight nose slowly curled upward. Edan opened the vial and poured the pill directly into his mouth.

Good heavens! How could he recklessly swallow something whose nature he didn’t even know?

Every ingredient stored there was bizarre—there was no chance any of it was harmless.

“Edan!”

Edan swallowed hard, the pill sliding down his throat, then turned to look at me.

“Lati.”

A bright smile was directed at me.

“Come here.”

Without hesitation, I walked toward Edan.

Our gazes intertwined, sinking deeply into each other.

“What did you swallow?”

“A pill to make me smarter.”

“Did such a thing exist?”

“It did.”

I stared intently at Edan as he gently stroked my head.

Again, I felt no discomfort. Even with his casual touch, instead of resistance, my heart felt warm and comforted.

Moonlight, dazzlingly bright, softly settled along Edan’s golden hair, his cheeks, and the line of his neck.

“Not sleepy?”

His voice was tender, languid.

“Shall we sleep together?”

Edan smiled softly, playfully wrinkling the corners of his eyes.

Slower than usual—Edan, who had never hesitated before, seemed oddly hesitant today. As if burdened by some inner turmoil, his fingertips lingered over my fingers for a long time.

Thumb, index finger, then fingernails slowly tracing my hand’s back. When I didn’t pull away, he gradually intertwined his fingers with mine.

The natural, pleasant sensation of his fingers touching mine, the perfectly warm temperature—all of it felt wonderful.

I wished this moment could last a little longer.

The instant that thought crossed my mind, my chest surged with a burning warmth.

Ah….

I like Edan. I really do. I like him.

The moment I acknowledged this undeniable feeling, my heart began racing. It felt as if the entire world resonated with the pounding of my heartbeat.

I like this man. I like everything about him—even down to each strand of hair before my eyes.

I know Edan doesn’t desire me, but only the healing power I possess.

I fully understand that his tender gaze, his gentle touch—all of it is merely kindness offered to receive my healing.

It’s a little disheartening, a bit frightening, and stings faintly in my chest—but that’s simply how it is, and I can’t change it.

I met Edan. Edan protected me.

And I like Edan.

“Lati?”

When I didn’t answer, Edan tilted his head down, bringing his face closer to mine.

A faint scent of soap brushed against my nose.

Unconsciously, I raised my hand as if to touch his cheek—but then clenched my skirt tightly instead.

No matter what happens, I will never let Edan die.

So if Edan desires my healing power, if he becomes obsessed with me because of it—I’m okay with that. I will stay by Edan’s side.

“You know, Edan.”

“Hmm?”

“Shall we hold hands and sleep?”

Edan’s eyes widened slightly, then softened.

“Do I look like the kind of gentleman capable of that?”

“You were before.”

“You think I only allowed it because you were in pain?”

“If you don’t like it, sleep separately.”

I turned away abruptly, and Edan instantly grabbed my arm.

“Lati.”

“Hmm.”

I tried speaking a little petulantly, and Edan burst into a helpless chuckle as if he’d truly gone mad.

“Don’t do things you’ll regret later.”

“I won’t.”

“Even if you end up crying beneath me later, I won’t comfort you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“You’re being cheeky.”

Yet even as he said that, Edan held my hand tightly.

He accepted even my childish petulance.

Warmth and the scent of soap filled the space beside me.

‘I’m glad I met Edan.’

If possible, I hope someday Edan will like me for who I am—not just for my healing power.

That’s what I thought.

The garden of the Libedan Temple.

A maid approached Ivy, who was strolling in a pure white dress adorned with rare, multicolored gemstones.

“Lady Ivy, Duke Dante Ian has arrived.”

“Oh my. Please bring him this way at once.”

Ivy smiled radiantly and waited beneath the garden pergola for Dante.

Not long after, Dante appeared, his body diagonally draped with a white cloth.

With long legs matching his tall frame, Dante strode confidently forward and stopped a few steps in front of Ivy.

“I pay my respects to the Grand Holy Maiden.”

A gentle, soft voice emanating from his strong physique. It felt as if the sunlight around Dante carried extra warmth.

Ivy’s lips curved into a soft arc as she observed Dante’s bowed head and bronze skin.

Every time she saw that firm, scarred body, her mouth watered with desire.

As always, Ivy stepped forward and reached out to place her hand on Dante’s arm.

But unlike usual, Dante subtly stepped back.

“My apologies. I’m not feeling well.”

Ivy blinked prettily, studying Dante with curiosity.

“Then you need my touch even more. I’ll bless you.”

But Dante answered by stepping back once more, swiftly changing the subject.

“Actually, I’d like to retract the proposal I mentioned last time.”

Ignoring Dante’s clear refusal, Ivy’s hand, reaching once again toward his arm, froze midair.