Killian’s eyes turned icy cold.

“Don’t you know who I am?”

“I do. You’re Crown Prince Killian Dietrich.”

“And yet you dare defy my words?”

Unlike Edan, who was terrifyingly obvious even as a fellow prince,

Killian’s low, subdued voice conveyed intimidation with just a few words.

Outwardly, he exuded a classic, proper, and composed demeanor, but standing before me, he was like an immovable wall—like a massive barrier carved from dense bedrock.

He frightened me, but if I signed here, I could never return to Edan.

Killian stared at me, my lips tightly sealed, and spoke.

“I command you again. Sign it.”

“No. I refuse.”

Despite his calm command, I placed the paper and pen back onto the floor.

At my repeated refusal, Killian’s brow twitched.

Either way, Killian was clearly on Ivy’s side. I knew he’d side with her regardless of what I said, but I decided to speak honestly.

“I’m not friends with Ivy like family. I have absolutely no desire to go to the temple.”

Ivy, clinging to Killian’s arm, whipped her head around to glare at me.

But only for a moment.

“Latieana, why do you keep hurting me like this? You and I—we’re practically family.”

That’s not funny. Not at all.

“Don’t pretend we’re family. We’ve never been family, not even once. And you came looking for me knowing I’d die.”

Ivy’s lips, curled in a serene smile, trembled slightly.

She’d been putting on a sweet, innocent act all this time, but now that I’d spoken honestly in front of Killian, she seemed flustered.

“What do you mean, you’d die? How would I know such a thing? Why would you die? What are you talking about?”

Ivy began pouring out words with an expression of pure, naive innocence.

“Oh, right… Latieana, I’m sorry I became the Grand Saintess… I know you probably wanted it… I understand you’re upset. But don’t be like this. I also wished you could’ve become the Grand Saintess, but what can I do? I’m the one with healing power….”

Now Ivy’s voice quivered, tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.

It was utterly ridiculous, yet her acting skill was so impressive I couldn’t help but marvel.

“I’m just as heartbroken and hurt as you are.”

Finally, Ivy clutched Killian’s arm even tighter and let tears roll down her cheeks.

“Your Highness knows, right? You know how much I’ve worried about Latieana. Sob.”

I glared at Ivy with an utterly exasperated expression. And Ivy burst into tears.

To any observer, I was clearly the villainess.

The friend she’d tirelessly searched for out of concern—yet I, ungrateful and cruel, lashed out at her out of jealousy.

Killian glanced briefly down at Ivy, then fixed his gaze on me.

His crimson eyes, tinged with calm brown, showed no trace of warmth or consideration—only cold calculation.

“So says the Grand Saintess.”

Of course. Killian hadn’t listened to a single word I said—he believed only Ivy.

Though I knew this conversation was futile, I summoned courage and spoke again.

I’d endured so much already—I would never sign.

“I know candidates for Saintess have been dying at the temple. Therefore, I absolutely will not sign.”

At those words, Ivy’s eyes twitched.

“What do you mean—!”

She, the murderer of Saintess candidates, had been feigning shock as if hearing this for the first time—but she stopped mid-sentence.

Because Killian said something unexpected.

“Then we’ll keep her locked up until she does.”

What? That didn’t make sense.

I hadn’t spoken hoping he’d side with me, but if Killian had brought me here for Ivy’s sake, he should’ve shown concern for her.

After all, Ivy had pretended not to know I’d die, acting like a friend who cared for me as family. Killian likely knew candidates were dying at the temple. But he’d brought me anyway, thinking it didn’t matter as long as Ivy was by his side. Still, even if my life meant nothing to him, I hadn’t expected him to show zero regard for Ivy’s “concern” act.

I frowned and challenged him.

“I’m Ivy’s pre·cious· friend—if I might die, you’d still imprison me at the temple?”

Killian lowered his gaze and offered a cold smile.

“If you die, so be it. That, too, is part of being a Saintess candidate.”

At that, both Ivy and I froze solid.

I was confirming Killian’s utter disregard for Ivy’s feelings; Ivy seemed stunned he’d respond this way.

It wasn’t just strange—it was bewildering.

What was this reaction? Killian looked like someone who’d planned from the start to kill me.

Or at least, someone whose sole purpose was ensuring I never left the temple.

Seeing Killian’s cold demeanor, Ivy intervened.

“…Please don’t be like this, Your Highness. My friend seems very frightened. Surely you don’t truly mean to let her die?”

Disgustingly, Ivy spoke to Killian as if she were on my side, as if she genuinely worried for me.

Instead of answering, Killian glanced at his attendant, who promptly placed the contract and pen back into my hands.

“It’s not that we’re making her die—it’s that she’ll die due to insufficient healing power. That’s not my fault, nor the Grand Saintess’s.”

“Well, yes, but…”

“It’s only natural for Saintess candidates to come to the temple.”

Killian spoke coldly, pulled his arm from Ivy’s grasp, and turned away.

“Lock the door. She won’t leave until she signs.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The attendant bowed deeply. Killian, already several steps toward the door, turned his head toward Ivy.

“Grand Saintess, now you can bestow your blessing upon me. Since you’ve brought your friend.”

“Oh… yes. I’ll come, Your Highness.”

Ivy, still staring at Killian’s retreating back, stepped close to me and whispered.

“Just in case you’re wondering—give up any hope that Prince Edan will come to protect you. As long as Crown Prince Killian is on my side, that’s impossible. If you’re bored, maybe start thinking about your last words.”

“….”

Ivy smiled at me with a sinister smirk.

She followed Killian out the door, and the attendant closed it behind her.

Outside the window, night had already fallen completely.

Trapped all day in this room, I hadn’t eaten a bite—or even drunk water—my stomach empty.

Thirst overwhelmed me.

I patted my chest and walked to the window. Judging by the view—only white stone mountains visible—I must be in a room located in the outermost building of the temple.

Now that night had come, only the moon atop the mountain was visible.

As I gazed blankly at the moon, I thought of Edan.

He must be fighting well, right? Surely he wouldn’t stubbornly endure another battle without using his ability.

Even if the timing wasn’t perfect, he should’ve told me. That healing him was fine. That it wouldn’t hurt me.

My chest throbbed painfully.

He’ll fight well. Edan is the strongest character in the original story. When everything’s over, he’ll smile at me again.

As I recalled Edan’s bright smile, Killian suddenly flashed before my eyes.

His eye color was exactly like Edan’s. When I tried to recall his face in detail—the one I’d stared at head-on—his nose bridge seemed somewhat similar too.

What on earth is Killian thinking?

To him, my life means nothing. I knew he had zero interest in me and wouldn’t care—but I hadn’t expected him to show no consideration for Ivy’s sake, even in front of her.

In the original story, he spoke coldly only after I was already dead.

But I’m still alive, standing right before him—and he didn’t even pretend to care for Ivy’s feelings.

Killian rarely uses his ability.

So perhaps, because he suffers fewer side effects, his power is weaker compared to Hillstain or Dante?

Regardless, in the original story, Ivy’s healing power drove ability users mad with obsession…

Of course, that power was originally mine.

When I heard Edan’s past stories, I thought he might have a kind side after all—but now I’m certain he doesn’t.

He doesn’t seem particularly close to Ivy either.

I wish I could’ve revealed to Killian that Ivy is a witch…

But without evidence, he’d never believe me. He’d only see me as a wicked girl falsely accusing her friend. First, I need to find a way to meet Maxim.

I stopped thinking and turned my gaze out the window.

Just then, I spotted a knight passing below.

From hours of observation, I’d noticed knights patrolled beneath the building at regular intervals.

As I watched the knight’s retreating back, I carefully opened the window.

Whoosh—cold night wind rushed in all at once.

“Ugh. It’s okay. I can do this.”

I’d never climbed a building before, but there were places I could step on.

A four-story-high building.

I recalled hearing somewhere that this exact height is what humans fear most.

“I never wanted to experience it firsthand.”

Staring down without the safety of window glass, I suddenly felt dizzy. I might even develop acrophobia I never had before.

I whipped my head around to stare at the firmly locked door, took a deep breath, and swallowed hard.

“She wouldn’t come at this exact moment, would she?”

As Grand Saintess, she must have her own schedule.

I lifted my skirt and slowly slid one leg out the window.

And that was when it happened.

Click-clack-click—the sound came from outside the door.

Startled, I jerked my head up from the window. The doorknob rattled violently, as if about to break apart.

Crazy—what?! Did she really come at this exact moment?!

Left alone all day, but precisely now? Are you kidding me?!

My heart pounded wildly.

More terrifying than the fear of falling was the thought of Ivy catching me trying to escape.

Pale-faced, I quickly twisted my body and swung my other leg out the window.

“Wh-where are you?! You were definitely around here…!”

Awkwardly dangling from the building, I hurriedly searched for another foothold—just as my toes touched it,

Bang! The door flew open.

“Eeek!”

“Waaah!”

We both screamed simultaneously, locking eyes in mutual horror.

“Ma-Maxim?”