Hearing those words, I froze for a moment and slowly pulled up the hem of my clothes that had slipped below my shoulders.

Edan, seeing me like that, spoke again with a rather serious demeanor.

“Want me to take it off?”

Flinch. I froze again like a broken clock.

“Didn’t you say something wrong?”

“Nope.”

His gently curved eyes, yet the unwavering gaze in Edan’s pupils showed he wasn’t joking.

“Why?”

“Well…”

Why, he asks? That’s my line! If someone suddenly tells me to take it off, of course I’d think something weird.

I furrowed my brows, tilted my head, and rolled my eyes around, pondering deeply before finding an answer.

Fine, whatever. I like Edan, so there’s nothing I can’t do. I don’t mind! In fact, I like it!

But not now. It’s not just the pain, but my skin’s a mess with bruises. I can’t show myself like this in such an important moment.

“Edan, I’m really sorry, but my condition today… Eek!”

Before I could finish, Edan effortlessly lifted me up. It’s the second time today he’s carried me like a princess, just like at the temple. Edan set me down on a long bed sofa in front of the fireplace, where a few small logs were burning. Then, with his large hand, he tousled my hair as if ruffling it, leaned down, and met my eyes.

From the freshly changed tunic came the scent of soap, mixed with a faint metallic smell from the blood still clinging to my hair, which hadn’t been fully cleaned.

“This little thing, what were you thinking?”

“Well…”

Obviously, that kind of thing, right? I’m not that clueless. How am I supposed to say it out loud?

“…”

But then, click. Edan opened the lid of a medicine case.

My whole body twisted with embarrassment.

If it was about the medicine, just say so! I ended up thinking something weird all by myself!

And quick-witted Edan seemed to have figured out all my thoughts.

I tightly shut my mouth and squeezed my eyes closed.

Ugh, I just want to pass out like this. Or maybe erase just five minutes of Edan’s memory.

“I’ll take it off.”

Grabbing my hair from behind and pulling it forward, Edan took hold of the zipper on the back of my slip.

And as the zipper went ziiip—about to go down, I grabbed his hand and shouted.

“W-Wait a second!”

“Why?”

“C-Can you dim the fire a bit?”

Since some of the wounds are in places I can’t reach, I do need Edan’s help to apply the medicine.

But showing my body so openly like this is just too embarrassing.

And the state of my body I saw in the bathroom earlier was pretty bad…

“Alright.”

I thought Edan would scold me for being fussy, but he obediently stood up, turned off the lights except for the one on the side table.

Even so, the moonlight streaming through the large window and the fire from the logs in the fireplace made the small lamp sufficient.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

“Okay.”

Each time Edan’s fingertips, slick with oily medicine, brushed my skin, I felt a slight sting and tickle.

Edan let out irritated sighs in between but continued applying the medicine.

“Damn it. I should’ve killed them with my own hands…”

His barely audible mumbling brought a soft smile to my face.

It’s a scary thing to say, but knowing Edan cares about me that much makes me feel good.

Even though it’s about killing someone, instead of being scared, I’m smiling.

Being around Edan is making me go crazy, I think.

But I still like it.

The embarrassment about my messed-up skin faded quickly.

As Edan carefully tended to my wounds, the warmth of his touch made me feel good.

“Huh?”

When I gasped in surprise, Edan chuckled as if he’d expected it. Not long after applying the medicine, the throbbing pain completely vanished.

“What happened?”

“It’s got a strong painkiller in it. It’s something knights in the north use. You can’t stop fighting just because of pain, so they use this often.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

The pain relief was astonishing.

“Well, sometimes even we’re surprised. Some think this medicine is the greatest achievement of the empire’s mages. Give me your arm.”

I held the chest of my clothes to keep them from slipping and pulled my arm out of the sleeve.

Seeing the wounds on my forearm, Edan’s face showed irritation again. About to say something more, he just let out a small sigh.

“So, what about the north? Is the wall being handled?”

“I called Duke Dante.”

“The Duke?”

“Last time, the southern wall’s protective artifact seemed pretty useful.”

“Really? So it helped?”

“Yeah, it was fine. Now that I know it’s useful, I’ll have to work him to death.”

“…”

Common sense would suggest that since he helped this time, you’d let go of past mistakes, right? But saying he’ll work him to death because it was helpful?

It’s a bit off-topic, but even though I like him, Edan’s personality is kind of rough.

Well, he’s been like that from the start.

“So, is the Duke okay…”

Suddenly, Edan’s hand stopped.

“Don’t ask pointless questions.”

…Pointless questions?

Isn’t it normal to be a little concerned? But Edan didn’t like me worrying about the Duke and cut the conversation short.

Then, he applied medicine to my other arm, leg, and thigh. Finally, he slipped his hand through the open zipper to my stomach, covering every spot without missing a single one.

I was clearly wearing clothes, but I felt completely exposed.

“There were places I could’ve done myself.”

After it was all over, I mumbled, too embarrassed to look at his face.

“Don’t get cocky.”

Edan flicked my forehead lightly with his finger and stood up.

“Wait here. I’ll go wash up.”

He must’ve hurriedly changed only his top because of applying the medicine.

“Edan, wait!”

I jumped up from my seat and took a big step toward him.

Then I tightly hugged his waist. I unleashed a massive wave of healing energy, letting it flow into his body.

I could feel Edan’s body temperature rise slightly as I held him. But soon, he pushed me away.

“What are you doing?”

“Healing.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?”

One of Edan’s eyebrows furrowed as he spoke.

“I didn’t ask for it. Stop it.”

“I want to do it.”

I reached out to him again, and Edan tilted his head, frowning and running a hand through his hair.

“I didn’t apply the medicine so you’d heal me. Only do it when I ask.”

“When will you ask?”

“When I need it.”

“So when?”

“Why do you care? I’ll handle it.”

With that, Edan turned away, but I took a big step and hugged him from behind again.

“No way.”

I hugged him even tighter, letting healing energy flow. Then I heard a low sigh, and Edan pushed me away again.

“Why are you so stubborn today? I said don’t do it…”

“Edan.”

I cut him off.

“I don’t feel bad about you at all.”

Words I should’ve said sooner. A bit embarrassing, but words I need to say.

Looking straight up at Edan, I said,

“I’ve never once felt sick or gross about you. In fact, healing you makes my whole body tremble with joy.”

Edan’s expression hardened as he looked down at me. His face was so cold it made me afraid to say the next words. Why is he like this? I didn’t expect this reaction… It feels like I made a huge mistake.

But I’m going to say it anyway.

“I like you. So don’t push me away. I’m doing this because I want to, and I’ll heal you as much as you want… Eek!”

Just as Edan’s intense stare started to scare me, he pressed my shoulders and sat me down on the sofa.

Leaning forward with his arms on either side of the backrest, trapping me between them, he spoke slowly with a stern face.

“Say it again.”

His low voice sounded like he was holding something back.

“Well… I don’t feel bad about you…”

“Not that.”

Edan’s previously cold eyes sharpened fiercely.

“What you said after.”

“That I like you…”

That was the moment. His tightly shut lips relaxed, as if the tension had broken.

“Again.”

His voice was still low, and I met his burning gaze and said,

“I like you.”

As soon as I said it, my eyes instinctively fell to Edan’s lips.

One corner of his mouth lifted, his lips parted slightly, and his tongue lightly brushed the edge before retreating.

“Ha-.”

A small, mocking breath mixed with a chuckle escaped him.

Edan lowered his head. And for a while, he stayed frozen, not moving an inch.

Anxiety began to tighten my chest.

Wait… what’s this? How should I take this reaction? Did I say something wrong? I just wanted to express my feelings, that’s all…

It wasn’t long. It felt long to me, but in reality, it was just a moment, yet all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind like waves.

“Edan…”

Maybe it’s not too late to say I just like him as a person because he’s been good to me, I thought.

But then Edan suddenly lifted his head.

The moment our eyes met, I quickly turned my face away. As my heart felt like it would burst, I took a deep breath. Edan grabbed my chin with his large hand and slowly pulled my face toward him.

“Latie.”

Edan’s face, meeting mine again. No matter how I look at it, he’s handsome. But right now, I almost wish he wouldn’t say anything.

I’m too scared to hear his response. Yet, unable to avoid his gaze, I looked at him with trembling eyes.

Moonlight poured over his golden hair, and his red eyes, like embedded jewels, sparkled as they looked at me.

“Take responsibility for those words.”

The touch of his hand slowly stroking my neck sent shivers down my spine, sparking a thrill.

As I started to nod, a rough breath accompanied soft lips meeting mine.