A heated breath passed through the slightly parted and closing lips,and as I opened my mouth to follow, something hot stirred within me.

A pace that seemed slightly impatient yet never rushed.It pressed forward strongly, but when I struggled and gasped for breath,the movement slowed, only to surge fiercely again as if unable to hold back.Heat filled me, and my body tensed with effort.

“Relax.”

“But… it’s just…”

“I know. It’s okay. I’ll take it easy.”

Edan whispered tenderly before overlapping his breath with mine again.His hand gently wrapped around my waist,while the other slowly traced up my back, brushing my shoulder and reaching the nape of my neck.

Edan held me with just enough strength to keep me from pulling away as I kept being pushed back.Soft yet rough, it felt like a blissful sensation, as if being consumed like this wouldn’t be so bad.The hand stroking my nape soothingly,and the one wrapped around my waist, tightening and then loosening again.

All my nerves focused on every single one of Edan’s movements.

With the dizzying contact repeating, I trembled unknowingly and wrapped my arms around Edan’s neck.Then, Edan, slightly raising the corners of his mouth, pressed against me again as if he’d been waiting for it.

“Don’t act too provocatively. It’s hard to hold back.”

It wasn’t even the pleasure from my healing power, yet every one of Edan’s actions felt incredibly sweet.

The room filled with the sound of my and Edan’s breaths.It was just a kiss, yet it felt so good it made my mind hazy.

It had been a tough day. My body ached and was exhausted, and my heart felt deeply wounded.Yet, all those weary moments seemed to fade away.

Living as a High Priestess held no meaning for me,but the one thing I felt fortunate about was that I could heal Edan.I was glad that it was me, and only me, who could heal this man.I was happy to be someone Edan needed.

I love him. I love Edan so much.

If possible, I wished this moment would never end. Forever.

That thought flashed through my mind.

Forever…?

Could that… be possible?

“…”

As I loosened the strength in my arms and caught my breath, Edan’s movements stopped.

“Did it hurt?”

No. I shook my head side to side.Then, the tears that had filled my eyes, blurring my vision, spilled down in droplets.Edan’s hand, which had been wrapped around my waist, let go.

“I won’t go all the way. I’m not going to push someone who’s hurting…”

“You won’t do it in the future either, will you?”

I didn’t mean to cry, but tears kept falling endlessly in droplets.Even when I wiped them with the back of my hand, more tears welled up.

“What do you mean?”

I really hate this.

“Lati.”

I had forgotten, but the scroll with the arranged marriage came to mind.

“What’s wrong? If something’s bothering you, tell me.”

I put strength into my eyes and wiped away the tears.With a stinging nose and sorrowful, heaving breaths, I opened my mouth.

“Are you going to get married?”

Edan’s hand, which was about to caress my cheek, froze in midair.

“What?”

“I saw it. The scroll hidden in your room…”

As I spoke thoughtlessly, I realized it was as if I’d been caught sneaking a look, and my voice grew smaller.

“I told them to put it away.”

Edan, seemingly thinking of Ruben, clicked his tongue briefly and frowned.Then, he casually wiped the tears from my eyes.I tightly closed the eyes he wiped and rubbed them hard with the back of my hand.

“Edan.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you going to marry Princess Siela?”

Edan’s signature, which I had checked multiple times, vividly appeared before my eyes.

Edan Dietrich. I thought that since he had already signed, he had decided on the arranged marriage.

But he’s been so kind to me. Doesn’t that mean he has at least a little affection for me?

So, can’t he just say he won’t do it? That what I saw was a misunderstanding. That it’s not true.

I looked at Edan with great expectation.

Hurry. Quickly.

But Edan just looked down at me quietly.Then he raised his head to the ceiling, lowered it meaninglessly, and ran his hand through his hair.

“…What if I do?”

What?

Thud. My heart dropped. My body, which had been warmer than ever moments ago, turned cold in an instant.

Was it because I had hoped against hope? It felt like my heart was being torn apart in an instant.

As I slowly looked up, Edan’s eyes were steady and unshaken.

The crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace filled the room.The moonlight streaming through the window began to be obscured by clouds.

As the light was completely swallowed by the clouds, I bit my lower lip.

“No!”

The words burst out irritably.

Edan’s eyes, which had been calmly looking at me despite stirring my emotions, widened slightly.

“What?”

“I said no.”

Ha, Edan let out a hollow laugh, as if exasperated, and rubbed the back of his neck.

“It’s not something I can decide. It’s a marriage for the needs of the empire,and whether I like the princess or not, if it benefits the empire, I have to follow orders.”

“…”

“Lati.”

“…”

That’s cowardly. I know that.You don’t have to explain it so coldly—I know Edan is a prince, and an arranged marriage is a duty he must fulfill.It could happen. It does happen.

I understand. If it were someone else’s matter, that is.

Lately, I had hoped that Edan might like me, not just for my healing power.

Honestly, I thought he did.

Because he was so good to me! Too good for someone who only wanted my healing power!

He acted like he loved me.

He was so considerate that he’d even refuse healing when I said I felt like throwing up.It was enough to cause a misunderstanding. The situation was like that.

…But it seems it wasn’t.

“As a prince, there are things I have no choice but to do.”

Just now, Edan stabbed my heart with a knife.

With a single simple sentence, he clearly tore my heart apart, even if it wasn’t visible.

Edan drew a line so firmly that I couldn’t even protest.

The medicine should have numbed the pain, but my abdomen ached and throbbed.

“Then do it.”

I lowered my eyes, avoiding Edan’s gaze, and spoke.

“But don’t expect me to congratulate you.”

Sorry, but I’m not that kind of girl.

I shot up from my seat.

“I’ll never congratulate you. And I’ll never see you again for the rest of my life…!”

“Pfft.”

…Pfft?

Edan, grabbing my fingers as I turned, let out a small laugh.

“You’re laughing? You think I’m funny right now?”

This is ridiculous. There’s a limit to how lightly he can take me.

“Let go!”

I shook off Edan’s hand…

“…”

Ha, damn it. I tried to shake it off, but it didn’t work. Damn it!

He’s ridiculously strong.

I glared at him, and Edan chuckled, wrapping his large arm around my waistand sitting me on his firm thigh.

“Scary, princess.”

“I’m not in the mood to joke. Let go.”

“Are you mad?”

“Mad doesn’t even cover it.”

“Good. Well done.”

This guy! I was so angry my blood was boiling. I clenched my fist tightly.Edan chuckled again.

“Gonna hit me?”

“You think I can’t?”

Heh heh. And he laughs again.

I’m done holding back. I stood up and punched his chest with a thud!

“I’m not doing it.”

Huh?

“I’m not getting married or anything like that.”

Edan, wrapping his arms around my waist again, naturally pulled me to sit on the sofa.

When I didn’t respond, Edan asked again.

“Lati, did you hear? I’m not getting married.”

Only then did my senses return at his repeated words.

“But the signature…”

“Edan Dietrich?”

“Yes. It was clearly written.”

“My signature isn’t my full name. I usually sign as DT.If anything, that signature was pre-written by the Empress. I didn’t agree to it.”

It felt like I’d been hit in the back of the head.

“Then why did you say it like that just now?”

I asked with wide eyes, dumbfounded, and Edan lazily opened and closed his eyes, as if it were no big deal.

“So you could feel what I feel.”

“What? What feeling?”

“I feel like I’d go crazy if another guy even touches you. I want to kill them.”

As he spoke, Edan smiled faintly. His pretty, crescent-shaped smile was charming,but the cold glint in his eyes carried a hint of menace.

“But you don’t feel that way, do you?”

Wow… Are you kidding? There aren’t even any women around you! What do I have to be jealous of?

“And.”

Edan paused for a moment before continuing.

“Because you were crying.”

Ha, I—ugh, I’m speechless.

“You don’t like me crying?”

“I don’t.”

“Why?”

Even as I asked, my heart was pounding like crazy without me realizing it.

Maybe this time he’ll say he loves me? In this kind of atmosphere, it’s okay to say that, right?

Since he doesn’t like me crying and won’t get married because of it,and he gave me such sweet kisses, and he’s smiling at me now.

I stared at Edan with nervous anticipation. And Edan’s answer was:

“Because you’re beautiful.”

At those words, I opened my mouth like an idiot.The moonlight, previously hidden by clouds, emerged,making Edan’s golden hair sparkle as if blessed by the stars.

“You… said I wasn’t beautiful before.”

“You’re beautiful.”

“…”

It’s what I wanted to hear, but objectively, I’m not beautiful right now, am I?

My face is tear-streaked, my nose is running, and my body is bruised all over.Saying I’m beautiful at this moment, when I’m not at my best, is cheating.

All sorts of words floated in my head, but I couldn’t choose what to say and just blinked.

“You’re beautiful, Lati.”

Edan repeated, as if it weren’t a lie.

As my face flushed red, finally processing the situation,he leaned in and pressed his lips below my nape.

“You’re the only beautiful one in the world.”

His low voice resonated in my ear.

“You were always beautiful.”

His voice was so soft it felt like my whole body was melting.

Chu. A few more short kisses followed.

“And I can’t let something like this make you cry. I have expectations, you know.”

“For what?”

“For you crying.”

What does that mean? The guy who just said he didn’t want me crying because of a marriage!

I frowned, tilting my head in confusion.

“Even if you cry under me, I won’t go easy on you.”

Edan smiled smoothly, as if giving me a heads-up.

Oh, no. Crazy. Who’s the provocative one here?

“I might not cry!”

I shouted, embarrassed. And with a thud, I was laid back on the sofa.

“You’re talking big for someone I went easy on because you were hurt.”

Edan’s body, silhouetted against the moonlight, leaned over mine.