With eyes lost in deep thought, Edan looked at me and raised his hand to stroke my nape.

“Lati.”

The moment his cold touch sent chills down my spine, he lowered his head. He lightly pressed his lips to the spot where Killian’s wound had been, then buried his face in my nape.

“If it weren’t for you, I really would’ve become the damn traitor that the Empress and those around her said I was.”

Though he didn’t explain further, I understood. I knew what he meant.

It was his self-loathing for nearly turning his sword on Killian because of me.

“Edan, look up.”

I gently held his cheeks with both hands as he raised his head.

“You told me, didn’t you? That my first priority is myself.”

“So what?”

“No way. My first priority is you.”

For a moment, as if returning to his usual self, Edan’s brow furrowed.

“Don’t be cheeky.”

I flinched instinctively under his gaze, which had sharpened to the point of overshadowing the moonlight’s glimmer above.

“You’re my first, but to you, you come first. Didn’t I make that clear, or did you not get it?”

I wondered why he was so sensitive, but it was because of what he’d done.

He knew what happened when someone else was prioritized. Just as he’d struggled for putting his brother first.

Still, that wouldn’t happen with me. But I figured I’d concede this once.

“Then let’s do it this way. Listen closely, Grand Duke Edan. I’m stronger than you think. A scratch on my neck won’t kill me, and I don’t hate your brother. Sure, he was a bit annoying, but I can like the people you like. So… ugh!”

Before I could finish, Edan’s lips pressed against mine.

His lips slipped through the slight gap between mine, exploring every corner, licking and rubbing stickily as if devouring them.

Normally, he’d give me a moment to breathe, but today was different. Edan’s lips showed no sign of pulling away. Soft like sweet pudding yet relentlessly intense, his heat made my body weaken, and I swayed. Edan grabbed my waist tightly with one hand. He pushed me further until I leaned against the railing, securing his position. Stretching his long arm to grip the railing for support, he wrapped the other around my shoulders, preventing me from pulling back.

“Ha, Edan… ngh.”

The heat in my body, which had cooled during our conversation, flared up again. Even as I gasped for breath, he kept moving his lips messily, unconcerned. It was a raw, sticky, rough kiss, like being devoured by a beast. Compared to this, our previous kisses felt like child’s play. He only stopped after a long while.

“You brought this on yourself.”

With a sultry gaze, Edan’s face softened into a languid smile.

“You can’t escape me now, not even in death.”

“Lady Latieana!”

Maxim, who came to greet me in front of the Grand Duke’s castle, waved enthusiastically with a big smile.

“What’s got you so excited?”

“Ever since you came to the Grand Duke’s castle, I haven’t been able to visit the old castle at all. It’s been so long, and going to the Great Wizard’s secret space makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst.”

“Isn’t that something you should get checked out?”

“I’m fine! As long as that secret space exists, I won’t die!”

What kind of logic is that? If the Great Wizard were alive, they’d have put a restraining spell on Maxim for saying that.

“By the way, where’s the Grand Duke? Didn’t he say he was coming with us?”

“Something urgent came up.”

I climbed into the carriage with Maxim and headed toward the portal outside the castle.

It had been a week since my visit to the Turn Town House. There was no word from Killian, and just as I was getting anxious, a letter arrived from the palace.

It said the council regarding Edan and Ciela’s arranged marriage had been canceled.

And then, nothing more.

Even at the House, it was hard to figure out what Killian was thinking, and I still couldn’t tell. Edan, on the surface, didn’t seem to care much either.

Anyway, today was the day we were supposed to visit the secret space together, but a messenger arrived suddenly this morning.

Killian’s subordinate relayed a brief message to stop by the palace.

‘Should we postpone? I’ve contacted Duke Dante, but I’m still worried.’

I was concerned about Edan going to the palace, while he was worried about me going to the old castle after so long.

‘I made a promise with the Duke, so I have to go. It’ll be fine.’

‘Wait. I’ll bring Ruben.’

Since Edan was supposed to visit the old castle and the desert with me today, Ruben had gone to the Unbreakable Wall in his stead.

Unlike before, no one’s after my life now, yet he’s so anxious. He even assigned a dozen of the North’s finest knights to me, and still he worries. I barely managed to convince him to go to the palace.

But I did feel a bit reluctant.

Edan’s figure lingered in my mind as I gazed out the carriage window. His broad shoulders, handsome face, and the uniform that suited him perfectly. The particularly ornate uniform he wore only for palace visits paired so well with his blond hair, giving him a refined look.

I love his cloak and combat gear or his tunic and pants for their casual vibe, but his formal look is the best.

It’s a shame I couldn’t admire it up close.

As we neared the portal, Maxim’s eyes sparkled as he asked,

“By the way, Lady Latieana, do you have a special method in mind? Honestly, I’m clueless. I’ve been frantically searching through magic books, but there’s nothing about transferring healing powers.”

Of course, it’s impossible. If it were, we wouldn’t need a Great Saintess.

“Maxim, I was thinking about the holy relic book you brought last time. It said holy relics can hold powerful magic.”

“That’s right. It’s not easy because relics are rare, but it’s a method wizards often used.”

Rolling his eyes side to side, Maxim nodded.

“When I went to the South, I saw a stone the Great Wizard invented. It stored heat to regulate temperature, and it was fascinating.”

“What? Such a thing exists? Why hasn’t it spread across the empire?”

“Since it’s only used in the desert, maybe the stone itself is hard to find elsewhere?”

“Oh! Ahhh…!”

Maxim’s excited face darkened in an instant.

“Anyway, the holy relic book mentioned something. Some relics even had the souls of magical beasts sealed inside.”

“Magical beasts?”

“It was a completely sealed glass bottle with a beast’s soul inside, displayed to show its suffering.”

“There was a Great Wizard before the Great Wizard, huh.”

“It made me think there might be a way to transfer my power too. If we find a relic capable of holding great power, it’s worth a try. There are still many books we haven’t read, so I believe we’ll find a way.”

If that becomes possible, I might be able to transfer all my power to a relic. Then, not just me, but other saintess candidates could transfer their powers too, and we’d all regain our freedom.

Maxim and I got off the carriage and stepped into the portal.

As I set foot in the old castle’s library, I felt strangely at ease. Despite everything that happened, living here was fun.

Leaving the knights at the castle entrance and the portal to the library, Maxim and I headed to the first-floor parlor alone.

Passing by Edan’s bedroom on the second floor, Maxim suddenly spoke.

“We shouldn’t use that entrance, right?”

“Maxim, do you want to die?”

“It just feels too ordinary to enter like this. A secret space needs some thrill.”

“Don’t talk about thrills. Unless you want an axe to your head the moment we step in.”

If that were possible, I wouldn’t have been caught by Killian. I wouldn’t have had to rush to the parlor.

“Oh! This smell!”

Entering the Great Wizard’s space, Maxim started sniffing like a pervert. Then, as if struck by a brilliant idea, his eyes sparkled.

“Lady Latieana! Want to hear the Great Wizard’s love story?”

What? He knows about that too?

“Love story?”

“It’s incredibly hard-to-find info!”

Just how much stalking does he do? A love story about a Great Wizard who’s long gone.

But I was a bit curious. Other people’s love lives are always interesting.

“Was it some legendary, tender love?”

“It’s not that grand, but they say he loved a woman, though it didn’t work out.”

“Why not?”

“No idea. They say it was a woman he wasn’t supposed to love. Since he briefly stayed at the temple in the past, maybe he fell for one of the saintess candidates?”

“Can’t saintess candidates love?”

I asked, puzzled, as I took a map from Maxim’s bag.

“Most don’t, I think. Maybe unrequited love at best? It’s not easy. The healing process makes it tough. Lovers might not like it.”

I agree. That’s why Edan doesn’t send me to the temple, and I don’t want to go either.

“A man who loves a saintess must be absolutely crazy! Loving someone you can never have? No sane person would…!”

Maxim, speaking confidently, suddenly clapped his hands over his mouth.

“N-no, I didn’t mean the Grand Duke is crazy. Or that it’s impossible… well, it’s not, but…”

“It’s fine. I get what you mean.”

Smiling lightly, I spread out the map and held it up to the ceiling light.