Ivy, being a kind-hearted girl, expressed concern for her friend, adding that they had grown up together in an orphanage and promised to support each other.

There was no reason to refuse her tearful plea.

Because Killian intended to give her whatever she wanted, anything from the empire, no matter what she asked for.

‘Alright. I’ll find your friend for you.’

The Crown Prince promised Ivy. It was three months ago.

However, contrary to his words, the Crown Prince merely gave orders to his subordinates and showed little interest in finding her friend.

There were two reasons. First, the stronger Ivy’s plea to find her friend grew, the more powerfully her healing ability was transmitted, greatly satisfying the Crown Prince. Second, it was necessary for Ivy’s own sake.

He thought she would naturally come to understand with time, but Ivy still seemed unaware of what ultimately happened to the saint candidates who came to the temple.

After the Great Saint suddenly collapsed, the imperial laws underwent several revisions. And those revised laws changed for the better for the Great Saint, but for worse conditions for the saint candidates.

The amended bill assigned the healing of ability knights, except for the top three ability users in the empire, to the saint candidates. It was a method to protect the Great Saint, who could disappear at any time.

‘Ivy, who overflows with power even after healing the three strongest ability users simultaneously, would never know.’

That her friend with just a handful of healing power would be consumed and die from healing lower-ranking knights from the moment she arrives at the temple, unlike herself.

There was also a reason he hadn’t looked into it quickly due to the cruel reality.

Fearing that Ivy would feel too much sorrow if she saw her friend, whom she worried about so much, come to the temple only to die.

He had also naturally waited for her to learn the truth about the other saint candidates and give up on her friend.

But seeing that she still didn’t know, it was questionable whether the priests were keeping it a secret to avoid shocking the tender-hearted girl, or if she was holding onto such a naive thought that she could protect the friend she loved so dearly.

Or if not that… she might know the truth but be pretending not to know.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter either way.’

Hillstain’s lips twisted upwards.

In any case, they only needed Ivy. The lives of other saint candidates were dispensable, whether they existed or not.

However, on the day she was officially announced as the Great Saint, Ivy made another request.

‘If you find my friend for me, I’ll give you my everything.’

This time, not just to the Crown Prince, but in the presence of Hillstain and Dante, staking a new promise.

‘I miss my friend so much.’

The Crown Prince didn’t like the terms of Ivy’s promise very much, but the situation had changed.

Ivy, who had become the Great Saint, had gained the right to choose who she would heal as her top priority.

And the condition for Ivy’s enormous authority was Latieana Merigold.

The sweetest reward for the promise, which they desperately wanted to claim.

If they found Latieana Merigold, they would gain the right to be the first to receive Ivy’s healing power.

In the end, the three men decided to find Latieana Merigold in order to get closest to Ivy’s side.

The fact that Latieana would later be dragged to the temple and die was not their concern, as it was a life destined to end there anyway.

If Ivy were to be hurt and cry over her friend’s death, that was something they could comfort her about when the time came.

‘Yes. I’ll find your friend for you.’

The Crown Prince had promised Ivy. It was just over three months ago.

“I’ll send you jewelry to match the dress.”

Hillstain, snapping out of his reminiscence, put down Ivy’s hair and turned to leave.

But after taking just a few steps, he suddenly had a thought and stopped.

“By the way, Lady Ivy.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever met Prince Edan Dietrich?”

Ivy tilted her head quizzically.

“Prince Edan Dietrich… You mean the Grand Duke who’s at war with monsters in the North?”

“Yes.”

Ivy shook her head from side to side.

“No. I’ve heard a lot about him, but I’ve never met him. But I’ll be able to see him at the ball, right?”

Ivy smiled innocently, filled with naive expectation.

“Yes. You probably will. It seemed the Prince was looking forward to meeting you too.”

“I’m looking forward to it too. I can’t wait to meet Lord Edan soon.”

After exchanging good night greetings with Ivy and turning to leave the room, Hillstain’s eyes gleamed sharply.

That’s right. It couldn’t be. Prince Edan couldn’t possibly know about Latieana Merigold’s existence. But.

‘The one behind Ruben was definitely a woman. And for a moment, but…’

In his mind flashed a few strands of pink hair that had briefly fluttered in the wind behind Ruben’s cloak.

It wasn’t certain since it was in the chaotic darkness of the North, but it was a possibility.

If by any chance that was Latieana Merigold, he absolutely couldn’t let anyone else have her. And even if it wasn’t, his interest was piqued.

‘Who could it be that he was hiding so carefully? A man who has never cherished anything before.’

Hillstain sneered viciously as he recalled Edan gazing at Ruben’s back as if looking at a precious treasure or a cherished toy he didn’t want to show others.

Clang-!

“Ugh!”

The white plate that fell from the counter shattered mercilessly as it hit the hard floor.

But that wasn’t the problem.

I threw down the frying pan I was holding and clutched my right hand.

Just a moment ago, I had grabbed the handle wrong while being distracted, burning my hand.

In an instant, my palm swelled red and a stinging pain surged.

“It hurts…”

Unfortunately, I was wearing thin slippers, so I couldn’t move carelessly. Sharp plate shards were between the counter and the sink with the faucet. If I made a wrong move, not only my hand but my feet could get hurt, making a mess.

As I was slowly inching towards the sink while sticking as close to the counter as possible, Edan suddenly appeared.

“Latieana, what was that sound just now…”

Edan swept his gaze from my reddened hand to the frying pan thrown on the counter.

Then, as if he had instantly grasped the situation, he walked unhesitatingly through the broken plate shards.

“Ah! Master! Your feet! Your feet! There are plate shards…”

“Is that the issue right now?”

Edan spat out the words irritably, then picked me up in his arms. He strode over to the sink, set me down on it, and roughly turned on the faucet.

Swoosh- Cold water splashed everywhere and at the same time, my hand was pushed into the water.

“Ugh…”

When I winced due to the strong stream of water, Edan clicked his tongue and reduced the water pressure.

Fortunately, the pain seemed to subside a little.

When I pulled out my hand after the heat had cooled somewhat, a blister had formed.

“Thank you.”

Edan, who had been staring blankly at my reddened hand, heard my words and only then turned off the faucet. Sitting on the sink, I had become almost eye-level with Edan.

Still, because Edan was tall, I had to look up at him anyway.

I lowered my head to check Edan’s feet. I was worried since he had stepped on broken plates to rush to me, but fortunately, Edan was wearing shoes, so he seemed fine.

‘Thank goodness. I’ll clean up the plates after applying medicine.’

Thinking that, I was about to get down from the sink, but Edan trapped me in his arms like last time and stood still without moving. Unlike usual, he lowered his head and sighed deeply as if tired.

Since this was the first time I’d seen him like this, I became a bit cautious.

“Um… Master, I want to go apply medicine.”

“Where is it?”

“In the drawer in the reception room.”

Edan immediately raised his head and carried me in his arms towards the reception room.

The dampness from my wet dress spread, soaking into his shirt.

‘I can walk properly since my feet aren’t hurt.’

I thought that, but Edan’s expression was savage for the first time in a while, so I was too scared to say anything and quietly followed along with what he was doing.

We arrived at the desolate reception room with just one sofa and table placed sparsely.

When I thought Edan was a shut-in, I used to pick flowers and put them in vases, but now it was a completely empty, bleak place.

Edan sat me on the sofa and immediately opened the console drawer to take out the few bandages and ointments.

“Don’t cook from now on.”

Edan, who was kindly treating my hand, said something nonsensical.

No. Then there’s no reason for me to be here as a maid.

“Then what should I do? You’re not thinking of making me clean like crazy…”

“Don’t do anything.”

“…Pardon?”

If you’re not going to make me do anything just because I hurt my hand once, why did you hire a maid?

I was so dumbfounded that I just stared at him blankly, and after quickly wrapping the bandage at a perfect angle, Edan finally met my eyes.

His red eyes, mixed with irritation and displeasure, were flickering fiercely.

It was such a cold and chilling gaze that I unconsciously held my breath.

“Do you understand?”

If I said no, I don’t understand, it seemed like something terrible would happen.

I took a deep breath and nodded my head slightly.

“Wait. I’ll bring you painkillers.”

Edan stood up and headed to the second floor.

As I watched his back walk away, shaking his wet shirt sleeves, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.

‘Ah… that’s right…’

Edan’s real wounds weren’t the scars on his body, but the burning pain from the side effects of his ability.

Edan knew this pain better than anyone else. That’s why he was reacting so sensitively even though I was just a mere maid.

Somehow, one corner of my heart ached.

If it hurts this much from just this small wound, I couldn’t even imagine the pain he endures from the side effects of his ability.

‘So I can understand why he’s obsessed with Ivy.’

The hand he had bandaged throbbed.

“Swallow it.”

Edan brought painkillers and water.

As I quietly took what he gave me and took the medicine, it was hard to tell who was the master and who was the maid.

Of course, that feeling only lasted for a moment, and there was no change in the fact that the arrogant Edan was the master.

I was still just a lowly servant. After swallowing all the medicine as Edan instructed, I asked.

“Then what should I do? If I don’t cook or clean, I won’t have anything to do.”

“Why wouldn’t you have anything to do?”

Was there anything else for me to do besides that? I don’t think I did much else.

He didn’t even ask me to do laundry anyway.

“Um. Should I pull weeds in the garden?”

At my barely squeezed-out suggestion of a task, Edan clicked his tongue as if dumbfounded and sat down next to me.

When he lightly grasped my chin with his large hand, my cheeks were pressed together, making my lips pout like a fish.

“Look at my face.”

“Eh?”

What absurd thing is he saying now?

“You like my face, don’t you? You said it’s pretty.”