Even though I knew he wasn’t talking to me, I instinctively flinched and my fingertips trembled.

Then Edan, who had been looking down, slowly raised his eyelids and spoke in a much softer voice than before.

Gently caressing the tips of my fingers.

“You said you were going to wash up, so go wash up.”

After quietly finishing his words as if soothing me, he let go of my hand and nodded towards the washroom.

“Th-then…”

I’m scared. My heart is so tight I can barely breathe. It wasn’t even a harsh curse, but in an instant my heart sank.

If I were to become Edan’s enemy… I don’t even want to imagine it.

If he said such words to me, I might faint from the pressure.

Until just now, I… had a tiny bit of curiosity left in a corner of my mind about what happened to Hillstain. But now I really didn’t want to know where Hillstain was dragged off to or what was done to him.

‘You reap what you sow, you bastard! I don’t know what was done to you, but cry and regret it!’

I know Edan didn’t protect me because he cherishes me. Because Edan couldn’t possibly have feelings for anyone other than Ivy.

Imagining Hillstain crumpled up like a wrinkled piece of paper, I quickly turned around and ran to my original destination.

If I stayed facing Edan even a moment longer, I felt like he would somehow discover my new escape plan.

My heart kept pounding loudly.

‘Now I feel like I can live!’

After washing off the sticky blood, my complicated thoughts cleared up and I felt a bit better.

I returned to the room, changed into pajamas, and slowly examined the wound on my wrist.

On the inside of my wrist where Hillstain’s nails had dug in, I could see scratched skin.

Should I be grateful it’s not broken… Ability users are truly monsters. It’s surprising enough that my wrist is so easily bruised blue like this, but the bruise was gradually turning purple as if it had been tied with rope for a long time and then released.

I bit my lower lip hard.

‘Really, I never want to experience that again.’

After changing clothes and unwrapping the towel from my head, water dripped from my long hair.

With no strength at all in my left hand that Hillstain had grabbed, I tried squeezing out the water a few times with my other hand before giving up, then pressed the towel around my long hair.

In the mirror I saw my hair that Ivy liked, and suddenly Hillstain’s words that I had carelessly overlooked came to mind.

‘…What do you gain by doing this?’

‘I get to have Lady Ivy.’

Strange. If I understand those words literally, it means Ivy offered herself as a condition for bringing me back.

She’s looking for me that desperately? What are you thinking, Ivy. Really, I can only sigh.

I don’t want Edan to go crazy.

But I, without strong healing powers, can’t be responsible for Edan’s healing forever.

‘I can’t risk my life to save Edan every time.’

In conclusion, Edan helped me from Ivy today, but as time passes he’ll eventually need the Great Saint’s healing power…

If he becomes captivated after receiving Ivy’s healing, he’ll hand me over to her without hesitation.

Thinking that made a corner of my heart ache.

Edan doesn’t remember, but I saved his life once too.

If this plan fails, maybe I should use that as leverage to ask for his help.

Backed into a corner, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.

After roughly drying the wetness dripping from my damp hair, I got up to go downstairs to find medicine and bandages. I should treat it a little, in case Jenald freaks out when he sees the wound.

But just as I stood in front of the door, there was a knock.

“It’s me, open the door.”

Startled, I took a deep breath and opened the door slightly to see Edan, who had taken off his uniform jacket, revealing a white shirt with a neat cravat. Meanwhile, his hair was damp as if he had washed it again, and he smelled of clean soap.

“What is it?”

“I’m going to treat your injuries. I’m coming in.”

“What? No! Wait!”

I desperately held onto the door, trying to stop Edan from barging in.

Of course there was no way I could stop him, but Edan obediently paused.

“What.”

“I-I can do it myself.”

“Who decided that?”

“…Huh?”

No… of course it’s my decision. But I couldn’t say anything more and stumbled back.

Because Edan suddenly stuck his foot in and flung the door open mercilessly.

Edan, holding a few medicines in his hand, entered the room without hesitation.

“I said I’m going to apply the medicine for you.”

“…”

“I, personally.”

“…”

Edan, speaking with his chin raised arrogantly, was exuding a murderous aura as if he wouldn’t let it go if I refused once more.

Alright, you madman. Why is someone offering to treat me threatening me? Ugh.

I had no choice but to nod.

“If you insist, please do it while standing.”

“What?”

Edan, who had been naturally moving towards the bedside table after finishing his words, stopped in his tracks.

His gaze as he turned back was icy.

“My-my hair isn’t fully dry yet. I don’t like water dripping on the bed.”

Edan’s handsome brow furrowed as if this was ridiculous.

Moonlight streaming from the window settled along Edan’s silhouette, shimmering.

Maybe because his hair was wet, Edan seemed to shine even more brilliantly today.

I really think it’s cheating how Edan’s bright golden hair harmonizes with the moonlight.

From the start his face is cheating, but Edan at night seemed to shine more beautifully than any star, looking truly like a perfect sculpture crafted by God.

But that’s precisely why I need to be more cautious.

If I receive treatment on the bed, strange things might happen again like last time. I don’t want to do anything else that would make me feel guilty towards Jenald. Even if it’s not my will.

“Since when did you become so picky?”

Thud. Edan set down the bandages, medicine bottle, and scissors on the bedside table.

Then he opened the medicine bottle, came over to me, and grabbed my bruised wrist without hesitation.

“Is it because you’re a princess?”

Snickering, his teasing words made my guard, which I had raised like a hedgehog’s quills, crumble a little.

“About that.”

“What. Princess.”

“…”

Aaargh! My limbs are curling up. I feel like my insides are twisting! I want to hit my past self.

I want to go back in time and shout at Edan that he has no shame or embarrassment, so he should just be satisfied with breakfast.

Backed into a corner, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.

“I’ll change it to something else.”

I was looking at Edan’s face, but his gaze was still focused on my wrist.

He held my wrist with one hand, and with the other hand he applied medicine to his fingers and rubbed it on my skin.

When I flinched my arm at the sudden force, he paused, then continued moving more loosely than before with less strength.

“Didn’t I tell you not to regret it?”

“…You did.”

At my quick acknowledgment without hesitation, the corners of Edan’s mouth, which had been expressionlessly applying the medicine, turned up slightly as if amused.

“The book.”

Edan slowly shifted his gaze to me as he put down the medicine bottle and picked up the bandage.

Then he lowered his gaze again to focus on my wrist and asked.

“Did you read it?”

Why did the conversation suddenly jump there? You’re asking about that now?

“If you’re talking about the wish ticket, I’m not using it for this.”

“Oh? What are you going to use it for then?”

Edan’s mood seemed to lighten a bit.

As if he would grant any request if I said it now.

“Will you do it if I tell you?”

“Yes. If you read the book.”

“I read it! I can tell you the plot too.”

“Then tell me. Your wish.”

Edan nodded slightly, seeming to concentrate on wrapping the bandage.

“Please send me to the capital.”

“The capital?”

“Yes.”

“Why there.”

I smiled very brightly at Edan, trying to get on his good side since you can’t spit on a smiling face.

“It’s Jenald’s birthday. I want to go congratulate him.”

At that moment, Edan’s hand wrapping the bandage stopped completely.

“…So.”

“…?”

“So you’re saying.”

Muttering to himself, Edan quickly cut the bandage and carelessly threw the scissors onto the bedside table.

Then slowly, with an incredulous face, he gradually approached me.

No. Why is he acting like this again?

“Um…”

Edan pushed me against the wall until my back touched it, as if tightening the noose around captured prey, and I had nowhere else to retreat.

Unable to understand what had irritated him this time, I just looked up at him in confusion. Then Edan smoothly curved his lips into a smile and raised his strong arm with visible veins to lean against the wall behind me.

And with his other hand, he grabbed my chin and lifted it so I could look him directly in the eyes.

A bit forceful, but not painfully so – I could feel his careful control of strength, considerate of me even while acting as he pleased.

“Master, please step back a bit…”

But I still couldn’t move my body freely.

Our bodies were so close that I tried to push against his chest to create some distance, but Edan didn’t budge an inch, like a huge rock.

“You’re going to use the wish ticket I gave you to go congratulate another man’s birthday?”

An irritated voice.

“Our princess has become quite brave lately.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Did you think I gave you the wish ticket to use for something like that?”

What? What is he saying! You madman! Wasn’t I supposed to be able to use the wish ticket however I wanted?

I was so dumbfounded that I opened and closed my mouth with shaking eyes, then swallowed hard.

“Then what should I use it for? The wish ticket is for what I want…”

“Latieana.”

“Yes?”

“…”

What is it! Say something.

Edan silently let go of the hand holding my chin. And at that moment, I quickly tried to escape from his embrace by turning my body, but he grabbed my wrist again.

It hurts so much I feel like I’m going to cry for real. I resisted with all my strength.

“Relax.”

“N-no.”

“You know resisting won’t work. It’ll break.”

I know, but if I relax you’ll pull me in.

Thinking that, I unconsciously bit my lower lip hard.

Then he let go of my wrist and pulled me towards him, wrapping an arm around my waist.

“Eek!”

Before I could offer any real resistance, my forehead collided with his broad, firm chest.

“You’re cute, but don’t act up.”

Edan’s large hand patted my head as if concerned about the collision.

And then.

“Because I want to pounce on you.”

He uttered insane words.