Unlike the northern region where snow flurries even in midsummer in the mountain ranges, the eastern part was mostly a warm spring day.

A region where green is abundant and beautiful flowers are scattered everywhere. However, the old castle on the hill had been empty for a long time, and since there was no one to tend the garden, only monotonous vines and green plants occupied the space.

That woman standing in the middle of such a garden sparkled like a jewel.

The cherry blossom-haired girl looked up at the sky, making a heart shape with both hands clasped together, smiling brightly in the pouring morning sunlight.

What is she doing?

Unconsciously following her gaze to the sky, one corner of Edan’s mouth lifted in a sneer.

“How childish.”

There was a heart-shaped cloud floating in the sky.

After staying like that for a moment, she suddenly lowered her hands as if something had occurred to her and entered the mansion.

Just then, Ruben’s words that Edan had heard fleetingly and forgotten also came to mind.

‘I put the employment contract in the drawer.’

He immediately turned and opened the bedside drawer that he had never opened before.

“Latieana Merigold…”

As he was quietly murmuring her name, the sound of a tray being dragged could be heard in the corridor not long after. Just as he was about to open the door without thinking, he remembered Ruben’s words again.

‘I wrote not to open the door so as not to disturb the master. After all, showing up could be troublesome.’

Right. She’s a maid. Based on past experience, unnecessary things could happen if she saw Edan’s face.

Very annoying, irritating things that cling on.

That was one of the reasons why Edan rarely attended social parties despite being the object of admiration of numerous noble ladies. For him, there were no good memories related to women.

Including his mother who, despite being a commoner, was unnecessarily beautiful, married the emperor, gave birth to him, and died early.

The same went for the imperial maids who unnecessarily fussed over him as a child, and the saint who caused him to feel aversion due to past physical contact. But when Ruben, who knew this better than anyone, was asked why he hired a female maid:

‘Why a woman?’

‘She was the only one who applied.’

‘Ah.’

‘It’s a dark, gloomy castle far from the village that no one visits. I’ve made sufficient preparations, so you shouldn’t have to worry.’

Edan lowered his gaze to the paper in his hand.

This seems to be the alternative. No matter how you look at it, it’s a suspicious contract.

Although the working conditions were much better than elsewhere, to sign such a contract with a master who hasn’t shown his face even once. It’s perfect for being scammed. Maybe she’s already been duped somewhere.

“Wow, it’s all gone.”

An excited voice was heard from outside, apparently having checked the empty bowl.

What’s so great about that.

The sound of dishes clattering as they were being replaced was heard. After that, when he thought she would leave, her voice continued.

“I’ve put your breakfast in front of you, Master. Make sure to eat it. And I’m going to the village. To buy an apron!”

Her voice was so cheerful that he could almost see that smiling face from earlier.

Edan skimmed through the employment contract again.

‘Should I say she’s diligent?’

There was no mention anywhere of having to report her every action.

Thud, he put down the paper. And just as he was about to grab the doorknob to resolve what he was curious about,

Latieana Merigold’s voice, much quieter than before, almost like a whisper, was heard.

“Please be alive and well today too.”

…What?

Edan’s hand froze in place. This was the first time in his life he had heard such an absurd thing.

No matter how much one suffers from the side effects of ability, while they may endure terrible pain, death is a separate matter. As long as they don’t take their own life, ability users absolutely do not die easily.

But asking him to stay alive? Today too?

If misheard, one might think he was about to breathe his last at any moment.

The sound of Latieana running down the corridor was heard after she finished speaking.

After confirming that she had pushed open the large castle doors with both hands, Edan put on a light brown robe and followed her.

The castle situated on a hill. When you open the castle gate, you can clearly see the village below.

A distance that would take only 10 minutes to descend even at Edan’s leisurely pace.

‘Is it because she’s short and has short legs, or is it lack of stamina?’

Latieana was still in the process of descending the hill after more than 20 minutes.

What was even more absurd was that she was completely unaware of his presence following her blatantly on the wide-open, windy hill.

Latieana walked along, her cherry blossom petal-like wavy hair fluttering in the wind, even humming a tune, while Edan followed leisurely behind with his hands in his pockets.

No matter how you look at it, she was the perfect target for being scammed or kidnapped.

So much so that if he wanted, he could deliver her to Saint Ivy with just the tip of one finger.

‘Should I watch a bit longer?’

It was a walk after a long time. Fresh air and a gentle breeze. A body state completely free from pain, something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

It was such an enjoyable time that hope welled up, wishing he could live like this for the rest of his life.

Even while following Latieana’s slow pace, Edan was in a good mood.

After quite a while, they finally arrived at the entrance of the village.

Latieana, who had entered the village, headed to the post office. Next was the bank. Just when he thought she was finally going to buy an apron, she stopped midway to look at accessories at a street stall.

Only then did she enter a store in the shopping district. It was a small, modest fabric shop with aprons and women’s clothes hanging. Edan’s eyes wrinkled as he listened to the conversation while waiting for her to come out, arms crossed in the alley next to the store.

“So… our master, you know. He seems to be a complete shut-in and very, very sickly. I’m trying to take good care of him because something terrible might happen if I’m not there. It’s pitiful, isn’t it?”

“Oh my. Is that so? What does he look like?”

“I haven’t seen his face, but he’s probably a very thin and weak person, like a water strider. But there are so many books in the library! So I’m not bored.”

“Oh dear. Lots of books and thin, he must be an oddball, an oddball.”

Sickly… water strider… weak…

Who? Me?

At 11 o’clock, Edan’s black cloak fluttered in the wind as he moved to the north through a portal.

Bang! Bang! The sound of ability knights battling monsters could be heard here and there.

Ruben, who had confirmed Edan’s arrival, came running.

“My Lord, you’re late.”

“Ruben. What did you call me?”

“Pardon?”

Ruben tilted his head as if wondering what this was suddenly about.

“The maid you hired thinks of me as something like a sickly water strider, why is that?”

Ruben inwardly wondered. Where did the term ‘sickly water strider’ come from?

“I explained it as… a rich person who came to the countryside for recuperation due to weak health.”

“Is that so?”

So she thinks of me as sickly and weak… or something. It’s absurd.

As Edan chuckled, a huge monster appeared from the darkness beyond his line of sight.

It was a monster of a size that only Edan could handle.

The place where the Empire’s monsters appear most threateningly is in the northern mountain ranges.

Long ago, the Empire, which had suffered great damage during a big war, built a wall along the long ice mountain range using magic. That place was an unbreakable wall. A place that must never fall.

Between the wall and the mountain range was a space called the Gap. It was a space created solely for battling monsters, and the battles mainly involved using magic traps to lure monsters into the Gap when they appeared, then dealing with them there.

“You’re late. Quickly go and…”

“I’ll be late every day from now on. Delay opening the Gap by an hour.”

“Suddenly? Why?”

“Our house maid goes to bed at 10 o’clock.”

Having said something incomprehensible, Edan jumped down below the castle wall with a broad smile.

And some time later, a priest visited the Grand Duke’s castle in the north.

“I found out. The name.”

“What is it?”

“It’s Latieana Merigold.”

The moment he confirmed the name, Edan’s red pupils flickered with a strange light and his smooth lips curved upward.

“Her healing power? It’s definitely insignificant, right?”

“Yes. It’s certain.”

“You don’t even know to what extent?”

“According to the priest who went to search for saint candidates, the artifact emitted a strong light for Saint Ivy’s side, but only a faint light was detected for Latieana Merigold’s side.”

“I see.”

Edan nodded slightly and then sent the priest away.

‘Then what is that?’

In the kitchen, Latieana hesitantly manifested healing power at her fingertips.

As if it would be a big deal if someone saw her doing so, very carefully.

It was a clear pink power that looked purer than any other healing power at first glance.

Ordinary people don’t know that saint candidates die when they go to the temple. The temple strictly prevents such facts from being revealed, as no one would want to give up their healing power if it became known.

Was the fall from the carriage really an accident? Or did she run away knowing what happens in the temple? For whatever reason, Edan became curious about Latieana.

“My Lord, you seem to be in a good mood these days.”

“I’ve been eating well lately.”

At that answer, Ruben said proudly.

“Is the maid a good cook?”

“No. She’s not. It tastes terrible.”

“Pardon?”

“But, Ruben. The maid’s name is that Latieana Merigold.”

Ruben, who hadn’t paid much attention even though he had hired her, was taken aback.

“…What did you say?”

Although Ruben had hired her, he had no idea she had cherry blossom-colored hair because he had delegated the task to a proxy.

After hearing Edan’s words and grasping the situation, Ruben looked even more perplexed.

“How is that possible when her healing power is insignificant?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m thinking of observing for a while.”

“You mean you’re going to keep her?”

“Yes. Latieana’s healing power is perfect, you see. So I’m thinking of playing the sickly water strider for a while. Until we find the answer.”

However, secrets don’t last as long as one might think.

“Oh my, I’ve been found out.”

On that day when the Gap in the unbreakable wall malfunctioned and took longer to resolve, after returning from a battle that had lasted over 20 hours, a terrified Latieana stood frozen before him.