After meeting Latieana, Edan had not been drinking any potions, but today he accepted the bottle brought by Priest Maxium.

It was Ivy’s potion, darker red than last time.

A deep healing color, clearly different from Latieana’s clear pink.

As Edan stared at the swirling potion, Maxium asked.

“Your Grace. Have you found any information about Latieana Merigold?”

Edan slowly shifted his gaze to look at Maxium and frowned regretfully.

“Well. She wasn’t in the North, at least.”

As if there was any chance she would be.

“The Holy Maiden’s potion is effective for you, right?”

“More or less.”

Hearing the unenthusiastic response, Maxium tilted his head.

Though he was not an ability user himself, he could tell something was off about Grand Duke Edan’s reaction.

The potion he brought was not fake.

The temple kept potions with 100% pure healing power deep underground, in case of any unforeseen circumstances that might suddenly befall the Holy Maiden.

Maxium had brought that.

Even if not a direct healing method, he thought this level of potion would have been sufficiently satisfying.

But last time and this time too…

‘More or less, he says?’

Was the side effect so severe that only direct healing would work?

“Your Grace, we must hurry to find Latieana Merigold. Others will soon start moving at the Holy Maiden’s request.”

Edan nodded slightly.

“I suppose so. Speaking of which, Maxium.”

Setting down the bottle, Edan leaned on the armrest of his chair and rested his chin on his hand.

“Are Holy Maiden candidates still dying at the temple?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Why? What’s lacking even though a Holy Maiden has appeared?”

“Well…”

After the death of the previous Holy Maiden, a new decree was enacted. Only three special ability users can receive the Holy Maiden’s healing through physical contact.

If the Holy Maiden candidates were bearing the burden of healing other knights, their deaths would not be incomprehensible, but…

“Are potions not being distributed to the knights?”

As Maxium failed to provide a clear answer, Edan gestured at the potion with his eyes.

Knowing the other was clearly troubled, Edan continued his questioning.

“It’s not as if they must receive the Holy Maiden’s blessing directly, is it? If potions were distributed like during the previous Holy Maiden’s time, the lives of the candidates could easily be protected. Why not?”

Faced with this sharp inquiry, Maxium had no choice but to reveal the inside story.

“We’re not entirely sure ourselves yet. However… the Holy Maiden’s position was vacant for several years, and during that time, the power of the candidates who were forcibly used for healing seems to have weakened.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all we know for now. We’re distributing sufficient potions for healing ability knights, yet the candidates are still dying like before. If not for this reason, we can’t explain it.”

At this honest answer, Edan’s eyelids slowly closed and opened once.

“With Latieana Merigold’s healing power, how long could the temple hold out?”

“Since she had much weaker power than ordinary Holy Maidens, she won’t last long. A month or two at most.”

Edan’s eyes, which had been maintaining a relaxed atmosphere during the conversation, hardened.

“Then what are the chances I could receive healing from her power?”

“…Pardon?”

Maxium widened his eyes in bewilderment.

If he brought Latieana to Holy Maiden Ivy, he would gain the authority to use her healing power anytime, so why ask such a question?

But Edan asked again, as if playing an amusing game.

“She’ll die anyway if she goes to the temple, so I was thinking I could use her a little for myself before giving her to the Holy Maiden. What do you think?”

Hearing this, Maxium recoiled in shock and waved his hands.

“That’s impossible. I don’t think it’s even remotely possible. She would probably die the moment she started directly healing you, Your Grace.”

“Is that so? I guess I can’t play with her then.”

“Only the Holy Maiden can handle Your Grace’s ability.”

Edan smirked.

Such big talk for someone who knows nothing.

Anyway, according to Maxium, Latieana would likely die if she went to the temple now.

Conversely, this meant she might not die if she just stayed by his side.

After all, Edan was quite satisfied with just her healing power in food.

As long as there was no direct healing involving physical contact, it would be fine.

‘I don’t want to die…’

Latieana’s tearful voice vividly came to mind.

“Your Grace! The rift has collapsed!”

Edan’s face froze as he stood atop the castle wall.

“Call the mages.”

“Yes sir!”

Edan looked down at the northern rift filled with flames and mist rising from the shaking ground.

The gap in the wall that had been repaired last time had collapsed again.

And this time, incomparably larger and stronger, countless monsters were pouring in like a flood.

“Your Grace, here it is.”

In this grave situation, Ruben handed Edan a different sword than usual.

It was a sword enchanted with magic to double his ability.

“Ruben.”

“Yes.”

As Edan drew the sword, he ordered.

“No matter what happens to me today, do not ask Latieana for any favors.”

Ruben’s expression darkened.

In fact, from the moment he handed over the sword, Ruben had been anticipating what would happen after the side effects occurred.

Knowing that only Edan’s ability could resolve the current chaotic situation, he had been thinking of asking Latieana Merigold for healing if necessary.

Edan had preemptively given this order, as if anticipating that.

“But Your Grace! In such a situation…!”

“Absolutely not.”

“…”

He knew the pain of the side effects alone wouldn’t kill him.

But even if he drank the potion, he would suffer terrible agony for at least half a day, up to several days.

“Ruben, do you understand?”

“Yes. I under… stand.”

Ruben bowed his head.

In the midst of battle where blood rained down, no matter how much they cut them down, the monsters showed no sign of dwindling.

Explosions and flames erupted everywhere. In the midst of this hellish battlefield, Edan swung his sword faster and stronger than anyone else.

“Your Grace! Get a hold of yourself! Your Grace!”

The situation was resolved, but Edan’s body began to burn with pain.

It stung as if hot coals were stuck all over his body.

The intense pain of needles scraping his raw, red skin continued relentlessly.

This level of excruciating pain was the first since he was 15, when he fought recklessly in his first war without knowing moderation.

A pain he never wanted to feel again. Everything was agonizing.

The very act of breathing to stay alive was painful. The intense pain of his body being torn to shreds felt like death would be preferable.

But at some point, a soft warmth spread from his nape down his back and throughout his body.

It was a sensation he knew very well recently.

Latieana’s healing power. The perfect, longed-for power.

Edan lost his mind and pounced on her lips.

Latieana, accepting his desperate, panting breaths, was so sweet. Like a cream-filled cake, endlessly soft, he swallowed and licked her over and over. Following her delicate shoulder line, he caressed her back and waist with his hands.

The more he pressed against her supple skin, the more sensual pleasure spread throughout his body. The warm, vivid sensation of healing flowing through his veins, the quickly fading pain. It was all an exquisite pleasure, almost too much to bear. Edan wanted to ravage Latieana like this.

More, I want more. More, fill me up. Madly.

That thought alone consumed Edan, filling him completely.

Then he lost his grip on sanity.

“Your Grace, are you alright?”

When he regained consciousness and opened his eyes, not a trace of that terrible pain remained.

And what came to mind was… guilt, regret.

Not all memories were clear, but from the fragments of last night’s memories that surfaced sporadically, the sensation of pleasure was vivid enough to know.

I stole Latieana’s healing power. I did something that could have killed her.

Lying still without moving a finger, Edan muttered quietly.

“…Latieana.”

Surely she didn’t die.

Surely I didn’t do something that insane. Surely I wasn’t that out of my mind.

If something happened to Latieana…

“She’s fine.”

Ha, damn it.

With a sigh of relief, Edan bit his lip.

Seeing Edan squeezing his eyes shut and grimacing, Ruben asked.

“If you’re still unwell, should I tell them you can’t attend the royal ball today?”

Edan slowly opened his eyes. His red pupils glinted sharply.

“No. I must go. Get ready.”

“Yes, understood.”

After preparing for the ball, Edan went to find Latieana and looked at her.

Though she looked a mess, she seemed healthy as usual and somehow smelled sweet.

And Edan knew the identity of that sweet scent.

Just once, after attempting skin-to-skin healing with a Holy Maiden who had explored his body, he had smelled a dirty sensation and the stench of rotten fish that made him want to vomit.

This time was completely opposite.

The sweet scent Edan sensed from Latieana was proof that she had truly risked danger for his sake.

The woman who usually tried her best to escape from his hands had given him the only solace while he was in pain.

Even though she might die.

So Edan had to confirm.

“I’ll be back, princess.”

The Emperor father he hadn’t seen in a long time, the Empress who still couldn’t hide her hostility.

And his half-brother Killian. None of that mattered.

Edan faced Ivy.

Just another woman no different from the others showing off their cleavage pretending to be seductive, this was the Holy Maiden.

In the place he willingly followed to match the atmosphere, she demanded Latieana’s life and released her healing power.

“My, I didn’t greet you seeking a blessing.”

Maintaining proper etiquette to a point and pulling away his arm, Edan was certain.

This one is fake.

He didn’t know what blunder the fools at the temple had made, but Ivy’s healing power was weaker and dirtier than Latieana’s.

One troubling thing was that the sensations of Latieana and the Holy Maiden’s powers had a similar energy.

However, though the difference was subtle, he was certain that Ivy’s healing power was unpleasantly inferior.

‘I don’t want to die…’

Perhaps Latieana had known. That she would die if she went to the temple.

With eyes full of killing intent, Edan left the royal ballroom and the moment he exited the portal, he blew off Hillstain’s shoulder.

Just watching or preventing escape isn’t enough. I have to have you.

So.

“Lati. Come here.”

No one can touch you.