“Yes, Your Highness.”

The tactless Hillstain answered sweetly with his fox-like eyes curved, seemingly in a good mood.

“Did I not personally explain last time what happens when you rudely enter someone else’s home?”

“Yes. You did.”

“Then I can understand that you came prepared to die.”

“No. That’s not it.”

“Even if you say it’s not, you’ve wasted my precious time, so it would be better if you died.”

Edan walked towards the intruder, and for some reason, Hillstain was smiling softly with no hostility.

“Even if it was intentional last time, today there were no servants, so I had no choice……”

“You know well.”

A black shadow shot out from Edan like an arrow.

Hillstain nimbly dodged the shadow and leapt onto the office desk.

“Please calm down. I didn’t come to see Your Highness.”

“Then that’s even more unacceptable.”

No! That’s unacceptable for me!

“Stop it! Both of you!”

There are important black magic books in that desk!

I think it’s the first time in my life I’ve shouted so loudly, drawing strength from my core.

Edan and Hillstain simultaneously stopped their movements at my voice echoing through the library.

“……”

“……”

The two of them stared at me.

It wasn’t that they were flustered, but rather their eyes showed amazement that I had given an order-like command in such a loud voice.

That expression of utter contempt. It’s irritating.

I looked at them as coldly as I could.

“Lord Hillstain, get off the desk right now.”

“……Very well.”

Nodding obediently, Hillstain landed on the floor more lightly than a cat, his silver hair swaying.

“Master, don’t attack without warning either. He said he came to see me.”

Though I spoke boldly, my heart was trembling madly. To give orders to these madmen.

“Tsk.”

Edan clicked his tongue lightly but nodded as if understanding.

Hillstain furrowed his brow as if dumbfounded, but watched Edan’s reaction as if finding it amusing.

“Tell me why you came.”

A moment later, I set down a cup of coffee and a banana on the reception room table.

I had nothing else to offer.

Honestly, considering what Hillstain has done to me so far, isn’t this more than enough?

“You didn’t poison this, did you?”

You doubt me when you’re the one getting free food? I’ll give you something to doubt.

I made a motion as if picking up the banana I had placed in front of Hillstain.

“If you’re going to doubt, then leave.”

“No. I’ll drink it.”

Hillstain glanced at me briefly before taking a light sip of the coffee.

I went to the side of Edan, who was sitting arrogantly with his legs crossed on the sofa opposite the table.

“Really, it doesn’t taste…”

“I’ll kill you.”

“……taste anything but delicious.”

At Edan’s words, Hillstain changed his stance. Even though he himself says the food I make doesn’t taste good.

As Hillstain set it down after barely taking a sip, Edan spoke.

“Drink it all. In one shot.”

To drink the coffee, which still had steam rising from it, in one gulp.

Hillstain looked at Edan with an annoyed expression.

“If my mouth gets burned, will Your Highness pay for the treatment?”

“Well. If you can’t even handle that much, perhaps there’s something wrong with your body that can’t endure it.”

“Indeed. Then I suppose Your Highness could drink it too?”

“Do I really need to demonstrate that?”

“I would be grateful if you showed me personally.”

“Who are you to order me around?”

“Did it sound that way? It was a polite request.”

It seemed like invisible sparks of electricity were flying between the two.

I knew they weren’t on good terms. But what on earth did they want to talk about?

At this rate, it felt like they would just growl at each other all night and time would run out.

Fortunately, Edan seemed to notice my tired state and started a proper conversation first.

“I’ll ask just in case. If you came to apologize, do it quickly and leave.”

At those words, Hillstain glanced at me.

“If that’s what you want, I’d be happy to.”

Impossible. Did he really come to apologize? Why?

There was something strange about Hillstain’s last words.

That day, with just a word from Hillstain, the holy knights could have easily attacked us. But he clearly hesitated.

It was suspicious. Moreover, it’s strange. It doesn’t feel like it’s because Edan is nearby.

It feels like Hillstain is being polite to me…

“After Lady Latieana left, Ivy the Great Saint’s healing power became unrecognizably stronger.”

“So what.”

Edan replied indifferently with an annoyed look, but Hillstain continued as if unconcerned.

“Your Highness may not know, but the Great Saint’s healing power was more powerful than any force we had ever experienced when she first came to the temple. It felt like it was getting weaker over time, but I thought that was just because her condition had worsened from worrying about a friend she had lost in an accident, weakening her power.”

“Go on.”

“Isn’t the timing too good?”

Hillstain’s eyes turned to me.

It was a gaze that seemed to pierce through me blatantly.

“That day, Your Highness didn’t even glance at the Great Saint. So I thought about it. I wondered if the reason Your Highness didn’t even look at the Great Saint might have something to do with Lady Latieana.”

So that’s why you glared at me so terrifyingly?

Crazy. It gave me goosebumps.

To think that was the reason he let us go so nicely that day. Your intuition is too sharp.

I intervened in the conversation on Edan’s behalf.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean I’ve figured out why His Highness wants to keep you so desperately by his side.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Healing power.”

Hillstain smiled as if he had found a hidden gem.

“I thought it was strange recently.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I mean His Highness is too normal.”

“……”

I flinched.

“I asked around just in case, and they said he attended the Great Saint’s celebration party last time without even changing his expression, looking perfectly fine. I know he’s been drinking the potion bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, but that shouldn’t be nearly enough. The day before, a gap opened in the unbreakable wall and monsters poured out like a flood, so the side effects must have been tremendous. But he shows up at the party smiling normally? No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”

“The potion’s effects could have been good.”

Hillstain brushed back one side of his hair.

“Do you take me for a fool? If he dealt with the monsters in just one day, it means he used an enormous amount of ability, and those side effects absolutely cannot be resolved by some potion. Even if it could, it would take at least a few days.”

He’s right. Ruben explained it that way too. That even if he drank the potion, it would take a few days.

“It’s impossible without direct healing. And coincidentally, you, a saint candidate, were by His Highness’s side.”

“……”

“So the answer can only be you.”

He’s figured it out perfectly. After all, Hillstain is also an ability user who suffers without healing power, so he desperately wants healing power just as much. He sensed something strange about Edan’s attitude of ignoring Ivy.

“My lord.”

Edan cut off Hillstain’s gaze.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Who gave you permission to speak so casually to my maid?”

“……”

Hillstain and I both looked at Edan in disbelief at the sudden reproach.

What nonsense is this? This was clearly picking a fight.

Logically, it’s natural for Hillstain to speak casually to someone like me who is nothing.

Rather, it would be strange to use honorifics.

Edan threw out his words arrogantly and haughtily, regardless.

“Mind your manners.”

I thought Hillstain would obviously retort something. But.

“Yes. I will.”

Hillstain acquiesced.

Ha. This is awkward.

“So what did you want to say?”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“It’s fine. Then it would seem like we’re close. I’m more comfortable with this distance.”

I’m an iron wall. I coldly rejected the sweet fox’s request.

Edan seemed to like my response as well, as he said nothing.

Hillstain smiled as if unconcerned, then downed the now cooled coffee in one gulp.

“I’ve locked Maxium in the underground prison. It’s a kind of hostage situation, I suppose.”

“What?”

I stood up abruptly. Underground prison? Maxium was imprisoned because of me?

“So, in exchange for me releasing Maxium, you’ll have to agree to my conditions.”

“What are they?”

Hillstain set the coffee cup down on the table with a tapping sound of friction.

“Let me feel it too. That healing power.”

“……”

“Whether there was a misunderstanding or not is none of my business, but from the current situation, I’ve come knowing that Lady Latieana’s healing power is much stronger than Great Saint Ivy’s. So……”

Hillstain’s words were cut off.

That’s because Edan mercilessly threw the banana at Hillstain’s face.

“Ugh.”

Letting out a short groan, Hillstain hurriedly turned his head to dodge.

And the banana exploded against the wall.

Really, it’s the first time I’ve seen a banana burst like that. How hard do you have to throw it for it to explode like that?

When I brought the coffee, I debated between a banana and an apple in the dining room, and I’m glad it was a banana.

If it had been an apple, the wall might have been pierced again.

After momentarily losing my senses at the shocking sight, Edan uncrossed his legs and stood up.

“It seems you really must die here and now, my lord.”