“What’s wrong?”

Killian frowned slightly, gripping Ivy’s shoulders with a somewhat perplexed look.

“Hic, sob…!”

“Saint.”

Killian tried to push her away slightly to examine her face, but Ivy firmly grasped the collar of his uniform with both hands.

As if determined not to let go, she burrowed deeper into his chest, letting out sorrowful sobs.

After indulging her whims for quite some time, Killian spoke again as Ivy’s shoulder trembling subsided.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

Killian, who had been performing diplomatic duties with his mother, Empress Henzela, was in a state where his head was throbbing due to a headache.

Though it wasn’t due to using his ability, he had come to receive a blessing to alleviate the headache even a little.

Usually, Ivy’s healing power didn’t completely erase all pain as if washed away. There was always residual discomfort from the headache, and potions had limited effect. At least receiving direct healing made the headache fade, so today too was just for peace of mind.

‘I came for a blessing after so long, only to end up having to comfort her instead. How ridiculous.’

Killian’s expression was utterly heartless as he looked down at Ivy’s sobbing shoulders.

But knowing that the effectiveness of the healing power varied slightly depending on Ivy’s condition, Killian continued to soothe her.

“Ki-Killian, sir…”

Only after Killian spoke again, quite some time later, did Ivy stop crying and lift her head.

Her pale skin was flushed red with heat.

“Yes.”

Killian’s gaze went to her chest, which rose and fell rapidly with her breaths.

However, unlike Hillstain, he didn’t stare at it for long.

Killian hid his fatigue and gently caressed Ivy’s cheek.

“Did something happen with Hillstain?”

“It’s nothing. Just…”

Ivy smiled prettily with her eyes, though with a bitter expression.

Although she said it was nothing, her expression suggested something had happened, unless one was a fool.

“Just?”

Killian echoed Ivy’s trailing words as he stroked her hair.

Soft brown hair flowed through Killian’s fingers.

“Just…”

As Ivy hesitated to speak, Killian leaned in to meet her eyes.

“Ivy Violet.”

He called her full name with emphasis.

At that, Ivy’s shoulders trembled slightly. Deliberately, just enough for Killian to feel the tremor clearly, pretending to be scared. Pretending something sad had happened.

“Speak to me properly. I’ve always said I can grant you whatever you wish.”

“Yes. You have.”

“Good. I’ll ask again.”

Killian spoke in a cold yet soft voice that seemed to understand Ivy’s feelings.

“What happened with Lord Hillstain?”

Ivy gazed at Killian with large eyes not yet completely emptied of tears.

“Lord Hillstain brought my friend.”

“What?”

This was news to Killian, as he had been uninterested in Ivy’s search for a friend for a while.

Come to think of it, he remembered promising Ivy in exchange for privileges.

In fact, unlike Edan, Hillstain, and Dante, Killian rarely had to use his ability.

After the previous Saint disappeared, he had used Ivy’s healing power for nearly a year due to accumulated side effects, but once they subsided, he didn’t particularly need it.

Nevertheless, the healing power Ivy gave provided not just stability but an incomparable time of pleasure just by receiving it, so he still wanted to keep it in his grasp.

“Her friend’s name was Latieana Merigold, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Killian remembered the name accurately.

“So where is this friend?”

Ivy wiped her eyes with the back of her hand again.

“Lord Hillstain did bring my friend, but Prince Edan took her away.”

At those words, Killian’s mouth closed tightly and the atmosphere changed drastically.

Glancing at Killian’s reaction, Ivy continued with an innocent face as if she knew nothing.

“It seems my friend had been staying with Prince Edan. I don’t know why, but I asked Lord Hillstain to bring her back, and he refused.”

Ivy, who had made up this story, was now breathing irregularly as if in distress.

Not content with that, her shoulders were also shaking.

Then she suddenly grabbed Killian’s hand.

“Killian, sir, can’t you find my friend for me? I need the Crown Prince now. Only you can help me. Please. It’s too hard for me to endure here without a friend. I’ve told you many times how precious this friend is to me…”

Killian looked down at Ivy’s small, delicate hand.

“Ivy.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Expecting to finally hear the answer she wanted, Ivy responded with a prettily crafted smile.

But Killian suddenly said something else.

“My head hurts, so give me your blessing.”

Caught off guard by the abrupt change in conversation, Ivy nodded, trying not to show her surprise.

“Of course. Certainly.”

Ivy activated her power while still holding Killian’s hand.

Red healing power surged strongly.

The healing power began to flow from Ivy’s hand to Killian’s arm.

“Ugh.”

But before it could even reach his shoulder, the healing stopped.

Ivy withdrew her hand, looking pained.

“What’s wrong?”

Killian, who had been quietly receiving the healing, examined Ivy.

“I’m sorry. My condition isn’t good, so using healing power is a bit…”

“Your condition is that poor?”

“She’s a friend like family. As precious as my own life. When I think of my friend, I become sad and my healing power doesn’t manifest well…”

Killian nodded as if understanding her faint, subdued voice. Then he asked a question.

“Saint.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A sharp, cold gaze swept over Ivy’s face.

“If Prince Edan brings Latieana Merigold, will you give him privileges too?”

Killian’s mention of Edan’s name exuded a chilling coldness.

Ivy met Killian’s eyes with a serious and resolute gaze.

“No.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I promised privileges only to you, Lord Hillstain, and Duke Dante.”

Ivy had noticed at the ball that things were not good between Edan and Killian.

Of course, as soon as she returned to the temple, she had asked the maids about the relationship between the two.

She found out that not only did the Empress particularly despise Prince Edan, but Crown Prince Killian had come to hate Edan due to an incident a few years ago.

Even that there had been a woman issue between the two.

Remembering this, Ivy gave an answer that would please Killian, as if Edan didn’t matter at all.

And she added:

“Actually… on the day Lord Hillstain brought Latieana, Prince Edan said something to me.”

“What was it?”

“He demanded that I share my healing power with him if my friend was so important.”

“What?”

“And this is a secret, but Prince Edan even came to my room in the temple.”

Killian’s face contorted terrifyingly cold.

“But that’s not right, is it? Even if I’m the Saint, how could I use my healing power on Prince Edan, going against your orders? No matter how precious my friend is, you’re precious to me too, Killian. Right?”

Ivy spoke with a voice full of aegyo while watching Killian’s reaction.

Killian’s fist clenched so tightly that veins popped out.

‘How dare he.’

Edan was banned from entering the temple.

Recently, the Emperor had hinted that it might be better to lift Edan’s entry ban.

But Killian had no intention of doing so.

And yet he dared to cross the threshold of the temple.

It was tantamount to crossing the line they had been precariously maintaining.

“Killian, sir, you’ll find my friend… won’t you?”

Ivy clung to Killian’s arm, her voice cloying as she made her eyes teary again.

Edan has been strange lately.

It was a subtle change that occurred after visiting the secret space.

Outwardly, it seems there’s no particular change in his lifestyle pattern, except that I’ve started examining the wizard’s books one by one.

While Maxium secretly sneaks out of the temple to help with my plans, Edan repeats his routine of going out to fight monsters and coming back.

A huge crack has formed in this seemingly peaceful daily life.

At dawn, I was deliberately listening for his footsteps.

There was a door connecting Edan’s bedroom and my room, but since I had never used that door yet, I went out through the corridor door.

“Edan.”

Edan, who was about to open his door, stopped and turned to look at me.

He still had blood on his sword and the heat of battle on his body. The sharp atmosphere that seemed to indicate monster hunting was still ongoing visibly relaxed when our eyes met.

“Haven’t you slept?”

A low voice that sounded a bit tired. Looking at the blood on his cheek, I nodded.

“Are you alright?”

Edan didn’t take even one step closer to me and just answered with the corners of his mouth raised.

“What if I’m not?”

A silent smile that lifted up.

“Shall I heal you?”

As I spoke, I took a big step towards Edan.

And as I reached out my hand towards Edan, he just slowly lowered and raised his eyes.

“It’s fine. Not today.”

Saying that, Edan lightly grasped my hand that had stopped in mid-air, then let go.

“Go in and sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Leaving only those words, he ran his hand through his hair and went inside.

Edan’s back as he turned away without hesitation.

As I stared blankly at the firmly closed door, a sharp pain ran through my chest.

Regretting the fleeting touch of Edan’s hand that disappeared too quickly to feel its warmth, I waited, hoping he might come out again, but the door didn’t open.