Upon hearing those words, I momentarily hesitated and slowly pulled up the clothing that had slipped down below my shoulders.

Seeing me like that, Edan spoke again with a somewhat serious attitude.

“Shall I undress you?”

I flinched. Once again, I froze like a broken clock.

“Did you misspeak?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Gently curved eyes, but Edan’s gaze was unwavering, as if to show it wasn’t a joke.

“Why.”

“Well…”

Why, he asks. That’s what I should be saying, right? Suddenly telling me to undress, of course strange thoughts would come to mind.

I furrowed my brow, tilted my head, and rolled my eyes around in deep contemplation before finding an answer.

Well, alright. I like Edan, so there’s nothing I can’t do. I don’t dislike it! I rather like it!

But not now. Not only am I in pain, but my skin is a mess because of the bruises. I can’t show myself like this at such an important moment.

“Edan, I’m really sorry, but today my physical condition… Eek!”

While I was still speaking, Edan easily picked me up. It’s the second time today I’ve been carried like a princess, just like when we fell at the temple. Edan set me down on the long bed sofa in front of the fireplace where a few small logs were burning. Then he ruffled my hair with his large hand as if messing it up, leaned down, and met my eyes.

The scent of soap from his newly changed tunic and a slightly fishy smell from his hair, which seemed to have some blood still on it, mixed together.

“You little one, what were you thinking?”

“Well…”

Obviously, what else could it be? I’m not that oblivious. How can I say that out loud?

“…”

But a moment later, click. Edan opened the lid of the medicine case.

My whole body twisted with embarrassment.

If it was about the medicine, he should have just said so! I ended up having strange thoughts on my own!

And it seems like the perceptive Edan has figured out all my thoughts.

I tightly closed my mouth and squeezed my eyes shut.

Ah, I want to faint right now. Or I want to erase just 5 minutes of Edan’s memory.

“I’m going to undress you.”

Edan, who had gathered my hair from behind and swept it forward, grabbed the zipper on the back of my slip.

And just as the zipper was about to go down with a zzip-, I grabbed his hand and shouted.

“W-wait a moment!”

“Why.”

“C-can’t you turn off the lights a little?”

Since there are wounds in places I can’t reach, I do need Edan’s help to apply the medicine.

But it’s still embarrassing to show my body so openly like this.

The state of my body that I saw in the bathroom earlier was quite serious too…

“Alright.”

I thought Edan would complain about me being fussy, but he obediently got up and turned off all the lights except for the lamp on the side table.

Still, with the moonlight coming in through the large window and the fireplace, the small lamp was enough.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

“Okay.”

Every time Edan’s fingertips, applying the oily, smooth medicine, brushed against my skin, I felt a slight sting and itch.

Edan let out irritated sighs intermittently, then resumed applying the medicine.

“Damn it. I should have killed them with my own hands…”

I couldn’t help but smile at his muttering that was barely audible.

Even though it’s a scary thing to say, it makes me feel good that Edan cares for me that much.

But it’s a statement about killing someone, yet I’m smiling instead of being scared.

I think I’m going crazy being by Edan’s side.

But I still like it.

The embarrassment about the terrible state of my skin was only momentary.

As I started to feel good from Edan’s warmth carefully tending to my wounds.

“Huh?”

When I was startled, Edan smiled as if he had expected it. The throbbing pain completely disappeared not long after applying the medicine.

“What happened?”

“The medicine contains a strong painkiller. I brought it from what the knights use in the North. We often use this medicine because we can’t stop fighting due to pain from injuries.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

It was a surprising level of pain relief.

“Well, sometimes we’re surprised too. We think it’s the greatest achievement of the imperial mages. Give me your arm.”

I held onto my chest to keep my clothes from slipping down and pulled my arm out of the sleeve.

Edan’s face showed irritation once again as he checked the wound on my forearm. Edan, who seemed about to say something more, only let out a small sigh under his breath.

“By the way, how’s the North? Was the wall situation resolved well?”

“I called for Duke Dante.”

“The Duke?”

“The protective artifact for the southern walls seemed quite useful last time.”

“Really? So it helped?”

“Yes. It was fine. Now that I know it’s useful to me, I’ll have to make use of him until he dies.”

“…”

Common sense would suggest that after receiving help this time, he should forget about the past mistakes, right? But to say he’ll make use of him until he dies because it was helpful.

It might not be the right timing, but even if he’s someone I like, Edan’s personality seems quite nasty.

Well, he’s been like that from the beginning.

“Then is the Duke alright…”

Suddenly, Edan’s hand stopped.

“Don’t ask unnecessary questions.”

…Unnecessary questions?

Isn’t this level of concern normal? But Edan, seemingly displeased with my worry for the Duke, cut off the conversation abruptly.

Then the other arm, legs, thighs. Finally, he even reached through the open zipper to apply medicine to my stomach, not missing a single spot.

Even though I was clearly wearing clothes properly, I felt completely naked.

“I could have done some parts myself.”

I mumbled, feeling too embarrassed to look at his face once it was all over.

“You’re getting cheeky.”

Edan lightly flicked my forehead with his finger and stood up.

“Wait. I’ll go wash up.”

Ah, he only changed his top in a hurry because of applying the medicine.

“Edan, wait a moment!”

I jumped up from my seat and took a big step towards Edan.

And I hugged his waist tightly. I emitted healing power large enough to cover his entire large frame and let it flow into his body.

Soon, I could feel Edan’s body temperature rising slightly. But that was only for a moment, as Edan pushed me away.

“What are you doing?”

“Healing.”

“Do you think I don’t know that’s why I’m asking?”

One of Edan’s eyebrows furrowed as he spoke.

“I didn’t ask you to do it. Don’t do it.”

“I want to do it for you.”

I reached out to him again, and Edan twisted his head, furrowed his brow, and ran his hand through one side of his hair.

“I didn’t apply the medicine so you could heal me. Only do that when I ask.”

“When will that be?”

“I’ll do it when it’s necessary.”

“So when?”

“Why do you care? I said I’ll take care of it myself.”

After finishing his words, Edan turned around, and I took a big step forward to hug him from behind again.

“I don’t want to.”

I hugged him even tighter and let my healing power flow. A low sigh was heard, and Edan pushed me away again.

“Why are you being so stubborn today? I told you not to…”

“Edan.”

I cut off his words.

“I don’t feel anything bad about you at all.”

Words I should have said earlier. A bit embarrassing, but words that needed to be said.

I looked straight up at Edan and spoke.

“I’ve never felt that nauseating feeling with you. Rather, when I heal you, it feels so good that my whole body trembles.”

Edan’s expression hardened as he looked down at me. A face so cold it was frightening to utter the next words. Why is he like this? I didn’t expect this kind of reaction… It feels like I’ve made a big mistake.

But I’m still going to say it.

“I like you. So don’t reject me. I’m doing this because I want to, and I can heal you as much as you want… Eek!”

Just as Edan’s persistent stare was starting to scare me, he pushed my shoulders down onto the sofa.

Stretching his arms out on both sides to lean on the backrest, trapping me in between, he slowly opened his mouth with a hardened face.

“Say it again.”

A low voice. A voice that seemed to be suppressing something.

“So… that feeling, with you…”

“Not that.”

Edan’s eyes, which had been coldly fixed, sharpened frighteningly.

“What you said after that.”

“That I like you…”

That was the moment. His tightly closed lips loosened as if releasing tension.

“Again.”

Yet his voice was still low, and I met his burning gaze and said.

“I like you.”

As soon as I uttered those words, my gaze unconsciously fell on Edan’s lips.

One corner of his mouth rose, his lips parted slightly, and his tongue lightly brushed the corner of his mouth before slipping back in.

“Ha-.”

At the same time, a small breath mixed with a sneer quietly escaped.

Edan lowered his head. And then he remained motionless for a while, as if frozen in place.

Anxiety began to tighten in my chest.

Wait a minute… What is this? How should I interpret this reaction? Did I say something unnecessary? I just wanted to convey my feelings, that’s all…

It wasn’t a long time. It felt long to me, but in reality, it was just a moment, yet all sorts of thoughts rushed into my mind like waves.

“Edan…”

It was just as I was about to try to turn my words around, saying that I just liked him as a person because I was grateful for how well he treated me.

Edan suddenly raised his head.

The moment our eyes met, I quickly turned my face to the side. As I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart, Edan grasped my chin with his large hand and slowly pulled my face towards him.

“Lati.”

Edan’s face, once again facing me. No matter how I look at it, he’s handsome. But right now, I wish he wouldn’t say anything.

I’m too scared to hear the answer. But unable to avoid his gaze, I looked at him with trembling eyes.

Moonlight poured over his golden hair, and his red eyes, like embedded jewels, sparkled as they looked at me.

“Take responsibility for those words.”

The sensation of his hand slowly caressing my nape sent a shiver down my spine and aroused a thrill.

Just as I was about to nod, rough breathing and soft lips touched mine.