Chapter 4. An Offer That Cannot Be Refused
A cold, low voice flowed from Kias, who stood motionless with his gaze fixed outside the window.
“Treat any injured villagers with the medicine we have and send them back in the morning. As for the goblins still remaining in the northern forest, I’ll go myself tomorrow and wipe them out—make the necessary preparations.”
“Yes, understood. However, during the night search, we encountered a healer who is still in Astin.”
Among Lilvain’s report, the phrase “still in Astin” rang loudest in Arien’s ears.
Still in Astin?
It could mean that most healers had already left Astin and were now hard to find… or that someone had been eliminating them, and yet a few survivors remained.
Her imagination began to spiral on its own.
Which is it? What exactly does he mean by that?
The moment Kias heard the report, his expression shifted. He turned and strode straight toward Arien.
He was larger—both taller and broader—than the Tarakion knights she had seen in the forest earlier.
His body was firm, devoid of any softness. His black hair looked as though it had been roughly combed back by hand, unadorned, yet it contrasted strikingly with his smooth, unblemished skin.
And then there were his eyes—deep and dark like the sea, as if they could pierce straight through a person’s thoughts.
Arien had seen countless masterpieces in the royal gallery of Planus, painted by renowned artists. Yet not a single one was as striking as the man standing before her now.
A man as strong and beautiful as the impregnable fortress of Astin itself.
If a god were to craft a human with utmost care, perhaps he would look like this.
He was far from the blood-soaked, savage beast she had imagined—but that very perfection, from head to toe, that golden ratio of form and physique, made him all the more terrifying.
Without a word, Kias stared intently at Arien’s face.
As his gaze lingered in turn on her hair, her eyes, her lips, her neck, her shoulders, her hands, and finally her feet, a wave of discomfort crept over her.
Why is he looking at me like that…?
She instinctively wanted to step back, but forced herself to remain still. Lifting her chin deliberately, she straightened her posture.
After all, this was someone she had to face eventually.
There was no reason to shrink back from the very beginning.
She gathered a small measure of courage, though the tension refused to leave her.
The room held four people—Kias, Arien, Lilvain, and Theo—but only silence filled the space.
It was Kias who broke it first.
“If you’re a healer, then you must be from the Kingdom of Planus.”
Though he wasn’t pressing a blade to her throat, the intensity of his gaze made Arien swallow hard.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace, Grand Duke Demidhel. My name is Arien. I left the monastery in Planus and have been traveling the continent collecting medicinal herbs.”
Even in this situation, lies flowed from her lips with surprising ease—but she had made the mistake of giving her real name.
Still, in such a vast kingdom, surely she wasn’t the only woman named Arien.
“Arien… Do you not have a surname?”
Kias asked as he slowly walked toward the desk.
“No, I… do not. I was raised in a monastery from a young age.”
She worried he might press further, but fortunately, he didn’t seem inclined to make an issue of it.
“Then how long has it been since you left the Kingdom of Planus?”
“A few months.”
“You didn’t know this forest was infested with monsters?”
“No… I had only read about them in books. Today was my first time seeing them in person.”
“Have you heard anything about other healers?”
Kias fired off questions without even waiting for her answers.
She needed to keep herself from being swept up in his pace.
Yet strangely, there was something about his tone—arrogant, yet not entirely devoid of courtesy—and that low voice of his that made it impossible to interrupt or refuse him.
“That expression… it looks like you’d prefer I stop asking questions.”
“……”
Kias frowned slightly, as if disappointed.
“I don’t let just anyone into my castle. Before anything else, I’d like to confirm whether you’re truly a healer. Can you prove it here?”
With that, he slowly drew a sword from its sheath, which rested against the wall of the office.
Shrrring—
As the well-maintained blade revealed itself, Arien’s eyes widened.
“The tip won’t be aimed at you, so don’t worry too much.”
Seeing her startled expression, Kias smirked faintly, as if to reassure her.
But Arien couldn’t take her eyes off the sword.
It wasn’t a lavish blade adorned for nobles, but it was undoubtedly one of the finest swords on the continent.
Then—
Whoosh.
In one swift, practiced motion, Kias swung the sword and moved to slash his own left arm.
Startled, Arien grabbed his sword hand with all her strength to stop him.
At the same time, she reached out with her other hand toward where the wound would have been, releasing a powerful blue glow of healing energy as she shouted,
“What do you think you’re doing?! Have you lost your mind?!”
Breathing heavily, she glared sharply at him.
Up close, his eyes surged like a raging sea.
How can someone with such a calm expression have eyes like that…?
Only then did Arien realize—just as she grabbed his arm—that he had never truly intended to injure himself.
Unable to read his true intentions, she began to worry whether he might not be the man her father had spoken of.
After briefly studying her emerald eyes, Kias let out a whistle and lowered his sword, as if impressed.
“Is this how Your Grace usually conducts your tests?”
Arien steadied her breathing, worried he might hear the pounding of her heart, and shot him a sharp look.
“Perhaps I startled the lady too much. There are quite a few who enter my castle with less-than-honorable intentions.”
Though his words carried a subtle edge, Arien did not avert her gaze.
“Good. That healing magic just now—learned at the Planus Academy, I presume.”
At the mention of the Planus Academy, she flinched slightly.
King Gallier V of Planus had never wished for his people to remain ignorant.
He believed even those of low birth should be taught to read and write, and he broke conventions by appointing talented individuals to high positions regardless of status.
To solidify this vision, he mobilized his vassals to establish educational academies in every territory—something no other kingdom had attempted.
In exchange for obligating lords to operate these academies, he guaranteed favorable treatment for talented individuals from their regions, ensuring proper management.
Healers, upon graduating from the medical academies, would place their hands upon foundational texts and swear to uphold noble traditions and honor.
Thus, when other nations requested healers, the Heilen Association would consult with the Planus royal family before making decisions.
As a strict rule, such talents were never produced for foreign lands, meaning no outsider—regardless of rank—could ever gain access to the source of their knowledge.
For that reason, even foreign royalty and nobles poured vast sums and effort into recruiting those educated in Planus.
He must be after the knowledge of the Planus Academy.
Having quickly grasped his intent, Arien began to worry about how she would respond to his inevitable questions.
Her thoughts grew tangled—when suddenly, he said something she could hardly believe.
“For the past three months, healers working across various kingdoms have been disappearing. No—at this point, it’s more accurate to say they’ve nearly all vanished. And yet, you seem completely unaware.”
The disappearance of people from Planus—it was a shocking revelation to a princess.
She had deliberately avoided contact with others, traveling only through secluded routes.
Naturally, she had little chance of hearing news from the kingdom.
“Strange things are happening across the continent. The power of healing magic is absolutely necessary. If we are to replace those who’ve gone missing, we need someone willing to share the knowledge of the Planus Academy.”
“That is out of the question!”
As if expecting that response, Kias nodded and leaned casually against the desk, fixing his gaze on her.
Though he wasn’t overtly rude, something about his cold stare felt hostile.
“Even if you manage to leave here safely, can you guarantee you won’t end up like the other healers?”
The disappearance of healers… Given the situation, even Arien knew his proposal might be the most reasonable option.
But the training of healers was one of the Planus royal family’s key sources of revenue. Even as a princess, she could not make such a decision on her own.
One wrong move, and it would be a betrayal of the academy’s core principles.
“I understand. However, you are well aware of the fundamental principles of the Planus Academy. This is not something I can decide on the spot.”
After a brief pause, she continued,
“…But since you have made an offer, allow me time to consider it. And if I, as someone from Planus, choose to take that risk and help you, then Your Grace must provide appropriate compensation.”
Kias lifted one corner of his lips, studying her with interest at her boldness.
The man who had been speaking so seriously about the disappearances now seemed to suppress a smile, brushing his lips with a long finger.
From near the fireplace, Lilvain and Theo exchanged glances, surprised by the words coming from such a seemingly delicate young woman, before turning their attention back to the conversation.
“Now we’re getting somewhere. Then tell me—what is this ‘appropriate compensation’ you want? Gold? Silk? Jewels? Or all three? I’ll give you as much as you desire. A deal should satisfy both sides.”
Arien wondered if she had misheard him.
“Does that mean… you’ll grant anything I ask for?”
“I don’t like repeating myself. You heard me correctly.”
She had heard that Astin’s finances were among the strongest on the continent, but hearing it directly from him made her wary—it felt like a test.
Is he probing me?
Just as Kias was about to urge her to answer, Arien spoke first.
“What I want is information from Astin regarding the disappearance of the healers, your active cooperation… and my safety. Those are my only conditions.”
For a brief moment, Kias’s blue eyes wavered at her unexpected answer.
Arien decided to take the risk. As long as she possessed what he needed, he couldn’t easily harm her—and perhaps, just perhaps, she could use him to turn her situation around.
“Your safety as a healer, along with information and cooperation regarding the disappearances? Very well. Those terms are acceptable. The moment you accept my offer, the deal is sealed.”
As if it were nothing difficult, Kias shrugged lightly and smiled.
His deep, sea-colored eyes—once stormy—now seemed calm, paired with a dangerously captivating smile.
Arien felt an ominous sensation, as though she had just stepped into the quicksand of the Jarsen Desert—one from which there would be no escape.
