TMLNHMB 14

Chapter 14

Her throat felt parched, as if struck by a sudden drought, making her thirst for water. At that moment, Luan tilted his head slightly, a curious expression crossing his face—a subtle furrowing of his brows that made it hard to tell whether he was hurt or not.

“I didn’t reveal my identity because I trust or distrust you, Your Highness.”

“……”

“It means that it wouldn’t matter even if you turned out to be the real enemy. So, if you decide to kill me right now, I wouldn’t mind.”

As Seidin tried to make another strange joke and divert the topic, Luan gave her a soft smile. Then, as she tried to subtly pull her hand back with the mana stone, he gripped her hand more firmly. It was a strength she had never felt from him before, causing Seidin’s eyes to widen.

It felt like she would fall forward, dragged by him. But he only pulled her forward the same distance she had stepped back—right in front of him. And then, he bowed his head.

He kissed the back of her hand, worn rough from boiling herbs for so long, and spoke.

“My innocent princess. To think you’d bring up the matter of whether or not I trust you.”

Seidin had intended to argue, but she closed her mouth. Luan, who couldn’t even speak properly as a child, now said what he wanted so easily, as if it were the most natural thing in the world…

“Ugh.”

She stifled a groan that slipped out like a whining puppy. At the same time, she gently withdrew her hand from Luan, who had kissed it.

“If that is Your Majesty’s will, I won’t say anything more.”

“Does that mean you’ll accept my feelings?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Seidin responded firmly, rolling the mana stone, now damp with sweat from her clenched hand.

“I already told you. I only took Your Majesty’s hand to see if I could use my healing power properly. So now I’m going to work. Please don’t interfere.”

As if giving her final warning, she took a deep breath. And, being the perceptive man he was, Luan said nothing more. He simply laid down like a beast exposing its belly in submission. The sight made Seidin pout in frustration.

‘He’s so sharp usually, but every word out of his mouth is just…’

Feeling herself about to start grumbling internally, she forced herself to focus on the mana within her.

Ever since she’d been hit by a bus and possessed the body of an extra in some fantasy romance novel, she’d had to accept this strange power inside her. Though a weak dark mage, the body she now inhabited was still a dark mage. She could even understand why the original Seidin Herace tormented Luan and sought greater power in the story—she had simply followed her instincts. The instincts of a dark mage.

Hoo…

Ignoring the evil nature of her power—the urge to attack and trample others—Seidin infused her mana into the stone.

The dark energy that flowed from her fingertips passed Luan like a thin thread, like a snake. It then seeped into the mana stone. The pale gray stone absorbed the dark power and slowly transformed into a murky, dark hue. A moment later, the snake-like black energy coiled inside the stone, piercing its core. And from that core, her murky energy, sealed tightly, began to leak out again.

Luan watched calmly as her healing power approached him.

It coiled gently around his wrist, then glided up his arm. It was a sensation as light as a breeze.

Luan closed his trembling eyelids. His shoulders, always tense from avoiding the blades of his half-brothers, relaxed at last. What he’d said earlier had been the truth.

Whether the princess killed him or not—it didn’t matter.

And just as Luan let down his guard, Seidin, dripping with sweat from the effort, continued healing his small wounds and sending energy into his body.

Even in the midst of her work, she knew—her power wouldn’t be able to stabilize the divine force sleeping within him.

But she still wanted to try, even if she failed.

Ugh…!

Seidin frowned. As her power neared his heart, the divine energy reacted. And the savage, absolute power of a god that had been churning behind the thin wall named Luan bared its fangs. It sneered at her.

A tiny thing like you, how did you come this far?

“Hah!”

Seidin’s eyes snapped open. Her dry eyes filled with tears. Unaware of the clash that had just occurred within her, Luan opened his eyes too. Seeing Seidin sway, he rushed to support her.

“Princess?”

“Huff… Huff…”

The overwhelming power difference made her feel as if her mana would be sucked dry. Seidin, breathless, couldn’t reject Luan’s support.

Yes, it was this feeling. The one she’d felt back when Luan had been captured by Herace and his divine power had just begun to manifest. Even then, his hidden strength had made her feel this way.

Yet, after he escaped the kingdom as per the original story, she’d clung to her hopeless research. Hoping that maybe she could save him. That she could twist the flow of the original plot and become the protagonist herself…

‘What a foolish thing I nearly did.’

Seidin blinked and roughly wiped her teary eyes. Then she subtly avoided Luan’s supportive hand and whispered,

“I must have overdone it. But at least I was able to assess Your Majesty’s condition.”

“Princess.”

“It’s getting dark. I’d like to rest now. I’ll see you another time.”

“Allow me to escort you.”

“Your Majesty.”

Seidin frowned. Luan, who had reached out instinctively, froze. She sounded truly sincere for once. Like a beast pulling back its tongue before licking its master, he withdrew his hand. The kind of reaction one would expect from a starving predator desperate for affection.

At the same time, Seidin’s silver eyes gleamed coldly as she spoke calmly.

“If we meet again, it will be as a healer. Do you understand?”

“…So you won’t speak of being friends anymore.”

“We’re still friends. But since Your Majesty keeps crossing the line, I want to reinforce the reason I stay by your side—as your healer. I didn’t say that to insult or hurt you.”

“……”

Luan’s brow twitched. His jaw tightened, revealing a strong line, and he let out a soft sigh. Hiding his boiling emotions, he called her.

“Princess.”

Naturally, Seidin caught the pleading in his voice. He had called her like that once when they were young.

But she pretended not to notice and replied in a businesslike tone.

“Then it’s better I see Your Majesty only when you’re unwell. Being near you only makes me feel more unstable…”

“I see. I’ll summon a healer right away.”

“Please. It is Your Majesty who needs care.”

“……”

“I’m the healer.”

Seidin gave him a bright smile, then elegantly bowed. With a flick of her hand, she magically cleaned up the bubbling herbal pot and utensils. She had transformed into a healer completing her duties. She smiled and said,

“It’s late, Your Majesty. Please take care on your way back.”

And with that, she strode across the herb field without once looking back at Luan, who stood frozen, eyes locked on her.

* * *

The next day, as Seidin marched across the herb fields barking orders at hapless healers and harvesting herbs with a pickaxe, Luan Killian Sierbold was also beginning his work. Though he had left a clone in his bed and spent the night roaming, his face was perfectly composed.

But those who had served him for years could see it: a new, unfamiliar unease had settled over Luan as he looked over his documents.

Watching his violet eyes darken like swirling storm clouds, Commander Hichel cautiously spoke.

“Your Majesty?”

“…Mm.”

But unlike his usual swift responses, Luan looked absentminded today. Of course, only someone like Hichel, who had served him for over a decade, would notice such a subtle change. And so, Hichel felt a chill of dread. Just a few days ago, they had returned from completely wiping out Herace, a kingdom that had dared poke at the empire by relying on dark mages and the Dragon Mountains.

Yet Luan, the workaholic emperor, had skipped any victory celebrations and gone straight into state affairs. Especially with increasing reports that the “Demonic Gate” near the “Forest of Shadows” was growing—today’s report was a summary of all such intel.

And now, the emperor, reading his perfectly organized report, looked so troubled…

‘D-don’t tell me! My report is a mess?!’

There was a time when Hichel thought his master’s abilities would never blossom.

After all, his father had risked his life to help Luan escape because he believed Luan was the only true heir to the throne—and was exiled for it.

But grown-up Luan had proven his worth through sheer competence.

And Hichel had worked so hard to be worthy of standing beside such a man.

‘But now my writing skills are being questioned?! That can’t be!’