TMLNHMB 04

Chapter 4

A tense Seidin pulled her knees together and inched her body backward, trying to put more distance between herself and Luan. She thought to herself:

Has it been a day and a half since the kingdom fell?
It feels like I haven’t left this bed the entire time.

Though the maids had helped her eat, drink, and rest a few hours ago, something about the way they looked at her still lingered oddly in her mind.

Why did they look at me like that? As if… they’ve always known who I am…

Maybe it was the food and rest helping, but her head seemed clearer than before. While she was lost in thought, Luan, who had been watching her, suddenly spoke.

“Your Highness, I have a gift for you.”

“…Pardon?”

Luan pulled something from inside his robe.

Seidin’s eyes widened—it was the Eye of Himela.

That deep blue magic stone would subtly glow in response to even her meager magical energy. She had always been especially fond of this particular stone, as it helped convert magical power into healing energy. It was perfect for secretly tending to Luan’s wounds when he’d been tormented in childhood experiments.

Right. And it had been easy to obtain too, since most wizards discarded these low-grade stones like trash. Lucky me.

Because her magic was weak, she’d often been mocked for carrying around magic stones as if clinging to false hope. But she didn’t care. That ridicule meant nothing.

Seidin, drawn in by memory, instinctively reached out and hugged the stone. Just as in the past, it fit perfectly in her hand. Grown from the root of a low-tier plant-type beast called Himela, the “Eye” nestled against her chest like a second heart.

Watching her, Luan murmured softly under his breath.

“At first, I didn’t understand why Your Highness cherished such a low-grade stone.”

“…”

“I didn’t know you were trying to turn your own magic into healing energy.”

“…”

“That you were doing it to heal me…”

His lips quivered. Ten years ago, he had been nothing but a war prisoner from a fallen kingdom. Now, the memory twisted his face in pain—not because he hated that time, but because he hated himself for not being able to protect her.

Even while executing his father and half-brothers and suppressing rebellions across the empire, one thought had never left him.

“Please, Your Highness… let me protect you now.”

“Your Majesty…”

Seidin looked into his eyes—the eyes of an emperor pledging to guard a fallen princess.

And then at the unpolished magic stone he had given her.

Luan has one year to live. His condition will only worsen. The only one who can truly save him is the heroine, but… I can at least ease his suffering a little. If I just make some magic stones and help a bit…

“Your Highness?”

“…!”

Lost in thought, Seidin flinched and looked up. Luan was watching her with concern. Embarrassed, she turned her head quickly.

It’s best if I stay as just a healer or a friend—nothing more.

“I’m glad you’re protecting me, Your Majesty. But I do have a concern.”

“You’re worried our relationship might be discovered?”

“…I don’t know what you mean by ‘relationship,’ but this is how I see it: I’m a fallen princess. You once received my help, and you’re returning the favor by sparing me. So we’re friends. I just don’t want others misunderstanding this pure relationship.”

She shrugged casually and whispered, pretending not to notice Luan’s silence.

“Still, thank you for protecting me. But that doesn’t mean I think our relationship will change into something else.”

Her palms started sweating.

Idiot. I don’t have holy power or strong magic. I’m nothing. So let’s just be friends. Okay?

Growing anxious, she clenched her damp hands. Luan, now deep in thought like she had been earlier, murmured:

“I don’t understand what you’re afraid of, Your Highness.”

Just like when they were children, his voice was soft and innocent. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t speak.

Luan whispered:

“At first, I thought you feared me because I’d executed every member of the Herace royal family. But then I remembered—you hated your family too. So I ruled that out.”

“…”

“Then I wondered… is it because our relationship might feel unequal? Because I’m the emperor of a terrifying empire, and you’re… well, a princess.”

His eyes bore into her with such intensity, it was almost suffocating. He didn’t smile this time.

“But that’s a misconception, Your Highness. Our relationship was never equal. I’m still right here, in the palm of your hand.”

“Your Majesty, that’s the problem. You never really listen to what I’m saying.”

Seidin clutched the Eye of Himela tighter.

And at that moment, she finally realized it—she was afraid of Luan. More precisely, she feared his blunt words that threatened to shake her entire resolve.

I want to save Luan.

Her eyes swept across the room rapidly. Behind him, she spotted a cabinet. Through the glass, several wine bottles glimmered in the dark.

Narrowing her eyes, she quickly counted the jewel-embellished bottles and strode over to the cabinet.

Luan didn’t stop her. Draped in his crimson cape, his imperial uniform fully buttoned, he lounged casually, legs crossed, silently watching her with interest.

Ignoring his gaze, Seidin examined the bottles without even uncorking them. Finally, Luan broke the silence.

“Are you interested in wine?”

“Your Majesty, why lie? This isn’t wine.”

“…”

Luan’s faint smile disappeared. Seidin, without turning to look at him, ran her fingers over the bottles and spoke.

“I’m quite familiar with ingredients used in Aydin-based medicines.”

“…You have trouble sleeping?”

“You know how I was treated in my homeland. I couldn’t sleep without medication. Just seeing those palace people made my insides churn. I guess the rage kept me awake.”

“…I should’ve made them suffer more.”

Luan muttered slowly. His voice sounded like a joke, but the intent behind it wasn’t. Seidin just gave him a vague smile and set down one of the bottles.

Aydin. A sleep aid created by a commoner healer. Cheap and effective, it worked well for mild insomnia—but it came with a dangerous side effect: addiction. The more effective it was, the more addictive it became. It had to be stored in silver containers or it would spoil, which meant the poor couldn’t store it properly—even though it was created for them.

Seidin gently placed the disguised sleeping potion on the table. Most bottles she had checked were already more than half empty.

That wasn’t a quantity someone could consume just once or twice. It meant Luan’s divine power overload had already begun.

Seidin bit her lip anxiously. Luan, unaware of her rising panic, asked from the shadows:

“Your Highness, how did you know there was Aydin in the wine bottles?”

She gave a careless reply, trying to hide her thoughts. It wasn’t even a secret.

“My father—the king—liked Baron Tillier’s wine. He was always drunk. Funny, right? He hated the Holy Empire, but only drank wine made by its noble families.”

“He had such refined taste. Ah, am I being too harsh, since he’s already dead?” she murmured sarcastically.

She fiddled with the label on one bottle and added,

“Whenever I was dragged into the royal library, there were always bottles like this. He’d praise the Empire’s wine and shake the bottle proudly, as if to show it off.”