TMLNHMB 05

Chapter 5

Seydin, who had been muttering to herself, suddenly spun around.

“So, I know the Baron of Trillier’s wine bottles aren’t made of silver. But Your Majesty just brought over a bottle made of silver with the exact same design as his.”

In the original story, Luan never even touched alcohol. So the fact that there was a whole cabinet full of bottles was suspicious to her—and upon closer inspection, it was exactly what she had feared.

“Why do you need sleeping pills? And you’ve taken quite a lot.”

“Because I hear people screaming every night. I’ve killed so many, after all…”

“Don’t lie.”

Seydin smiled faintly. Her smile carried a clear message: Stop lying. She needed to know his real condition to be able to help him.

Then, Luan, who had been sitting upright with perfect posture, leaned forward slightly in the darkness and sat more loosely on the bed. He even undid the button that had been neatly fastened all the way to his neck. A languid voice flowed from his lips.

“Do you know about the holy power rampages of the imperial family of the Holy Empire?”

“…Yes.”

It had been mentioned in the original novel too. The rampaging of holy power among the royal family of the Holy Empire—formerly the Killian Empire—was widely known. Every citizen of the empire would know about it. Luan, whose holy power manifested much later than the others, was the male lead destined to bring about the world’s destruction.

Ugh.

Without realizing it, Seydin gripped the bottle disguised as wine tightly. Luan, who had been watching her closely, stood and slowly approached, placing his hand gently over hers, which clutched the narrow neck of the bottle—as if to comfort her.

“It was just a side effect of the holy power my father and half-brothers experienced. Those born with divine abilities must also endure the side effects of such blessings—so my revered father said.”

Luan smiled faintly. Then, as if to hide the hand that had personally severed his father’s neck, he reached around behind her and added,

“That’s how common insomnia is.”

“You must especially have trouble sleeping after blowing up an entire mountain range, huh?”

“That would certainly qualify.”

His violet eyes shimmered subtly. Before the warmth in them could deepen into something more dangerous, Seydin slipped out of his embrace, gripping the medicine bottle like a weapon. Luan didn’t stop her. Instead, he leaned against the edge of the table where she had just been.

Seydin clenched the bottle tighter in nervous frustration. Luan didn’t seem to feel any real sense of danger.

Of course he doesn’t. The royal family always lived with the risk of holy power rampaging. Luan probably thinks his symptoms are just minor side effects.

Seydin let out a sigh and fell into thought, still holding the bottle like a lifeline. Sure, Luan likely wouldn’t do anything weird—but if, after all his unrequited love, he suddenly took off his clothes…

No way! That’s not okay!

She couldn’t even promise herself she wouldn’t look. How could she not? A handsome man staring at her with eyes full of longing?

“Hmmmm!”

To block herself from Luan’s seductive gaze, Seydin quickly raised the bottle in front of her eyes. It was an emergency defense, sacrificing her own sight to stop temptation—but from Luan’s perspective, it was simply adorable. As he smiled to himself, Seydin pondered deeply.

Soon, the original female lead will appear. She’s a holy power wielder who resonates with Luan’s divine energy. In this world, only members of the imperial family can wield holy power—so she’s a threat to him by nature. But the only way Luan can survive is…

Whoosh!

Seydin lifted her head suddenly. The only way! It was for the original female lead and Luan to have passionate, body-and-soul-level intimacy!

That’s right! This is the original plot! And it’s rated 19+!

And the reason the original story ended badly? Of course—it was because the male and female leads never got together.

But this time, it’s going to be a happy ending, no matter what!

Seydin’s eyes sparkled. She lowered the bottle from her forehead and began to speak rapidly, like a machine gun.

“I remember healing Your Majesty when you were captured as a child due to unfortunate circumstances. Thankfully, even though I was born with weak magical power and no holy power, I was able to transform my magic into healing energy using mana stones I crafted myself.”

“…”

“I was blessed to have such an opportunity. As Your Majesty knows, magic isn’t originally a human power, but one of demons.”

Seydin gripped the bottle again for dramatic effect and raised her voice.

“The House of Herace, to which I belong, is descended from demons who resonate with the demonic realm. And I, Seydin Herace, was born with demonic blood—but also with the talent to turn that corrupted magic into healing energy!”

Luan quietly added a comment, as if inserting a stage cue.

“Then it’s destiny?”

“That’s right! The very fact that I have such a modest gift—it’s fate!”

“So what you’re saying is… you’re my destined one? That you’ll become my lover…”

“W-Who said anything about being lovers?! Your Majesty! I’m being serious here, why are you joking like that?!”

“Ah, I apologize, Princess.”

“Good. Now, please listen carefully.”

“A lover? That’s absurd. You’ll be my wife, after all.”

This isn’t working. He’s impossible to reason with.

Seydin glared at him, then bolted to the bedroom door behind Luan. She stood near it like she might run out any second, as if saying, “Say one more word and I’ll leave this room—your bedroom—for good!”

Surprisingly, the threat worked. Luan had been about to say something else but shut his mouth.

So, having effectively threatened the emperor with his own bedroom door, Seydin smugly continued.

“Now, you’re ready to listen to me, right?”

She grabbed the doorknob and twisted it with a creak, as if to say, “Try me, I dare you.” Luan nodded solemnly. The smile had vanished from his face, making him look colder and more terrifying—but this was what it took to negotiate with an emperor. Seydin gave a fake cough and declared,

“Your Majesty, I mean that I can be your healer. The one who stops your holy power rampages.”

“…”

“As you know, there is currently no one who can help suppress the side effects of your rampaging power. At best, I might help relieve your insomnia a little. I’m not a true holy power user, after all.”

“…”

“And besides, there are no other holy power users. Normally, suppressing a rampage would require someone with the same divine energy, but…”

“I already killed the only ones who could’ve helped—my incompetent father and those pathetic half-brothers.”

“…Well, yes.”

Seydin hesitated. But even if they’d lived, it wouldn’t have worked. Just like in the original story, only a full union—mind and body—with the female lead could save Luan. And for that to happen, once the heroine arrives…

He’ll need my help. Because insomnia isn’t the only side effect of his rampage.

The real danger lay elsewhere. His inner divine energy would eventually drive Luan mad. He would begin hearing the voices of those he had killed. Tormented by hallucinations, he’d start hurting real people. And the heroine, upon witnessing this, would withdraw from him.

That can’t happen.

The real Luan wasn’t like that. Seydin felt it was her duty to ease some of his pain—so that he could find his happy ending.

She looked down at the bottle in her hand.

Her healing abilities could mend his wounds and lessen his insomnia, but they couldn’t save him entirely. So she made peace with that. Because it was the only way to save him.

I don’t love you.

Seydin swallowed dryly. Then she looked straight at Luan and declared,

“I want to propose a contract. I’ll stay here as a healer to assist Your Majesty.”

“…”

“So please let me live.”

“Princess.”

“…”

“You don’t believe me, do you? That the reason I saved your life was because I love you.”

“I’ve never seen you that way. Our childhood memories were just friendship. Anyone would have wanted to help a child suffering like you were.”

At her words, Luan smiled faintly. And for the first time, Seydin saw something cold and unstable in his eyes—something dark that she couldn’t bear.

“What a shame. I’ve never met anyone like you, Princess.”