With my shoulders slumped, I walked wearily when I saw Iscallion running towards me from afar.

“Sister! You’re out early? I was just on my way to pick you up.”

“Really?”

I gave him a weak smile.

“Is something wrong? You don’t look well.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired from the negotiations earlier.”

A few hours ago, the Empire’s delegation and the representatives of Pontos had a fierce debate over the exchange of magic stones and grain. Of course, I hadn’t done anything to use that as an excuse.

“The people of Pontos are a bit rough. You weren’t offended, were you?”

“No, it was fine.”

Seeing Iscallion worry about me lifted my spirits a little.

I glanced once more towards the bedroom before heading to the banquet hall with him.

From inside the banquet hall, the beautiful sounds of musical instruments and people’s laughter could be heard.

The delegates and Pontos nobles, who had been growling at each other earlier, were now chatting amicably as if nothing had happened.

The Crown Prince, in particular, seemed like a completely different person.

There was no trace of the fierce demeanor he had when he cornered the fake Grand Duke of Pontos.

‘He really is a double-faced person.’

Yet, I couldn’t help but find it somewhat impressive.

Even if I tried my whole life, I wouldn’t be able to catch up to him. Thinking that he was the same age as me made me sigh.

Noticing who I was looking at, Iscallion also glared at the Crown Prince.

“What’s with that guy?”

“Nothing, do you want to go outside for some fresh air? Just the two of us?”

“Sure.”

Fearing a repeat of yesterday’s incident, I hurriedly coaxed Iscallion.

Fortunately, he agreed easily.

We strolled through the garden side by side.

A cold wind blew, but with the large heating magic stones embedded throughout the garden, it wasn’t too cold.

True to the legacy of the descendants of wolves, statues of wolves were lined up all over the castle.

Seeing them naturally reminded me of Shahar.

“Did you know? They say there are traces of the Guardian God left in Pontos. Do you know of any such ruins?”

“Really? I don’t know of any particular place.”

His uninterested reply made it clear he knew nothing.

‘I was wrong to expect anything.’

“Oh, but I’ve heard that the Pontos Castle was built on the place where the last wolf met its end.”

“Here?”

I looked around the castle again. If this was where the last wolf met its end, it was also where Shahar died.

‘Is that why he’s been in a bad mood?’

“But why the sudden interest in old stories?”

“Just curious.”

“Instead of boring stories, can’t you be more curious about me?”

Iscallion stood close.

The traces of yesterday’s duel were still visible on his face. His lips were chapped and crusted with blood, making a mess of his appearance. Seeing him like that made me sigh.

“Good grief. Why did you do something so reckless, like a child?”

“I never liked that guy from the start.”

“Ugh, it hurts me just to look at you.”

“A kiss from you would make it better.”

Unknowingly speaking the truth, he playfully puckered his lips.

Naturally, I had no intention of healing those wounds.

I lightly tapped his lips with my fan and stepped back to avoid catching his injuries.

“But that guy, despite his flashy appearance, is incredibly strong. My head still feels like it’s ringing. Damn it, I’ll definitely get back at him.”

Iscallion grumbled, rubbing his forehead.

“Ugh, you might get hit again.”

“Get hit? If that priest hadn’t interfered, I could have paid him back twice as much.”

Though he was boasting, it seemed his headache was real, as Iscallion’s complexion grew paler by the minute. Eventually, he clutched his head and sat down.

“Leon?”

“Wait, my head…”

I had seen him suffer from headaches a few times before, but today seemed worse than usual.

Without a second thought, I embraced him.

It was partly arrogance. The male leads hadn’t suffered any fatal injuries, and when the pain transferred to me, it was usually bearable.

However, a moment later, a splitting pain surged through my head. It was worse than when I first met him in the Imperial Palace.

Iscallion let out a much more comfortable breath. Meanwhile, I nearly collapsed into his arms.

“Sister?”

Realizing something was wrong, Iscallion hastily helped me up.

The sudden change in posture made the headache worse.

“What’s wrong?”

I tried to answer that I was fine, but I was completely out of it.

Only then did he realize something was wrong with me.

“Sister, are you okay?”

“It’s just the travel fatigue catching up with me. I’ll be fine after some rest.”

I barely managed to answer slowly. Even as I spoke, I couldn’t believe it.

‘You mean he’s been enduring this all along?’

It was such severe pain that it brought tears to my eyes. I could feel Iscallion getting restless.

The thought that a child, not even an adult, had been enduring pain worse than this every time made me feel sorry for him, even amidst my own pain.

“Does it hurt a lot? Wait, I’ll call a healer.”

“No, I’ll be fine if I rest.”

I curled up and waited for the headache to subside. But the pain didn’t go away easily.

Just then, someone in a clerical robe approached us.

It was Gined.

“You!”

He stopped when he saw the flustered Iscallion.

“What is it?”

“You’re a priest, so you can use holy power, right? Sister is in pain. Hurry and heal her.”

Instead of getting angry at his rude words, Gined turned his gaze to me.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

He then lifted my face with his large hand.

I had no choice but to show him my face, which was a mess of sweat and tears.

Gined took a deep breath.

“Why is this happening all of a sudden?”

Iscallion asked impatiently.

“First, explain the situation.”

“I don’t know! Sister hugged me, and then she suddenly collapsed.”

Gined’s eyes fell on my chapped lips. That alone seemed to make him understand everything.

I shook my head desperately, begging him not to say anything.

But Gined didn’t heed my silent plea.

“The lady is a healer who transfers wounds or pain to her own body through physical contact.”

“What…?”

Iscallion’s mouth fell open in shock. Then, as if realizing something, he touched his lips. He seemed to notice that the swelling had gone down.

“So, the reason I wasn’t in pain when I was with Sister was because she was taking the pain for me?”

“No, it’s not like that. It doesn’t happen that often anyway.”

I shook my head and grabbed Iscallion’s hand.

Honestly, it was embarrassing to make such a fuss over the few times I had taken his pain.

But as soon as my hand touched his, Iscallion shuddered as if he had been burned and shook off my hand.

He looked like he was about to burst into tears.

Gined gave him a stern command.

“Step aside. She needs to see a healing priest.”

Without a word, Iscallion obediently moved away.

I couldn’t help but feel concerned, seeing him so dejected for the first time.

“Ugh…”

As I struggled to get up due to the intense pain and worry, Gined placed his hand on my forehead and channeled holy power into me.

Even though the holy power of a holy knight was less effective for healing, it still alleviated the pain somewhat.

‘Wow, even I would fall in love with him.’

I suddenly understood why Iscallion had been following me around so persistently, even abandoning his territory. If I met someone like this human headache remedy, I wouldn’t have been able to resist proposing on the spot either.

“Can you stand?”

“Yes.”

With Gined’s help, I managed to get up. Iscallion followed us for a few steps before stopping.

I looked back at him and smiled, trying to reassure him, then followed Gined.

However, it seemed that the time was late, as every priest we met was heavily intoxicated.

“It can’t be helped.”

With a sigh, Gined led me somewhere. It was a spacious but very simple room. Next to the bed, a sword leaned against the wall, and two clean clerical robes hung on the wall. Other than that, there were only a bundle of herbs and a holy book.

It was obviously Gined’s bedroom.

“Please bear with it for a moment.”

He laid me down on the bed.

Even though it was a temporary measure for a patient, as a noble lady, I couldn’t just lie down on an unfamiliar man’s bed, so I declined.

“I can sit in a chair.”

Gined ignored my request.

I hesitated, then curled up and weakly rested my head on the pillow, closing my eyes.

Of course, I couldn’t sleep. The headache was severe, and Gined’s refreshing scent lingering in the bedding subtly bothered me.

After some time, Gined called me.

“Lady.”