* * *
“So… since when? Not from the beginning, right?”
“Hmm, not from the very start… but maybe from the second time.”
Ugh.
Isn’t that practically the same thing?
The first or second time—what’s the difference?
In the beginning, I was careful, barely absorbing any energy, so it makes sense he wouldn’t have noticed.
But even by the second time, I hadn’t taken much… so how did he catch on?
If I were Ian, I’d be furious at discovering someone was quietly taking my power.
I would have demanded an explanation the moment I found out.
Isn’t that the natural reaction? How can Ian be so calm?
Even if he knows it’s because of Baek Yigang… no, that would make it even harder for him to stay calm, right?
I felt disoriented.
Meanwhile, Ian didn’t look bothered at all.
In fact, he seemed to be enjoying my surprise at the revelation.
“Why didn’t you say anything, if you knew?”
Maybe it was his calmness, but I was able to regain my composure.
When I casually asked for his reason, Ian smiled gently.
“Because I liked it.”
Then he gave a short, straightforward answer.
Since there was no subject in his reply, I couldn’t fully grasp what he meant.
He liked it—liked what, exactly?
“Uh…?”
I tilted my head, still clueless, and Ian chuckled again.
“I enjoyed seeing you put in effort to get closer to me, Dowoon. Having meals together, receiving gifts…”
These were all new experiences for me.
Speaking in a low voice, Ian glanced at the vase on the table.
It held the unfading flower I had given him last time.
“To be honest, I wanted to keep pretending not to know and continue seeing you… until you achieved your goal through me, Dowoon.”
“…Ian.”
“But if we kept going like that, you’d only spend more time around His Highness.”
I wondered why he’d suddenly reveal the truth, and just then, Ian provided the reason.
But… it didn’t quite make sense.
Who was he suggesting would be circling whom?
“Hold on, Ian. I think you’ve misunderstood—I have nothing going on with His Highness.”
“That may be true now. But who’s to say it’ll stay that way?”
Ian’s voice sank lower than I’d ever heard.
Just seeing him like this left me at a loss for words, my lips moving soundlessly.
Even in the original story, Ian was rarely described with such a low voice, so it felt even more unfamiliar.
“Why does it sound like… you’re saying I shouldn’t be near His Highness?”
At my comment, Ian gave a small nod.
“His Highness is a wall for everyone and a star—unreachable and incomparable in brilliance. You can neither possess him fully nor rely on him completely.”
Ian’s conviction was clear.
The more we talked, the more bewildered I became.
I never expected him to think like this.
“So you’re saying you gave me divine power because I like His Highness?”
“The divine power I gave you before was out of my own selfishness, but this time, it was for you, Dowoon.”
Ian gently corrected me.
Yet somehow, the conclusion felt oddly similar…
Was it just me?
“That sounds an awful lot like you’re advising me to stay away from His Highness.”
“It’s merely advice for your own sake, not an attempt to force you.”
This time, it felt like I’d hit the mark.
Now I was left with just one question.
“I think I get what you’re trying to say. But how did you know I was using your divine power on His Highness?”
The final mystery.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out.
I’d never told anyone about transferring my divine power to Baek Yigang, and neither had he.
Plus, I only did it in the dead of night, when Baek Yigang was asleep.
It wasn’t like anyone could’ve seen us, and hardly anyone could enter the Crown Prince’s quarters.
But Ian, as if it were obvious, casually replied.
“That’s because I can sense my divine power in His Highness.”
“…Huh?”
You can… feel it?
The nature of magic left no trace behind, so it wasn’t something I could have even imagined.
I’d never dealt with divine power in any of my previous possessions, so how was I supposed to know? Tsk.
Anyway, it wasn’t something I could have defended against in advance, so ultimately, it was bound to get exposed.
“Since you seem to already know everything, I’ll just be straightforward. As you said, I did use your divine power on His Majesty.”
Regardless of the circumstances, I unintentionally absorbed all the divine power I had aimed for.
Though it was neither a conscious effort nor my intention, the outcome worked out in my favor.
Most importantly, I could now cure Baek Yigang’s insomnia, so there was no need to see Ian anymore.
“And I don’t need your divine power any longer. So…”
Just as I was about to say, “I won’t be looking for you as a means anymore,” Ian cut me off with his calm voice.
“Still—”
“Please keep coming to see me.
Not as often as now, but if you ever think of me, even occasionally.”
A bitter smile hung at the end of his words.
Ian seemed to have anticipated that I would say this all along.
“…Fine, I’ll come again.”
There was a bit of tea left at the bottom of my cup.
I finished the last cold sip and rose slowly from my seat.
Returning directly to the Crown Prince’s palace, I entered Baek Yigang’s empty bedroom with a blank expression.
“Ah, this is the most exhausting day I’ve had since my possession…”
Clutching my aching head, I flopped onto the bed, mulling over Ian’s words that felt oddly familiar.
Now that I think about it, didn’t Ian’s words today essentially echo what Piel had said before?
“Don’t rely on your brother too much.”
“Your brother is like a brilliant shooting star in the night sky. Outwardly dazzling, but only for a brief moment.”
Piel’s words had been somewhat sharp.
And then…
“His Majesty is a wall for everyone, a lone star. No one can surpass him, nor outshine him. He’s someone who cannot be wholly possessed or leaned on.”
Despite different approaches, Ian’s words about Baek Yigang had ultimately meant the same thing.
And here lies the issue…
“Who doesn’t know that already…!”
I know better than you guys, you idiots.
After all, it was thanks to me that Baek Yigang could continue shining as he does now. How could I not know?
If things had gone according to the original story, by now Baek Yigang should have succumbed to dark magic and been sulking alone in the freezing North.
I mean, that brat, who lacks any shred of human decency, decided he wanted to be Emperor, and look at how much trouble I’m going through!
Gnashing my teeth in frustration, I could feel a surge of divine power pulsing in my hands.
The irritation that had flared up abruptly subsided as swiftly as it had risen.
My divine power must have automatically calmed my mood without me realizing it.
“Oh… this is actually quite useful.”
With enough divine power, I could stay calm anywhere, anytime.
Is this why Ian was always so composed and cool?
When I moved my fingers slightly, the abundant divine power shimmered in a white light, responding to my motion.
Ian had packed so much divine power into me that it was spilling over.
“With this much, Baek Yigang’s insomnia will be cured in no time.”
If the target amount was ten, I now possessed twenty—an overwhelming amount, twice as much as needed.
Divine power is precious, and here I was, wasting it.
Looking hurriedly out the window, I saw the sun setting.
Soon, Baek Yigang would return to his room.
Then, I’d lay him down right away to cure his insomnia…
“…Would he thank me for it? Baek Yigang?”
At present, the likelihood of gratitude was extremely low.
Only five percent—this guy had a conscience shattered down to the molecular level.
I think I might end up traumatized by the number five.
He’s genuinely the most heartless person I’ve ever met.
But the important thing here is that this was the probability before curing his illness.
Once his long-suffered illness was healed, the rate would definitely improve.
At the very least, it would rise into double digits. That, I’m sure of.
So far, I hadn’t granted him any clear wish, but once his insomnia was cured, I’m certain the situation would change.
He might even thank me.
And that could happen tonight.
If I receive his gratitude, I’ll finally wake up from this dreadful possession.
And I won’t have to see that insufferable Baek Yigang anymore.
“Finally, the opportunity has come.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, I swallowed in anticipation.
* * *
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