The corridor outside the healing wards echoed with hurried footsteps and muffled gasps as Princess Lily dragged Victor forward without the slightest intention of slowing down.
Victor did not resist.
He knew better.
Resisting Lily Ember—princess of the Moon Kingdom, bearer of the Heart of the Moon, and one of the most naturally gifted healing magicians in the kingdom—was as pointless as arguing with a tidal wave.
Still, that did not stop irritation from creeping into his chest.
"Put me down," Victor said flatly, his voice devoid of panic but thick with annoyance.
Lily ignored him.
Her grip on his wrist was firm, but not cruel. There was anger in her movements—yes—but it was raw, unfiltered emotion rather than malice. Victor noticed it immediately.
She wasn't unreasonable.
She never had been.
That was what made her troublesome.
Lily Ember was the granddaughter of a royal branch family, the grand-niece of King Max, the former ruler of the Moon Kingdom. Born under a perfect full moon, blessed with overwhelming mana from birth, she had been hailed as a prodigy before she could even read.
Yet despite her status, Lily had never abused her power.
She did not bully civilians.
She did not flaunt her authority.
She did not crush weaker magicians for amusement.
Her anger now—grabbing Victor, shouting at him, forcing this confrontation—came from something far more human.
Frustration.
Victor glanced at her profile.
Silver hair tied hastily behind her head. Jaw clenched. Eyes burning with stubborn determination.
Beautiful.
Annoyingly so.
Troublesome royal, Victor thought.
His frustration deepened—not just with Lily, but with the entire royal family.
King Max.
The man who had stripped him of magic, of freedom, of choice.
The man who had seen Ominous Wisdom and chosen fear over understanding.
Victor's lips curled faintly.
I wonder, he thought coldly, what expression the current king would wear if he knew I was standing this close to his precious niece…
An even darker thought followed.
What would he do if I dated her?
Victor shook his head internally.
Pointless thoughts.
Dangerous ones.
They reached the training ward—a wide chamber designed specifically for medical trials, healing research, and controlled competitions. The walls were layered with anti-mana inscriptions, capable of suppressing destructive backlash.
Lily released Victor's wrist abruptly.
"Here," she said. "We settle it."
Victor rolled his shoulder once, smoothing his robe.
"You're persistent," he said. "Like a barbarian."
Lily turned sharply.
"Say that again."
Victor met her gaze calmly.
"Why are you here again, you brute?" he asked. "Do you find it funny, bullying a fellow healer?"
Her expression darkened.
"Bullying?" she snapped. "You think this is bullying?"
"Yes," Victor replied without hesitation. "You storm into my office, grab me by force, and demand a fight. That's bullying."
Lily clenched her fists.
"And what about you?" she shot back. "Ignoring every challenge? Avoiding me for years?"
Victor scoffed.
"I'm busy saving lives," he said dryly. "Unlike you, I don't have time to play noble games."
Silence fell.
Then Lily laughed—sharp, humorless.
"Don't cry this time," Victor added casually, glancing away. "You lost enough already."
The words landed like a blade.
Lily froze.
Her eyes widened just slightly.
For a brief moment, Victor saw something raw flicker across her face—humiliation, anger, and something dangerously close to tears.
Her lips trembled.
"I—" she started, then stopped.
She turned away sharply.
The air around her pulsed.
Moonlight mana responded to her emotional surge, shimmering faintly across the floor.
Victor frowned.
I might have pushed too far…
But it was too late.
Lily inhaled deeply, forcing herself to calm down. When she turned back, her expression was no longer shaken—it was resolute.
"Nurse," she called sharply.
A startled nurse hurried forward.
"Bring a patient," Lily ordered. "Severe injury. Immediately."
The nurse hesitated, glancing between them.
"This is—"
"A royal command," Lily said flatly.
The nurse bowed and rushed away.
Victor sighed inwardly.
So this is how it begins…
Moments later, the doors opened again.
Two attendants wheeled in a man wrapped in bandages, his arms heavily injured—both hands crushed, bones shattered, mana veins ruptured from what looked like a magical backlash accident.
Victor's eyes sharpened.
This was no minor injury.
Lily approached the bed.
"Both hands are damaged," she said. "We'll compete."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"One hand each," Lily replied. "You heal one. I heal the other."
Victor studied the patient.
The man was conscious but pale, sweat soaking his brow.
This was dangerous.
Healing both hands differently could create imbalance.
But Lily's gaze was firm.
Victor exhaled slowly.
"Even if you're barbaric and brutal," he said calmly, "ladies first."
Lily snorted.
"At least you know your place."
She stepped to the patient's right side.
Victor watched closely.
Lily raised her hand, palm upward.
Moonlight mana surged.
It was beautiful.
Pure.
Dense.
The air shimmered as silvery particles gathered above her palm, condensing into a delicate, glowing figure.
A Moon Fairy.
Gasps echoed around the ward.
Summoning a moon fairy was not ordinary healing magic.
It was a rare royal-grade healing spell, one that required immense mana reserves and perfect affinity with lunar mana.
The fairy fluttered gently, wings leaving trails of light as it descended toward the patient's hand.
Lily's expression was focused, serious.
She was not showing off.
She was giving everything.
The fairy touched the injured hand.
Light poured in.
Crushed bones realigned smoothly. Torn flesh knit together. Mana veins stabilized, restored as if they had never been damaged.
The patient cried out softly—then went silent.
Within moments, his right hand looked perfect.
No scars.
No stiffness.
As if it had never been injured.
Applause broke out instinctively.
Victor remained silent.
Inside his mind, thoughts raced.
So that's your answer…
He glanced at Lily.
Her breathing was heavier now, mana fluctuations rippling beneath her skin. That spell had cost her dearly.
She turned to Victor, eyes sharp.
"Your turn."
Victor stepped forward.
He looked at the patient's remaining hand.
Then at Lily.
Then back at the hand.
"…Are you trying to bully me?" Victor asked calmly. "Because I don't have magic that summons elemental fairies?"
A murmur spread.
Lily stiffened.
"You always say things like that," she snapped. "As if you're beneath this."
Victor shook his head slightly.
"I will never let you win," he said quietly. "Because I also developed new healing magic."