“We are honored to see the Grand Duchess of Lonavita Grand Duchy. It has been a long time.”

“Thank you for inviting us, Your Grace.”

After the brief greetings, the two sat down at the Grand Duchess’s gesture. Eve unwrapped the scarf from her neck and placed it on her lap.

Teacups were placed before them.

“I didn’t expect to see the Duke of Archild here. I’m not sure if I should be surprised or pleased.”

It would be natural for her to be flustered by an uninvited guest at her tea party.

This was exactly what Eve had been worried about.

Eve bowed her head in apology.

“Please forgive our rudeness, Your Grace. The Duke said he had something he wanted to say…”

Not knowing at what point he would set up the barrier, Eve glanced at Medric as she spoke.

Perhaps noticing her glance, Medric spoke up.

“I heard that the Grand Duchess is being monitored by the Grand Duke.”

Both Eve and Roanne were startled by his directness.

“So I’ve set up a barrier so you can speak truthfully. I’ve cast an illusion that makes it appear and sound to others as if we’re having a simple conversation.”

Roanne looked around.

In the beautiful, warm greenhouse, familiar eyes watched her—eyes devoid of emotion or warmth.

Looking at those eyes, Roanne asked:

“Really. No matter what I say, the Grand Duke won’t know? How can I be sure that you and the Duchess aren’t working with the Grand Duke to mock me?”

Eve looked at Roanne, who was filled with distrust.

What Roanne had endured in the Grand Duchy must have been more terrible than she could imagine.

‘It must have been unbearably difficult.’

Just like Ivan, who had to do whatever the Grand Duke ordered while carrying unspeakable circumstances in a foreign land without any allies.

But Roanne was different from Ivan.

At least she wasn’t a slave like Ivan, and she had someone watching over her.

Eve steeled her wavering heart and said to Roanne:

“If you don’t want to believe us, you don’t have to. If you want to continue living as you have for years, just waiting for death, I won’t stop you.”

At Eve’s firm words, emotions began to show on Roanne’s face.

Roanne’s lips trembled as she spoke, like someone who had just looked at a lump hidden deep in her heart.

“Can I really trust you?”

Only then did Eve’s expression soften slightly.

“Yes, Your Grace. You can trust us.”

Roanne’s eyes appeared to moisten.

For a while, Roanne couldn’t continue speaking as she tried to compose her emotions. With still-trembling hands, she gripped her teacup and brought it to her lips.

After hesitating for a long time, Roanne spoke:

“Do you remember me?”

“Of course. I saw you when you were in Ptotr.”

“Then my current appearance must seem ridiculous to you.”

Roanne spoke, seeming to curl into herself as if trying to make her already diminished body even smaller.

There was no trace of the dazzling princess she had once been.

Her skin had roughened, her cheeks and lips had lost their vitality, and her eyes looked lifeless. Her mouth, which used to smile constantly, now drooped downward, making her appear depressed just by looking at her, and even her eye shape had changed.

When the heart and body suffer, people naturally change.

“There was a time when I tried hard not to live like this. But in a foreign country where everything felt strange, trying to earn the love of one person was truly difficult.”

“I can’t fully understand your feelings, but I’ve heard about how difficult a time you’ve endured.”

Roanne pressed her lips together again. For a moment, she gripped her teacup tightly, took a sip, and continued.

“…There are people who earnestly pray for Your Grace’s happiness. Including those in Ptotr. I will deliver Your Grace’s letters to Ptotr.”

Roanne shook her head and said:

“Don’t do that. There was a time when I kept sending letters to Ptotr, but now I want to stop my past self. Although it was my only hope then, I should also consider Ptotr’s position. This is a royal marriage. My father would not want to break a royal marriage over something like this.”

Seeing how she still thought of others despite being broken by years of suffering, Eve couldn’t say anything.

“Perhaps I just needed a friend to whom I could express my complaints. Just talking like this makes me feel like my old emotions are subsiding.”

Looking at the beautiful flowers in the garden, Roanne continued.

“I’m tired now. Both body and mind. I don’t want to do anything. I’ve given up on all desires.”

A lie.

Anyone could tell those words were false.

‘With such a pained expression.’

Eve recognized that expression.

She herself had once looked like that.

Before she met Ivan.

Ivan had taught her about all emotions. He had awakened the anger hidden beneath her sadness and taught her not to hide her feelings.

Eve stood up and took Roanne’s hands in hers.

Though she met Roanne’s surprised eyes, Eve moved their hands toward Roanne’s chest.

“Ask your heart. Is doing nothing truly what Your Grace wants?”

Roanne’s wide, surprised eyes gradually returned to their normal size. Sadness welled up in them.

“If I abandon this position… what about Ptotr? What about its people? Just for my selfish desires…”

Finally, Roanne showed her tears.

Eve realized that the burden on Roanne’s shoulders was too heavy. She couldn’t put it down just because of her own unhappiness.

And Eve thought of a way to help her.

“What if I propose a way for Your Grace to escape the Grand Duchy and still benefit Ptotr?”

Roanne, who had been dabbing her tears with a handkerchief, asked with surprised eyes:

“Is there such a thing? What kind of…”

Eve took a deep breath internally. She hadn’t planned to reveal her plan here, but this plan would achieve what both the Grand Duchess and she wanted.

Although she was concerned about Medric listening beside her.

He seemed to be struggling just to maintain the illusion and auditory hallucination for the people around them.

Eve opened her mouth.

“…The fall of the Grand Duchy.”

Roanne drew in a sharp breath.

This was the Grand Duchy, and the person before her was the Grand Duchess of the Grand Duchy. To dare speak of the fall of the Grand Duchy—it could only be described as having one’s liver jump out of their body.

Even if the Grand Duchess disliked the Grand Duchy, it wouldn’t be strange if she immediately ordered the knights waiting outside to seize Eve.

Nevertheless, it was already done. Eve steadied her trembling hand by grasping it with her other hand.

‘The bowstring has already been drawn anyway.’

The heart of someone who has been hurt, torn, and wounded does not open easily. Eve knew this better than anyone.

But if she showed her cards first and proved that the Grand Duchess’s heart was the same as hers, wouldn’t the Grand Duchess become more than just someone to help—a valuable ally?

If that happened, it might become easier to control and manipulate the Grand Duke.

She couldn’t not try just because she was afraid.

Contrary to her expectation that the Grand Duchess would immediately scold her, the Grand Duchess just stared at Eve with wide, surprised eyes.

Eve could see the Grand Duchess’s knuckles turning white as she gripped the armrest of her chair.

“Do you understand what you just said?”

Roanne asked, trembling.

“Yes. I apologize, but I have no intention of taking back my words.”

Eve bowed her head, hoping her voice would reach Roanne.

If this deal went through, it could be a good opportunity not only for Eve but also for the Grand Duchess.

‘Please take my side. Please be someone who doesn’t surrender to reality but walks toward the future.’

Eve waited for Roanne to speak.

A suffocating silence passed between them.

“…Raise your head.”

Her voice was softer than before.

Eve tensely raised her head to face Roanne.

“In all my life, I’ve never met a lady as fearless as you.”

A ray of sunlight seemed to briefly shine in the Grand Duchess’s dark eyes.

“What if I tell the Grand Duke about this?”

“Then I would flee this place to keep my head attached to my body.”

Roanne gave a deflated laugh.

“I don’t even know my own heart. Perhaps I’ve withered too much here. Even the absurd words of a lady sound sweet to me.”

“Then wouldn’t it be nice to indulge in that sweetness for a while?”

Roanne, who had looked momentarily confused at Eve’s words, showed a faint smile.

“Very well, I’ll do as you wish. As you say, it would be better to taste sweetness before dying than to wither away here.”

Life began to stir in Roanne’s previously calm eyes.

Though she spoke as if she had no expectations, this matter must be desperate for Roanne.

Even if it might be a rotten rope, she didn’t want to let it go…

Just like when Eve first heard Medric’s proposal.

“Today’s tea party was truly enlightening. Thank you for giving me a chance to smile after so long.”

“Not at all. I sincerely hope for Your Grace’s happiness.”

“I don’t know why you have such a frightening plan, but I also sincerely hope for your happiness.”

The warmth in the greenhouse between the two women felt more comfortable than before.

“If it’s not too difficult for the Duke, I’d like to ask if we could enjoy this time a bit longer. This is the first time I haven’t been under the Grand Duke’s surveillance.”

“Of course. The Duke will be fine with it too.”

Though Eve knew it wasn’t easy to maintain the illusion over the barrier, she couldn’t refuse Roanne’s heartfelt request.

‘I’ll sincerely thank the Duke later.’

Since their next meeting would require speaking with awareness of the Grand Duke’s watchful eyes, today was both the first and last time they could speak privately and comfortably.

The two women chatted about small matters until the tea in the pot grew cold.

Roanne seemed truly happy during this time when she could finally speak her mind without worrying about the Grand Duke.

Eve considered whether she should tell Roanne about Walter, who had shared news about her, but then shook her head.

She didn’t want to confuse her any further.

“…So I hated my brother so much when I was a princess. Oh my, it’s already gotten so late.”

While discussing Ptotr and the Grand Duchy with Roanne, the sun had begun to set without them noticing.

“We should end here for today. When we meet next time…”

“Yes, when we meet next time, you just need to react to me as you did when you first saw me.”

“I understand. Let’s get up now. The Duke must be tired too. Thank you.”

Eve looked at Medric, who hadn’t spoken a word throughout their conversation.

He didn’t even look particularly strained from maintaining the barrier.

‘He really didn’t interfere at all.’

Eve was impressed by his initiative and execution. Moreover, he had perfectly maintained the difficult barrier and the illusions of sight and sound until the end.

Inwardly thanking him, Eve exchanged final farewells with Roanne.