Noticing the sudden gravity in his demeanor, Lila blinked in surprise. The humor had vanished from his face, leaving him looking almost cold.

“What is it?”

“Well… I hope you won’t take this the wrong way.”

Uncharacteristically, Eustace hesitated.

“Is it something difficult to talk about?”

“A little…”

He trailed off, furrowing his brow. Lila found herself unconsciously tensing as she watched him dither, but her expression betrayed nothing.

“It’s fine, just tell me,” she said calmly.

“Hmm…”

Despite her reassurance, the Grand Duke still struggled to speak. After a long pause, he finally spoke with cautious deliberation.

“The Emperor and the Crown Prince are searching for your whereabouts.”

Lila’s expression darkened immediately.

“They’ve been sending envoys incessantly since I stopped attending the palace under the pretense of illness. It seems they’re suspicious that you failed your mission and were captured by me.”

“I’m sorry,” Lila murmured, her face clouded with guilt. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed still cast a heavy pall over her. It felt like waking abruptly from a sweet dream, only to be doused with cold reality.

“This isn’t something you need to apologize for, Princess. And you don’t need to worry just because the Emperor is looking for you. I just…”

Eustace faltered as he noticed how visibly upset she had become. Scratching the back of his head in uncharacteristic frustration, he let out a soft sigh.

“What I mean to say is… I think it might be better to create a safeguard for your sake.”

“A safeguard?”

“Yes, you can’t stay cooped up in the mansion forever, can you?”

Her dark eyes widened at the unexpected statement.

“Then…?”

“I didn’t bring you here to imprison you. It may be difficult for now, but eventually, I want to return your full freedom to you.”

Freedom. The word stirred something deep within Lila’s heart.

“Now that you’ve escaped that suffocating palace, you should be able to enjoy the fresh air outside. I want you to spread your wings and fly freely, Princess.”

“…Is that really okay?”

“Of course,” Eustace replied without hesitation, his tone as natural as if he were stating an obvious fact.

Freedom. To be free. To live freely.

Lila repeated his words silently to herself, her thoughts swirling. Just days ago, freedom had been the farthest thing from her reality—a dream so unattainable it felt like magic.

“You’re as good as dead now.”

“Know your place.”

In the palace, no one had ever told her it was okay to be free. The Emperor and the Crown Prince had kept her existence a strict secret, and her instructors sought to control her every move. For as long as she could remember, she had been granted not freedom but a gilded cage.

But Eustace was different. He was trying to grant her freedom. He didn’t scold her for barging into his office uninvited; instead, he welcomed her warmly. Even when he had to act against the Emperor’s wishes, he apologized sincerely for the inconvenience it caused her.

Did he realize how much comfort his actions and words gave her? Overwhelmed by the sudden surge of emotion, Lila bit her lower lip.

Like an ointment applied to an old, stubborn wound, every word and deed of Eustace seeped into the bruised and battered corners of her heart.

“Even if going outside immediately isn’t an option, you should at least be able to move freely within the mansion. But as it stands, your identity is still a secret here, which makes it inconvenient for you to wander about.”

“Mm.”

“So I was thinking we could create a false identity for you as a guest staying here under my invitation. To further protect you, we could also use magic to alter either your hair or eye color. What do you think?”

“I don’t mind.”

Lila didn’t hesitate. There was no need to dwell on it. If something as simple as that could bring her closer to freedom, she was willing to do even more.

Abandoned as a princess for ten years, presumed dead for eight.

Until now, Lila had lived as though dead while still breathing, only to have even that existence stolen from her, leaving her to live as a shadow. Adopting a false identity at this point was nothing to lament.

“Change my hair, my eyes—whatever you want. It’s fine.”

The hesitation and wariness that Grand Duke Eustace had shown seemed unwarranted; Lila showed no sign of displeasure. On the contrary, she marveled at his perceptiveness.

It made sense—if she altered her appearance, even the Emperor wouldn’t easily recognize her. Even if he grew suspicious, his cautious nature wouldn’t allow him to act without decisive evidence. But this time, it was Eustace who looked dejected.

“I’m truly sorry…”

“…For what?”

“I feel as though I’m imposing restrictions on you when you should be enjoying complete freedom.”

Had everything gone according to his original plan, with full preparations made, Lila would have emerged into the world as Princess Lila Brender Esteban, receiving everyone’s blessings.

Considering all the suffering she had endured, it was fortunate she had escaped the palace in any way possible. Still, Eustace regretted that her existence had to remain hidden for her safety.

“You have no reason to apologize to me.”

Lila couldn’t understand why Eustace kept feeling sorry toward her. If anything, she was the one who owed him gratitude.

“The Emperor is relentless. If not now, he will keep applying pressure and bide his time.”

“That’s fine. As long as I don’t give him an opening.”

Eustace replied confidently, but Lila was still concerned. Though she had only seen the Emperor a handful of times each year, she had observed him closely for a long time. She knew his nature far better than Eustace did.

“Don’t let your guard down.”

Lila warned the seemingly assured Grand Duke. The Emperor lacked talent and had failed to become a great mage, but his achievements in magical research were substantial.

Though imperial power had waned compared to previous generations, he had still ruled the Esteban Empire firmly for 30 years.

“Remember, we are pawns of His Majesty.”

The Emperor was a natural-born politician, acutely aware of his shortcomings. To compensate, he created and cultivated tools to serve his needs, such as the Imperial Knights and the Shadows.

For decades, he maintained a balance of power, using the Imperial Knights openly and the Shadows covertly to counter the noble faction—until Eustace ascended to a high mage status at a young age and became the head of the noble faction.

“He’s a snake.”

Lila spoke in a somber tone. The Emperor was a cunning and tenacious man. He wouldn’t give up until he had Lila’s corpse as proof of her death.

Moreover, once the Emperor had drawn his sword, he wouldn’t stop his assaults on Eustace. Knowing his temperament, he would send assassins repeatedly until he succeeded.

And if he discovered that Lila was under Eustace’s protection?

The mere thought sent a chill through her. In her mind, her presence was a double-edged sword for the Grand Duke. If he used her to pressure the Emperor, it might work in his favor. But if he continued to protect her, he would be in danger.

“Maybe it’s better if I leave this place.”

The words made Eustace’s face harden instantly.

“Please don’t say such heartbreaking things.”

He looked at her with eyes like an abandoned puppy before lowering his shoulders in defeat.

“I’d rather that than cause you trouble…”

“You’re no trouble at all!”

Eustace’s voice rose as he grasped her hands and bowed his head, pressing his forehead against her small fingers in a gesture of supplication.

“I’ve told you over and over, I want you by my side.”

“Well, yes, but…”

Lila looked at him with a troubled expression. Consoling someone was far from her expertise.

As she hesitated, unsure of what to do, Eustace ground his teeth inwardly. It was all the fault of that damned Emperor and the insufferable Crown Prince.

“I’ll protect you. I promise none of the things you’re worried about will come to pass.”

Having opposed the Emperor for the past five years, Eustace understood her concerns. The Crown Prince was a fool, but the Emperor was no lightweight.

If he hadn’t reached the sixth circle of magic and if the Emperor hadn’t grown anxious enough to make mistakes, it would have taken at least another year to get Lila out of the palace safely.

“I swear, I’ll make sure you can stand proudly before everyone as soon as possible… Just bear with this for a little while longer.”

Eustace buried his burning frustration toward the Emperor and Crown Prince and pleaded with Lila earnestly.

“…Alright.”

“Lady Lila?”

“I’ll do as you wish.”

“…! Thank you.”

The Grand Duke, who had finally obtained what he desired, lifted his bowed head. A joyous smile spread across his face as he kissed Lila’s fingers. The soft, delicate sensation of his lips brushing against her sensitive fingertips made Lila flinch and curl her fingers slightly.

“I’ll explain the details tomorrow.”

Grand Duke Eustace’s smile bloomed like a flower in full bloom.

“It may be difficult for now, but once all the preparations are complete, you’ll be able to go out freely. Starting tomorrow, you won’t have to worry about prying eyes inside the ducal estate and can move about as you please.”

“When will the preparations be finished?”

“Well, let’s see. First, you’ll need to acquire some basic knowledge and etiquette. A private tutor who can assist you will arrive soon.”

At the mention of a tutor, Lila’s eyes widened. While she was aware of her lack of worldly knowledge, she hadn’t expected to be studying.

“I’m not confident about studying…”

“You’re intelligent, Lady Lila. You’ll pick things up quickly.”

Duke Eustace declared confidently.

“How do you know I’m smart?”

“I have my ways.”

The Grand Duke cleared his throat dramatically, deliberately making a sound before speaking with a composed air.

“In my eyes, you are a genius.”

“Aren’t you the genius here?”

“I am, but so are you, Lady Lila.”

Being called a genius by another genius was deeply embarrassing. Lila wrinkled her nose slightly to dispel her shyness.

“Anyway, I need to meet with the tailor now, so… could you tell me whether you’d like to change your hair color or your eye color?”

“Can I change just one? Wouldn’t it be better to change both or alter my features entirely?”