“Good morning, Princess.”

“…Your Grace?”

Lila blinked as she emerged from the cozy cocoon of her blanket, her eyes meeting the Grand Duke Eustace’s radiant smile—bright as the morning sunlight. With a gentle touch, he brushed Lila’s tousled black hair behind her ear, his expression kind.

“It’s time to wake up, our sleepy little raven.”

“Where’s Emma…?”

“She went to fetch breakfast.”

“Food…”

Lila, who had been ready to close her eyes and drift back to sleep, sat up at the mention of breakfast. A moment ago, she had wanted nothing more than to return to slumber, but the word “breakfast” triggered a sudden pang of hunger.

“Yawn.”

“Are you still sleepy?”

“No, I’m awake.”

Rubbing her eyes, Lila stretched, as though shaking off the remnants of sleep clinging to her body. Was it some kind of sleep-inducing spell? Recently, she found herself feeling drowsy at all hours of the day.

Yesterday was no different. After eating the dinner Emma had brought, Lila had begun nodding off almost immediately. While Aria had certainly worn her out, the constant sleepiness was unusual.

“Could this be some kind of illness?”

“Your body is just seeking rest after all the fatigue it’s endured.”

The Grand Duke, who had been away briefly for work, had tucked her into bed himself when he returned, noticing her heavy eyelids.

“What you need right now is rest, as much as your body demands. Here, let me undo the spell. Close your eyes and sleep.”

At his gentle words, Lila had obediently closed her eyes and fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep.

“Emma is currently fetching breakfast.”

The last person she had seen before sleeping was the Grand Duke, and now he was the first person she saw upon waking.

Lila looked curiously at Eustace as he casually smoothed her sleep-mussed hair with his hand. There was something strangely warm and fuzzy about the gesture.

“Shall I bring you some water to wash your face?”

“It’s fine. I’ll just use the bathroom.”

The Grand Duke looked as if he were ready to fetch a washbasin that very moment. Lila quickly shook her head and got out of bed. No matter what, she couldn’t allow someone of his stature to attend to such trivial tasks.

For someone of his rank, who likely had never so much as dirtied his own hands in his lifetime, it was baffling to see him act this way.

“Would you like some help?”

“No.”

Despite her refusal, the Grand Duke lingered nearby, looking a bit regretful. Ignoring him, Lila walked into the bathroom, leaving him behind like a puppy whining for attention.

“Hah.”

The bathroom always had clean water ready. Lila washed her face without any trouble, and the cold splash against her skin banished the lingering drowsiness.

“Good morning, Lady Lila.”

When she returned, toweling her face dry and having quickly brushed her hair, she found Emma setting the breakfast table by the window.

“Did you sleep well, Emma?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I had a restful night. I apologize for not attending to you earlier.”

“It’s fine. I prefer washing up alone anyway.”

Lila brushed off the concern lightly. Back in the Imperial Palace, personal attendants had been out of the question. She had always taken care of herself, whether it was showering or eating, so she truly felt no inconvenience. However, Emma looked at her with an expression of quiet pity.

“This morning’s menu is pancakes topped with nuts and an avocado Caesar salad. Dessert is custard pudding.”

Quickly regaining her composure, Emma explained the menu in a gentle tone.

“Thank you.”

Lila took a seat, the chair courteously pulled out by the Grand Duke, and eyed the delicious breakfast spread. It seemed the Grand Duke planned to eat with her, as there were two servings of pancakes and salad.

“Lady Lila has a refreshing strawberry ade, and His Grace has a strong iced coffee.”

With that, Emma placed the drinks on the table and withdrew.

“Oh.”

Lila exclaimed in admiration as she looked at the beautiful strawberry ade and quickly brought the straw to her lips. The tangy, sweet beverage burst with fizzy bubbles in her mouth, making her eyes light up with delight.

While thoroughly enjoying her drink, Lila noticed the serene figure of Grand Duke Eustace sipping coffee leisurely. She continued sipping on the straw, curiously observing him. Memories of seeing the Emperor and Crown Prince drink coffee occasionally flashed through her mind.

“Is it good?”

“Hmm? You’d probably find it bitter. Want to try?”

Grand Duke Eustace offered her his cup. Hearing it was bitter, the coffee suddenly looked as daunting as poison. Despite the pleasant aroma, the dark liquid seemed intimidating. After hesitating, Lila gathered her courage and took a sip, only to immediately scrunch her face in displeasure.

“It’s awful.”

“Haha, that’s understandable at first. I used to think the same,” Eustace replied, laughing at her blunt verdict.

“But it grows on you. Especially when you’re tired, it works wonders.”

Lila, still grimacing from the lingering bitterness, silently nibbled on her pancake. The sweet flavor filled her mouth, offering some relief. She couldn’t fathom why the Grand Duke chose to drink something so unpleasant when there were delicious options like this.

“Why subject yourself to such torture?”

“It’s not torture. It’s about appreciating the flavor and aroma.”

“The aroma is fine, but the taste… it’s too bitter.”

Grimacing at the residual taste, Lila cut herself a large piece of pancake and stuffed it into her mouth. The fluffy sweetness, coupled with the crunch of finely sliced almonds and walnuts, brought her back to comfort.

“Coffee is an adult’s drink. You’ll enjoy it as you grow older.”

“You’re still a baby yourself.”

“…Ahem!”

Eustace coughed violently, almost choking on his coffee. He looked at Lila with a mix of disbelief and bemusement.

“A baby? I’m a full-fledged adult at twenty.”

“At that age, you’re still a baby.”

In Lila’s mind, adults were people like stern drill instructors past forty or wrinkled chamberlains. Compared to them, Eustace, who was close to her age, was practically a child.

“The Empire considers twenty the age of adulthood, you know.”

“Even so, you look like a baby.”

“Me?”

At his incredulous response, Lila nodded enthusiastically. Eustace, now looking at her like she had said something utterly absurd, touched his face thoughtfully.

“I think I look plenty mature.”

“No, you don’t.”

Lila dismissed his argument with a tone that brooked no dissent.

“With that face, you’re basically baby-faced.”

She was entirely sincere. Compared to the knights, mages, and noble sons and daughters she had seen in the Imperial Palace, Eustace’s face was far clearer and more youthful.

“And your skin is flawless too…”

Staring at his smooth, blemish-free skin, Lila found herself itching to poke it with her finger. There was something irresistibly tempting about his face.

“Soft and squishy…”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing, forget it.”

Lila averted her gaze from his inquisitive blue eyes, feigning nonchalance.

“Anyway, you’re definitely a baby.”

Clearing her throat softly, she picked up her ade again, emphasizing her point. Eustace’s narrowed eyes glinted with amusement as he studied her.

“If I’m a baby, then you’re a baby bird.”

“What? Cough, cough…”

This time, Lila choked. Maintaining his serene demeanor, Eustace handed her a handkerchief as she spluttered.

“Phew… I am not a baby bird!”

Once she regained her composure, Lila wiped her mouth with the handkerchief and protested.

“Yes, you are. You’re two years younger than me, after all.”

“Eighteen is old enough for a coming-of-age ceremony.”

“But you’re still legally a minor. Little raven.”

Emphasizing the term “little raven” with a teasing smile, Eustace rested his chin on his hands, his expression playful.

“It’s not like that.”

Lila puffed out her lower lip with a sulky expression. Just moments ago, she’d called Grand Duke Eustace a baby, but now she seemed unwilling to be treated like a child herself.

“Now, put that beak away.”

Grand Duke Eustace chuckled at Lila’s pouty face, which he seemed to find adorable, and then he used a fork to pick up a perfectly cooked piece of chicken and avocado, offering it to her. However, Lila, still firmly sulking, pressed her lips tightly together.

“My arm’s getting tired. Come on, ah—”

The Grand Duke persisted, gently tapping her lips as if knocking on a door. In the end, Lila reluctantly opened her mouth to accept the bite.

“Good girl.”

Successfully getting her to eat the salad, Grand Duke Eustace smiled in satisfaction. His expression, doting as though watching an infant eat, left Lila feeling a little strange.

“Hurry up and eat. Pancakes are best when they’re warm.”

To prevent her from overthinking, the Grand Duke handed her another forkful of neatly sliced pancake.

Feeling somewhat uneasy but ultimately tempted by the sweetness of the pancakes, Lila accepted the bite. His strategy worked. Overwhelmed by the delightful flavor, she stopped dwelling on anything else.

“…If I keep eating like this, I’ll really turn into a pig.”

Having devoured even the custard pudding Emma had brought for dessert, Lila leaned back in her chair, content yet full.

“A pig? That’s far from the truth. You need to put on a bit more weight, actually.”

The Grand Duke, who had even given her his own pudding, firmly shook his head in disagreement. At his comment, Lila glanced at her slightly rounded stomach before returning her gaze to him. Feeling full, she decided it was time to bring up what she really wanted to discuss.

“So, what’s your plan now?”

“Hm? Ah, are you talking about the fake identity?”

Though she hadn’t explicitly stated it, Grand Duke Eustace immediately understood her intent.

“That and… yesterday, you mentioned you had several plans. Once I have the fake identity and finish learning basic etiquette from the tutor, I’ll be able to go out freely, right?”

Lila recalled their conversation from the day before and asked again to confirm.

“Of course. Though for safety reasons, you’ll need to be accompanied by me or a bodyguard.”

“I don’t need a bodyguard.”

Lila replied with a disinterested expression at his words. She found moving around alone far more comfortable than being accompanied.

“I can protect myself.”

“Absolutely not.”

The Grand Duke’s expression hardened, and his tone was more resolute than ever. On this matter, he was unwilling to compromise.

“Why not? Don’t you trust me?”