“Why not? Don’t you trust me?”

Did he think she might run away if left alone? Lila’s expression grew serious, matching his. Although she hadn’t fully trusted him yet, the idea that he might distrust her left her feeling annoyed.

“It’s not about trust.”

Noticing her stiffened expression, the Grand Duke looked as though he’d realized he’d made a mistake.

“Then why can’t I move around alone? Even though I lost to you, I can protect myself without anyone’s help.”

“I know better than anyone how strong you are, Lila. But as long as there are risks, I can’t let my guard down.”

“Grand Duke.”

“If you stay as my guest at the ducal estate, you’ll not only draw the Emperor’s attention but also that of the nobles who oppose me.”

The Grand Duke spoke gently, like someone trying to console a child.

“So, you’re not doubting me?”

“Why would I doubt you, Lila?”

“Then why insist I not go alone? If you’re worried I’ll run away—”

“That’s not what I meant!”

The Grand Duke, visibly flustered, raised his voice.

“I’m not underestimating you or doubting you. It’s just… I don’t want you to be even the slightest bit in danger.”

“Oh.”

“Just the thought of it is unbearable. If you ever decided to leave me for good… how could I stop you? If you set your mind to it, evading a guard or avoiding pursuit would be as easy as eating soup for you.”

The Grand Duke frowned, as though even imagining her departure caused him pain.

“Sorry, I misunderstood.”

Lila apologized sincerely, her tension easing as she realized he hadn’t doubted her.

“I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

Her head lowered as she acknowledged her mistake. Feeling embarrassed for overreacting and jumping to conclusions, she avoided looking at the Grand Duke.

“There’s no need to apologize,” Eustace said gently, his gaze softening as he watched Lila’s subdued demeanor.

“I should have explained myself better instead of outright refusing. It’s understandable that you misunderstood. I’m sorry for causing you confusion.”

Such a tender heart, he thought, seeing her remorse. It made him feel guilty.

“The emperor is old,” Eustace began in a calm tone. “He’s already lost his restraint. The fact that he rashly ordered your assassination before you could even ascend as a Swordmaster proves it.”

He paused briefly before continuing, his voice firm with certainty.

“By now, he’s likely realized his mistake and grown even more desperate.”

Lila listened intently, her black eyes darkening as he continued.

“As you know, the emperor’s obsession with his crown prince is infamous. Everyone is aware of his unhealthy attachment to his son.”

Eustace hesitated, gauging Lila’s reaction, concerned that his words might upset her.

“Over the years, the emperor has either recruited or discreetly eliminated anyone he deemed a threat to himself or the crown prince.”

Lila’s chest tightened, and her mouth went dry. Had she unknowingly assassinated someone on his orders? The thought was heavy, suffocating.

“For years, his tactics went unchallenged. Many lives were lost at his hands. However, now he faces an obstacle—me.”

The power within the empire was split into two factions: the emperor’s loyalists and the aristocrats. Despite his young age, Eustace had become the head of the aristocratic faction two years ago, a figure of considerable influence.

“This isn’t the first time the emperor has targeted House Eustace. Even when my parents were alive, he relentlessly attacked us.”

At the mention of his late parents, the Grand Duke’s expression darkened, and he subconsciously touched the scar near his right eye.

“To him, my parents and I weren’t blood relatives but political adversaries threatening his reign.”

Lila’s gaze grew somber. The Eustace family had been established by a direct descendant of the empire’s first emperor, the legendary 9th-circle mage known as the Great Sage. Over the centuries, the family had produced many exceptional mages.

The relationship between the imperial family and House Eustace had been one of both collaboration and conflict, shifting with the times. The previous Grand Duke and Duchess, tragically killed, were the emperor’s cousins, making Eustace and Lila distant relatives.

“After my parents’ untimely deaths, the balance of power shifted in the emperor’s favor. But when I entered the political scene, the aristocratic faction grew stronger, and I became a thorn in his side.”

Lila thought back to the report delivered by the chamberlain. It claimed that the former Grand Duke and Duchess had died while stopping a rampaging Swordmaster.

Could the emperor have been involved in their deaths? The possibility sent a chill through her. She didn’t want to believe it, but she knew what he was capable of.

The previous Grand Duke and Duchess were both renowned mages, particularly the Duchess, who had been expected to reach the 6th circle if not for her untimely death. It was hard to imagine the emperor leaving such potential threats alive.

And the sudden mental collapse of the Swordmaster? That seemed equally suspicious now.

“The emperor failed to sway me and couldn’t eliminate me either.”

The emperor was too small-minded to control Eustace, and with the Grand Duke’s widespread support among both nobles and commoners, he couldn’t openly attack him.

“I believe his actions now are the result of his accumulated rage. His patience has reached its limit.”

“You’re right,” Lila agreed, nodding. She knew firsthand the emperor’s deep hatred for Eustace. While the world remembered him as the youngest mage to reach the 6th circle, he had also been the youngest to reach the 5th circle before that—and even earlier, the 4th circle.

“That bastard! That wretched boy reached the 4th circle?! Impossible!”

“Tear him apart! That scoundrel keeps overshadowing my son!”

“It’s all your fault! If only you hadn’t been born, my son—! Damn it! You’re useless!”

The emperor would go into fits of rage every time Eustace achieved a new milestone in magical history, throwing tantrums and breaking things. Often, his fury would spill over onto Lila, who bore the brunt of his wrath.

“The emperor has already begun targeting my allies and associates. A few weeks ago, the mage managing Eustace’s lands in my stead and a retired knight commander were ambushed by unknown assailants.”

“What?!” Lila’s eyes widened in shock.

“Because of that incident, half of my knights and mages were dispatched to investigate and oversee the territory. As a result, there was a slight breach in the mansion’s security.”

“No way…”

“Your suspicions are likely correct. The emperor deliberately caused trouble in my territory. Then, he took advantage of the weakened security and ordered my assassination.”

“So, that’s what it was.”

Lila murmured, her expression one of realization as if the final pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place. She had always wondered why the emperor had suddenly ordered the assassination of Grand Duke Eustace, but now she understood.

“What I’m trying to say is that even if you deceive the emperor by concealing your true identity, it won’t end there. The nobles supporting the emperor are highly likely to attack you.”

Duke Eustace spoke with a worried expression. At present, relations between the imperial family and the Eustace family were at their worst. They had to be wary of not only the emperor but also the nobles loyal to the imperial house.

“Hmm.”

Lila fell into deep thought. He was right. If the emperor had continued targeting the Grand Duke’s people, even if she wasn’t discovered as the Raven, she had to remain vigilant.

“If the emperor attacks me, what approach would he take?”

Assassination, kidnapping, blackmail, persuasion… There were many ways to eliminate an adversary. If avoiding it wasn’t an option, it was better to anticipate how the emperor might strike and prepare in advance.

“He’ll likely resort to overwhelming numbers. Since you’re at the peak of expert-level, instead of an assassin, they might disguise themselves as thieves or provoke you as bandits.”

Grand Duke Eustace answered Lila’s question as if he had been waiting for it.

“Overwhelming numbers?”

“Yes. It’s a tactic often used to defeat a stronger opponent. The emperor prefers to eliminate his enemies discreetly, but when that’s not feasible, he uses sheer numbers to overpower them. That’s exactly what happened in the recent incident in the territory.”

“Overwhelm with numbers…”

Aura and mana weren’t infinite. Even a swordmaster or a seventh-circle mage couldn’t guarantee victory against a swarm of knights and mages.

“The emperor commands the largest force of knights and mages in the empire. And there’s also the shadow organization you once belonged to.”

While nobles maintained private forces, none matched the emperor’s scale. The imperial knights and mages were the largest in the empire.

“So, you’re saying he’ll relentlessly deploy knights and mages until I’m exhausted?”

“That’s highly likely.”

Grand Duke Eustace spoke with conviction.

“You’re probably more familiar with the capabilities of the emperor’s knights and mages than I am.”

“They won’t be easy opponents if they attack all at once.”

Lila agreed with the Grand Duke’s added remark. The imperial knights had to be at least mid-level experts, and the mages at least third-circle to join the imperial forces. Not to mention, there were the emperor’s shadows, each possessing unique abilities.

“If knights, mages, and shadows attack simultaneously, there’s no guarantee of victory.”

“Even I, as a sixth-circle mage, wouldn’t come out unscathed if twenty fifth-circle mages attacked at once. The same goes for you. Could you return unharmed if dozens of high-level or peak-level knights charged at you?”

“Hmm… No.”

“That’s why I hope you’ll follow my advice on this. Your safety is my utmost priority, even if it causes you discomfort.”

Eustace gently held Lila’s scarred hands. Hands that had suffered countless injuries, often without proper treatment—testaments to her brutal struggle for survival.

“I can’t bear to see you hurt, not even once more.”

His gaze, filled with concern, met hers with unwavering seriousness. For a moment, Lila was at a loss for words.

Has anyone ever reacted this way to her pain? Has anyone ever worried for her like this? Unable to suppress the surge of emotion, she bit the inside of her cheek.

She had thought her heart had become numb, devoid of feeling. But she was wrong. The sensation that spread through her body now felt like rain falling on parched, cracked earth. A strange warmth seeped into her chest, leaving her unsure of how to describe it.

“Lila?”

Duke Eustace called her name with a hint of unease when she remained silent. Lila blinked slowly, as if holding back tears. Her long, dark lashes trembled.

“…Then instead of a guard, I’ll stay by your side.”

“What?”