“This can’t be a dream if I can feel pain…”

Lou muttered as he pinched his own cheek in disbelief. For someone as famous as the Grand Duke, known throughout the Empire, to remember the names of mere apprentices was unimaginable. Though they had met many nobles while assisting Aria, this had never happened before. Slowly, their wide brown eyes began to shine with awe.

“We’ll do our very best!”

“We’ll work hard to create the finest clothes possible!”

The two shouted passionately, clenching their fists with determination.

“I’m counting on you,” Eustace replied with a gentle smile.

“Wow…”

Lou and Leigh exhaled in amazement at the sight of the Grand Duke’s sugar-sweet smile. Amused by their reaction, he chuckled softly and reached out to pat their fluffy heads one by one.

“…?!”

When they felt his hand on their heads, Lou and Leigh froze in disbelief, only to break into wide grins moments later.

“Now then, could I ask you to let us spend some time alone?”

“Yes, of course!”

“We’ll take our leave now!”

The two, still dazed with joy, bowed deeply before scurrying off with flushed faces.

“I’m not washing my hair today…”

Leigh murmured to herself, cradling her head as she passed by Lila, who watched her with a bemused expression.

Between Aria and the twins, she’d always known Eustace was popular, but seeing people respond so uniformly to him every time was fascinating.

“You’re seriously popular,” Lila remarked.

“Me? Oh no, not at all,” Eustace replied, waving his hand dismissively.

“Not at all? Everyone seems to adore you,” Lila retorted, giving him a look that said she wasn’t buying his denial.

Back in the imperial palace, Eustace’s name had been something of a taboo. Few dared to speak well of him under the Emperor and Crown Prince’s watchful eyes. But here, it was a different story. Everyone working in the Grand Duke’s residence seemed genuinely happy, in stark contrast to the somber faces of the imperial servants. Even outsiders like Aria and the twins radiated warmth toward Eustace, and Lila couldn’t help but notice.

“Those two are twins, right? They look identical even though they’re different genders.”

Watching the twins walk off hand in hand, Lila mused aloud.

“It is rare for boy-and-girl twins to look so much alike,” Eustace agreed.

Typically, twins of the same gender resembled each other more, while mixed-gender twins tended to differ in appearance. Lila and the Crown Prince were also twins, but their looks and auras were distinctly different. While they shared a few subtle similarities, no one would call them identical.

“…There really are twins who get along so well,” Lila murmured quietly.

“What’s so amusing?”

Lila watched Lou and Leigh whispering and laughing together, her gaze vacant. She muttered bitterly to herself. Though she had been born in the same imperial family as the crown prince, she had never experienced such joyful moments.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

A large, pale hand blocked her view.

“There are siblings who get along well, and then there are siblings who are worse than enemies,” said Grand Duke Eustace matter-of-factly, as though both were equally common occurrences. His words sounded oddly comforting, and Lila’s lips curled into the faintest smile.

“Now that the distractions are gone, would you focus on me?”

Turning Lila’s gaze toward himself, the Grand Duke gave her a playful, alluring smile.

“Is something the matter?”

Lila looked up at Grand Duke Eustace with a blank expression. She had expected Emma to come, but his presence suggested this might be important.

“Nothing major. Your tutor has been decided,” he replied.

“Oh.”

“They’re already waiting at the estate. I saw Emma heading to fetch you and insisted on coming instead.”

“Will I start lessons today?”

“You’ll simply meet them today. Your lessons will begin at the scheduled time tomorrow. Shall we head back?”

The Grand Duke naturally took Lila’s hand. Contrary to his words about returning, he led her further into the garden’s interior.

“Since we’re here, why not take a stroll before heading back?”

“But they’re waiting for me,” Lila said, hesitant.

“It’ll only be a few minutes.”

If the Grand Duke said it was fine, then it must be. Watching his sky-blue eyes curve gently, Lila nodded. The two walked slowly, hand in hand, along the fragrant path filled with nature’s scents.

“What kind of person is my tutor?”

“Huon Lee, a sorcerer from the East,” Eustace answered.

“A sorcerer?”

“Yes. In the East, they call mages ‘sorcerers.’ She’s very skilled but recently sustained a severe injury. Since she won’t be able to work with the mage corps for a while, I asked her to teach you.”

Was it because of that incident in the territory? Lila recalled what Eustace had mentioned before and adjusted her pace to match his.

“Huon has experience teaching students at the academy before joining our household. She’ll be a great help to you.”

“Since she’s from the East, would she know Muwon’s language?”

Lila asked, recalling her earlier embarrassment in front of Lou and Leigh for not understanding Muwon’s language.

“I asked her before she arrived. Huon is from Taego, a region bordering Muwon.”

“Taego?”

Lila tilted her head at the unfamiliar name.

“It’s a country famous for its sorcery. Because it’s close to Muwon, he knows a bit of their language. He should be able to teach you greetings and commonly used phrases.”

“That’s a relief.”

Her concerns resolved more easily than expected, Lila sighed in relief, prompting a soft laugh from Eustace.

“Was that weighing on your mind?”

“Well, it wouldn’t make sense for someone from the East not to know anything about their neighboring languages.”

“You’ll learn quickly.”

“Does Huon know who I am?”

“I told her yesterday. She also swore a confidentiality oath, so you don’t need to worry.”

“What happens if she breaks it?”

“Well,” the Grand Duke said with a slightly mischievous smile, “she’ll face the consequences of breaking the contract.”

He gently brushed a strand of Lila’s black hair behind her ear, his movements unhurried to allow her to take in the scenery.

“What kind of country is Muwon?”

“It’s a small nation renowned for producing many master swordsmen. When a child is born, the first gift they receive is a sword. That’s how much they revere martial arts.”

“I see.”

“Oh, by the way, the ‘Hwagyeong’ they refer to is equivalent to the level of a top-tier sword expert.”

Would she ever be free enough to visit Muwon someday? Lila wondered. She imagined people who looked like her—black hair and black eyes, common in the Eastern Continent.

“Many noble families in Eustace’s empire trace their origins to Muwon. Even the late empress’s family has Muwonian blood.”

“Mother’s?”

Hearing something new, Lila’s black eyes widened in surprise.

“From what I know, the Marcia Border to which the empress belonged, was founded by a swordsman from Muwon and a sorcerer from Taego. In its early days, the family produced many sorcerers as well as warriors.”

“I’ve never met anyone from my mother’s family.”

Lila knew that the Marquis Marcia, one of the Empire’s great generals, was her maternal grandfather. However, she had never met any of her maternal relatives. She had few memories of her childhood, but she was sure of that much.

“That’s because the emperor forbade them from entering the palace. Even before that, they rarely visited the capital, as they were tasked with defending the empire’s borders.”

“Oh.”

“The Border Marquis is a veteran warrior respected by all who practice martial arts. When he stepped down and volunteered to serve as a common soldier after the Empress was deposed, many martial families protested.”

“Serving as a common soldier… That means he wandered battlefields stripped of his rank, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Was it because of me?”

Listening to Eustace’s explanation, Lila’s expression darkened. She had never given much thought to her maternal family. Now, learning about them left her feeling burdened.

“It wasn’t because of you. It was because of the emperor.”

Eustace corrected her firmly. It was the emperor who had deposed the empress on the pretext of giving birth to a mutant. At that time, Marquis Marcia had volunteered to be a common soldier to save his daughter’s life.

“Even so…”

‘If only I hadn’t been born’, Lila thought, biting her lower lip. She didn’t dare voice those words, knowing they would only sadden Eustace.

Lila swallowed the words that had risen to her throat. Seeing Lila suddenly become somber, the Grand Duke’s expression turned concerned.

“Are you sad?”

“No.”

Lila quickly shook her head.

“I’ve never even met them.”

Lila had neither met anyone from the Marcia family nor exchanged a single letter with them. Naturally, she didn’t know their faces. There had been no contact at all, so it was impossible for her to feel any affection for them. However, the thought that her mother’s family had ended up like that because of her made her chest ache strangely.

“Still… it feels a bit odd.”

Her small hand gently rubbed the spot over her heart that had been prickling earlier. After a brief hesitation, Lila slowly opened her mouth.

“Are they still serving as a common soldier?”

“No. They were reinstated several years ago. Until then, it was your uncle, Lord Marcia, who led the family.”

Restoring the Marcia family’s honor had been one of the first things Grand Duke Eustace had accomplished after entering the political arena at the age of eighteen. There were many who supported the Marquis Marcia, so reinstating him had not been difficult.

“That’s a relief.”

Lila let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.

“So, what are they doing now?”

“They’re still guarding the empire’s border, as always. However, they’ve completely withdrawn from political activities in the capital.”

“What?”

“Since the empress’s passing, the Marcia family has closed their doors and severed all ties with the central administration.”

“Not even a representative in the capital?”

“There is someone managing their townhouse in the capital.”

Unless actively involved in central politics or serving as imperial officials, most nobles spent much of their time on their estates. They often maintained several townhouses in the capital and entrusted them to reliable distant relatives as caretakers.

“Do you wish to meet them?”

Eustace cautiously asked, observing Lila’s quiet demeanor. In truth, he had been secretly maintaining contact with the Marcia family. If Lila desired, he could connect them at any time.

“I don’t know.”

Lila answered honestly. She couldn’t decide whether she wanted to meet the Marcia family or not.

Her maternal grandfather and uncle, whom she had never seen, were strangers to her. She bore no anger or resentment toward them for not helping her, but she also felt no longing or affection one might naturally have for family. It was only logical, as there had been no opportunity to build such a bond.

“Is that why my false identity’s origin was set as Muwon?”

“That’s part of it, but… the main reason is the emperor.”

“The emperor?”