“You’re awake?”

Noticing the Raven standing by the bed, he smiled gently, his eyes crinkling in a sweet, relaxed expression.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

How could anyone act so kindly toward someone who had tried to kill them? The Raven couldn’t comprehend the man’s friendliness. Yet, unfazed by her silence, Eustace continued smiling as he walked into the room.

“It’s a lovely day.”

Placing a silver tray on a small table near the bed, he drew back the curtains and opened the window. A soft spring breeze, carrying the scent of blooming flowers, flowed into the room.

‘He’s beautiful.’

In the bright daylight, the Grand Duke’s appearance was mesmerizing. He had shimmered even in the dark, but now, bathed in sunlight, he seemed almost dazzling.

The Raven, as if entranced, stared at him. He looked like a fairy-tale prince. It was no wonder people spoke so highly of him.

“You look well,” he remarked.

“…!”

The Raven, briefly captivated, startled when his hand suddenly reached out toward her. She instinctively took a step back, prompting Eustace to pull his hand back with a sheepish expression.

“My apologies.”

“N-no,” she mumbled, shaking her head. She didn’t understand why he was apologizing. Confused by his actions, she scrunched her nose. Everything he did seemed to defy her expectations.

“It’s… fine.”

Her muffled response, hindered by the gag, darkened Eustace’s expression further. He fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable, as if he wanted to remove the gag immediately.

“I didn’t intend to make you uncomfortable.”

‘Even when upset, he still looks graceful.’ 

The Raven noted this newfound observation as she watched him.

“Hm.”

After a moment of contemplation, Eustace spoke again.

“You need to eat. I suppose I can remove the gag for now.”

“…?”

‘Remove the gag?’ The Raven blinked in disbelief. But Eustace seemed serious.

“If you promise me one thing, I’ll take it off.”

“Promise?”

Her gaze finally shifted to the tray on the table. On it were steaming, freshly baked bread, a fragrant bowl of soup, and a salad topped with vibrant vegetables, fruits, and cheese.

Gulp. 

She swallowed unconsciously. The sight of the food alone made her mouth water.

Growl.

“…!”

As the delicious aroma teased her nose, the forgotten pangs of hunger surged, making her stomach growl audibly. Startled by the sound from her own body, the Raven wrapped her arms around her abdomen. Eustace chuckled softly at the sight.

“You must be very hungry.”

“Ugh…”

The Raven’s eyes darted around, searching for a place to focus. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“If you’d like to eat, as I said earlier, you’ll need to make a promise with me.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. Promise me that if I take off your gag, you won’t have any dangerous thoughts.”

The Raven tilted her head at his serious tone. Dangerous thoughts?

“By that, I mean you must not try to harm yourself. Like last night…”

“I won’t.”

Before Eustace could finish, the Raven replied firmly. Attempting to end her life last night had been part of her orders in case of mission failure. But now, she felt differently.

What she had thought was the best option back then no longer seemed necessary.

“I won’t die,” she said, looking straight at Eustace. Despite the awkwardness in her voice, her expression was steady.

Even so, Eustace didn’t appear fully reassured.

“You also mustn’t bite your tongue to hurt yourself or try to attack me.”

“Understood.”

The Raven nodded emphatically, her response making Eustace smile once more.

“Good. Then, let’s seal the promise.”

“Huh?”

Eustace held out his pinky finger. After a brief hesitation, the Raven awkwardly hooked her finger around his. A soft, glowing light—like dandelion seeds—sprouted between their linked fingers.

“It’s a promise now. If you break it, magic will activate.”

“No magic,” she muttered, narrowing her eyes at him like he was a con artist.

“It’s just insurance,” Eustace shrugged with a smile, unbothered by her glare.

Having secured her promise, he reached out and removed the gag.

“Ahh…”

The Raven exhaled deeply, finally able to take a full breath. She inhaled deeply and sighed in relief, now able to breathe more freely.

“Hold still.”

Eustace pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the saliva from the corners of her mouth.

“I’d like to make you more comfortable, but my cautious retainers insisted on precautions. I’m not entirely at ease myself, so I hope you’ll understand why I can’t give you complete freedom yet.”

He lightly touched the bracelet on her wrist, his fingers lingering briefly as he offered a quiet apology. Watching him repeatedly apologize, the Raven scrunched her nose in confusion.

His words and actions made it feel like she wasn’t a dangerous assassin but rather a valued guest.

“You’re… strange,” she said bluntly.

“Am I?” Eustace smiled brightly, unfazed by her observation.

“I tried to kill you.”

“Yes, you did come to my bedroom in person.”

The Raven’s expression shifted. She had indeed entered his bedroom—but with the intent to kill him. Yet, Eustace glossed over the sinister purpose, emphasizing only the visit itself.

“…Aren’t you afraid of me? Or at least, don’t you dislike me?”

“Not at all. I’m glad you came to see me.”

“You saved me the trouble” he murmured so softly that the Raven barely caught his words.

“Trouble? What trouble?”

“It’s nothing.”

The Raven tilted her head, puzzled. Although she didn’t fully grasp his muttered words, Eustace merely smiled, acting as if he had said nothing of importance.

Something felt off, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. A sense of unease gnawed at her as she regarded him with a confused expression.

Oddly, there was no hostility or wariness in Eustace’s demeanor toward her.

Most mages are said to be either missing a screw or a little insane. Could the Grand Duke be one of them too? After all, he was one of only three 6th-circle mages on the continent—maybe he had a touch of madness himself.

The raven tried to rationalize the Grand Duke’s strangely favorable attitude toward her. Staring at his clear, innocent face, completely devoid of malice, made her feel restless for reasons she couldn’t quite understand.

“Please, have a seat. I asked the chef to prepare something simple, though I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”

Whether he sensed the raven’s unsettled mood or not, Grand Duke Eustace pulled out a chair for her with a cheerful expression. Since there was nothing else she could do at the moment, she decided to eat first. After all, everything works better on a full stomach.

“There’s nothing strange in it, so please feel at ease.”

She hesitated, unsure where to begin, until the Grand Duke pierced a slice of apple with a fork and offered it to her.

“Ah.”

“Ah?”

“There you go.”

Without thinking, she opened her mouth, and the apple slipped inside. As soon as she accepted the bite, the Grand Duke gently ruffled her hair as if praising her. Feeling a strange sense of warmth again, the raven chewed slowly.

The crisp, juicy apple burst with freshness. Its sweet, cool flavor spread across her tongue, and she found herself unable to hold back any longer. Grabbing a spoon, she eagerly dug into the soup.

“…!”

‘Delicious. Absolutely delicious!’ The creamy, sweet corn soup made her eyes widen in delight. It was, without a doubt, the best soup she had ever tasted.

“It’s also good with bread,” the Grand Duke suggested as he tore a piece and handed it to her.

Following his advice, she dipped the bread into the soup and took a bite.

“…!”

‘So soft!’ It melted in her mouth. The raven stomped her feet in excitement. After a lifetime of eating stale, hard bread, this freshly made, warm bread was on an entirely different level.

Her usual bread felt like trash in comparison, barely fit to eat. Watching her eat with such enthusiasm, Grand Duke Eustace smiled contentedly.

“How does it taste?”

“It’s amazing!”

Lost in the joy of eating, the raven responded with a bright smile. The warm, soft food filled her with life. Her once-dull, black eyes sparkled, and her pale cheeks flushed with color.

“I’m glad. Let me know if you need more,” the Grand Duke said warmly, pleased with her newfound energy. But the raven shook her head.

“No, I’m full now.”

Setting down her spoon and fork without regret, she leaned back in her chair, utterly satisfied. She had eaten plenty of salad, soup, and bread. It had been so long since she’d felt this full.

“Already? You’ve barely eaten a bird’s portion,” Eustace remarked with mild dissatisfaction.

A bird’s portion? Was he implying she hadn’t eaten much? The raven tilted her head, patting her now-rounded belly. It had been ages since she’d eaten enough to feel this full.

“I usually eat much less than this.”

“Less than this?”

“Yeah. Assassins need to keep light.”

Her casual response made the Grand Duke’s eyes narrow slightly. A fleeting chill flickered in his deep blue gaze before disappearing.

“I see… that makes sense,” he murmured, tapping the table thoughtfully. The raven noticed his sudden change in mood and wondered if she had said something wrong. But from her perspective, she had simply stated the truth.

“An assassin must be faster than anyone else.”

It was an unbreakable rule. Her instructor had always emphasized that.

“Approach the target swiftly, eliminate them without a sound, and escape without a trace. That’s what an assassin does.”

To move quickly, her body had to be light. Her instructor had been strict, meticulously managing her diet and demanding she maintain a dangerously low weight.

“You need to be lighter than anyone here.”

He weighed her daily. Any deviation from his strict standards meant a day of fasting and intense training. The only times she was allowed to eat her fill were after flawlessly completing a day’s training or succeeding in a mission.

Perhaps that’s why she was always hungry.

“Your body is perfect for an assassin.”

Due to years of inadequate nourishment, the Raven was smaller and shorter than others her age. However, her instructor often smiled with satisfaction at her thin, underdeveloped figure. In hindsight, she couldn’t help but think he was a complete creep.

Instructor Woden.

Just thinking about him made the Raven scowl. Every memory of him left a bad taste in her mouth, and it wasn’t without reason. Woden was the head of the Emperor’s Shadows and the one who had turned her into an assassin.

What could he be doing now? With the mission having failed, perhaps he was being reprimanded by the Emperor. The Raven quickly shook her head. Whatever his fate, it no longer concerned her.

“…”

Turning her thoughts away from Woden, she observed Grand Duke Eustace in silence. He was dressed in a white shirt and a light beige cardigan, with his golden hair loosely tied back. His serene, lake-blue eyes were downcast in thought, and the absence of his usual smile made him appear somewhat angry.

‘He really is beautiful.’