“What?”

“Hans is my retainer. He was merely carrying out my orders.”

The Grand Duke’s voice dropped to a dangerous low. He clenched and unclenched his fists, suppressing the fury bubbling within him. If the man before him weren’t the Crown Prince, he would have already beaten him to a pulp.

“What have I done to warrant a protest?!”

Completely oblivious to the Grand Duke’s seething restraint, the Crown Prince raised his voice even louder.

“I even chose to come at a scheduled time, yet this is how I am treated?!”

The Grand Duke looked at him as if he were a foolish pup barking at a tiger.

He wanted nothing more than to teach the prince a painful lesson, but the priority was to send him away quietly before Lila found out.

“So, what is your business here?”

“Bring me Baroness Lila Knox!”

The Crown Prince demanded with an arrogant expression. His tone made it clear he was issuing an order, and Elvin, standing behind the Grand Duke, frowned at the audacity.

“I must confirm her face with my own eyes!”

“Hah.”

Grand Duke Eustace let out a short laugh, crossing his arms.

He had expected this reaction after provoking the prince last night, but seeing him act so predictably was almost disappointing.

“Unfortunately, that will not be possible.”

“What?”

The previously confident Crown Prince looked stunned at the outright refusal. He blinked in disbelief before scowling.

“Are you mocking me? After humiliating me in front of everyone last night?!”

“Isn’t it Your Highness who is mocking me?”

The Grand Duke’s eyes turned cold as he stared down the Crown Prince. His gaze, sharp as frost in the dead of winter, made the prince flinch.

“Which nation’s etiquette dictates that one may barge in unannounced without even sending an envoy?”

“What?!”

“Before lecturing others about manners, perhaps Your Highness should reflect on your own conduct.”

The Crown Prince’s face twisted at the rebuke. The Grand Duke, however, paid him no mind and instead reached toward Hans.

With a simple healing spell, the swelling on Hans’s cheek vanished instantly.

“Not only did you act disrespectfully, but you also struck one of my people. It seems Your Highness considers the Grand Duke of Eustace an easy target.”

“Manners? And yet, Grand Duke, have you shown me, the Crown Prince, proper courtesy?!”

Recalling the humiliation from the previous night, the Crown Prince exploded in anger.

“How shameless!”

“I’m not sure what Your Highness is referring to.”

“Don’t play dumb! Last night, you deliberately humiliated me in front of everyone! And yet, despite enduring such an insult, I still chose to hold back out of consideration for you—!”

“You were thinking of me?”

Grand Duke Eustace tilted his head slightly, as if he had just heard something utterly absurd.

“You weren’t thinking of me—you were thinking of your own dignity.”

“Tsk!”

The Crown Prince clenched his fists, rendered speechless. He trembled with barely restrained fury, knowing full well he could never win against Grand Duke Eustace in a battle of words.

“How far do you intend to go…?”

With his fists tightly clenched, the Crown Prince glared daggers at the Grand Duke. He had already been pushed into a corner mentally, and now, being repeatedly disregarded by him was intolerable.

“How dare you look down on me?!”

His enraged voice slipped through clenched teeth. Half-mad with fury, he let out a furious shout, and his uncontrolled magic surged around him. The scorching energy flared like raging flames, forcing Elvin and Hans to instinctively step back.

“Foolish.”

Grand Duke Eustace twisted his lips in disdain as he unleashed his own magic. A golden radiance, incomparably more brilliant than the prince’s, poured from his body.

“If you wish to pick a fight, at least choose your opponent wisely.”

In an instant, the dazzling light swallowed the Crown Prince’s magic whole.

“Urgh!”

A terrible pressure crushed down on the Crown Prince, forcing a pained groan from his lips. The suffocating weight constricted his throat, bringing him back to his senses.

“Your Grace! Please withdraw your magic!”

Startled by the sudden turn of events, the Crown Prince’s royal guards simultaneously drew their swords. Grand Duke Eustace regarded the weapons pointed at him with a glacial gaze.

“I was not the one who started this.”

“T-This is treason!”

A court magician, standing behind the royal guards, cried out in alarm.

“Treason?”

Grand Duke Eustace let out an amused scoff and flicked his fingers. Instantly, his magic lashed out like a whip, coiling around the magician and binding him in place.

“Say that again.”

“Gah!”

“Did you just call me a traitor?”

“Y-Your Grace…”

Before he could even react, the court magician was ensnared, struggling desperately. But the more he resisted, the tighter the magic constricted around him, choking the air from his lungs.

“Damn it!”

One of the knights, overwhelmed by the tension, gathered his aura and charged at Grand Duke Eustace.

“Your Grace!”

Elvin shouted in alarm, but before the knight could reach the Grand Duke, someone swiftly stepped in front of him.

Clang!

The sharp clang of metal rang through the air as the knight’s sword was knocked from his grip.

“Ugh!”

With a single cry, the knight collapsed, clutching his stomach.

Lila, having subdued him in an instant, swept her icy gaze across the battlefield. The remaining royal guards, still gripping their swords, hesitated under the weight of her fierce presence.

“Lady Lila?”

Grand Duke Eustace, who had worn an indifferent expression just moments ago, widened his eyes in surprise at her sudden appearance.

“Are you alright?”

Lila remained alert, scanning him with concern. The moment she had heard from Lou, she had rushed here without hesitation.

“How did you— No, that was my mistake.”

Grand Duke Eustace, who had intended to send the Crown Prince away without Lila knowing, uncharacteristically faltered. Had things remained quiet, he might have succeeded, but after using his magic so blatantly, there was no way Lila wouldn’t have sensed it.

“Are you hurt—”

“I am not.”

Even at his assurance, Lila couldn’t relax. She had sensed the surge of overwhelming magic, and the sight that greeted her upon arrival was a knight charging straight at Grand Duke Eustace.

The moment she saw that, she hadn’t even stopped to think—her body had moved on its own.

“That’s a relief.”

“It’s not too late.”

Lila carefully examined the Grand Duke’s face and body, letting out a sigh of relief when she confirmed that he hadn’t suffered a single scratch.

“Your Grace!”

Evan and the knights arrived belatedly. As people gathered around, Grand Duke Eustace let out a small sigh and withdrew his magic.

“Ugh!”

Freed from the oppressive pressure, the Crown Prince staggered violently. One of his royal guards quickly rushed to support him, preventing him from collapsing in disgrace.

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

The Crown Prince forced his trembling legs to hold firm. If he didn’t, he would fall at any moment. He could not endure any further humiliation.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Evan asked with a hardened expression. His stern face resembled that of a parent scolding a misbehaving child, making Grand Duke Eustace smile awkwardly.

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?”

After using magic against the Crown Prince? Evan’s expression turned incredulous. No matter the circumstances, attacking a member of the royal family was a grave offense. This incident could cause serious trouble in the future.

“I lost my temper for a moment… I couldn’t help it.”

“Good grief.”

Evan pressed a hand to his forehead as if a headache was coming on.

“Your Highness, perhaps it would be best to return now.”

While Evan and Grand Duke Eustace bickered, the royal guard supporting the Crown Prince cautiously suggested retreating. He had just witnessed the overwhelming difference in power and was utterly shaken. It seemed wise to withdraw before the situation escalated further.

However, the Crown Prince remained unmoving. His gaze wasn’t on the Grand Duke—it was locked onto Lila. His bloodshot blue eyes gleamed with intensity.

“Lila Knox…”

The Crown Prince murmured her name. Every movement of his lips brought a metallic taste to his mouth. It seemed his lower lip had split when he was crushed under the weight of magic earlier.

“Lila Knox—!”

A furious roar burst from his lips. Lila, who had been entirely focused on Grand Duke Eustace, turned her head at the sound of her name. Fiery blue eyes clashed with cold golden ones.

This is all because of her. The Crown Prince ground his teeth. It no longer mattered to him whether Lila was a Raven or not. The simple fact that she was the cause of his humiliation was enough—he could never forgive her.

“This is all your doing—!”

“Who are you?”