‘He really is beautiful.’

The Raven swallowed her admiration yet again. It was said that even the women and men of the imperial capital lost sleep over him, and now she understood why.

Every feature was striking: his radiant blond hair, his smooth forehead, his gemstone-like blue eyes, his perfectly shaped nose, his full, rose-tinted lips, and his flawless skin. Each aspect was stunning on its own, but together, they created a face that was nothing short of breathtaking.

It was no wonder he was hailed as the most handsome man in the imperial palace. Even the Crown Prince, who was sought after by the noble ladies, would pale in comparison if he stood next to Eustace.

What stood out the most, however, were his golden hair and blue eyes. They were the marks of immense magical power in the empire, a testament to the royal family’s descent from the legendary 9th-circle mage. Despite being a distant relative of the royal family, Eustace’s golden hair and blue eyes were far more vivid than those of the Emperor or the Crown Prince.

More significantly, Eustace had achieved the status of a 6th-circle mage at a remarkably young age, something neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince had accomplished. Neither had even reached the 5th circle.

The current Emperor, in particular, was infamous for having weak magical power, the lowest in the history of the Esteban Empire. Despite dedicating his life to study and training, he had only reached the early stages of the 4th circle.

Compared to his predecessors, who typically reached the late 4th or mid-5th circle, his abilities were woefully inadequate. The Crown Prince had salvaged some pride by reaching the 4th circle early in life, but Eustace shattered that pride by becoming the youngest 6th-circle mage.

Though the Raven was politically naive, she could grasp how much of a threat Eustace posed to the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Given their personalities, it was likely they harbored a deep sense of inferiority toward him.

‘Is this what it means to have it all?’ The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like Eustace lacked nothing—looks, talent, status.

As the Grand Duke blinked, his long lashes fluttered gently. The Raven’s fingers twitched with the desire to touch them, the delicate movement captivating her.

“…Hm? Ah.”

Eustace, lost in thought for a while, finally noticed her gaze and lifted his eyes. The Raven, caught staring, flinched as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

“Apologies. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. His lips curved upward in a graceful arc, their redness making them look almost too inviting. The Raven felt a strange hunger stir within her and wrinkled her nose to shake it off.

“Well, what’s past is past. Can’t you eat as much as you want now?”

“Hmm?”

She blinked at his unexpected comment, remembering their earlier discussion about food.

“You’re no longer an assassin, after all.”

He spoke casually, as if stating the obvious. His certainty about her retirement made the Raven tilt her head.

“Why am I not an assassin anymore?”

“Well, you were captured by me.”

“That’s true, but…”

“And failure, for an assassin, is the same as death, is it not?”

“I guess so… but does that mean you’re going to kill me?”

“No.”

Eustace immediately shook his head, as if the mere idea were absurd.

“Then are you going to let me live?”

‘Why would you let me live? Why are you being so kind to me?’ The Raven swallowed the questions rising in her throat, choosing instead to think quickly.

Even if she had survived for now, her career as an assassin was over. Escaping would mean nothing if she couldn’t avoid the Emperor’s Shadows, who would likely hunt her down.

“Hey…”

“Yes, feel free to speak.”

“Do you have anyone you want dead?”

“Pardon? Haha, no, not really.”

The Raven, trying to find a reason for his kindness, guessed that he might want her to assassinate someone for him. But Eustace only laughed and waved off the suggestion, leaving her feeling dejected.

She had hoped to offer her services in exchange for freedom, but his response made it clear that wouldn’t work.

“There are plenty of scumbags I’d love to see gone, but I can handle them myself. They’re not worth dirtying your hands over.”

“Then what do you want from me?”

“Must I want something?”

“If not, why did you let me live?”

The Raven, unable to hold back her frustration, finally spoke up at the implication that Eustace wanted nothing from her. Talking to him felt like playing a guessing game she used to play with her mother as a child—full of riddles and elusive answers.

“A deal requires both parties to exchange something, doesn’t it?”

Eustace raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Do you wish to strike a deal with me?”

“You’re not going to kill me, you don’t want anything from me, and we have no business to settle. Why should I be here with you at all?”

“Hm.”

Her bluntness made him pause, his right hand brushing his chin thoughtfully. After a brief hesitation, he spoke carefully.

“…Actually, there is something I wish for from you, Raven.” 

“What is it?”

“For you to stay by my side.”

It was an answer she hadn’t expected, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

“You want me to stay with you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s something I’ve longed for, for a very long time.”

Eustace scratched the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically sheepish. The idea that he had wanted her company for so long puzzled her, making her furrowed her brows in confusion.

“Why would you want to stay with me?”

“…I suspected as much, but you don’t remember, do you?”

“Don’t remember?” The Raven’s eyes widened further.

“You know me?”

She asked cautiously, her tone laced with suspicion. Eustace responded only with a bittersweet smile. Did they have a history? Slowly, things began to make sense—his inexplicable kindness and understanding.

He knew her. Perhaps even before she became the assassin known as the Raven.

“I’m sorry.”

Her voice softened.

“I don’t remember much from my childhood.”

“There’s no need to apologize. I expected as much.” He offered a reassuring smile. “We met a few times when we were children, in the palace.”

His lips moved as if he had more to say, but he stopped himself. The Raven tried to dig through the foggy corners of her memory.

“Strange. If I had met you, I wouldn’t have forgotten.”

She muttered, feeling a twinge of guilt at the disappointment on his face. Surely, someone like him—so striking even now—would have been memorable. Yet, her mind drew a blank, as though those memories were locked away.

“It’s fine. We’ve met again now, haven’t we?”

Eustace’s warm smile chased away the lingering tension. He rose from his seat and approached her. When he knelt before her and gently clasped her scarred hands, she flinched.

“Your Grace…?”

“Allow me to formally introduce myself. Hubert Brandon Eustace, Grand Duke of Eustace.”

Before she could react, he brought her hand to his lips, pressing a light kiss on her knuckles. His blue eyes, brimming with an uncontainable joy, locked onto hers. She stared, mesmerized by the shimmering depths that curved into crescent moons as he smiled.

“It is an honor to meet you again… Princess Lila Brender Esteban.”

The name struck like a thunderclap—a name long forgotten, buried with a past she had discarded. For a moment, the Raven was speechless.

“How…?”

Her composed expression crumbled, and Eustace’s bittersweet smile deepened as he watched her struggle to process the revelation.

“I told you, didn’t I? We met when we were children.”

“But… I…”

“The black-haired, black-eyed royal outcast. The tragic princess born without magic. Lila Brender Esteban—a name believed to belong to someone who died long ago.”

The Raven gasped, her dark eyes trembling with emotion.

“The world believes that the unlucky princess, shunned by her father and locked away in the cold palace with her mother, succumbed to a rare illness and died young.”

Eustace’s voice remained calm, as though he were recounting a distant tale. “And yet, here you are, alive and well.”

“Who would believe that the princess, thought to be dead, is actually the Raven, one of the Emperor’s infamous shadows?”

Eustace gently ran his thumb over the back of the Raven’s hand, feeling the scars crisscrossing her small, worn fingers. Her hands bore the unmistakable marks of a harsh life—calloused, with faint traces of healing wounds. For a moment, his smile faded as he examined them but soon returned.

“How did you find out?”

The Raven finally managed to speak, though her voice trembled uncontrollably despite her best efforts. Eustace smiled playfully, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“I discovered it naturally, out of my interest in Your Highness.”

“Lies.”

She immediately dismissed his claim. No matter how remarkable he was, it was impossible for him to know such things about her. Only a select few within the imperial palace were privy to the secret of her true identity: the Emperor, the Crown Prince, the head chamberlain, and the commander of the shadows. Not even her fellow shadows, nor the knights and mages who had trained her, were aware.

Her identity was the most closely guarded secret in the palace.

“It’s not a lie.”

Eustace furrowed his brows as if offended by the accusation.

“It’s natural to want to know everything about someone you like, isn’t it?”

“…What?”

“You are my first love, after all.”

First love? The Raven’s mouth fell open in shock at his unexpected confession. The more he spoke, the more absurd it all seemed.

“That’s ridiculous.”

She shook her head, rejecting his words. How could she be anyone’s first love, let alone his? Those infatuated with the Grand Duke would surely faint if they heard such a thing.

“Why is it so hard to believe?”

“Because…”

She faltered, seeing the sincerity on Eustace’s face. What she initially thought was a joke didn’t seem like one. His genuine affection unsettled her. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke slowly.

“So, you’re telling me that you liked me since childhood, and while learning more about me, you uncovered the imperial family’s secret?”

“More or less. Since I remembered you, it wasn’t hard to figure out the truth about the Raven.”

“Ha.”

A sigh, bordering on a groan, escaped her chapped lips. The Raven pressed her temple with her free hand, trying to alleviate a sudden headache.

“…Like I said before, I don’t remember you.”