“Can we trust that shadow?”

“I’ve placed a conditional binding spell on him. If he breaks even one of the conditions I set, his heart will immediately burst, killing him.”

Grand Duke Eustace’s explanation was so nonchalant that anyone unfamiliar with him might have been shocked.

“Then we can rest assured for now,” Anseir said, visibly relieved. He had absolute faith in the Grand Duke’s magic.

“Huon, look into whether there were any sorcerers capable of golden arts in the Empire around the time of Lila’s birth.”

“Sorcerers?”

“Yes. The Emperor wouldn’t have sought out someone versed in ancient sorcery just once.”

“Understood.”

Huon’s expression turned resolute.

“Elvin, extract as much information as possible from the shadow. Report back immediately if you learn anything, and work with Anseir to reopen the investigation into Lila’s case.”

“Understood.”

After issuing orders to each of them, the Grand Duke finally turned to Evan.

“You, Evan, contact the Marcia family immediately.”

“The Marcia family?”

Evan’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected command.

“Use the communication network we established earlier to inform Marquis Marcia about Lila’s situation. Let them know we’ll need their help.”

“Do you mean to seek their support for Lady Lila?”

“That’s part of it, but I also want to ask about the late Empress.”

“The late Empress?”

“She was once a promising sorcerer.”

“She was?” Evan asked, astonished.

“Few people know about it since she never formally practiced as a sorcerer,” the Grand Duke explained

“I see…”

“Frankly, I had forgotten about it myself until yesterday.”

Grand Duke Eustace let out a bitter laugh. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten something so important.

“Families like the Marcia family, who have roots in the East, still call their family magicians sorcerers. In extreme cases, they don’t even register them with the Imperial Mage Registry.”

“Are you saying the late Empress was one of those cases?”

“Probably. I met her a few times when we were young. I remember being intrigued by her peculiar magical energy back then.”

Grand Duke Eustace spoke while sifting through faint memories.

“I don’t know how many circles she achieved, but looking back now, she seemed like quite a capable sorcerer.”

“If Your Grace says so, then it must be true,” Evan replied.

Most people had always assumed the Emperor had proposed to the Empress to secure the support of the Marcia family. However, if what Grand Duke Eustace said was true, another possibility could not be ruled out.

“By marrying into the Marcia family, he gained their backing, and by extension, also obtained an exceptional sorcerer. For the Emperor, it was like catching two birds with one stone.”

Evan nodded in agreement with the Grand Duke’s reasoning.

“Are you suggesting the late Empress may have harmed Lady Lila?”

Huon, who had been silently listening to their conversation, asked in a trembling voice.

“…We have to keep all possibilities open,” the Grand Duke replied with a heavy tone.

“Your Grace!”

“It’s a plausible issue,” Grand Duke Eustace said firmly.

Though he said that, he sincerely hoped that the Empress hadn’t been complicit in draining Lila’s magic. If she had collaborated with the Emperor, it would undoubtedly devastate Lila.

“Let’s end the meeting here for today. You’re all dismissed,” the Grand Duke said, exhaustion etched on his face.

One by one, those present stood, paid their respects, and left the office.

Swoosh—

The office quickly fell silent, save for the sound of heavy rain pouring outside. Alone in the quiet room, Grand Duke Eustace clicked his tongue. The drumming rain in his ears caused a headache to creep in.

“Damn it,” he muttered, roughly running a hand through his hair.

While immersed in work, he hadn’t noticed the noise, but now that he was alone, the sound of rain seemed deafening.

“It’s dragging me down,” he murmured in a weary voice. He was already sluggish from tossing and turning the previous night due to the rain. Now, with his head pounding, irritation set in.

He let out a sigh, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to escape the headache. As he did, his body relaxed, and his mind sank into a murky fog, like a sponge submerged in water.

“Hubert, come here!”

Drawn by the sound of rain, his submerged consciousness drifted to the past.

“It’s Aaron! Block him!”

“Survivors, stay in formation and avoid the aura!”

Memories he had buried deep began to resurface with startling clarity, as though they had happened just yesterday. His tightly shut eyelids trembled.

“Sweetheart, Hubert. Listen to me.”

“Your father and I are going to stop that madman. You need to run as far away as possible in the meantime.”

A voice thick with emotion echoed in his mind. It was his mother’s voice.

“There’s no time! Go now!”

“N-No! I’ll go with you…!”

“You can’t. It’s too dangerous. You could die.”

“Then what about you, Mother? I can’t leave you and Father behind!”

Each time his mother’s voice rang in his ears, Duke Eustace’s composed expression twisted in pain.

“It’s dangerous here! Please retreat!”

“Aahhh!”

A tortured scream shattered the air, and suddenly, his vision turned blindingly white, followed by searing pain. Duke Eustace’s face contorted, and his body trembled as if struck by a powerful blow.

“This place is too dangerous… Run… cough.”

“Father!”

“Quickly… as far as you can… Take Hubert and….”

The heavy rain lashed against his face, the acrid stench of blood filling his nostrils. His vision blurred red as heat stung his eyes.

“Take care of my son.”

“Mother…?”

“Hubert. My son. Go somewhere safe with Sir Swan. I’ll be there soon….”

As the memory neared its end, his breathing grew ragged. Beads of cold sweat formed on his smooth forehead. Duke Eustace watched the scene before him helplessly. The ending was already determined.

“I love you, Hubert.”

His lips, which had been tightly shut, parted, and a sound escaped—whether it was a sigh or a groan was unclear. At that moment, an urgent voice called out from somewhere.

“…Your Grace, Grand Duke!”

Who? Grand Duke Eustace’s lips quivered faintly in response to the voice calling out to him.

“Snap out of it!”

The commanding voice called out to him again. His consciousness, which had been plummeting endlessly, began to rise slowly, guided by the voice.

“Grand Duke!”

“…! Cough, cough!”

The moment his tightly shut eyes opened, a dry cough erupted from him. Gasping for breath, Grand Duke Eustace turned his gaze toward the owner of the voice that had awakened him. In his blurred vision, he saw Lila’s worried face staring back at him.

“Lila…?”

Meeting her concerned black eyes, Grand Duke Eustace realized he had been dreaming—a nightmare.

“Are you okay?”

“Lila…”

He sighed her name as though exhaling his remaining tension. Quickly, he assessed the situation. It seemed he had closed his eyes due to his headache and unintentionally fallen asleep.

“My apologies.”

His cracked voice barely escaped his parched lips, which quivered slightly.

“I seem to have dozed off for a moment.”

Raising a hand, Grand Duke Eustace covered his eyes.

“Did you have a bad dream?”

“Somewhat….”

His voice trailed off. Rubbing his face with his hands, he tried to compose his unsettled expression. It had been a terrible nightmare.

“Forgive me for showing you such an unsightly moment.”

As his composure returned, a sense of embarrassment crept in. The Grand Duke found it unbearably humiliating to have shown Lila such vulnerability.

“I was a little startled, but there’s no need to apologize.”

Lila spoke candidly. Moments ago, seeing the Grand Duke pale and trembling had startled her enough to make her heart race. But it wasn’t something he needed to apologize for.

“By the way… what brings you here?”

Lowering his hand, Grand Duke Eustace forced a smile. He didn’t want to show Lila how flustered he felt.

“My eyes,” Lila replied, lightly tapping her own.

Seeing her gesture toward her black eyes, the Grand Duke’s face shifted as if remembering something. He realized he hadn’t visited her that morning to tend to her eyes, as he had been too preoccupied and reluctant after their recent encounter.

“I’m sorry. I should have been more attentive….”