I doubted my own ears and asked again.

Holding my forehead, I tried to endure the headache.

“A marriage interview? You don’t mean being locked in a stalemate at sword’s reach, do you?”

“Of course not. I mean that meeting which leads to an engagement.”

Lili spoke with her elbows on the table, holding her head in her hands. She didn’t even try to hide the rare look of irritation on her face.

This was right after her secret meeting with Lawrence Givley. We had retreated from that Flower Garden to Lili’s room in the girls’ dormitory.

I poured the herbal tea from the pot into both her cup and mine.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah.”

Apparently, this herbal tea had a calming effect.

It was rare for Lili to ask me to prepare it for her. I didn’t mind that part, but this conversation wasn’t something that could be washed away like tea.

“With that Lawrence guy?”

“Yes.”

I recalled what I had read in Riona’s intelligence report on Lawrence Givley.

Instructor at the Lehan Royal Knight Academy’s elementary division. Twenty-two years old. He had military experience but no accomplishments whatsoever.

The eldest son of the prestigious Givley family, known for their involvement in the kingdom’s judiciary. Unlike his father, Count Ryan Givley, a man who served the kingdom with fairness and integrity, Lawrence was a talentless aristocrat riding on his family’s coattails.

On top of that, he was a devious coward. He had no qualms about belittling a ten-year-old just to protect his own pride.

Lili gritted her teeth and muttered through clenched jaws.

“I’ve refused Instructor Givley multiple times, but it seems my words haven’t reached my guardian, Count Givley, or His Majesty.”

“Ah…?”

So Kilpus was acting as her guardian.

Most likely, Kilpus, seeing how Lili had spent years serving the nation without marrying past the expected age, wanted to arrange a prestigious match for her.

But he must have mistaken Lawrence Givley for a man of the same character as his father, Count Ryan Givley, and overlooked his true nature.

Lili ruffled her own hair in frustration.

“Aaaah, geez!”

To make matters worse, unlike Blythe, Lili had never been officially granted the title of ‘Sword Saint’ by Kilpus. Her moniker, ‘War Maiden,’ was merely a nickname given to her by the people.

It wasn’t a formal title. That meant, in terms of status, she was still an ordinary commoner.

Unlike a true Sword Saint, she couldn’t use any special privileges to voice her opinion to the nobility or royalty. Even within the military, she was merely a mercenary directly under the knight order.

That was why she couldn’t personally oppose Count Givley or Kilpus—unless they asked for her opinion first.

I let out a sigh.

“Oh, so that’s what this is about…”

“‘That’s what this is about’!? You say that like it’s someone else’s problem! You know exactly what Instructor Givley is like inside!”

The sheer force of her anger was intense. She must really hate this.

“Ah, s-sorry. I didn’t mean to sound dismissive.”

I took a sip of my herbal tea, and as if following my lead, Lili—no, she downed hers in one go. She slammed her cup onto the table, almost shattering it.

I had never seen her like this before.

I poured another cup for her.

“Ah, well, um… I might’ve mentioned this before, but I… I do have the ability to speak directly to Kilpus—His Majesty.”

“…The Neu family is a baron house, isn’t it?”

Lili narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased.

She was glaring. This was painful.

I knew what she was implying. A baron was a low-ranking noble. Not only would they never be able to voice an opinion to the king, but they would hardly ever even meet him outside of formal occasions.

Unless they were personally acquainted with someone like Blythe.

“…Yeah. But I, well, um—”

“A personal friend?”

“Something like that.”

“With His Majesty? Despite the age gap being practically like that of a parent and child?”

She was looking at me with deep suspicion.

“…Uh…”

I couldn’t exactly say that we were literally related by blood. Or that, in my past life, we had been best friends.

Lili looked up slightly, her gaze wandering into the distance.

“If I remember correctly… Prince Eremie is about the same age as you, isn’t he?”

“Oh!?”

The hand holding the cup trembled, and the herbal tea splashed onto my wrist.

“H-hotttttt—owww!”

“Oh no!”

Lili hurriedly brought a damp cloth and wrapped my hand with it.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah. It had already cooled down quite a bit.”

Damn. Did I just dig my own grave? No—if it’s Lili, then even if she finds out, it’s not a big deal… but if she starts treating me differently after seeing me as a prince, that would be honestly a little sad.

Living together in this room would probably come to an end. Most likely, I’d be relocated to the chairman’s office as a temporary residence.

It suddenly dawned on me.

So, I actually wanted to keep living here with Lili? Just like how she once looked up to Blythe, am I also being influenced by this ten-year-old body and starting to rely on her?

I shook my head.

Relying on someone? Ridiculous. She’s my disciple—one I personally trained. Since she was just a child, even.

But when I look at her…

“……”

Lili remained kneeling on the floor, keeping her hand wrapped around mine with the cold cloth. Almost unconsciously, I extended my free left hand, intending to pat her head like I used to.

“?”

Noticing my hand moving, Lili tilted her head slightly, looking up at me.

Just before I could touch her.

Regaining my senses, I pulled my left hand back, raising it in front of her.

“I’m fine now. I can take care of it myself.”

“No. You people are always so careless when it comes to your own injuries.”

She said “you people.” I knew exactly who she meant. Blythe used to get scolded like this all the time. By a much younger Lili.

It stung. Not being able to reveal myself. Not just that I’m Blythe, but also that I’m Eremi. It’s all lies. Everything.

But if even the slightest hint of my royal identity were to leak, the Lehan Royal Knight Academy itself could become a target for the Republic. That was something I absolutely had to prevent.

It hasn’t been long since I enrolled here, but I’ve already grown attached—to this place, to my life with Lili, to my classmates. I enjoy it.

But Lili…

“Come to think of it, Eremia and Prince Eremi are close in age. And their names are similar too.”

A sharp jolt ran down my throat. Like being slashed open by a blade of words.

Sweat beaded all over my body.

Lili glanced up at me again, tilting her head.

“Could it be… because you’re friends with His Highness, you’re also close with His Majesty?”

After a brief moment of paralysis, I exhaled in relief.

“Yeah, that’s right. When the Neu family was invited to a royal soirée, the similarity in our names brought us together. That’s why I’m also acquainted with His Majesty. But I was told to keep that connection hidden for safety reasons.”

“I see.”

Each additional lie twisted painfully in my gut.

Forgive me, my disciple.

“That’s why I can deliver your words to His Majesty. If there’s no other way, I can send a letter—it’ll take a few days, though.”

If I used the messenger birds that travel between Kilpus and Void, I could deliver the message faster. But that would mean explaining the situation to Void as well.

“I feel bad relying on a ten-year-old like this, but given the circumstances… Could I ask for your help? Of course, I’ll write the letter myself. It would be a great help if you could send it under the name Eremia Neu.”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

For now, that should settle the matter with Lawrence…

But there was still one more thing I needed to confirm.

However, asking this question would take some courage. Facing a powerful enemy in battle would be easier.

Swallowing hard, I braced myself.

Why does Lili stubbornly refuse to start a family?

Of course, this time, it was because the suitor was Lawrence—I wouldn’t want her to be engaged to him either. No way in hell.

But if she continues like this, won’t it eventually ruin her life?

I opened my mouth.

“Hey, Lili.”

“Hm?”

She looked up at me again with those upturned eyes.

Simply because she was still tending to my hand, the height difference between us made it feel just like when I was Blythe.

Nostalgic.

“…Could it be that you were in love with Blythe?”