“Did Cecilia truly say that?”

“Yes, Your Grace. It seems the Miss has matured. My apologies for presuming to evaluate her…”

“No, no, it’s fine. Who hasn’t seen that child’s antics?”

The grand duke pondered Cecilia’s reported words.

‘Cecilia said that?’

He found it hard to believe.

Had someone else delivered the report, he would have doubted it.

However, Willa was a straightforward and loyal knight.

Moreover, he was highly skilled, which made the grand duke value him greatly.

“Not all knights returned, correct?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I left three behind.”

Before departing, Willa had received a confidential order from the grand duke.

He was to ensure that three knights, specifically designated by the grand duke, remained at Lagos Castle.

The grand duke had not missed the opportunity to plant people in Lagos under the pretext of Cecilia’s marriage.

It wasn’t about taking immediate action but rather a strategy to gather information in advance.

Instead of sending trained spies, he chose knights, as it left room for plausible deniability if suspicion arose.

“However, it seems the Miss already knew. She said something like, ‘Some of you will remain anyway,’ and…”

Willa stopped speaking.

The grand duke’s expression had grown severe.

“What did you say? What exactly did Cecilia say?”

“…I believe she said it because she knows how much Your Grace cares for her. She likely assumed that you wouldn’t leave her alone in Lagos Castle.”

“……”

The grand duke had anticipated that Cecilia would stubbornly refuse to let the knights leave.

In that case, they would have stayed at Lagos Castle for some time.

But keeping them there permanently was something the lord of Lagos would not tolerate.

The grand duke’s grand plan had been to leave three knights as her escorts after pacifying her.

“When I was younger, I traveled quite extensively across the continent.”

“I’ve heard that you greatly enjoyed your travels, Your Grace.”

“But the one place I never visited was Lagos Castle. You’ve been there now. I’ll likely never get the chance. What was it like?”

While the continent’s nobles regarded Lagos as a cursed land, a part of them also admired Lagos Castle.

It was the sole remnant of an empire that once ruled the world.

People were captivated by its history and mystery.

And the word ‘empire’ itself held a certain allure for the ambitious.

Recalling his impressions upon arrival, Willa spoke.

“Its scale was immense. The castle itself felt like a massive city.”

A glint of longing and greed flashed in the grand duke’s eyes.

“But the lord of Lagos doesn’t seem capable of managing it. The castle is so old it felt like a ruin. It’s a wonder it hasn’t collapsed.”

“…Is that so?”

“Moreover, Lagos is a land of winter. I can’t fathom how they endure the cold in that stone castle.”

The grand duke nodded.

The harsh weather was indeed a significant challenge.

‘No, the greatest problem is the curse on that castle.’

After the empire fell, the continent endured centuries without a king.

The rulers of each region were too evenly matched to dare call themselves king.

Over a hundred years of wars large and small followed.

Eventually, seven factions joined forces to eliminate the others, giving rise to the seven grand dukes who now dominate the continent.

Initially allies, the seven became rivals and enemies once they stood alone at the top.

The seven grand ducal households knew each other’s ambitions well because they harbored the same ones. Someday, they each aspired to rise above the other six and become the sole ruler of the world.

Becoming a king was the immediate goal—becoming an emperor was the ultimate dream.

In his youth, Grand Duke Jericho believed he could be king.

But now, with his hair half-gray, he knew he needed something extraordinary to surpass the other six grand dukes.

If he could seize Lagos, it would be enough to make him king.

But Lagos Castle already had a master, the sole owner of a cursed castle that no one else dared covet.

“I’ve kept you too long with my ramblings, given all you’ve endured. You should return and rest.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Grace.”

As Willa rose, he added,

“The Miss asked me to deliver a message to you.”

“Oh, Cecilia did? What did she say?”

“She asked me to convey her gratitude to Your Grace.”