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“Madam, are you awake?”
When Iana opened her eyes, she saw the face of her personal healer. Next to him stood Riel, looking worried.
Shwaa—
She turned her head toward the window at the heavy sound of rain. Unlike the morning, a fierce storm was raging outside.
Iana sat up and asked the healer.
“What happened?”
“You were attacked by a military dog at the entrance of the inner castle and collapsed.”
“Stay still!”
At that moment, the image of Charles being bitten by the military dog flashed through her mind.
“Is His Highness all right?”
“He received immediate treatment, so he avoided any serious situation.”
“...I see.”
Iana answered with a worried face.
“Madam, you are not injured, but do you feel any pain or discomfort?”
At the healer's words, a thought flashed through her mind.
‘Pain?’
She thought for a moment but no longer felt the choking pain she used to experience before returning.
“I don't feel any pain. But these days, I often feel hungry. Could it be...?”
The healer, listening seriously, replied with a heavy face.
“I'm sorry to say this, but it's not pregnancy.”
The healer seemed to think that she was cautiously asking because she was hoping for news of a pregnancy.
“...Oh, I see.”
Iana wanted to ask more, but she didn't because of Riel's presence.
“Sometimes, when a previously weak body recovers, you may experience an increased appetite. Seeing that your breathing is comfortable and your pulse is stable, it seems the new medicine is working.”
“I see.”
“Then I'll inform the Count that you have woken up.”
The healer bowed and left the room.
Iana and Riel were left alone in the room.
“What happened to the military dog?”
Iana asked, and Riel sat next to her bed and whispered in her ear.
“The Count killed it. He said a mere dog dared to attack the Countess.”
“Is that true?”
Iana asked with a surprised face, and a sly smile spread across Riel's lips.
“No, it's a lie. It's a precious magical dog, so he didn't kill it. Instead, he locked it in the first-floor storage until it leaves.”
‘Riel, you’re getting on my nerves. You’re playing unpleasant pranks.’
As expected, Riel questioned her sternly.
“Iana, why didn't you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“About Chloe. We agreed not to keep secrets between us.”
Iana looked at Riel for a moment and then answered nonchalantly.
“You must have heard from the ballroom.”
“No, I saw it myself.”
Riel said firmly.
“What did you see?”
“Yesterday, at the back gate of the inner castle, I saw the Count and Lady Chloe hugging.”
“Riel, I just woke up after losing consciousness. Do we have to talk about this now?”
“Why can't you think the other way around? Why do you think I'm telling you this just after you woke up?”
Riel, who had been sneering, suddenly changed and pressed Iana with a frightening intensity.
“Iana, don't you realize how big a mistake you made?”
‘Yes, that expression. You always told me my judgment was wrong with that expression.’
Iana thought, looking at Riel’s harsh face.
Riel’s specialty was making Iana’s judgment unclear under the guise of advice.
In her previous life, Iana was always insecure about her judgment.
So she asked Riel for every decision, believing Riel’s words were the truth. Without realizing that Riel was exploiting her insecurity to make her dependent.
“Why did you publicly call Chloe a mistress? Do you know how much that narrows your position in the Dietrian family?”
“I...”
“If you had consulted me, Chloe wouldn't have dared to attend the ball.”
A snake’s tongue.
Iana almost burst into laughter at Riel’s obvious lie.
“Everything is my fault?”
Iana pretended to be sulky like a child, and Riel switched tactics, hugging her and soothing her.
“I'm telling you this because I care about you.”
“...”
“In the Dietrian family, I'm the only one entirely on your side. Do you understand my feelings?”
As she was held by Riel, Iana's eyes turned sharp. Then she spoke in a soft voice, saying what Riel wanted to hear.
“Riel, I'm sorry. I was wrong.”
About an hour later, Iana, who had finished getting ready, sat at the dressing table while Riel did her hair.
‘I should visit His Highness to see if he’s okay.’
Iana thought, fiddling with a butterfly-shaped hairpin.
Bang—
Just then, the door burst open, and Carrion walked in.
At his signal, Riel left through the side door without finishing her hair.
“Iana, how are you feeling?”
He asked about her condition, but he seemed ready to confront her about the statue.
“I'm fine.”
Iana tried to stand up, but Carrion pressed her shoulders with both hands.
Then, picking up a comb, he gently grabbed a handful of her golden hair and slowly combed it.
Iana felt more creeped out by this than if he had yelled.
“What are you doing?”
Despite her protest, Carrion quietly continued combing her hair and asked in a low voice.
“Did you enjoy watching His Highness at the entrance of the inner castle?”
“...”
Iana silently looked at Carrion through the mirror.
“Why were you standing there foolishly and got attacked by the dog?”
“A splendid person like His Highness is rare to see. So I tried to remember as much as I could while I had the chance.”
Iana replied sarcastically.
Carrion’s hand stopped combing and then grabbed her hair tightly.
“Ah!”
“Iana, don’t provoke me anymore. Do you know how much I'm holding back?”
“It hurts! And this is holding back?”
Despite her pain, Iana struggled, but Carrion pulled her hair harder.
“Why did you go to the gallery alone on the day the statue was damaged?”
“Me? I’ve never done that.”
Iana replied awkwardly, pretending to lie.
“People saw you going to the gallery alone. Are you going to lie?”
“I don’t know who saw what, but I don’t know anything about it.”
By answering “I don’t know” instead of “it wasn’t me,” she deliberately amplified Carrion's suspicion.
Focusing his suspicion on herself meant he wouldn’t blame innocent people, and she could steer the situation in her desired direction.
Iana wanted to confront him more strongly but noticed the side door where Riel was likely eavesdropping.
‘I should act more recklessly.’
Squeezing tightly, she stabbed Carrion's hand with the pointed end of her hairpin.
“Ah!”
He let go of her hair, seemingly in pain.
“What the... What are you doing?”
Carrion stuttered, stunned.
Iana quickly ran to the door and questioned him.
“Carrion, it hurts, doesn’t it? So why do you pull other people’s hair so hard?”
“Ha...! Iana, come here while I’m still speaking nicely.”
“Your angry face says I’d be stupid to come over.”
“What?”
Bang—
Iana shut the door and left quickly.
Meanwhile, in the guest room where Charles was staying.
Charles, with a bandaged shoulder, sat on the sofa taking his medicine.
His well-built upper body was visible through his unbuttoned shirt.
Several knights and wizards around him each said a word.
“Damn, His Highness has never been injured in battle...”
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when our gentle Khan attacked a person.”
The new wizard, Johan, holding the military dog’s leash, wiped his tears with his sleeve and sniffled.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I should have held Khan better. This happened because of me...”
Charles spoke warmly.
“Johan, it’s not your fault.”
“N-no. I should have been more careful with Khan. This accident...”
Johan hung his head in shame.
“If you easily blame yourself, you can’t grasp the real issue.”
“Huh?”
“The real issue is why Khan, a dog better trained than any other, acted out of character.”
“...”
“Think carefully. What could have caused Khan to behave unusually?”
At that moment, the elderly wizard Rosso spoke smugly.
“As a senior wizard, I’ll tell you, there's only one reason a magic dog reacts!”
“...?”
“When it senses magic.”
A knight behind them spoke up, suddenly inspired.
“Ah! Isn’t the Countess from the Lechel family, a great wizard family? Could she have had a magical item?”
“What magical item would be strong enough to make a magic dog react? No, that's not it.”
Rosso dismissed the idea outright.
Johan hesitated but then raised his hand slightly.
“Maybe...”
Everyone's eyes turned to Johan.
Uncomfortable with the attention, Johan murmured nervously.
“N-no, it’s a ridiculous idea...”
“What silly thought do you have now?”
Rosso scolded, but Charles gently encouraged him.
“Johan, speak up. We need to consider all possibilities now, so any opinion is welcome.”
Encouraged by Charles, Johan spoke with a trembling voice.
“Could it be that the Countess herself has magic?”
“What?”
“A magic strong enough to make the dog react.”
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