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Blame-shifting.
The problem-solving method of those in power was always the same.
Riel realized this logic of power first when she fell from the daughter of a marquess to a slave.
She needed to buy some time to get out of this situation.
“I’ll take the blame. I’ll accept any sin for the sake of the madam.”
Carrion walked over with an arrogant smile, seeming satisfied with Riel’s answer. He reached out and slowly stroked her face.
“Good girl.”
“……”
“I can't give you the details, but it seems your mistress took out her anger on the statue in a fit of rage.”
“The lady, no, the madam? That can’t be…”
Riel feigned ignorance with a surprised expression.
“Before strange rumors spread further, we need to provide a convincing reason. That way, the rumors won’t grow bigger.”
Riel asked in an emotionless voice.
“So, what should I do?”
Carrion leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“Say it happened because of your mistake. That you accidentally used the wrong cleaning agent.”
“……”
Riel listened silently.
“I won’t beat you, but you’ll have to stay locked in the storeroom for a few days. You must receive some minimal punishment.”
Carrion finished speaking in a detached tone and walked over to his desk.
Riel quickly understood Carrion’s intent.
A maid’s mistake from the Lechel family.
It seemed he intended to turn this issue into a problem of the Lechel family rather than the Dietrian family.
As someone who valued the honor of the family above all else.
Thud.
Carrion took something out of a drawer and tossed it onto the desk.
It was a red velvet money pouch.
“Take it. This is your reward for handling this matter.”
Riel looked at Carrion’s arrogant expression.
A deep sense of contempt surged within her. So, she decided to rattle his arrogant demeanor.
She silently approached and picked up the money pouch.
“Thank you.”
“……”
“You should express your gratitude.”
Carrion commanded coldly, but instead of thanking him, Riel provoked him.
“Being content with a half-baked solution is the behavior of a lazy person, Count.”
Carrion's eyes sharpened at Riel's audacious defiance.
“What did you say?”
“If we settle this as a maid’s mistake, we might prevent rumors from spreading. But what about the already tarnished reputation of the family?”
“How dare you!”
Carrion slammed the desk and shouted in anger. Riel, filled with confidence, made her move.
“If you permit, I will find the best solution.”
Their gazes locked intensely again.
Riel slowly approached the still silent Carrion and extended the money pouch.
“Give this to me only when my usefulness is fully proven.”
“Fine. But if you don’t meet expectations, I’ll flog you and send you back to the Lechel family.”
It was a mixture of contempt and thinly veiled curiosity, wondering what she could accomplish.
As their hands brushed when Carrion reached for the pouch, Riel stepped back.
“And give me more then.”
Riel stared directly into Carrion’s eyes. His previously cold blue eyes now held a spark of curiosity.
“You’re very audacious.”
Riel knew very well.
Count Dietrian desired a submissive woman but lost interest the moment she became compliant.
The line between defiance and submission.
She had to walk that tightrope well.
Only then could she captivate Iana's husband.
Charles, guided by Iana, headed to the first-floor storeroom with Rosso.
“Ha…”
Charles’s mind was a mess.
If he couldn’t find a reasonable explanation for Khan’s sudden change, he would have no choice but to give the command to euthanize him as a commander.
In Ervin, where there was a shortage of wizards, the role of magic dogs was significant. But more than that, Khan was a loyal military dog who had fought alongside him on the battlefield.
Charles fondled the bulging pocket of his coat. He had brought strawberries, Khan’s favorite treat.
‘I need to find out why Khan suddenly changed…’
While lost in thought, the group arrived in front of the storeroom near the back gate of the inner castle.
Creak.
Rosso opened the iron door of the storeroom.
It was a place to store cleaning tools and various supplies.
There was a small window high on the wall, but on this dark, rainy day, very little light came in.
At that moment, they saw Khan, confined in a narrow cage in the corner.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Sensing their presence, Khan barked loudly.
“Khan! Stop barking.”
Rosso ran up to the cage and calmed Khan.
As Charles and Iana approached the door.
Bang.
The excited Khan threw himself against the cage as if trying to get out.
“Oh my!”
Iana, thinking Khan was attacking, stepped back in fear.
“Are you all right, Countess?”
Charles asked with a concerned face, and Iana replied in a trembling voice.
“I-I’m fine.”
Bang! Bang!
The excited Khan wailed and threw himself against the cage more violently.
“Ah!”
Frightened, Iana instinctively hid behind Charles.
Her small body curled up like a rabbit being chased by a predator, evoking pity.
Charles felt he couldn’t let this continue and turned around resolutely.
“It was selfish to bring someone who fainted because of Khan here. Countess, please go back upstairs.”
“……”
“This is an order.”
At that moment, Iana grabbed Charles’s uninjured arm with both hands.
“Then you’ll follow the military orders!”
“……!”
Charles’s eyes shook at Iana’s sudden action.
Her gaze was earnest, and her hands holding his arm trembled slightly.
“I can’t just ignore this when it’s my fault. I know what will happen if I do.”
“Countess…”
“No matter what you say, I won’t leave!”
Iana stubbornly clung to his arm, glancing nervously at the barking Khan.
“Ha…”
Charles chuckled softly at her.
Despite being terrified, her desire to help was genuinely touching and beautiful.
Gratitude should be expressed politely.
“If you grab so tightly, it hurts even for a trained knight.”
“Pardon?”
He lowered his gaze to her hands gripping his arm. She followed his gaze.
Startled, Iana let go of his arm.
“I’m sorry! Your Highness.”
Charles smiled gently and extended his arm again.
“It’s okay to hold lightly instead.”
He meant he would escort her. When Iana hesitated, Charles smiled and urged her.
“Are you going to abandon Khan as you said?”
“No.”
Iana hesitated for a moment before reaching out slowly. Her small white hand gently grasped his arm.
He could feel her trembling and warmth through her touch.
Charles and Iana walked together toward the cage.
Bang! Bang!
As they got closer, Khan, who had been throwing himself against the cage, whimpered.
Iana’s grip on Charles’s arm tightened.
“Countess, stand behind me.”
Iana nodded and stood behind him.
“Isn’t he wagging his tail at the Countess?”
As Rosso said, Khan wagged his tail furiously in Iana’s direction.
Charles pondered for a moment and then spoke.
“Perhaps Khan thinks of the Countess as his previous owner.”
Charles observed Khan’s movements keenly.
Iana cautiously approached the cage.
As she got closer, Khan wagged his tail vigorously and spun in circles.
Rosso tilted his head.
“It seems he’s reacting not to magic but to the scent of his previous owner.”
Iana squatted in front of the cage.
“Does Khan really think of me as his previous owner?”
Khan whimpered as if he wanted to get out.
Feeling sorry for him, Iana reached out to pet him but hesitated.
“Why are you hesitating?”
Charles asked curiously.
“Well…”
“It’s okay, tell me.”
Charles urged her.
After glancing at Charles, Iana turned to Rosso.
“Wizard, does touching a magic dog cause pain?”
“Pain?”
Rosso looked at her in surprise.
“I’m not sure if it’s because of Khan or something else, but when I touched him, I suddenly felt pain…”
“What kind of pain?”
“It felt like something sharp was piercing through my entire body.”
“Any other changes? Like seeing hallucinations or feeling extreme hunger? Any unusual changes in your body?”
“Yes! I’ve been suffering from extreme hunger for a few days.”
Rosso frowned deeply, lost in thought.
Charles asked, puzzled.
“What is it? Is there a problem?”
Iana looked tense, watching Rosso’s reaction.
Rosso stared at her seriously and spoke slowly.
“This is just my assumption. It’s really something the Grand Wizards who can sense magic should determine…”
“……”
“It seems the Countess possesses magic.”
“Me?”
Iana looked puzzled, finding it hard to believe.
After hesitating, Rosso spoke firmly.
“It seems you might have the magic of a rare fusion spell that only a few Grand Wizards can wield.”
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