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"Riel is in Carrion's room right now?"
Returning to her room, Iana heard the news from Vera.
"Yes, madam. I subtly asked the butler, and he said, 'I have found the best solution.'"
"If he called Riel to his room instead of his office, they must be having a serious conversation..."
"This could be a chance for them to get closer."
Iana mumbled to herself, lost in thought.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, never mind."
"And also..."
Vera, with a troubled look, spoke carefully.
"The master is going to meet Lady Chloe."
"Chloe?"
Iana let out a hollow laugh. Knowing her master's temperament, Vera asked with a worried expression.
"Madam, are you really okay?"
"Carrion won't let me go to my family's house because he refused his marital duties with me."
As Iana was lost in thought, Vera approached and felt her forehead.
"Madam, your fever hasn't gone down yet. Let me make a cold towel for you."
Iana grabbed Vera, stopping her, and casually asked.
"Vera, what would you do if you were me?"
"What do you mean, madam?"
Vera tilted her head in confusion.
"If you were a naive woman who, out of jealousy, destroyed your family's art and refused your marital duties, what would you do now?"
Vera blinked her big eyes, wondering why Iana was asking such a question. Then, looking frightened, she waved her hands vigorously.
"Regardless of anything else, I would run away. I'm too scared of how angry the master would be."
"Really?"
"Yes! Just thinking about how angry the master would be at you makes my knees weak."
Iana gave a meaningful smile at Vera's words.
"Then I should run away."
"What? Run away?"
Vera looked shocked, her eyes wide open.
"A naive woman would rather avoid problems than solve them. So running away would be a natural action for a naive woman."
"Madam, what are you talking about?"
Vera looked at her, completely baffled.
At that moment, they heard a commotion outside the window.
Iana hid behind the curtain and looked outside.
Carrion was getting into a carriage at the entrance of the inner castle. Among the lined-up employees, Riel was also visible.
"Riel, I'll trust you. You'll make sure Carrion can't come after me."
"I'm going to run away to my family's house early tomorrow morning."
"The rain has subsided, but it's still pouring."
In a low voice, Iana instructed.
"The Rethels family is in the south, so we don't have to cross the Rona River. There shouldn't be any problems. You'll come with me, so prepare quietly."
"Me too?"
"Yes."
Riel was persistent.
She would dig deep into whatever she set her sights on and achieve her desired outcome.
Iana couldn't predict what Riel might do to Vera, who was her target, in her absence.
"…Okay, I'll prepare then."
Vera answered in a subdued voice, unable to defy her mistress's order.
Clunk.
The carriage started moving.
Soon, Carrion's carriage was disappearing into the rain, just as he was fading from her heart.
Early the next morning, Iana woke to the sound of rain tapping on the window.
Pretending to be asleep because she was sick, she had gone to bed before Riel came last night.
When she opened her eyes, Riel was sitting by her bed as usual.
"When did you come?"
Iana asked with a bright face as she sat up.
"Iana! Do you know how worried I was about you yesterday?"
As expected, Riel scolded her sharply.
"Riel, my head hurts again. It's hard to breathe."
Iana lay back down like a whining child.
She told Riel she was sick, but she wasn't at all. The severe fever she had suddenly disappeared without a trace.
Riel looked at her quietly and then checked her forehead, as she usually did.
"No fever."
This time, Riel brought her ear close to Iana's nose to listen to her breathing.
"Your breathing sounds fine too."
Iana sat up abruptly, grumbling.
"No, I'm sick. I am. Give me medicine."
Riel, about to say something, handed her the tray with medicine and water.
Iana took the medicine and quickly put a candy in her mouth.
Riel, sitting on the bed, asked gently as if soothing a child.
"Now tell me, where were you yesterday?"
"Promise you won't tell anyone. Only you can know, Riel."
"Okay, I promise. Tell me."
"Actually, I was..."
"…?"
"I was in the warehouse watching the magical dogs. They were fascinating."
"What? What were you doing?"
Riel stared at Iana in disbelief. Iana fiddled with the medicine packet, pretending to be timid.
"I did it because I hate Carrion. I hate that he's deeply involved with Chloe, and I hate that he doubts me just because of what the maids say."
"…"
"Would you want to have an heir with such a husband?"
"Iana, but still..."
As Riel tried to scold her, Iana cut her off first.
"I'm going to our family's estate today. I need to rest for a few days. This is something Carrion has allowed."
"I doubt the Count will allow you to leave today."
Iana got off the bed and said,
"That's why I'm leaving before Carrion returns."
"What did you say?"
Riel laughed in disbelief.
"Don't come with me. If you move with me, you'll be scolded for not stopping me."
"…"
"Just say you woke up and found I was gone."
"If there's something serious enough between you and Carrion for him to let you come and go from his room, he won't chase after you."
For Riel, Iana's absence would be an opportunity.
They stared at each other in silence.
Riel's eyes moved quickly, a sign she was assessing the situation.
Iana extended her hand, adding pressure to Riel's decision.
"So, will you come with me?"
"…"
"If you stay here, Carrion will imprison you, blaming you for the broken statue."
"Iana, do you think I'd be scared of that?"
Riel's voice was resolute.
"I'm not afraid to take the blame and be punished for you. I can do anything for you."
"Really?"
"But I need to stay here."
"Just like you."
Iana lowered her outstretched hand.
"Are you scared to come with me?"
"No. The maids conspired to frame you, and if you leave, who knows what they'll do next. I'm staying to protect you."
Riel caressed Iana's cheek like a caring sister.
"Then you didn't know I left, okay?"
"…Yes, I understand."
Riel's smile looked unusually bright to Iana.
After preparing to leave, Iana headed to the guest room where Charles was staying.
Knock, knock.
"Your Highness, are you awake?"
The door opened, and the mage Rosso came out.
"Madam, what brings you here so early in the morning...?"
"I have something important to tell His Highness."
Then Charles' voice came from inside.
"Come in."
When Iana entered, Charles put down the book he was reading and asked cautiously,
"What's the matter so early in the morning? Is it about yesterday?"
Iana checked outside the door again before speaking.
"I'm planning to stay at my family's house under the pretense of recuperation, then go to Erbin. I wanted to inform Your Highness before leaving."
Charles silently looked at Iana for a while.
"Why are you looking at me like that...?"
Iana trailed off, feeling embarrassed.
"Is your fever gone?"
Charles' eyes were warm, and his voice was filled with concern.
Iana realized how comforting it was to have someone worry about her.
"Thanks to Your Highness' concern, I'm fine now."
She answered, pretending to be more cheerful.
Behind her, Rosso was clearing away the medicine packets and water glass from the table.
A thought suddenly struck her.
"Mage, can the emergence of magical power cure existing illnesses?"
"I've never heard of such a thing. Why do you ask?"
Rosso tilted his head.
"I've suffered from a mysterious illness since childhood, struggling to breathe and having severe headaches."
"…"
"But as signs of magical power began to appear, the symptoms disappeared. I wondered if there was a connection."
"Then in the garden..."
Charles trailed off, remembering Iana running in the garden.
"Yes, it started around then."
"The symptoms disappeared as magical power emerged?"
Rosso paced back and forth, deep in thought.
"And yesterday, I had a high fever, but today it's gone."
Iana added.
Rosso, seemingly struck by an idea, spoke slowly.
"This is something the Grand Mage should confirm, but sometimes people misinterpret symptoms."
"How?"
"Mistaking the effects of dark magic for illness."
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