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"I asked you what you would do if there was a small chance for you."
Carion urged a response.
"You need to rest."
When Liel tried to divert the conversation, Carion firmly gripped her cheek with the hand that was previously around her neck.
"Answer."
Carion's haughty gaze bore into Liel. She felt the intense heat from his close proximity but knew it was an inconsequential remark meant to provoke her.
Carion’s proposal was like a cheap bait.
"Shall I be honest?"
"You must be honest. If you lie, I'll beat you."
She moved her lips slowly, as if to give a sense of anticipation.
"If there was such a possibility for me..."
"…?"
"I would abandon it."
"What?"
Carion's smile twisted.
"You are my master's husband who recognized my usefulness. I would not do anything against human decency."
Liel responded with the most polite and respectful demeanor, but her gaze remained provocative.
'Nothing drives a man mad like the forbidden.'
Desire for an unattainable and untouchable woman.
Liel knew well how that intense desire could torment a man. Hence, she decided to thoroughly exploit her relationship with Iana and the fact that she was from a rebellious family.
"And I want to live as if I don't exist in this world. Like a daughter of a sinful rebellious family."
Carion lightly tapped Liel's cheek with the hand that was caressing it.
"I like you."
"..."
"Smart and cunning."
Carion, pretending to be supported by her, wrapped his arm around her neck while stroking her smooth neckline.
"Be careful."
Liel also responded by tightly hugging his waist.
"Hahaha."
Carion laughed loudly at the sight.
When Liel opened the door, the butler was waiting outside.
"I'll escort you, sir."
"Please do. This maid is from a sinful rebellious family and her support is quite inadequate."
The butler approached and replaced Liel in supporting Carion.
Liel watched Carion's retreating figure, thinking.
'This is just the beginning.'
That evening, Iana took a walk in the castle’s backyard with Vera after dining with the Marcel couple.
"The coachman you mentioned will leave tomorrow morning as planned."
"You conveyed my words exactly?"
"Yes. I also mentioned that the coach is sent in case we might need it because of the knight order led by the Grand Duke."
"That way, Carion won't scold me for not bringing it."
Iana spoke with a thoughtful expression. Vera stopped and looked at her with concern.
"Madam, what if you really get expelled?"
"Then that would be a relief."
"What?"
"Never mind. We'll leave the morning after tomorrow. Just rest comfortably."
"I don't understand. You've changed so much."
Iana playfully pushed Vera's back.
"Go and rest. I have to meet the coachman who will go with us."
As the two were joking, someone was watching them from the darkened second-floor study of the Marcel residence before quickly hiding behind the curtains.
'My brother is watching.'
Iana deliberately pretended to be in pain upon seeing Marcel’s suspicious behavior.
"Ah! My head."
"Madam, are you okay?"
"I’ll just meet the coachman. Could you fetch some medicine from our castle healer?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Vera immediately went inside the castle.
Iana headed towards the stable at the end of the backyard.
In the large stable, the elderly coachman Ren was moving horse feed. He looked just as kindly and welcoming as she remembered.
"Ren!"
Iana ran to Ren and hugged him.
"Oh my lady! You'll get dirty."
"It's fine. I can change clothes. How have you been?"
"I heard you were coming, but you look so much healthier than when I last saw you at your wedding."
Ren looked at Iana with a touched expression.
Without beating around the bush, she got straight to the point.
"Ren, I need your help. I found a place that can cure my illness, and I need your help to get there. It’s quite far."
"Is that so? Then of course I'll assist."
"We’ll leave the morning after tomorrow. Be prepared. I’ll talk to my brother."
"Yes, my lady."
As Iana was about to leave, she stopped and asked again.
"Ren, do you remember when I first got sick?"
"Yes, it was early summer when you turned seven. After you, the Marquis, and your brother returned from the villa, you suddenly started vomiting and fainted."
Ren answered with a somber expression.
"Only the three of us went to the villa? Without my mother?"
Iana had no memory of going to the villa without her mother.
"Yes, your mother was unwell, so the previous Marquis took you two to the villa. We first suspected that you ate something bad there."
"Then why can't I remember?"
"Maybe you were too young to remember."
"Is that so?"
"It looks like it might rain again. You should head back inside. You don't want to catch a cold."
As Iana walked back to the castle, she pondered.
She had scattered memories from when she was five, but no recollection of going to the villa without her mother at seven.
It felt ominous.
Like the severed symptoms of her illness after returning, the lack of any trace of her memories from when she was seven felt foreboding.
Under the cloud-covered sky, a clear blue moon shone upon her.
Iana looked up at the sky and muttered.
"The Grand Duke will depart tomorrow."
The next morning at Count Dietrian's estate.
A light rainbow arched across the clear sky after the rain.
Charles received news from a scout about the receding water levels of the Rona River while packing in his room. Rosso, who was packing Charles' belongings, murmured thoughtfully.
"Does he possess precognitive magic?"
"What do you mean?"
Charles asked.
"Didn't the Grand Duke say the Countess asked you to send scouts to check the Rona River?"
Charles recalled Iana’s words.
"Wouldn't it be better to send a reconnaissance team tomorrow morning to check the route, including the Rona River?"
"Considering how Khan reacts, everything about the Countess is a mystery."
"Wouldn't the Grand Magician Mule be able to confirm it precisely? Let's go. The people of the Dietrian estate will be able to rest comfortably."
"Yes, Grand Duke."
Soon, servants entered and started packing the room's belongings.
Charles and Rosso headed straight to the inner castle entrance.
There, Carion, with a bandaged foot and supported by a butler, along with dozens of employees, were lined up to see them off.
Charles asked with a worried look.
"Count Dietrian, did you injure your leg?"
"I slipped in the rain and sprained it a bit."
At that moment,
Bark! Bark! Bark!
Could it be that Khan remembered Carion's voice? The dog, in the luggage cart, barked fiercely towards the inner castle.
"That dog again…"
As Carion tried to show his temper towards Khan, Charles blocked his view and said.
"Consider it the farewell greeting of a speechless animal."
"…"
"And as soon as we return to the territory, the cost for all the hospitality will be sent with my attendant."
Carion, having waited for those words, responded with a meaningful smile.
"Since the Grand Duke insists, I will comply."
"…!"
Charles' magicians and knights around him were surprised.
It had never happened before during their travels to battlefields.
It was a customary remark.
Technically, the noble leading the knights should pay for the hospitality provided by another noble.
However, it became a courtesy among nobles to host knights who fought for the empire.
But Carion, with lingering resentment, accepted without hesitation.
"The Grand Duke didn't seem that insistent."
Rosso, standing behind, muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Understanding Carion’s temperament to some extent, Charles extended his hand with a smile.
"We relied on your hospitality more than planned, so it’s only right. Thank you for everything."
Carion grasped Charles' hand and exchanged greetings.
"It was an honor to have the Grand Duke stay at our castle."
"Then…"
As Charles tried to withdraw his hand, Carion held onto it and moved closer, speaking in a low, biting tone.
"I will soon prove it. Grand Duke."
"Prove what?"
"That I am not only powerful but also a strong strategist who bows to no one."
Charles tightened his grip on Carion's hand, speaking with a leisurely smile.
"It seems my words left a strong impression. Then I look forward to it, Count Dietrian."
Their eyes met, burning with intense determination.
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