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"Oh my...!"
Krikhan, engulfed in blue flames, turned entirely white and then vanished into smoke in midair.
Vera, Ren, and the knights halted, staring in shock at the scene.
"Why, why is that happening?"
Iana muttered in astonishment, her face pale.
Charles, who had been watching from his horse, said quietly,
"It seems you possess much stronger magic power than I thought."
"Really?"
Iana looked at her hand, which had cast the magic bullet, in disbelief.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her hand.
Upon closer inspection, the hand that had thrown the magic bullet was bright red.
Charles, peering down from behind, spoke with a serious expression.
"Countess, it appears you've burned your hand."
"It seems so."
Iana grimaced as the searing pain hit her.
"Let's leave here. There's magic flowing in the streams, and we don't know how it might affect you."
Charles spurred his horse into a gallop down another forest path.
Thud, thud, thud.
As they galloped through the lush greenery, the fresh scent of grass filled the air.
Soon, a sunlit area appeared ahead amidst the dense forest.
Thud, thud.
As they exited the forest path, a vast open field spread out before them.
"Wow...!"
Iana gasped in admiration without realizing it.
The picturesque view of Erbin lay before her.
In the center of a sunken basin stood a grand fortress resembling a military stronghold, surrounded by houses with orange roofs clustered together.
A place that was rural yet vibrant, mysterious yet full of life.
Without stopping, the group galloped to a halt in front of an emerald lake.
Charles dismounted and wiped the blood off his face with his sleeve. He then reached out to help Iana down.
"Here, take my hand."
Iana gazed at his large hand.
It was the same hand that had held her waist tightly just moments ago. Embarrassed by the thought, Iana declined politely.
"I, I can get down by myself, Your Highness."
Having never ridden a horse before, Iana found it extremely strange and awkward to be helped down by a man. Moreover, she was worried about Charles' injured shoulder.
"Didn't you hurt your hand? It will be difficult to get down by yourself in that dress."
"I can do it!"
Despite his objections, Iana turned around and tried to get off the horse by lying on its back.
As she moved, the horse flicked its tail and shifted slightly.
"Oh no!"
Iana grabbed the reins in a panic.
"Countess, I'm here to help."
Charles said with a smile, and Iana settled back into the saddle, speaking softly.
"Your Highness, I tried to do it by myself, but... I think I need your help."
At that moment, Charles burst into laughter.
"Sorry, I couldn't help but laugh."
The horse, perhaps reacting to Charles' laughter, flicked its tail and moved again.
Startled, Iana raised her voice.
"You can laugh, but please help me down first?"
Charles approached and extended both hands.
"Hold onto my neck with both hands."
"Hold your neck?"
Feeling both embarrassed and frightened by the height of the horse, Iana hesitated.
"If you're scared of falling, close your eyes tightly."
Following his instructions, Iana closed her eyes and leaned into his arms, clutching his neck as if holding onto a lifeline.
Thud, thud, thud.
Her heart pounded in fear, and her body trembled slightly. But in Charles' arms, she found some solace, and the trembling gradually subsided.
'Why isn't he putting me down?'
When Charles showed no sign of letting her down, Iana slowly opened her eyes.
Sparkle, sparkle.
The sunlight reflected off the water, filling her eyes. Charles was walking straight towards the lake with her in his arms.
"Your Highness, I can walk from here."
"The path to the lake is muddy."
Charles sat her on a rock right by the lake, then went to fetch water in a canteen.
"Here, give me your hand."
Following his instruction, Iana extended her injured hand.
Whoosh-.
Cold water poured over the burn, stinging her hand.
"Ah!"
As Iana tried to pull her hand back, Charles gently held her fingertips and said soothingly,
"We need to draw out the heat. Bear with the pain for a moment."
With his gaze fixed on her hand, Charles poured more cool lake water over it.
"I didn't expect you to come in person, Your Highness."
"I instructed the outer fortress to inform me as soon as you arrived."
As the stinging pain subsided, complex thoughts crowded Iana's mind.
She spoke cautiously.
"...Are you sure I have magic power?"
"I can't think of any other explanation for what happened earlier."
"..."
"As I said, it seems to be a very strong magic power. Other mages can't produce such power with a magic bullet."
Iana's emotions were mixed at Charles' words.
A mage.
In the Rubena Empire, mages held a high status.
Typically, women were considered men's property, but a woman with magic power was different.
A woman with magic power could enjoy the same status as men and even become the head of a family.
Mages were ranked solely based on their magic power, regardless of age, gender, or social status.
'So why is my magic suddenly manifesting now?'
The suspicious behavior of Marcel came to mind.
"Iana, what to do? You don't have any magic power."
The questions piled up, turning into anxiety.
"Sigh..."
Iana let out a sigh unconsciously.
Charles took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around her hand, speaking.
"Congratulations, Countess."
"Excuse me?"
"Our grand mage said that the birth of a mage is like the birth of a star to illuminate the world. There, it's done."
Iana looked at the neatly tied handkerchief and asked.
"Should I consider this a blessing?"
"Of course. What do you want to do first as a mage?"
"As a mage?"
"Mage Rosso used to cast immobilization spells to keep dogs from attacking him."
Charles seemed to ask lightly to ease her mind.
But Iana answered with a heavy heart.
"I want a divorce."
"What?"
"If I become a mage, I want a divorce."
"..."
Charles looked at her silently.
A gentle breeze from Erbin blew over them.
Honk, honk.
The sound of horns accompanied the opening of the iron gates of the grand fortress.
Charles led the procession quickly into the fortress.
Iana, still on horseback, looked around slowly.
The grand fortress, built thoroughly for combat in a region frequently plagued by monsters, had a magnificent main castle, towering spires, and high walls.
Though the facilities appeared old, they were well-maintained and clean.
The group passed the main castle and stopped in front of the huge central tower of the grand fortress.
As Charles dismounted, Iana quietly extended her hands first this time.
Charles chuckled at the sight.
"Why, why are you laughing?"
"It's nothing."
With a smile, he lifted Iana down.
"This is the tower where mages and mage apprentices reside."
Iana looked at the tower with anticipation. The entrance was heavily guarded, indicating strict control over who could enter.
With Charles guiding her, Iana entered the tower.
Inside, it was dim and gray.
A spiral staircase wound upwards, and a large magic circle resembling a human eye was drawn on the floor.
The heavy, eerie atmosphere sent a chill through Iana.
Suddenly.
Thud, thud, thud-.
Noisy commotion came from the second floor.
Charles and Iana's gazes turned towards the second floor.
Soon, several mage apprentices in brown robes, different from the gray robes of the mages, came running down the stairs, clutching something to their chests.
"No, you can't! The Grand Duke strictly ordered no alcohol for the Grand Mage!"
'Grand Mage?'
Iana looked towards the noise with hopeful eyes.
Following them, a short old man hurried down, shouting.
"I raised mages, not thieves!"
"No matter what you say, it's not allowed! Oh? Your Highness is here?"
The apprentices, each holding two bottles of alcohol, hid behind Charles.
Bang-.
Wearing only one shoe, the old man named Mule stumbled down the stairs.
"Grand Mage! Are you okay?"
The apprentices put down the bottles and ran to Mule.
With blood streaming from his nose, Mule raised his head.
'That man is the Grand Mage?'
With his small stature, long white hair, and bloodshot eyes, he looked more like a shabby drunkard than a dignified Grand Mage.
Unlike the grand and authoritative Grand Mages Iana had seen in the past, this one seemed completely different.
"Let go! You thieves!"
As the apprentices approached, he wiped his bloody nose with his sleeve and shook them off roughly.
Charles, looking displeased, spoke.
"Grand Mage Mule, you broke your promise, so the alcohol ban will be extended for two more weeks, as per the rules."
Thud! Thud!
Mule, sitting up, banged his one-shoed foot on the floor and shouted angrily.
"I didn't drink! I just hid them. Damn it! Why did you come back early from the battlefield to nag...?"
"...!"
Iana's eyes widened in surprise at Mule's disrespect towards the Grand Duke.
At that moment, her eyes met Mule's through his disheveled hair.
Mule stood up, his long white hair hanging down, and walked slowly towards Iana.
Caught off guard by his intense gaze, Iana didn't know what to do. Mule approached and whispered coldly.
"You have strong magic power. But..."
"..."
"Why do you bear the remnants of dark magic?"
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