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“Was it my father who cast dark magic on me?”
"...!"
Charles and Mule stared at Iana in shock.
“I had somewhat anticipated it. So, please be honest with me.”
When Iana urged, Mule spoke after a moment's thought.
“The dark magic was strong enough to remain even after the connection was severed.”
“...”
“The leader of the Nine Grand Magicians couldn’t have missed such strong dark magic. What do you think that means?”
“I see.”
Her calm response puzzled Charles and Mule.
Charles asked cautiously, “Are you alright, Countess?”
She was far from alright. However, one thing Iana learned from her misfortune in her past life was that crying was useless. No matter how much she cried, nothing changed. On the contrary, heightened emotions would only turn into poison.
So, she decided to accept her misfortune gracefully.
“As I said, I had somewhat expected it, so I'm fine. But more than that…”
“Please, go on.”
Charles urged with a tense expression.
“I’m very, very hungry.”
Iana diverted the conversation with a forced smile to ease Charles’ worry.
For a moment, their eyes locked.
Knock, knock.
Just as Charles was about to speak, a knock on the door was followed by the butler’s voice.
“Your Grace, your guests have arrived.”
“Please, go ahead. You must be busy.”
Iana smiled reassuringly.
“I’ll have them bring food on my way down.”
With that, Charles left the room.
A heavy silence filled the room with just Iana and Mule remaining.
Mule poured himself a drink quietly when Iana abruptly asked.
“My father knew, didn’t he?”
“...”
Mule stared at her quietly.
“He knew I’d be in a lot of pain and still cast dark magic on me, didn’t he?”
It was a question with an obvious answer, but Iana needed to confirm it precisely.
Mule studied her as if trying to grasp her intentions.
“Do you seek comfort or truth?”
“I want the truth.”
Her eyes were earnest.
Mule quickly drank his liquor and spoke firmly.
“You were lucky. You’re still alive.”
“...!”
Iana’s eyes widened in shock.
The sound of insects beyond the window seemed to amplify in the still room.
Her father, Marquess Rio Lecell, had always been kind to Iana.
“Shall I give you a piggyback ride, my dear?”
“All I want is for our Iana to be healthy.”
It was all a lie.
‘I was abandoned by everyone I loved in my past life.’
Her beloved husband. Her friend who was like a sister. Even the father she longed for.
They all used and discarded her.
“Hah…!”
It wasn’t tears but a cold laugh that came out.
A hollow laugh devoid of even hatred.
Suppressing the bubbling anger, Iana made a cold resolution.
‘This time, I’ll discard them all first.’
Inside Charles’ study at the main castle.
The long report from the trade secretaries finally concluded, giving Charles a brief moment to relax.
He had been away from his domain for six months due to the war.
Though he had set up an administrative system that could run without him, there was still a mountain of work to catch up on.
Especially with the booming business of processing and trading magic stones like gemstones, there was much to oversee.
He stood up and gazed out the window. The bright moon in the dark sky was particularly striking.
Iana’s image from earlier came to mind.
“It’s alright. I had somewhat expected it.”
Her calm demeanor reminded him of his mother, Empress Perena.
“I am fine. How can an Empress afford to falter?”
When the Crown Prince fell gravely ill, everyone expected the second prince to succeed him. But as the Crown Prince’s health slowly improved, the ambitious second prince conspired with noble supporters to assassinate the Crown Prince.
The plot ultimately failed, leading to the execution of the second prince and his co-conspirator, the fourth prince. Shortly after, the shock led to the Crown Prince’s death as well.
In a short time, the Empress lost three of her seven sons.
She appeared composed, almost cold.
But the unexpressed grief twisted her mind.
She no longer recognized her remaining children.
Charles headed straight to Iana’s guest room on the second floor of the main castle.
Knock, knock.
He knocked on the door of the guest room.
Click-.
To his surprise, Iana, not Vera, opened the door.
Before she could speak, Charles scanned the room and asked worriedly,
“Why are you alone? Where is Vera?”
“Well…”
Iana hesitated and then spoke with a shy expression.
“Vera went to get food. I’m quite hungry despite having eaten an hour ago.”
“Then, let’s talk until the food arrives.”
“Yes? Yes, Your Grace.”
They entered the room and sat facing each other on the sofa.
Charles quietly observed Iana’s face.
Her calmness, acting as if nothing had happened, seemed precarious.
“Countess…”
Sensing his concern, Iana quickly changed the subject.
“Do monsters often appear in Erbin like today? Or was I just unlucky?”
“Monsters appear frequently. Especially near the outer fortress, they often emerge. There’s only one exit due to the high stone mountains, so we tolerate it.”
As he spoke, Charles kept watching Iana’s expression and eyes.
She looked puzzled and asked,
“If monsters often appear in Erbin, you and the First Knights shouldn’t be deployed to other battles, right?”
Charles, still focused on Iana’s surface-level questions, shared his honest thoughts.
“I am disliked by His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“…!”
“I initially tried to understand the Emperor, but I couldn’t. So, now, I also dislike him.”
His candid words could cause significant upheaval.
A member of the royal family harboring animosity towards the Emperor could be seen as a seed for rebellion.
But Charles believed that only sincerity could be met with sincerity.
He leaned forward and asked,
“Don’t you have any such words held in your heart? Like mine.”
After a moment of thought, Iana cautiously spoke.
“If I get a divorce…”
“…”
“I want to live in Erbin. I can’t return to the Lecell family anymore.”
Her previously dark expression now showed a hint of hope.
“I want to live among people. I always had to watch them from afar because of my illness.”
“And?”
Charles gently urged.
“I want to become a good mage who doesn’t use dark magic.”
“…”
“That’s why I can endure. Not because I’m not sad, but because I have that hope…”
Iana smiled faintly, her eyes glistening with tears.
Charles was reminded that Iana was a small but resilient woman.
This tiny woman, despite great misfortune, held onto a sliver of hope and persevered. It was both pitiable and moving.
He looked at Iana and made a promise.
“I will help you. To become a good mage.”
Meanwhile, at the Count Dietrian estate.
Knock, knock.
Riel knocked on the study door, holding a book.
“My Lord, it’s Riel.”
“Come in.”
At Carrion’s voice, Riel entered.
He was diligently writing something at his desk.
“This is the book on Eastern Continent monopoly rights I mentioned before.”
Riel placed the book on the desk, but Carrion didn’t even glance at her.
As she was about to leave after greeting, Carrion spoke in a nonchalant tone.
“I’ll be going to the Imperial Palace tomorrow. We’re heading to the capital, so you should prepare.”
“Me too?”
Thud.
Carrion closed the book.
“I like your cleverness and intelligence. So I intend to give you a chance.”
“…What chance?”
At Riel’s question, Carrion was silent for a long time. Then, sipping his tea, he spoke.
“A chance for your seduction to succeed.”
Riel couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
Weren’t you the one who said not to draw attention as a traitor’s offspring? And now you’re breaking your own taboo in desperation.
“I told you I wouldn’t engage in actions against my principles.”
“Regardless, you’ll be criticized for merely accompanying me to the capital. You’ll be seen as a dirty woman who betrayed your master.”
“And you, my lord, will be seen as a despicable man who dallied with a maid.”
As Riel retorted, Carrion leaned back in his chair, laughing lazily.
“It will be interesting. Let’s see who falls further…”
He now intended to push forward, heedless of public opinion.
Riel instinctively knew.
‘The time is now.’
The moment when taboo-breaking desire becomes blind. She had to fan the flames of that burning desire.
Only by clouding his reason could she manipulate him as she wished.
Riel spoke boldly.
“Buy me clothes. High-end dresses.”
“What?”
Carrion laughed incredulously.
“If I’m to be branded a disgraceful woman, I don’t want to do it looking shabby.”
“Fine. We’ll stop by a tailor on our way tomorrow morning?”
“Thank you.”
As Riel turned to leave, she glanced at the documents Carrion was organizing.
“Would you like to see?”
Carrion, reading her gaze, handed her the documents for the Emperor.
She slowly read through the papers.
“Damages and compensation due to the chivalric order? What is this?”
When Riel looked at him with slightly surprised eyes, Carrion smiled meaningfully.
“Didn’t you say to use policy? The First Knights were too rampant while staying at our castle.”
“Then?”
In that moment, Carrion’s eyes sharpened.
“It’s a plan to prove myself to His Grace the Grand Duke of Erbin.”
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