“Have you seen my wife again?”
“……!”
At Karion's sudden question, the gazes of Iana and Charles slightly wavered.
However, Charles hid his flustered expression and asked with a calm face.
“What do you mean, Count Dietrian?”
“My wife’s illness has improved so much that everyone who sees her is greatly surprised. Her face has changed beyond recognition.”
“……!”
Iana quickly retraced her thoughts.
Karion was someone well-versed in royal etiquette.
It didn’t seem like he was asking why the royals weren’t reacting to his wife’s changed appearance.
A subtle point.
It seemed that Karion had some doubts about the way he and the Grand Duke were treating each other in a way that felt strangely familiar. The womanizer Karion was adept at picking up on the subtle emotions between people.
“…….”
Charles remained silent, perhaps flustered.
‘Say something.’
Just as Iana was about to speak, Charles tilted his head and asked.
“Was the Countess different from how she is now?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t quite remember what Countess Dietrian looked like before, so I must have committed a faux pas.”
Charles responded as if he had no interest in Iana, not remembering her at all.
“Faux pas? No, it’s not.”
Iana waved her hand dismissively. Karion, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.
“His Highness the Grand Duke meets many people, so it’s only natural that he wouldn’t remember everyone’s faces.”
“No, this is my oversight.”
“You should rest. I feel we have kept you too long, Your Highness. Then we shall take our leave.”
After Karion bowed, he gently placed his hand on Iana’s shoulder and walked toward the door.
Iana frowned and gestured for him to remove his hand.
At that moment, Charles suddenly spoke up behind him.
“By the way, Count Dietrian, I heard your audience with His Majesty was postponed, just like mine?”
Karion, who had been frowning, turned around and changed his expression to one of polite interest.
“Yes. My audience was delayed for the same reason as His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“The ‘damage and compensation system of the Order of Knights’… It’s quite an interesting topic.”
Charles spoke with a smile, but his eyes were sharp.
Karion raised one corner of his mouth and replied.
“……Did you hear that?”
‘So Karion is trying to use the system to attack His Highness the Grand Duke.’
Iana glared at Karion as she thought.
“The ministers are seeking advice. It’s a system that could affect me, as I lead the Order of Knights.”
“If His Highness the Grand Duke gives me his insights, I will take them into account during the audience.”
Karion seemed to be trying to provoke Charles. However, Charles smiled meaningfully, as if he had been waiting for those words.
“Then I can stay here until the day of the audience and give you my advice.”
“Pardon?”
Karion was taken aback by Charles’s words.
In that moment, Iana couldn’t help but smile with delight.
Karion shot her a sharp glance at that sight.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke, that’s…”
As Karion was about to say something, Charles pressed his temple, pretending to be in pain.
“I’ve talked too much, and now I have a headache. Please leave.”
It was a clear signal not to speak any further.
“Then please rest, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
Karion bowed with a face that was trying to suppress his anger and strode out the door.
Iana followed him out and smiled at Charles.
Meanwhile, at that time, Riel was being dragged somewhere with her hands bound.
Through the window of the corridor she was walking in, she could see the armed magic legion.
‘That’s the appearance of the magic legion when they’re about to engage in battle…’
In that moment, Riel recalled the words of Marcel she had heard at the townhouse.
“Karion, don’t think I’m just threatening you.”
‘Could it be that he’s bringing the magic legion to the Dietrian estate?’
As Riel was lost in thought, they soon arrived in front of a small room with an iron door.
Creak-.
With an unpleasant metallic sound, the door opened, revealing Marcel sitting at a table.
His expression was completely unreadable.
Riel intended to provoke Marcel to figure out his intentions.
“Brother Marcel, are you planning to kill someone? You might as well just behead me!”
Riel shouted vehemently.
“Sit down.”
Marcel spoke briefly, but it wasn’t a command.
Riel observed his expression and sat down across from him.
Marcel, lost in deep thought, spoke in a firm voice.
“Leave. From the Dietrian family, and from our Rechels family as well.”
‘Is he really forgiving me like this?’
Riel looked at Marcel with a gaze full of skepticism.
“Removing a mere maid isn’t that difficult, as you say.”
“Then why the sudden change of heart?”
“Because I believe true revenge is forgiveness.”
Marcel answered with a face that looked like a monk who had gained deep enlightenment.
‘Is it hypocrisy? A scheme?’
Riel, unable to understand the situation, pressed harder.
“Don’t hide behind the word forgiveness. That’s just an excuse for the indecisive.”
Even Riel’s words, which pricked at his pride, didn’t shake Marcel.
“My father left a will. He said to take good care of you, Riel.”
“A will?”
“I must follow the words of my father, who was a respected archmage, so I will keep his will by not killing you.”
‘What is this? This situation is so unnaturally natural…’
The flow of emotions and logical situations was so smooth, it felt as if she was deceiving the feelings of others.
Marcel stood up and looked down at Riel.
“Leave immediately. If I see you in front of me after this time, I will behead you on the spot.”
As Marcel moved toward the door, Riel immediately asked.
“Are you really planning to divorce Iana?”
Marcel spoke coldly, his expression unreadable.
“That’s none of your concern.”
Late in the afternoon, Riel left the Marquisate with only a small bag.
Without anyone to give her a ride, she wandered aimlessly until she managed to catch a cart into the city. The streets lined with shops were bustling with people.
‘I can’t go to the Count’s estate right now.’
She couldn’t tell if Marcel’s act of releasing her was a kindness or a scheme.
When everything was uncertain, it was safer to keep a low profile and observe the situation from a distance.
“After the Marquis returned from his trip, he suddenly gathered the magic legion.”
‘Something must have changed during the trip he took with Iana…’
The noble families strictly enforced silence among their servants, especially the head servant of the family, who was managed to ensure that no information leaked out while enjoying many privileges.
So Riel decided to target someone else.
Riel went to a blacksmith that repaired carts.
There, she found Zion, the son of Marcel’s head servant, who had been busy fixing a cart wheel.
Riel approached Zion, greeting him with a pretty smile.
“Zion, how have you been?”
“…….”
Zion ignored her and only examined the cart wheel.
Riel knelt beside him and soon cupped his face with both hands to make him look at her.
“Are you asking how I’ve been? I came to say goodbye.”
“What are you doing?”
“Just looking at your face. Today is the last day I’ll see you.”
Zion roughly pushed Riel’s hands away and stood up abruptly.
“How can you be so shameless? How can you be with the husband of Lady Iana…?”
Riel slowly stood up and said with a cold face.
“I thought you would be different, but you’re the same.”
“What?”
“You said you liked me, right? Then at the very least, you should have asked me about the circumstances first. Instead of just believing the rumors and condemning me.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Don’t you know that a maid like me has to become a mistress if told to?”
Riel looked at Zion with tear-filled, pitiful eyes.
“……!”
Zion’s eyes, filled with guilt, wavered.
‘Now’s the time.’
“I’ll prove it soon. That it wasn’t something I wanted.”
As Riel turned away, crying, Zion grabbed her wrist with a shocked expression.
“What are you going to do?”
“Just watch. I will prove my innocence with death.”
“Riel! What do you mean by that?”
As Riel lowered her head and shed tears, Zion took her into the small room of the blacksmith. He then sat her down in a chair, knelt beside her, and handed her a handkerchief.
She wiped her tears with the handkerchief she received and said.
“Zion, it seems someone has framed me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Suddenly, after the Marquis returned from his trip, he said I seduced the Count. It seems he met someone on the Dietrian estate…”
Zion, with a troubled expression, finally spoke up.
“That can’t be. He didn’t go to the Dietrian estate.”
“Then where did he go? Did you hear from your uncle?”
Riel asked, glancing at him.
“I can’t say. You know, the movements of nobles must be kept secret.”
“The person the Marquis met there must have framed me. I need to find that person.”
At that moment, Riel suddenly hugged Zion’s neck and sobbed.
“Help me. I need to prove that I didn’t become a mistress on purpose. Only then can I start anew.”
Riel whispered as if she would begin that new start with Zion by her side.
Zion hesitated for a long time before cautiously speaking.
“Actually, the place the Marquis visited was…”
“……?”
“Ervin in the northern region."