"Ervin in the northern region."
'Ervin?'
In that moment, a thought flashed through Riel's mind.
'The Duke of Ervin and the knights stayed at the Dietrian Count's residence. Could this really be a coincidence?'
The Duke of Ervin, who stayed at the Count's residence.
Iana, who disappeared saying she was returning to the Count's residence.
Masel, who left for Ervin immediately after Iana departed.
"What was the exact date? The day your uncle went to Erwin?"
"Well..."
At Riel's question, Zion hesitated. Then Riel took Zion's face in her hands and made him look into her eyes.
"Zion, if I can't resolve this matter, I might die. Do you not care if I die?"
"...He said he stayed in Ervin for two days, on the 11th and 12th."
'So Masel went there after the Duke of Ervin returned.'
Riel continued to ask questions.
"Did your uncle mention who the Marquis met?"
"No, I didn't hear that part."
"Then find out. What happened there."
"What? But..."
"Are you just going to stand by while the woman you like is framed? Is that all the man you are?"
At Riel's words, Zion had no choice but to respond.
"Fine, I'll look into it."
'There must be something. I need to find the connection that links the Duke of Ervin, Iana, and Masel.'
Just then, while Riel was lost in thought, Zion spoke up with a shy expression, as if confessing.
"Riel, no matter what happens to you, it doesn't matter to me."
At that moment.
"Shut up! I'm trying to think!"
Riel shouted sharply, with a fierce gaze she had never shown Zion before.
"Riel..."
Zion looked at her in shock at her demeanor.
Riel quickly changed her expression and gently caressed Zion's face to soothe him.
"I guess I'm on edge because I need to resolve what happened to me first. I can't do anything with you like this."
"I understand what you mean, but why are you so angry..."
Zion's words vanished from Riel's lips.
Her kiss deepened and persistently continued to break down Zion's rationality.
As she did so, Riel thought.
'Zion, this kiss is a price. The price for the information you gave me.'
Around that time, in Masel's office at the Rachels Marquisate.
Masel leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk as he fell into thought.
Knock, knock.
Soon, a knock was heard from beyond the door.
"Come in."
With Masel's command, the office door opened.
A member of the magic corps intelligence unit, dressed in black, entered and briefly bowed.
"I just received a report from the agent who was tailing Riel Estina."
The sound of fingers tapping on the desk abruptly stopped. Masel raised his head and asked with a calm expression.
"Did they go to the Dietrian Count's residence?"
Masel thought that if Riel was released, she would naturally go to the Dietrian Count's residence.
This would strengthen the justification for an attack, as Karion had accepted Riel, and even if not, he could quickly find out who Riel met in a critical moment.
However, the intelligence agent spoke an unexpected word.
"Not the Dietrian Count's residence, but she went to Zion Dillon."
"Zion?"
"Yes. The son of the Marquis's personal coachman, Karion."
"The son of my personal coachman..."
Masel frowned deeply.
"It turns out that when Riel was at the Marquisate, Zion had feelings for her."
"Did she go to someone who liked her? Or did she go to the son of my coachman, Karion Dillon?"
Masel recalled what Iana had said in Erwin.
"They will put Riel on the execution stand. For the crime of framing her master."
As Masel repeated Iana's words, his gaze turned cold.
"If Riel is carefully watched and steps outside the territory..."
"..."
"Tell them to kill her. Put a slanka in the bag."
There was no need to drag it out.
Ultimately, what Iana desired was Riel's death.
The next morning, Iana sat on the sofa in her room, petting Lou.
Lou seemed eager to get down, wriggling and twitching his pink nose.
"Ah! That hurts!"
In an instant, a strong surge of magic flowed through Iana's hand. It was the strongest magic she had ever channeled while touching Lou.
"Lou, why has your magic grown so strong?"
As Lou twitched his nose more vigorously, Iana became frightened and hurriedly set him down on the floor.
Iana looked at Lou, who was now bouncing around the floor, with a suspicious gaze.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded on the door, followed by the butler's voice.
"Milady, the master is asking you to come to the backyard now."
Iana approached and opened the door, speaking firmly.
"Tell him I'm busy right now."
"If you refuse, he says he will send me until you come out..."
The butler trailed off, looking troubled.
Iana felt anger rise at Karion's obvious tactic. But she couldn't make the innocent butler suffer, so she changed her mind.
"Then I just need to go to the backyard, right?"
"Yes, milady. I'll take the rabbit with me."
"The rabbit too? Why the rabbit?"
"You'll understand when you see it. Then I'll carry this little one."
The butler smiled happily as he tried to pick up Lou, who was bouncing around on the floor.
"Ah!"
When a stranger tried to pick him up, Lou bit the butler's finger.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. This little one has quite the temper."
"I'll carry him."
"Ah, yes, milady."
The butler grimaced as if he was in pain.
Iana held Lou and headed straight to the backyard.
After walking for a while, she spotted Karion and about five other servants at the entrance to the backyard.
"What is that?"
Upon closer inspection, a rabbit hutch made of wood, resembling a small house, had been set up.
It was large enough to hold about thirty rabbits, just by looking at it.
"What is this?"
Iana approached Karion, her expression puzzled, and the servants began to praise Karion as if they had been instructed.
"The Count made this rabbit hutch for the rabbit that milady cherishes!"
"Well, I didn't make it all myself. I just hammered a few nails here and there."
Karion waved his hands modestly. Then another servant chimed in.
"If you hammered nails to make the rabbit hutch, then you did it all, more or less. Isn't that right?"
The servants standing behind nodded vigorously in agreement.
'He just hammered a few nails. And yet he acts like he did everything...'
Iana shot a disapproving glance at Karion and spoke up.
"But what should we do? This one can't live outside alone; he's not a rabbit that lives in a hutch."
"What beast in the world can't be left outside? Give it to me!"
Karion strode over and roughly snatched Lou up as if to catch him.
"Ah!"
Lou, angered by the rough handling, bit Karion's hand harder than ever.
This time, blood welled up from the bite mark on his hand.
"Are you okay? Why do you keep handling the rabbit roughly after getting bitten last time?"
"This little one!"
Angered, Karion instinctively raised his hand.
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind.
"You've made a rabbit hutch."
Iana turned to see Charles walking over, holding a book in his hand as if he had just returned from a walk.
"Welcome, Your Highness the Duke."
Everyone greeted Charles.
Karion stepped closer, examining his face, and asked.
"Your Highness, how are you feeling? You seem to look well."
It seemed he was suggesting that since he looked fine, he should leave now.
"After resting well, my dizziness has completely disappeared."
"Then now to the Imperial Palace..."
"I believe we can now have a deep discussion about the damages and compensation system regarding the knightly honors proposed by Count Dietrian."
The gazes of Charles and Karion clashed strongly once again.
At that moment, Lou, who was in Iana's arms, seemed eager to get down, wriggling precariously.
"Uh? The rabbit is going to fall!"
Just as a servant shouted in urgency, Charles quickly caught Lou as he slipped from Iana's arms.
"You little rascal, you almost had a big accident."
Charles calmed the startled Lou by petting him.
However, Lou, cradled in Charles's arms, was calm.
He even rubbed his face against Charles's arm like a puppy. The servants behind them whispered in amazement.
"The Duke doesn't seem to mind."
"That rabbit seems to like handsome people."
A large servant commented, and Karion shouted at him with a fierce glare.
"What are you all doing idly? Go and get to work!"
"Yes, Count."
The servants hurriedly ran off, glancing nervously.
"Here, take this."
As Charles handed Lou back to Iana, she received him and bowed politely.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Duke."
"Count Dietrian, let us now discuss your agenda."
Charles looked around as if searching for a suitable place.
Karion suddenly spoke with a serious expression.
"No, I only wish to speak about my agenda..."
"?"
"To His Majesty the Emperor."
"Karion, what do you mean..."
Iana was surprised and interrupted Karion.
It was rude to openly refuse someone's goodwill by distinguishing ranks.
A tense atmosphere flowed between Charles and Karion.
"Count!"
At that moment, a guard came running from a distance.
"What is it?"
Karion asked, and the guard hesitated, glancing at Iana.
"A letter has been sent from the Rachels family. But..."
"Speak!"
"It was a declaration of war against the Dietrian family."