That evening, when Mulle returned to the Grand Duchy, everyone gathered in Charles's office.
Iana, Charles, Mulle, Rosso, and even the senior knights.
They sat around the sofa, listening to the story Vera was relaying.
“...The Marquis asked me to send you here to explain the situation in detail.”
‘It seems my brother underestimated Riel and let her slip away.’
Iana thought as she read through the letter sent by Marsel again.
‘Riel is trying to turn the fallen reputation of the Dietrian family due to the divorce into my affair scandal? To claim the title of Countess through that merit, just like in my past life.’
Iana spoke up resolutely, as if she had made a vow.
“I will reveal that I have magical powers. I came to Ervin not because of an affair, but because of my magic.”
“......”
Charles stood with his back turned, silently gazing out the window.
“Of course, I won’t be able to keep the promise I made to my brother, but there’s no other way to reveal the truth.”
At that moment, Mulle spoke up with a stern face.
“Then wouldn’t your divorce become invalid?”
“Even so, I cannot bear to see His Grace the Grand Duke dragged into a filthy scandal because of me.”
“The problem is not that simple.”
Rosso, who was sitting next to him, continued.
“As I mentioned before, this is a matter that directly concerns the life of Countess Iana, and we might lose our precious magician of Ervin.”
“But there’s no way to explain this situation.”
At Iana’s words, Charles slowly turned around. He then leaned on the desk with both hands and spoke in a significant tone.
“Let’s do it. A deceptive affair.”
“Pardon? What do you mean...?”
Iana trailed off in surprise.
“Scandals and political maneuvers of this kind, you see, the more you try to prove they are false, the deeper you sink into the quagmire.”
“......”
“The one who slanders knows this nature and has set this trap, so we must turn it in a direction they cannot anticipate.”
As Charles finished speaking, his gray eyes gleamed sharply.
“I am doing this for my own safety and divorce, but it will bring an irreparable disgrace to His Grace the Grand Duke, who is highly respected by the citizens of the Empire. That cannot happen.”
Iana raised her voice in opposition.
“I know how hard you fought for your divorce. I am making this proposal out of necessity as well. For Ervin and...”
“......?”
“For my political standing.”
Bang-.
Mulle slammed his hand on the table and stood up, shouting.
“Your Grace the Grand Duke!”
A tense silence flowed through the office.
Iana and Rosso exchanged glances, unsure of what was happening between Charles and Mulle.
It was Mulle who broke the silence.
“Your Grace, are you trying to take the blame upon yourself?”
“......”
“To become a Grand Duke with weaknesses that can never instigate a coup!”
“......!”
Iana and Rosso looked at Charles with faces full of shock.
“Do you think that damned Emperor will understand your heart, Your Grace?”
Mulle pressed on fiercely.
Charles, showing no signs of retreat, spoke firmly.
“If the Emperor’s vigilance ends with me, then it doesn’t matter. But my brother equates me with Ervin.”
“Still...”
“As long as you see me as someone who could instigate a coup, Ervin will suffer forever. Because of me, the lord.”
The gazes of Charles and Mulle clashed intensely.
Yet, there was a deep sense of guilt in Charles's eyes.
That sight struck Iana painfully.
“The daily life of Ervin is protected that way. The magicians and knights do their best every day.”
The people of Ervin who must risk their lives to protect their daily lives.
So, she could somewhat understand the anguish and guilt he felt as a lord.
And one more thing.
“Were you waiting for me?”
The voice that had asked sorrowfully on the day the Emperor had threatened his life echoed in her ears.
Iana wished for the pain of Charles, who was threatened by his brother, the Emperor, to end.
For herself, Ervin, and Charles’s safety, she made her choice.
“I will do it. A deceptive affair.”
At that moment, the carriage carrying Riel and Karion was heading towards the capital.
Karion slowly stroked Riel’s hair, which was cut short to just below her jawline.
“So what you’re saying is that His Majesty the Emperor will send me to Ervin to investigate the affair between Iana and the Grand Duke of Ervin?”
“There’s no one more suited than you, Count, to uncover the truth about their affair. On the surface, it will be directed as an investigation into the First Knight Order.”
“......”
“This is an opportunity for you to catch the Emperor’s eye. So you must produce the results the Emperor desires.”
“You’re quite cunning. If the Estina family hadn’t been involved in treason, you would have been the lady of a high-ranking family by now, wouldn’t you?”
At that moment, Riel recalled the words of her father, Marquis Estina.
“Riel, your father will make you the Empress.”
“Perhaps I would have become the Empress, if our family hadn’t fallen.”
“What did you say?”
Thinking Riel was joking, Karion laughed loudly.
At that, Riel’s gaze sharpened. She then nestled deeper into his embrace.
‘Laugh as much as you want. I’ll make you regret laughing later.’
The next afternoon, Karion arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Guided by the Emperor’s secretary, Karion entered the conference room.
The Emperor sat on the throne with a pensive expression, while the ministers stood at a distance.
Karion walked up to the throne, knelt on one knee, and greeted.
“Karion Dietrian, I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“......”
The Emperor stared at Karion without saying a word.
Not understanding his intent, Karion quietly waited for the Emperor’s command.
A face where good and evil coexist.
A beautiful face with eyes as clear as a lake. But those eyes felt somehow more cruel.
Then the Emperor slowly opened his mouth.
“Count Dietrian.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will apologize first.”
“How could Your Majesty apologize to me?”
Karion looked at the Emperor in confusion.
The Emperor slowly rose from the throne and walked towards Karion, his face unreadable.
Karion was tense, unsure how the Emperor would change.
But the expectation was off the mark.
The Emperor took Karion’s hand and spoke in a gentle voice.
“My soldiers caused great trouble while staying at your castle, so I must apologize, don’t you think?”
‘He’s talking about the First Knight Order staying at our castle.’
Just as Karion stood up, thinking, the Emperor gave a fierce command with a sharp gaze.
“Count Dietrian, take responsibility and investigate.”
“......”
“Go to Ervin, where the First Knight Order is, right now.”
“......!”
Karion’s surprised eyes widened.
The Emperor’s words brought back the conversation he had with Riel.
‘Riel’s words were exactly right.’
The ministers behind him spoke loudly.
“Not only should the First Knight Order be investigated, but we must also investigate the Grand Duke of Ervin, who has tarnished the honor of the Imperial Family with this scandal.”
“Indeed! If the rumors circulating are true, they must be severely punished.”
The Emperor pointed at the ministers with his hand and commanded sharply.
“If anyone brings up that filthy scandal again, I will have their head right here!”
“Your Majesty, why are you being so harsh about the Grand Duke of Ervin’s matter?”
Seeing the obvious collusion between the Emperor and the ministers made Karion chuckle.
‘The Emperor doesn’t want to show that he’s keeping an eye on the Grand Duke of Ervin.’
“Is it amusing to you that I, the Emperor, speak? I don’t want to see any of you here, so leave at once.”
At the Emperor’s command, the ministers and the guard knights all exited.
A private audience.
It was Karion’s first time having a private audience with the Emperor, which was only possible for the closest aides.
“This is an opportunity for you, Count, to catch the Emperor’s eye. So you must produce the results the Emperor desires.”
Karion recalled Riel’s words.
With only the two of them left in the room, the Emperor no longer hesitated and posed a question.
“What do you think, Count Dietrian?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking whether you think the Grand Duke of Ervin and your ex-wife appeared to have feelings for each other before their divorce, as the rumors say.”
“......”
Karion understood the intent of the question but was troubled about how strongly to respond.
“Do you not understand my question?”
The Emperor grabbed Karion by the nape and locked eyes with him.
Eyes as innocent as a child’s, cruelly crushing a bug.
Karion felt a chill run down his spine.
If it wasn’t the answer the Emperor wanted, that bug could easily become him.
“They had feelings for each other before their divorce. I can assure you of that, as her husband, if no one else.”
Karion answered with a face full of determination.
At that moment, the Emperor slowly reached out his hand towards Karion.
Karion looked at the Emperor with a tense expression.
The Emperor lightly patted Karion’s cheek with a gentle smile, as if praising him.
Then he whispered in a chilling voice.
“Then bring me evidence.”
“Pardon?”
“I want solid proof that they were in an affair before their divorce, not just rumors...”
The images of Iana and Charles flashed through Karion’s mind.
His fist clenched in frustration, trembling with rage.
“I will definitely find it. Evidence of their affair.”