A few days later, with her hand almost healed, Iana tidied up the room.
Lou was bouncing around, seemingly excited about something.
“Ma’am, your hand isn’t fully healed yet. Let me take care of it.”
When Vera spoke with a face full of concern, Iana showed her the bandage-free hand.
“I’m all better now. And I told you to call me Secretary here, not ma’am.”
Iana needed a reason to stay with the wizards. So, she remained in the spire as a magical secretary organizing magical formulas.
“Yes, Secretary Iana.”
Vera sighed deeply after organizing the wardrobe for a while.
“However, if rumors of your affair spread, the people of Ervin will react coldly.”
“...That’s true.”
Iana’s face darkened.
“Especially towards you, ma’am. Such matters are harsher on women.”
“I’ll have to bear that too. It’s to hide my magical powers.”
Iana knew well from her past life memories how women entangled in scandalous affairs were treated and what they endured.
Especially, the backlash from the people of Ervin would surely be fierce. All their disappointment would be directed at her regarding Charles.
Iana spoke with a sharp gaze.
“Vera, when you return, tell my brother he must make up for this mistake.”
“......”
“Before Riel becomes Countess Dietrian...”
“What? Riel is going to become what?”
Vera looked at her in shock.
Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Johan’s voice was heard.
“Secretary, the Grand Mage is looking for you.”
Iana opened the door and asked.
“The Grand Mage?”
“Yes, he’s currently practicing magic and has come out to the training ground. Oh, he also asked you to bring Lou with you.”
“Lou too?”
Iana looked at Lou, who was bouncing around, and asked. Then Johan whispered in a low voice.
“Perhaps he’s going to teach you about combination magic in earnest?”
“Oh! That must be it. Then I’ll get ready quickly and head out.”
After Johan left, Iana quickly changed into her training clothes. Excited at the thought of learning magic, she picked up Lou and dashed straight to the training ground.
In the distance, Muel was standing in the training ground.
“Grand Mage!”
When Iana called out loudly, Muel approached with a worried look.
“Iana, is your injured hand okay?”
She quickly opened her right hand.
“Look! It’s all healed. There are a few scars, but it’s almost completely closed.”
Muel bent down and carefully examined Iana’s hand.
“Then, we can start serious magic training. Follow me.”
Iana happily chased after Muel, who walked ahead.
As they walked, she realized it was a familiar path. It was near the stable where she had come with Charles not long ago. Sure enough, Muel stopped in front of the stable.
“Grand Mage, are we learning to ride first? I thought the Grand Duke would teach me how to ride...”
She muttered with a hint of disappointment.
Creak-.
Muel entered the stable and unexpectedly threw out a command.
“From now on, clean the stable!”
“Excuse me?”
Iana looked at Muel as if she had been hit on the head.
“Aren’t you going to teach me combination magic?”
“I said I would train you in magic, but I never said I would teach you combination magic.”
With Muel’s firm words, Iana asked with a confused expression.
“Then what’s the connection between magic training and cleaning the stable?”
“People, you see, when they suddenly gain great power, they start to think of themselves as extraordinary. Such thoughts breed arrogance and twist a person.”
“So, you’re saying I should clean the stable to avoid becoming arrogant?”
“It means to learn humility. While doing menial tasks, don’t think of yourself as an extraordinary person.”
The moment she walked into the stable, unlike when she had come with Charles, a foul smell of manure filled the air.
“Since you’ll be cleaning the stable at this time every day, you only need to clean Andre’s pen.”
“The Grand Mage said that, right? You need the courage to say you can’t do something.”
When Iana timidly protested, Muel snapped angrily.
“Not being able to do something is still a form of inability! What kind of mage can’t even clean manure?”
Iana grumbled and took out a handkerchief from her pocket to cover her nose and mouth.
“Then why did you ask me to bring Lou?”
“Stubborn Andre really likes flower pet bunnies. I told you to bring him along for convenience while cleaning.”
Muel placed Lou in the empty pen next to Andre. As soon as she opened the fence door, Andre looked at Lou curiously and moved to the next pen.
“...Ugh!”
Iana covered her mouth with her hand, trying to suppress her nausea.
There was a huge pile of manure where Andre had just passed. It was a shock that couldn’t be compared to rabbit droppings.
Muel clicked her tongue in disappointment.
“Do you know how many disgusting things happen when fighting monsters? Blood spurting everywhere, cuts and gashes...”
“Grand Mage!”
Iana shouted as her stomach churned.
“I’ll come to check in exactly one hour, so make sure to clean it thoroughly.”
“...Yes.”
“Let’s drink to the moon! Let’s drink! Is life anything special?”
Muel, who had been chuckling, hummed a song as she left the stable.
“There’s no water to clean with.”
This was the first time in both her past and present lives that she had done such menial work.
Iana had no choice but to fetch water from the well and start cleaning.
Vroom-.
As she was diligently sweeping, Andre, who was in the next pen, stepped back as if he smelled something bad.
“Andre, that’s your poop! Don’t act like you’re clean!”
Iana exclaimed in disbelief.
At that moment, she heard Charles’ voice from behind.
“Did I say something unnecessary?”
When Iana turned around, Charles was standing with a smile, leaning his arms on the fence.
“Your Highness, you’re here? But what do you mean unnecessary?”
“I told Muel that you seem to have a weak stomach, and now she’s training you this way...”
Charles couldn’t finish his sentence and burst into laughter.
Seeing that, Iana felt a bit sulky.
She was serious, but Charles seemed to find it amusing, which made her feel embarrassed and a little hurt.
“Your Highness, I’m just asking this just in case.”
“...?”
“Are you teasing me right now?”
“Well, I can’t say I’m not.”
“Excuse me?”
He was openly teasing her. Iana swept the stable floor with a pouty face.
“Once I finish cleaning the stable, let’s ride Andre outside. For your mood.”
“I’m sure you’re busy, so it’s fine.”
“Doesn’t seem like it’s fine?”
As Charles lowered his voice again in a friendly manner, Iana stared at him blankly.
“Let’s go. Okay?”
He urged her gently, leaning against the fence.
Iana felt awkward yet somehow tickled by Charles’ unusual demeanor.
“...Yes.”
Caught in his gaze, she answered without thinking.
“That sounds good.”
Charles smiled brightly.
Iana’s heart fluttered for a long time at that smile.
* * *
That afternoon, Iana rode out of the Grand Duke’s castle with Charles on Andre.
Surrounding them were the escort knights.
Her cloak, wrapped around her just in case of any flare-ups, fluttered in the wind.
Charles spoke from behind Iana.
“Try holding the reins.”
She hesitated, unsure of what to do.
Charles placed his large hands over her small hands holding the reins.
“Iana, go in the direction you want to go.”
“What if I go the wrong way?”
“Then we can just turn back, can’t we? It’s not like we’ll go far from Ervin.”
Charles slowly removed his hands and wrapped one around her waist.
Iana gathered her courage and pulled the reins to the right.
Thud thud thud.
The procession galloped forward, following Iana.
After a while, a familiar path appeared.
Thinking back, it was near the lake where she had stayed after injuring her hand when she first came to Ervin.
“Wow! It’s the lake we visited before.”
Iana exclaimed happily.
The procession gradually slowed down and stopped by the lakeside.
After Charles taught Iana how to dismount, the two walked to the lakeside.
“Do you feel better?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Then I should say something while you’re feeling good.”
“What is it?”
Charles stopped in front of the lake.
“Count Dietrian is coming to Ervin as the head of the Emperor’s investigation team. To investigate the First Knight Brigade.”
“What? Karion?”
Iana’s expression turned shocked.
“The Empress sent a secret letter.”
“......”
“The official reason is to investigate the First Knight Brigade, but I suspect he’s coming to investigate the rumors.”
“If you’ve taken another man, I’ll kill both of you with my own hands for being so reckless.”
Suddenly, Karion’s words flashed through her mind.
Iana’s face darkened.
The authority of the Emperor’s investigation team, directly delegated by the Emperor, was formidable.
She could vividly imagine how Karion would abuse his power upon hearing the rumors of the affair.
“If Karion comes as part of the Emperor’s investigation team, he won’t stay quiet.”
“Therefore, I also plan not to stay quiet. To prevent the tyranny of the Emperor’s investigation team.”
“How?”
Charles said with a meaningful smile.
“Just as they said...”
“......”
“I plan to become a truly mad Grand Duke.”