"Why was His Highness the Grand Duke so agitated when a secretary was being interrogated?"
Karion sneered as if he had found a flaw.
Charles ignored his words and walked towards Iana.
Charles's eyes were calm. Like the calm before a storm that warns of danger.
"It's not that I'm hurt; it's just that there's blood on me."
Iana looked at Karion's injured hand. Charles followed her gaze down.
Drip. Drip.
Red blood dripped from Karion's hand.
Only then did Charles notice the broken wooden wall behind Iana.
"Then did Count Dietrian touch your face? With his bloodied hands."
"I merely touched my ex-wife, who committed adultery to remarry into the royal family."
Karion wore a vile smile.
"I saved Iana, who was too sick to even act like a woman, and yet she dared to betray me without gratitude..."
Thud-.
Charles threw a punch at Karion's face.
"Ugh!"
Karion fell to the ground.
"......!"
Everyone, including Iana and the onlookers, was shocked.
Karion sat on the floor, wiping the blood from his split lip with his sleeve.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke, you will have to pay for obstructing the investigation team!"
"Are you going to sit there and listen to the Grand Duke's words? I clearly told you to maintain decorum."
Bang-.
Charles grabbed Karion by the collar as he sat on the floor. He then pushed him against the wall, gripping his neck tightly.
"Y-you will be charged with treason against His Highness the Grand Duke... Cough!"
Karion gasped for breath, choking. But Charles didn't flinch.
"You need to give a proper command. Karion Dietrian."
Charles's flat voice felt even more menacing.
Iana was at a loss for words at the sight of Charles she had never seen before.
"Y-you should call for Ervin, the Grand Duke..."
Karion looked at the imperial soldiers standing by the door, his face turning bright red, but he couldn't finish his sentence.
Clang-.
The imperial soldiers drew their swords in unison.
Thud thud thud.
At that moment, Muel pushed through with the First Knight Brigade in front of the interrogation room.
The First Knight Brigade faced off against the imperial soldiers.
The leader of the imperial soldiers stepped forward and spoke with poise.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke, Count Dietrian and the imperial soldiers have come at the command of His Majesty the Emperor. If you harm us, we can no longer stand by."
After finishing his words, the leader of the imperial soldiers bowed respectfully.
Bang-.
As Charles released Karion's collar, Karion fell to the ground, coughing violently.
"This is Ervin."
"......"
Karion, still coughing, glared at Charles.
"This is Ervin, where even if you choke in my hands, no one will come to help you."
Karion shouted while wiping the blood from his lips.
"I will not let this matter go unpunished!"
Charles looked down coldly at Karion.
"Count Dietrian, have you never thought about that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why does His Majesty the Emperor keep watching me, instead of removing me, despite my insolence?"
"......!"
"Whatever purpose you came here for, do not forget that. Never."
After finishing his words, Charles draped his arm over Iana's trembling shoulder and left the interrogation room.
* * *
Liel gazed out the window, lost in thought.
"Liel, you must greet properly. If you see your master..."
She recalled Iana's changed appearance at the entrance of the estate.
'How did Iana recover from her illness overnight?'
Liel had cared for Iana since she was young. For her, it was utterly incomprehensible.
Wasn't it a serious illness that even the famous healers couldn't identify?
Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Madam, it's me."
It was a knight from the White Castle whom Liel had recruited.
Noticing the unusual tone, Liel quickly approached and opened the door.
"What happened?"
"We have a problem. The Count was interrogating the lady, no, Lady Iana, and then..."
"Did he hit Iana?"
It seemed that her worst fears had come true. But the answer she received was unexpected.
"No. The Count was hit. By His Highness the Grand Duke Ervin."
"What?"
"The Count was interrogating Lady Iana when His Highness the Grand Duke suddenly barged into the interrogation room."
It was clearly a bad move.
Such emotional behavior would only fuel the rumors of their affair.
But the Grand Duke she had in mind was not someone who would make such a judgment.
'Could it be that there really are feelings between Grand Duke Ervin and Iana?'
If the two were indeed having an affair, Liel's words would gain more weight in the future.
The rumors she had concocted would have hit the mark regarding their affair.
Now Karion would trust her words even more, and securing the position of Countess would become easier.
But a fire ignited in her heart.
'Did Grand Duke Ervin really act so recklessly just because of Iana?'
Liel's tightly clenched fists trembled.
* * *
That night, the welcome banquet for the investigation team was canceled.
Iana claimed to be tired and went to bed early.
But she couldn't sleep.
"You need to give a proper command. Karion Dietrian."
She kept recalling the image of Charles gripping Karion's neck.
Iana dimmed the light in her room and squatted on the floor, looking at Rue.
Bouncing.
Perhaps because they had been apart all day, Rue playfully circled around her.
Seeing that cuteness, Iana smiled softly, but her expression darkened again.
"His Highness the Grand Duke must have a plan. He is not someone who acts carelessly."
"......?"
Rue tilted its head and looked at her.
"But somehow, it feels like I'm causing trouble for His Highness the Grand Duke."
"......?"
Rue tilted its head the other way.
Iana gathered her knees and patted Rue's head.
"I hope you become strong. So that His Highness the Grand Duke doesn't get into trouble because of me."
Knock knock.
With a knock on the door, Charles's voice was heard.
"I'm coming in."
Iana was contemplating whether to pretend to be asleep, feeling embarrassed to face Charles when Rue quickly dashed to the door and scratched at it.
With no choice, she put on her outer garment and opened the door.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke, you've come?"
"It seems the light in your room hasn't gone out yet, so I came."
"I'm fine. You don't need to worry."
Iana knew very well why Charles had come.
Charles asked playfully, glancing at her.
"Are you going to leave me standing here just because you say you're fine?"
"Then, please come in for a moment."
Charles entered and went to the window with Rue in his arms.
When Iana followed him and looked out the window, she saw Karion and Liel taking a walk.
"Ah..."
Iana trailed off, realizing why Charles had come.
"I'm not here to show myself to them. I came to talk."
"Is there a problem?"
Iana asked with a worried expression.
"No. I came to apologize to you."
Charles's expression was polite yet firm.
"Why would His Highness the Grand Duke apologize to me...?"
"It was my mistake to let you enter the interrogation room alone, knowing what kind of person Count Dietrian is."
"But you and the Grand Mage were in the next room, ready to help immediately. And Count Karion, or rather, Count Dietrian would have acted that way regardless of who was there."
"......"
Charles looked at her silently.
When he remained unresponsive with a heavy expression, Iana tried to lighten the mood with a light comment.
"Then next time, if Count, no, Count Dietrian tries to interrogate me again, should I bring a magic projectile?"
"......"
"If he gets angry, I can just throw it at him."
After finishing her words, Iana smiled. But Charles's face remained dark.
"There will be no more instances where you are interrogated alone. I came to say that. Now, rest."
As Charles turned to leave, Iana called out to him from behind.
"Was your treatment of Count Dietrian in the interrogation room today part of a plan?"
"......No."
"Then do you feel sorry for me?"
"......"
Charles turned back quietly.
"If not, please allow me to do my part. I don't want His Highness the Grand Duke to be troubled because of me."
He asked firmly.
"Is it wrong to feel sorry for you?"
"Yes?"
"Is it wrong to feel pity for someone who has been cut down by sharp words?"
Charles approached her and continued to ask.
"Should I just watch as they endure harsh words that are their burden?"
"......"
"In such times, you should fight alongside them. Before those sharp words become daggers that pierce their hearts..."
"Still..."
"Don't try to prove your worth. I am grateful just for your presence in Ervin."
Her heart felt a little lighter at his words.
Iana felt anxious.
She wanted to become a helpful presence as soon as possible, as much as she had received help.
At that moment, Charles leaned forward and playfully said,
"And save the magic projectile for when you catch Crikan. I'll take care of Count Dietrian."
"Pfft!"
Iana couldn't help but laugh and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
As she watched, Charles quietly spoke.
"Remember this, no matter what harsh words anyone says."
"......"
"You are a truly beautiful person."
The smile faded from Iana's face.
The sharp words she thought she could never forget also vanished.
Only Charles's one phrase remained in her heart.
A truly beautiful person, just that one phras