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"So that we can check Your Highness's bedroom."
Iana watched the unfolding situation with a tense expression.
"To dare search Your Highness's bedroom!"
A high-ranking knight shouted sharply.
"Search the bedroom, the Grand Duke's private space?"
Charles wore a twisted smile.
"Yes, it's a serious matter, and we need to investigate Secretary Iana immediately, but she vanished like smoke! Surely the mages who went to the monster habitat with her have returned."
Carrion sneered as if he were certain that Iana was in the bedroom.
"It doesn't seem logical to check my bedroom because Iana has disappeared, does it?"
"Someone saw Secretary Iana coming here. Ah, please understand that I cannot reveal who said that, as it is confidential information for the investigation team."
Carrion bowed politely.
"So, you're saying I hid Iana in my bedroom? But the person who told you that can't be revealed?"
"Exactly right, Your Highness."
At that moment, Charles stepped aside from the door and gave his permission.
"Do so."
"⋯⋯!"
Carrion, as well as the investigation team, were agitated by Charles's unexpectedly light response.
'What on earth is he planning to do?'
Iana thought with a worried expression.
Bang-.
When Carrion hesitated, Charles roughly threw the door open.
"You said you would investigate my bedroom, so what are you waiting for?"
Carrion, unsure of what trick Charles might be playing, hesitated before giving an order.
"Well then, since Your Highness has permitted it, we will now check the bedroom."
Just as Carrion was about to signal the investigation team, Charles spoke coldly.
"However, if Iana is not here, you will have to take responsibility for it."
"Responsibility, you say?"
"So, you were thinking of searching the Grand Duke's bedroom without taking such responsibility?"
"Your Highness!"
Carrion shouted.
Charles strode up to Carrion.
"I have put my life-like honor on the line, what will you put on the line?"
"⋯⋯."
"To match ranks with me, a Grand Duke, you would have to put your life on the line, wouldn't you? Or not?"
Carrion looked at the nobles in the investigation team behind him.
He couldn't back down now that he had made such a bold statement.
"⋯⋯I will, then."
Charles stepped aside from the door again, as if telling them to come in.
Thump, thump, thump.
Iana's tense heart beat rapidly.
The only place to hide in the spacious bedroom was the closet. Because of this, it was only a matter of time before she would be discovered if the investigation team came inside.
'What should I do?'
Iana looked down at her hand, hidden in her cloak. The clear blue light was still rising vividly.
Thud, thud.
Amidst the silence, Carrion's footsteps entering the bedroom could be heard.
The moment Iana's heart tightened. After about three steps, Carrion's footsteps suddenly stopped.
Carrion's gaze turned to the rabbit cage next to the bed. After being lost in thought for a moment, he suddenly changed his words.
"I've changed my mind. Let's stop the investigation here."
Carrion bowed and immediately left the room. The investigation team and the Imperial Army followed him with bewildered expressions at his sudden action.
Bang-.
The high-ranking knight quickly closed the door.
"Hah⋯⋯!"
Only then did Iana feel relieved and let out a small sigh.
Charles approached and opened the closet door.
"They're gone. Come out quickly."
Iana came out of the closet and asked.
"Why did Count Dietrian suddenly change his mind?"
"That."
Charles pointed to the bed.
"What about it?"
When she asked, he flipped the blanket off the bed.
Inside, there was a long, vertically placed pillow.
"Count Dietrian is not a stupid man. I used that."
Iana rolled her eyes around, organizing her thoughts.
"So, you made Ca-, no, Count Dietrian feel like he was being tricked?"
"That's right."
"You made Your Highness appear to be hiding me when I wasn't there, and made him make a life-or-death bet?"
"Exactly. Since Ru was so blatantly next to the bed, he must have thought he had fallen into a trap."
Charles smiled and replied.
Iana looked at him with a surprised expression.
"To think of that in such a short moment⋯⋯ you're really amazing."
Iana's face turned red without her realizing it as she spoke, seeing his exposed upper body.
Charles approached and asked with a worried expression.
"Why, are you in pain somewhere?"
"No. It's not that⋯⋯."
"Ah, it's because of the smell of alcohol."
Iana lowered her eyes and pouted.
"⋯⋯I think you should put on some clothes."
Only then did Charles fasten his open gown and laugh. But her face darkened.
"We got through it now, but what if the magical power runaway phenomenon appears again tomorrow?"
He said, taking Ru out of the rabbit cage and holding him.
"You just focus on controlling your magical power. I'll take care of the rest."
"But⋯⋯."
Iana trailed off with a sorry expression.
Charles held the struggling Ru in his arms and gently stroked him.
"Even adults have times when they need to be protected like Ru. Anyone who first puts down roots in something is like a child."
"⋯⋯."
"So, you, a novice mage, should focus on controlling your magical power. Within my fence."
✦ ✦ ✦
Carrion burst into the door of the detached residence and entered.
Riel followed behind him with a sharp expression.
"Iana was definitely in the bedroom!"
Riel was certain.
Iana had disappeared without a trace after entering the Ducal Palace.
Under the guise of the Emperor's investigation team, they could search anywhere in the Ducal Palace. But there was only one place. Searching the Grand Duke's bedroom was a burden even for the investigation team unless they had decisive evidence.
She was sure that if the clever Grand Duke were to hide Iana, he would have hidden her in the bedroom.
"I told you, it was Grand Duke Ervin's trick. Why else would he have conspicuously placed Iana's precious rabbit next to the bed?"
"That's what he was aiming for."
"I don't want to hear it, so stop."
"You should have boldly pushed through to the end. What's so scary about risking your life⋯⋯."
Slap-.
Carrion slapped Riel across the cheek. She collapsed to the ground.
"Where do you think you are, acting so presumptuous?"
"Did you just hit me?"
Riel glared at Carrion as if she would kill him.
"Show some respect."
Carrion gave a sly smile and grabbed Riel's hair tightly.
"Ugh!"
"Just because I listened to you a little doesn't mean you're above me."
"You'll regret this soon, Count."
"I'm already regretting it."
Carrion got up and went outside.
Riel went to the window and threw the pot placed on the windowsill as if venting her anger.
Crash-.
Broken pot shards and soil scattered on the floor.
Riel trampled on the scattered flowers and approached the window.
After a while, Carrion's back was seen walking away beyond the window.
'To think I'm just a mistress of a man like that.'
Noble status. Handsome appearance. Excellent mind.
Compared to Grand Duke Ervin, who had everything, Carrion felt infinitely lacking.
If Iana became the Grand Duchess, it was clear that the difference in status between her and herself would be even greater.
'The next man I meet must be a member of the Imperial Family. A member of the Imperial Family with a higher position or power than Grand Duke Ervin.'
At that moment, Carrion slowly turned around.
Riel's eyes met Carrion's.
'To do that, I need the position of Countess.'
The goal was clear.
If so, emotions should not be allowed to interfere until the desired thing was obtained.
Riel smiled at Carrion. With a knife hidden in her heart.
✦ ✦ ✦
Late at night, Iana sat on the sofa in the bedroom, trying to draw out her magical power.
But it was no use.
At that moment, Ru, who had been playing with Charles on one side, dashed towards Iana.
Ru looked up from under Iana's feet with expectant eyes.
"Ru, I'm sorry. I can't put you to sleep right now."
It seemed to have become a habit to stroke Ru and put him to sleep every night.
Charles approached, picked up Ru, and sat next to her, asking.
"What's wrong?"
"It's become a habit for me to stroke Ru before going to sleep."
Iana looked at Ru with an apologetic expression.
Ru wiggled his nose as if telling her to put him to sleep quickly.
"How do you do it? I'll do it for you instead."
"Start by touching his eyelids, then his nose, and then his cheeks⋯⋯….."
"Like this?"
Charles placed Ru on his lap and stroked him with his large hands.
"Say, 'Ru has pretty eyes, a pretty nose, and a pretty face.'"
Charles followed Iana's words exactly.
"Ru has pretty eyes, a pretty nose, and a pretty face."
Iana watched Ru, who was falling asleep with a sulky expression.
"But it doesn't seem easy to put him to sleep like this every day."
"I do it because I like seeing Ru's expression. That expression that it's natural to be loved."
Iana unknowingly stared at Ru with envious eyes.
For her, being loved was such a difficult thing.
Being loved completely.
Looking back, Iana had never been truly loved.
Not by her family, not by her husband, not by her friends.
Perhaps she was satisfied by stroking Ru and giving him love.
"Why, are you envious of Ru?"
Iana couldn't say no to Charles's playful question.
Because he already knew everything she had gone through.
"⋯⋯Yes. I'm envious. Because being loved isn't a natural thing for everyone."
Iana confessed her honest feelings with tearful eyes.
Charles, who had been quietly watching her, covered her face with his large hands. Iana looked at him with wide eyes at his sudden action.
"Yo, Your Highness."
Charles gently stroked Iana's eyes.
"Iana has pretty eyes⋯⋯."
His hand caressed Iana's nose.
"A pretty nose⋯⋯."
The two's eyes met for a moment.
His hand slowly stroked Iana's lips.
"And even your lips are pretty."
Charles's eyes, filled with her, trembled slightly. Asking for permission, as if wistful.
The sound of insects chirping beyond the window and the scent of the spring night rushing in through the window gaps tickled Iana's heart. She soon closed her eyes tightly.
At that moment, Charles's lips gently touched Iana's lips.
Iana watched the unfolding situation with a tense expression.
"To dare search Your Highness's bedroom!"
A high-ranking knight shouted sharply.
"Search the bedroom, the Grand Duke's private space?"
Charles wore a twisted smile.
"Yes, it's a serious matter, and we need to investigate Secretary Iana immediately, but she vanished like smoke! Surely the mages who went to the monster habitat with her have returned."
Carrion sneered as if he were certain that Iana was in the bedroom.
"It doesn't seem logical to check my bedroom because Iana has disappeared, does it?"
"Someone saw Secretary Iana coming here. Ah, please understand that I cannot reveal who said that, as it is confidential information for the investigation team."
Carrion bowed politely.
"So, you're saying I hid Iana in my bedroom? But the person who told you that can't be revealed?"
"Exactly right, Your Highness."
At that moment, Charles stepped aside from the door and gave his permission.
"Do so."
"⋯⋯!"
Carrion, as well as the investigation team, were agitated by Charles's unexpectedly light response.
'What on earth is he planning to do?'
Iana thought with a worried expression.
Bang-.
When Carrion hesitated, Charles roughly threw the door open.
"You said you would investigate my bedroom, so what are you waiting for?"
Carrion, unsure of what trick Charles might be playing, hesitated before giving an order.
"Well then, since Your Highness has permitted it, we will now check the bedroom."
Just as Carrion was about to signal the investigation team, Charles spoke coldly.
"However, if Iana is not here, you will have to take responsibility for it."
"Responsibility, you say?"
"So, you were thinking of searching the Grand Duke's bedroom without taking such responsibility?"
"Your Highness!"
Carrion shouted.
Charles strode up to Carrion.
"I have put my life-like honor on the line, what will you put on the line?"
"⋯⋯."
"To match ranks with me, a Grand Duke, you would have to put your life on the line, wouldn't you? Or not?"
Carrion looked at the nobles in the investigation team behind him.
He couldn't back down now that he had made such a bold statement.
"⋯⋯I will, then."
Charles stepped aside from the door again, as if telling them to come in.
Thump, thump, thump.
Iana's tense heart beat rapidly.
The only place to hide in the spacious bedroom was the closet. Because of this, it was only a matter of time before she would be discovered if the investigation team came inside.
'What should I do?'
Iana looked down at her hand, hidden in her cloak. The clear blue light was still rising vividly.
Thud, thud.
Amidst the silence, Carrion's footsteps entering the bedroom could be heard.
The moment Iana's heart tightened. After about three steps, Carrion's footsteps suddenly stopped.
Carrion's gaze turned to the rabbit cage next to the bed. After being lost in thought for a moment, he suddenly changed his words.
"I've changed my mind. Let's stop the investigation here."
Carrion bowed and immediately left the room. The investigation team and the Imperial Army followed him with bewildered expressions at his sudden action.
Bang-.
The high-ranking knight quickly closed the door.
"Hah⋯⋯!"
Only then did Iana feel relieved and let out a small sigh.
Charles approached and opened the closet door.
"They're gone. Come out quickly."
Iana came out of the closet and asked.
"Why did Count Dietrian suddenly change his mind?"
"That."
Charles pointed to the bed.
"What about it?"
When she asked, he flipped the blanket off the bed.
Inside, there was a long, vertically placed pillow.
"Count Dietrian is not a stupid man. I used that."
Iana rolled her eyes around, organizing her thoughts.
"So, you made Ca-, no, Count Dietrian feel like he was being tricked?"
"That's right."
"You made Your Highness appear to be hiding me when I wasn't there, and made him make a life-or-death bet?"
"Exactly. Since Ru was so blatantly next to the bed, he must have thought he had fallen into a trap."
Charles smiled and replied.
Iana looked at him with a surprised expression.
"To think of that in such a short moment⋯⋯ you're really amazing."
Iana's face turned red without her realizing it as she spoke, seeing his exposed upper body.
Charles approached and asked with a worried expression.
"Why, are you in pain somewhere?"
"No. It's not that⋯⋯."
"Ah, it's because of the smell of alcohol."
Iana lowered her eyes and pouted.
"⋯⋯I think you should put on some clothes."
Only then did Charles fasten his open gown and laugh. But her face darkened.
"We got through it now, but what if the magical power runaway phenomenon appears again tomorrow?"
He said, taking Ru out of the rabbit cage and holding him.
"You just focus on controlling your magical power. I'll take care of the rest."
"But⋯⋯."
Iana trailed off with a sorry expression.
Charles held the struggling Ru in his arms and gently stroked him.
"Even adults have times when they need to be protected like Ru. Anyone who first puts down roots in something is like a child."
"⋯⋯."
"So, you, a novice mage, should focus on controlling your magical power. Within my fence."
✦ ✦ ✦
Carrion burst into the door of the detached residence and entered.
Riel followed behind him with a sharp expression.
"Iana was definitely in the bedroom!"
Riel was certain.
Iana had disappeared without a trace after entering the Ducal Palace.
Under the guise of the Emperor's investigation team, they could search anywhere in the Ducal Palace. But there was only one place. Searching the Grand Duke's bedroom was a burden even for the investigation team unless they had decisive evidence.
She was sure that if the clever Grand Duke were to hide Iana, he would have hidden her in the bedroom.
"I told you, it was Grand Duke Ervin's trick. Why else would he have conspicuously placed Iana's precious rabbit next to the bed?"
"That's what he was aiming for."
"I don't want to hear it, so stop."
"You should have boldly pushed through to the end. What's so scary about risking your life⋯⋯."
Slap-.
Carrion slapped Riel across the cheek. She collapsed to the ground.
"Where do you think you are, acting so presumptuous?"
"Did you just hit me?"
Riel glared at Carrion as if she would kill him.
"Show some respect."
Carrion gave a sly smile and grabbed Riel's hair tightly.
"Ugh!"
"Just because I listened to you a little doesn't mean you're above me."
"You'll regret this soon, Count."
"I'm already regretting it."
Carrion got up and went outside.
Riel went to the window and threw the pot placed on the windowsill as if venting her anger.
Crash-.
Broken pot shards and soil scattered on the floor.
Riel trampled on the scattered flowers and approached the window.
After a while, Carrion's back was seen walking away beyond the window.
'To think I'm just a mistress of a man like that.'
Noble status. Handsome appearance. Excellent mind.
Compared to Grand Duke Ervin, who had everything, Carrion felt infinitely lacking.
If Iana became the Grand Duchess, it was clear that the difference in status between her and herself would be even greater.
'The next man I meet must be a member of the Imperial Family. A member of the Imperial Family with a higher position or power than Grand Duke Ervin.'
At that moment, Carrion slowly turned around.
Riel's eyes met Carrion's.
'To do that, I need the position of Countess.'
The goal was clear.
If so, emotions should not be allowed to interfere until the desired thing was obtained.
Riel smiled at Carrion. With a knife hidden in her heart.
✦ ✦ ✦
Late at night, Iana sat on the sofa in the bedroom, trying to draw out her magical power.
But it was no use.
At that moment, Ru, who had been playing with Charles on one side, dashed towards Iana.
Ru looked up from under Iana's feet with expectant eyes.
"Ru, I'm sorry. I can't put you to sleep right now."
It seemed to have become a habit to stroke Ru and put him to sleep every night.
Charles approached, picked up Ru, and sat next to her, asking.
"What's wrong?"
"It's become a habit for me to stroke Ru before going to sleep."
Iana looked at Ru with an apologetic expression.
Ru wiggled his nose as if telling her to put him to sleep quickly.
"How do you do it? I'll do it for you instead."
"Start by touching his eyelids, then his nose, and then his cheeks⋯⋯….."
"Like this?"
Charles placed Ru on his lap and stroked him with his large hands.
"Say, 'Ru has pretty eyes, a pretty nose, and a pretty face.'"
Charles followed Iana's words exactly.
"Ru has pretty eyes, a pretty nose, and a pretty face."
Iana watched Ru, who was falling asleep with a sulky expression.
"But it doesn't seem easy to put him to sleep like this every day."
"I do it because I like seeing Ru's expression. That expression that it's natural to be loved."
Iana unknowingly stared at Ru with envious eyes.
For her, being loved was such a difficult thing.
Being loved completely.
Looking back, Iana had never been truly loved.
Not by her family, not by her husband, not by her friends.
Perhaps she was satisfied by stroking Ru and giving him love.
"Why, are you envious of Ru?"
Iana couldn't say no to Charles's playful question.
Because he already knew everything she had gone through.
"⋯⋯Yes. I'm envious. Because being loved isn't a natural thing for everyone."
Iana confessed her honest feelings with tearful eyes.
Charles, who had been quietly watching her, covered her face with his large hands. Iana looked at him with wide eyes at his sudden action.
"Yo, Your Highness."
Charles gently stroked Iana's eyes.
"Iana has pretty eyes⋯⋯."
His hand caressed Iana's nose.
"A pretty nose⋯⋯."
The two's eyes met for a moment.
His hand slowly stroked Iana's lips.
"And even your lips are pretty."
Charles's eyes, filled with her, trembled slightly. Asking for permission, as if wistful.
The sound of insects chirping beyond the window and the scent of the spring night rushing in through the window gaps tickled Iana's heart. She soon closed her eyes tightly.
At that moment, Charles's lips gently touched Iana's lips.
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