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Soft moonlight poured in through the bedroom window.
The two people's kiss, which started gently, gradually deepened.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Iana's heart beat so fast it felt like it would burst.
All her senses were slow, and everything felt unreal.
Careful touches that weren't forceful, and affectionate kisses that weren't desperate.
The sensation was so foreign to her.
Then, Carrion's words in the investigation room suddenly came to mind.
"Iana, you'll be abandoned soon. By Grand Duke Ervin."
The fear of being abandoned.
Everyone who had told Iana they loved her and given her affection had abandoned her.
The tingling excitement instantly turned into a deep fear.
Iana hurriedly pushed Charles away and turned her head, as if rejecting him.
Charles hesitated for a moment, then brought his face closer and asked.
"Was it not okay?"
"......"
Iana avoided his gaze at Charles' direct question.
Charles turned his head to match Iana's gaze.
"Huh? Iana."
He urged her to answer.
"......"
Iana lowered her head without a word. She was embarrassed that she had given her permission by closing her eyes, only to act like she didn't like it now.
"I understand. I won't do anything you don't like. Nothing at all."
Even with Iana's rejecting behavior, Charles' eyes were still kind.
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Then, rest well. I'll take Ru with me."
Charles slowly got up from his seat.
Iana hesitated for a moment, feeling like she had embarrassed Charles.
"It's not that I don't like it......"
"Yes?"
Charles turned around.
"I mean, it's not that I don't like Your Highness."
Charles met her eyes and said playfully.
"Then, did you not like the kiss? So much that you don't even want to look at me?"
"I don't want to look at you! What, what are you saying?"
Iana retorted, but she still couldn't meet his eyes.
"If you don't find me repulsive, I would like you to look at me and talk to me."
"That's......"
"You have to look at me."
"......"
Only then did Iana stare into Charles' eyes.
Charles was smiling brightly, as if he was very happy. He spoke in a calm voice.
"It started then for me."
"Yes?"
"From that night when you comforted me, saying that you weren't good at talking and didn't have deep insight......"
"......"
"I held you in my heart."
It was a night of anxiety for Iana.
The sudden flare-up of magical power, the unexpected kiss.
But his calm confession remained in Iana's heart for a long time, like a comforting balm.
✦ ✦ ✦
Late at night, Iana lay on the sofa in the bedroom, tossing and turning for a long time.
Charles had given her the bedroom to use comfortably, but she couldn't possibly sleep in his bed.
"Draw out your magical power to the maximum you can and face it."
She repeated Mule's words from the underground room.
"Yes. Let's try again."
Iana got up from the sofa and walked to the window. Then, she carefully closed the curtains so that not a single ray of light could enter.
Now, the only light was the blue light rising from her right hand.
She sat on the sofa, closed her eyes, and quietly pondered.
'What made me the most angry?'
To draw out anger and fear, she went back over the events that had happened.
Her father, who had cast black magic on her. Her brother, Marcel, who took her sacrifice for granted. Her husband, Carrion, who had ruthlessly abandoned her.
"I felt less unhappy when I was next to you."
And her friend, Riel, who had comforted herself with her unhappiness and thoroughly used her death.
Had it been a few hours? A stream of blue light stretched out from her right hand and wildly fluctuated.
Iana quietly watched the light.
'I am your master.'
As if mocking her thoughts, the blue magical power created even larger waves.
The movement continued for a long time. Then, the blue light, connected like a long rope, circled up her body.
Slowly, as if a large snake was tightening its breath.
Iana trembled with fear.
But the size of her magical power had already surpassed Mule, and there was no one who could help her.
She had to endure it all alone.
'Do as you please. Either way, if I can't control you, I'll be finished here too.'
If it was discovered that she had magical power now, Marcel could reverse the divorce.
She hated that more than dying.
Above all, she didn't want Charles and the people of Ervin to suffer because she couldn't control her magical power.
The magical power that had climbed up to her neck strongly tightened her breath.
"Ugh!"
Iana choked at the pain that felt like her breath was being cut off.
A fight where you either eat or be eaten.
Her mind was gradually becoming confused, but the sensation of being suffocated was somehow familiar.
It was the pain of her last moments of death in her previous life.
She was angry.
She felt wronged.
And she never wanted to face such a miserable death again.
Because it was such a helpless death.
'You don't know that, do you? I lived with my breath being constricted in my past life, so this is nothing!'
When the magical power tightened her last breath, Iana struggled and shouted loudly.
"So, you won't have your way!"
It was that moment.
Bang!
The blue light that had been wrapped around her burst into a pure white light.
Iana fell to the floor.
The white light was like the powdered medicine that had been scattered on the day she died in her previous life.
In her confused mind, Charles' words echoed in her ears.
"You are a very beautiful person."
Iana thought.
If she could take just one word from the world, she would want to take those words.
Bang-.
At that moment, the bedroom door was roughly opened and Charles rushed in.
"Iana!"
'Your Highness......'
Iana felt relieved when she saw Charles.
A languid drowsiness washed over her. Like Ru, who slept in her arms without any worries.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next morning, Iana opened her eyes in bed.
Charles and Mule were watching over her.
"Iana, are you alright?"
Iana sat up and checked her right hand first. The blue light that had been intensely rising all day yesterday had disappeared.
"The flare-up of magical power has disappeared."
Mule said with a serious face.
"Iana, summon your magical power."
"How do I do that?"
Mule told her the incantation, and Iana followed it in a small voice. Everyone's eyes were on her right hand.
Flash-.
Blue light rose in her hand.
"The light has appeared!"
"If you chant the same incantation in that state, the light will disappear."
Iana chanted the incantation again, and the blue light disappeared from her hand.
Charles, who had been quietly watching, said with a moved face.
"You can finally control your magical power."
"It seems that the only path for magical power to come out is your right hand because you haven't trained enough in magic yet. But you did well."
Mule patted Iana on the shoulder.
At that moment, a commotion was heard beyond the window.
Iana asked with a surprised face.
"What's that sound?"
"The Imperial Army is searching the main castle."
Charles crossed his arms and chuckled.
"Then, the office too?"
"Yes, we let them search the office too. They'll leave on their own once they find the letter."
Iana paused for a moment and then spoke.
"Archmage, can I learn Immobility Magic?"
"Immobility Magic?"
Mule stared at her at Iana's sudden words.
Immobility Magic was the most basic magic that temporarily stopped the movement of objects.
"Yes. I heard that you can learn it quickly if you can control your magical power."
Charles noticed her intention and asked.
"Are you perhaps trying to use it when you're being investigated?"
"Yes. I'm preparing for a possible situation."
Mule nodded at Iana's words.
"Good."
"Then, I'll go out and see what the situation is like."
As Charles was about to leave, Iana said to his back.
"Your Highness."
"Why, do you have anything else to say?"
"When I'm investigated this time, please just watch, no matter what happens."
"......"
Charles couldn't answer easily.
"I'm going to learn Immobility Magic from the Archmage, and I want to overcome the mountain in my heart on my own."
The mountain in her heart called Riel.
Iana wanted to overcome Riel on her own.
Perhaps her earnestness had resonated with him. Charles didn't ask any further and replied briefly.
"I will."
After Charles left, Iana learned Immobility Magic from Mule.
After teaching her all of Immobility Magic, Mule said as if urging her.
"Iana, remember this one thing."
"......"
"Just as humans become stronger when their will and heart become one, a mage only gains strong power when they become one with their magical power."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
About an hour later, Iana, who had finished dressing, came down to the first floor of the main castle with Charles.
The Imperial Army, who were in the middle of searching, discovered Iana.
"It's Iana Rechelles! Capture her!"
Iana gestured to Charles not to step forward. The Imperial Army approached and tied her hands.
Iana was immediately dragged away by the Imperial Army and taken down to the investigation room in the basement of the Spire.
Creak-.
When she arrived in front of the investigation room, the Imperial Army opened the iron door.
Inside, Riel and Carrion, who had been informed in advance that she had been arrested, were sitting.
At that moment, Iana made eye contact with Riel. The crown brooch pinned to Riel's dress was particularly sparkling.
Iana gave a meaningful smile and greeted her.
"Riel, hello."
The two people's kiss, which started gently, gradually deepened.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Iana's heart beat so fast it felt like it would burst.
All her senses were slow, and everything felt unreal.
Careful touches that weren't forceful, and affectionate kisses that weren't desperate.
The sensation was so foreign to her.
Then, Carrion's words in the investigation room suddenly came to mind.
"Iana, you'll be abandoned soon. By Grand Duke Ervin."
The fear of being abandoned.
Everyone who had told Iana they loved her and given her affection had abandoned her.
The tingling excitement instantly turned into a deep fear.
Iana hurriedly pushed Charles away and turned her head, as if rejecting him.
Charles hesitated for a moment, then brought his face closer and asked.
"Was it not okay?"
"......"
Iana avoided his gaze at Charles' direct question.
Charles turned his head to match Iana's gaze.
"Huh? Iana."
He urged her to answer.
"......"
Iana lowered her head without a word. She was embarrassed that she had given her permission by closing her eyes, only to act like she didn't like it now.
"I understand. I won't do anything you don't like. Nothing at all."
Even with Iana's rejecting behavior, Charles' eyes were still kind.
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Then, rest well. I'll take Ru with me."
Charles slowly got up from his seat.
Iana hesitated for a moment, feeling like she had embarrassed Charles.
"It's not that I don't like it......"
"Yes?"
Charles turned around.
"I mean, it's not that I don't like Your Highness."
Charles met her eyes and said playfully.
"Then, did you not like the kiss? So much that you don't even want to look at me?"
"I don't want to look at you! What, what are you saying?"
Iana retorted, but she still couldn't meet his eyes.
"If you don't find me repulsive, I would like you to look at me and talk to me."
"That's......"
"You have to look at me."
"......"
Only then did Iana stare into Charles' eyes.
Charles was smiling brightly, as if he was very happy. He spoke in a calm voice.
"It started then for me."
"Yes?"
"From that night when you comforted me, saying that you weren't good at talking and didn't have deep insight......"
"......"
"I held you in my heart."
It was a night of anxiety for Iana.
The sudden flare-up of magical power, the unexpected kiss.
But his calm confession remained in Iana's heart for a long time, like a comforting balm.
✦ ✦ ✦
Late at night, Iana lay on the sofa in the bedroom, tossing and turning for a long time.
Charles had given her the bedroom to use comfortably, but she couldn't possibly sleep in his bed.
"Draw out your magical power to the maximum you can and face it."
She repeated Mule's words from the underground room.
"Yes. Let's try again."
Iana got up from the sofa and walked to the window. Then, she carefully closed the curtains so that not a single ray of light could enter.
Now, the only light was the blue light rising from her right hand.
She sat on the sofa, closed her eyes, and quietly pondered.
'What made me the most angry?'
To draw out anger and fear, she went back over the events that had happened.
Her father, who had cast black magic on her. Her brother, Marcel, who took her sacrifice for granted. Her husband, Carrion, who had ruthlessly abandoned her.
"I felt less unhappy when I was next to you."
And her friend, Riel, who had comforted herself with her unhappiness and thoroughly used her death.
Had it been a few hours? A stream of blue light stretched out from her right hand and wildly fluctuated.
Iana quietly watched the light.
'I am your master.'
As if mocking her thoughts, the blue magical power created even larger waves.
The movement continued for a long time. Then, the blue light, connected like a long rope, circled up her body.
Slowly, as if a large snake was tightening its breath.
Iana trembled with fear.
But the size of her magical power had already surpassed Mule, and there was no one who could help her.
She had to endure it all alone.
'Do as you please. Either way, if I can't control you, I'll be finished here too.'
If it was discovered that she had magical power now, Marcel could reverse the divorce.
She hated that more than dying.
Above all, she didn't want Charles and the people of Ervin to suffer because she couldn't control her magical power.
The magical power that had climbed up to her neck strongly tightened her breath.
"Ugh!"
Iana choked at the pain that felt like her breath was being cut off.
A fight where you either eat or be eaten.
Her mind was gradually becoming confused, but the sensation of being suffocated was somehow familiar.
It was the pain of her last moments of death in her previous life.
She was angry.
She felt wronged.
And she never wanted to face such a miserable death again.
Because it was such a helpless death.
'You don't know that, do you? I lived with my breath being constricted in my past life, so this is nothing!'
When the magical power tightened her last breath, Iana struggled and shouted loudly.
"So, you won't have your way!"
It was that moment.
Bang!
The blue light that had been wrapped around her burst into a pure white light.
Iana fell to the floor.
The white light was like the powdered medicine that had been scattered on the day she died in her previous life.
In her confused mind, Charles' words echoed in her ears.
"You are a very beautiful person."
Iana thought.
If she could take just one word from the world, she would want to take those words.
Bang-.
At that moment, the bedroom door was roughly opened and Charles rushed in.
"Iana!"
'Your Highness......'
Iana felt relieved when she saw Charles.
A languid drowsiness washed over her. Like Ru, who slept in her arms without any worries.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next morning, Iana opened her eyes in bed.
Charles and Mule were watching over her.
"Iana, are you alright?"
Iana sat up and checked her right hand first. The blue light that had been intensely rising all day yesterday had disappeared.
"The flare-up of magical power has disappeared."
Mule said with a serious face.
"Iana, summon your magical power."
"How do I do that?"
Mule told her the incantation, and Iana followed it in a small voice. Everyone's eyes were on her right hand.
Flash-.
Blue light rose in her hand.
"The light has appeared!"
"If you chant the same incantation in that state, the light will disappear."
Iana chanted the incantation again, and the blue light disappeared from her hand.
Charles, who had been quietly watching, said with a moved face.
"You can finally control your magical power."
"It seems that the only path for magical power to come out is your right hand because you haven't trained enough in magic yet. But you did well."
Mule patted Iana on the shoulder.
At that moment, a commotion was heard beyond the window.
Iana asked with a surprised face.
"What's that sound?"
"The Imperial Army is searching the main castle."
Charles crossed his arms and chuckled.
"Then, the office too?"
"Yes, we let them search the office too. They'll leave on their own once they find the letter."
Iana paused for a moment and then spoke.
"Archmage, can I learn Immobility Magic?"
"Immobility Magic?"
Mule stared at her at Iana's sudden words.
Immobility Magic was the most basic magic that temporarily stopped the movement of objects.
"Yes. I heard that you can learn it quickly if you can control your magical power."
Charles noticed her intention and asked.
"Are you perhaps trying to use it when you're being investigated?"
"Yes. I'm preparing for a possible situation."
Mule nodded at Iana's words.
"Good."
"Then, I'll go out and see what the situation is like."
As Charles was about to leave, Iana said to his back.
"Your Highness."
"Why, do you have anything else to say?"
"When I'm investigated this time, please just watch, no matter what happens."
"......"
Charles couldn't answer easily.
"I'm going to learn Immobility Magic from the Archmage, and I want to overcome the mountain in my heart on my own."
The mountain in her heart called Riel.
Iana wanted to overcome Riel on her own.
Perhaps her earnestness had resonated with him. Charles didn't ask any further and replied briefly.
"I will."
After Charles left, Iana learned Immobility Magic from Mule.
After teaching her all of Immobility Magic, Mule said as if urging her.
"Iana, remember this one thing."
"......"
"Just as humans become stronger when their will and heart become one, a mage only gains strong power when they become one with their magical power."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
About an hour later, Iana, who had finished dressing, came down to the first floor of the main castle with Charles.
The Imperial Army, who were in the middle of searching, discovered Iana.
"It's Iana Rechelles! Capture her!"
Iana gestured to Charles not to step forward. The Imperial Army approached and tied her hands.
Iana was immediately dragged away by the Imperial Army and taken down to the investigation room in the basement of the Spire.
Creak-.
When she arrived in front of the investigation room, the Imperial Army opened the iron door.
Inside, Riel and Carrion, who had been informed in advance that she had been arrested, were sitting.
At that moment, Iana made eye contact with Riel. The crown brooch pinned to Riel's dress was particularly sparkling.
Iana gave a meaningful smile and greeted her.
"Riel, hello."
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