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"Evidence of an affair?"
At Carrion's question, the administrator came inside and handed over a bundle of letters.
"Letters exchanged between Your Highness and Iana were found mixed in with the ledgers in the office, and the contents are..."
"What?"
Carrion snatched the letters from the administrator and unfolded them as if grabbing them.
"What? To my sublime Iana."
[I have been unable to sleep for days thinking of you. Whether my eyes are closed or open, in every moment I breathe, I think only of you.]
The more Carrion read the letters, the more anger filled his face.
"Filthy things! They were having an affair while staying in my castle."
He crumpled the letter written by Charles and raged.
"Arrest Iana! I will transfer her to the capital immediately for the crime of adultery."
Transferring Grand Duke Ervin required an imperial order, that is, an order from His Majesty the Emperor.
However, if Iana had committed a wrong when she was Countess Dietrian, the family could hold her accountable.
The administrator hesitated and spoke with a troubled expression.
"Count, I think you should read Iana's replies below before that."
When Carrion unfolded the letter, a familiar handwriting came into view.
[To His Highness Grand Duke Ervin. I am a married woman. So please do not send such letters again.]
He quickly read the next letter.
[I sent a letter hoping that Your Highness would change your mind. But I will no longer write back.]
The next letter was just one line.
[Divorce does not change anything.]
Carrion recalled Riel's words, as if he had been struck hard on the head.
"Grand Duke Ervin is not an easy opponent."
"Who knows about these letters?"
"Well, all the investigators who checked the ledgers saw them..."
"He deliberately showed me these letters."
Carrion's pupils shook greatly.
"Yes?"
"It was Grand Duke Ervin's scheme. A scheme to let me know that Iana was not having an affair."
Carrion asked with a fierce look.
"Where is Grand Duke Ervin now?"
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana came up from the investigation room to her room with Charles.
While Charles went to call the healer Karen, she gathered her knees on the sofa and buried her face.
She was filled with mixed emotions.
She returned the words that had become a dagger in her previous life to Riel.
'If it weren't for black magic, I could have stood up to Riel like this in my previous life...'
Iana felt wronged by her previous life, where she had no choice but to be defeated by Riel because she was sick.
That futility and sorrow became tears that quietly wet her cheeks.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, she heard a knock on the door along with Charles' voice.
"I've brought Karen."
"Just a moment."
Iana hurriedly wiped away her tears and went to open the door. Charles looked at her with a slightly surprised look, as if he had noticed that Iana had cried.
But Iana didn't show any particular expression and sat on the sofa to receive treatment from Karen.
A moment later, when Karen left, Charles sat next to her and asked quietly.
"Did you cry?"
"..."
Iana only lowered her head slightly.
"Just as you told me, I hope you are not lonely either. There is nothing as lonely as swallowing tears alone without anyone to comfort you."
At Charles' words, Iana spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"I stopped it."
"Yes?"
Charles looked at her blankly, not knowing what she meant.
"I didn't get hurt this time and I stopped it. So I'm upset. If I wasn't sick and could use magical power before, if I could have..."
"..."
"I think I wouldn't have been fooled like a fool. I resent my father so much."
Iana thought.
At least if she had fought properly and lost, it wouldn't have become a lump in her heart like it is now.
Charles hugged Iana without a word.
Pat, pat.
Charles didn't offer any words of comfort.
He just patted her back, letting her know that he was there.
When Iana's emotions subsided, Charles covered her face with both hands again.
"Iana has a pretty face, and her nose and lips..."
'Could it be...!'
The moment his gaze fell on her lips.
Iana recalled what happened last night and stopped crying abruptly.
"I thought it was pretty, but not when you're crying."
At his playful words, Iana wiped her face with her sleeve, feeling embarrassed.
"Not pretty, but cute. Like a flustered peach."
Charles laughed loudly as if he found it amusing.
"Yes?"
Iana blushed with a flustered expression, as if proving Charles' words.
He took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
Iana glared at him with a pout and wiped away her tears with the handkerchief.
When she had finished wiping away her tears, Charles held out his hand.
"The handkerchief."
"It's dirty. I'll wash it and give it back to you."
Iana hid the handkerchief behind her back.
"There's no need for that. I'm going to throw this handkerchief away today."
"Why?"
Iana tilted her head.
"I know this expression is a bit extreme. But there's no other expression that fits better..."
Charles trailed off with a serious face.
"What do you mean?"
"Because I might get beaten up by Count Dietrian a little later, so this handkerchief might become unusable."
"Pardon? Why?"
Iana's eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
Charles laughed again for a long time as if he found the sight amusing.
"I heard that the letter finally found in the office has been reported to Count Dietrian."
"Then?"
"They'll take the letter back tomorrow, so live comfortably now."
"Yes. Your Highness."
Charles asked cautiously.
"But who on earth is Lady Riel? What kind of person is she to be so cunning?"
Iana hesitated for a moment and mustered the courage to speak.
"Your Highness, do you remember? When The First Order of Knights came to the Count's castle, I said it looked like it was going to rain, so I told you to send a messenger to check."
"Yes. I remember. Thanks to that, hundreds of our knights didn't have to make a wasted trip."
Charles replied with a questioning look, as if the words were out of context.
"At that time, I said that my father, who was an Archmage, had an accident on his way back, but in fact, I have precognitive magic."
"Rosso the mage had already speculated that you might have precognitive magic."
"I can't see all the future, but I can see a few things..."
Iana had finally spoken, but she hesitated, not knowing how he would accept it.
The things that happened before her regression may or may not happen.
But if Riel becomes Empress, Charles, who is being checked by the Emperor, will inevitably be in danger.
"It's okay, tell me."
"Riel will become the Empress. Pushing out the current Empress."
"What is..."
Charles couldn't continue his words in shock.
"I know it's ridiculous. Because it's ridiculous for a woman from a treasonous family and a Count's mistress to ascend to the position of Empress."
"Lady Riel is a woman from the Estina family who led the Crown Prince's poisoning. No matter how much His Majesty the Emperor..."
Charles got up from the sofa and walked around the room as if trying to organize his thoughts.
"But Riel is that smart and skilled in schemes."
"It's something that should never happen, and should never be allowed to happen."
Charles roughly swept back his silver hair. He suppressed his emotions and soothed himself as if trying to regain his composure.
He knew that it would be hard to believe, but Charles was much more surprised than expected.
But once the words were spoken, they could not be taken back.
Iana did not back down.
"Rather, Riel will use that."
"That she's from a treasonous family?"
"She'll frame it as if the Estina family wasn't the culprit in the poisoning, but the Empress' family. Joining hands with the forces that want to push out the Empress."
Charles suppressed his confused expression and quickly ended the conversation.
"I understand for now. You must have been very surprised too, so rest."
He gave a short greeting and went out the door. Still with a look of deep doubt in his eyes.
Iana looked painfully at the closed door.
'It was the right thing to do. For Your Highness too.'
✦ ✦ ✦
'It's something that should never happen. Never.'
Charles thought as he left the Spire and headed to the main castle.
"Riel will become the Empress. Pushing out the current Empress."
Iana's words kept ringing in his ears.
He didn't want to believe that a woman from a treasonous family would become Empress. Because that was the last remaining faith in the Emperor.
But the fact that the current Empress might be pushed out was also a point of concern for him.
The Empress was precarious.
She was not originally the daughter of a powerful family, and the treacherous subjects were trying to find fault with the Empress and drag her down, and were constantly thinking of pushing their daughters into that position.
But for the daughter of a treacherous subject, not to mention a woman from the Estina family who led the Crown Prince's poisoning, to become Empress...
He couldn't believe it.
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from behind.
"Your Highness!"
Turning around, Carrion was standing there, seething with anger. In his clenched fist was a crumpled letter.
As Carrion tried to approach, the Ducal Palace royal guard blocked him.
"Let him go."
Charles ordered in a low voice.
"But..."
"Hurry."
When Charles spoke firmly, the royal guard stepped aside all at once.
Thud-.
Carrion walked up menacingly and punched Charles.
At Carrion's question, the administrator came inside and handed over a bundle of letters.
"Letters exchanged between Your Highness and Iana were found mixed in with the ledgers in the office, and the contents are..."
"What?"
Carrion snatched the letters from the administrator and unfolded them as if grabbing them.
"What? To my sublime Iana."
[I have been unable to sleep for days thinking of you. Whether my eyes are closed or open, in every moment I breathe, I think only of you.]
The more Carrion read the letters, the more anger filled his face.
"Filthy things! They were having an affair while staying in my castle."
He crumpled the letter written by Charles and raged.
"Arrest Iana! I will transfer her to the capital immediately for the crime of adultery."
Transferring Grand Duke Ervin required an imperial order, that is, an order from His Majesty the Emperor.
However, if Iana had committed a wrong when she was Countess Dietrian, the family could hold her accountable.
The administrator hesitated and spoke with a troubled expression.
"Count, I think you should read Iana's replies below before that."
When Carrion unfolded the letter, a familiar handwriting came into view.
[To His Highness Grand Duke Ervin. I am a married woman. So please do not send such letters again.]
He quickly read the next letter.
[I sent a letter hoping that Your Highness would change your mind. But I will no longer write back.]
The next letter was just one line.
[Divorce does not change anything.]
Carrion recalled Riel's words, as if he had been struck hard on the head.
"Grand Duke Ervin is not an easy opponent."
"Who knows about these letters?"
"Well, all the investigators who checked the ledgers saw them..."
"He deliberately showed me these letters."
Carrion's pupils shook greatly.
"Yes?"
"It was Grand Duke Ervin's scheme. A scheme to let me know that Iana was not having an affair."
Carrion asked with a fierce look.
"Where is Grand Duke Ervin now?"
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana came up from the investigation room to her room with Charles.
While Charles went to call the healer Karen, she gathered her knees on the sofa and buried her face.
She was filled with mixed emotions.
She returned the words that had become a dagger in her previous life to Riel.
'If it weren't for black magic, I could have stood up to Riel like this in my previous life...'
Iana felt wronged by her previous life, where she had no choice but to be defeated by Riel because she was sick.
That futility and sorrow became tears that quietly wet her cheeks.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, she heard a knock on the door along with Charles' voice.
"I've brought Karen."
"Just a moment."
Iana hurriedly wiped away her tears and went to open the door. Charles looked at her with a slightly surprised look, as if he had noticed that Iana had cried.
But Iana didn't show any particular expression and sat on the sofa to receive treatment from Karen.
A moment later, when Karen left, Charles sat next to her and asked quietly.
"Did you cry?"
"..."
Iana only lowered her head slightly.
"Just as you told me, I hope you are not lonely either. There is nothing as lonely as swallowing tears alone without anyone to comfort you."
At Charles' words, Iana spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"I stopped it."
"Yes?"
Charles looked at her blankly, not knowing what she meant.
"I didn't get hurt this time and I stopped it. So I'm upset. If I wasn't sick and could use magical power before, if I could have..."
"..."
"I think I wouldn't have been fooled like a fool. I resent my father so much."
Iana thought.
At least if she had fought properly and lost, it wouldn't have become a lump in her heart like it is now.
Charles hugged Iana without a word.
Pat, pat.
Charles didn't offer any words of comfort.
He just patted her back, letting her know that he was there.
When Iana's emotions subsided, Charles covered her face with both hands again.
"Iana has a pretty face, and her nose and lips..."
'Could it be...!'
The moment his gaze fell on her lips.
Iana recalled what happened last night and stopped crying abruptly.
"I thought it was pretty, but not when you're crying."
At his playful words, Iana wiped her face with her sleeve, feeling embarrassed.
"Not pretty, but cute. Like a flustered peach."
Charles laughed loudly as if he found it amusing.
"Yes?"
Iana blushed with a flustered expression, as if proving Charles' words.
He took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
Iana glared at him with a pout and wiped away her tears with the handkerchief.
When she had finished wiping away her tears, Charles held out his hand.
"The handkerchief."
"It's dirty. I'll wash it and give it back to you."
Iana hid the handkerchief behind her back.
"There's no need for that. I'm going to throw this handkerchief away today."
"Why?"
Iana tilted her head.
"I know this expression is a bit extreme. But there's no other expression that fits better..."
Charles trailed off with a serious face.
"What do you mean?"
"Because I might get beaten up by Count Dietrian a little later, so this handkerchief might become unusable."
"Pardon? Why?"
Iana's eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
Charles laughed again for a long time as if he found the sight amusing.
"I heard that the letter finally found in the office has been reported to Count Dietrian."
"Then?"
"They'll take the letter back tomorrow, so live comfortably now."
"Yes. Your Highness."
Charles asked cautiously.
"But who on earth is Lady Riel? What kind of person is she to be so cunning?"
Iana hesitated for a moment and mustered the courage to speak.
"Your Highness, do you remember? When The First Order of Knights came to the Count's castle, I said it looked like it was going to rain, so I told you to send a messenger to check."
"Yes. I remember. Thanks to that, hundreds of our knights didn't have to make a wasted trip."
Charles replied with a questioning look, as if the words were out of context.
"At that time, I said that my father, who was an Archmage, had an accident on his way back, but in fact, I have precognitive magic."
"Rosso the mage had already speculated that you might have precognitive magic."
"I can't see all the future, but I can see a few things..."
Iana had finally spoken, but she hesitated, not knowing how he would accept it.
The things that happened before her regression may or may not happen.
But if Riel becomes Empress, Charles, who is being checked by the Emperor, will inevitably be in danger.
"It's okay, tell me."
"Riel will become the Empress. Pushing out the current Empress."
"What is..."
Charles couldn't continue his words in shock.
"I know it's ridiculous. Because it's ridiculous for a woman from a treasonous family and a Count's mistress to ascend to the position of Empress."
"Lady Riel is a woman from the Estina family who led the Crown Prince's poisoning. No matter how much His Majesty the Emperor..."
Charles got up from the sofa and walked around the room as if trying to organize his thoughts.
"But Riel is that smart and skilled in schemes."
"It's something that should never happen, and should never be allowed to happen."
Charles roughly swept back his silver hair. He suppressed his emotions and soothed himself as if trying to regain his composure.
He knew that it would be hard to believe, but Charles was much more surprised than expected.
But once the words were spoken, they could not be taken back.
Iana did not back down.
"Rather, Riel will use that."
"That she's from a treasonous family?"
"She'll frame it as if the Estina family wasn't the culprit in the poisoning, but the Empress' family. Joining hands with the forces that want to push out the Empress."
Charles suppressed his confused expression and quickly ended the conversation.
"I understand for now. You must have been very surprised too, so rest."
He gave a short greeting and went out the door. Still with a look of deep doubt in his eyes.
Iana looked painfully at the closed door.
'It was the right thing to do. For Your Highness too.'
✦ ✦ ✦
'It's something that should never happen. Never.'
Charles thought as he left the Spire and headed to the main castle.
"Riel will become the Empress. Pushing out the current Empress."
Iana's words kept ringing in his ears.
He didn't want to believe that a woman from a treasonous family would become Empress. Because that was the last remaining faith in the Emperor.
But the fact that the current Empress might be pushed out was also a point of concern for him.
The Empress was precarious.
She was not originally the daughter of a powerful family, and the treacherous subjects were trying to find fault with the Empress and drag her down, and were constantly thinking of pushing their daughters into that position.
But for the daughter of a treacherous subject, not to mention a woman from the Estina family who led the Crown Prince's poisoning, to become Empress...
He couldn't believe it.
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from behind.
"Your Highness!"
Turning around, Carrion was standing there, seething with anger. In his clenched fist was a crumpled letter.
As Carrion tried to approach, the Ducal Palace royal guard blocked him.
"Let him go."
Charles ordered in a low voice.
"But..."
"Hurry."
When Charles spoke firmly, the royal guard stepped aside all at once.
Thud-.
Carrion walked up menacingly and punched Charles.
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