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Charles didn't deliberately avoid it and took the punch Carrion threw.
"Did you think I would fall for such a cheap trick?"
"......"
"You deliberately showed me these letters to protect Iana, didn't you!"
An agitated Carrion shouted fiercely, holding up the crumpled letters. But Charles simply watched silently, without a word.
The nobles of the investigation team, knights, and Ducal Palace employees gathered around, drawn by the commotion.
"Say something!"
Charles wiped the blood from his lips with his hand and smirked.
Carrion spat out the words.
"Are you laughing now?"
"Count Dietrian still doesn't know what kind of woman Iana is."
"Why wouldn't I? About my wife."
As Carrion lowered his voice, a senior knight behind him shouted.
"Show some respect to Your Highness!"
Carrion ignored him and approached Charles, sneering.
"I probably know better than Your Highness how Iana reacts in the bedroom."
Charles and Carrion's gazes clashed intensely.
Charles knew very well.
Carrion's rage wasn't because he loved Iana.
It was low-class possessiveness.
He had simply lost his mind at the thought of being deceived and having something stolen from him.
Charles met Carrion's provocation with provocation.
"You're insane."
Charles uttered the curse in a low voice.
"W-What did you say just now?"
"Then why didn't you know how Iana's heart grew cold?"
An agitated Carrion raised his hand high again.
Thwack.
At that moment, Charles grabbed Carrion's wrist. Carrion's hand trembled under Charles's strong grip.
"I took one punch because I was wrong towards you by exactly one punch's worth."
"Adultery is a serious crime!"
"Then you can be punished as well. For openly committing adultery with Lady Chloe, who is about to be married."
"I will make you regret today's events. Your Highness."
Then, Charles saw Iana looking down from the Spire window.
Charles looked at her face and said.
"The only thing I regret is that I let Iana meet you while I was wandering the battlefields."
"......"
"If that hadn't happened, I would have sent a marriage proposal to the Rechelles family first."
In truth, Charles wanted to let Carrion know how precious Iana was to him, as he was treating her carelessly.
Because she was like a sprout trying to live, breaking through the solid ground of despair.
Perhaps that was why. Words that he hadn't even thought about beforehand came out of his mouth naturally.
He wondered if things might have been that way if he had met Iana a little earlier.
Following Charles's gaze at Iana, Carrion turned his head back.
"Ah!"
The moment Carrion saw Iana, he screamed as if in a desperate struggle.
That sharp voice echoed throughout the Ducal Palace.
✦ ✦ ✦
Around that time, Riel, who had left the annex, was lost in thought as she strolled through the garden.
'Why did my body suddenly become paralyzed in the investigation room?'
She was disappointed.
If she was going to be discovered anyway, she should have left Iana with a wound that could never be erased.
"That's the woman."
Whether the rumors had already spread, the Ducal Palace maids glanced at her and whispered.
'I need to be more confident, especially at times like this.'
That's how humans were.
If you showed a timid and weak side, they would trample on you more cruelly.
Then, at the end of the path Riel was walking, she saw five or six investigation team administrators who had come out to rest.
They looked at her with eyes mixed with contempt and ridicule.
Softly, softly.
Riel held her head high and took elegant steps.
She had to be as beautiful and confident as possible.
'What did I do so wrong? Rather, the world has wronged me.'
Riel looked straight at the administrators as if speaking with her eyes as she walked.
The world held her, who was innocent, responsible for her father's wrong choices and made her a slave.
'Compared to the sins the world has committed against me, my sins are nothing.'
As always, Riel erased even the slightest bit of guilt and shame.
With the logic that she herself was a victim of the world.
The administrators were flustered and embarrassed by her confident attitude.
It was just as Riel was about to pass between the administrators.
A short administrator came running up urgently.
"This is terrible. Grand Duke Ervin and Count Dietrian are having a fistfight near the Spire right now."
"Is that really true? Let's go quickly."
The administrators rushed towards the Spire.
"A fistfight?"
Riel sneered as if it were ridiculous.
The thought of two men fighting over Iana was childish.
Riel moved to see what the situation was.
As she got closer to the Spire, she heard a commotion.
'Pitiful things......'
It was ridiculous that those who were royalty and nobles were fighting in front of people,
Especially over a woman who had been ill.
Charles looked up at Iana, who was looking at him from the Spire, and said.
"The only thing I regret is that I let Iana meet you while I was wandering the battlefields."
"......!"
"If that hadn't happened, I would have sent a marriage proposal to the Rechelles family first."
Riel could tell.
Charles's words were sincere.
There was a unique look in the eyes of someone in love.
A look that looked at the other person with pity. That look that pitied them even when there was no reason to.
Just as Riel was feeling that the world was unfair once again.
She saw the figure of the small Archmage of the Ducal Palace next to Iana.
At that moment, a thought flashed through Riel's mind.
'It might be because of that Archmage. The moment I tried to attack Iana, my body became paralyzed......'
A coincidence that appeared at a crucial moment was no coincidence.
It was just a scheme disguised as a coincidence.
✦ ✦ ✦
At the same time, inside Mule's laboratory in the Spire.
Iana looked down at Charles and Carrion fighting through the window with worried eyes.
She could only hear Carrion's occasional loud shouts, and she couldn't hear what they were saying.
Then, she suddenly met Charles's eyes as he looked up at her.
An affectionate gaze.
Although it wasn't a close distance, the emotions contained in his eyes were fully conveyed.
"Ah!"
Carrion, who had turned around and looked this way, suddenly screamed like a madman.
Bang!
Mule came up from behind and slammed the window shut.
"Ugh! How noisy. That crazy bastard."
"I'm sorry......"
Iana lowered her head, thinking that she was responsible for the commotion. But Mule spouted unexpected words.
"If you're going to fight over a woman, you should risk your lives and duel. Cutting and stabbing with swords."
"Pardon?"
"Is it because they're high-ranking people? There's no romance."
Mule clicked his tongue. Then, he walked to the desk where the Arika Vine was placed.
The Arika Vine was rooted in a small glass tank and rolled around.
"Iana, think of it as your destiny."
"My destiny?"
Iana approached Mule and stood next to him.
"What can you do? You were born beautiful, so men fight like that."
It was hard to tell if he was teasing or complimenting, but his face was more serious than ever.
Iana rolled her eyes around and asked a question.
"Archmage, are you teasing me right now?"
Mule fiddled with the Arika Vine in the glass tank.
"What's the point of having a pretty face? You're like a stupid bear who can't even tell the difference between a compliment and a joke."
"Archmage!"
Iana shouted.
Mule chuckled at the sight. Then, with a serious face that had lost its laughter, he said.
"Iana, live as you are now. Don't try to become a hero just because you've become a mage."
"......"
"Give love to people as you give love to Ru, and live like that, feeling excited when you see a man you like."
A subtle wave arose in Iana's heart.
It seemed to be advice from Mule as she officially became a mage by controlling her magical power.
Iana said with an embarrassed face.
"When did I ever get excited?"
"Don't lie. Or your magical power will disappear."
Iana was startled and asked with wide eyes.
"Does magical power disappear if you lie?"
"Ugh, you stupid bear."
Mule shook his head with a dumbfounded face.
Only then did Iana realize it was a joke and quickly changed the subject.
"Archmage, why did you catch the magic butterflies?"
"Take a look at this."
Mule took out a blue butterfly from a small butterfly cage next to the tank. Soon, he placed the butterfly on the Arika Vine.
The intensity of the blue light coming from the butterfly's body changed slightly.
"Oh? Is the butterfly's magical power growing?"
"When you put it on Arika, the butterfly's magical power grows slightly. But I need to study it in more detail."
"This vine?"
Iana put another butterfly on her hand and placed it on the Arika Vine.
At that time, the Arika Vine that her hand touched turned black and died.
"Why is this?"
Iana and Mule looked at the sight with surprised faces.
It was that moment.
Boo-oo-oong.
The sound of the Horn trumpet echoed throughout the Ducal Palace.
Soon after, Johan rushed in urgently.
"Archmage, a horde of monsters is coming towards the Ducal Palace."
"Did you think I would fall for such a cheap trick?"
"......"
"You deliberately showed me these letters to protect Iana, didn't you!"
An agitated Carrion shouted fiercely, holding up the crumpled letters. But Charles simply watched silently, without a word.
The nobles of the investigation team, knights, and Ducal Palace employees gathered around, drawn by the commotion.
"Say something!"
Charles wiped the blood from his lips with his hand and smirked.
Carrion spat out the words.
"Are you laughing now?"
"Count Dietrian still doesn't know what kind of woman Iana is."
"Why wouldn't I? About my wife."
As Carrion lowered his voice, a senior knight behind him shouted.
"Show some respect to Your Highness!"
Carrion ignored him and approached Charles, sneering.
"I probably know better than Your Highness how Iana reacts in the bedroom."
Charles and Carrion's gazes clashed intensely.
Charles knew very well.
Carrion's rage wasn't because he loved Iana.
It was low-class possessiveness.
He had simply lost his mind at the thought of being deceived and having something stolen from him.
Charles met Carrion's provocation with provocation.
"You're insane."
Charles uttered the curse in a low voice.
"W-What did you say just now?"
"Then why didn't you know how Iana's heart grew cold?"
An agitated Carrion raised his hand high again.
Thwack.
At that moment, Charles grabbed Carrion's wrist. Carrion's hand trembled under Charles's strong grip.
"I took one punch because I was wrong towards you by exactly one punch's worth."
"Adultery is a serious crime!"
"Then you can be punished as well. For openly committing adultery with Lady Chloe, who is about to be married."
"I will make you regret today's events. Your Highness."
Then, Charles saw Iana looking down from the Spire window.
Charles looked at her face and said.
"The only thing I regret is that I let Iana meet you while I was wandering the battlefields."
"......"
"If that hadn't happened, I would have sent a marriage proposal to the Rechelles family first."
In truth, Charles wanted to let Carrion know how precious Iana was to him, as he was treating her carelessly.
Because she was like a sprout trying to live, breaking through the solid ground of despair.
Perhaps that was why. Words that he hadn't even thought about beforehand came out of his mouth naturally.
He wondered if things might have been that way if he had met Iana a little earlier.
Following Charles's gaze at Iana, Carrion turned his head back.
"Ah!"
The moment Carrion saw Iana, he screamed as if in a desperate struggle.
That sharp voice echoed throughout the Ducal Palace.
✦ ✦ ✦
Around that time, Riel, who had left the annex, was lost in thought as she strolled through the garden.
'Why did my body suddenly become paralyzed in the investigation room?'
She was disappointed.
If she was going to be discovered anyway, she should have left Iana with a wound that could never be erased.
"That's the woman."
Whether the rumors had already spread, the Ducal Palace maids glanced at her and whispered.
'I need to be more confident, especially at times like this.'
That's how humans were.
If you showed a timid and weak side, they would trample on you more cruelly.
Then, at the end of the path Riel was walking, she saw five or six investigation team administrators who had come out to rest.
They looked at her with eyes mixed with contempt and ridicule.
Softly, softly.
Riel held her head high and took elegant steps.
She had to be as beautiful and confident as possible.
'What did I do so wrong? Rather, the world has wronged me.'
Riel looked straight at the administrators as if speaking with her eyes as she walked.
The world held her, who was innocent, responsible for her father's wrong choices and made her a slave.
'Compared to the sins the world has committed against me, my sins are nothing.'
As always, Riel erased even the slightest bit of guilt and shame.
With the logic that she herself was a victim of the world.
The administrators were flustered and embarrassed by her confident attitude.
It was just as Riel was about to pass between the administrators.
A short administrator came running up urgently.
"This is terrible. Grand Duke Ervin and Count Dietrian are having a fistfight near the Spire right now."
"Is that really true? Let's go quickly."
The administrators rushed towards the Spire.
"A fistfight?"
Riel sneered as if it were ridiculous.
The thought of two men fighting over Iana was childish.
Riel moved to see what the situation was.
As she got closer to the Spire, she heard a commotion.
'Pitiful things......'
It was ridiculous that those who were royalty and nobles were fighting in front of people,
Especially over a woman who had been ill.
Charles looked up at Iana, who was looking at him from the Spire, and said.
"The only thing I regret is that I let Iana meet you while I was wandering the battlefields."
"......!"
"If that hadn't happened, I would have sent a marriage proposal to the Rechelles family first."
Riel could tell.
Charles's words were sincere.
There was a unique look in the eyes of someone in love.
A look that looked at the other person with pity. That look that pitied them even when there was no reason to.
Just as Riel was feeling that the world was unfair once again.
She saw the figure of the small Archmage of the Ducal Palace next to Iana.
At that moment, a thought flashed through Riel's mind.
'It might be because of that Archmage. The moment I tried to attack Iana, my body became paralyzed......'
A coincidence that appeared at a crucial moment was no coincidence.
It was just a scheme disguised as a coincidence.
✦ ✦ ✦
At the same time, inside Mule's laboratory in the Spire.
Iana looked down at Charles and Carrion fighting through the window with worried eyes.
She could only hear Carrion's occasional loud shouts, and she couldn't hear what they were saying.
Then, she suddenly met Charles's eyes as he looked up at her.
An affectionate gaze.
Although it wasn't a close distance, the emotions contained in his eyes were fully conveyed.
"Ah!"
Carrion, who had turned around and looked this way, suddenly screamed like a madman.
Bang!
Mule came up from behind and slammed the window shut.
"Ugh! How noisy. That crazy bastard."
"I'm sorry......"
Iana lowered her head, thinking that she was responsible for the commotion. But Mule spouted unexpected words.
"If you're going to fight over a woman, you should risk your lives and duel. Cutting and stabbing with swords."
"Pardon?"
"Is it because they're high-ranking people? There's no romance."
Mule clicked his tongue. Then, he walked to the desk where the Arika Vine was placed.
The Arika Vine was rooted in a small glass tank and rolled around.
"Iana, think of it as your destiny."
"My destiny?"
Iana approached Mule and stood next to him.
"What can you do? You were born beautiful, so men fight like that."
It was hard to tell if he was teasing or complimenting, but his face was more serious than ever.
Iana rolled her eyes around and asked a question.
"Archmage, are you teasing me right now?"
Mule fiddled with the Arika Vine in the glass tank.
"What's the point of having a pretty face? You're like a stupid bear who can't even tell the difference between a compliment and a joke."
"Archmage!"
Iana shouted.
Mule chuckled at the sight. Then, with a serious face that had lost its laughter, he said.
"Iana, live as you are now. Don't try to become a hero just because you've become a mage."
"......"
"Give love to people as you give love to Ru, and live like that, feeling excited when you see a man you like."
A subtle wave arose in Iana's heart.
It seemed to be advice from Mule as she officially became a mage by controlling her magical power.
Iana said with an embarrassed face.
"When did I ever get excited?"
"Don't lie. Or your magical power will disappear."
Iana was startled and asked with wide eyes.
"Does magical power disappear if you lie?"
"Ugh, you stupid bear."
Mule shook his head with a dumbfounded face.
Only then did Iana realize it was a joke and quickly changed the subject.
"Archmage, why did you catch the magic butterflies?"
"Take a look at this."
Mule took out a blue butterfly from a small butterfly cage next to the tank. Soon, he placed the butterfly on the Arika Vine.
The intensity of the blue light coming from the butterfly's body changed slightly.
"Oh? Is the butterfly's magical power growing?"
"When you put it on Arika, the butterfly's magical power grows slightly. But I need to study it in more detail."
"This vine?"
Iana put another butterfly on her hand and placed it on the Arika Vine.
At that time, the Arika Vine that her hand touched turned black and died.
"Why is this?"
Iana and Mule looked at the sight with surprised faces.
It was that moment.
Boo-oo-oong.
The sound of the Horn trumpet echoed throughout the Ducal Palace.
Soon after, Johan rushed in urgently.
"Archmage, a horde of monsters is coming towards the Ducal Palace."
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