.jpeg)
Eyes of scorn.
Dozens of pairs of eyes belonging to the territory's people pierced Iana like sharp spears.
"What do you mean I'm being deceived?"
At Charles's question, a burly man pushed his way through the crowd and continued,
"When I went to the capital, I heard it clearly. That woman remarried Your Highness, who is of the imperial family, and is trying to smuggle Ervin's magic stone to the Rechelles family."
"Good heavens!"
The territory's people buzzed and stirred greatly.
"Ha..."
Iana was so dumbfounded that she let out a hollow laugh.
The rumors were being distorted and spread in a way that was more sensational and fear-mongering.
"Your Highness, you must not be deceived by that wicked woman!"
"That's right. Monsters are running even more rampant in our Ervin because of that immoral woman who divorced after only a month of marriage!"
The territory's people continued their desperate accusations one after another.
"Come to think of it, that's right. Krikan didn't originally move in packs, but they started coming in droves from the day that new scribe came to the Ducal Palace."
Iana remembered it clearly from her past life.
"Witch, begone!"
In the Rubena Empire, divorced women were treated as omens of bad luck, regardless of their status.
If a severe natural disaster or a major war broke out, divorced women would become scapegoats and be blamed.
The territory's people of Ervin seemed to want to blame her for the monsters' abnormal behavior as well.
At that moment, Charles asked in a calm voice,
"Iana, do you have anything to say?"
"Pardon?"
Iana quietly looked up at him.
"Our territory's people are saying that I'm being deceived by a wicked woman, and that you're smuggling Ervin's magic stone."
Charles seemed to want to give Iana a chance to defend herself.
"Look at her! She can't say anything."
Iana was intimidated by the territory's people's gazes, which glared at her fiercely.
"Why couldn't I say a single word back then and just cried? Foolishly..."
Iana reflected on the thoughts she had realized while standing up to the Dietrian family after her regression.
Regret for not standing up for herself.
At least if she fought to the end, saying no when it wasn't right, she wouldn't be left with the scar of regret.
She cleared her trembling voice and spoke calmly,
"I heard that Krikan were already moving in packs and attacking villages before I arrived here. That's why the carriage I was in waited for a long time outside the outer castle."
"..."
"Because all the mages and knights had gone to support the villages. So, are you saying that the monsters' abnormal behavior is because of me?"
Iana logically questioned them.
Charles took her words and urged them to answer,
"That's what she's saying. Give her an answer."
"..."
When the territory's people couldn't easily answer, Iana continued,
"Do you know? That the logic you're trying to pin on me is the same logic that ignorant people in the Empire are trying to pin on Ervin."
"What are we pinning on you?"
The territory's people seized on her words and protested loudly.
Iana said forcefully,
"Cursed land!"
"..."
"You avoid the people of Ervin because they live in a cursed land where monsters appear frequently."
"...!"
The territory's people, who had been raising their voices, suddenly fell silent.
The people of Ervin, where monsters frequently appeared even among the northern regions, were objects of avoidance.
For the absurd reason that they brought the monsters with them.
Iana sincerely and desperately tried to persuade them,
"At least, I hope that the people of Ervin don't torment others in the same way that they are being tormented."
"..."
"Because you know very well how unfair and heartbreaking it is."
At Iana's words, the territory's people silently looked at each other.
Charles asked the territory's people for their opinions like a mediator without personal views,
"That's what she's saying. Do you have anything more to say?"
An elderly middle-aged woman came forward and said,
"Even so, it's absolutely impossible for Your Highness to take a divorced woman as the Grand Duchess."
"I will do so."
Charles replied lightly.
"...!"
Iana had never dreamed of becoming the Grand Duchess of Ervin. But when Charles responded that he would, a feeling of disappointment washed over her.
"Is that true?"
The territory's people asked one after another with suspicious eyes, even though they were pleased.
"I promise. But..."
"Yes?"
The territory's people, who had been happy, all looked at Charles.
"I'm also thinking of actively intervening in the marriages of the territory's people from now on, just like other lords."
"...!"
"So that you can only get married with the lord's permission."
"That's absurd!"
The territory's people collectively protested. At that sight, Charles smiled and asked,
"Why are you trying to interfere in my marriage when you don't like it either?"
"How can we, humble people, be compared to Your Highness?"
An old man, who had been listening quietly, looked at him with sincere eyes,
"I have never once considered you to be humble."
"..."
"So, I hope that you, who are noble, do not think of yourselves as being different from me. Then."
After finishing speaking, Charles took Iana's hand and turned around. Soon, he walked towards the main castle at a fast pace.
"...!"
Iana followed him and looked up at him with surprised eyes. Charles tilted his head slightly and whispered,
"Let's go quickly before they say anything more. I'm very hungry."
Charles winked playfully.
Being criticized and hated by so many people was still upsetting and heartbreaking for Iana.
But at least in front of Charles, who was on her side, she didn't want to show it.
Iana smiled faintly at him in response.
The two walked side by side towards the main castle, leaving behind the sounds of the territory's people protesting.
Before they knew it, the red sunset had dyed the Ducal Palace.
✦ ✦ ✦
As darkness fell on the Ducal Palace, the magic stone brightly lit it up.
Riel went around the Ducal Palace, assessing the situation.
Employees repairing the collapsed buildings, knights tending to their weapons in the training grounds, mages returning late at night.
The people of Ervin, for whom war was a daily occurrence, were laughing and talking even in the midst of it all.
Then, the Spire, which had been dented by a collision with a giant Krikan, caught their eye.
'Ervin really is a cursed land.'
As that thought crossed their mind, a smile spread across Riel's lips.
'To think I dreamed of becoming the Grand Duchess of a place like this...'
They felt as if something that had been stuck in their heart had disappeared.
Riel, lost in thought, went up to the detached palace.
Carrion's fierce voice could be heard from beyond the door.
"Quickly, move quickly!"
Creak-.
When Riel opened the door and entered, the maids were packing their luggage.
"Riel, where have you been and what have you been doing?"
Riel quietly looked at Carrion.
His face was pale with fear. He was a narrow-minded man who couldn't be found to have any boldness.
Iana's words in the investigation room flashed through their mind over Carrion's appearance.
"You're clinging to men to endure your hellish life!"
For some reason, Riel felt a pang in their heart.
They felt humiliated that they had to be next to such a man just to take the position of Countess.
Carrion, thinking that he had been ignored, glanced at the maids and spat out as if chewing,
"Answer me, Riel."
"I went to check if there really wouldn't be any problems with leaving tomorrow."
Riel casually retorted. Then, they gave instructions to the maids,
"I'll take care of the rest, so just take the packed luggage to the carriage."
"Yes, Countess."
At Riel's words, the maids took the luggage and quietly went outside.
"This matter was an opportunity that His Majesty the Emperor gave to the Count. But it would be a shame to go back with just one letter intended by Grand Duke Ervin."
Riel wanted to thoroughly trample on Iana, who had insulted them, before returning.
But Carrion, who was very frightened, had no intention of doing so.
"Is that what's important now? I almost lost my life today because of the monsters."
"The opponent's weakness is most accurately seen in moments of chaos."Don't tell me you're saying we should stay in this lousy Ervin any longer?"
Knock knock.
Someone urgently knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
When Riel approached and opened the door, Lyman, the mage who had come with them from the capital, was standing there with a haggard face.
"What brings you here this late at night, Mage Lyman?"
At Riel's words, Lyman pushed his way into the room without permission.
"Count!"
"What is it?"
Carrion was surprised and took a step back.
Lyman knelt down in front of Carrion and pleaded,
"Please, please take me with you. I really, really can't stay here any longer."
Carrion raised him up and soothed him,
"His Majesty the Emperor sent Mage Lyman to Ervin. So how can I disobey His Majesty's orders?"
"Your Highness is lying to His Majesty and requesting more mages, so there's a problem."
Lyman did not get up and hurriedly said with only his knees raised.
"Your Highness lied to His Majesty and supplemented the mages?"
Carrion said with a surprised face, then looked at Riel. Riel nodded as if telling him to keep listening.
"What lie did he tell?"
Lyman continued to explain frantically,
"The documents clearly stated that there was only one Archmage and nine high-ranking mages in Ervin."
"And?"
Carrion asked.
"A high-ranking mage is stationed in each of Ervin's eight districts, and Archmage Mule and High-ranking Mage Rosso are in the Ducal Palace. But I felt one more energy."
"So that means?"
Riel, who had been listening intently, suddenly had a realization.
Lyman said with a determined face,
"There was one more high-ranking mage."
"..."
"And it was someone with strong magical power at the level of an Archmage."
Dozens of pairs of eyes belonging to the territory's people pierced Iana like sharp spears.
"What do you mean I'm being deceived?"
At Charles's question, a burly man pushed his way through the crowd and continued,
"When I went to the capital, I heard it clearly. That woman remarried Your Highness, who is of the imperial family, and is trying to smuggle Ervin's magic stone to the Rechelles family."
"Good heavens!"
The territory's people buzzed and stirred greatly.
"Ha..."
Iana was so dumbfounded that she let out a hollow laugh.
The rumors were being distorted and spread in a way that was more sensational and fear-mongering.
"Your Highness, you must not be deceived by that wicked woman!"
"That's right. Monsters are running even more rampant in our Ervin because of that immoral woman who divorced after only a month of marriage!"
The territory's people continued their desperate accusations one after another.
"Come to think of it, that's right. Krikan didn't originally move in packs, but they started coming in droves from the day that new scribe came to the Ducal Palace."
Iana remembered it clearly from her past life.
"Witch, begone!"
In the Rubena Empire, divorced women were treated as omens of bad luck, regardless of their status.
If a severe natural disaster or a major war broke out, divorced women would become scapegoats and be blamed.
The territory's people of Ervin seemed to want to blame her for the monsters' abnormal behavior as well.
At that moment, Charles asked in a calm voice,
"Iana, do you have anything to say?"
"Pardon?"
Iana quietly looked up at him.
"Our territory's people are saying that I'm being deceived by a wicked woman, and that you're smuggling Ervin's magic stone."
Charles seemed to want to give Iana a chance to defend herself.
"Look at her! She can't say anything."
Iana was intimidated by the territory's people's gazes, which glared at her fiercely.
"Why couldn't I say a single word back then and just cried? Foolishly..."
Iana reflected on the thoughts she had realized while standing up to the Dietrian family after her regression.
Regret for not standing up for herself.
At least if she fought to the end, saying no when it wasn't right, she wouldn't be left with the scar of regret.
She cleared her trembling voice and spoke calmly,
"I heard that Krikan were already moving in packs and attacking villages before I arrived here. That's why the carriage I was in waited for a long time outside the outer castle."
"..."
"Because all the mages and knights had gone to support the villages. So, are you saying that the monsters' abnormal behavior is because of me?"
Iana logically questioned them.
Charles took her words and urged them to answer,
"That's what she's saying. Give her an answer."
"..."
When the territory's people couldn't easily answer, Iana continued,
"Do you know? That the logic you're trying to pin on me is the same logic that ignorant people in the Empire are trying to pin on Ervin."
"What are we pinning on you?"
The territory's people seized on her words and protested loudly.
Iana said forcefully,
"Cursed land!"
"..."
"You avoid the people of Ervin because they live in a cursed land where monsters appear frequently."
"...!"
The territory's people, who had been raising their voices, suddenly fell silent.
The people of Ervin, where monsters frequently appeared even among the northern regions, were objects of avoidance.
For the absurd reason that they brought the monsters with them.
Iana sincerely and desperately tried to persuade them,
"At least, I hope that the people of Ervin don't torment others in the same way that they are being tormented."
"..."
"Because you know very well how unfair and heartbreaking it is."
At Iana's words, the territory's people silently looked at each other.
Charles asked the territory's people for their opinions like a mediator without personal views,
"That's what she's saying. Do you have anything more to say?"
An elderly middle-aged woman came forward and said,
"Even so, it's absolutely impossible for Your Highness to take a divorced woman as the Grand Duchess."
"I will do so."
Charles replied lightly.
"...!"
Iana had never dreamed of becoming the Grand Duchess of Ervin. But when Charles responded that he would, a feeling of disappointment washed over her.
"Is that true?"
The territory's people asked one after another with suspicious eyes, even though they were pleased.
"I promise. But..."
"Yes?"
The territory's people, who had been happy, all looked at Charles.
"I'm also thinking of actively intervening in the marriages of the territory's people from now on, just like other lords."
"...!"
"So that you can only get married with the lord's permission."
"That's absurd!"
The territory's people collectively protested. At that sight, Charles smiled and asked,
"Why are you trying to interfere in my marriage when you don't like it either?"
"How can we, humble people, be compared to Your Highness?"
An old man, who had been listening quietly, looked at him with sincere eyes,
"I have never once considered you to be humble."
"..."
"So, I hope that you, who are noble, do not think of yourselves as being different from me. Then."
After finishing speaking, Charles took Iana's hand and turned around. Soon, he walked towards the main castle at a fast pace.
"...!"
Iana followed him and looked up at him with surprised eyes. Charles tilted his head slightly and whispered,
"Let's go quickly before they say anything more. I'm very hungry."
Charles winked playfully.
Being criticized and hated by so many people was still upsetting and heartbreaking for Iana.
But at least in front of Charles, who was on her side, she didn't want to show it.
Iana smiled faintly at him in response.
The two walked side by side towards the main castle, leaving behind the sounds of the territory's people protesting.
Before they knew it, the red sunset had dyed the Ducal Palace.
✦ ✦ ✦
As darkness fell on the Ducal Palace, the magic stone brightly lit it up.
Riel went around the Ducal Palace, assessing the situation.
Employees repairing the collapsed buildings, knights tending to their weapons in the training grounds, mages returning late at night.
The people of Ervin, for whom war was a daily occurrence, were laughing and talking even in the midst of it all.
Then, the Spire, which had been dented by a collision with a giant Krikan, caught their eye.
'Ervin really is a cursed land.'
As that thought crossed their mind, a smile spread across Riel's lips.
'To think I dreamed of becoming the Grand Duchess of a place like this...'
They felt as if something that had been stuck in their heart had disappeared.
Riel, lost in thought, went up to the detached palace.
Carrion's fierce voice could be heard from beyond the door.
"Quickly, move quickly!"
Creak-.
When Riel opened the door and entered, the maids were packing their luggage.
"Riel, where have you been and what have you been doing?"
Riel quietly looked at Carrion.
His face was pale with fear. He was a narrow-minded man who couldn't be found to have any boldness.
Iana's words in the investigation room flashed through their mind over Carrion's appearance.
"You're clinging to men to endure your hellish life!"
For some reason, Riel felt a pang in their heart.
They felt humiliated that they had to be next to such a man just to take the position of Countess.
Carrion, thinking that he had been ignored, glanced at the maids and spat out as if chewing,
"Answer me, Riel."
"I went to check if there really wouldn't be any problems with leaving tomorrow."
Riel casually retorted. Then, they gave instructions to the maids,
"I'll take care of the rest, so just take the packed luggage to the carriage."
"Yes, Countess."
At Riel's words, the maids took the luggage and quietly went outside.
"This matter was an opportunity that His Majesty the Emperor gave to the Count. But it would be a shame to go back with just one letter intended by Grand Duke Ervin."
Riel wanted to thoroughly trample on Iana, who had insulted them, before returning.
But Carrion, who was very frightened, had no intention of doing so.
"Is that what's important now? I almost lost my life today because of the monsters."
"The opponent's weakness is most accurately seen in moments of chaos."Don't tell me you're saying we should stay in this lousy Ervin any longer?"
Knock knock.
Someone urgently knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
When Riel approached and opened the door, Lyman, the mage who had come with them from the capital, was standing there with a haggard face.
"What brings you here this late at night, Mage Lyman?"
At Riel's words, Lyman pushed his way into the room without permission.
"Count!"
"What is it?"
Carrion was surprised and took a step back.
Lyman knelt down in front of Carrion and pleaded,
"Please, please take me with you. I really, really can't stay here any longer."
Carrion raised him up and soothed him,
"His Majesty the Emperor sent Mage Lyman to Ervin. So how can I disobey His Majesty's orders?"
"Your Highness is lying to His Majesty and requesting more mages, so there's a problem."
Lyman did not get up and hurriedly said with only his knees raised.
"Your Highness lied to His Majesty and supplemented the mages?"
Carrion said with a surprised face, then looked at Riel. Riel nodded as if telling him to keep listening.
"What lie did he tell?"
Lyman continued to explain frantically,
"The documents clearly stated that there was only one Archmage and nine high-ranking mages in Ervin."
"And?"
Carrion asked.
"A high-ranking mage is stationed in each of Ervin's eight districts, and Archmage Mule and High-ranking Mage Rosso are in the Ducal Palace. But I felt one more energy."
"So that means?"
Riel, who had been listening intently, suddenly had a realization.
Lyman said with a determined face,
"There was one more high-ranking mage."
"..."
"And it was someone with strong magical power at the level of an Archmage."
.jpeg)