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“I plan to send someone to Her Majesty the Empress tomorrow to inform her about Lady Riel.”
“⋯⋯.”
“There might be those who try to slander Her Majesty the Empress by using the Estina family, so I’ll tell her to be careful.”
At Charles’s words, Iana breathed a sigh of relief.
Riel becoming Empress might not happen, and now she could prevent it herself.
But Riel was cunning and persistent.
Knowing that better than anyone, she had to prepare for any possible variables.
“I thought Your Highness didn’t believe me.”
Iana confessed her honest feelings.
“I just thought it wouldn’t hurt to be careful. Her Majesty the Empress is in such a precarious situation right now⋯⋯.”
Charles’s face quickly darkened. Then, as if he remembered something, he spoke with a bright expression.
“I almost forgot to tell you the most important news.”
“⋯⋯?”
“The investigation team is returning to the capital tomorrow. They must have been very surprised by the monsters today.”
“Really?”
Iana smiled brightly, delighted.
“I was going to hold a farewell luncheon for them, but they politely declined. They said the Ducal Palace needs urgent repairs, and they didn’t want to burden the employees.”
“They probably want to get out of here as soon as possible.”
“Actually, I wanted to talk to Lady Riel a bit. I wanted to understand what kind of person Lady Riel is myself.”
At Charles’s words, Iana cautiously spoke.
“It might be good for Your Highness to meet Riel directly, but it might be better for the investigation team to leave quickly. I don’t know what might happen if Your Highness confronts Count Dietrian again.”
Charles smiled meaningfully.
“Don’t worry. Count Dietrian will never dare to challenge me again. Never.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, early in the morning, Riel stood in front of the Spire, looking up at the top.
She hadn’t studied magical power, but living in the Rechelles family, a family of Archmages, she had basic knowledge of magic.
'Creating a barrier that surrounds the entire Ducal Palace can’t be easy⋯⋯.'
Just then, she heard someone calling her from somewhere.
“Lady Riel.”
Turning her head, she saw Charles approaching. He had a bright smile, as if he had met someone he was happy to see.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Riel bowed politely.
“Are you out for a walk?”
“I came to look around the Ducal Palace one last time before leaving.”
“If you had come for a good reason, I would have shown you around every corner of Ervin, but it’s a shame that I can’t.”
He was treating her with the courtesy of a formal wife, not a noble’s mistress.
“What are you up to?”
When she tried to scar Iana’s face in the investigation room, the Grand Duke’s eyes were fierce.
'What is he planning?'
Riel hid her suspicious feelings and replied with a smile.
“Thank you for the thought.”
“Then, I’ll show you around the Spire area, as a consolation.”
Charles politely pointed to the backyard of the Spire with his hand.
“Yes? Ah, Your Highness.”
Riel strolled around the Spire with Charles.
“Were you very surprised by the monsters yesterday?”
“Yes. I knew there were many monsters in Ervin, but I didn’t know so many would attack.”
“But Ervin doesn’t only have hideous monsters. It also has beautiful flowers that aren’t found anywhere else.”
After speaking, Charles stopped at a flower bed.
There, she saw a rose-shaped flower shimmering with a clear, watery light.
“I’ve never seen a flower like this before. It’s so beautiful.”
Riel pretended to be impressed, touching the petals. But in reality, she had never felt any emotion about flowers.
Snap!
Charles plucked the flower and handed it to Riel.
“Here, take it. It’s called an Iji flower.”
“⋯⋯.”
Riel didn’t know what Charles’s intentions were, so she couldn’t take the flower.
“Why, don’t you like flowers?”
“It’s not that⋯⋯. I just feel like I might be someone Your Highness doesn’t like.”
“Is it because of Iana?”
Charles mentioned Iana’s name familiarly.
“That too, and I’m a member of the Estina family.”
After speaking, Riel lowered her head like a sinner.
“First of all, the Crown Prince’s poisoning was the Estina family’s doing, not a mistake you made, right?”
“⋯⋯I’m grateful if you think so.”
Riel accepted the flower, still wary.
She couldn’t tell if it was a man’s ploy or the Grand Duke’s test.
He was a man who was impossible to read.
Charles continued speaking calmly, his expression unreadable.
“I cannot condone your actions of trying to harm Iana. I only didn’t say anything further because the investigation team said they would take you to task.”
“⋯⋯.”
“But I’m curious. Why did you try to harm Iana?”
Charles asked the question as naturally as flowing water. Riel stared at him.
'If I clumsily slander Iana in front of the astute Grand Duke, it might give him a reason to attack.'
“If I may be so bold, may I ask Your Highness first?”
“Go ahead.”
Riel returned the question to Charles, who didn’t reveal his true feelings.
“What do Your Highness think is the reason I harmed Iana?”
“You’re wondering what my intentions are in asking this question. Is that what you mean?”
For a moment, the eyes of the two people, trying to read each other’s minds, intertwined.
“If you’ve already come to a conclusion in your mind⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Then my words will become an echo that disappears into the air.”
Riel acted with sincerity and desperation.
To induce him to say that he would listen without prejudice.
But Charles didn’t move as she had guided.
“Weren’t you wronged?”
“Yes, I was.”
Riel answered firmly.
“Then why does my opinion matter? The opinion of the wronged person is more important.”
“⋯⋯.”
For a moment, she didn’t understand what he meant and just stared at Charles.
“I’ve kept Lady Riel, who needs to prepare to leave, for too long. Then, go and prepare quickly.”
Charles greeted her with a smile. Riel hid her flustered expression and bowed her head.
“It was an honor to speak with you, even for a short time. Your Highness.”
Charles turned to leave, then turned back and said.
“If you ever feel wronged in life, no matter what the other person thinks, grab them and speak your mind.”
“⋯⋯.”
“A wronged person doesn’t choose who to speak to.”
Charles gave another nod and walked towards the main castle.
'The Grand Duke thinks I’m lying.'
Riel’s clenched fist trembled.
✦ ✦ ✦
Around that time, Iana woke up early, washed, and got dressed.
Mule hadn’t returned from the intermediate fortress, so she had to prepare for the monsters’ attack.
Iana, who had finished preparing to go out, approached the window to close it.
Just then, she saw Charles talking to Riel down below.
“⋯⋯!”
At the sight, Iana felt her heart drop. She quickly hid behind the curtain.
Just like the day she first witnessed Carrion and Riel’s affair before her regression.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to Lady Riel a bit.”
She repeated what Charles had said last night.
'Yes, Your Highness is talking to Riel because he wants to know what kind of person she is.'
Iana steeled her heart and tried to close the window, but Charles plucked a flower and handed it to Riel.
At that moment, many thoughts flashed through her mind.
'Did Riel seduce Your Highness this time?'
'Did Your Highness fall for Riel too?'
Then, she caught sight of her own reflection in the vanity mirror.
“How foolish⋯⋯.”
Iana didn’t want to be shaken by the experience of betrayal that Riel had planted in her.
She quickly closed the window and picked up Ru.
“Ru, stay with Karen today.”
Iana took Ru to the treatment room and then headed to the ramparts where Johan was.
The mage Lyman, who was supposed to be in charge of defending the ramparts, hadn’t come out, claiming to be sick.
Just then, she heard Charles’s voice from behind.
“Are you on your way to the ramparts?”
Iana turned around and greeted him.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Then, let’s go together.”
The two walked side by side towards the ramparts.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
At Charles’s words, Iana replied curtly with a sulky expression.
“You look a little swollen, so I thought you didn’t sleep well.”
“No. I slept well.”
He sensed something was wrong and stopped in his tracks.
“Iana.”
Charles lowered his head and met her eyes.
“You have a very curious look on your face. Like you’re wondering what I was talking about with Lady Riel just now.”
“⋯⋯!”
Iana was surprised, but she hid her expression, pretending not to be.
“And why I plucked a flower for Lady Riel.”
“⋯⋯Did you see me?”
She was startled, as if she had been caught secretly watching.
Charles gently grabbed Iana’s cheek and playfully scolded her.
“If you’re curious, just ask. Don’t let someone with a lack of creativity have strange fantasies.”
“⋯⋯What do you think of her, Your Highness? Riel, I mean.”
She was more curious about how Charles had assessed Riel.
“I can’t know for sure since we only talked briefly, but I did notice one thing. Something about her gives off a chilly feeling⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯?”
“She seems like a person without emotions.”
“⋯⋯.”
“There might be those who try to slander Her Majesty the Empress by using the Estina family, so I’ll tell her to be careful.”
At Charles’s words, Iana breathed a sigh of relief.
Riel becoming Empress might not happen, and now she could prevent it herself.
But Riel was cunning and persistent.
Knowing that better than anyone, she had to prepare for any possible variables.
“I thought Your Highness didn’t believe me.”
Iana confessed her honest feelings.
“I just thought it wouldn’t hurt to be careful. Her Majesty the Empress is in such a precarious situation right now⋯⋯.”
Charles’s face quickly darkened. Then, as if he remembered something, he spoke with a bright expression.
“I almost forgot to tell you the most important news.”
“⋯⋯?”
“The investigation team is returning to the capital tomorrow. They must have been very surprised by the monsters today.”
“Really?”
Iana smiled brightly, delighted.
“I was going to hold a farewell luncheon for them, but they politely declined. They said the Ducal Palace needs urgent repairs, and they didn’t want to burden the employees.”
“They probably want to get out of here as soon as possible.”
“Actually, I wanted to talk to Lady Riel a bit. I wanted to understand what kind of person Lady Riel is myself.”
At Charles’s words, Iana cautiously spoke.
“It might be good for Your Highness to meet Riel directly, but it might be better for the investigation team to leave quickly. I don’t know what might happen if Your Highness confronts Count Dietrian again.”
Charles smiled meaningfully.
“Don’t worry. Count Dietrian will never dare to challenge me again. Never.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, early in the morning, Riel stood in front of the Spire, looking up at the top.
She hadn’t studied magical power, but living in the Rechelles family, a family of Archmages, she had basic knowledge of magic.
'Creating a barrier that surrounds the entire Ducal Palace can’t be easy⋯⋯.'
Just then, she heard someone calling her from somewhere.
“Lady Riel.”
Turning her head, she saw Charles approaching. He had a bright smile, as if he had met someone he was happy to see.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Riel bowed politely.
“Are you out for a walk?”
“I came to look around the Ducal Palace one last time before leaving.”
“If you had come for a good reason, I would have shown you around every corner of Ervin, but it’s a shame that I can’t.”
He was treating her with the courtesy of a formal wife, not a noble’s mistress.
“What are you up to?”
When she tried to scar Iana’s face in the investigation room, the Grand Duke’s eyes were fierce.
'What is he planning?'
Riel hid her suspicious feelings and replied with a smile.
“Thank you for the thought.”
“Then, I’ll show you around the Spire area, as a consolation.”
Charles politely pointed to the backyard of the Spire with his hand.
“Yes? Ah, Your Highness.”
Riel strolled around the Spire with Charles.
“Were you very surprised by the monsters yesterday?”
“Yes. I knew there were many monsters in Ervin, but I didn’t know so many would attack.”
“But Ervin doesn’t only have hideous monsters. It also has beautiful flowers that aren’t found anywhere else.”
After speaking, Charles stopped at a flower bed.
There, she saw a rose-shaped flower shimmering with a clear, watery light.
“I’ve never seen a flower like this before. It’s so beautiful.”
Riel pretended to be impressed, touching the petals. But in reality, she had never felt any emotion about flowers.
Snap!
Charles plucked the flower and handed it to Riel.
“Here, take it. It’s called an Iji flower.”
“⋯⋯.”
Riel didn’t know what Charles’s intentions were, so she couldn’t take the flower.
“Why, don’t you like flowers?”
“It’s not that⋯⋯. I just feel like I might be someone Your Highness doesn’t like.”
“Is it because of Iana?”
Charles mentioned Iana’s name familiarly.
“That too, and I’m a member of the Estina family.”
After speaking, Riel lowered her head like a sinner.
“First of all, the Crown Prince’s poisoning was the Estina family’s doing, not a mistake you made, right?”
“⋯⋯I’m grateful if you think so.”
Riel accepted the flower, still wary.
She couldn’t tell if it was a man’s ploy or the Grand Duke’s test.
He was a man who was impossible to read.
Charles continued speaking calmly, his expression unreadable.
“I cannot condone your actions of trying to harm Iana. I only didn’t say anything further because the investigation team said they would take you to task.”
“⋯⋯.”
“But I’m curious. Why did you try to harm Iana?”
Charles asked the question as naturally as flowing water. Riel stared at him.
'If I clumsily slander Iana in front of the astute Grand Duke, it might give him a reason to attack.'
“If I may be so bold, may I ask Your Highness first?”
“Go ahead.”
Riel returned the question to Charles, who didn’t reveal his true feelings.
“What do Your Highness think is the reason I harmed Iana?”
“You’re wondering what my intentions are in asking this question. Is that what you mean?”
For a moment, the eyes of the two people, trying to read each other’s minds, intertwined.
“If you’ve already come to a conclusion in your mind⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Then my words will become an echo that disappears into the air.”
Riel acted with sincerity and desperation.
To induce him to say that he would listen without prejudice.
But Charles didn’t move as she had guided.
“Weren’t you wronged?”
“Yes, I was.”
Riel answered firmly.
“Then why does my opinion matter? The opinion of the wronged person is more important.”
“⋯⋯.”
For a moment, she didn’t understand what he meant and just stared at Charles.
“I’ve kept Lady Riel, who needs to prepare to leave, for too long. Then, go and prepare quickly.”
Charles greeted her with a smile. Riel hid her flustered expression and bowed her head.
“It was an honor to speak with you, even for a short time. Your Highness.”
Charles turned to leave, then turned back and said.
“If you ever feel wronged in life, no matter what the other person thinks, grab them and speak your mind.”
“⋯⋯.”
“A wronged person doesn’t choose who to speak to.”
Charles gave another nod and walked towards the main castle.
'The Grand Duke thinks I’m lying.'
Riel’s clenched fist trembled.
✦ ✦ ✦
Around that time, Iana woke up early, washed, and got dressed.
Mule hadn’t returned from the intermediate fortress, so she had to prepare for the monsters’ attack.
Iana, who had finished preparing to go out, approached the window to close it.
Just then, she saw Charles talking to Riel down below.
“⋯⋯!”
At the sight, Iana felt her heart drop. She quickly hid behind the curtain.
Just like the day she first witnessed Carrion and Riel’s affair before her regression.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to Lady Riel a bit.”
She repeated what Charles had said last night.
'Yes, Your Highness is talking to Riel because he wants to know what kind of person she is.'
Iana steeled her heart and tried to close the window, but Charles plucked a flower and handed it to Riel.
At that moment, many thoughts flashed through her mind.
'Did Riel seduce Your Highness this time?'
'Did Your Highness fall for Riel too?'
Then, she caught sight of her own reflection in the vanity mirror.
“How foolish⋯⋯.”
Iana didn’t want to be shaken by the experience of betrayal that Riel had planted in her.
She quickly closed the window and picked up Ru.
“Ru, stay with Karen today.”
Iana took Ru to the treatment room and then headed to the ramparts where Johan was.
The mage Lyman, who was supposed to be in charge of defending the ramparts, hadn’t come out, claiming to be sick.
Just then, she heard Charles’s voice from behind.
“Are you on your way to the ramparts?”
Iana turned around and greeted him.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Then, let’s go together.”
The two walked side by side towards the ramparts.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
At Charles’s words, Iana replied curtly with a sulky expression.
“You look a little swollen, so I thought you didn’t sleep well.”
“No. I slept well.”
He sensed something was wrong and stopped in his tracks.
“Iana.”
Charles lowered his head and met her eyes.
“You have a very curious look on your face. Like you’re wondering what I was talking about with Lady Riel just now.”
“⋯⋯!”
Iana was surprised, but she hid her expression, pretending not to be.
“And why I plucked a flower for Lady Riel.”
“⋯⋯Did you see me?”
She was startled, as if she had been caught secretly watching.
Charles gently grabbed Iana’s cheek and playfully scolded her.
“If you’re curious, just ask. Don’t let someone with a lack of creativity have strange fantasies.”
“⋯⋯What do you think of her, Your Highness? Riel, I mean.”
She was more curious about how Charles had assessed Riel.
“I can’t know for sure since we only talked briefly, but I did notice one thing. Something about her gives off a chilly feeling⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯?”
“She seems like a person without emotions.”
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