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The next morning, Iana headed to the detached residence where Aden was staying.
Normally, Aden, as the Grand Duke's brother, should have been staying in the main castle's guest room, but Aden had adamantly refused and stayed in the detached residence.
She was led by a maid from the detached residence and stopped in front of Aden's door.
Knock, knock.
After a brief sigh, she mustered her courage and knocked on the door.
Creak-.
The door opened, and Aden looked at Iana with a slightly surprised expression.
"What brings you here, Iana mage..."
Iana greeted him politely and said, "Good morning, Aden priest. I came because I wanted to talk to you briefly before you left."
Aden paused for a moment, then stepped aside.
"Please, come in."
"Thank you."
Iana greeted him and stepped inside.
The room was clean, as if it had already been cleaned. As if no one had ever stayed there.
The two sat facing each other on the sofa.
Aden stared at Iana for a moment before asking, "If you've come all this way alone, it seems you have something important to say. Is that not so?"
Iana began to speak in a slightly trembling voice.
"Yesterday, you only spoke from your perspective, priest. So, I came to convey my thoughts."
"Please, speak."
Aden's gaze was cold.
"I can't tell you everything, but Your Highness is more than just a man to me; he is my benefactor. So, I don't want Your Highness to be in danger more than anyone else."
Aden asked in a monotone voice, "So, you're saying you want me to know that Iana's feelings are sincere? Is that why you came?"
"No. Aden priest, you don't need to understand my feelings. I only need Your Highness to understand them."
"..."
The two locked eyes in a tense standoff.
"I came because I thought you might misunderstand. If Your Highness and I grow apart, it will be my choice and judgment, not because of your opposition, Aden priest..."
Iana had thought about it all night.
Even if she organized her feelings for Charles, she didn't want to appear as if she was giving up on herself, feeling intimidated by her divorced status.
Especially not to someone who would exploit those feelings and force her.
Aden's sharp gaze, which had been fixed on Iana, softened. After all, she was saying that she would eventually distance herself from Charles.
"I understand what you mean, Iana."
Just as she was about to get up, bow, and leave, Aden's words from yesterday came to her mind.
"Soon, a marriage with a neighboring kingdom's royal family, who will protect Charles, will be promoted."
Words that made her feel utterly pathetic. Words thrown at her to make her feel pathetic and leave.
But Iana didn't want to be swayed by such words.
"And..."
"…?"
"At least in Ervin, I am protecting Your Highness. With my magical power."
At that moment, Aden slowly rose from his seat, clasped his hands together, and bowed his head.
"I apologize. I have committed a discourtesy in the name of helping my brother."
"..."
"But Charles is definitely in a precarious situation."
Aden's sincerity struck Iana painfully.
He seemed like someone who would do anything for Charles.
✦ ✦ ✦
A little later, Aden and his group of priests, ready to depart, stood in front of the main castle.
Mule, who had stayed near the monster habitat for a day and returned early in the morning, was talking to Aden.
"Aden priest, please stay one more day. I couldn't even talk to you properly because of that damn Arika Vine."
As Mule grabbed Aden's hand and pleaded, Aden smiled and said, "As the Archmage knows well, my staying longer is not good for Ervin."
"Which mage will be guarding the outer castle today?"
At Mule's question, Iana, who was standing behind him, raised her hand.
"Me."
"Then you guard the Ducal Palace today. I'll escort the priests to the outer castle."
"Yes, Archmage."
Iana answered and turned to the side, where she saw Charles standing blankly.
Was it because he was parting with his brother, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, with no promise of when they would meet again?
His complexion was not good.
He looked haggard, as if he hadn't slept well, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Aden approached Charles, paid his respects, and greeted him.
"Your Highness, stay healthy, and I hope to see you again."
He said they would meet again, but it was impossible to know when they would be able to meet again.
"Wouldn't it be better to say your goodbyes at the outer castle?"
Charles had naturally prepared a horse to ride together to the outer castle to see him off.
"Let's finish it here. If the farewells are prolonged, it will only make each other's hearts heavier."
"But..."
As Charles spoke with a regretful expression, Aden soothed him as if he were talking to his younger brother.
"Charles, let's do that."
"...Yes, I will."
Charles didn't ask any further.
As the two finished their greetings, the priests and escort knights moved busily.
A little later, everyone who had finished preparing mounted their horses.
"Let's go!"
At Mule's shout from the front, the group rushed towards the castle gate in unison.
Charles stared blankly at the scene before turning his head.
"Let's go back now."
At his words, those gathered in front of the main castle entrance dispersed.
Charles patrolled the castle walls with his knights as usual. Iana followed behind him.
Then, in the distance, they saw Aden's procession riding away.
"Wait a moment."
Charles stopped in front of the castle wall and stared blankly at the scene. As if trying to capture even the receding figure of Aden in his eyes.
The knights, understanding his feelings, quietly left the scene.
But strangely, Iana couldn't bring herself to leave.
"I thought you shouldn't be lonely, Your Highness."
The words she had said when returning to Ervin felt like a promise, and she couldn't leave him alone.
Iana hesitated, not knowing what to do.
At that moment, Charles turned his head and looked at her. With tender eyes full of longing.
Iana, seeing his expression for the first time, couldn't think of what to say.
Whish-.
A warm breeze gently brushed past his silver hair.
Charles smiled sadly and said softly, "He's gone now. Aden brother..."
He, who had been like a solid tree and a great mountain, felt pathetic.
Only then did Iana realize what Aden meant to Charles.
And she repeated to herself. She must not nurture her feelings for him any further.
✦ ✦ ✦
The evening sun dyed the Ducal Palace.
As Charles had hoped, no monsters appeared today, just like yesterday.
There was only a small commotion when Khan barked for a moment, causing them to be on alert.
"Huh?"
Thump, thump, thump.
A messenger with a long flag planted in front of him was running towards them.
"Isn't that the Rechelles family flag?"
At the words of the senior knight, Iana looked outside the castle. The Rechelles family crest was engraved on the flag.
Iana hurriedly went down from the castle walls and waited for the messenger in front of the castle gate.
Woo-oong.
The castle gate opened, and the messenger quickly ran inside. The messenger stopped and jumped off his horse.
The messenger was a knight familiar to Iana.
"It's been a while, miss."
"What's going on?"
The Rechelles family messenger silently handed over a letter he had brought from his inner pocket.
"The Marquess sent it."
Iana went to a corner and unfolded the letter.
Iana's eyes widened as she read the letter.
And her gaze was fixed on one phrase.
[The man suspected of handing over Seulanka to Riel was poisoned to death half a year ago.]
'Poisoned? Could this really be a coincidence?'
Iana was lost in thought.
It was something she hadn't been able to uncover in her past life.
If a poisoning had occurred around Riel, it could never be a coincidence.
Riel was capable of killing people if necessary. Just like she had done to her in her past life.
This time, she had to catch Riel for sure.
'Now that I can control my magical power, let's tell him I'm going to visit the Rechelles family for a while.'
Iana headed to the main castle to get Charles's permission.
At that moment, she ran into Karen, who was walking with a dark expression at the entrance of the main castle. In his hands, he held a large medicine box.
"Healer, what's wrong?"
"Well, Your Highness is very ill."
"Your Highness? Is he very unwell?"
Iana asked with a surprised expression.
"Yes. His fever is very high, and I've tried using medicine, but it's not working at all. So, I'm bringing other medicines."
"..."
"He's never been sick, not even on the battlefield or after suffering great hardships in the Imperial Palace..."
"..."
"Perhaps his heart is hurting. Great longing can sometimes become a disease."
Karen sighed deeply.
As Iana hesitated, not knowing what to do, Karen seemed to sense her feelings and said, "Why don't you go up with me? You're worried, aren't you?"
"Oh, no. Your Highness is sick, so he should rest."
Iana waved her hands vehemently.
No matter how much she was known as the Grand Duke's lover, and even if Charles was sick, it was impossible for her to visit his bedroom.
"Then, I'll be going."
Karen greeted her and entered the main castle.
Iana stopped and hesitated, about to go to the castle walls.
'Your Highness took care of me when I was sick, so it's not right for me to ignore him.'
Worried, she braved her embarrassment and headed to Charles's bedroom.
But when she reached Charles's bedroom, she didn't have the courage to knock on the door.
Iana walked back and forth in front of the door, eventually giving up and walking down the hallway.
That's when it happened.
The sound of the bedroom door opening and Charles's voice were heard.
"Are you just going to leave? Leaving me, who is sick?"
Normally, Aden, as the Grand Duke's brother, should have been staying in the main castle's guest room, but Aden had adamantly refused and stayed in the detached residence.
She was led by a maid from the detached residence and stopped in front of Aden's door.
Knock, knock.
After a brief sigh, she mustered her courage and knocked on the door.
Creak-.
The door opened, and Aden looked at Iana with a slightly surprised expression.
"What brings you here, Iana mage..."
Iana greeted him politely and said, "Good morning, Aden priest. I came because I wanted to talk to you briefly before you left."
Aden paused for a moment, then stepped aside.
"Please, come in."
"Thank you."
Iana greeted him and stepped inside.
The room was clean, as if it had already been cleaned. As if no one had ever stayed there.
The two sat facing each other on the sofa.
Aden stared at Iana for a moment before asking, "If you've come all this way alone, it seems you have something important to say. Is that not so?"
Iana began to speak in a slightly trembling voice.
"Yesterday, you only spoke from your perspective, priest. So, I came to convey my thoughts."
"Please, speak."
Aden's gaze was cold.
"I can't tell you everything, but Your Highness is more than just a man to me; he is my benefactor. So, I don't want Your Highness to be in danger more than anyone else."
Aden asked in a monotone voice, "So, you're saying you want me to know that Iana's feelings are sincere? Is that why you came?"
"No. Aden priest, you don't need to understand my feelings. I only need Your Highness to understand them."
"..."
The two locked eyes in a tense standoff.
"I came because I thought you might misunderstand. If Your Highness and I grow apart, it will be my choice and judgment, not because of your opposition, Aden priest..."
Iana had thought about it all night.
Even if she organized her feelings for Charles, she didn't want to appear as if she was giving up on herself, feeling intimidated by her divorced status.
Especially not to someone who would exploit those feelings and force her.
Aden's sharp gaze, which had been fixed on Iana, softened. After all, she was saying that she would eventually distance herself from Charles.
"I understand what you mean, Iana."
Just as she was about to get up, bow, and leave, Aden's words from yesterday came to her mind.
"Soon, a marriage with a neighboring kingdom's royal family, who will protect Charles, will be promoted."
Words that made her feel utterly pathetic. Words thrown at her to make her feel pathetic and leave.
But Iana didn't want to be swayed by such words.
"And..."
"…?"
"At least in Ervin, I am protecting Your Highness. With my magical power."
At that moment, Aden slowly rose from his seat, clasped his hands together, and bowed his head.
"I apologize. I have committed a discourtesy in the name of helping my brother."
"..."
"But Charles is definitely in a precarious situation."
Aden's sincerity struck Iana painfully.
He seemed like someone who would do anything for Charles.
✦ ✦ ✦
A little later, Aden and his group of priests, ready to depart, stood in front of the main castle.
Mule, who had stayed near the monster habitat for a day and returned early in the morning, was talking to Aden.
"Aden priest, please stay one more day. I couldn't even talk to you properly because of that damn Arika Vine."
As Mule grabbed Aden's hand and pleaded, Aden smiled and said, "As the Archmage knows well, my staying longer is not good for Ervin."
"Which mage will be guarding the outer castle today?"
At Mule's question, Iana, who was standing behind him, raised her hand.
"Me."
"Then you guard the Ducal Palace today. I'll escort the priests to the outer castle."
"Yes, Archmage."
Iana answered and turned to the side, where she saw Charles standing blankly.
Was it because he was parting with his brother, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, with no promise of when they would meet again?
His complexion was not good.
He looked haggard, as if he hadn't slept well, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Aden approached Charles, paid his respects, and greeted him.
"Your Highness, stay healthy, and I hope to see you again."
He said they would meet again, but it was impossible to know when they would be able to meet again.
"Wouldn't it be better to say your goodbyes at the outer castle?"
Charles had naturally prepared a horse to ride together to the outer castle to see him off.
"Let's finish it here. If the farewells are prolonged, it will only make each other's hearts heavier."
"But..."
As Charles spoke with a regretful expression, Aden soothed him as if he were talking to his younger brother.
"Charles, let's do that."
"...Yes, I will."
Charles didn't ask any further.
As the two finished their greetings, the priests and escort knights moved busily.
A little later, everyone who had finished preparing mounted their horses.
"Let's go!"
At Mule's shout from the front, the group rushed towards the castle gate in unison.
Charles stared blankly at the scene before turning his head.
"Let's go back now."
At his words, those gathered in front of the main castle entrance dispersed.
Charles patrolled the castle walls with his knights as usual. Iana followed behind him.
Then, in the distance, they saw Aden's procession riding away.
"Wait a moment."
Charles stopped in front of the castle wall and stared blankly at the scene. As if trying to capture even the receding figure of Aden in his eyes.
The knights, understanding his feelings, quietly left the scene.
But strangely, Iana couldn't bring herself to leave.
"I thought you shouldn't be lonely, Your Highness."
The words she had said when returning to Ervin felt like a promise, and she couldn't leave him alone.
Iana hesitated, not knowing what to do.
At that moment, Charles turned his head and looked at her. With tender eyes full of longing.
Iana, seeing his expression for the first time, couldn't think of what to say.
Whish-.
A warm breeze gently brushed past his silver hair.
Charles smiled sadly and said softly, "He's gone now. Aden brother..."
He, who had been like a solid tree and a great mountain, felt pathetic.
Only then did Iana realize what Aden meant to Charles.
And she repeated to herself. She must not nurture her feelings for him any further.
✦ ✦ ✦
The evening sun dyed the Ducal Palace.
As Charles had hoped, no monsters appeared today, just like yesterday.
There was only a small commotion when Khan barked for a moment, causing them to be on alert.
"Huh?"
Thump, thump, thump.
A messenger with a long flag planted in front of him was running towards them.
"Isn't that the Rechelles family flag?"
At the words of the senior knight, Iana looked outside the castle. The Rechelles family crest was engraved on the flag.
Iana hurriedly went down from the castle walls and waited for the messenger in front of the castle gate.
Woo-oong.
The castle gate opened, and the messenger quickly ran inside. The messenger stopped and jumped off his horse.
The messenger was a knight familiar to Iana.
"It's been a while, miss."
"What's going on?"
The Rechelles family messenger silently handed over a letter he had brought from his inner pocket.
"The Marquess sent it."
Iana went to a corner and unfolded the letter.
Iana's eyes widened as she read the letter.
And her gaze was fixed on one phrase.
[The man suspected of handing over Seulanka to Riel was poisoned to death half a year ago.]
'Poisoned? Could this really be a coincidence?'
Iana was lost in thought.
It was something she hadn't been able to uncover in her past life.
If a poisoning had occurred around Riel, it could never be a coincidence.
Riel was capable of killing people if necessary. Just like she had done to her in her past life.
This time, she had to catch Riel for sure.
'Now that I can control my magical power, let's tell him I'm going to visit the Rechelles family for a while.'
Iana headed to the main castle to get Charles's permission.
At that moment, she ran into Karen, who was walking with a dark expression at the entrance of the main castle. In his hands, he held a large medicine box.
"Healer, what's wrong?"
"Well, Your Highness is very ill."
"Your Highness? Is he very unwell?"
Iana asked with a surprised expression.
"Yes. His fever is very high, and I've tried using medicine, but it's not working at all. So, I'm bringing other medicines."
"..."
"He's never been sick, not even on the battlefield or after suffering great hardships in the Imperial Palace..."
"..."
"Perhaps his heart is hurting. Great longing can sometimes become a disease."
Karen sighed deeply.
As Iana hesitated, not knowing what to do, Karen seemed to sense her feelings and said, "Why don't you go up with me? You're worried, aren't you?"
"Oh, no. Your Highness is sick, so he should rest."
Iana waved her hands vehemently.
No matter how much she was known as the Grand Duke's lover, and even if Charles was sick, it was impossible for her to visit his bedroom.
"Then, I'll be going."
Karen greeted her and entered the main castle.
Iana stopped and hesitated, about to go to the castle walls.
'Your Highness took care of me when I was sick, so it's not right for me to ignore him.'
Worried, she braved her embarrassment and headed to Charles's bedroom.
But when she reached Charles's bedroom, she didn't have the courage to knock on the door.
Iana walked back and forth in front of the door, eventually giving up and walking down the hallway.
That's when it happened.
The sound of the bedroom door opening and Charles's voice were heard.
"Are you just going to leave? Leaving me, who is sick?"
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