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Iana stayed by Charles' side all night, nursing him, and returned to the Spire at dawn.
She immediately sought out Mule's lab to get permission to go to the Rechelles family.
She explained the situation to Mule and asked for permission.
"If precognitive magic is involved, that should be dealt with first. Don't worry about this place and go."
Mule stroked Khan, who was sprawled out on the floor, and readily answered.
"Thank you, Archmage. Then I'll set a date and let you know."
As Iana was about to leave after bowing, she noticed the mages' duty roster on Mule's desk.
'Are they planning to change the mages' duty stations?'
Because there was a shortage of mages, Grand Duke Ervin periodically changed their duty areas.
This was to fairly distribute the unpopular areas where monsters frequently appeared and the Ducal Palace duty, which everyone preferred.
Perhaps they were readjusting the duty areas with the arrival of high-ranking mages from the capital.
As Iana was pondering this, Mule asked casually,
"Can you perhaps see Your Highness's future?"
"Pardon?"
"Ah, you said you can't see all futures. Aden was so worried, so I just asked."
At the mention of Aden's concern, Iana recalled what he had said at the banquet.
"I hope their relationship doesn't deepen here. Soon, Charles will be pushed into a marriage with a neighboring royal family that will protect him."
Iana crouched down next to Mule and asked,
"Archmage, what's Ervin's village like?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've only lived in the Ducal Palace since coming to Ervin. So I'm curious about what life is like in the village."
Mule's hand, which had been stroking Khan, stopped abruptly.
"Ervin, you see, if it weren't for those damn monsters, it would be a good place to live, even if it is barren. The mountains are magnificent, and the people are kind."
"Not all the people are kind, though?"
Iana pouted, thinking of the territory residents who had come to the shelter.
Noticing this, Mule changed his words.
"Well, there are occasionally strange people. People who have unnecessarily high expectations of Your Highness!"
"......"
"Still, now that they know you're a mage, they won't treat you carelessly anymore."
Iana cautiously opened her mouth.
"If people really don't hate me..."
"......?"
"I want to try living in the village."
Iana looked at Mule and conveyed her sincerity.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"I told you before, I want to live among people."
Mule narrowed his eyes and asked gruffly.
"You nursed Your Highness all night, did you fight in the meantime?"
"Fight? And how could I fight with Your Highness!"
Iana jumped up as if it were absurd.
"Then did Aden say something to you?"
"Pardon?"
Iana was speechless at Mule's accurate guess.
"It seems like something suddenly changed your mind."
Mule stared straight into Iana's eyes, as if reading her true feelings.
Iana couldn't lie and honestly revealed her inner thoughts.
"That's right."
"So the conclusion you've reached is to live in the village?"
"......Yes."
Iana answered briefly.
Mule slowly rose from his seat with an unreadable expression.
"Then do so. I'll assign you a duty station so you can live in the village."
"Really?"
Iana felt puzzled by Mule's easy permission.
"Why, are you worried now that you're actually going to the village?"
"No."
She stood up and shook her head.
Mule looked at her for a moment and said firmly.
"I respect your thoughts and choices."
"......"
"Even if it's the wrong decision sometimes."
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, in Count Dietrian's office.
Carrion sat on the desk, looking out the window and drinking.
Sunlight poured dazzlingly through the window.
Next to him lay the Emperor's order for him to enter the palace in two days.
It seemed the imperial family had made a decision regarding Grand Duke Ervin's affair.
'What kind of expression will Grand Duke Ervin make if Iana becomes my mistress?'
Carrion felt pleased just thinking about Charles's suffering.
"I want to give you my body and soul if Your Highness wishes."
'Iana, you'll pay the price for daring to say such things in front of me.'
If Iana became his mistress, he planned to embrace her and discard her as he pleased.
Right after Grand Duke Ervin got married.
A rigid man like Grand Duke Ervin wouldn't make a mistress or meet an old lover after marriage.
'That way, Iana will be completely abandoned. By me and by Grand Duke Ervin.'
Carrion drank and smirked maliciously.
Knock, knock.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Master, it's the butler."
"Come in."
The butler entered the office, but Carrion was still facing the window with his back turned.
"Master, I think you should take a look at this."
"What is it?"
Carrion finally turned around and looked at the butler.
The butler handed over a small envelope with a troubled expression.
"It's an itemized bill from Madam Marie's dress shop, and the amount is..."
Carrion opened the envelope and checked the itemized bill.
More than ten dresses and dozens of accessories. It was a large sum, equivalent to a decent luxury carriage.
Furious, Carrion crumpled the itemized bill in his hand and shouted.
"Where is Riel right now?"
"I, I believe they are in the library."
Furious, Carrion left the office and headed for the library.
He strode down the silent hallway.
Then he remembered what Iana had said in the Ducal Palace garden.
"Riel thinks of you as a stepping stone, Carrion. A stepping stone to meet a man of high status."
'So Riel needed expensive dresses and accessories?'
"They'll target your friend, Franz Havel."
'To look like a woman suitable for a Havel family man.'
Bang-.
Carrion roughly opened the library door and entered.
Riel was sitting in the window seat where Iana had been sitting, reading a book.
As if they were a noble Countess.
"What's wrong?"
Riel looked at Carrion, who had suddenly barged in, with a puzzled expression.
At that sight, Carrion moved his feet and smiled crookedly.
"Riel, anyone would think you're a Countess."
"I'm honored that's how I appear."
Thud-.
As Riel retorted, Carrion threw the itemized bill he was holding at their face.
Riel glared at Carrion with a humiliated expression.
"You're not attractive when you're like this. Your charm is that you know your place."
They picked up the paper that had fallen on the floor and chuckled.
"You're acting like this over just this?"
"With the amount of money on there, I could buy several maids like you."
Carrion leaned on the desk with both hands and sneered.
"Then I'll return the money, so buy the maids you want."
Riel got up to leave, but Carrion grabbed Riel's wrist tightly.
"Where would you get that much money?"
"Even if I don't have it, there's someone who will give it to me."
"Why, is Franz going to give you the money?"
"What do you think?"
Carrion and Riel's gazes intertwined sharply.
At that moment, Carrion released Riel's wrist. As if he had no regrets.
"Then go ask him."
"Don't regret it later. Because the Count told me to."
Riel walked towards the library door with a mysterious smile.
Carrion watched Riel's retreating figure and thought.
'Riel, I won't fall for it anymore. Your seductive tricks...'
✦ ✦ ✦
Around that time, Charles came down to the village and visited a workshop that processed magic stones.
It was to check the processing status of the jewels that would be sent for trade to the Serma kingdom in a few days.
Necklaces, rings, and other jewels were lined up on a long table.
Charles picked up a ring and examined it closely.
It was a ring made by cutting a magic stone of shimmering light and decorating it with gold in the shape of flower petals.
'It looks like it would suit Iana's small hand...'
Charles unknowingly thought of Iana when he saw the ring.
"What do you think, Your Highness?"
A gray-haired craftsman asked with a very nervous expression.
"It's beautiful. The shapes of the jewels are unique, and the processing is delicate, giving it a sense of elegance."
At Charles's words, the other craftsmen standing in the back muffled their cheers.
After completing all the checks, Charles left the workshop with the trade secretaries.
"Huh? Isn't that the Archmage over there?"
The trade secretary pointed to Mule and Johan walking out from the inside of the village.
"Your Highness!"
Mule and Johan, who recognized Charles, walked towards him and greeted him.
"What's going on in the village?"
Charles was puzzled. Mages usually stood guard at the intermediate fortress or the walls unless monsters came down.
"Nothing's going on. We're just looking for a house for the mages who will be assigned here."
Mule replied in a calm voice.
"It seems that the mages from the capital have been assigned here."
At Charles's words, Johan glanced at Mule. But Mule didn't care and spoke.
"It's not a mage from the capital..."
"......"
"We're looking for a place for Iana to stay."
She immediately sought out Mule's lab to get permission to go to the Rechelles family.
She explained the situation to Mule and asked for permission.
"If precognitive magic is involved, that should be dealt with first. Don't worry about this place and go."
Mule stroked Khan, who was sprawled out on the floor, and readily answered.
"Thank you, Archmage. Then I'll set a date and let you know."
As Iana was about to leave after bowing, she noticed the mages' duty roster on Mule's desk.
'Are they planning to change the mages' duty stations?'
Because there was a shortage of mages, Grand Duke Ervin periodically changed their duty areas.
This was to fairly distribute the unpopular areas where monsters frequently appeared and the Ducal Palace duty, which everyone preferred.
Perhaps they were readjusting the duty areas with the arrival of high-ranking mages from the capital.
As Iana was pondering this, Mule asked casually,
"Can you perhaps see Your Highness's future?"
"Pardon?"
"Ah, you said you can't see all futures. Aden was so worried, so I just asked."
At the mention of Aden's concern, Iana recalled what he had said at the banquet.
"I hope their relationship doesn't deepen here. Soon, Charles will be pushed into a marriage with a neighboring royal family that will protect him."
Iana crouched down next to Mule and asked,
"Archmage, what's Ervin's village like?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've only lived in the Ducal Palace since coming to Ervin. So I'm curious about what life is like in the village."
Mule's hand, which had been stroking Khan, stopped abruptly.
"Ervin, you see, if it weren't for those damn monsters, it would be a good place to live, even if it is barren. The mountains are magnificent, and the people are kind."
"Not all the people are kind, though?"
Iana pouted, thinking of the territory residents who had come to the shelter.
Noticing this, Mule changed his words.
"Well, there are occasionally strange people. People who have unnecessarily high expectations of Your Highness!"
"......"
"Still, now that they know you're a mage, they won't treat you carelessly anymore."
Iana cautiously opened her mouth.
"If people really don't hate me..."
"......?"
"I want to try living in the village."
Iana looked at Mule and conveyed her sincerity.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"I told you before, I want to live among people."
Mule narrowed his eyes and asked gruffly.
"You nursed Your Highness all night, did you fight in the meantime?"
"Fight? And how could I fight with Your Highness!"
Iana jumped up as if it were absurd.
"Then did Aden say something to you?"
"Pardon?"
Iana was speechless at Mule's accurate guess.
"It seems like something suddenly changed your mind."
Mule stared straight into Iana's eyes, as if reading her true feelings.
Iana couldn't lie and honestly revealed her inner thoughts.
"That's right."
"So the conclusion you've reached is to live in the village?"
"......Yes."
Iana answered briefly.
Mule slowly rose from his seat with an unreadable expression.
"Then do so. I'll assign you a duty station so you can live in the village."
"Really?"
Iana felt puzzled by Mule's easy permission.
"Why, are you worried now that you're actually going to the village?"
"No."
She stood up and shook her head.
Mule looked at her for a moment and said firmly.
"I respect your thoughts and choices."
"......"
"Even if it's the wrong decision sometimes."
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, in Count Dietrian's office.
Carrion sat on the desk, looking out the window and drinking.
Sunlight poured dazzlingly through the window.
Next to him lay the Emperor's order for him to enter the palace in two days.
It seemed the imperial family had made a decision regarding Grand Duke Ervin's affair.
'What kind of expression will Grand Duke Ervin make if Iana becomes my mistress?'
Carrion felt pleased just thinking about Charles's suffering.
"I want to give you my body and soul if Your Highness wishes."
'Iana, you'll pay the price for daring to say such things in front of me.'
If Iana became his mistress, he planned to embrace her and discard her as he pleased.
Right after Grand Duke Ervin got married.
A rigid man like Grand Duke Ervin wouldn't make a mistress or meet an old lover after marriage.
'That way, Iana will be completely abandoned. By me and by Grand Duke Ervin.'
Carrion drank and smirked maliciously.
Knock, knock.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Master, it's the butler."
"Come in."
The butler entered the office, but Carrion was still facing the window with his back turned.
"Master, I think you should take a look at this."
"What is it?"
Carrion finally turned around and looked at the butler.
The butler handed over a small envelope with a troubled expression.
"It's an itemized bill from Madam Marie's dress shop, and the amount is..."
Carrion opened the envelope and checked the itemized bill.
More than ten dresses and dozens of accessories. It was a large sum, equivalent to a decent luxury carriage.
Furious, Carrion crumpled the itemized bill in his hand and shouted.
"Where is Riel right now?"
"I, I believe they are in the library."
Furious, Carrion left the office and headed for the library.
He strode down the silent hallway.
Then he remembered what Iana had said in the Ducal Palace garden.
"Riel thinks of you as a stepping stone, Carrion. A stepping stone to meet a man of high status."
'So Riel needed expensive dresses and accessories?'
"They'll target your friend, Franz Havel."
'To look like a woman suitable for a Havel family man.'
Bang-.
Carrion roughly opened the library door and entered.
Riel was sitting in the window seat where Iana had been sitting, reading a book.
As if they were a noble Countess.
"What's wrong?"
Riel looked at Carrion, who had suddenly barged in, with a puzzled expression.
At that sight, Carrion moved his feet and smiled crookedly.
"Riel, anyone would think you're a Countess."
"I'm honored that's how I appear."
Thud-.
As Riel retorted, Carrion threw the itemized bill he was holding at their face.
Riel glared at Carrion with a humiliated expression.
"You're not attractive when you're like this. Your charm is that you know your place."
They picked up the paper that had fallen on the floor and chuckled.
"You're acting like this over just this?"
"With the amount of money on there, I could buy several maids like you."
Carrion leaned on the desk with both hands and sneered.
"Then I'll return the money, so buy the maids you want."
Riel got up to leave, but Carrion grabbed Riel's wrist tightly.
"Where would you get that much money?"
"Even if I don't have it, there's someone who will give it to me."
"Why, is Franz going to give you the money?"
"What do you think?"
Carrion and Riel's gazes intertwined sharply.
At that moment, Carrion released Riel's wrist. As if he had no regrets.
"Then go ask him."
"Don't regret it later. Because the Count told me to."
Riel walked towards the library door with a mysterious smile.
Carrion watched Riel's retreating figure and thought.
'Riel, I won't fall for it anymore. Your seductive tricks...'
✦ ✦ ✦
Around that time, Charles came down to the village and visited a workshop that processed magic stones.
It was to check the processing status of the jewels that would be sent for trade to the Serma kingdom in a few days.
Necklaces, rings, and other jewels were lined up on a long table.
Charles picked up a ring and examined it closely.
It was a ring made by cutting a magic stone of shimmering light and decorating it with gold in the shape of flower petals.
'It looks like it would suit Iana's small hand...'
Charles unknowingly thought of Iana when he saw the ring.
"What do you think, Your Highness?"
A gray-haired craftsman asked with a very nervous expression.
"It's beautiful. The shapes of the jewels are unique, and the processing is delicate, giving it a sense of elegance."
At Charles's words, the other craftsmen standing in the back muffled their cheers.
After completing all the checks, Charles left the workshop with the trade secretaries.
"Huh? Isn't that the Archmage over there?"
The trade secretary pointed to Mule and Johan walking out from the inside of the village.
"Your Highness!"
Mule and Johan, who recognized Charles, walked towards him and greeted him.
"What's going on in the village?"
Charles was puzzled. Mages usually stood guard at the intermediate fortress or the walls unless monsters came down.
"Nothing's going on. We're just looking for a house for the mages who will be assigned here."
Mule replied in a calm voice.
"It seems that the mages from the capital have been assigned here."
At Charles's words, Johan glanced at Mule. But Mule didn't care and spoke.
"It's not a mage from the capital..."
"......"
"We're looking for a place for Iana to stay."
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