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'You want me to go to Ervin again?'
Carrion couldn't readily answer the Emperor's command.
Now, Ervin was a place of terror for him.
Just hearing the name Ervin brought to mind the grotesque monster bird he had seen at the Ducal Palace.
"Doesn't His Majesty require an answer? Count Dietrian."
Duke Havel, standing behind him, pressed for a response.
The Emperor's gaze was piercing as he stared at him.
Carrion bowed deeply and spoke respectfully.
"I will obey Your Majesty's command!"
"That's how it should be."
"However, my family is also investigating conclusive evidence related to the affair between the two. So..."
Carrion intended to buy time to find a legitimate reason not to go to Ervin.
The Emperor remained silent, perhaps thinking Carrion was defying him.
A tense atmosphere filled the conference room.
Carrion briefly considered retracting his statement. But he wanted to avoid, by any means, having to risk his life by going to Ervin.
Then, the Emperor gave an order in a softened voice.
"Very well. Then finish your investigation within three days, and then go to Ervin."
"Yes? Yes, Your Majesty!"
Carrion bowed his head once more, thinking.
'I need to ask Riel to find a way. A way for me not to go to Ervin...'
✦ ✦ ✦
At that moment, Riel was heading to the capital in a carriage.
Carrion had left for the townhouse in the capital yesterday without a word to her.
The end of their relationship was in sight.
'To become the Emperor's mistress, a solid strategy is needed.'
Realistically, Riel, from a family of traitors, was in a worse position than Alisa, who was a courtesan.
If so, she had to hold a card that could offset that.
"There is another high-level mage. And one with magical power strong enough to be an Archmage."
Accusing Grand Duke Ervin of hiding a high-level mage of Archmage level was too weak to be framed as a rebellion plot.
'Let's find out what Duke Havel wants most right now.'
Riel was on her way to meet Franz Havel to learn more about Duke Havel.
The kind of man Franz Havel was would be found in an obvious place.
As the carriage passed through Rubena Square, shops selling art could be seen in the narrow alleys.
Bang, bang!
A man was carving marble in front of a shop with a chisel.
Overlapping with that scene was Raul, threatening her with the chisel he was carving with on that night of rain, wind, and lightning.
"Riel, you used my feelings to the very end. I will reveal your true nature."
Suddenly, the dead Raul came to Riel's mind, and a thought flashed through her mind.
"I came too unprepared."
She pulled the cord connected to the driver's seat. Soon, the carriage gradually slowed down and stopped on the side of the road.
The coachman ran up and asked in front of the carriage window.
"Madam, did you call?"
Riel slowly pointed to the alley where the art shops were located.
"Buy a chisel used for carving."
"A chisel? Ah, I understand."
The coachman tilted his head and ran towards the art shops.
'When going to a dangerous place, you need a weapon suitable for it.'
Riel twisted one corner of her lips.
After the coachman bought the chisel, they drove for about an hour and arrived at the largest gambling house in the capital.
Riel approached the gambling house with a folded fan and a chisel in one hand.
A bouncer with a lewd look scanned her up and down.
Riel looked straight into the bouncer's eyes and said.
"I've come to see Franz Havel."
At the mention of Franz's name, the bouncer stepped aside with a regretful look and opened the door.
"Go to the second floor."
Tap, tap.
Riel entered the gambling house with an elegant gait.
Thick cigarette smoke. Loud shouts of joy. Countless eyes filled with madness.
The curious gazes of the ruffians were fixed on Riel's beautiful appearance and unusual short hair.
As she was about to go up the stairs to the second floor, a drunken man staggered and harassed Riel.
"Hey, why are you only coming now?"
At the insinuation of being a prostitute, Riel's eyes turned cold.
The moment the drunken man tried to hug her.
Riel swung the chisel she was holding at the man's hand.
"Ugh!"
Red blood flowed from the drunken man's hand.
"Are you crazy!"
"How dare you treat someone like a prostitute?"
"Then what else would a woman be who frequents a gambling house in broad daylight wearing a fancy dress if not a prostitute?"
The man staggered and lunged at Riel. Riel slightly dodged, and the man fell over with a table.
Crash-.
The noisy sound drew everyone's attention to the two of them for a moment.
The drunken man wiped the blood from his forehead and shouted.
"Do you think I'll let you get away with this?"
As the man rushed at her, an apple flew from somewhere and hit the man's head.
"Which bastard was it!"
Looking towards where the apple had come from, Franz was standing on the railing of the second floor.
"Get lost if you don't want to die!"
The drunken man, recognizing Franz, got scared and left the scene.
Riel quietly looked up at Franz.
"What are you doing? Come up."
Franz gestured and spoke as if giving an order.
She gracefully climbed the stairs as if nothing had happened.
On the second floor, there was a high-class gambling room where nobles gathered.
"Everyone, get out."
At Franz's gesture, the men inside rushed out. Soon, he took the bloodstained chisel Riel was holding.
"Riel, you're really interesting. I think I know why Carrion fell for you."
"Lend me some money."
Riel spoke with such brazen confidence.
At that sight, Franz whispered in her ear in a moist voice.
"I heard you tried to scar Iana Rechelles' face in Ervin? Is that why you're about to get kicked out?"
Riel also spoke softly at a dizzying distance, as if her cheek would touch Franz's.
"I did, but I couldn't make a scar. Unfortunately."
"Good. How much should I give you?"
Riel poured herself a drink on the table and asked as if throwing it out.
"But doesn't Duke Havel say anything? Being in a place like this from broad daylight."
She naturally brought up the story of Duke Havel.
"My father doesn't have the leisure to care about someone like me right now."
"Is it because of that mistress, Alisa? I heard there's a lot of talk about it in society these days. That her power is great."
"What's the problem with a mistress who will be abandoned when His Majesty the Emperor gets tired of her? The Empress is the problem."
Riel's hand, which was about to pour another drink, stopped abruptly. She then asked in a calm voice.
"Rather, Her Majesty the Empress has no power. She is not favored by His Majesty the Emperor, nor has she given birth to a prince, nor does her family, the Diane Ducal family, have any power."
Franz tapped Riel's cheek as if she were cute.
"The position of Empress is not simply the Emperor's wife. If something goes wrong and His Majesty the Emperor dies tomorrow, the Empress can wield tremendous power."
"..."
"But the Empress is constantly putting the brakes on my father's opinions, so he has a headache."
'The point that Duke Havel is most concerned about is the Empress.'
Riel thought. To win Duke Havel's heart, there must be a scheme regarding the Empress.
'I can become a decisive card for Duke Havel. A card to blow away the Empress.'
✦ ✦ ✦
That afternoon, the training grounds of the Ducal Palace.
Iana was practicing magic with water. Behind her, magic trainees were watching.
"Try it."
At Mule's words, Iana chanted a spell and drew a small semicircle with her right hand.
At that moment, a barrier with flames rose above her head.
"Wow!"
The magic trainees who were watching applauded.
Then Iana's eyes met Charles, who was watching with the knights outside the training grounds.
His face was unreadable.
"I will take responsibility for my feelings to the end."
Since yesterday, he had not visited or said anything.
Iana gave a short nod and turned her head again.
At that moment, the flaming barrier did not last long and disappeared.
"Johan, send magical power to Iana. Replenish her magical power with Combination Magic."
At Mule's words, Johan chanted a spell and sent blue light to Iana.
As Johan's magical power penetrated her body, she felt a tingling sensation, like when she stroked Ru.
"Iana, try making it again."
Iana chanted a spell and created a flaming barrier.
The magic trainees behind her began to time it.
"Wow! It's not disappearing!"
As her magical power was replenished with Combination Magic, the barrier did not disappear even after a long time.
"Erase it."
Iana flicked her right hand to make the barrier disappear.
Unlike the magic trainees who were happy, Mule thought with a serious face and opened his mouth.
"Iana, I'll pair you with Johan..."
"......?"
"Go down to the village tomorrow right away."
"Yes? Right away tomorrow?"
Iana unknowingly revealed a disappointed expression.
It was she who said she would go down to the village, but she didn't expect to go down so quickly.
"It is a waste for you and me to be together in the Ducal Palace. I will tell Your Highness."
Then Charles approached and said with a cold face.
"Do so. You don't need to get permission from me separately."
Carrion couldn't readily answer the Emperor's command.
Now, Ervin was a place of terror for him.
Just hearing the name Ervin brought to mind the grotesque monster bird he had seen at the Ducal Palace.
"Doesn't His Majesty require an answer? Count Dietrian."
Duke Havel, standing behind him, pressed for a response.
The Emperor's gaze was piercing as he stared at him.
Carrion bowed deeply and spoke respectfully.
"I will obey Your Majesty's command!"
"That's how it should be."
"However, my family is also investigating conclusive evidence related to the affair between the two. So..."
Carrion intended to buy time to find a legitimate reason not to go to Ervin.
The Emperor remained silent, perhaps thinking Carrion was defying him.
A tense atmosphere filled the conference room.
Carrion briefly considered retracting his statement. But he wanted to avoid, by any means, having to risk his life by going to Ervin.
Then, the Emperor gave an order in a softened voice.
"Very well. Then finish your investigation within three days, and then go to Ervin."
"Yes? Yes, Your Majesty!"
Carrion bowed his head once more, thinking.
'I need to ask Riel to find a way. A way for me not to go to Ervin...'
✦ ✦ ✦
At that moment, Riel was heading to the capital in a carriage.
Carrion had left for the townhouse in the capital yesterday without a word to her.
The end of their relationship was in sight.
'To become the Emperor's mistress, a solid strategy is needed.'
Realistically, Riel, from a family of traitors, was in a worse position than Alisa, who was a courtesan.
If so, she had to hold a card that could offset that.
"There is another high-level mage. And one with magical power strong enough to be an Archmage."
Accusing Grand Duke Ervin of hiding a high-level mage of Archmage level was too weak to be framed as a rebellion plot.
'Let's find out what Duke Havel wants most right now.'
Riel was on her way to meet Franz Havel to learn more about Duke Havel.
The kind of man Franz Havel was would be found in an obvious place.
As the carriage passed through Rubena Square, shops selling art could be seen in the narrow alleys.
Bang, bang!
A man was carving marble in front of a shop with a chisel.
Overlapping with that scene was Raul, threatening her with the chisel he was carving with on that night of rain, wind, and lightning.
"Riel, you used my feelings to the very end. I will reveal your true nature."
Suddenly, the dead Raul came to Riel's mind, and a thought flashed through her mind.
"I came too unprepared."
She pulled the cord connected to the driver's seat. Soon, the carriage gradually slowed down and stopped on the side of the road.
The coachman ran up and asked in front of the carriage window.
"Madam, did you call?"
Riel slowly pointed to the alley where the art shops were located.
"Buy a chisel used for carving."
"A chisel? Ah, I understand."
The coachman tilted his head and ran towards the art shops.
'When going to a dangerous place, you need a weapon suitable for it.'
Riel twisted one corner of her lips.
After the coachman bought the chisel, they drove for about an hour and arrived at the largest gambling house in the capital.
Riel approached the gambling house with a folded fan and a chisel in one hand.
A bouncer with a lewd look scanned her up and down.
Riel looked straight into the bouncer's eyes and said.
"I've come to see Franz Havel."
At the mention of Franz's name, the bouncer stepped aside with a regretful look and opened the door.
"Go to the second floor."
Tap, tap.
Riel entered the gambling house with an elegant gait.
Thick cigarette smoke. Loud shouts of joy. Countless eyes filled with madness.
The curious gazes of the ruffians were fixed on Riel's beautiful appearance and unusual short hair.
As she was about to go up the stairs to the second floor, a drunken man staggered and harassed Riel.
"Hey, why are you only coming now?"
At the insinuation of being a prostitute, Riel's eyes turned cold.
The moment the drunken man tried to hug her.
Riel swung the chisel she was holding at the man's hand.
"Ugh!"
Red blood flowed from the drunken man's hand.
"Are you crazy!"
"How dare you treat someone like a prostitute?"
"Then what else would a woman be who frequents a gambling house in broad daylight wearing a fancy dress if not a prostitute?"
The man staggered and lunged at Riel. Riel slightly dodged, and the man fell over with a table.
Crash-.
The noisy sound drew everyone's attention to the two of them for a moment.
The drunken man wiped the blood from his forehead and shouted.
"Do you think I'll let you get away with this?"
As the man rushed at her, an apple flew from somewhere and hit the man's head.
"Which bastard was it!"
Looking towards where the apple had come from, Franz was standing on the railing of the second floor.
"Get lost if you don't want to die!"
The drunken man, recognizing Franz, got scared and left the scene.
Riel quietly looked up at Franz.
"What are you doing? Come up."
Franz gestured and spoke as if giving an order.
She gracefully climbed the stairs as if nothing had happened.
On the second floor, there was a high-class gambling room where nobles gathered.
"Everyone, get out."
At Franz's gesture, the men inside rushed out. Soon, he took the bloodstained chisel Riel was holding.
"Riel, you're really interesting. I think I know why Carrion fell for you."
"Lend me some money."
Riel spoke with such brazen confidence.
At that sight, Franz whispered in her ear in a moist voice.
"I heard you tried to scar Iana Rechelles' face in Ervin? Is that why you're about to get kicked out?"
Riel also spoke softly at a dizzying distance, as if her cheek would touch Franz's.
"I did, but I couldn't make a scar. Unfortunately."
"Good. How much should I give you?"
Riel poured herself a drink on the table and asked as if throwing it out.
"But doesn't Duke Havel say anything? Being in a place like this from broad daylight."
She naturally brought up the story of Duke Havel.
"My father doesn't have the leisure to care about someone like me right now."
"Is it because of that mistress, Alisa? I heard there's a lot of talk about it in society these days. That her power is great."
"What's the problem with a mistress who will be abandoned when His Majesty the Emperor gets tired of her? The Empress is the problem."
Riel's hand, which was about to pour another drink, stopped abruptly. She then asked in a calm voice.
"Rather, Her Majesty the Empress has no power. She is not favored by His Majesty the Emperor, nor has she given birth to a prince, nor does her family, the Diane Ducal family, have any power."
Franz tapped Riel's cheek as if she were cute.
"The position of Empress is not simply the Emperor's wife. If something goes wrong and His Majesty the Emperor dies tomorrow, the Empress can wield tremendous power."
"..."
"But the Empress is constantly putting the brakes on my father's opinions, so he has a headache."
'The point that Duke Havel is most concerned about is the Empress.'
Riel thought. To win Duke Havel's heart, there must be a scheme regarding the Empress.
'I can become a decisive card for Duke Havel. A card to blow away the Empress.'
✦ ✦ ✦
That afternoon, the training grounds of the Ducal Palace.
Iana was practicing magic with water. Behind her, magic trainees were watching.
"Try it."
At Mule's words, Iana chanted a spell and drew a small semicircle with her right hand.
At that moment, a barrier with flames rose above her head.
"Wow!"
The magic trainees who were watching applauded.
Then Iana's eyes met Charles, who was watching with the knights outside the training grounds.
His face was unreadable.
"I will take responsibility for my feelings to the end."
Since yesterday, he had not visited or said anything.
Iana gave a short nod and turned her head again.
At that moment, the flaming barrier did not last long and disappeared.
"Johan, send magical power to Iana. Replenish her magical power with Combination Magic."
At Mule's words, Johan chanted a spell and sent blue light to Iana.
As Johan's magical power penetrated her body, she felt a tingling sensation, like when she stroked Ru.
"Iana, try making it again."
Iana chanted a spell and created a flaming barrier.
The magic trainees behind her began to time it.
"Wow! It's not disappearing!"
As her magical power was replenished with Combination Magic, the barrier did not disappear even after a long time.
"Erase it."
Iana flicked her right hand to make the barrier disappear.
Unlike the magic trainees who were happy, Mule thought with a serious face and opened his mouth.
"Iana, I'll pair you with Johan..."
"......?"
"Go down to the village tomorrow right away."
"Yes? Right away tomorrow?"
Iana unknowingly revealed a disappointed expression.
It was she who said she would go down to the village, but she didn't expect to go down so quickly.
"It is a waste for you and me to be together in the Ducal Palace. I will tell Your Highness."
Then Charles approached and said with a cold face.
"Do so. You don't need to get permission from me separately."
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