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That evening, Iana returned to her room and wrote a letter to the Rechelles family.
It wasn't easy to go to the Rechelles family because of the monsters that frequently appeared near the outer castle.
[Arrest Riel first. Investigate the poisoning in detail afterward.]
After writing the letter, she began to pack her luggage.
It was just a few clothes and Ru's belongings.
"Do as you wish. You don't need my permission separately."
While organizing the closet, Iana recalled Charles's cold departure from the training grounds.
'I wonder if Your Highness has also made up their mind.'
Iana shook her head to shake off thoughts of Charles.
Eung-.
At that moment, an ominous sound came from behind.
She stood with a stiff face and slowly turned around.
Ru, who had somehow gotten into the bag, was only sticking out its small face.
"You troublemaker! When did you get in here?"
She hurriedly approached and took Ru out of the bag.
Sure enough. Black, round rabbit droppings were scattered among the clothes.
"Oh, my god⋯⋯!"
Iana looked at the bag with a frustrated face, but Ru yawned lazily at her feet, without any conscience.
"What fault do you have? It's my fault for thinking about other things while leaving you."
She stroked the head of the innocent Ru, finding it cute. Then, she skillfully cleaned up the rabbit droppings in the bag.
"Y-Your Highness, I'm sorry to interrupt, but the Petal Rabbit, the Petal Rabbit pooped⋯⋯."
The image of her being horrified at the sight of rabbit droppings for the first time and Charles laughing loudly flashed through her mind.
Iana smiled softly.
Looking back, it wasn't a long time. Many things happened inside the Ducal Palace, and Charles was in all the memories.
Deciding to end the relationship was her choice, but sadness washed over her.
Knock knock.
Along with the sound, Charles's voice was heard.
"It's me."
Iana unknowingly rejoiced and approached the door. But she quickly hid her expression and opened the door.
Charles was holding a thick book and standing with a smiling face as usual.
"Your Highness, you've come?"
Iana greeted him, avoiding his gaze.
"Are you packing?"
"Yes."
Charles, who was watching her expression, held out the book he was holding.
"Here, take it."
Iana looked at the title of the book and asked with a puzzled face.
"On Monarchs? Why are you giving this to me⋯⋯."
"This book is On Monarchs written by the King of Ronka. It also contains content related to the military, so it would be good for you, a mage, to read it."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Iana took the book with both hands, but Charles didn't let go of the book for some reason.
"It used to be a forbidden book, but it isn't now."
She looked up at Charles, wondering if it was a joke. Then Charles called her with a serious face.
"Iana."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Iana treated him politely, keeping her distance.
Charles spoke in a calm voice.
"The reason I readily allowed you to leave the Ducal Palace is to give you time. It's meant to allow you to look into your heart honestly."
"⋯⋯."
"You think you're ending the relationship for my sake, but isn't it that you want to avoid a situation where you might be abandoned?"
"⋯⋯!"
Iana's eyes shook greatly.
Charles had accurately seen through her heart.
"People are different, so situations change. So, I hope you don't judge me based on those who hurt you."
Iana was ashamed of having her inner thoughts exposed and lowered her head. At the same time, she tried to regain her crumbling heart.
"That's not it. It's not that⋯⋯."
Just as Iana raised her head and was about to speak.
Kiss!
Charles let go of the book he was holding and kissed Iana's lips briefly.
"Keep saying it's not. See what I do."
"I, well, I⋯⋯."
Iana was flustered and couldn't continue speaking.
"I'm going to go and check if you've read this book properly. This is an order from me as the lord of Ervin, so don't disobey it. Understood?"
Charles made a playful, solemn expression.
"Your Highness."
Just as she was about to speak again.
Kiss!
Charles kissed her lips once more.
"⋯⋯!"
Iana's ears turned red as she stared blankly at him.
"This is a greeting. Then I'll be on my way."
Unlike the flustered her, Charles smiled leisurely and walked down the hallway.
Iana hugged the book he gave her to her chest and gazed at his back as he walked away.
Funnily enough, she felt relieved seeing his smiling face. A sense of relief that he hadn't let go of her⋯⋯
✦ ✦ ✦
At the same time, Carrion's carriage arrived at the townhouse in the capital.
Carrion was drunk and spewing profanity.
"That crazy Emperor."
The Emperor was in such a good mood that he had been drinking since noon, and the drinking party continued until night.
Carrion felt like he couldn't drink any more, so he left the Imperial Palace early under the pretext of investigating the affair.
'Should I have just brought her?'
As the intense intoxication rose, Riel's face flickered before his eyes.
Riel's actions were displeasing, but at least the nights spent together were enjoyable.
The butler opened the carriage door and supported Carrion, saying.
"Master, you have a guest inside."
"Who?"
"Your friend, Earl Ronan, has been waiting since evening."
"Nasar?"
Carrion was guided by the butler into a small reception room.
There, Nasar, with brown hair, was pacing anxiously, lost in thought.
There were glasses and bottles of alcohol on the table, as if he had been drinking alone.
Carrion sat on the sofa with the butler's support and said.
"Nasar, if you came to drink, I can't drink anymore."
"Carrion, you know⋯⋯."
Nasar was about to speak urgently but closed his mouth when he saw the butler.
As the butler, sensing the atmosphere, hurriedly left, Nasar sat opposite him and asked with a serious face.
"Did you perhaps give Riel to Franz?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard that Riel came to the gambling house that Franz frequents. Short bobbed hair. Hearing that description, it sounded just like Riel."
Carrion leaned back on the sofa and began to laugh.
"Riel came to the capital without my permission?"
"A friend of mine from the Imperial academy who hangs out with Franz says it was no joke at the gambling house."
Nasar explained in detail the story he had heard about Riel.
Carrion, who had been listening quietly, wore a twisted smile.
"She wielded a hoe and threatened a man?"
"Is it because she's from a maid background? She's acting very rude."
Carrion drank the alcohol on the table.
"She's not acting rude."
"Then?"
'She's acting in a way that a vulgar guy like Franz would like.'
Only then did Carrion see exactly how Riel moved men.
"She's using policies. By using the fact that the Dietrian family has been the Emperor's policy advisor for generations."
In an intellectual way for him, who values intellectual things.
In a provocative way for Franz, who likes provocative things.
If she couldn't be completely his, she had to completely ruin herself.
At that moment, Riel's words came to mind.
"My master is clearly Marquess Rechelles."
Carrion poured alcohol and smiled meaningfully.
'Riel, you will be returning to your master soon.'
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, morning dawned with the clear sound of birds singing.
Iana had finished preparing to leave the Ducal Palace.
There was a small cart with her and Johan's luggage. And a rabbit cage with Ru inside.
She hurried a little because she heard that Krikan had appeared near the village for a while. To prepare for any possible situation.
Charles, Mule, and the magic trainees came to see her off in front of the castle gate.
Mule approached Iana and said.
"Go and organize your luggage today, and go to the castle walls from tomorrow."
"Yes, Archmage."
"There will be a mage appointment ceremony soon, so let's meet again at the Ducal Palace then."
Mule held out his hand as if asking for a handshake. Iana took Mule's hand.
"Then I'll see you again soon."
Iana stood in front of Charles, who was standing next to Mule.
There was no sign of regret on his face at all.
"Be careful on your way, Mage Iana."
Iana gently took the hand that Charles held out.
Just because she was leaving the Ducal Palace didn't mean she wouldn't see Charles. But Iana unknowingly blurted out words like a farewell.
"Thank you for everything, Your Highness."
Charles's face still had no change in expression.
After saying goodbye, Iana got on Andre.
Johan and the magic trainees who would help her organize her luggage had all finished preparing to leave.
"Let's go."
Johan, who was at the front, shouted.
The procession ran slowly and then sped up as it passed through the castle gate.
Iana skillfully rode the horse.
After passing the drawbridge with the shimmering water, she ran for a long time and turned onto a curved road.
The Ducal Palace came into view at a glance.
She could see Charles standing on the castle walls in the distance.
The safe fence where he was.
Now she had to come out of that fence and do everything herself.
'Your Highness, what will happen to me in the future?'
Iana threw a question into her heart that she couldn't get an answer to.
She looked at the sky as if wishing for a peaceful life.
The sun poured down from the high sky. Brilliantly and dazzlingly.
It wasn't easy to go to the Rechelles family because of the monsters that frequently appeared near the outer castle.
[Arrest Riel first. Investigate the poisoning in detail afterward.]
After writing the letter, she began to pack her luggage.
It was just a few clothes and Ru's belongings.
"Do as you wish. You don't need my permission separately."
While organizing the closet, Iana recalled Charles's cold departure from the training grounds.
'I wonder if Your Highness has also made up their mind.'
Iana shook her head to shake off thoughts of Charles.
Eung-.
At that moment, an ominous sound came from behind.
She stood with a stiff face and slowly turned around.
Ru, who had somehow gotten into the bag, was only sticking out its small face.
"You troublemaker! When did you get in here?"
She hurriedly approached and took Ru out of the bag.
Sure enough. Black, round rabbit droppings were scattered among the clothes.
"Oh, my god⋯⋯!"
Iana looked at the bag with a frustrated face, but Ru yawned lazily at her feet, without any conscience.
"What fault do you have? It's my fault for thinking about other things while leaving you."
She stroked the head of the innocent Ru, finding it cute. Then, she skillfully cleaned up the rabbit droppings in the bag.
"Y-Your Highness, I'm sorry to interrupt, but the Petal Rabbit, the Petal Rabbit pooped⋯⋯."
The image of her being horrified at the sight of rabbit droppings for the first time and Charles laughing loudly flashed through her mind.
Iana smiled softly.
Looking back, it wasn't a long time. Many things happened inside the Ducal Palace, and Charles was in all the memories.
Deciding to end the relationship was her choice, but sadness washed over her.
Knock knock.
Along with the sound, Charles's voice was heard.
"It's me."
Iana unknowingly rejoiced and approached the door. But she quickly hid her expression and opened the door.
Charles was holding a thick book and standing with a smiling face as usual.
"Your Highness, you've come?"
Iana greeted him, avoiding his gaze.
"Are you packing?"
"Yes."
Charles, who was watching her expression, held out the book he was holding.
"Here, take it."
Iana looked at the title of the book and asked with a puzzled face.
"On Monarchs? Why are you giving this to me⋯⋯."
"This book is On Monarchs written by the King of Ronka. It also contains content related to the military, so it would be good for you, a mage, to read it."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Iana took the book with both hands, but Charles didn't let go of the book for some reason.
"It used to be a forbidden book, but it isn't now."
She looked up at Charles, wondering if it was a joke. Then Charles called her with a serious face.
"Iana."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Iana treated him politely, keeping her distance.
Charles spoke in a calm voice.
"The reason I readily allowed you to leave the Ducal Palace is to give you time. It's meant to allow you to look into your heart honestly."
"⋯⋯."
"You think you're ending the relationship for my sake, but isn't it that you want to avoid a situation where you might be abandoned?"
"⋯⋯!"
Iana's eyes shook greatly.
Charles had accurately seen through her heart.
"People are different, so situations change. So, I hope you don't judge me based on those who hurt you."
Iana was ashamed of having her inner thoughts exposed and lowered her head. At the same time, she tried to regain her crumbling heart.
"That's not it. It's not that⋯⋯."
Just as Iana raised her head and was about to speak.
Kiss!
Charles let go of the book he was holding and kissed Iana's lips briefly.
"Keep saying it's not. See what I do."
"I, well, I⋯⋯."
Iana was flustered and couldn't continue speaking.
"I'm going to go and check if you've read this book properly. This is an order from me as the lord of Ervin, so don't disobey it. Understood?"
Charles made a playful, solemn expression.
"Your Highness."
Just as she was about to speak again.
Kiss!
Charles kissed her lips once more.
"⋯⋯!"
Iana's ears turned red as she stared blankly at him.
"This is a greeting. Then I'll be on my way."
Unlike the flustered her, Charles smiled leisurely and walked down the hallway.
Iana hugged the book he gave her to her chest and gazed at his back as he walked away.
Funnily enough, she felt relieved seeing his smiling face. A sense of relief that he hadn't let go of her⋯⋯
✦ ✦ ✦
At the same time, Carrion's carriage arrived at the townhouse in the capital.
Carrion was drunk and spewing profanity.
"That crazy Emperor."
The Emperor was in such a good mood that he had been drinking since noon, and the drinking party continued until night.
Carrion felt like he couldn't drink any more, so he left the Imperial Palace early under the pretext of investigating the affair.
'Should I have just brought her?'
As the intense intoxication rose, Riel's face flickered before his eyes.
Riel's actions were displeasing, but at least the nights spent together were enjoyable.
The butler opened the carriage door and supported Carrion, saying.
"Master, you have a guest inside."
"Who?"
"Your friend, Earl Ronan, has been waiting since evening."
"Nasar?"
Carrion was guided by the butler into a small reception room.
There, Nasar, with brown hair, was pacing anxiously, lost in thought.
There were glasses and bottles of alcohol on the table, as if he had been drinking alone.
Carrion sat on the sofa with the butler's support and said.
"Nasar, if you came to drink, I can't drink anymore."
"Carrion, you know⋯⋯."
Nasar was about to speak urgently but closed his mouth when he saw the butler.
As the butler, sensing the atmosphere, hurriedly left, Nasar sat opposite him and asked with a serious face.
"Did you perhaps give Riel to Franz?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard that Riel came to the gambling house that Franz frequents. Short bobbed hair. Hearing that description, it sounded just like Riel."
Carrion leaned back on the sofa and began to laugh.
"Riel came to the capital without my permission?"
"A friend of mine from the Imperial academy who hangs out with Franz says it was no joke at the gambling house."
Nasar explained in detail the story he had heard about Riel.
Carrion, who had been listening quietly, wore a twisted smile.
"She wielded a hoe and threatened a man?"
"Is it because she's from a maid background? She's acting very rude."
Carrion drank the alcohol on the table.
"She's not acting rude."
"Then?"
'She's acting in a way that a vulgar guy like Franz would like.'
Only then did Carrion see exactly how Riel moved men.
"She's using policies. By using the fact that the Dietrian family has been the Emperor's policy advisor for generations."
In an intellectual way for him, who values intellectual things.
In a provocative way for Franz, who likes provocative things.
If she couldn't be completely his, she had to completely ruin herself.
At that moment, Riel's words came to mind.
"My master is clearly Marquess Rechelles."
Carrion poured alcohol and smiled meaningfully.
'Riel, you will be returning to your master soon.'
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, morning dawned with the clear sound of birds singing.
Iana had finished preparing to leave the Ducal Palace.
There was a small cart with her and Johan's luggage. And a rabbit cage with Ru inside.
She hurried a little because she heard that Krikan had appeared near the village for a while. To prepare for any possible situation.
Charles, Mule, and the magic trainees came to see her off in front of the castle gate.
Mule approached Iana and said.
"Go and organize your luggage today, and go to the castle walls from tomorrow."
"Yes, Archmage."
"There will be a mage appointment ceremony soon, so let's meet again at the Ducal Palace then."
Mule held out his hand as if asking for a handshake. Iana took Mule's hand.
"Then I'll see you again soon."
Iana stood in front of Charles, who was standing next to Mule.
There was no sign of regret on his face at all.
"Be careful on your way, Mage Iana."
Iana gently took the hand that Charles held out.
Just because she was leaving the Ducal Palace didn't mean she wouldn't see Charles. But Iana unknowingly blurted out words like a farewell.
"Thank you for everything, Your Highness."
Charles's face still had no change in expression.
After saying goodbye, Iana got on Andre.
Johan and the magic trainees who would help her organize her luggage had all finished preparing to leave.
"Let's go."
Johan, who was at the front, shouted.
The procession ran slowly and then sped up as it passed through the castle gate.
Iana skillfully rode the horse.
After passing the drawbridge with the shimmering water, she ran for a long time and turned onto a curved road.
The Ducal Palace came into view at a glance.
She could see Charles standing on the castle walls in the distance.
The safe fence where he was.
Now she had to come out of that fence and do everything herself.
'Your Highness, what will happen to me in the future?'
Iana threw a question into her heart that she couldn't get an answer to.
She looked at the sky as if wishing for a peaceful life.
The sun poured down from the high sky. Brilliantly and dazzlingly.
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