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"Kill that woman."
The Empress, who had been watching from behind, added.
"Your Majesty, I don't understand how a woman from a traitorous family can enter the Imperial Palace gardens so easily."
"⋯⋯."
"Shouldn't you investigate if she has someone backing her?"
The Empress's voice was quite firm.
"⋯⋯!”
Riel and Duke Havel exchanged a brief glance.
After a moment of thought, the Emperor gave an order to the captain of the royal guard.
"Do as the Empress says. Investigate all the managers and guards right away."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At the Emperor's command, the Imperial Guard approached to arrest Riel.
'Has the plan failed like this?'
As always, she wasn't afraid of dying. She was just disappointed by the opportunity she had missed right before her eyes.
However, given the Emperor's anxiety about the throne, she couldn't draw attention by provoking him.
Perfect obedience.
Now, she had to begin what might be the last act of her life.
Riel bowed slowly and respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. For taking my humble life by imperial decree⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
The Emperor looked at Riel with an unreadable expression.
"I came here prepared to die anyway. I just wanted to offer a flower to the late Crown Prince once, in atonement for my father."
"What are you doing? His Majesty the Emperor told you to kill her!"
Alisa shouted, agitated.
Riel made her voice tremble pitifully, in contrast to the venomous Alisa.
"I have already received the Emperor's grace and accomplished that, so I am grateful even if I die here and now."
Riel gave the Emperor a sad smile, as if she had given up on life.
A submissive figure willing to accept even death at the Emperor's command.
It was at that moment.
The Emperor asked in a monotone voice.
"Who sent you? You appeared at a very opportune moment, so I'm asking."
Duke Havel, standing behind the Emperor, watched the situation with a tense expression.
Riel lowered her gaze and said.
"If you have someone in mind, it must be that person."
"What?"
The Emperor looked at Riel and walked towards her slowly.
"Your Majesty, why are you bothering with a mere slave from a traitorous family!"
Alisa shouted irritably, and the Emperor frowned and instructed the Imperial Guard.
"Take this woman to the Imperial Palace."
"⋯⋯."
"As the Empress said, she may have someone backing her, so I will investigate myself."
✦ ✦ ✦
Woo-oong. Woo-oong.
The horns blared throughout Ervin, signaling an emergency.
Charles, who had returned to the Ducal Palace, gathered all his forces.
Iana, Charles, Mule, and the senior knights gathered on the castle walls to continue the meeting.
Iana's mind went blank at the sight of the gray smoke rising from various places.
She was worried because even the fire barrier had been breached by the Arika Vine.
"From now on, let's gather all the territory residents around the Ducal Palace."
At Charles's words, Mule said with a worried expression.
"We need to bring all the magic stones from District 3 to make as many weapons as possible. We also need to bring the remaining jewelers and blacksmiths."
"I'll go there now."
Iana was anxious, thinking of Ru and Annie.
"I will go myself, since it involves moving the magic stones to make weapons."
At Charles's words, the senior knight replied.
"Then I will stay and guard the castle walls."
Iana and Charles went down below the castle walls.
She thought they would leave immediately, but The First Order of Knights were sitting below the castle walls, eating bread and juice distributed by the employees.
Charles approached and handed Iana bread with sliced meat.
"I'll eat later."
Iana was about to go towards Andre, but Charles handed her the bread and said.
"If you're unlucky, you might have to survive on this one meal today."
"⋯⋯."
"To win a war, you can't let your daily life fall apart. You have to eat on time and sleep when you can to endure it."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Iana took the bread and answered.
The two sat side by side below the castle walls.
Not a battle, but a war with no end in sight.
She was so nervous that she didn't know how the food was going down.
But Charles seemed calm and composed, and The First Order of Knights were joking leisurely.
Iana was staring at them when Charles called her in a low voice.
"Iana."
"Yes."
"I told you that war is scary, but I have never lost a war."
"⋯⋯."
"So trust me. Don't try to carry everything alone just because you're an Archmage."
Charles's eyes were firm.
With a lot of war experience, he had no emotional fluctuations when the war started.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Is that all you're going to say?"
Charles urged, looking down at the bread Iana was holding.
She took a small bite of the bread and mumbled.
Charles, who was smiling at the sight, started eating bread again.
By the time they finished their meal, a commotion was heard from the front.
Carrion approached, supported by the Imperial Army commander, and demanded an explanation.
"Your Highness, when can we return to the capital?"
Charles stood up and said.
"As I said near the outer castle, we are in a state of war. With mutant monsters that we have never seen before. So wait quietly until the monsters' movements subside."
Carrion hurriedly blocked Charles's path.
"War? Do you think I don't know you're scaring me because you don't want to be escorted?"
Charles warned in a cold voice.
"Count Dietrian, if you disobey my orders and continue to cause a disturbance, I will imprison you according to military law."
"Imprison me? I'm the one who came to arrest Your Highness."
Carrion strongly opposed.
"Don't you know that according to Imperial law, all Imperial citizens must follow the orders of the commander during wartime?"
"But I'm⋯⋯."
"Anyone who disobeys orders, whether they are here by imperial decree or from the Imperial Army, will be beheaded on the spot. According to military law."
"⋯⋯!”
Carrion couldn't say anything more at Charles's fierce words.
"The Imperial Army will also join the Ervin forces. Do you understand?"
"Yes? Yes, Your Highness."
The Imperial Army commander hesitated for a moment before answering.
Carrion walked towards the detached palace, supported by the Imperial Army commander.
Charles sat down and continued his meal as if nothing had happened.
Iana looked at Charles and thought about the image of a commander who would lead the war.
✦ ✦ ✦
A little later, Iana and Charles headed to Ervin District 3 with The First Order of Knights.
Carts and wagons carrying people and magic stones followed in a long line.
Fortunately, it seemed that Krikan and Arika Vine had not yet appeared in District 3.
The procession passed through the castle walls and quickly stopped in front of the workshop.
Iana and Charles entered the workshop, and the townspeople were gathered there.
They each carried small bags, as if they were ready to evacuate.
Then, Annie's voice was heard among the people.
"Ru, Mommy's here!"
Annie ran up and held out Ru.
"Ru said he missed Mommy a lot."
"Really?"
When Iana held Ru, Ru kept rubbing his face against Iana's face.
Mule's words that Ru seemed to regard Annie as his owner seemed to be a lie.
When she met Ru, it seemed that some of her worries disappeared.
Charles said in a loud voice.
"We will move to the Ducal Palace right now."
At his words, the territory residents lined up and left the workshop.
Iana handed Ru back to Annie and came outside.
The knights and mages were moving magic stones and weapons to the wagons.
In front of the wagons, children were playing war games.
"Kuaaak! I am Krikan."
A seven-year-old boy stretched out his arms like wings and circled around the children.
At that moment, an afterimage flashed through Iana's mind.
The bird-shaped black magic that her father had placed on her body.
"⋯⋯We can make it like a bird."
Iana muttered softly, struck by a sudden realization.
"What do you mean we can make what like a bird?"
Charles had come to her side and asked.
Iana squatted down and explained, drawing a picture on the dirt floor.
"Krikan attacks from above, so we made a barrier. But it's important to prevent the Arika Vine from merging with other vines."
Charles also knelt down and organized his thoughts.
"Magical power flies like a bird and cuts off the Arika Vine? Is that what you mean?"
"Yes, that's right! To prevent the Arika Vine from using Combination Magic."
"But can you make magical power move freely like a bird? I've never seen it before."
At his words, Iana hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"It's possible. The black magic on my body⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
"It was in the shape of a bird."
A sad smile unknowingly spread across Iana's face after she finished speaking.
Charles, who had been quietly watching, reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
"⋯⋯!"
Iana was surprised and reflexively looked around. Sure enough, the territory residents were glancing at them and watching them.
"People are watching."
"Your comfort is more important than people's attention right now."
It was then.
A messenger with a blue flag rode up on horseback and stopped in front of the workshop.
Charles stood up and asked the messenger.
"What's wrong?"
The messenger said with a frightened face.
"Your Highness, District 4, the village is completely covered with Arika Vine."
The Empress, who had been watching from behind, added.
"Your Majesty, I don't understand how a woman from a traitorous family can enter the Imperial Palace gardens so easily."
"⋯⋯."
"Shouldn't you investigate if she has someone backing her?"
The Empress's voice was quite firm.
"⋯⋯!”
Riel and Duke Havel exchanged a brief glance.
After a moment of thought, the Emperor gave an order to the captain of the royal guard.
"Do as the Empress says. Investigate all the managers and guards right away."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At the Emperor's command, the Imperial Guard approached to arrest Riel.
'Has the plan failed like this?'
As always, she wasn't afraid of dying. She was just disappointed by the opportunity she had missed right before her eyes.
However, given the Emperor's anxiety about the throne, she couldn't draw attention by provoking him.
Perfect obedience.
Now, she had to begin what might be the last act of her life.
Riel bowed slowly and respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. For taking my humble life by imperial decree⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
The Emperor looked at Riel with an unreadable expression.
"I came here prepared to die anyway. I just wanted to offer a flower to the late Crown Prince once, in atonement for my father."
"What are you doing? His Majesty the Emperor told you to kill her!"
Alisa shouted, agitated.
Riel made her voice tremble pitifully, in contrast to the venomous Alisa.
"I have already received the Emperor's grace and accomplished that, so I am grateful even if I die here and now."
Riel gave the Emperor a sad smile, as if she had given up on life.
A submissive figure willing to accept even death at the Emperor's command.
It was at that moment.
The Emperor asked in a monotone voice.
"Who sent you? You appeared at a very opportune moment, so I'm asking."
Duke Havel, standing behind the Emperor, watched the situation with a tense expression.
Riel lowered her gaze and said.
"If you have someone in mind, it must be that person."
"What?"
The Emperor looked at Riel and walked towards her slowly.
"Your Majesty, why are you bothering with a mere slave from a traitorous family!"
Alisa shouted irritably, and the Emperor frowned and instructed the Imperial Guard.
"Take this woman to the Imperial Palace."
"⋯⋯."
"As the Empress said, she may have someone backing her, so I will investigate myself."
✦ ✦ ✦
Woo-oong. Woo-oong.
The horns blared throughout Ervin, signaling an emergency.
Charles, who had returned to the Ducal Palace, gathered all his forces.
Iana, Charles, Mule, and the senior knights gathered on the castle walls to continue the meeting.
Iana's mind went blank at the sight of the gray smoke rising from various places.
She was worried because even the fire barrier had been breached by the Arika Vine.
"From now on, let's gather all the territory residents around the Ducal Palace."
At Charles's words, Mule said with a worried expression.
"We need to bring all the magic stones from District 3 to make as many weapons as possible. We also need to bring the remaining jewelers and blacksmiths."
"I'll go there now."
Iana was anxious, thinking of Ru and Annie.
"I will go myself, since it involves moving the magic stones to make weapons."
At Charles's words, the senior knight replied.
"Then I will stay and guard the castle walls."
Iana and Charles went down below the castle walls.
She thought they would leave immediately, but The First Order of Knights were sitting below the castle walls, eating bread and juice distributed by the employees.
Charles approached and handed Iana bread with sliced meat.
"I'll eat later."
Iana was about to go towards Andre, but Charles handed her the bread and said.
"If you're unlucky, you might have to survive on this one meal today."
"⋯⋯."
"To win a war, you can't let your daily life fall apart. You have to eat on time and sleep when you can to endure it."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Iana took the bread and answered.
The two sat side by side below the castle walls.
Not a battle, but a war with no end in sight.
She was so nervous that she didn't know how the food was going down.
But Charles seemed calm and composed, and The First Order of Knights were joking leisurely.
Iana was staring at them when Charles called her in a low voice.
"Iana."
"Yes."
"I told you that war is scary, but I have never lost a war."
"⋯⋯."
"So trust me. Don't try to carry everything alone just because you're an Archmage."
Charles's eyes were firm.
With a lot of war experience, he had no emotional fluctuations when the war started.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Is that all you're going to say?"
Charles urged, looking down at the bread Iana was holding.
She took a small bite of the bread and mumbled.
Charles, who was smiling at the sight, started eating bread again.
By the time they finished their meal, a commotion was heard from the front.
Carrion approached, supported by the Imperial Army commander, and demanded an explanation.
"Your Highness, when can we return to the capital?"
Charles stood up and said.
"As I said near the outer castle, we are in a state of war. With mutant monsters that we have never seen before. So wait quietly until the monsters' movements subside."
Carrion hurriedly blocked Charles's path.
"War? Do you think I don't know you're scaring me because you don't want to be escorted?"
Charles warned in a cold voice.
"Count Dietrian, if you disobey my orders and continue to cause a disturbance, I will imprison you according to military law."
"Imprison me? I'm the one who came to arrest Your Highness."
Carrion strongly opposed.
"Don't you know that according to Imperial law, all Imperial citizens must follow the orders of the commander during wartime?"
"But I'm⋯⋯."
"Anyone who disobeys orders, whether they are here by imperial decree or from the Imperial Army, will be beheaded on the spot. According to military law."
"⋯⋯!”
Carrion couldn't say anything more at Charles's fierce words.
"The Imperial Army will also join the Ervin forces. Do you understand?"
"Yes? Yes, Your Highness."
The Imperial Army commander hesitated for a moment before answering.
Carrion walked towards the detached palace, supported by the Imperial Army commander.
Charles sat down and continued his meal as if nothing had happened.
Iana looked at Charles and thought about the image of a commander who would lead the war.
✦ ✦ ✦
A little later, Iana and Charles headed to Ervin District 3 with The First Order of Knights.
Carts and wagons carrying people and magic stones followed in a long line.
Fortunately, it seemed that Krikan and Arika Vine had not yet appeared in District 3.
The procession passed through the castle walls and quickly stopped in front of the workshop.
Iana and Charles entered the workshop, and the townspeople were gathered there.
They each carried small bags, as if they were ready to evacuate.
Then, Annie's voice was heard among the people.
"Ru, Mommy's here!"
Annie ran up and held out Ru.
"Ru said he missed Mommy a lot."
"Really?"
When Iana held Ru, Ru kept rubbing his face against Iana's face.
Mule's words that Ru seemed to regard Annie as his owner seemed to be a lie.
When she met Ru, it seemed that some of her worries disappeared.
Charles said in a loud voice.
"We will move to the Ducal Palace right now."
At his words, the territory residents lined up and left the workshop.
Iana handed Ru back to Annie and came outside.
The knights and mages were moving magic stones and weapons to the wagons.
In front of the wagons, children were playing war games.
"Kuaaak! I am Krikan."
A seven-year-old boy stretched out his arms like wings and circled around the children.
At that moment, an afterimage flashed through Iana's mind.
The bird-shaped black magic that her father had placed on her body.
"⋯⋯We can make it like a bird."
Iana muttered softly, struck by a sudden realization.
"What do you mean we can make what like a bird?"
Charles had come to her side and asked.
Iana squatted down and explained, drawing a picture on the dirt floor.
"Krikan attacks from above, so we made a barrier. But it's important to prevent the Arika Vine from merging with other vines."
Charles also knelt down and organized his thoughts.
"Magical power flies like a bird and cuts off the Arika Vine? Is that what you mean?"
"Yes, that's right! To prevent the Arika Vine from using Combination Magic."
"But can you make magical power move freely like a bird? I've never seen it before."
At his words, Iana hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"It's possible. The black magic on my body⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
"It was in the shape of a bird."
A sad smile unknowingly spread across Iana's face after she finished speaking.
Charles, who had been quietly watching, reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
"⋯⋯!"
Iana was surprised and reflexively looked around. Sure enough, the territory residents were glancing at them and watching them.
"People are watching."
"Your comfort is more important than people's attention right now."
It was then.
A messenger with a blue flag rode up on horseback and stopped in front of the workshop.
Charles stood up and asked the messenger.
"What's wrong?"
The messenger said with a frightened face.
"Your Highness, District 4, the village is completely covered with Arika Vine."
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