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The next morning, Riel received treatment from a healer for the cut on her neck.
'To receive treatment in order to be executed...'
Riel chuckled at the absurd situation.
Although the Emperor had spared her life, he was still wary of her.
She was walking on thin ice.
It was a moment when she stood at a crossroads, unsure whether she would be dragged to the execution ground or led to the Emperor's bedchamber.
"This is medicine to reduce the pain. Take it when you feel severe pain."
The healer handed her a packet of medicine and gave her a meaningful look.
A small note was folded beneath the packet. Soon, the healer greeted her and left the room.
Riel immediately unfolded the note.
[The Moon is moving swiftly.]
The Moon was the code name for the Empress, a secret correspondence with Duke Havel.
'How does the Empress know and is already making moves?'
Riel burned the note in the candlelight, lost in thought.
Just then, she heard a commotion outside the door, along with a young woman's hysterical voice.
"Get out of my way unless you want to die by my hand!"
"She is just a prisoner spared for execution anyway."
'It seems Alisa has arrived.'
A meaningful smile spread across Riel's lips.
Bang-
An agitated Alisa burst into the room, roughly opening the door. She glared at Riel and locked the door to prevent anyone from entering.
Thump! Thump!
The guards knocked urgently on the door.
"His Majesty will be furious if he finds out. Madam, please open the door."
Alisa ignored the guards' words and walked over with her hands behind her back, saying,
"I know girls like you very well."
"..."
Riel stood by the bed, watching Alisa's hands behind her back.
"Women who have fallen to the bottom know how to stimulate a man of high status's pity and sadistic desires at the same time."
"I don't know what you mean."
Riel feigned ignorance with an innocent face.
"No, you know. You're acting like a pitiful noble lady who has suddenly become a slave, but I can see it in your eyes."
"..."
"That worn-out gaze of yours..."
Riel watched Alisa's confident demeanor and thought.
'Alisa is confident. She's confident that even if she harms me, the Emperor will overlook it.'
As Alisa approached the bed, Riel, who had been standing quietly, suddenly changed.
"For a whore from the harbor, you have a remarkable eye for people."
"What? What did you just say?"
Alisa's pupils shook violently.
Riel whispered in Alisa's ear.
"Is that a knife you're hiding behind your back? Why, are you going to scar my face with it?"
The survival methods of women who live by their beauty were all the same.
They survived by destroying anything that threatened them in order to gain attention.
"Yes. I can't stand to see your innocent act any longer."
The moment Alisa tried to swing the knife she was holding behind her.
Flap-
Riel quickly pulled the blanket off the bed into the air, blocking Alisa's view.
While Alisa was flustered, Riel forcefully pushed her towards a large vase near the wall.
Crash!
The vase shattered as Alisa collided with it.
"Ah!"
Crimson wounds appeared on Alisa's pale face and body.
The knife Alisa was holding flew far away to the floor.
Riel smiled wickedly and said.
"Now it's your turn to be finished. Since your pretty face is scarred."
"I'll kill you!"
Alisa shouted in fury.
It was at that moment.
Bang!
The door burst open.
The Emperor stood there with a fierce look in his eyes.
"What in the world are you doing?"
The fallen Alisa burst into tears as she looked at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, that slave did this to me."
The Emperor immediately turned his gaze to Riel.
"Is it true that you did this?"
Riel stood demurely and spoke calmly.
"Since I'm going to be executed in a few days anyway, I'll take the blame."
Alisa, supported by the guards, shouted with an aggrieved expression.
"You pushed me this way! Your Majesty, this slave did this to me!"
"..."
Riel didn't say anything more.
In a situation where blame was being assigned, too many words would only be poison.
The Emperor paused for a moment, then looked at Alisa with a cold face and said.
"Get her out of my sight..."
"Your Majesty! Your, Your Majesty is being deceived by that wicked slave!"
Alisa screamed as she was dragged away by the guards.
Watching that scene, a small smile spread across Riel's lips.
✦ ✦ ✦
At that time, in front of the Grand Ducal Palace Ervin's gates.
Charles, who had returned to the Ducal Palace, summoned all the knights and mages.
Iana stood with the mages near the platform, along with Mule.
Charles stood on the platform and explained the characteristics of the Arika Vine.
"We have no chance of winning with a battle that only defends as it is now. So I'm thinking of responding in two ways."
"How so?"
A knight standing in the front asked.
"One side will protect the people of the territory and defend, and the other side must eliminate the Arika Vine so that it does not gain great power through Combination Magic."
The knights and mages gathered in front of the gate buzzed with excitement.
The Arika Vine was a new type of monster about which there was not much information yet.
Going to the habitat of the Arika Vine in a situation where it was not known what variables would be at play was like jumping into enemy territory with bare hands.
Then Charles said casually.
"I will lead the troops that will eliminate the Arika Vine, and Iana Archmage will go with me."
A high-ranking knight asked with a surprised face.
"I will go. Shouldn't Your Highness be at the Ducal Palace as the commander?"
"Aren't there still few knights who have fought the Arika Vine? Still, I have experienced it at the outer castle and the second district wall, so it would be more helpful if I go."
"But..."
The high-ranking knight trailed off.
"Mule Archmage will act as the commander-in-chief at the Ducal Palace, just like when I went on an expedition. Eliminating the Arika Vine will be dangerous, so I will take volunteers to go."
At Charles's words, the knights and soldiers raised their hands one by one.
When about 100 people raised their hands, Charles gave an order.
"We will have to travel around Ervin for several days, so pack your bags simply and gather here again."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The knights and mages answered at the same time.
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana headed straight to the Spire to get the luggage she had packed.
Annie and the children from the workshop were gathered and playing in the garden path leading to the Spire.
But the children seemed dejected, perhaps because they were shocked by the carriage accident yesterday.
A boy with a red cloth around his neck was the only one who seemed excited.
"I am Ervin's Archmage! I will get rid of all the monsters."
At the boy's words, Iana suddenly had a good idea. She cast a spell and created a firebird, an offensive magic.
The firebird circled around the boy's head.
As if the boy had become a real mage and summoned it.
"Wow! A magic bird!"
The children stood side by side and watched in amazement.
When Iana cast the spell again, the firebird swirled and flew into the sky as if performing acrobatics.
"Wow!"
The children cheered and clapped their hands as if they had never been dejected.
Iana was watching the scene with a satisfied smile when.
Carrion limped up from behind and spoke.
"Iana, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"I have nothing to say to Count Dietrian."
Iana refused firmly.
"Then you're saying it's okay for me to shout in front of the children?"
Iana was dumbfounded by Carrion's blatant threat.
But she couldn't show the children, who were shocked by yesterday's accident, a harsh sight.
Iana reluctantly headed to the back garden path with Carrion.
Carrion, who stopped in front of a bench, spoke with a thoughtful face.
"I've been thinking about it, you know. You had symptoms of magical power even before the divorce, didn't you?"
"..."
Iana just listened silently.
Carrion slowly circled around her and continued.
"You've been a little strange since a while ago. You, who couldn't eat well because of your illness, changed, so I thought you were pregnant."
"That's because my condition improved."
Iana replied sharply.
"No. I don't think so."
"I'll say it again, my magical power manifested after the divorce. Anyway, what does it matter in a situation where we're already divorced?"
"..."
"And now it's wartime, so there's no time to argue about things that have passed. Count Dietrian."
As Iana was about to leave, Carrion grabbed her wrist.
"Carrion, let go."
She warned coldly. But Carrion did not back down.
"It's important to both of us. Maybe..."
"..."
"Maybe Iana, your affair may not have been an affair."
'To receive treatment in order to be executed...'
Riel chuckled at the absurd situation.
Although the Emperor had spared her life, he was still wary of her.
She was walking on thin ice.
It was a moment when she stood at a crossroads, unsure whether she would be dragged to the execution ground or led to the Emperor's bedchamber.
"This is medicine to reduce the pain. Take it when you feel severe pain."
The healer handed her a packet of medicine and gave her a meaningful look.
A small note was folded beneath the packet. Soon, the healer greeted her and left the room.
Riel immediately unfolded the note.
[The Moon is moving swiftly.]
The Moon was the code name for the Empress, a secret correspondence with Duke Havel.
'How does the Empress know and is already making moves?'
Riel burned the note in the candlelight, lost in thought.
Just then, she heard a commotion outside the door, along with a young woman's hysterical voice.
"Get out of my way unless you want to die by my hand!"
"She is just a prisoner spared for execution anyway."
'It seems Alisa has arrived.'
A meaningful smile spread across Riel's lips.
Bang-
An agitated Alisa burst into the room, roughly opening the door. She glared at Riel and locked the door to prevent anyone from entering.
Thump! Thump!
The guards knocked urgently on the door.
"His Majesty will be furious if he finds out. Madam, please open the door."
Alisa ignored the guards' words and walked over with her hands behind her back, saying,
"I know girls like you very well."
"..."
Riel stood by the bed, watching Alisa's hands behind her back.
"Women who have fallen to the bottom know how to stimulate a man of high status's pity and sadistic desires at the same time."
"I don't know what you mean."
Riel feigned ignorance with an innocent face.
"No, you know. You're acting like a pitiful noble lady who has suddenly become a slave, but I can see it in your eyes."
"..."
"That worn-out gaze of yours..."
Riel watched Alisa's confident demeanor and thought.
'Alisa is confident. She's confident that even if she harms me, the Emperor will overlook it.'
As Alisa approached the bed, Riel, who had been standing quietly, suddenly changed.
"For a whore from the harbor, you have a remarkable eye for people."
"What? What did you just say?"
Alisa's pupils shook violently.
Riel whispered in Alisa's ear.
"Is that a knife you're hiding behind your back? Why, are you going to scar my face with it?"
The survival methods of women who live by their beauty were all the same.
They survived by destroying anything that threatened them in order to gain attention.
"Yes. I can't stand to see your innocent act any longer."
The moment Alisa tried to swing the knife she was holding behind her.
Flap-
Riel quickly pulled the blanket off the bed into the air, blocking Alisa's view.
While Alisa was flustered, Riel forcefully pushed her towards a large vase near the wall.
Crash!
The vase shattered as Alisa collided with it.
"Ah!"
Crimson wounds appeared on Alisa's pale face and body.
The knife Alisa was holding flew far away to the floor.
Riel smiled wickedly and said.
"Now it's your turn to be finished. Since your pretty face is scarred."
"I'll kill you!"
Alisa shouted in fury.
It was at that moment.
Bang!
The door burst open.
The Emperor stood there with a fierce look in his eyes.
"What in the world are you doing?"
The fallen Alisa burst into tears as she looked at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, that slave did this to me."
The Emperor immediately turned his gaze to Riel.
"Is it true that you did this?"
Riel stood demurely and spoke calmly.
"Since I'm going to be executed in a few days anyway, I'll take the blame."
Alisa, supported by the guards, shouted with an aggrieved expression.
"You pushed me this way! Your Majesty, this slave did this to me!"
"..."
Riel didn't say anything more.
In a situation where blame was being assigned, too many words would only be poison.
The Emperor paused for a moment, then looked at Alisa with a cold face and said.
"Get her out of my sight..."
"Your Majesty! Your, Your Majesty is being deceived by that wicked slave!"
Alisa screamed as she was dragged away by the guards.
Watching that scene, a small smile spread across Riel's lips.
✦ ✦ ✦
At that time, in front of the Grand Ducal Palace Ervin's gates.
Charles, who had returned to the Ducal Palace, summoned all the knights and mages.
Iana stood with the mages near the platform, along with Mule.
Charles stood on the platform and explained the characteristics of the Arika Vine.
"We have no chance of winning with a battle that only defends as it is now. So I'm thinking of responding in two ways."
"How so?"
A knight standing in the front asked.
"One side will protect the people of the territory and defend, and the other side must eliminate the Arika Vine so that it does not gain great power through Combination Magic."
The knights and mages gathered in front of the gate buzzed with excitement.
The Arika Vine was a new type of monster about which there was not much information yet.
Going to the habitat of the Arika Vine in a situation where it was not known what variables would be at play was like jumping into enemy territory with bare hands.
Then Charles said casually.
"I will lead the troops that will eliminate the Arika Vine, and Iana Archmage will go with me."
A high-ranking knight asked with a surprised face.
"I will go. Shouldn't Your Highness be at the Ducal Palace as the commander?"
"Aren't there still few knights who have fought the Arika Vine? Still, I have experienced it at the outer castle and the second district wall, so it would be more helpful if I go."
"But..."
The high-ranking knight trailed off.
"Mule Archmage will act as the commander-in-chief at the Ducal Palace, just like when I went on an expedition. Eliminating the Arika Vine will be dangerous, so I will take volunteers to go."
At Charles's words, the knights and soldiers raised their hands one by one.
When about 100 people raised their hands, Charles gave an order.
"We will have to travel around Ervin for several days, so pack your bags simply and gather here again."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The knights and mages answered at the same time.
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana headed straight to the Spire to get the luggage she had packed.
Annie and the children from the workshop were gathered and playing in the garden path leading to the Spire.
But the children seemed dejected, perhaps because they were shocked by the carriage accident yesterday.
A boy with a red cloth around his neck was the only one who seemed excited.
"I am Ervin's Archmage! I will get rid of all the monsters."
At the boy's words, Iana suddenly had a good idea. She cast a spell and created a firebird, an offensive magic.
The firebird circled around the boy's head.
As if the boy had become a real mage and summoned it.
"Wow! A magic bird!"
The children stood side by side and watched in amazement.
When Iana cast the spell again, the firebird swirled and flew into the sky as if performing acrobatics.
"Wow!"
The children cheered and clapped their hands as if they had never been dejected.
Iana was watching the scene with a satisfied smile when.
Carrion limped up from behind and spoke.
"Iana, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"I have nothing to say to Count Dietrian."
Iana refused firmly.
"Then you're saying it's okay for me to shout in front of the children?"
Iana was dumbfounded by Carrion's blatant threat.
But she couldn't show the children, who were shocked by yesterday's accident, a harsh sight.
Iana reluctantly headed to the back garden path with Carrion.
Carrion, who stopped in front of a bench, spoke with a thoughtful face.
"I've been thinking about it, you know. You had symptoms of magical power even before the divorce, didn't you?"
"..."
Iana just listened silently.
Carrion slowly circled around her and continued.
"You've been a little strange since a while ago. You, who couldn't eat well because of your illness, changed, so I thought you were pregnant."
"That's because my condition improved."
Iana replied sharply.
"No. I don't think so."
"I'll say it again, my magical power manifested after the divorce. Anyway, what does it matter in a situation where we're already divorced?"
"..."
"And now it's wartime, so there's no time to argue about things that have passed. Count Dietrian."
As Iana was about to leave, Carrion grabbed her wrist.
"Carrion, let go."
She warned coldly. But Carrion did not back down.
"It's important to both of us. Maybe..."
"..."
"Maybe Iana, your affair may not have been an affair."
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