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"Please don't go, stay by my side."
Iana conveyed her honest feelings.
She didn't worry about how her words might sound to Charles.
For a moment, their gazes intertwined.
Charles looked at her hand holding his arm and said softly, "I will. That is what I desire as well."
At his words, Iana lowered her hand.
Charles returned to the opposite side of the bed and lay down next to her.
The two lay side by side on the bed.
Iana closed her eyes without a word.
Thump, thump, thump.
Her heart was pounding wildly, and Iana was on edge at his slightest movement.
Then, she felt Charles stir as if turning over.
She had her eyes closed, but she could sense it instinctively.
That Charles was looking at her.
He asked in a low voice, "Are you asleep?"
"......No."
Iana replied with her eyes closed.
"Then?"
"I'm just keeping my eyes closed. It's awkward."
"I'll make it less awkward, so look at me."
At Charles's words, she slowly opened her eyes. Sure enough, he was turned towards her, gazing intently at her.
The two lay facing each other for a moment, gazing at each other.
"To make it less awkward, I'll tell you one of my secrets."
"What kind of secret?"
As Iana leaned in, Charles began to speak in a calm voice.
"My mother suffered a mental illness from watching her sons kill each other."
'A mental illness?'
In her past life, Iana was ill and unaware of the world's news.
Even though Carrion advised the Emperor on policies, so she knew a little about the Imperial Family, she had never heard that the Empress suffered from a mental illness.
Charles read her mind and answered first.
"The Imperial Family kept it a strict secret. They were afraid that news of my mother's unsound mind would leak out......"
"......!"
Iana looked at Charles with a surprised expression.
"My mother was a dignified and wise woman. But as her condition worsened, she became violent."
"......"
"So, with His Majesty the Emperor's permission, she was given sleeping medicine."
It seemed to be a measure taken to prevent rumors from spreading due to the late Empress's disruptive behavior.
"Then?"
"My mother was lying down every day as if she were asleep, so I naturally thought she was sleeping that day too, but that was her last moment."
Charles slowly reached out and gently brushed away the strands of her hair that had fallen down.
"I knew that you were just in a deep sleep......"
"......"
"But I was worried, so I stayed by your side."
Iana stared at Charles and thought.
'Your Highness was watching over me with an anxious heart.'
Always a person as solid as a great mountain.
But Charles seemed to be a much more delicate and tender person than she knew.
Iana carefully spoke with a shy expression.
"Your Highness, I don't know how this will sound."
"......?"
"Would you like me to give you a hug?"
Iana's expression was quite serious.
"What?"
Charles chuckled at her unexpected words.
"You don't want me to?"
"It's not that I don't want you to......"
As soon as Charles gave his permission, Iana carefully embraced his head with her uninjured hand.
A clean scent of soap wafted from his damp hair.
A moment of silence passed between them.
Iana quietly spoke.
"Your Highness said that if a person changes, the situation also changes, right?"
"I did."
"What Your Highness is worried about will not happen to me. Never."
Iana spoke as if making a vow, but Charles somehow looked displeased.
"Isn't a promise not enough? You have to swear."
Iana looked down at him, not understanding what Charles meant.
"Pardon?"
At that moment, her lips disappeared on his.
A deep kiss followed, their breaths mingling.
Charles embraced her head and drew her closer.
But Iana didn't avoid it or panic as she had before.
She only hoped that her heart would reach him completely.
A soft moonlight fell upon them.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next morning, when Iana woke up, Charles didn't seem to have gone out.
She sat on the bed, lost in thought.
'What was the Arika Vine like when I was buried underground?'
Right now, she was the only one who had experienced the underground with the Arika Vine.
The moment the Arika Vine moved and the ground collapsed, it created a blue barrier to protect her and Khan.
If it had created a barrier with flames rising, they might have burned together with the Arika Vine.
'I fell through the tangled Arika Vine and lost consciousness when I fell into the groundwater.'
As she lost consciousness, the barrier disappeared.
But fortunately, the Arika Vine didn't follow her to the groundwater, so it seemed that they didn't suffer any major harm.
'Why didn't it follow me?'
Then she remembered the Arika Vine extending its tendrils above her head and hesitating.
'Could it be?'
Iana immediately went out the door to check on Khan's condition.
As she limped down the central staircase, suddenly her body was lifted from behind.
When she turned around, Charles was standing there, holding her.
Iana was surprised for a moment, but she familiarly wrapped her arms around his neck and asked, "Oh? Your Highness, haven't you gone to Stone Mountain yet?"
"I was preparing now, so I stopped by Karen's for a moment and was on my way to you."
Charles slowly descended the stairs as he answered.
"What about Mule the Archmage?"
"Mule the Archmage went to Stone Mountain early in the morning. Why, is something wrong?"
"There's something I need to check. Please take me to Khan first."
Charles carried her to the fortress gate.
Khan was standing in front of the gate with Johan.
"Khan!"
Iana called out to Khan as Charles put her down.
Khan, who had already sensed her magical power, wagged its tail and ran towards her.
As she examined Khan's condition here and there, Johan spoke first.
"Khan has some wounds on its body, but nothing is broken or injured."
"What about burns?"
"Here."
Johan pointed to Khan's front paw.
'That's the wound from the Arika Vine wrapping around Khan before we fell underground.'
Then that meant that they hadn't been attacked by the Arika Vine after falling into the groundwater.
'So, the Arika Vine couldn't approach because of the groundwater?'
Charles, who had been quietly watching from behind, carefully asked, "What's wrong?"
Iana replied with a thoughtful expression.
"I think I might have discovered the Arika Vine's weakness."
"Weakness?"
Charles murmured with a surprised expression.
"Is it possible to obtain the groundwater from the cave where I was found?"
Iana's eyes shone sharply.
✦ ✦ ✦
The day of Riel's execution dawned.
The Emperor did not reverse his decision to execute Riel, as if trying to torment her until the very end.
Because of this, the Empress and the Imperial Family were also watching.
In the meantime, only Alisa, who was burning with anxiety, came to visit several times, but was repeatedly driven out of the Imperial Palace.
Riel had been in the Emperor's bedroom for three days and was convinced.
That the Emperor would not execute her.
"Today is your execution day. How do you feel?"
The Emperor asked lightly, as if talking about a picnic.
"It's not my first time being dragged to the execution ground, so I'm not nervous."
Riel calmly replied as she draped a gown over the Emperor.
"You believe that I will save you."
The Emperor laughed softly.
Riel spoke with a serious expression.
"I do not believe in gods."
"......"
"But I believe in Your Majesty. Because Your Majesty is the one who saved me."
"So, I am your god."
"You are the god of not only me but also the people of the Empire."
Riel spoke firmly and then examined the Emperor's expression.
The Emperor slowly caressed Riel's lips and said, "You have a bewitching mouth that seduces people."
"How can you say it's bewitching? There have been many leaders in history who ruled the country with theocratic politics."
Theocratic politics.
It was an ancient political system in which the emperor or king was regarded as a god or a representative of God and ruled.
The Emperor's hand, which had been caressing her lips, stopped abruptly.
"What do you know about politics that you're spouting such nonsense?"
The Emperor looked at her with suspicion.
Riel continued without showing any signs of embarrassment.
"I am a person who was sacrificed in a power struggle. Even though I am a woman, isn't it natural for me to think about what power destroyed me and my family?"
"......"
"If today is the last day of my life, please consider my words as my last will, Your Majesty."
The Emperor pondered with a thoughtful expression.
It was then.
Knock, knock.
A hurried knock was heard on the bedroom door.
The Emperor asked in a sharp voice, "What is it?"
"Your Majesty, I have something urgent to report."
"Come in."
At the Emperor's command, an elderly secretary entered.
"Speak."
At the Emperor's urging, the secretary spoke with a dark expression.
"I heard that strange monsters have appeared near the capital......"
"Monsters near the capital?"
The Emperor frowned deeply.
"Yes, Your Majesty. A messenger has just arrived from the capital garrison, saying that vine-shaped monsters have attacked the garrison."
"Are you saying that we had vine-shaped monsters in our Empire?"
"There haven't been any until now, but the mages said they seem to be mutant monsters. That's why I urgently reported to Your Majesty."
The secretary glanced at the Emperor and answered.
"So, what happened to those vines?"
"The Archmages stepped in and eliminated them for now, but it is said that they are Arika Vines that inhabit the north......"
Iana conveyed her honest feelings.
She didn't worry about how her words might sound to Charles.
For a moment, their gazes intertwined.
Charles looked at her hand holding his arm and said softly, "I will. That is what I desire as well."
At his words, Iana lowered her hand.
Charles returned to the opposite side of the bed and lay down next to her.
The two lay side by side on the bed.
Iana closed her eyes without a word.
Thump, thump, thump.
Her heart was pounding wildly, and Iana was on edge at his slightest movement.
Then, she felt Charles stir as if turning over.
She had her eyes closed, but she could sense it instinctively.
That Charles was looking at her.
He asked in a low voice, "Are you asleep?"
"......No."
Iana replied with her eyes closed.
"Then?"
"I'm just keeping my eyes closed. It's awkward."
"I'll make it less awkward, so look at me."
At Charles's words, she slowly opened her eyes. Sure enough, he was turned towards her, gazing intently at her.
The two lay facing each other for a moment, gazing at each other.
"To make it less awkward, I'll tell you one of my secrets."
"What kind of secret?"
As Iana leaned in, Charles began to speak in a calm voice.
"My mother suffered a mental illness from watching her sons kill each other."
'A mental illness?'
In her past life, Iana was ill and unaware of the world's news.
Even though Carrion advised the Emperor on policies, so she knew a little about the Imperial Family, she had never heard that the Empress suffered from a mental illness.
Charles read her mind and answered first.
"The Imperial Family kept it a strict secret. They were afraid that news of my mother's unsound mind would leak out......"
"......!"
Iana looked at Charles with a surprised expression.
"My mother was a dignified and wise woman. But as her condition worsened, she became violent."
"......"
"So, with His Majesty the Emperor's permission, she was given sleeping medicine."
It seemed to be a measure taken to prevent rumors from spreading due to the late Empress's disruptive behavior.
"Then?"
"My mother was lying down every day as if she were asleep, so I naturally thought she was sleeping that day too, but that was her last moment."
Charles slowly reached out and gently brushed away the strands of her hair that had fallen down.
"I knew that you were just in a deep sleep......"
"......"
"But I was worried, so I stayed by your side."
Iana stared at Charles and thought.
'Your Highness was watching over me with an anxious heart.'
Always a person as solid as a great mountain.
But Charles seemed to be a much more delicate and tender person than she knew.
Iana carefully spoke with a shy expression.
"Your Highness, I don't know how this will sound."
"......?"
"Would you like me to give you a hug?"
Iana's expression was quite serious.
"What?"
Charles chuckled at her unexpected words.
"You don't want me to?"
"It's not that I don't want you to......"
As soon as Charles gave his permission, Iana carefully embraced his head with her uninjured hand.
A clean scent of soap wafted from his damp hair.
A moment of silence passed between them.
Iana quietly spoke.
"Your Highness said that if a person changes, the situation also changes, right?"
"I did."
"What Your Highness is worried about will not happen to me. Never."
Iana spoke as if making a vow, but Charles somehow looked displeased.
"Isn't a promise not enough? You have to swear."
Iana looked down at him, not understanding what Charles meant.
"Pardon?"
At that moment, her lips disappeared on his.
A deep kiss followed, their breaths mingling.
Charles embraced her head and drew her closer.
But Iana didn't avoid it or panic as she had before.
She only hoped that her heart would reach him completely.
A soft moonlight fell upon them.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next morning, when Iana woke up, Charles didn't seem to have gone out.
She sat on the bed, lost in thought.
'What was the Arika Vine like when I was buried underground?'
Right now, she was the only one who had experienced the underground with the Arika Vine.
The moment the Arika Vine moved and the ground collapsed, it created a blue barrier to protect her and Khan.
If it had created a barrier with flames rising, they might have burned together with the Arika Vine.
'I fell through the tangled Arika Vine and lost consciousness when I fell into the groundwater.'
As she lost consciousness, the barrier disappeared.
But fortunately, the Arika Vine didn't follow her to the groundwater, so it seemed that they didn't suffer any major harm.
'Why didn't it follow me?'
Then she remembered the Arika Vine extending its tendrils above her head and hesitating.
'Could it be?'
Iana immediately went out the door to check on Khan's condition.
As she limped down the central staircase, suddenly her body was lifted from behind.
When she turned around, Charles was standing there, holding her.
Iana was surprised for a moment, but she familiarly wrapped her arms around his neck and asked, "Oh? Your Highness, haven't you gone to Stone Mountain yet?"
"I was preparing now, so I stopped by Karen's for a moment and was on my way to you."
Charles slowly descended the stairs as he answered.
"What about Mule the Archmage?"
"Mule the Archmage went to Stone Mountain early in the morning. Why, is something wrong?"
"There's something I need to check. Please take me to Khan first."
Charles carried her to the fortress gate.
Khan was standing in front of the gate with Johan.
"Khan!"
Iana called out to Khan as Charles put her down.
Khan, who had already sensed her magical power, wagged its tail and ran towards her.
As she examined Khan's condition here and there, Johan spoke first.
"Khan has some wounds on its body, but nothing is broken or injured."
"What about burns?"
"Here."
Johan pointed to Khan's front paw.
'That's the wound from the Arika Vine wrapping around Khan before we fell underground.'
Then that meant that they hadn't been attacked by the Arika Vine after falling into the groundwater.
'So, the Arika Vine couldn't approach because of the groundwater?'
Charles, who had been quietly watching from behind, carefully asked, "What's wrong?"
Iana replied with a thoughtful expression.
"I think I might have discovered the Arika Vine's weakness."
"Weakness?"
Charles murmured with a surprised expression.
"Is it possible to obtain the groundwater from the cave where I was found?"
Iana's eyes shone sharply.
✦ ✦ ✦
The day of Riel's execution dawned.
The Emperor did not reverse his decision to execute Riel, as if trying to torment her until the very end.
Because of this, the Empress and the Imperial Family were also watching.
In the meantime, only Alisa, who was burning with anxiety, came to visit several times, but was repeatedly driven out of the Imperial Palace.
Riel had been in the Emperor's bedroom for three days and was convinced.
That the Emperor would not execute her.
"Today is your execution day. How do you feel?"
The Emperor asked lightly, as if talking about a picnic.
"It's not my first time being dragged to the execution ground, so I'm not nervous."
Riel calmly replied as she draped a gown over the Emperor.
"You believe that I will save you."
The Emperor laughed softly.
Riel spoke with a serious expression.
"I do not believe in gods."
"......"
"But I believe in Your Majesty. Because Your Majesty is the one who saved me."
"So, I am your god."
"You are the god of not only me but also the people of the Empire."
Riel spoke firmly and then examined the Emperor's expression.
The Emperor slowly caressed Riel's lips and said, "You have a bewitching mouth that seduces people."
"How can you say it's bewitching? There have been many leaders in history who ruled the country with theocratic politics."
Theocratic politics.
It was an ancient political system in which the emperor or king was regarded as a god or a representative of God and ruled.
The Emperor's hand, which had been caressing her lips, stopped abruptly.
"What do you know about politics that you're spouting such nonsense?"
The Emperor looked at her with suspicion.
Riel continued without showing any signs of embarrassment.
"I am a person who was sacrificed in a power struggle. Even though I am a woman, isn't it natural for me to think about what power destroyed me and my family?"
"......"
"If today is the last day of my life, please consider my words as my last will, Your Majesty."
The Emperor pondered with a thoughtful expression.
It was then.
Knock, knock.
A hurried knock was heard on the bedroom door.
The Emperor asked in a sharp voice, "What is it?"
"Your Majesty, I have something urgent to report."
"Come in."
At the Emperor's command, an elderly secretary entered.
"Speak."
At the Emperor's urging, the secretary spoke with a dark expression.
"I heard that strange monsters have appeared near the capital......"
"Monsters near the capital?"
The Emperor frowned deeply.
"Yes, Your Majesty. A messenger has just arrived from the capital garrison, saying that vine-shaped monsters have attacked the garrison."
"Are you saying that we had vine-shaped monsters in our Empire?"
"There haven't been any until now, but the mages said they seem to be mutant monsters. That's why I urgently reported to Your Majesty."
The secretary glanced at the Emperor and answered.
"So, what happened to those vines?"
"The Archmages stepped in and eliminated them for now, but it is said that they are Arika Vines that inhabit the north......"
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