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That evening, inside the Ervin Sector 4 fortress.
Iana, Charles, and the mages gathered in the conference room.
Mule held a small pot with Arika Vine planted in it in one hand, and a canteen filled with groundwater from the cave in the other.
“Your Highness, please take a look at this.”
Mule slowly poured the groundwater over the Arika Vine.
Everyone's eyes were focused on the pot.
Swish-.
As the groundwater poured onto the pot, the Arika Vine moved as if twisting, then burned white.
Just like when the Arika Vine was removed with magic.
“The Arika Vine is dead.”
Iana no longer felt any magical power from the Arika Vine.
Mule, with a thoughtful expression, said to Charles.
“This groundwater seems to have some kind of magical power. Just like Iana mage said.”
Charles continued Mule's words.
“If we can remove the Arika Vine with this groundwater, can't we easily get rid of the Arika Vine in the ground?”
“That's true, but if we know what kind of magical power this groundwater has, we can make it into purification magic.”
Mule replied with a sharp look.
“Purification magic.”
Iana repeated to herself as if in a daze.
Charles looked at the dead Arika Vine on the table and said.
“Even if mutant monsters appear, the war won't last long if we have a weapon to eliminate them.”
Ervin already had magic arrows to catch mutant Krikan, and if they obtained the groundwater to eliminate the source of the Arika Vine, the war could end sooner.
“Then, you must be tired, so let's rest.”
At Charles' words, Johan and the mages greeted him first and went outside.
Only Iana, Charles, and Mule remained in the conference room.
Mule approached Iana and asked with a calm face.
“Iana, are you alright?”
“Yes, I'm fine now.”
Iana replied with a bright smile.
But Mule's expression was unusual.
“I thought you were dead, and how much I… Keuk!”
Mule's eyes gradually turned red, and he couldn't continue speaking because his throat was choked up. Soon, he turned his back, embarrassed, and his small shoulders shook.
“…”
Iana looked at Charles with a surprised face at Mule's first appearance.
But Charles was not surprised, as if he was used to such situations.
Iana limped and approached Mule.
“Archmage, are you crying now?”
“You've gone through all sorts of hardships… and now you've finally regained your health… Keuk! I, an old man, should die, but I sent you…”
Mule muttered incoherently in a tearful voice.
After she disappeared, he couldn't express it as an Archmage, but he seemed to have been quite worried.
Iana's heart ached at Mule's appearance.
She was grateful that someone was so sad about her death.
Even her family, who took her sacrifice for granted, didn't do that.
“Archmage, I didn't die.”
Iana pouted her face at Mule.
She spoke playfully, but tears welled up in her eyes.
“Don't even mention dying. It's bad luck!”
Mule wiped away tears with his sleeve.
Charles took out a handkerchief from his pants pocket and handed it over.
“You told me to have hope and look for you, but you were thinking about that alone?”
Mule wiped his face with a handkerchief and said.
“Your Highness was half-dead, so I couldn't be like that.”
Iana's gaze turned to Charles.
“Was that so?”
“I wasn't half-dead…”
Charles trailed off, embarrassed.
“Anyway, for the time being, just focus on recovering your health.”
Mule nodded to Charles, blew his nose, and went outside.
Iana and Charles shook their heads with a smile as if they couldn't help it.
“Then let's go too.”
“Yes. Let's go.”
Iana was about to go to the door, limping with her injured leg, but Charles blocked her way and asked.
“Iana, should I hug you? Or give you a piggyback ride?”
Iana was embarrassed and shyly spoke.
“Hmm, if I absolutely have to choose…”
“…”
“Give me a piggyback ride.”
“You don't say you hate it anymore.”
“I don't hate it. I'm just a little embarrassed…”
Charles chuckled and carried her on his back, leaving the conference room.
Beyond the hallway window, a stone mountain with moonlight shining down on it could be seen.
“The stone mountain looks really pretty from here.”
Iana exclaimed softly.
“It seems you're really okay. To say that the place where you came back to life is pretty.”
“The scenery looks like silver powder has been sprinkled on it, just like Your Highness' hair.”
Iana gently stroked his hair. She felt it every time she touched it, but the soft texture was like high-quality silk.
Then Charles spoke in a stiff voice.
“I'd rather you didn't touch my hair.”
Iana quickly lowered her hand, thinking he didn't like it.
“If I made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I did it without realizing it…”
“It's not that, it's just that I keep getting lewd thoughts.”
Charles' voice was serious to the point of being distressed.
“Yes?”
She widened her eyes at the unexpected words.
He stopped walking and asked with a serious face.
“Are you perhaps seducing me, but I don't understand? Without a clue.”
“No, it's not.”
“If that's the case, it's okay to keep touching me…”
Iana couldn't listen anymore and blocked his mouth with one hand.
“I hope you don't say strange things right now because it's, it's wartime.”
Charles asked back with a muffled voice because his mouth was blocked.
“It feels like seduction?”
“I'm telling you it's not!”
The two bickered and walked down the hallway.
Starlight poured over the stone mountain beyond the window.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day afternoon, because of the monsters that appeared near the capital, the Emperor held a meeting with his ministers again, following yesterday.
As a result, Riel's execution was not carried out.
The Emperor didn't seem to have any intention of executing her, but the monsters became a justification for not carrying out the execution.
'Let's face it head-on, no matter how the Empress comes out.'
Riel was thinking about how to deal with the situation in the detached palace.
Knock. Knock.
Then, the voice of an elderly woman was heard from outside the door.
“Lady Riel, I'm from the Empress Palace.”
'Empress Palace?'
Riel approached and opened the door.
It was Baroness Agnes, the Empress's maid.
“Hello? Lady Riel.”
“What's going on…”
Riel asked, hiding her suspicious gaze.
“Her Majesty the Empress asked if you would like to have tea time together when you have time.”
After Riel slept with the Emperor, the maid's attitude became polite.
“I would be grateful if Her Majesty the Empress called me.”
Riel replied with a humble attitude, examining the maid's expression.
But the elderly maid rarely revealed her expression.
“I will guide you when Lady Riel is ready to come out.”
“Then I'll get ready and come out right away.”
At the maid's words, Riel came into the room, dressed up, and thought.
'The Empress must have some kind of plan to call me. I must not panic in any situation.'
After a while, Riel was guided by the maid and moved to the Empress Palace.
The Empress Palace was not as luxurious as the Imperial Palace.
It was a simple and antique place without extravagant decorations or works of art.
Like the Empress, the owner of this place.
Squeak-.
Arriving in front of the drawing room and entering, the Empress was sitting at the table, drinking tea.
“Welcome. Lady Riel.”
“Riel Estina greets Her Majesty the Empress.”
The atmosphere in the drawing room briefly turned cold at the word Estina.
Riel greeted her with courtesy, not caring, and sat in front of the Empress as the maid guided her.
The Empress instructed the maid in a low voice.
“When you bring Lady Riel's tea, bring one more cup.”
“…”
“Because a guest will be arriving soon…”
'Did she call Alisa?'
Riel thought for a moment and carefully asked the Empress.
“Is someone else coming?”
“There is someone who visited the Imperial Palace today.”
The Empress replied with a calm face, drinking tea.
'An introduction? Then it's not Alisa…'
Just as Riel was pondering, a presence was heard from outside the drawing room door.
“It seems like they're here.”
The Empress, having finished speaking, looked at the drawing room door.
Riel gazed at the same place as the Empress with a doubtful look.
“Your Majesty, the guest has arrived.”
The voice of a guard was heard from outside the door.
“Tell them to come in.”
At the Empress's command, the drawing room door slowly opened to both sides.
It was then.
The silhouette of a familiar noble man was seen in front of it.
“…!”
Riel's pupils shook greatly.
The man came inside and knelt down on one knee to the Empress and greeted her.
“Marcel Rechelles greets Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Welcome. Marquess Rechelles.”
'What happened? Duke Havel said he would take care of it.'
Didn't Duke Havel make a deal with Marcel for the position of Archmage?
Just as Riel was thinking with a confused face, the Empress naturally spoke.
“It's been a long time since you met Lady Riel, so say hello.”
Marcel approached and greeted Riel with a twisted smile.
“Riel, long time no see.”
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