.jpeg)
Bang!
Just moments ago, Carrion's carriage was overturned by an attack from a two-headed Krikan.
"Ugh!"
Carrion tumbled around inside the carriage, hitting his leg hard against the window frame.
Fortunately, he was pulled out of the carriage with the help of the Imperial Army, but he felt a sharp pain as if his right leg was broken.
The moment Carrion collapsed on the spot, unable to take even a few steps, an unbelievable sight unfolded before his eyes.
"The barrier is gone!"
The mage who had come with them from the capital's barrier disappeared completely in the flames spewed by the Krikan.
'How could such a thing happen...?'
Carrion, as well as the Imperial Army and the territory residents, watched the scene with astonished faces.
It was then.
Thump, thump, thump.
A group of Ervin's royal guard ran towards him.
From within them, a familiar woman's voice was heard.
"Get out of the way!"
A small woman who looked like Iana was seen skillfully dismounting from her horse.
'A woman mage?'
The woman ran fearlessly towards the monsters and created a barrier that blazed with intense flames.
The flames spewed by the two-headed Krikan collided with the flames of the blazing barrier.
But as the barrier created by the woman mage grew larger, it began to engulf the Krikan.
As the flames of the barrier intensified, the woman stepped back and approached Carrion.
He watched the approaching woman's back with suspicious eyes.
'That is...?'
Platinum blonde hair tied back in a long braid and a small frame.
Carrion immediately recognized that the woman was Iana.
"Iana, is that you?"
At his question, the woman slowly turned her head.
Everything felt slow to Carrion.
Iana's golden hair was disheveled, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Perhaps it was from using strong magical power. She was breathing heavily, her chest heaving.
To Carrion, who usually disliked untidy women, Iana looked different.
Their eyes met for a moment.
Iana approached him and said firmly.
"Not yours..."
"..."
"I am Iana Ru, the Archmage of Ervin."
"What? You're an Archmage?"
Carrion asked with a shocked expression, as if it were absurd.
"Count, you just saw it with your own eyes."
"So you had magical power? Since when? But why didn't you tell me?"
As Carrion poured out questions, Iana moved away as if it wasn't worth answering.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to check if any monsters are coming from other paths, Count Dietrian."
"Can't you see I'm hurt right now? If someone is hurt and fallen, you should help them up first."
Carrion reached out his hand to her, asking for support.
Iana looked down at him with a displeased expression.
"Don't you know why I came here? So listen to me when I'm being nice."
As he gestured for her to come quickly, Iana said to those around her without any emotional fluctuation.
"Someone, please help Count Dietrian."
"Yes, Archmage!"
One of Ervin's royal guard came and supported Carrion.
"Iana, this isn't the time for you to be acting haughty with me! I'm here to arrest you..."
Before Carrion could finish speaking, Iana walked forward.
"Iana!"
Carrion shouted fiercely, but she only walked forward, looking straight ahead.
Complete disregard.
Iana showed no emotional reaction or response to his provoking words.
But it was strange.
Iana's dismissive attitude was strangely attractive to Carrion.
✦ ✦ ✦
Under the protection of Iana and The First Order of Knights, Carrion, the Imperial Army, and the territory residents who needed treatment arrived at the Ducal Palace.
Charles, who had heard the news in advance, was standing in front of the annex with healers and employees.
Carrion got out of the carriage sent by the Ducal Palace, supported by the administrator.
His face was wet with sweat, as if he was in severe pain.
Charles, who had been waiting in front of the annex, approached and said.
"Oh dear, Count Dietrian has also suffered a major leg injury."
"Although my leg is injured, it is not a problem to carry out His Majesty the Emperor's orders, Your Highness."
Carrion sneered, pretending to speak politely.
"Is that so? But it seems that others are not so fortunate."
Charles said, looking at the Imperial Army behind him.
Dozens of Imperial Army soldiers were injured, and the mage who had come from the capital had burns on his hands and had received first aid.
But Carrion did not back down and ordered the administrator standing next to him.
"Bring His Majesty's order."
"Now? Ah, I understand."
The administrator brought an envelope with the imperial seal stamped on it from the carriage with both hands.
Carrion opened the envelope and said with an arrogant face.
"I will deliver His Majesty the Emperor's order. Grand Duke Ervin and Iana Rechelles, please come forward."
Iana and Charles stood in front of Carrion.
Carrion glared at the two of them fiercely and began to read the order.
"In the name of the Imperial Family, I command. Grand Duke Ervin, who has tarnished the honor of the Imperial Family by showing impure intentions towards a woman with a husband, and Iana Rechelles, who has responded to this, shall be taken to the capital."
At that moment, Iana asked Charles next to her in a small voice.
"My name is wrong in the order, what should I do? I was expelled from the Rechelles family and am Iana Ru."
"When I go to the capital and meet His Majesty the Emperor, I will tell him your name accurately."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Carrion became furious at the sight of the two whispering.
"What are you doing right now? Ugh!"
Carrion lost his footing and staggered, having lost his temper. He frowned so much that his brow furrowed.
"Count, are you alright?"
The administrator quickly supported him.
Charles said soothingly.
"Count Dietrian, I know why you came here, so please get treatment first. That way, the other Imperial Army soldiers can also receive treatment, right?"
"G-good. I will get treatment first and then leave immediately, so be aware of that."
"It seems difficult for the Imperial Army to leave immediately in their condition, but let's try it for now."
Charles also walked towards the injured to help the lacking healers.
As Iana was about to go towards the fortress wall, Carrion called out to her.
"Iana, you have to explain to me before you go. How you have magical power and became Ervin's Archmage."
"..."
"Or should I line up everyone here and ask?"
"Let's go inside."
Iana answered briefly and moved towards the entrance of the annex first.
✦ ✦ ✦
"Ugh!"
A little later, Carrion was lying in bed, receiving treatment from Karen. He groaned repeatedly as if he was in a lot of pain.
Iana stood far away from the door, watching the scene.
Karen said as she put a splint on Carrion's leg.
"Count, it seems like your leg bone is completely broken. If the bone doesn't heal properly here, you may not be able to walk."
"You, you're trying to keep me from leaving today by playing tricks, aren't you?"
Carrion grabbed Karen by the collar and lashed out for no reason.
"The wound is deep, so the pain is severe. I'll give you some medicine to reduce the pain, so take that first. I'll call someone to take care of you."
Carrion quickly poured the medicine Karen handed him into his mouth.
As Karen left the room, only Iana and Carrion remained.
Carrion leaned back on the bed, stared fiercely at Iana, and began to speak.
"I asked the mage who came with us on the way to the Ducal Palace, and he said that magical power only manifests before the age of 10. So, Iana, did you hide the fact that you had magical power and marry me?"
"I was a bit of a unique case. My magical power only manifests when I'm angry, and it manifested when I got divorced."
Iana answered calmly.
Carrion laughed loudly as if mocking her and continued.
"Now I know why Grand Duke Ervin wanted you so desperately. Iana, you were also deceived by Grand Duke Ervin."
"..."
Iana was listening quietly with her arms crossed.
"Grand Duke Ervin, who needed a mage, pretended to love you. And Marquess Rechelles expelled you because he was afraid that you, who were divorced, would become the representative mage of the Rechelles family. Isn't that right?"
At Carrion's words, Iana lightly asked back.
"If I say no, will you believe me?"
"You still won't admit you were wrong until the end!"
The moment Carrion, who was angry, tried to pick up a glass of water and throw it.
Iana cast Immobility Magic on Carrion with a small incantation.
Carrion couldn't move an inch while holding the glass of water.
"My body, why is my body like this?"
"Don't think about threatening me with violent behavior. It won't work on me anymore."
Iana took the glass of water from his hand and placed it on the table, then released the Immobility Magic.
Carrion smiled slyly and said.
"I asked for you to be my mistress. To His Majesty the Emperor."
"What?"
Iana frowned strongly without realizing it.
"No matter how great your magical power is, Iana, you are now just my mistress."
The two glared at each other as if they were going to kill each other.
Iana relaxed her stiff expression and walked towards Carrion.
"How can you make a mage your mistress? Do you think the mages will just stand by?"
"It's His Majesty the Emperor's order, what can the mages do?"
"Then try it. But Carrion, you won't be able to take a single step out of Ervin without me."
"...!"
It was then.
Bang!
The door was opened roughly.
Charles entered and asked in a cold voice.
"Who dares to make someone a mistress?"
.jpeg)