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"I greet His Grace, Duke Havel, for the first time. I am Marquess Marcel Rechelles."
Marcel came to the Wizard's Tower at the behest of the Archmage Head, his father's close friend and mentor.
[His Grace, Duke Havel, has something to discuss with you at length.]
Marcel had an idea what it was about.
'His Grace, Duke Havel, seems to be trying to get rid of Riel, who is involved with Prince Franz.'
Marcel dined and conversed with Duke Havel and the Archmage Head.
The conversation mainly consisted of praise for his father, the late Marquess Rechelles' achievements.
"Wasn't Marquis Rio Rechelles a highly respected Archmage among the people of the Empire?"
The Archmage Head chimed in at Duke Havel's words.
"Marquis Rio Rechelles' contributions were remarkable. His reputation is still renowned among mages."
"Thank you for speaking so highly of my father."
As Marcel replied with a humble demeanor, Duke Havel, while cutting his meat, said casually, as if throwing a stone.
"But why hasn't the Marquess Rechelles become an Archmage yet?"
"......"
Marcel's hand, which was about to use his fork, stopped abruptly.
It was a rude remark that touched upon the other person's pride.
"That's because I haven't yet..."
As the atmosphere turned strange, the Archmage Head tried to smooth things over, but Duke Havel cut him off sharply.
"Marquess Rechelles, shouldn't you be at least on par with your father, if not surpass him?"
Marcel was furious at the words that trampled on his pride.
However, he had no choice but to swallow his anger because the other party was Duke Havel.
"......It is because I am lacking. I must quickly become an Archmage who carries on my father's reputation."
Clang.
Duke Havel placed his fork and knife on the table.
"I am not talking about the Marquess Rechelles' abilities as a mage right now. I am pointing out the unjust current system."
"......System?"
Marcel, not understanding what he meant, stared blankly at the Archmage Head next to him.
"The flaws of the system that promotes Archmages based solely on magical power. Shouldn't the position of Archmage be passed down to the descendants of mage families who have sacrificed for the Empire, like the Rechelles family?"
"......"
Marcel and the Archmage Head looked at each other with surprised eyes.
The inheritance of the Archmage position.
Duke Havel's words were what people from prestigious mage families wanted most.
"I also think so, but the rules of mages that have been passed down for a thousand years are such that..."
The Archmage Head trailed off.
"Rules or laws must change to suit the times. That way, there won't be mages who suffer like Marquess Rechelles, would there?"
"But the mages will strongly object."
Marcel said cautiously.
The rules of mages were determined only by mages. No matter how much power the Emperor had, he could not arbitrarily interfere with the rules of mages.
Duke Havel smiled meaningfully and slowly began to speak.
"I will help with a plan I have. However, Marquess Rechelles, you must also help me."
✦ ✦ ✦
Late that night, Iana tossed and turned in the bed of the room she used in the Spire.
Because a warrant for her arrest had been issued, she could not go outside the Ducal Palace.
Instead, Mule decided to stay in District 3 for the time being and secretly make weapons.
'The mutant krikans only appeared near the outer walls. Why?'
Her mind was filled with thoughts of how to prepare for the upcoming war.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock was heard, along with the trembling voice of a maid.
"Mage, no, Archmage, this is Lira, a maid from the detached palace."
"A maid from the detached palace?"
Iana sensed the situation at the mention of the detached palace. She immediately got up from her seat, put on her robe, and opened the door.
A terrified maid stood in front of the door.
"I, I'm sorry to wake you up. Count Dietrian is, is very ill and asked me to bring the Archmage..."
"He wants me at this late hour?"
"Yes, I'm, I'm really sorry."
The maid was trembling, probably because Carrion had scared her so much.
If she just sent the maid back, there was no telling what kind of tyranny he would commit.
"I understand. I'll change my clothes and go, so Lira, you can go back and rest."
"Th, thank you. Archmage."
The maid bowed deeply.
Iana put on her Wizard Robe and headed to the detached palace.
Bang! Bang!
As Iana entered the hallway of the detached palace, she could hear Carrion's irritable voice and the sound of things crashing.
Slam.
Karen came out of the room with a torn forehead.
"Healer, are you alright?"
"Why are you here... Don't tell me Count Dietrian called you at this hour? Archmage, please don't go in."
Karen stopped her with a surprised expression.
"If you send the maid who was sent on the errand back, she will be in trouble."
"Are you sure you'll be alright? Count Dietrian is in a bad mood because the pain in his injured leg is severe."
As Karen asked with a worried face, Iana smiled slightly.
"If he throws a tantrum, I'll cast Immobility Magic on him. So don't worry."
She nodded briefly to Karen and went straight into the room.
Inside the room, where crimson candlelight flickered, furniture thrown by Carrion was scattered everywhere.
As Iana entered, Carrion snapped sharply.
"What took you so long to get here after I called you?"
"......"
Iana silently picked up the things that had fallen on the floor.
"The maids here aren't taking good care of me, so you do it. Got it?"
Iana picked up the furniture and slowly opened her mouth.
"Carrion, the day I was first introduced to you as my fiancé, I couldn't sleep a wink. Because you were more wonderful than I thought."
"......"
"I thought you were someone lacking because you were the man who actively stepped forward to marry me, who was sick."
"And what I got in return was betrayal?"
Carrion retorted with a twisted smile.
Iana put the things she had picked up on the table and continued calmly.
"I think I really liked you deeply. Back then, Carrion, if you said the sun was the moon, I would have believed you."
There were such days.
Days when Carrion was Iana's whole world.
There were days when she laughed and cried at his every word.
"I was like that, but today, as I watched Carrion, you bleeding and falling, I had this thought."
"......?"
"I wished you were dead. Me, a mage who has to protect people."
"Iana!"
Carrion shouted sharply.
"Please. Don't let me harm you with my magical power."
Iana's eyes were cold.
"Are you threatening me now?"
"If you think it's a threat, just shut your mouth quietly."
"What?"
"I came to warn you because you don't seem to understand when I speak nicely. For the last time."
"......"
"Don't treat me like your woman anymore."
The two glared at each other intensely.
✦ ✦ ✦
At that time, Charles was deep in thought inside his office.
If the Third Monster War broke out in the northern region, it wasn't just Ervin's problem.
However, preparing for war under the pretext of a prophecy that war would break out could be seen as a cause for rebellion.
'First, let's inform them that mutant krikans have appeared and prepare for the danger.'
Knock, knock.
At that moment, Karen's voice was heard from outside the door.
"Your Highness, may I come in for a moment?"
It was close to midnight.
"Come in."
At Charles' words, Karen came in with a handkerchief on her forehead, as if she was hurt.
"Karen, why is your face like that? Don't tell me Count Dietrian did that?"
"You should be more worried about Iana, no, the Archmage right now. She just went to Count Dietrian's room."
"What, why is Iana there at this hour?"
Charles frowned deeply.
"Count Dietrian said that the maids' care wasn't satisfactory, so..."
"So you're saying he called Archmage Ervin to take care of him at this late hour?"
Charles got up from his seat and strode towards the door. Then, he suddenly remembered what Iana had said during the day and stopped in his tracks.
"Please allow me to resolve my own issues, Your Highness."
Iana did not want him to interfere in matters related to Count Dietrian.
Iana, who had strong magical power, was unlikely to be threatened by Carrion, who had injured his leg, and he had to respect her wishes.
"What's wrong?"
Karen, who was about to leave, looked at Charles, who had stopped, with a puzzled expression.
"Iana has something in mind, so we'll have to wait and see."
Charles returned to his seat.
"Th, then I'll go first."
Karen bowed and quickly left the office, thinking that she had made unnecessary fuss.
Charles began to read the documents on the desk again.
However, he couldn't focus.
He was worried about Iana, but he hated the fact that she was alone with Count Dietrian late at night.
At that moment, Charles realized.
'I've never said I refuse.'
Looking back, even as a young prince, he had never said he refused.
Even if he didn't like it, he had to do it and not show it.
Because in the framework of the world he had lived in, he could not express his emotions honestly.
Charles immediately left the office and headed to the detached palace.
As he reached the entrance of the detached palace, Iana was walking towards him.
"Your Highness, what brings you here at this late hour..."
Iana asked with a surprised face.
Charles caught his breath and said firmly.
"You said you would resolve your own issues..."
"......"
"I refuse. I refuse for you to be alone with Count Dietrian."
Marcel came to the Wizard's Tower at the behest of the Archmage Head, his father's close friend and mentor.
[His Grace, Duke Havel, has something to discuss with you at length.]
Marcel had an idea what it was about.
'His Grace, Duke Havel, seems to be trying to get rid of Riel, who is involved with Prince Franz.'
Marcel dined and conversed with Duke Havel and the Archmage Head.
The conversation mainly consisted of praise for his father, the late Marquess Rechelles' achievements.
"Wasn't Marquis Rio Rechelles a highly respected Archmage among the people of the Empire?"
The Archmage Head chimed in at Duke Havel's words.
"Marquis Rio Rechelles' contributions were remarkable. His reputation is still renowned among mages."
"Thank you for speaking so highly of my father."
As Marcel replied with a humble demeanor, Duke Havel, while cutting his meat, said casually, as if throwing a stone.
"But why hasn't the Marquess Rechelles become an Archmage yet?"
"......"
Marcel's hand, which was about to use his fork, stopped abruptly.
It was a rude remark that touched upon the other person's pride.
"That's because I haven't yet..."
As the atmosphere turned strange, the Archmage Head tried to smooth things over, but Duke Havel cut him off sharply.
"Marquess Rechelles, shouldn't you be at least on par with your father, if not surpass him?"
Marcel was furious at the words that trampled on his pride.
However, he had no choice but to swallow his anger because the other party was Duke Havel.
"......It is because I am lacking. I must quickly become an Archmage who carries on my father's reputation."
Clang.
Duke Havel placed his fork and knife on the table.
"I am not talking about the Marquess Rechelles' abilities as a mage right now. I am pointing out the unjust current system."
"......System?"
Marcel, not understanding what he meant, stared blankly at the Archmage Head next to him.
"The flaws of the system that promotes Archmages based solely on magical power. Shouldn't the position of Archmage be passed down to the descendants of mage families who have sacrificed for the Empire, like the Rechelles family?"
"......"
Marcel and the Archmage Head looked at each other with surprised eyes.
The inheritance of the Archmage position.
Duke Havel's words were what people from prestigious mage families wanted most.
"I also think so, but the rules of mages that have been passed down for a thousand years are such that..."
The Archmage Head trailed off.
"Rules or laws must change to suit the times. That way, there won't be mages who suffer like Marquess Rechelles, would there?"
"But the mages will strongly object."
Marcel said cautiously.
The rules of mages were determined only by mages. No matter how much power the Emperor had, he could not arbitrarily interfere with the rules of mages.
Duke Havel smiled meaningfully and slowly began to speak.
"I will help with a plan I have. However, Marquess Rechelles, you must also help me."
✦ ✦ ✦
Late that night, Iana tossed and turned in the bed of the room she used in the Spire.
Because a warrant for her arrest had been issued, she could not go outside the Ducal Palace.
Instead, Mule decided to stay in District 3 for the time being and secretly make weapons.
'The mutant krikans only appeared near the outer walls. Why?'
Her mind was filled with thoughts of how to prepare for the upcoming war.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock was heard, along with the trembling voice of a maid.
"Mage, no, Archmage, this is Lira, a maid from the detached palace."
"A maid from the detached palace?"
Iana sensed the situation at the mention of the detached palace. She immediately got up from her seat, put on her robe, and opened the door.
A terrified maid stood in front of the door.
"I, I'm sorry to wake you up. Count Dietrian is, is very ill and asked me to bring the Archmage..."
"He wants me at this late hour?"
"Yes, I'm, I'm really sorry."
The maid was trembling, probably because Carrion had scared her so much.
If she just sent the maid back, there was no telling what kind of tyranny he would commit.
"I understand. I'll change my clothes and go, so Lira, you can go back and rest."
"Th, thank you. Archmage."
The maid bowed deeply.
Iana put on her Wizard Robe and headed to the detached palace.
Bang! Bang!
As Iana entered the hallway of the detached palace, she could hear Carrion's irritable voice and the sound of things crashing.
Slam.
Karen came out of the room with a torn forehead.
"Healer, are you alright?"
"Why are you here... Don't tell me Count Dietrian called you at this hour? Archmage, please don't go in."
Karen stopped her with a surprised expression.
"If you send the maid who was sent on the errand back, she will be in trouble."
"Are you sure you'll be alright? Count Dietrian is in a bad mood because the pain in his injured leg is severe."
As Karen asked with a worried face, Iana smiled slightly.
"If he throws a tantrum, I'll cast Immobility Magic on him. So don't worry."
She nodded briefly to Karen and went straight into the room.
Inside the room, where crimson candlelight flickered, furniture thrown by Carrion was scattered everywhere.
As Iana entered, Carrion snapped sharply.
"What took you so long to get here after I called you?"
"......"
Iana silently picked up the things that had fallen on the floor.
"The maids here aren't taking good care of me, so you do it. Got it?"
Iana picked up the furniture and slowly opened her mouth.
"Carrion, the day I was first introduced to you as my fiancé, I couldn't sleep a wink. Because you were more wonderful than I thought."
"......"
"I thought you were someone lacking because you were the man who actively stepped forward to marry me, who was sick."
"And what I got in return was betrayal?"
Carrion retorted with a twisted smile.
Iana put the things she had picked up on the table and continued calmly.
"I think I really liked you deeply. Back then, Carrion, if you said the sun was the moon, I would have believed you."
There were such days.
Days when Carrion was Iana's whole world.
There were days when she laughed and cried at his every word.
"I was like that, but today, as I watched Carrion, you bleeding and falling, I had this thought."
"......?"
"I wished you were dead. Me, a mage who has to protect people."
"Iana!"
Carrion shouted sharply.
"Please. Don't let me harm you with my magical power."
Iana's eyes were cold.
"Are you threatening me now?"
"If you think it's a threat, just shut your mouth quietly."
"What?"
"I came to warn you because you don't seem to understand when I speak nicely. For the last time."
"......"
"Don't treat me like your woman anymore."
The two glared at each other intensely.
✦ ✦ ✦
At that time, Charles was deep in thought inside his office.
If the Third Monster War broke out in the northern region, it wasn't just Ervin's problem.
However, preparing for war under the pretext of a prophecy that war would break out could be seen as a cause for rebellion.
'First, let's inform them that mutant krikans have appeared and prepare for the danger.'
Knock, knock.
At that moment, Karen's voice was heard from outside the door.
"Your Highness, may I come in for a moment?"
It was close to midnight.
"Come in."
At Charles' words, Karen came in with a handkerchief on her forehead, as if she was hurt.
"Karen, why is your face like that? Don't tell me Count Dietrian did that?"
"You should be more worried about Iana, no, the Archmage right now. She just went to Count Dietrian's room."
"What, why is Iana there at this hour?"
Charles frowned deeply.
"Count Dietrian said that the maids' care wasn't satisfactory, so..."
"So you're saying he called Archmage Ervin to take care of him at this late hour?"
Charles got up from his seat and strode towards the door. Then, he suddenly remembered what Iana had said during the day and stopped in his tracks.
"Please allow me to resolve my own issues, Your Highness."
Iana did not want him to interfere in matters related to Count Dietrian.
Iana, who had strong magical power, was unlikely to be threatened by Carrion, who had injured his leg, and he had to respect her wishes.
"What's wrong?"
Karen, who was about to leave, looked at Charles, who had stopped, with a puzzled expression.
"Iana has something in mind, so we'll have to wait and see."
Charles returned to his seat.
"Th, then I'll go first."
Karen bowed and quickly left the office, thinking that she had made unnecessary fuss.
Charles began to read the documents on the desk again.
However, he couldn't focus.
He was worried about Iana, but he hated the fact that she was alone with Count Dietrian late at night.
At that moment, Charles realized.
'I've never said I refuse.'
Looking back, even as a young prince, he had never said he refused.
Even if he didn't like it, he had to do it and not show it.
Because in the framework of the world he had lived in, he could not express his emotions honestly.
Charles immediately left the office and headed to the detached palace.
As he reached the entrance of the detached palace, Iana was walking towards him.
"Your Highness, what brings you here at this late hour..."
Iana asked with a surprised face.
Charles caught his breath and said firmly.
"You said you would resolve your own issues..."
"......"
"I refuse. I refuse for you to be alone with Count Dietrian."
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