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How Loathsome
"Lady Riel has become His Majesty the Emperor's mistress, I hear."
"......!"
Iana and Charles simultaneously turned to each other with startled eyes.
She pondered with a sharp gaze.
'While a war was breaking out in Ervin, Riel finally approached the Emperor.'
It was then.
"Haha."
Charles began to laugh loudly.
However, his eyes were filled with deep despair and rage.
Like someone whose last thread of hope had been severed.
Seeing this, the senior knight quietly closed the door and left.
Iana remained silent, simply watching Charles.
His laughter mixed with the sound of the wind blowing beyond the window. Occasionally, Carrion's agitated voice could be heard.
After laughing for a long time, Charles roughly wiped his face and asked.
"Iana, tell me."
"......"
"Tell me what I should do if my sincerity doesn't reach my brother in the end."
"Your Highness."
Iana looked at him with a pained expression.
Charles continued, his face contorted in anguish.
"Not only does he withdraw troops from a war zone, but now he accepts a woman from a family who tried to poison the Crown Prince as his mistress......"
"......"
"If, as your precognitive magic foretells, my brother ends up taking her as his new Empress, what should I do?"
Without a word, Iana approached and embraced Charles.
His body trembled violently with unbearable anger.
The trembling conveyed through their touching bodies revealed his heart.
The sense of betrayal that only someone who has deeply loved and trusted another can feel.
Knowing that feeling better than anyone, Iana held Charles even tighter. Then, she said in a resolute voice.
"We must prevent Riel from becoming Empress at all costs."
"......"
"For me, for Your Highness, and for the Empire."
Swoosh-.
Outside the window, tree branches swayed in the rather strong wind.
Rustle.
Leaves fell helplessly. Withered leaves that had lost their green hue......
✦ ✦ ✦
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Riel was confined to the detached palace.
At first, she thought she would be imprisoned because she had confessed to intentionally approaching the Emperor.
However, the Empress angered the Emperor, and the situation changed.
"Your Majesty, please withdraw your order to summon The First Order of Knights."
The Empress strongly opposed the summoning of The First Order of Knights.
In response, the Emperor, out of defiance towards the Empress, not only refrained from sending Riel to prison but also frequently visited the detached palace.
As if nothing had happened.
Riel couldn't see it with her own eyes, but she could read it from the unfolding situation.
'Duke Havel is fueling the Emperor's defiance.'
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."
Just as Riel had finished her preparations, the secretary's voice was heard outside the door.
She stood demurely in front of the door.
Bang-.
The door opened, and the Emperor entered with a vexed expression, sinking deeply into the sofa.
However, the Emperor treated Riel as if she were nonexistent, not speaking to her or even glancing in her direction.
A considerable amount of time passed, and silence filled the room.
As always, Riel did not speak first, wanting to maintain control of the conversation.
Eventually, the Emperor spoke, as if throwing the words out.
"The more I think about it, the more loathsome it is."
"......"
Riel raised her lowered gaze and looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor glared at her fiercely and continued.
"You approached me to slander the Empress, and then you pretended to be pitiful, begging me to kill you?"
'I can no longer survive by being submissive.'
She needed to plant her intended thoughts in the Emperor's mind and shake his insecurities.
Riel stared directly into the Emperor's gray eyes and said.
"It's not slander, it's the truth."
"Now that your true colors have been revealed, you won't even bother pretending to be pitiful?"
The Emperor wore a twisted smile.
"It's not me who is pitiful, it's Your Majesty the Emperor."
"What?"
The Emperor rose from his seat with an enraged expression and approached her.
However, Riel spoke without showing any signs of intimidation.
"The Rubena Empire is a strict class society. At its pinnacle is Your Majesty the Emperor."
"What trick are you trying to pull now, spouting nonsense?"
The Emperor slowly caressed Riel's lips.
"Isn't it Your Majesty the Emperor who must be protected by any means necessary if a war breaks out? Tactically speaking, Your Majesty must remain steadfast so that the morale of the troops does not falter."
"......"
The Emperor's hand traveled down her neck.
Riel sensed the situation and delivered the decisive words.
"Yet the Empress is unaware of this obvious fact! Therefore, it is Your Majesty who is pitiful."
The Emperor's eyes were bloodshot as he gripped Riel's neck tightly.
"I should have killed you a long time ago. I was needlessly soft-hearted."
She struggled to breathe, coughing, but continued to speak to the end.
"The per, person who should be most concerned for Your, Your Majesty...... Why is she only trying to win the hearts of the ci, citizens...... What could be her in, intentions?"
Then, the Emperor's hand that had been gripping Riel's neck slowly loosened.
She coughed roughly.
"Tell me. What are her intentions?"
"Ultimately, it is power. Each individual citizen of the Empire has no power, but when they unite, they become a formidable force."
"......"
"Sometimes, that formidable force chooses the owner of the throne."
"......!"
The Emperor's eyes widened.
Riel had planted a new fear in the Emperor's mind.
Until now, the Emperor had feared rebellions from forces with power and legitimacy.
But she had made him think for the first time that he might lose the throne to someone supported by the citizens of the Empire.
Riel approached the Emperor, put her mouth to his ear, and whispered softly.
"So be careful. Of those with impure intentions who seek to win the hearts of the citizens......"
✦ ✦ ✦
After Carrion and the royal guard messenger left, the Ducal Palace of Ervin was bustling for three days.
Iana, Charles, and The First Order of Knights patrolled the monster habitat, removing Arika Vine and exterminating monsters.
And exactly three days later, about 500 members of The First Order of Knights gathered in front of the castle gate to depart for the capital.
Around them stood employees and territory residents who had come to say goodbye.
"For now, we'll tell His Majesty the Emperor that the archers are coming as reinforcements due to the war."
The knights responded to Charles's words.
"Ah, so if negotiations go well, the archers can stay in Ervin, and if not, they'll come as reinforcements, so it's not a crime of disobeying the imperial order!"
"That seems like a good plan, Your Highness."
While Charles was talking to the knights, Iana looked at the Ducal Palace with worried eyes.
'Is it really going to be okay?'
The traces of destruction caused by the monster attacks weighed heavily on her heart.
Iana turned her gaze to the territory residents and approached Annie, who was holding Ru.
Ru no longer struggled to come to Iana and was quietly nestled in Annie's arms.
She felt both disappointed and relieved at the sight.
Iana stroked Ru and said.
"Annie, please take good care of Ru this time too."
"That's......"
What could be the matter? Unlike usual, Annie's expression was heavy.
"Why, did Ru bite you or bother you?"
"No. Ru is prickly. Like a chestnut burr."
"What? It's prickly to touch Ru?"
"Uh-huh!"
Annie nodded vigorously. Then, Rita, who was next to her, glanced at Iana and opened her mouth.
"It seems Ru bites a bit since he's bigger now."
"No! Ru doesn't bite. He's just prickly."
"Tingly?"
Annie vehemently agreed with Iana's words.
"Uh-huh! That's right! Tingly."
"......!"
At that moment, Iana and Mule's eyes met. It seemed that magical power was manifesting in Annie.
Mule approached, picked up Annie, and said.
"Your Highness, it seems a new star is about to rise in Ervin."
The territory residents cheered and buzzed with excitement.
Charles approached and stroked Annie's hair.
"Thanks to Annie, we can start off in a good mood."
"Really?"
Annie smiled brightly, as if she was in a good mood.
The people gathered in front of the castle gate burst into laughter at the sight of the cheerful child.
Boo-oong. Boo-oong.
Shortly after, the sound of a horn announcing the preparation for departure echoed throughout the Ducal Palace.
Charles, Iana, and The First Order of Knights all mounted their horses.
"We're departing."
Iana stood at the front and shouted loudly.
The procession passed through the castle gate and gradually increased its speed.
She rode out quickly, thinking with a sharp gaze.
'Riel, just wait a little longer. I'll be seeing you soon.'
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