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The Archmage and the Emperor's Mistress 'Grand Duke Ervin is coming with The First Order of Knights?' Iana was skeptical. Clearly, Grand Duke Ervin had wielded his sword at the royal guard messenger, saying he couldn't move The First Order of Knights because of the war. 'Why did his mind change in just a few days?' More than anything, it was difficult to spread rumors about Ervin if Grand Duke Ervin stayed in the capital. Just as she was pondering, the Emperor, wearing a dressing gown, roughly opened the bedroom door. He inadvertently revealed his true feelings. "Are you saying Charles is leading The First Order of Knights to storm the Imperial Palace?" There was obvious tension in the Emperor's voice. "No? That's not it..." The secretary replied with a flustered expression. Seeing this, Riel could understand the Emperor's deep thoughts. 'Your Majesty is afraid. Of Grand Duke Ervin's rebellion...' The Emperor scolded loudly at the secretary's reaction. "It's not like a rebellion has broken out, so how dare you knock on the bedroom door?" "Well, The First Order of Knights defeated a new type of monsters that appeared in the lake near the capital..." "And?" "They evacuated all the citizens of the Rubena Empire and subdued the monsters all at once without anyone getting hurt." The secretary trailed off, watching the Emperor's reaction. If no citizens were hurt, the Emperor should naturally be happy. But the Emperor was silent. Riel thought as she watched him. 'He must be worried that Grand Duke Ervin will be revered as a war hero.' The greater Grand Duke Ervin's role in the war, the more the Emperor's position would inevitably diminish. At that moment, Riel's eyes met the Emperor's as he turned around. Gray eyes filled with anger, regret, and fear. The Emperor seemed to regret calling The First Order of Knights to the capital. She told the Emperor once again with her eyes. 'Your Majesty, be careful of those who seek to win the hearts of the citizens with impure intentions. Like Grand Duke Ervin.' ✦ ✦ ✦ Thump, thump, thump. At the same time, Iana, Charles, and The First Order of Knights entered the capital from the outer walls. As The First Order of Knights, the best elite unit in Rubena, entered the capital, people who came to watch applauded and welcomed them. At the same time, they kept glancing at Iana, who was wearing a Wizard Robe, as if they were curious about the female mage. She rode her horse and watched Charles' expression. Charles' eyes were sharp with tension. Then, as they passed Rubena Square, a statue of the Emperor carved out of marble caught Iana's eye. 'What kind of person is His Majesty the Emperor? And what does Riel look like next to the Emperor?' While Iana was lost in thought, The First Order of Knights arrived at the Imperial Palace. They were waiting for the gates of the Imperial Palace to open. "Wow...!" Iana exclaimed at the sight of the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace of the Rubena Empire was overwhelmingly large, but it was also splendid and antique. Charles, who was riding a horse next to her, asked in a low voice. "Is this your first time seeing the Imperial Palace?" "Yes, I couldn't come to the Imperial Palace before because I was sick." "I'm glad you like it." Charles smiled, but his face was still dark. Boo-oo-oong. Then, the sound of a horn rang out and the heavy gates of the Imperial Palace opened. As The First Order of Knights rode inside, the Imperial Guard and the Emperor's secretary were waiting in front of them. Iana skillfully got off her horse. Then Charles approached and asked. "Iana, where is your cloak?" "Ah, that's right." She had forgotten for a moment that she was supposed to wear a cloak in a formal manner while fighting against the monsters. Iana took out the cloak from the small luggage bag she was carrying. Then Charles reached out his hand. "Yes?" Iana tilted her head, not knowing what he meant. "I mean, let me do it for you." Flutter-. Charles unfolded the cloak and draped it over her shoulders, then whispered in Iana's ear. "You look great." "Thank you, Your Highness." Iana smiled and replied. "Thank you for coming all this way, Grand Duke Ervin." The Emperor's secretary greeted them and led them to the Imperial Palace. Iana, Charles, and the senior knights representing The First Order of Knights followed the secretary. It was around the time they reached the Imperial Palace. "Grand Duke Ervin, you've arrived?" From the other side, the Empress walked over with an elderly maid. "Grand Duke Ervin, greetings to Her Majesty the Empress." As Charles knelt on one knee and greeted her with decorum, all the knights around him bowed their heads to the Empress. 'That's Her Majesty the Empress.' Iana also greeted her with respect. The Empress had a neat and elegant appearance, but she looked haggard, as if she had suffered a lot. "You've come a long way, please get up." The Empress reached out and took Charles' hand. "Then I will go inside and tell you the details." As Charles was about to enter the Imperial Palace with the Empress, the Imperial Guard blocked them with their swords. Charles asked in a cold voice. "What are you doing, blocking the Empress from entering?" "His Majesty the Emperor has given orders." "What orders?" Charles strode up to the knight. As the atmosphere turned grim, the secretary stepped forward. "Your Highness, the Emperor has forbidden the Empress from entering for the time being." "For what reason did you issue such an order?" The sly secretary told the truth to silence Charles. "Her Majesty the Empress opposed the dispatch of The First Order of Knights." It was an arrogant warning from the secretary to keep his mouth shut and stay still. Charles' eyes turned fierce. Like a beast that had caught its prey. "Are you now daring to insult His Majesty the Emperor?" "..." The secretary watched him quietly, surprised by Charles' unexpected reaction. "Are you saying that His Majesty is such a petty person that he would block the Empress from entering just because of the dispatch of The First Order of Knights?" "...!" The secretary looked at him with a surprised expression. Now, if the Emperor blocked the Empress from entering again because of the dispatch of The First Order of Knights, the Emperor would have no choice but to become a petty person. As he had declared in front of The First Order of Knights and the people of the Imperial Palace. At that moment, a sharp male voice was heard from the entrance of the Imperial Palace. "Why is it so noisy?" Thump, thump. With the sound of several footsteps, the Emperor's figure slowly appeared from the entrance where shadows were cast. 'That's His Majesty the Emperor.' Iana was momentarily surprised by his appearance, which was so similar to Charles. Behind him stood the Imperial Guard and those who appeared to be ministers. Then, Iana saw a familiar woman behind the Emperor. A simple, neat dress and short black bobbed hair. It was Riel. Riel was looking at her with an arrogant expression. As if she were the winner. Charles approached the Emperor and knelt on one knee to greet him. "Charles de Rubena, greetings to His Majesty the Emperor." "I thought you wouldn't come unless you had a plan to protect Ervin, so why did you come?" The Emperor's expression was cold. "We were able to come right away because we had a plan on our side. Some archers will come as reinforcements after finishing the cleanup." "..." Charles and the Emperor's eyes met intensely. Iana quietly watched the situation unfold from behind. Then the Emperor shouted loudly. "Arrest Charles right now." "...!" "I clearly ordered all of The First Order of Knights to return to the capital. But you disobeyed my orders and left the archers behind?" The Imperial Guard rushed in and quickly surrounded Charles. The First Order of Knights could only watch, unable to do anything because it was the Emperor's order. At the Emperor's command, Riel raised one corner of her mouth as she looked at Iana. Then Iana saw a small Arika Vine sprouting in the Imperial Palace's front yard. It seemed that the vine had been removed, but it had come out of the ground in the morning. The sight gave her a good idea. Iana chanted a small spell. At that moment, a large firebird soared into the sky. It quickly flew around. "...!" Everyone was surprised by the sight they had never seen before. The angry Emperor asked as if spitting out the words. "What are you doing?" Even at the Emperor's command, Iana did not stop the firebird. The firebird narrowly passed through the Imperial Guard surrounding Charles. The Imperial Guard were frightened that the flames would touch their bodies and stepped back. At the sight, the smile slowly disappeared from Riel's lips. It was that moment. The firebird flew and pierced the small Arika Vine sprouting in the flower bed. The Arika Vine, engulfed in flames, burned white. Iana lowered her head and said with decorum. "Iana Lewis, Archmage of Ervin." "..." "I have removed the Arika Vine that threatened His Majesty." Iana slowly raised her head and looked at Riel with a firm expression. 'Riel, the fight starts now.'
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