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Iana's Scheme Iana and Riel's gazes clashed intensely. Whoosh- Iana's red cloak fluttered in the blowing wind. Ripples formed in the hem of Riel's white dress as well. Tension hung heavy in front of the Imperial Palace. The royal guard knights surrounding Iana looked at His Majesty the Emperor, unsure of what to do. She had suddenly used magical power, but it was to remove the Arika Vine. The Emperor stared at Iana before asking in an indifferent tone. "Are you the former wife of Count Dietrian?" "......" "The former wife who divorced due to an affair with Grand Duke Ervin, I believe?" "Your Majesty......" Charles tried to speak instead, but Iana shook her head slightly. She didn't know what kind of attack the Emperor would launch against Charles, using his words as an excuse. Iana looked at the eyes of the royal guard knights surrounding her. Eyes filled with fear. They were nervous, unsure of how much magical power she possessed after seeing the firebird for the first time. 'Be confident. Make everyone here feel fear.' "Yes, that's right, Your Majesty." She answered as if readily admitting it. "Is that so?" "It's true that I was Count Dietrian's former wife, but the divorce was because......" She turned her gaze and stared straight at Riel as she spoke. "It was because of an affair between my ex-husband and my maid." "What?" The Emperor's gaze turned sharp. The courtiers and knights buzzed as she attacked his mistress in front of him. Riel's face was expressionless, but her eyes held a question. Iana thought as she looked at her. 'You must be curious. Just what kind of power am I hiding that makes me so confident?' She planned to use that thought to block the Emperor's attack on Charles. "Your Majesty, Your Highness left the archers of The First Order of Knights in Ervin to bring me to the capital." "You mean he left the archers behind because of you?" "It was to teach the purification magic that removes the Arika Vine deep underground to the mages in the capital." "Purification magic?" The Emperor's eyes, filled with doubt, sparkled. "Now that the Arika Vine has infiltrated even the Imperial Palace......" "......" "The capital needs me more than the archers of The First Order of Knights." Iana was so confident that it felt arrogant. Charles, realizing her intention, added. "Given the wartime situation in Ervin, it was difficult to bring both Iana Archmage and the archers." "......" "If Your Majesty does not wish it, I will immediately send Iana Archmage back to Ervin and summon the archers." At Charles' words, the Emperor asked in a chilling voice. "Are you daring to threaten me now?" "It is not a threat, but rather asking for Your Majesty's choice." Charles bowed briefly after speaking. Everyone's attention was focused on the Emperor. The Emperor, who had been lost in thought, spoke. "Very well. However, if you fail to properly remove the Arika Vine......" "......" "I will hold Grand Duke Ervin responsible for disobeying my orders. Do you understand?" "Yes, Your Majesty." Charles answered resolutely. After speaking, the Emperor turned around and entered the Imperial Palace. After him, Riel followed the Emperor with the courtiers, but turned back to look. Iana stared at Riel's eyes until the end. With a fierce gaze, as if warning her to be careful. ✦ ✦ ✦ While the Emperor was in a meeting with the courtiers, Riel returned to the detached palace. As soon as her mind became complicated, she took a bath. The bathroom was filled with a hazy steam. Just like her situation, where she couldn't see an inch ahead. The large firebird that Iana had created kept flashing in Riel's mind. 'Just how much magical power does Iana possess?' She could feel it intuitively. It was a crisis. Iana was a person of Grand Duke Ervin, but the Emperor would surely rely on Iana, who possessed the magical power to eliminate the new type of monsters. It was something that even the Archmages in the capital couldn't do. She didn't know how Iana would attack her with that power. Riel finished her bath and came out of the bathroom wearing a gown. Her maids were lined up, ready to help her with her toilette. Riel sat in front of the dressing table, drinking the water handed to her by a maid, lost in thought. 'Let's meet Duke Havel and discuss it.' Riel planned to contact Duke Havel through a healer. At that moment, a commotion was heard beyond the door, along with a familiar voice. "I'm just here to say hello. I won't do anything." Bang- The door opened and Alisa entered with a gleeful face, sneering. "Riel, I heard your master came to the Imperial Palace? As the Archmage of Ervin." "You can't do this, Lady!" The escort knights blocked her, but Alisa was adamant. "Let her be." At Riel's command, the escort knights stepped back, preparing for any possible situation. When Riel didn't react, Alisa came closer and mocked her. "You're just a maid, you shouldn't be taking a bath here." "......" "You should hurry up and attend to your master." "......" Riel silently drank the remaining water in her glass. "Hey, are you not listening to me?" It was at that moment. Crash- Riel struck Alisa's face with the hand holding the water glass. Now that she had captured the Emperor's heart, there was no need to pretend to be kind anymore. "Ah!" Alisa bled from her face and collapsed on the spot. "......!" The escort knights and maids around her watched in shock. "Q-quickly, go and bring His Majesty! That, that wicked thing is trying to kill me." Alisa ordered in pain, but the escort knights and maids only looked at Riel, not moving. Riel smiled, as if she had realized something. "Alisa, thank you." "W-what?" Alisa couldn't speak, frightened. "Yes. So, that's how you catch someone off guard, I was worried for nothing." Riel looked down at Alisa and thought. 'Iana, I'll make you like that soon too.' ✦ ✦ ✦ At that time, Iana and Charles were sitting in the Empress Palace's drawing room, waiting for the Empress. Iana drank her tea and observed Charles' expression. His face had been dark the entire way to the Empress Palace. The Emperor's words overlapped on Charles' face. "Arrest Charles immediately." 'Has Your Highness suffered such hardships every time?' She looked at him with a pitiful expression. "Iana." Charles called out in a low voice. Iana knew what he meant and lowered her tail first. "I'll be careful from now on." "What?" Charles asked with a smile. "You're saying that because I suddenly used magic in front of His Majesty the Emperor, right?" When Iana said cautiously, he gently took her hand. "As you can see, in the Imperial Palace, a single word or action can become a reason for attack." "I'll be careful, but I won't just stand by and watch Your Highness suffer." "Will the Archmage disobey the lord's orders?" Charles glared with a displeased face. Iana looked down at his hand holding hers and said. "You're not speaking as a lord right now, are you?" "What?" "I'm saying don't worry. Every word, every glance, I thought deeply before acting." Iana smiled brightly, as if telling him not to worry. "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived." At that moment, the drawing room door opened and the Empress entered. Iana and Charles rose from their seats. "Please, sit down." The Empress sat down, and the two also took their seats. "I heard that The First Order of Knights will be guarding the Imperial Palace?" Charles answered at the Empress' words. "Yes. His Majesty the Emperor has ordered it to be so for the time being." The Empress quietly looked at Iana and Charles before carefully speaking. "There are many rumors circulating, but I am on your side." "We will also follow Her Majesty the Empress' will." Charles bowed briefly. "Thank you." The three talked about the events that had occurred. The war in Ervin and the North. The monsters that appeared in the capital. And how Riel entered the Imperial Palace and gained the Emperor's favor. The Empress drank her tea and casually asked a question. "I have something to ask Your Highness, how did you know about Riel's plan and give me a hint?" "That's......" Charles hesitated and met Iana's eyes. Now that Riel had entered the Imperial Palace, he had to tell the Empress accurately so that she could prepare. Iana nodded as if telling him to speak. "Your Majesty, I have precognitive magic." Clang- The Empress put down her teacup and asked calmly. "Will I be driven out of the Imperial Palace? Because of Lady Riel?" "Pardon?" Iana and Charles looked at the Empress with surprised faces. It was then. "Y-Your Majesty, a guest has come to visit......" The heavy voice of Lady Agnes, the Empress' maid, was heard from outside the door. It was an unusual occurrence. Unless it was an urgent matter, they would never inform the Empress, who was meeting a guest in the drawing room, that another guest had arrived. "What kind of guest?" The Empress asked, puzzled. Iana and Charles also looked at the tightly closed drawing room door. At that moment, an unexpected voice was heard from beyond the drawing room door. "Lady Riel has arrived."
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