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If Only You Were Gone 'Riel came here?' A strange light flickered in Iana's eyes. "She must know we're here." Charles's words prompted the Empress to respond. "We should hear what she has to say. Let her in." At the Empress's command, the doors to the drawing-room slowly opened. Riel entered the drawing-room with a demure air. Iana and Riel's gazes briefly locked. Riel approached and bowed her head to the Empress. "Riel Estina greets Your Majesty." The Empress, betraying no emotion, asked with a calm face, "Lady Riel, what urgent matter brings you here?" "I have something important to discuss with Your Majesty, so I came despite knowing you had guests." 'Riel, you're trying to play some trick.' Iana thought, watching Riel. Riel's impulsive actions always had an ulterior motive. "That is…" Riel hesitated, bowing her head slightly, prompting Charles to urge her on. "Her Majesty has told you to speak." "Mrs. Alisa has been badly hurt." "Mrs. Alisa is hurt?" The Empress asked, a hint of surprise on her face. Riel slowly raised her head and gazed at Iana. "Mrs. Alisa was struck in the face. By the water glass I was holding…" "What? Struck by the water glass you were holding? Did Lady Riel throw it?" The Empress's expression hardened. Charles leaned back in his chair, watching the unfolding situation. "Mrs. Alisa made insulting remarks to me, and I couldn't bear it." Riel didn't try to hide her crime but readily admitted it. At that sight, Iana raised one corner of her lips. 'Riel, you've come to warn me.' A warning and a declaration of war that she would do the same to Iana. Iana slowly rose from her seat and said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, Lady Riel seems quite agitated. May I soothe her for a moment?" "…" "Out of consideration for our old friendship." Charles looked up at her with a worried expression. Iana gestured that she was fine. "Do so. Out of consideration for your old friendship." With the Empress's permission, Iana and Riel left the drawing-room. The two walked down the hallway in silence. Only the heavy sound of their footsteps echoed through the corridor. Then, Iana stopped in front of a large portrait of the Emperor hanging in the center of the hallway. The Emperor, in uniform, sat on the throne with a solemn expression. Iana, her eyes fixed on the portrait, opened her mouth in a friendly tone. "His Majesty the Emperor and Your Highness are so alike, aren't they?" "His Majesty said so. That the two of you are the most alike among the siblings." Riel also spoke in a friendly tone. As if they were still friends. "Is that why? Your Highness's feelings for His Majesty the Emperor are so special." "Too bad. It doesn't seem like His Majesty the Emperor feels the same way." Iana said lightly, as if tossing it off. "If only you were gone." "What?" Riel looked at Iana with sharp eyes. "If only you disappeared, the two of them would have a special relationship." Iana took a step closer to Riel. Riel didn't flinch, but her face showed she was wary of Iana using magical power. Iana put her hands to her mouth and whispered, as she often did to Riel when they were young. "Actually, that's why I came to the Imperial Palace. To get rid of you." "Is that so? Then go ahead and try." Riel said, slowly stroking Iana's cheek. "Just remember, you won't get away with just a water glass to the face." Iana, who had been quietly watching Riel's actions, quietly chanted a spell. In that instant, a blue shield surrounded the two of them. "W-What are you doing?" Riel was startled and reflexively lowered her hand, stepping back. As Riel moved away, Iana approached her and issued a warning. "Climb as high as you can." "…" "The higher you are, the more miserable the fall will be." Flames flickered in the eyes of the two women as they stared at each other. ✦ ✦ ✦ That night, Iana unpacked in the two-story annex on the second floor, where she had been assigned. Her quarters were in the west annex, while Riel was staying in the east annex. 'How can I get Riel away from His Majesty the Emperor as quickly as possible?' Riel was already enjoying the Emperor's favor. Even knowing she had approached him intentionally, the Emperor summoned Riel to his bedchamber every night. Iana racked her brains, but a good idea eluded her. "Ha…" Frustrated, she went to the window. Whoosh-. As she opened the window, the cool night air rushed into the room. "That's better." Iana leaned against the window frame, her arms folded. Then, she saw a familiar silhouette in the distance. An imposing physique and a composed gait. She recognized him at a glance, even from afar. It was Charles. "Grand Duke…" Iana was about to wave happily, but she stopped when he halted. The moonlight cast on his face was darker than the night sky. Looking back, Charles's expression had been heavy ever since he arrived at the Imperial Palace. 'Is it because of His Majesty the Emperor? Or is he thinking of the late Empress?' Iana looked at him with a worried expression, then a good idea suddenly struck her. She quietly chanted a spell and summoned a firebird. Whoosh-. The firebird flew through the air and stopped above Charles's head. As if to let him know he wasn't alone. Only then did a bright smile spread across Charles's dark face. One step. Two steps. The firebird brightly illuminated the path he was taking. A moment later, Charles looked up at the window and playfully chided her. "Are you going to waste magical power like this?" "I saw an ugly face, so I got a little energized." She also leaned on the window frame and retorted with a joke. The two simply looked at each other for a moment without speaking. Silence was no longer awkward between them. Iana had been in a constant state of tension since arriving at the Imperial Palace. She felt like she was walking on thin ice because of the Emperor, who could change at any moment, and she was on edge to confront Riel. But the moment she faced Charles, her tension melted away. Without realizing it, Iana rested her face on her folded arms and looked at him. After staring at her for a long time, Charles asked in a low voice, "Iana, shall I come up?" "Yes?" Iana hesitated for a moment. If the two, plagued by rumors of adultery, shared a room without being married, there was no telling what other rumors would spread. There was a clear reason to refuse, but the Imperial Palace was too large and lonely. She thought Charles might feel the same way. Iana mustered her courage and conveyed her honest feelings. "I would like you to come up." With her permission, Charles ran to the entrance of the annex. Iana left the door slightly ajar and waited for Charles. A moment later, the door opened with the sound of his footsteps. The moment Charles entered and the door closed. He cupped Iana's face and kissed her deeply. She also wrapped her arms around his neck and accepted him. An intense kiss followed under the moonlight. Charles effortlessly lifted her into his arms and laid her on the bed. Iana gently closed her eyes at his gentle touch. The first day in the cold and desolate Imperial Palace. Familiar warmth spread through the unfamiliar space. A hot but comforting warmth… ✦ ✦ ✦ The next morning, Iana and Charles toured the Imperial Palace. While Charles went to inspect the Imperial Palace walls, she used purification magic to remove the Arika Vine that had appeared on the Imperial grounds. Then, Baroness Agnes, a maid of the Imperial Palace, approached and said, "Archmage, it seems you need to go to the Empress Palace drawing-room for a moment." "Is Her Majesty the Empress looking for me?" Iana tilted her head. Mrs. Agnes came closer and whispered softly, "Your brother, Marquess Rechelles, has arrived." 'My brother has come to demand answers. About not keeping the promise...' Iana thought for a moment and replied, "Please tell her I'll be there now." A moment later, she removed the Arika Vine from the Imperial Garden and headed to the Empress Palace drawing-room. Creak-. The drawing-room door opened, and Iana entered. Marcel was there alone, drinking tea. His eyes were cold and sharp. Iana approached the table and greeted him. "Brother, it's been a while." Marcel stared at her and slowly rose from his seat. That's when it happened. Smack-. Marcel slapped Iana across the cheek. She felt a sharp pain from how hard she had been hit. Marcel spoke in a hushed voice, as if spitting out the words. "Since you broke the promise first, your divorce is now invalid." Iana lowered the hand that had been covering her cheek and said with a cold face. "Putting Riel on the execution stand. It was you, brother, who failed to fulfill that contract condition first." "That's…" Marcel couldn't answer easily. "Riel, whom you missed due to your mistake, has gained the favor of His Majesty the Emperor. How are you going to put Riel, who is now receiving assistance from Duke Havel, on the execution stand?" "…" "If Riel gains power, she will try to eliminate me and you first. Because we are the people who know her true nature and tried to expose it. So, help me from now on. So that I can enter the Council of nine archmages, whom even His Majesty the Emperor cannot treat carelessly…" "…" "So that I can enter The Nine."
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