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At that moment, Lady Riel was in a carriage, leaving the Imperial Palace and heading to the monastery where she had briefly stayed before.
Her reflection was visible in the carriage window.
A black veil covering her face. A dress in dark, monotonous colors.
She wasn't riding in a lavish imperial carriage like Alisa, nor was she accompanied by several guards.
It was merely an outing permitted by His Majesty the Emperor with the excuse that she wanted to greet the monastery where she had been indebted.
Riel gazed at the scenery outside the Imperial Palace after a long time, recalling Iana Archmage's words.
"Actually, that's why I came to the Imperial Palace. To eliminate you."
She felt an unbearable rage at Iana's provocation.
However, she couldn't rashly attack Iana, who possessed strong magical power.
Moreover, Grand Duke Ervin, with his outstanding strategic skills, was behind Iana.
A moment of crisis.
She also needed a helper.
So, through a healer, she secretly arranged to meet Duke Havel at the monastery.
Had it been an hour? The carriage stopped in front of a small monastery.
Riel looked at the monastery for a moment and smiled faintly.
'I'm meeting his father in the place where I came to escape Franz.'
Monks stood in a line in front of the monastery entrance.
Then, the plump head monk ran over, opened the carriage door, and greeted her.
"Have you arrived? Lady Riel."
The head monk had a greedy impression at first glance.
So, he must have provided a secret place to Duke Havel.
Riel carefully got out of the carriage.
Swoosh-.
As the wind blew, the black veil she was wearing fluttered in the breeze.
She bowed politely.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Head Monk."
"We are more grateful. What have we done for you at the monastery that such a noble person would come all the way here to greet us?"
The head monk made a fuss and guided her inside the building.
Tap, tap.
Her footsteps echoed in the long, dark corridor.
How long had she walked? At the end of the corridor connected to the corner, a small prayer room was visible.
The head monk, standing in front of it, gestured and said.
"I thought you should offer your thanks to God first."
"Then, I will visit you after I pray."
"Yes, please pray sufficiently before coming."
As the head monk walked away, Riel slowly opened the prayer room door.
Creak-.
The moment the door opened, the back of Duke Havel, sitting in a chair and praying, was visible.
Duke Havel, sensing someone's presence, slowly turned around, and their eyes met.
But no one spoke first.
A brief battle of nerves ensued.
'I'm still weaker than Duke Havel.'
Riel bowed politely first.
"Welcome."
Duke Havel received the greeting with his characteristic arrogant expression.
The two sat side by side with a slight distance between them.
Riel slowly lifted her veil and began to speak.
"An unexpected variable has arisen because Grand Duke Ervin is coming."
Duke Havel looked at the statue of God hanging on the wall and said.
"Don't worry about that. The Council of nine archmages will move soon."
"The Council of nine archmages?"
Duke Havel slowly turned his head and looked at Riel.
"Would the archmages of the empire follow the magic taught by an archmage of a mere territory?"
Only then could Riel understand.
Iana Archmage said she came to teach purification magic instead of the archers of The First Order of Knights.
But the archmages of the capital did not appear at the Imperial Palace even after several days.
"The archmages didn't come to the Imperial Palace as a sign of protest."
"They will claim that purification magic is fake along with The Nine. It is said that even magic dogs cannot detect the Arika Vine monsters in the ground, and only archmages can know."
At Duke Havel's words, Riel curled up one corner of her mouth.
"Then Iana Rechelles won't be safe either."
"That mage will be the clue to eliminate them one by one."
"Then?"
Riel noticed the meaning of those words and asked.
"After tying up Grand Duke Ervin's hands and feet, we must attack the Empress."
"⋯⋯."
"As if all of this was planned by the Empress, who pretends to be benevolent, to somehow leave The First Order of Knights in Ervin."
"The Empress trying to win the hearts of the imperial citizens... His Majesty the Emperor must have a great aversion."
The two looked at each other and smiled faintly.
Riel put her hands together and looked at the statue of God, thinking.
'Iana, you're the one who's going to disappear, not me.'
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana was removing Arika Vine in the Imperial Palace's backyard.
Then, the Emperor's elderly secretary came to find her.
"Iana Archmage, His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you."
At the secretary's words, Iana remembered what Charles had said last night.
"He will call you right after I meet His Majesty the Emperor. To threaten you."
Iana quietly followed the secretary.
She thought they would go to the office, but the place where they stopped was in front of the glass greenhouse.
"Unless monsters appear, using magical power here will be punished as treason. Do you understand?"
The secretary gave a warning with an arrogant expression.
At the secretary's sharp warning, Iana looked at the greenhouse and thought.
'Something unusual is happening inside.'
"Answer me."
"Yes. I will keep that in mind."
Creak-.
As Iana answered, the secretary opened the glass greenhouse door.
She stepped inside and walked between the trees.
The clear sound of birds and white butterflies flying leisurely created a peaceful scene, as if she had come to another world.
It was then.
The Emperor's voice was heard from between the hidden trees.
"Here."
The moment Iana turned towards the sound.
"⋯⋯!"
She couldn't continue speaking, her face filled with astonishment.
The Emperor, standing with his back turned, had Charles kneeling and was holding a sword to his neck.
Around them, royal guard knights were holding swords, ready for any situation.
'Has Your Highness been suffering like this until now?'
As Iana stood there with a shocked face, Charles gave a brief wink.
As if he was used to such a situation, he remained composed.
That made her heart ache more and filled her with more anger.
The Emperor turned around and said coldly.
"Iana Archmage, you should greet the Emperor first when you see him."
Iana suppressed her emotions and greeted him politely.
"Iana Ru, greets His Majesty the Emperor."
The Emperor asked with a crazy, eerie look in his eyes.
"How is it?"
"⋯⋯What do you mean?"
"I'm asking how you feel seeing the sword pointed at the neck of your lord and lover."
At the Emperor's words, Charles protested.
"Your Majesty, please stop."
"I wasn't asking you."
The Emperor brought the sword closer to Charles's neck as if threatening him.
"My heart aches. Very much."
Iana spoke while gazing into Charles's eyes.
She meant it.
Although this whole situation was planned by Charles, her heart ached when she saw him suffering.
She knew better than anyone what it was like to have her life threatened by her family.
The Emperor, confirming Iana's expression, gave a twisted smile.
"Is that so? Then I will ask Iana Archmage."
"Ask away."
"I need an archmage to protect the Imperial Palace, and I want you to be my escort mage. How about it?"
"⋯⋯."
Iana looked at Charles and remembered what he had said.
"His Majesty will let you choose on his own. As your escort mage."
'Your Highness knew how the Emperor would move and provoked him.'
"Answer me. Iana Archmage."
The Emperor urged her to answer.
Iana stared straight into the Emperor's eyes and said.
"If you put down that sword, I will follow Your Majesty's will."
"Dare to put conditions on the Emperor's order?"
The Emperor raised the sword high as if to strike.
Filled with anger, Iana's hands trembled. Charles shook his head briefly once again, as if telling her not to worry.
Clang-.
Then, the Emperor threw the sword he was holding to the ground.
"Charles, look. Iana Archmage says she will do as I please, doesn't she?"
"She only responded to Your Majesty's threat."
Charles got up from his seat, dusted himself off, and questioned him.
"Now that the escort mage issue has been resolved, let's play chess properly."
The Emperor sat down on the chair as if nothing had happened.
The knights around him ran over and picked up the chessboard that had fallen on the floor, arranging it on the table.
Meanwhile, Charles gestured for her to leave.
Iana greeted the Emperor and walked out of the greenhouse.
Although things went as she wanted, her steps were heavy.
The image of the Emperor holding a sword to Charles's neck kept coming to her mind.
Just as Iana was walking near the greenhouse, a familiar voice was heard.
"What's going on here?"
Iana raised her head and saw Riel standing in front of her.
In an instant, Iana's eyes turned sharp.
"His Majesty the Emperor called me. So, I'm on my way back after meeting him."
"What for?"
At Riel's sharp voice, Iana said with a smiling face.
"His Majesty appointed me. As His Majesty's escort mage."
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