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Iana had heard about the shadow merchant through Marcel.
"That bastard first threatened and harassed poor Lady Riel."
When the shadow merchant was first captured by the Rechelles family, he was adamant.
But he slowly realized.
That he had been used and abandoned by Riel.
Once Riel became the Emperor's mistress and the Emperor condoned Riel's past, she no longer cared about the shadow merchant's existence.
In that way, all of Riel's past using Seulanka seemed to be buried.
The problem arose when Seulanka was found in the Empress's food.
Iana, the escort mage, gave a loud order.
"Arrest this man immediately for Imperial Insult Crime!"
Anyone who harmed the Emperor's woman had to be severely punished.
"⋯⋯!"
Riel's pupils shook violently.
The confident Riel's eyes were filled with panic.
If she was arrested by the Imperial Guards directly under the Emperor, she would inevitably be questioned by the Emperor.
If the shadow merchant confessed about Seulanka there, it was only a matter of time before Riel became involved in the Empress's incident.
'Riel, you wouldn't have known. That the shadow merchant would appear so publicly like this.'
Iana had revealed the shadow merchant's face to prevent Riel from using any tricks.
Just as the escort knights were about to drag the shadow merchant away.
Riel suppressed her boiling anger and spoke.
"⋯⋯I will forgive him."
Everyone's eyes were on Riel.
Riel continued, forcing a smile.
"It seems he only did it out of youthful justice."
Iana immediately accepted Riel's words as if she had been waiting for them.
"If that is Lady Riel's wish, then I must follow it."
Iana and Riel locked eyes intensely for a fleeting moment.
It was then.
The Empress slowly walked towards the two of them and said.
"That cannot be. He harmed Lady Riel."
"⋯⋯."
"His Majesty the Emperor will be greatly angered if he finds out."
The Empress ordered the escort knight.
"Take that man away now. I will question him myself."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The escort knight answered with precision.
The Empress looked at the disheveled Riel for a moment and said to the orphanage director.
"It seems Lady Riel has suffered a terrible ordeal while helping me, please guide her to a place to freshen up."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress."
The director, having finished answering, approached Riel.
"Madam, please come this way."
For a fleeting moment, Riel brushed past Iana and glared at her with fierce eyes.
Iana responded with a smiling face.
✦ ✦ ✦
Meanwhile, at that time, in the hunting grounds of the mountain.
Whee-eek-.
The arrow shot by the Emperor narrowly missed the bird sitting on the tree.
Flap flap.
The startled birds quickly flew away.
The Emperor had a very annoyed look on his face after failing to hunt in succession.
[The situation in the North is more serious than expected.]
Charles recalled the letter he had received from Aden and pondered a solution.
Then Duke Havel spoke with a benevolent smile.
"There are days when hunting is particularly difficult."
The leader of The Nine, who was next to him, added.
"That's right. There are days when the animals' senses become more sensitive."
The Emperor drew his bow again and aimed at a flying bird. But as it was not easy, he lowered the bow he was holding.
"It seems that's the case."
"Then, how about scheduling something else instead of hunting?"
At the Emperor's words, Duke Havel naturally changed the subject.
Charles could immediately understand his intention.
'He's trying to take the Emperor to the orphanage. To give Lady Riel strength.'
The Emperor had never participated in an orphanage event before.
But if the Emperor appeared on the day Riel visited the orphanage, people would surely think that the Emperor came because of Riel.
"Another schedule?"
The Emperor's voice was filled with curiosity.
Duke Havel continued calmly.
"Hasn't Her Majesty the Empress had some unsettling incidents? Because of that, strange rumors have spread."
"So?"
The Emperor asked.
"How about going to the orphanage that Her Majesty the Empress visited today? The orphanage is not far from here."
As soon as Duke Havel finished speaking, the Emperor immediately asked Charles a question.
"Charles, what do you think?"
Charles looked at Duke Havel for a moment before answering as if he were being deceived.
"That seems like a good idea too."
✦ ✦ ✦
Inside the orphanage director's office, Riel was being helped by a maid to wipe off the egg stains on her clothes and hair.
While the maid, who had been brought from the Imperial Palace, went to get some clothes to change into, Riel was lost in thought.
'What should I do? Duke Havel will bring the Emperor here⋯⋯.'
Riel stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror.
Everything had become a mess because of Iana.
Riel's hands trembled with rising anger.
Squeak-.
At that moment, the door opened slightly without any sign of anyone.
"Who dares to⋯⋯ without my permission."
When Riel turned her gaze towards the door, Iana was standing there holding a piece of clothing.
It was a shabby, gray dress that even commoner women would wear at a glance.
Iana approached and placed the clothes she had brought on the table and said.
"Since you said with your own mouth that you came here to help Her Majesty the Empress, wear this and help her."
Riel sat on the sofa and drank the warm tea that had been prepared.
"Iana, this is why you can't do it."
"What?"
"Your attacks are always simple and childish."
"That's what works best for you. Riel, don't you still know my intentions?
Iana leaned over and whispered in Riel's ear.
"I have no intention of executing you all at once. You have to feel it too."
"⋯⋯."
"The injustice of being framed. The chilling sense of betrayal. And even the futility of losing everything and dying. You have to experience all the emotions you gave to others."
'I can't be dragged around by Iana like this.'
She had to shake Iana to make up for today's mistake.
Riel slowly rose from her seat and opened her mouth in a low voice.
"Iana, this is your last chance. Kill me now."
"⋯⋯."
"If you don't kill me now, I will kill you painfully. Like the cat you cherished in the Marquess's estate, and like the wishing tree you planted to heal your illness."
Before Riel became a nursing maid, the young Iana took care of the cat in the backyard of the Marquess's estate like a close friend.
"That cat was my only friend until you came."
"You killed that cat?"
Iana looked at Riel with a shocked face.
"No. You, Iana, killed it. If you hadn't given the cat affection for no reason, it wouldn't have died at my hands."
"What?"
As Riel intended, Iana reacted emotionally to the story of the cat.
Riel took advantage of the momentum and shook Iana.
"I killed everything you gave affection to like that. I had to be the only one you had affection for."
"⋯⋯."
"That way, the sickly you would be completely subordinate to me."
"⋯⋯."
Iana's eyes changed sharply.
Riel brought Iana's right hand, from which magical power was emanating, to her neck.
"So kill me now!"
The hand that Iana grabbed Riel's neck with tightened.
Riel looked at Iana like that and sneered inwardly.
It was then.
Iana released the hand that had been holding Riel's neck and stroked Riel's hair, which was soaked in egg.
"Riel, I'll kill you later. Right now⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
"You smell too much."
Iana sneered and scoffed.
In the end, Riel, unable to contain her anger, grabbed Iana's hair tightly.
"Shut up! Iana."
"See? Childish attacks work on you."
Iana laughed feebly as if she were teasing Riel.
Knock knock.
Along with the sound of knocking on the door, the voice of an escort knight was heard.
"Archmage."
At the escort knight's voice, Riel quickly lowered the hand that had been grabbing Iana's hair.
Iana looked at the scene with a sneer and gave an order.
"Speak from there."
At Iana's command, the escort knight conveyed the message.
"His Majesty the Emperor is coming here from the hunting grounds now."
"⋯⋯!"
Riel's pupils shook slightly.
Before she could find a way to deal with the shadow merchant, the Emperor had arrived earlier than expected.
Iana whispered softly to the flustered Riel.
"Riel, I'll tell you in advance in case you misunderstand. His Majesty the Emperor is coming here not because of Duke Havel."
"What?"
"It's because of Grand Duke Ervin, who knows all your plans."
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