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"Carrion Dietrian, head of the investigation team, greets His Majesty the Emperor."
Carrion's greeting caused a stir in the hall.
Iana quietly observed Riel.
Throughout her past and present lives, Riel had never looked so furious and bewildered.
At that moment, Iana and Riel's eyes met intensely.
Iana conveyed a message with her eyes.
'Riel, you were so confident in your ability to see through and manipulate people's hearts, weren't you? That's what tripped you up.'
The Emperor asked with a doubtful tone, "Count Dietrian, how can you be the one to prove this man's testimony?"
Carrion spoke in a calm voice, "I came to know him while investigating Seulanka."
"What? Are you saying this man is connected to the Seulanka that came from the Empress's food?"
The Emperor's expression turned sharp.
"I haven't uncovered that far yet."
Duke Havel objected to Carrion's words.
"Count Dietrian, are you saying you came to this place without any conclusive evidence?"
Carrion turned his gaze towards Riel and continued, "I have clearly uncovered one thing. That she delivered Seulanka to Lady Riel, and together they killed a sculptor's assistant named Raul with it."
"⋯⋯!"
People were greatly shocked and murmured at the mention of Riel killing someone.
Carrion pressed on as if unleashing his pent-up anger.
"That's not the end of it. When Lady Riel was a maid in our family, a family heirloom was ruined because of Seulanka, and this time, Seulanka was found in Her Majesty the Empress's food."
"⋯⋯."
"Is it really a coincidence that Seulanka appears wherever Lady Riel goes?"
It was then.
"Haha."
Riel, who had been listening quietly, laughed loudly.
"Riel!"
The Emperor called out to her in an annoyed tone, as if trying to stop her.
Riel spoke with a smile on her lips, "Your Majesty, isn't it truly coincidental?"
Riel looked at Iana, Carrion, and the Empress in turn, and said sarcastically, "Iana Archmage, who believes I stole her husband, Count Dietrian, who believes His Majesty the Emperor stole me, and..."
"⋯⋯."
"Even Her Majesty the Empress, who believes I stole His Majesty the Emperor from her. Isn't it called collusion when those with the same goal gather and conspire?"
"How dare you call Her Majesty the Empress's actions collusion?"
A minister from the Empress's side shouted loudly, and Duke Havel retorted, "Your Majesty, this is clearly slander from those who harbor animosity towards Lady Riel."
"⋯⋯."
The Emperor was silent with a confused expression.
Riel's expression became more relaxed as she managed to prevent the Emperor's heart from leaning towards the Empress's side to some extent.
Iana looked at Riel and thought, 'Riel, I'll do what I learned from you from now on.'
Iana spoke firmly to the Emperor, "I speak as the imperial archmage in charge of His Majesty's protection."
"⋯⋯."
"Is it possible that an assassination attempt could only happen to Her Majesty the Empress?"
She shook the anxiety deeply rooted in the Emperor's heart.
On the premise that Riel might be the culprit who put Seulanka in the Empress's food.
Sometimes, deep anxiety can be shaken even by a small possibility.
"⋯⋯!"
As expected, the Emperor's eyes wandered.
"Iana Archmage, how dare you say such insolent words to His Majesty!"
Duke Havel retorted loudly.
Iana did not back down and countered, "A protector must keep all dangerous possibilities open and act accordingly, His Grace, Duke Havel!"
"Enough!"
The Emperor shouted, pressing his temples as if he had a headache.
Silence fell in the conference hall for a moment.
"I will end today's meeting here."
The Emperor walked out of the conference room, supported by his secretary.
At that moment, Iana and Charles made eye contact. Charles sent a signal with his eyes and followed the Emperor.
Duke Havel approached Iana and Carrion and warned in a low voice, "Count Dietrian, you will surely regret today's choice."
Carrion looked at Riel standing in front of him and said with a serious face, "I am already regretting it."
"⋯⋯."
"I regret getting involved without knowing what kind of person Lady Riel is."
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana and Carrion walked out of the conference hall.
Carrion followed Iana and spoke in a friendly tone, "I was contacted suddenly last night, so I almost couldn't make it today."
"It's fortunate that you arrived on time."
Iana replied in an indifferent voice.
It was then.
"You two seem very affectionate."
Iana and Carrion stopped and turned around at Riel's voice.
Riel walked towards them with a smiling face and said, "Count Dietrian, is this a sense of debt towards Iana?"
"What?"
Carrion frowned.
The gazes of the ministers and elders in the hallway were focused on the three of them.
Riel, conscious of the people's attention, raised her voice as if trying to humiliate them.
"When did you say that you felt a horrifying disgust at even touching Iana, and now you're taking the side of your ex-wife? I'm just saying it's funny."
"When did I ever say anything like that about Iana to you?"
Carrion, agitated, cursed in a low voice.
"Count Dietrian, watch your words. I am currently carrying His Majesty's child."
Riel sneered.
Iana, who had been watching quietly, slowly opened her mouth.
"Lady Riel, you seem to only receive love from many men, so you don't seem to know."
"What do you mean I don't know, Iana Archmage?"
Riel asked as if it were ridiculous.
Iana approached Riel closely and spoke in the same tone as Riel, "Pregnancy is not a weapon. Not to a man who has lost affection for a woman."
"What?"
Riel's eyes turned sharp.
"That was His Majesty's expression earlier. A horrifyingly disgusted expression at even touching Lady Riel."
Iana scoffed with a look of disgust.
"Iana."
Riel called her name lowly, gritting her teeth. Iana also retorted in a small voice.
"So don't loiter in front of me and go to His Majesty the Emperor."
"⋯⋯."
"If you don't want to be abandoned while pregnant."
Flames flickered in the eyes of Iana and Riel as they looked at each other.
✦ ✦ ✦
Meanwhile, inside the Emperor's office.
The Emperor was sitting at his desk, covering his forehead with his hand, as if he had a severe headache.
Charles quietly watched him from the front.
Creak-.
The door opened, and the secretary came in with a tray containing medicine and water.
"Your Majesty, I have brought the medicine."
"Okay."
The Emperor hesitated as the secretary handed him the medicine packet.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
A deep anxiety was in the Emperor's eyes.
Charles thought as he looked at the Emperor's expression.
"Is it possible that an assassination attempt could only happen to Her Majesty the Empress?"
'Iana's words made the Emperor uneasy.'
Thud-.
The Emperor put the medicine packet down on the desk.
"It's okay. I'll be fine if I rest a little."
"Yes? Yes, Your Majesty."
The secretary bowed and took the medicine packet out.
"Your Majesty, are you sure you don't want to take the medicine?"
Charles asked quietly, checking the Emperor's condition.
The Emperor, with a thoughtful face, said as if throwing it out, "Charles, proceed quickly."
Charles asked with a puzzled look at the Emperor's out-of-context words.
"What are you talking about?"
"The theocratic political system."
The Emperor got up from his seat and approached Charles, saying, "I must have strong power so that no one dares to attack me."
"⋯⋯."
"If they regard me as a god, they won't attempt assassination."
The Emperor smiled twistedly with murderous eyes.
'The Emperor is not normal.'
The expression felt bizarre and grotesque to Charles's eyes.
At that moment, Iana's words came to Charles's mind.
"You can just say there are signs of a coup in the North."
Charles, who had been lost in thought, opened his mouth quietly.
"Your Majesty, it seems that there are those in the northern region who are dissatisfied with the imperial family due to the ongoing war."
"What?"
"How about sending troops to the North to set an example first?"
Charles knew well.
That any soldier with a duty would have no choice but to unite with the surrounding soldiers in a critical moment when monsters attacked.
Silence flowed between the two. A tense tension flowed.
After a while, the Emperor, who had been contemplating, gave an order as if he had made up his mind.
"Send troops to the North. Right now."
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