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“The last defense line in the Lauren region has been breached.”
“Then it’s only a matter of time before they storm the capital.”
Iana looked at Charles with a surprised expression.
Charles spoke with a thoughtful face.
“I thought they would hold out for a few more days, but the defense line was breached sooner than expected. What about the noble families’ troops?”
“All the troops from the noble families who were sent summons will arrive by tomorrow morning.”
The knight looked at Iana and said,
“And Rechelles’ magic legion has just arrived.”
At the knight’s words, a good idea flashed through Iana’s mind.
“Your Highness, please send me and the support troops, including the magic legion, to the border area of the Lauren region. There are refugees in front of the outer castle, so we can’t fight there.”
“⋯⋯.”
“We’ll buy time until all the noble families’ troops arrive.”
Iana answered with a wink.
She was planning to buy time until the front lines of the outer castle were ready, but she also had the purpose of helping the refugees and the rebel forces.
“Let’s do that. As soon as other troops arrive, I will send them to the border area.”
Charles, who had been contemplating, made a firm decision.
But his face was full of worry as he looked at her.
“Then I’ll prepare right away.”
Iana gave a small smile as if to tell him not to worry and went out of the watchtower.
Looking at the inside of the outer castle from the wall, the Rechelles family’s flag came into her sight.
Iana headed straight for it.
When she came down from the wall and arrived in front of the magic legion, she saw Marcel.
Marcel was standing there with a determined face, wearing a familiar blue cloak.
Iana thought as she looked at him.
'That cloak is what Father used to wear.'
According to the Archmage Merit Succession System, Marcel could also be promoted to Archmage, but he had not yet been appointed.
Still, Iana was going to try to understand her brother a little.
Marcel wearing his father’s cloak was because of his brother’s earnest desire to carry on his father’s reputation.
As Iana approached, Marcel asked with an unbelievable face.
“Iana, have you really become the commander of the magic forces?"
“Yes. Anyway, the magic legion will depart for the Lauren border area right now.”
“Our magic legion must protect the outer castle. As befits its reputation, as the last bastion.”
Marcel shouted as if he had been treated unfairly.
There was fear in the eyes of her brother, who was angry.
He wanted to enjoy the status and reputation of the Archmage, but he was afraid of war and wanted to avoid responsibility and duty.
That was why someone who lacked ability should not become an Archmage.
So Iana, who had been trying to understand Marcel, changed her mind.
“Marquess Rechelles.”
“What?”
Marcel frowned strongly.
Iana said in a cold voice.
“I am not asking for Marquess Rechelles’ opinion now, but giving an order.”
“⋯⋯.”
“As the commander of the magic forces.”
✦ ✦ ✦
About an hour had passed.
In front of the castle gate, troops from five noble families, including the Rechelles family’s magic legion, and 20 mages had finished preparing to depart.
Iana stood at the front, followed by Marcel.
“Then please be careful.”
Charles said with a calm face.
But Iana knew.
He was trying hard to pretend to be calm.
Iana also bowed her head briefly without revealing her emotions.
Charles gestured towards the castle wall, and the sound of a horn echoed in the outer castle.
Boo-ooo-oong.
Along with the sound of the horn, the outer castle gate slowly opened.
In the gap, a scuffle broke out between the refugees and the guards trying to enter the castle.
“Are you telling us to die when the monsters are attacking?”
“Please let the children in, at least! Please!”
The refugees, terrified of the monsters, continued to scream.
But no one could easily step forward.
As soon as they entered the castle gate, they had to be killed by the Emperor’s order.
As the guards blocked the refugees and made a path, Iana shouted from the front.
“Let’s go.”
Thump, thump, thump.
The troops lined up in a long line and ran out of the castle gate.
The view was completely blurred by the strong dust storm.
As another large-scale support force headed to the Lauren region, the faces of the refugees gathered in front of the castle gate darkened.
Thump, thump, thump.
Iana quickly spurred her horse, passed the plains in front of the castle gate, and entered the mountain path.
The procession of refugees continued along the road to the Lauren region.
'This is a big problem. There seem to be far more refugees than expected⋯⋯.'
With a worried heart, Iana quickly rode towards the Lauren border area.
✦ ✦ ✦
Night fell on the outer castle of the capital.
As it became dawn past midnight, pitch-black darkness spread over the outer castle.
Charles tried to get some sleep, but he couldn’t fall asleep at all. Soon, he left his lodgings and stood on the castle wall, looking at the place where Iana had left.
'How far has she gone by now?'
He realized anew that it was difficult to hide his worries.
Iana had strong magical power and had now become a proper commander of the magic forces.
He should never treat her like a woman, but that wasn’t as easy as he thought.
Then a knight approached and spoke to him.
“Your Highness, why are you out here?"
“I can’t sleep.”
“The Winsten Count family’s soldiers have just arrived.”
“They said they would arrive tomorrow morning, but they must have hurried.”
Just as Charles was wondering how to send additional troops to the Lauren border area.
“Huh? Over there.”
The knight pointed to a mountain in the distance. Charles followed his hand and shifted his gaze.
“What about that place?”
“I thought I saw a light flash just now.”
“A light?”
Charles looked at that place carefully once again.
It was that moment.
A huge pillar of blue light soared from the mountain.
Flash-.
For a moment, the night sky turned as bright as day.
Seeing that, Charles could tell instinctively.
'It’s definitely Iana.'
“All troops, prepare for battle!”
At Charles’ shout, the bugler blew the horn in succession.
Boo. Boo. Boo.
The soldiers in the castle moved in an orderly manner.
Archers from The First Order of Knights, who would fire magic arrows, were deployed forward, and cavalrymen who would provide support gathered in front of the castle gate.
Charles focused his gaze on the direction of the light.
Flash-.
Again, a blue light appeared and disappeared in the mountains.
The blue light was gradually approaching the outer castle.
'She’s retreating.'
In Charles’ eyes, who was about to give an order, came the refugees and knights who were agitated outside the castle gate.
“Please save us!”
The refugees ran to the castle gate in fear of the monsters.
'If the monsters push down here⋯⋯.'
The refugees and support troops could not fight a siege battle together, and it was obvious that there would be a large number of casualties.
But there was no contact from Aden’s rebel forces, who would protect the refugees.
Charles fell into deep thought.
But the conclusion was quick.
“When I give the order, open the castle gate.”
At Charles’ order, the knight said with a worried face.
“But His Majesty the Emperor ordered that no one be allowed into the capital⋯⋯.”
“If we leave them there, we won’t be able to fight properly, and then we won’t be able to protect the capital.”
Charles turned his head and quietly ordered another knight of The First Order of Knights next to him.
“You guys, prevent Duke Havel’s troops from rebelling.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The knights of The First Order of Knights hurriedly went down below the castle wall.
Charles also immediately moved towards the castle gate.
As expected. Troops from the Emperor’s close aides, including the Havel family, rebelled.
“Your Highness, this is disobedience to the Imperial order!"
“We cannot obey!”
Charles, who had been watching quietly, gave an order in a cold voice.
“The troops from the families who rebel against my orders will be sent as support troops first.”
Until now, the troops from the Emperor’s close aide families had received the privilege of being excluded from difficult battles even if they participated in the war.
Charles attacked that point.
“⋯⋯!”
Those who had been rebelling became silent for a moment.
“From now on, anyone who disobeys my orders will be executed immediately.”
As Charles gestured, the knights of The First Order of Knights, holding swords, surrounded those who were rebelling.
No one could rebel anymore.
In the silence, Charles gave a short order.
“Open the castle gate.”
Boo-ooo-oong.
Along with the sound of the horn, the heavy castle gate slowly opened.
Charles knew very well.
The moment that castle gate opened, his future would be swept up in an unpredictable vortex.
But he was more desperate for Iana’s safety than his own.
The safety of his lover, who had strong magical power but was scarred and childlike⋯⋯
Flash-.
Through the opened castle gate, a pillar of blue light soared far away.
The safety of his lover, who had strong magical power but was scarred and childlike⋯⋯
Flash-.
Through the opened castle gate, a pillar of blue light soared far away.
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