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How long had they traveled? Riel and Duke Havel's carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace was surrounded by hundreds of soldiers.
Riel and Duke Havel had just reached the entrance of the Imperial Palace when...
The Emperor, wearing an overcoat, walked out of the Imperial Palace with the leader of The Nine.
A large carriage and the Imperial Guard were waiting in front.
'The Emperor is planning to flee, thinking only of saving himself.'
The Emperor recognized Riel and asked with a displeased expression.
"Why have you returned?"
Duke Havel stepped forward in Riel's place and spoke.
"Currently, not only monsters but also refugees are rioting. I thought the Imperial Palace would be the safest place, so I came with her."
"Refugees are rioting?"
The Emperor's eyes shook greatly with anxiety.
The leader of The Nine and the Captain of the Guard, who were listening from behind, wore puzzled expressions as it was something they hadn't been informed about.
However, they didn't seem to be able to question Duke Havel's words.
"I will avoid being conspicuous and only seek refuge. For me and the child..."
Riel didn't even make eye contact with the Emperor.
As if she had no lingering feelings for the Emperor.
The Emperor glared at her with a resentful expression.
Duke Havel spoke firmly, as if trying to divert the attention.
"Your Majesty, before you flee, you must hold Grand Duke Ervin accountable for disobeying the Imperial order."
Duke Havel gave a signal, and the leader of The Nine added.
"That's right. This matter must be dealt with severely as an example."
"Those filthy things with Arika Vine are rampaging through the capital..."
The Emperor muttered with a terrified expression.
Riel signaled Duke Havel to press him harder.
Duke Havel understood her intention and shook the Emperor more strongly.
"Therefore, he must be held accountable. Because of Grand Duke Ervin, not only the capital but also the southern region where Your Majesty is fleeing has become dangerous."
The Emperor, whose anxiety had reached its peak, hesitated for a moment before issuing an order.
"Execute Grand Duke Ervin immediately. For the crime of disobeying the Imperial order."
"..."
A smile spread across Riel and Duke Havel's faces.
"Also, kill everyone who entered the castle with the filthy Arika Vine!"
It was then.
"That cannot be."
Turning towards the voice, the Empress was walking towards the Imperial Palace with a knight.
"Empress, I greet Your Majesty."
Everyone, including Riel and Duke Havel, bowed simultaneously.
The Emperor said in a sharp voice.
"This is not a place for the Empress to interfere."
The Empress spoke in a steady voice.
"Your Majesty, a messenger has just arrived from the outer walls of the capital."
"..."
"Grand Duke Ervin has led the battle to victory."
"…!"
At the Empress's words, not only Riel and Duke Havel but also the leader of The Nine wore surprised expressions.
Duke Havel suppressed his emotions and asked in a questioning voice.
"Your Majesty, is that true?"
"Would I, as the Empress, lie before Your Majesty?"
After finishing her words, the Empress's gaze turned to Riel. As if she, like Riel, did not lie.
The Empress and Riel's gazes clashed intensely.
Duke Havel said firmly.
"Even so, if we do not punish someone who has disobeyed the Imperial order, it will damage the dignity of His Majesty the Emperor."
The Empress countered strongly at Duke Havel's words.
"Shouldn't you give the commander who led the battle to victory a chance to explain himself?"
"But..."
The leader of The Nine interjected, but the Empress cut him off.
"We don't know when the monsters will attack again, so immediately executing a capable commander is not the right thing to do."
The Emperor hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I will withdraw the execution order for Grand Duke Ervin."
"Your Majesty!"
Duke Havel and the leader of The Nine protested simultaneously.
"However, immediately arrest Grand Duke Ervin and investigate the reason for disobeying the Imperial order. Then, I will decide whether to execute him or not."
"I will send soldiers to the outer walls immediately."
The Captain of the Guard, who was standing behind, answered and headed towards the gate.
The Emperor turned around and walked into the Imperial Palace. The Empress and her secretaries followed behind.
The leader of The Nine hesitated between the Emperor and Duke Havel before chasing after the Emperor.
Duke Havel watched the scene and said.
"The situation is flowing in a different direction than expected."
Riel stared at the Empress's back with sharp eyes and opened her mouth.
"It's because of an unexpected variable. So, when there's no one to help..."
"..."
"Shouldn't we eliminate the variable first?"
✦ ✦ ✦
Around that time, Iana, who had lost consciousness, slowly opened her eyes.
The blurry vision gradually became clearer.
Charles's face was the first thing she saw, along with the unfamiliar room.
Charles was sitting next to the bed, looking down at her, and asked.
"Are you awake?"
"Ugh!"
Iana felt a headache that seemed to shatter her head for a moment.
"Healer, call the healer!"
Charles said to the door.
Iana endured the headache and asked.
"What happened to the monsters?"
"No monsters have appeared since then."
After a while, the healer approached and examined Iana's condition.
"There are no injuries on your body, but it's a side effect of receiving strong magical power all at once."
"..."
"You shouldn't use magical power and should rest until your body recovers."
After the healer left, Iana suddenly had an idea and struggled to sit up.
"I told you to lie down."
Despite Charles's dissuasion, Iana asked in a low voice.
"What happened to Aden the priest?"
Instead of answering, Charles hugged her tightly.
The two were silent.
Iana could intuitively tell.
'In the end, Aden the priest didn't come in. Then what happens now?'
The crime of disobeying the Emperor's order was a great crime that could be punished with immediate execution.
It was clear that her political enemies would never let this opportunity pass.
Charles, who was holding Iana tightly in his arms, looked at her face and spoke meaningfully.
"Iana, listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"Yes."
Iana's eyes shook with unease.
"Now that the Emperor knows I'm not obeying, he won't leave me alone."
"..."
"Duke Havel's side will see it as an opportunity to eliminate me and launch an offensive."
"Then what do we do?"
Iana asked with a desperate look.
But Charles only looked at Iana with a faint gaze and said nothing.
"Yes?"
Iana urged him to answer with an anxious heart.
Charles whispered softly in her ear.
"Abandon me."
"What?"
Iana wore a surprised expression at the unexpected words.
"You and I can only live if you abandon me."
Charles's eyes were firm.
"I don't understand what you mean."
Charles gently held Iana's confused hands.
"The Emperor will be afraid that monsters will attack again at any time. So he will try to take me hostage and wield you, who has strong magical power."
"..."
"If you are swayed because of me, you will end up being used and killed."
Iana, who was listening to his story, said with a thoughtful face.
"Are you saying?"
"Be as arrogant as possible. As if you are the only one who can stop the mutant monsters."
"..."
"Hold out until Aden comes in and open the gate. No matter what happens to me."
No matter what happens.
All sorts of ominous thoughts flashed through Iana's mind at those words.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, there was a hurried knock on the door.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Guard has arrived."
"…!"
Iana looked at Charles with a surprised face.
He kissed Iana's forehead briefly and said with a calm face.
"Then I'll be going."
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana changed into her Wizard Robe despite the healer's dissuasion and headed towards the front of the castle gate.
"Ugh!"
Her head ached as if it would break again, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.
It was only to see Charles leave.
She repeated dozens of times that it wasn't true, but she was overcome with anxiety that it might really be the last time.
Knights and refugees were watching in front of her.
"Grand Duke Ervin, who disobeyed the Imperial order, is being transferred to the Imperial Palace!"
At the Captain of the Guard's order, the knights roughly put Charles into the transport carriage.
As if to shame him in front of the onlookers.
The Captain of the Guard found Iana and approached her with an arrogant face.
"His Majesty the Emperor has ordered the Archmage to enter the Imperial Palace as soon as the outer walls are stabilized."
Charles's words in the room flashed through the Captain of Guard's words.
"Be as arrogant as possible. As if you are the only one who can stop the mutant monsters."
'How do I act arrogant?'
Iana thought for a moment before speaking.
"Tell His Majesty the Emperor this. Since we don't know when the monsters will attack..."
"..."
"Tell His Majesty the Emperor to come to the outer walls himself."
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