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"I'll send reinforcements to Mikron Mountain."
It was the moment Iana gave the order.
A Havel family senior knight wearing a red cloak emblazoned with the Havel family crest approached and asked.
"Will you open the gates again this time?"
Iana quietly examined the senior knight.
The silver-haired senior knight was a face she hadn't seen until recently.
'The Havel family must have replenished their forces without even telling me.'
As she silently pondered, the senior knight pressed harder.
"His Majesty the Emperor has ordered the capital to be sealed off. No one can be allowed inside the outer walls without His Majesty the Emperor's permission."
The 9th Circle Archmage protested.
"Bringing the refugees and retreating soldiers inside the outer walls wasn't just for their safety."
"⋯⋯."
"They've become an obstacle to our battle⋯⋯."
At the 9th Circle Archmage's words, the Havel family knight drew his sword.
"We will only follow the Imperial order."
The Havel family knights drew their swords in unison and stood behind the senior knight.
Iana thought coldly.
'What would happen if I opened the outer gate against their opposition?'
The situation had changed from before.
Before, no one knew she would open the gates, and Aden and the rebel forces were planning to push straight into the Imperial Palace as soon as the gates opened.
But now, there were many eyes watching.
If she opened the gates against the opposition, the lives of the rebel forces, as well as the refugees, could be endangered under the pretext of the Imperial order.
'The more important the task, the fewer variables there should be.'
Iana had a flash of inspiration and said firmly.
"Isn't it enough if His Majesty the Emperor permits it?"
The Havel family senior knight stared at her silently.
"I will obtain His Majesty the Emperor's permission as soon as day breaks tomorrow."
"Please do. Although I don't know if that will be possible⋯⋯."
The Havel family knight replied with a sneer. He seemed certain that it would be impossible.
"For now, send the magic legion as reinforcements."
Iana said to the messenger sent by Aden and headed towards the ramparts.
The 9th Circle Archmage followed, asking in a low voice.
"It doesn't seem like His Majesty the Emperor will grant permission. What do you intend to do?"
Iana smiled meaningfully and said.
"I'm going to threaten His Majesty the Emperor."
✦ ✦ ✦
Early in the morning, Lady Riel woke up in the Emperor's bedroom.
The Emperor was fast asleep in the bed. Riel slowly stroked the Emperor's silver hair.
The previous night spent with the Emperor had been passionate.
He seemed to be trying to forget his maddening anxiety by spending the night with her.
'It's not bad for me.'
If she spent every night with the Emperor, the chances of pregnancy would increase, and even if she didn't get pregnant, she could use the excuse that she had miscarried because of the nights spent with the Emperor.
Riel got out of bed, put on her dressing gown, and walked to the vanity.
Then, she sat in front of it and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Duke Havel's words from earlier in the day flashed across her mind.
"The Empress said so. She said she has no attachment to her insignificant life or the Empress position that is just a facade."
'Your Majesty the Empress, I will help you. I will help you come down from that position that is just a facade as soon as possible.'
Riel thought as she looked at the Empress Palace visible through the curtains.
'Originally, that position was mine.'
Riel felt like she could burst into laughter with joy.
Because she felt like she was getting closer to her rightful place as Empress.
"You slept in."
The Emperor's voice was heard from the bed.
When she turned her gaze towards the bed, the Emperor had risen and was sitting up without a sound.
"Your Majesty, it's still dawn."
The Emperor ran his hand over his face as if blaming himself and muttered.
"I was supposed to meet Charles at the library at dawn today⋯⋯."
"Yes? Your Majesty, what are you saying?"
Riel asked, sitting next to him with a surprised expression.
The Emperor made a self-reproaching expression, then stared intently at Riel and asked.
"But who are you?"
"⋯⋯!"
Riel's eyes shook violently.
'The Emperor is out of his mind.'
The Emperor's eyes, which had been full of vigilance, changed in an instant.
"Riel, give me some water."
The Emperor spoke as if nothing had happened.
"⋯⋯."
Confused, Riel thought quickly in her head.
'What would happen if it became known that the Emperor's mind was not sound?'
The answer was clear.
The Empress would have no choice but to act as regent until the Emperor's position was handed over.
A sense of crisis swept over Riel.
'I have to depose the Empress as soon as possible.'
"Riel, didn't you hear me asking for water?"
Just as the Emperor was getting annoyed and snapping in a voice mixed with irritation.
Knock, knock.
The secretary's urgent voice was heard from beyond the bedroom door.
"Your Majesty, are you awake?"
"Wh, what is it? Did monsters appear or something?"
The frightened Emperor turned pale.
"It's not that⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯?"
"Iana Archmage has come to the Imperial Palace."
Riel's eyes changed sharply at the secretary's words.
'Iana, who resisted even when told to come in, why did she enter the palace early in the morning?'
"Then why did Iana Archmage suddenly come?"
"She said she has something to say to Your Majesty."
A brilliant idea flashed through Riel's mind.
"Your Majesty, I don't know for what reason she came in, but shouldn't we break Iana Archmage's spirit a little?"
"⋯⋯."
"She doesn't even follow Your Majesty's orders after winning one battle."
A wicked smile spread across Riel's lips as she finished speaking.
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana, who had been waiting in the Imperial Palace reception room, was guided by the secretary to the office.
Then, she ran into Riel in front of the office corridor.
"When did you tell His Majesty the Emperor to come to the outer walls in person, and what brings Iana Archmage here so early in the morning?"
As Riel sneered, Iana retorted.
"When did Lady Riel run away from the Imperial Palace, and why did you come back to the Imperial Palace without any pride?"
Iana and Riel's eyes clashed fiercely.
Riel took a step forward and said.
"Iana, I don't think this is the time for you to be acting so bold?"
"Your Highness is in there."
Iana realized Riel's trick and raised one corner of her mouth.
"Oh, I heard that Grand Duke Ervin overcame the crisis of losing his sight. Isn't that fortunate?"
"⋯⋯."
Iana's expression hardened.
"What are you doing? Go in."
Riel urged with a smiling face.
Iana suppressed her rising anger and opened her mouth.
"Lady Riel, please come in with me."
"⋯⋯."
"Wouldn't you want to see? What my expression is like."
At Iana's suggestion, Riel looked at her as if trying to gauge her intentions and replied.
"I will."
A moment later, as Iana stood in front of the office door, the elderly secretary said to the door.
"Your Majesty, Iana Archmage has arrived."
"Let her in."
At the Emperor's command, the secretary turned the doorknob.
'No matter what situation unfolds, don't be surprised.'
She expected that they would show her the tortured Charles in order to shake her emotions.
Iana steeled her heart to avoid falling for the trick.
Creak-.
The office door slowly opened.
The scene inside the room gradually came into Iana's eyes.
"⋯⋯!"
At that moment, Iana's eyes were shocked and froze without even shaking.
Charles was kneeling next to the Emperor, who was sitting on the sofa, bound.
Iana and Charles' eyes met.
His face was so swollen that it was difficult to recognize him.
His face and body were covered with countless torn wounds.
Iana couldn't even shed tears.
'Should I kill the Emperor and Riel?'
With her magical power, it wouldn't be difficult to kill the two of them in this place.
Riel looked at Iana's face with a sneer from the side.
It was then that Iana's magical power and anger were about to explode.
"Disappointed? Because I've become ugly."
Charles joked with a bright smile on his injured face.
"Ha⋯⋯!"
Iana burst out laughing in vain.
She was just amazed that he could make jokes even in this situation.
Her anger and magical power, which seemed about to explode, subsided.
"Charles, shut your mouth."
Just as the Emperor was about to grab Charles' hair, spitting out the words.
Iana spoke first.
"A swarm of monsters is coming from Mikron Mountain again."
"Then you should protect the outer walls, why did you come here?"
The Emperor shouted angrily.
Iana glanced at Riel and then threw out the words she had prepared.
"I will resign as the mage commander."
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