.jpg)
"Riel, who gave you the right to kill Your Highness?"
"……!"
Everyone wore a surprised expression at Iana's sudden appearance.
Iana had rushed to the Imperial Palace with The First Order of Knights, disguised as Duke Havel's family's military carriages, flags, and cloaks.
In front of the Imperial Palace's gate, the magic legion and the Imperial Army were in battle.
The magic legion, which had occupied the front of the gate, was blocking the Imperial Army from entering the Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Army regarded Iana and The First Order of Knights, who were disguised as Havel family knights, as reinforcements and did not suspect them.
Iana aimed for this and attacked the Imperial Army from the rear.
"Quickly strike from behind."
The magic legion, recognizing her, opened the gate, allowing her to quickly enter the Imperial Palace.
Iana stood next to Aden, who was holding a sword to Duke Havel's neck, and said.
"I don't know about the Imperial Army, but the Havel family knights should make a good judgment."
"……."
"If Duke Havel dies, will Lady Riel really protect the family's knights? Even His Grace, Duke Havel, is someone who gives up so easily."
"……!"
At her words, the leader of The Nine and the Havel family knights stirred.
At that moment, Iana and Riel's gazes strongly intertwined.
Iana had used magical power just now because it was an urgent situation, but if she attacked Riel's soldiers carelessly, Charles's life could be in danger.
She had to rescue Charles as safely as possible.
Even if it meant handing over Duke Havel and missing Riel.
Riel fiercely drove the agitated soldiers.
"If you don't execute the traitors now, do you think there will be a tomorrow!"
"……."
"Kill them quickly before more rebellious forces rush in."
Riel pushed the leader of The Nine next to her.
It was then.
Duke Havel, realizing Riel's true intentions, said as if spitting out the words.
"Don't move a single step. Without my command."
The Havel family knights and the Imperial Army all stopped in their places.
Riel and Duke Havel's eyes met.
A suffocating silence flowed.
Swish-.
The subsided rain started pouring again.
Iana ignored Riel's words and suggested.
"How about I and the leader of The Nine exchange hostages so that we can't use magical power against each other?"
Duke Havel gave a look, and the leader of The Nine replied.
"Good."
"You will definitely regret it. Not killing the traitors in this place……."
After finishing speaking, Riel glared at Iana and moved towards the Imperial Palace.
While doing so, she instructed the royal guard knights following behind her about something.
Iana thought as she looked at Riel.
'Riel, now you're going to take the Empress hostage.'
Aden handed Duke Havel over to Iana, and a Havel family knight handed Charles over to the leader of The Nine.
The four people slowly approached the middle ground.
Iana dragged Duke Havel along and whispered quietly.
"Riel will lie and say that she pushed you hard to save you, Duke. But Riel wants you to die."
"Shut up."
Duke Havel said sharply. But Iana didn't care.
"If you don't want to be betrayed again, never trust Riel."
Iana and Duke Havel. The leader of The Nine and Charles. The four people stood in the center.
"Let's send two people at the same time."
At the words of the leader of The Nine, Charles and Duke Havel looked at each other and walked slowly.
Charles's walking speed was slow because his legs were injured from the Emperor's beating.
Iana watched Charles's face and the leader of The Nine's hands alternately.
A tense feeling flowed.
It was the moment when Duke Havel approached the leader of The Nine.
The leader of The Nine summoned magical power and launched it towards Charles.
"Your Highness, it's dangerous!"
Iana quickly erected a huge blue barrier.
The leader of The Nine's white pillar of fire and Iana's blue shield collided strongly.
Like a spear and shield.
The surroundings turned as bright as day due to the intense magical power.
In the meantime, Duke Havel escaped to the Imperial Palace with the knights.
The leader of The Nine sent stronger magical power to break through Iana's barrier.
"Ugh!"
Iana struggled to endure. The leader of The Nine's magical power was much stronger than she thought.
The leader of The Nine started talking to shake Iana.
"It was my misjudgment. I should have left you alone when your father tried to kill you……."
Iana immediately grasped the meaning of those words.
"So you also knew that I was afflicted with black magic?"
"Yes. If I had eliminated the source of the problem back then, the Rechelles family would not have fallen into a family of traitors like this."
'The leader of The Nine had been condoning it all along to protect their position.'
The fact that they condoned the use of black magic itself was something that could lead to the loss of a mage's status.
Iana's pupils shook.
"Iana!"
Charles called her.
When Iana turned around, he looked at her with a firm gaze as if telling her not to waver.
Iana steeled her heart and said with a sneer.
"If you had left me to die back then, you wouldn't be dying by my hand now."
"Who's dying by your hand?"
The leader of The Nine shouted.
"Iana, Archmage! Use Combination Magic."
The mages behind her said, but Iana shook her head.
"I can block this much magical power on my own."
Iana wanted to properly show the leader of The Nine her skills.
Mages had to prove their abilities solely with magical power.
Her barrier slowly devoured the leader of The Nine's pillar of fire.
"Ugh!"
The leader of The Nine endured but knelt down on one knee.
It was that moment.
Bang!
Iana's barrier emitted an intense light.
The leader of The Nine, who had greatly lost magical power, collapsed on the spot.
"Attack!"
Aden shouted loudly and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
She approached the fallen leader of The Nine, sealed their magical power with Binding Magic, and then ordered the mages.
"Imprison the leader of The Nine in the dungeon. We will reveal all their past sins."
The mages and knights dragged the leader of The Nine away. Charles approached Iana with a sword.
"Don't take the leader of The Nine's words to heart. They're just trying to shake you."
Iana quietly looked at Charles.
Eyes swollen from being beaten and legs walking uncomfortably. He was in such a state, and it seemed like a hollow laugh would come out at who was worrying about whom.
When Charles looked at her worriedly, she spoke calmly.
"It doesn't matter anymore even if my father tried to kill me."
"……."
"I'm alive now, and I've become an Archmage."
Charles looked at Iana with affection and stroked her cheek. Soon, he said with a sharp gaze.
"If the coup is to succeed, we must capture the Emperor, so I will go to the Emperor. You find the Empress."
"……."
"Now they will take the Empress hostage."
"Yes, Your Highness."
She nodded.
The two ran to the Imperial Palace.
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana followed Riel and Duke Havel when she heard that they had left the Imperial Palace.
Charles, who headed to the Emperor's bedroom, recalled the words of The First Order of Knights he met in front of the Imperial Palace.
"It seems difficult to approach because the captain of the guard is protecting the Emperor."
Clang-.
When Charles arrived in front of the bedroom, monks and the royal guard were fiercely exchanging swords.
Thud!
As the captain of the guard swung his sword strongly, Aden fell over, and his sword flew away.
The captain of the guard shouted, bleeding from his arm.
"Don't fall back! You must protect His Majesty."
Charles picked up Aden's sword and approached him.
"Brother, are you alright?"
Aden wiped the blood from his mouth with his hand and whispered softly.
"Charles, I'll take care of the captain of the guard, so you arrest the Emperor."
Charles nodded and handed the sword to Aden.
"Everyone, attack!"
Aden got up from his seat and rushed at the captain of the guard.
At his command, the monks simultaneously attacked the royal guard knights.
While the monks and royal guard knights were entangled in a fight, Charles swung his sword and quickly approached the bedroom door.
Aden pushed the captain of the guard with his body.
As the captain of the guard was briefly pushed next to the bedroom door, Aden shouted.
"Charles, hurry!"
Charles quickly opened the door and entered the room.
Bang-!
Aden and the captain of the guard wrestled, and the bedroom door slammed shut violently.
In the darkened bedroom, the Emperor was sitting on the bed with his back turned.
Charles held his sword and slowly approached the Emperor.
The Emperor, sensing someone's presence, slowly turned his head and said.
"Charles, have you been practicing swordsmanship?"
"……!"
"Swordsmanship practice is good, but you should be closer to books."
After speaking, the Emperor smiled at Charles.
In the form of the Third Prince, whom Charles had admired as a child.
.jpg)