“What, nonsense, this can’t be……”

Arasila’s eyes hurriedly scanned the article.

Its content was truly absurd beyond measure. It claimed the two had been lovers for a long time, and continued their affair even after marriage.

Moreover, countless people had reportedly witnessed Arasila and Frederick meeting alone, excluding Demian.

It even stated that during the princess’s birthday party, Arasila was too busy enjoying a secret rendezvous with Frederick to properly respond to the accident.

“Ha……”

Arasila let out an exasperated sigh. Today she learned for the first time that when a person is too dumbfounded, they can’t even speak properly.

What kind of lunatic would spout such nonsense.

In her anger, she crumpled up the newspaper, then realizing that Colin and Demian were looking at her, she quickly opened her mouth to explain.

“It’s absolutely not true. Frederick and I are just friends, we’ve never been in a romantic relationship. Don’t misunderstand, Demian.”

“I’m not misunderstanding. Didn’t you already say several times that His Highness the Crown Prince is a friend?”

Demian spoke in a firm yet calm voice.

The reason he hardened after checking the article was not because he believed it was true.

“The problem is that with an article like this coming out in the current situation, it could be quite fatal for you.”

He was worried about the harm this damned article would inflict on Arasila.

Demian frowned and touched his forehead. Arasila’s reputation was already falling due to the explosion incident, and now it seemed it would be tarnished further.

“For now, I’ll pressure the newspaper to recall all the published papers and officially announce that it’s groundless.”

“No, I’ll……”

“No. You should focus on composing yourself first. I’ll handle everything.”

Due to the scandal that erupted suddenly at an inopportune moment, Arasila’s expression was flushed, and her eyes lacked their usual calmness.

Now was the time to move swiftly, so it was better for Demian to take charge of the response.

Just as Arasila had done during the Chloe incident.

“……Thank you.”

“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for me.”

Demian smiled faintly and took her hand. As if to say she could trust and be at ease.

Arasila felt an astonishingly peaceful sensation.

Though she had no idea how things would unfold from here, at least in this moment facing Demian, everything seemed like it would be alright.

Of course, reality wasn’t so accommodating.

Demian sent a lawsuit to threaten the newspaper that broke the affair scandal, and publicly declared that it was absolutely untrue.

The newspaper that initially reported it tucked its tail and withdrew the papers, but the problem was with others who had already caught the scent.

Even an emperor cannot control all the newspapers in the empire. They frantically published follow-up articles and sold newspapers.

It was an unstoppable speed.

In an instant, Arasila became a shameless woman who had an inappropriate relationship with the Crown Prince while deceiving her husband.

Claims that she had seduced the innocent Frederick to enjoy a scandalous private life were also raised frequently.

It was all too easy to fall from a promising magician considered next in line for Matap leadership to a vicious seductress.

The years Arasila had worked hard dissipated like bubbles, and all sorts of speculations filled that empty space.

Before she could even counter this, Matap convened an emergency executive meeting.

They demanded Arasila come out without even giving a proper reason.

She, who had no intention of not attending anyway, attended the meeting dressed impeccably in her uniform as usual.

“Look, look at how shamelessly she enters with her head held high.”

“She doesn’t even know to be ashamed! This is why female magicians shouldn’t be allowed to strut about.”

“Matap must surely be in decline. To think someone like that was a candidate for the next Matap leader.”

The executive magicians whispered as they looked at Arasila. Despite her being young enough to be their daughter or granddaughter, their words were merciless and unrestrained.

It was a similar reaction to when Sissel had falsely accused her, angrily claiming ‘a woman is ruining Matap’s image’ without even proper fact-checking.

Just like then, Arasila kept her back straight and her head high, looking ahead. She had done nothing shameful, so she had nothing to be ashamed of.

Thus, she had no intention of bowing or hanging her head.

After confirming that all executives were present, Philip tapped the table and said:

“Quiet down.”

At this, the magicians who had been chattering freely closed their mouths. In the solemn atmosphere, Philip ordered the start of the meeting.

Today’s main agenda was, of course, how to handle Arasila, who had caused a series of unfortunate incidents recently.

Fernando was the first to step forward.

“Not only did Arasila harm Her Highness the Princess with the lamp accident, but she also had a secret meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince while being married. As this could reflect badly on Matap, we must impose severe punishment.”

He argued enthusiastically, as if he had been waiting for this moment, even spitting as he spoke.

Arasila responded calmly.

“I have never committed any improper acts. And I certainly did not make the lamp dangerously with any possibility of explosion.”

“Hmph! Of course you would claim that! How shameless and brazen!”

Fernando shot back in a fierce voice. As this opportunity wouldn’t come again, he intended to decisively break Arasila this time.

Arasila looked around at the executive magicians one by one and pleaded:

“My words are true. Please give me time. I will surely uncover the truth.”

“What nonsense. Why should we do that? Rather than wasting time on such cunning, if you showed a repentant attitude by admitting your faults, we might consider being lenient.”

“Why? It hasn’t even been clearly proven that I did anything wrong. Then it’s only natural that I be given a chance to explain myself.”

Unilaterally imposing disciplinary action in a situation where the facts were unclear went against Matap’s internal rules.

Fernando’s brow furrowed deeply at Arasila’s bold retort.

He had hoped to see her a bit cowed after the consecutive setbacks. Her still brazen words and actions were quite displeasing.

‘This is why I dislike strong-willed women. Such a young thing being so fierce.’

Clicking his tongue inwardly, he shot back sharply.

“Your lamp exploded causing an accident, and a scandal arose due to your conduct. What more needs to be clarified here?”

Everything clearly pointed to Arasila’s fault.

Fernando quickly opened his mouth to lead public opinion before she could say anything.

“Look, everyone. Arasila is now merely emotionally claiming innocence without presenting any plausible evidence. How long must our Matap suffer damage because of such thick-skinned behavior? We must set a firm example to maintain discipline within Matap.”

He gave a signal to a magician he had prearranged with, and that magician raised his hand and said:

“I also agree with disciplining Arasila.”

“Hmm, then I agree as well.”

“I’m of the same opinion.”

One by one, they started raising hands and gathering in agreement with Fernando’s words.

“This time she crossed the line, and crossed it thoroughly.”

“They say even Matap is being ridiculed along with her outside.”

“If we don’t show that we’re punishing Arasila first, we’ll surely be lumped together as the same kind.”

Arasila clenched her fist tightly under the table. Having been summoned immediately the day after the scandal broke, she hadn’t been able to prepare a thorough response.

Was it impossible to avoid severe disciplinary action after all?

Arasila half resigned herself. Since the executives led by Fernando disliked her, it seemed better to accept the disciplinary action for now and prepare an explanation, rather than arguing like this.

If unfair points were revealed later, the disciplinary action would be reduced accordingly.

At least, that’s what she thought until Fernando uttered the following words:

“We must expel Arasila Vandermir from Matap!”

Blue eyes widened as never before. Arasila looked at Fernando with a shocked face.

While she had considered possibilities like surrendering her research lab, salary reduction, or suspension for a few months, she hadn’t even imagined expulsion.

She immediately stood up from her seat.

“That’s absurd! How can you expel me when the clear truth hasn’t even been revealed!”

Expulsion from Matap was the utmost dishonor for a magician.

Being driven out of Matap was more unbearable than having critical articles about her covering the entire empire.

“I absolutely cannot accept this. I request a more detailed investigation into this incident.”

“What more is there to investigate? Should we delve into the process of how you, obsessed with money and achievements, created a bomb lamp? Or should we record for you how you fooled around with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Fernando sneered in a mocking tone. Arasila glared at Fernando with cold eyes.

“Mr. Fernando. I know you’re excited now that I, who was a thorn in your side, am in trouble, but watch your mouth. Can’t you even distinguish between what you can and can’t say anymore?”

“What, what? You insolent thing! How dare you speak to an elder like that!”

“That’s only if you had shown the dignity of an elder in front of me, Mr. Fernando. Thanks to having an inadequate disciple, you’ve only expressed your inferiority complex towards me in pairs, haven’t you?”

“Arasila Vandermir―!”

Fernando, his face turning bright red, called her name in an angry voice. Arasila glared back at him, not backing down.

After glaring at her and breathing heavily, Fernando soon turned his head sharply towards Philip.

“Matap Leader, please put Arasila’s expulsion to a fair vote.”

“……”

“Isn’t Arasila the Matap Leader’s disciple? This time, you mustn’t make a unilateral decision. That would be favoritism and discrimination.”

At those words, Philip sighed and nodded.

As he said, rashly defending Arasila would cause a backlash. It would also be difficult for him alone to decide on the disposition of this incident that had stirred up the entire empire.

Thus, a vote was held on Arasila’s expulsion.

There were twelve magicians attending the executive meeting. Excluding Arasila herself, eleven people voted and the result was―.

“With eight votes in favor and three against, the motion to ‘expel Arasila Vandermir’ has been approved.”

The magician counting the votes declared. Arasila felt her vision blur.

How many years had she devoted to Matap? She had worked hard from her academy days to rise to this position.

Yet for it to crumble in an instant…

Seeing the festive atmosphere among the magicians who cast votes in favor, led by Fernando, the light in Arasila’s eyes darkened.

‘This can’t be. Why should I be driven out of Matap? Why me?’

The time from the explosion accident until the current meeting was not very long.

In less than a week, there was no way a proper internal investigation could have been conducted. Surely the self-investigation hadn’t even finished, yet they decided on her expulsion through just this executive meeting.

It was unfair. And Arasila couldn’t tolerate that unfairness.

“I cannot accept the voting result. Why should I be expelled based on the opinions of just this small number of people here?”

“Oh my! The result of Matap’s executive meeting is equivalent to representing the will of all Matap magicians. Arasila, have you been attending meetings without knowing even that?”

Fernando, with his hands on his hips, scolded her loudly, then shook his head and said:

“You still don’t realize your mistake. Tsk tsk, that’s why you go around doing brazen things.”

“Shut that mouth, Mr. Fernando.”

Arasila, her patience having reached its limit, rebuked him with an angry face. Momentarily taken aback, Fernando stuttered and failed to respond properly.

Coldly averting her eyes from him, Arasila looked around at the executives and spoke again.

“Accidents with magicians’ magical tools happen frequently, but this is the first time a tool I made has caused an accident. Moreover, no one even knows if the lamp really had a defect and exploded, or if some other external factor was involved. Has Matap even requested the authorities to investigate the evidence?”

The executive magicians fell silent for a moment. Arasila, letting out a bitter laugh as if she had expected this, gritted her teeth.

Until now, countless magicians had caused magical tool and spell accidents, but unless they killed someone, they only received severe disciplinary action and were almost never expelled.

This lamp explosion accident, though injuring the princess, had no fatalities and wasn’t intentionally caused, so it clearly didn’t warrant expulsion.

“And what does my private life have to do with Matap that you’re using it as a reason for expulsion? What, you’re all being lumped together because of me? Why is that? Some of you have actually been caught having affairs. I still remember when Mr. Manuel’s wife came to Matap and caused a scene.”

The magician who had once been greatly disgraced for having an affair with a junior was suddenly singled out, and his face turned red.

He coughed awkwardly and hung his head low. In contrast, Arasila, who was only wronged by the false scandal with Frederick, held her neck straight.

“What did you all say to Sir Manuel back then? That people can make mistakes in life, and you patted him on the shoulder telling him to do better next time, didn’t you? Why aren’t you doing the same for me?”

“Well, Arasila, your scandal was big enough to make it into the newspapers……”

“Was I the only one in the newspapers? I’m asking if I was the only one in the newspapers. There are magicians who’ve had articles written about them in other countries spanning ten bridges, yet they’re still here just fine. Why are you only treating me like this?”

No one could easily open their mouths and mumbled in response to the indignant rebuttal.

Then, once again, Fernando stepped forward.