Chapter 13

Shocked, Latil's mind seemed to freeze for a moment. He stood there with his mouth agape, staring blankly at Prince Klein.

'No, there's no way Hyacinth would send his own brother to be my concubine. He can't be that crazy.'

Latil finally managed to come to a plausible conclusion. Yes, this man must have come along to see off the concubine. He must be part of the entourage. The entourage. However, when the prince saw Latil, he smiled and approached, pulling him into a tight embrace. At that moment, Latil had to acknowledge that this man had indeed come as his concubine.

"Finally caught you."

"Caught...?"

"Surely you must be happy to have me now?"

"Huh?"

"Don't worry. Just because my body is here doesn't mean I'll give you my heart so easily."

The reason why Hyacinth had sent his own brother as a concubine was also easy to understand. 'Idiot.' Hyacinth's brother was an idiot. * * * While the head steward was leading Hyacinth's brother to a temporary residence, Latil pressed his temples, trying to calm his bewildered feelings. Fortunately, the absurd feeling gradually subsided. However, he still couldn't understand.

'Hyacinth, you madman. You pestered me to send a concubine, so you sent your own brother?'

Is a former fiancé who sends his younger brother as a lover in his right mind?

"That man. Isn't he Prince Klein?"

The head of the Six Knights also seemed to remember seeing him at the wedding and asked Latil. Klein. Latil finally remembered the name of Hyacinth's younger brother. Yes, that was his name. Klein. Latil nodded and muttered.

"Yes, but... really. I didn't expect him to send his brother as a concubine. I thought he would find someone from a high-ranking noble family."

Sending a bastard prince or princess as a concubine to a foreign country was not uncommon. In fact, it was a sign of the utmost intimacy towards an ally. However, since the sender was a former boyfriend, it didn't feel like a sign of intimacy at all. Just suspicious. What's his game? Did he perhaps order this prince to steal information from Talium or something?

* * *

Duke Sablé had been the head steward since the reign of the previous emperor, and he had known Latil since his childhood. Of course, he wasn't the only one Latil had known since he was young. He had seen the other princes and princesses from the moment they were born. However, unlike the other royals whom he only saw occasionally at parties, Latil always followed his father around, and naturally, they met more often. Familiarity breeds affection. Naturally, Duke Sablé had the most affection for Latil among the princes and princesses. The reason he had been appointed as the head steward for two generations, despite the headaches and the many tasks involved, was because of his affection for Latil.

Thus, while guiding Prince Klein to his temporary residence, Duke Sablé couldn't help but evaluate him with a hawk's eye. Is this prince suitable for our Emperor?

First, appearance. In terms of appearance, he was undoubtedly perfect. His slightly dark skin, contrasting with his mysterious silver hair and eyes like blue diamonds, made him a true beauty. His pride and beauty could rival even the most outstanding in Talium, such as Lananwen Atraxi. He was truly a paragon of beauty.

Second, status. As a prince, he gets 10 points, but as Hyacinth's brother, he loses 5 points.

Third, personality...

"Am I supposed to stay here?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"The room is too small. Does Talium not have much money?"

"..."

"You said it's a temporary residence, right? When can I move to the real one? Is it also small and simple?"

"The real residence..."

"Oh, I'll figure it out. If it's simple, I can decorate it myself. I asked a pointless question."

"Yes, and during your stay here..."

"Where is the Emperor's room?"

His personality is a zero. As Duke Sablé's words were repeatedly cut off by Prince Klein, he frowned and harshly scored him. Despite his rude behavior, Hyacinth had been very polite during his studies. Prince Klein's attitude was a perfect reflection of his face.

"Where is the Emperor's room?"

When Prince Klein urged again, Duke Sablé frowned and asked with a disgruntled voice.

"Why do you keep asking where the Emperor's room is?"

"Hehe. Why do I ask?"

Despite his blunt and rude questioning, Prince Klein laughed softly and replied.

"Since the Emperor will come to my room anyway, I just want to wait there to save him the trouble."

What a nuisance. Duke Sablé's face crumpled. At that moment, his evaluation of Prince Klein hit rock bottom.

* * *

After sending Prince Klein off, Latil took Duke Bret to the public office to receive a report on the events in Carisen. However, as they entered the office, Duke Bret suddenly looked around.

"Duke Bret? What are you doing?"

When Latil called out, Duke Bret cautiously requested.

"Your Majesty, could you ask the people around to leave?"

Ask the people to leave? Latil raised an eyebrow. The only people around were the head steward, who had just taken Prince Klein away, and the head of the Six Knights. In other words, Duke Bret was asking for the head of the Six Knights to leave. Latil glanced at the head of the Six Knights. He didn't seem particularly offended, but he also didn't seem willing to leave. Latil felt the same way. No matter what Duke Bret had to say, there was no need to send the head of the Six Knights away. Latil ordered instead.

"It's fine, so speak."

Duke Bret hesitated for a moment, then took out a letter from his coat and placed it on Latil's desk before stepping back. What is this? Did he ask everyone to leave just to hand over this one thing? Latil, puzzled, looked at Duke Bret, who quickly answered.

"The Emperor of Carisen said to deliver this when no one is around."

'Hyacinth?'

Latil, skeptical, tore open the seal on the letter. If it was from Hyacinth, it was suspicious. Surely it wasn't something that would make him fly into a rage upon seeing it... With a mix of suspicion and curiosity, Latil opened the letter and made a "hmm" sound. The content of the letter was not what Latil had expected. [I wrote letters and sent gifts every week, so what does this mean?] On the surface, it was a simple protest. But the fact that he specifically added "deliver it when no one is around"...

'I never received any letters or gifts from Hyacinth. Is Hyacinth claiming he sent them every week? And he wanted this delivered when no one was around.'

Latil's expression darkened. Is someone intercepting my letters in the middle? Although Hyacinth had betrayed him at the end, he was thorough in official matters and wouldn't lie about something like this. Latil scratched the armrest of the throne with a serious face. Even if Hyacinth's letters had reached him, he would have likely thrown them all in the trash. However, intercepting the Emperor's letters to the Princess without his knowledge was no small matter. Especially given that the previous Emperor was assassinated and the assassin has not been caught.

"You've had a long journey. I will commend you for this, so take a good rest for now."

After praising Duke Bret's efforts, Latil, now alone with the head of the Six Knights, revealed the contents of the letter.

"It seems someone has been intercepting the letters and gifts Hyacinth sent to me."

"From the Carisen Empire or Talium?"

"Whether it's Carisen, Talium, or a third country, I don't know. Hyacinth doesn't know either, which is why he wanted it delivered when no one was around."

The head of the Six Knights' expression darkened. He, too, seemed to be thinking about the assassin who had not been caught.

"The probability that the assassin is related to the letter thief is low, but it's better to be cautious. Even if there's no connection, intercepting the Emperor's items is a serious crime."

Latil, putting the letter back in the envelope, muttered. Hyacinth's letters and gifts had not been delivered for about three years. However, after Latil ascended the throne, all the letters he sent through Duke Bret were delivered to Hyacinth. If the letter thief is on the Carisen side, they are likely involved in the "sending" process, and if on the Talium side, they are involved in the "receiving" process.

"Sir Six, we need to move discreetly. Please take charge of investigating this matter."

* * *

'Damn it. I should have been angry about Hyacinth sending his brother.'

He missed his chance. Latil only remembered this as he finished his work and returned to his bedroom. He had temporarily forgotten about it due to the missing letter! He groaned, pressing his forehead against the wall in regret, but it was too late to call Duke Bret back and vent his anger. In fact, sending Duke Bret as the envoy, despite his discomfort, was partly to vent his anger over supporting Prince Tilla. Latil sighed. Still, it was a strange thing. Thinking about the heartache and frustration of his breakup with Hyacinth, he now finds that he doesn't think about it when he's busy.

'Eventually, I won't think about it even when I'm not busy. That's how you get over a breakup.'

Latil, immersed in a bittersweet feeling, smiled bitterly. When he was in love, he never thought such emotional changes would happen to him. However, his heart, deeply affected by the bitterness of the breakup and the pain of love, immediately snapped back to reality when he saw the man in the corridor outside his door.

'What is this?'

Latil stopped on the stairs and looked at the scene from a distance. There was a chair in the corridor outside his door, and someone was sitting on it. And the knights around him looked uncomfortable... Latil hurriedly walked over. The person sitting on the chair was Prince Klein, Hyacinth's brother. Latil was speechless. Not only was he sitting on a chair, but it seemed he had decided to camp out there, even bringing a book to read. A very thick book.

"Your Majesty."

However, the person who had caused everyone's confusion, upon seeing Latil, smiled broadly, stood up, and greeted him with a bow that could be used as a textbook example. Latil, after a moment of gaping, asked.

"Prince, what are you doing here?"

"Klein."

"?"

"Call me Klein."

Latil closed his mouth and stared at Prince Klein for a moment before asking.

"What are you doing, Klein?"

Prince Klein put down his book and, taking a bottle of wine from a nearby attendant, showed it to Latil.

"The first drink in this place is with the Emperor. I came to drink with you. You get drunk, and I get drunk."

Latil groaned, pressing his forehead.

'You idiot. Are you messing with me?'

Though he was pretending to be sweet, the wine Prince Klein had brought was the same one they had drunk when they got into trouble before. Latil, crossing his arms, glared at him, and Prince Klein defended himself boldly.

"Actually, I wanted to wait inside, but the head steward said he wouldn't let me in without the Emperor's permission. So, I'm waiting here in the corridor as he suggested."

If he suggested waiting in the corridor, it means he was told to leave. Latil, uncrossing his arms, pressed his forehead. Perhaps the reason Hyacinth sent this guy was because of his personality. His suspicion grew stronger. Sighing, Latil finally allowed Prince Klein to enter.

"Fine. Come in."

Since he was sent as a concubine, he would have to stay for at least half a year. It would be better to have a proper conversation and clear the air rather than feeling uncomfortable and avoiding him. Just as Latil was about to enter the room, a voice called out from the corridor beyond the stairs.

"Your Majesty!"

Turning around, he saw Duke Atraxi hurrying over.

"What is it, Duke? What's the matter?"

What is it? What do you want now? Latil, frowning as Duke Atraxi approached, asked. Duke Atraxi, naturally inserting himself between Prince Klein and Latil, spoke in a serious tone.

"I have something urgent to tell you. It's very important."

'This timing seems a bit suspicious.'

Latil, feeling uneasy, looked over Duke Atraxi's shoulder at Prince Klein. It seemed they had the same thought. Prince Klein also frowned and glared at the back of Duke Atraxi's head.