Chapter 18

Rathil, dressed in a white ceremonial robe with a golden sash, checked the palace grounds beyond the window and clicked his tongue. Journalists had gathered in front of the walls and gates like a combat force.

“Wow…”

Rathil almost clapped without realizing it.

“It’s going to be tough to get in, isn’t it?”

The investigation into the letter thief and the foreign forces that Prince Tella tried to bring in, as well as the hunt for the assassin of the late emperor, had made little progress, yet time had passed quickly. It was now the day for the concubines to officially enter the palace. Rathil, worried about the excessive attention due to the “first male harem,” decided not to hold a party to celebrate the concubines' entry. Instead, he planned to hold a swearing-in ceremony and a banquet for the concubines' relatives, and deliberately did not make the detailed schedule public. Despite this, when the day for the concubines to officially enter the palace arrived, all kinds of journalists and spectators gathered in front of the palace.

Suneut answered with a somewhat indifferent attitude.

“The guests invited by the concubines will also have a hard time leaving.”

Rathil tilted his head and then turned it sharply toward Suneut. Suneut’s tone sounded like he hoped they would suffer.

“Why do you say that?”

“Just a moment, Sir Suneut…”

But just as he was about to ask, a sudden cheer of “Wow!” came from outside. Rathil stopped speaking and turned his head back to the window. Immediately, a luxurious golden carriage that caught the eye was seen speeding toward the main gate. Behind the magnificent golden carriage, five white carriages followed in a row, and the journalists were shouting about something. Listening closely, they were talking about something related to Anges. Suneut, who had heard the sound, said briefly.

“It seems to be from the Anges merchant guild.”

“Oh, Tashir.”

From the window where Rathil stood, the carriages could not be seen after they passed through the main gate. Despite the carriages moving at a fairly fast speed, when the last carriage was caught by the journalists, Rathil whistled.

“Wow. Where did these people leave their livers? They’re catching it.”

Meanwhile, some of the journalists were even hanging onto the windows, trying to interview the people inside the carriages.

“Should we deploy more soldiers?”

Suneut, who had been watching, asked. Rathil was about to say that would be better, but then changed his mind and shook his head.

“I think it will be fine.”

The white carriage that had been caught by the journalists was freed when a group of black horses appeared.

“The second procession of concubines has arrived.”

Rathil muttered and looked at the group of horses, then exclaimed.

“Oh. Impressive. It seems to be the Black Death Corps.”

The group of horses that had made the journalists step back on their own was in stark contrast to the earlier luxurious and splendid procession of carriages. They were as threatening and dark as “black and white.” It looked like they were going to war rather than coming to the palace. On the largest black horse at the front was a man presumed to be the mercenary king, wearing a black cloak, followed by subordinates dressed similarly but with their faces covered.

“The formation is sharp.”

The journalists, who had been hanging onto the white carriages earlier, did not have the courage to grab the mercenary king at the front and stood at a distance, just watching. The third carriage to enter was easily recognizable as the carriage of the Artaxi Duke's family. The next was the carriage of the Chancellor's family, but due to the strong impression made by the mercenaries, it was somewhat overshadowed. After confirming that all four groups had passed through the main gate, Rathil left the window. It was time for him to go down to the grand hall. * * *

“His Majesty must enter last.”

Following the steward's instructions, Rathil waited in a small room near the grand hall for about 30 minutes before entering the hall. As Rathil appeared through a small door that led directly to the grand hall's upper seat, the noisy hall became completely silent. The guests were divided into five groups, each clustering together.

‘They’re really split here.’

Rathil quickly looked around the groups, who were standing without even their collars overlapping, and then climbed a few steps to stand on the platform at the highest seat. From there, he looked down, and the five men waiting on the steps below also looked up at him simultaneously.

‘Wow. I feel so embarrassed.’

These five men were the first male concubines who would officially become Rathil’s men from today. And their guests. They, too, were staring at Rathil with intense eyes. Rathil felt awkward receiving the gazes of the men who would become his and their families. On the day of his coronation, he had felt a thrill seeing the people looking up at him. But today, it felt... embarrassing. However, showing embarrassment would only make it more embarrassing. Rathil, with a thick face, smiled faintly and looked at the five men in turn.

‘Let’s see the seating arrangement.’

It was unclear whether it was intentional, but Prince Klein was at the center, with the noble Ranamon and Gestas on his right, and the commoners Tashir and Kallain on his left.

‘They might form factions like this first…’

It would be bad if they competed as the noble faction and the commoner faction. That could turn into a struggle between the nobles and the commoners, making it difficult to handle.

‘I’ll keep an eye on this.’

While observing, Rathil paid the most attention to Kallain. He had seen the other men at least once, but this was the first time he saw Kallain, so he was the most interested. That mercenary king, who reportedly survived for days without eating, drinking, or using the bathroom, didn’t seem about to collapse immediately. However, his pale skin, unlike someone who usually moves around outside, suggested he might be frail.

‘The mercenary king is a mercenary king, but did he retire right after becoming one?’

“Your Majesty.”

As Rathil kept looking at Kallain, the steward, who had approached to assist with the swearing-in ceremony, called him softly.

‘Oops. I was staring at the mercenary king too much.’

It might be an illusion, but the guests also seemed to glance at the mercenary king. Rathil nodded to the steward to proceed. The steward then placed the documents he had been holding on a high stand and called out Klein.

“Prince Klein from Carisen.”

As Klein came forward, the steward held out a quill pen with both hands and explained.

“After reading it, please sign below.”

After Klein signed, the steward called out Ranamon’s name, and this time Ranamon came forward to sign. After all five men had signed, Rathil put rings, which he had prepared in advance, on each of their hands. The men lightly kissed the rings Rathil had put on and swore eternal loyalty and love before stepping back.

“……”

Rathil, with his lips tightly closed, looked at the five men who had become his concubines. Now, really, these men would enter his harem. They would wait for him in the harem and whisper love to him, just like Hyacinth had.

‘But none of these men truly love me.’

Still, it was fine. After all, they had come for political reasons. Rathil hadn’t brought them in because he loved them. What Rathil wanted was their intrigue. He wanted them to compete within the harem and attract the attention of the nobles and the people. He wanted their backgrounds to help strengthen his royal power. There was no need to feel sorry. These men had also come here after calculating their own gains, such as money, fame, and future. Rathil smiled cynically. After all, what was sincere love? Hadn’t it been the first to stab him in the back and leave?

‘At least as long as I remain on the throne, these people won’t stab me in the back.’

* * *

After that, a regular banquet took place, but the atmosphere was quite peculiar. First, the people from the Anges merchant guild tried to do business even at this event. The noble guests who came with Ranamon and Gestas seemed to dislike sitting with the merchant commoners, but they were the first to be drawn in when the merchants started talking. Some of them had already made reservations and were signing checks while eating.

‘The guests from the Anges merchant guild are really good at talking.’

In contrast to the Anges merchant guild guests, the Black Death Corps mercenaries were the opposite. They had taken off the masks they wore when they entered but did not say a word, only eating, just like when Rathil had seen them at a tavern before. The nobles from Carisen did speak, but the atmosphere was awkward, and they only talked among themselves. Rathil turned his gaze to the Duke of Artaxi and the Chancellor of Lorde. There was already a silent battle of nerves between them. In contrast, Gestas, the son of the Chancellor of Lorde, was completely deflated and couldn’t even lift his head, while Ranamon was glaring at Prince Klein instead of Gestas. Tashir had told Kallain that his face looked like a corpse and almost got his eye poked out with a fork. After the meal.

“Your Majesty, how was it? Did you find anyone you like after seeing the concubines up close?”

Back in the room, the governess asked for his impressions, and Rathil gave the same answer as a few days ago.

“Gestas is still a concern.”

The governess laughed.

“That young master has always been quiet since childhood.”

“Yeah. I need to keep a close eye on him. Otherwise, he might be pushed around and not even have a form left.”

“Since he has a childhood connection, Your Majesty should take good care of him.”

“I will.”

Although it wasn’t a particularly close childhood connection. Rathil sighed, answered, and then went to his bathroom as usual to wash up. When he came out, he found the steward waiting in the reception room.

‘Why is the steward here?’

Usually, female royals had maids, and male royals had stewards, but since Rathil had brought in his father’s stewards almost as they were, he had both maids and stewards. However, he couldn’t entrust his daily life to the stewards, so his private matters were mostly handled by the governess and the maids after his official duties. But for the steward to be here at this time was unusual.

“What’s the matter?”

Rathil, with his still damp hair wrapped in a towel, asked as he entered the reception room. The steward, looking surprised, asked back.

“What’s the matter? Isn’t today the first day, Your Majesty?”

“Huh?”

First day? Confused, Rathil asked, and the steward, with a look of “How could you forget this,” explained.

“The first day the concubines have entered the palace. You should choose one. They are all waiting for Your Majesty’s favor.”

“My favor— Oh.”

Rathil, looking embarrassed as if he understood, made a sheepish expression, and the steward asked cautiously.

“Who will you go to?”

Such an embarrassing question. Rathil, feeling awkward again, rubbed his neck. However, the steward and everyone else standing around had very serious and earnest expressions. Rathil, feeling the need to be cautious, fell into thought. Who to spend the first night with...

Three people immediately came to mind. First, Gestas, the second son of the Chancellor. He wasn’t particularly attractive as a man. His overly gentle personality made him a bit of a concern. Since the concubines’ authority increases the closer they are to the emperor, it might be good to visit him on the first day. Another person of concern was Kallain. He was a concern for the opposite reason of Gestas. Personal curiosity and interest. He was the only man Rathil hadn’t had a conversation with. The third person of concern was Ranamon, the eldest son of the Duke of Artaxi. More accurately, it was the Duke of Artaxi, who was likely to be deeply offended, that was the concern. After all, he had been a great contributor to Rathil’s victory. He had given Rathil several hints during the meal today.

“Hmm…”

Rathil, with his arms crossed, walked around the room in circles and finally made a decision after a long time.