Chapter 29

As days passed, the investigation made little progress and came to a standstill. Latil, while diligently handling his duties as emperor, investigating matters such as the incident in the Black Forest, the desecration of the late emperor's tomb, and the letter left to him, had not found the time to visit the harem. So exhausted was he that he would often collapse into bed and fall asleep as soon as night fell. In such a state, even walking to the harem seemed like a chore. However, unlike the perpetually busy Latil, the courtiers gradually found their peace again, and the atmosphere within the palace calmed down. On one such tranquil day, an unexpected guest arrived at Karisen.

"Aksian?"

Moreover, this person was not a guest for Latil.

"Yes. I am the deputy commander of Emperor Haisyn's royal guard."

"Why is the deputy commander of the royal guard not by Emperor Haisyn's side but here?"

"Emperor Haisyn is concerned about his younger brother and has ordered me to protect Prince Klein."

The butler's explanation made Latil laugh bitterly.

"Is that the reason why an emperor's royal guard has come all the way from a distant country?"

The deputy commander of the royal guard, who had come from Karisen, surprisingly was not on a mission from the emperor but simply to protect Prince Klein. However, it was the deputy commander of the royal guard, not just any guard. For such a person to come here, possibly for years or even a lifetime, just for protection? It was an absurd idea. Latil had once visited Karisen with Sir Sern, the commander of his father's royal guard, but that was a temporary visit. No matter how much his father valued Latil, he would never have sent Sern if Latil had gone to get married. Latil clicked his tongue and asked,

"So where has he gone?"

"He has entered the harem."

"..."

"Would you like to go see him?"

The butler asked cautiously. Latil pressed his lips together and leaned back against the chair. Since the shocking day he learned that Tahir was the leader of the Black Forest, Latil had not sought out or called anyone from the harem. It was not because of any specific purpose but because he was busy in the early days of his reign. However, upon hearing that Karisen had sent the deputy commander of the royal guard, Aksian, his old thoughts resurfaced.

"Prince Klein."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Could he have been sent here to spy?"

The butler hesitated to answer. Although he disliked Prince Klein, accusing someone of being a spy was not a matter of personal preference.

"Ah, I didn't ask that seriously."

Latil laughed and waved his hand, then slowly stood up.

"Your Majesty? Where are you going?"

"There's a new guest. I thought I might go and check the atmosphere under that pretext."

* * *

As he entered the harem, a voice filled with anger reached his ears.

'What's that noise?'

Latil changed his course towards Klein's room and headed in the direction of the sound. To his surprise, Klein was there, along with Gestah and their attendants.

"Your... Majesty."

The butler opened his mouth to announce Latil's arrival, but Latil raised his hand to stop him. He wanted to quietly observe what was happening. The concubines, unaware of Latil's presence, continued their argument.

"I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose..."

"If it wasn't on purpose, are you a magician? Why did water pour out of the air?"

"I just made a mistake with my hand..."

"Do you think people are idiots? Can't you make a more sincere excuse?"

'Ah, so that's what happened.'

Observing the situation, Latil understood roughly what had transpired. Klein's beautiful silver hair was drenched, and Gestah was trembling as he tried to explain. It seemed Gestah had done something to make Klein look like this, and Klein believed it was intentional.

"Should I intervene?"

Sern, standing beside him, asked cautiously. Before Latil could answer, Klein, perhaps sensing Latil's presence, turned his head sharply. Gestah also looked in Latil's direction. Upon seeing Latil, Gestah's face turned pale, and he bowed his head. In contrast, Klein's attendant, who had brought him, looked at Klein with concern.

"What's going on?"

As Latil approached, Klein pointed to his hair.

"Your Majesty, that wretched brat poured water on me!"

Gestah quickly waved his hands.

"No, I was just talking with my attendant, and I made a mistake—"

"Ah, so how did your mistake make water fly up to my head? It doesn't make sense unless you were deliberately pouring water in my direction. Does your mistake make your hand fly up?"

"I just made a big gesture..."

"Enough, you too, bow your head. Quickly."

As Klein clenched his fist threateningly, Gestah's attendant stepped forward, his eyes flashing. A man with sharp features, brown hair, and red eyes, who had been standing behind Klein, stepped forward to confront Gestah's attendant.

'Ah, that must be Aksian.'

Gestah's attendant was quite formidable, but the man was overwhelmingly more intimidating. Moreover, Latil had never seen him before. Latil realized this was Aksian, the deputy commander of the royal guard sent by Haisyn. Sensing the potential for a physical confrontation, the butler loudly shouted, "How dare you!"

"How dare you behave like this in front of His Majesty!"

At this, both Gestah's attendant and Aksian stepped back and knelt before Latil. Latil, too, turned his gaze from Aksian to Gestah and Klein. Gestah's eyes were red from holding back tears, and Klein's blue eyes glinted fiercely under his wet hair. Though their expressions and moods were different, their eyes were strikingly similar. Latil could guess what they wanted. They hoped he would take someone's side and resolve the situation.

'This is a dilemma. Why did I come here at this moment?'

Without knowing the full context, it was awkward to take someone's side immediately. Of course, if he calmly sat down and called in investigators, he could determine who was lying. However, he didn't want to escalate the matter. Therefore, he had no choice but to remain neutral. Latil first looked at Gestah, who was gazing at him with large, pleading eyes. Feeling a bit guilty for not taking his side, Latil turned away and said firmly,

"Whether it was a mistake or intentional, pouring water on someone is wrong, Gestah. You should apologize."

Even without looking at him, Latil could imagine Gestah's shocked expression. Turning to Klein, he said,

"And Klein, everyone makes mistakes. You can't be sure it was intentional, so accept the apology and move on."

Perhaps due to his usual image, Klein, though clearly upset that Latil hadn't taken his side, didn't find it difficult to speak. Latil gestured to Gestah to apologize quickly. Eventually, Gestah stammered out an apology to Klein. However, Klein's expression did not improve. He looked at Latil as if he had betrayed him, then clenched his lips and turned away.

"Wh-what...!"

The butler, seeing this, was speechless. However, Latil realized Klein was deeply hurt by his lack of support. He felt a pang of guilt. Even if Gestah had made a genuine mistake, if Klein didn't accept it as such, the hurt would be the same. Had he been too one-sided in expecting maturity? Unable to bear it, Latil decided to call Klein aside to console him. He also wanted to discuss Aksian with Klein. Just as he was about to speak,

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Three guards rushed over, out of breath. Looking at them, one of them, standing in the middle, reported breathlessly,

"Your Majesty, the assassin, the assassin who tried to kill the late emperor, has been captured!"

Everyone present froze. Latil was also taken aback. The assassin, who had left no trace until now, had been suddenly captured? However, the soldiers didn't seem to be lying.

"Let's hear it on the way."

Latil quickly passed them and hurried out of the harem. Resolving the conflict between Gestah and Klein was less important than this. Klein, left behind, looked at Latil's retreating back with a mix of emotions, but Latil, already ahead, didn't see him. After Latil left,

"Your Highness."

Aksian called out cautiously, and Klein finally turned away from Latil's back.

"Are you alright?"

"How could I be?"

Klein asked irritably, then glared fiercely at Gestah, who was cowering in fear. After staring at him, Klein turned and walked back to his room. As soon as he entered, he threw himself into a large chair, his breathing heavy with anger. Klein's attendant quickly brought a dry towel to wipe his wet face and hair. Aksian sighed and muttered,

"His Majesty was very worried about you. It doesn't seem like you're doing well, Your Highness."

"What does that newcomer know?"

"Sometimes, what a newcomer sees is more obvious."

"..."

"If His Majesty truly favored you, he would have taken your side."

"He does favor me, in his heart."

"?"

Klein, seemingly dissatisfied with the attendant's half-hearted drying, snatched the towel and rubbed his hair vigorously.

"But..."

Klein sighed and dropped the towel.

"He just doesn't express it well."

"Perhaps he doesn't want to express it?"

"What does that newcomer know!"

"What a newcomer sees..."

"Ah, forget it. Stop it."

Klein waved his hand and got up from the chair, trudging to the bed. Seeing his dejected and unruly appearance, Aksian felt uneasy. Although his lord was Emperor Haisyn, Klein was a prince he had known since childhood. The confident prince, who used to walk around fearlessly, now looked pitiful, breathing heavily after a fight.

"Still, you've grown up a lot. In the past, you would have started punching. Emperor Haisyn would have been proud to see you now."

"Ha, as if. A dog still poops."

Dogs do poop, of course... The attendant muttered quietly, but neither Klein nor Aksian heard. Klein, tapping his foot, leaned his head against the bedpost, then suddenly turned to Aksian.

"Anyway, Aksian, why are you here?"

"As I said."

"My brother sent you to protect me?"

"Yes."

"To protect me, from someone weaker than me?"

"!"

Aksian, though offended by Klein's high opinion of himself, did not deny it, as it was true. Klein lifted his head from the post. Sitting with his legs apart, he rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands, looking at Aksian and smiling.

"Tell me honestly. Why are you really here?"

"Believe it or not, it's for protection. Truly."

Klein's lips curled in a mocking smile.

"Not to spy?"

"For protection."

No matter how much Klein pressed, Aksian kept smiling and repeating the same answer. Klein clicked his tongue and waved his hand.

"Of course, you wouldn't tell me, even if you had orders. I'm not your brother."

"Exactly."

"Then forget the protection. Since you're here, do me a favor."

"A favor, Your Highness?"

Surely not to fetch water. As Aksian lowered his voice, Klein grinned.

"You. Are you good at stealth?"

"?"

"The one who poured water on me. Go and do the same to him. No need to get caught."