Chapter 39

"Your Majesty, there is urgent news that needs to be reported."

It wasn't his turn for duty today, but when three of them rushed in suddenly, Latil put down the bouquet he was smelling and asked, "Sir Seon, what is it?"

However, Seon shook his head and lowered his voice. "It's a matter that's difficult to discuss here."

What now? Is it because of the series of incidents that have been happening one after another? Latil's heart started to race and he felt anxious even before he heard what it was about. Anyway, since it was urgent, he had to go. Besides, Klein seemed to be already asleep... or so he thought, at that moment.

"Your Majesty!"

The door burst open, and Klein came out with a face that looked like he was about to die of injustice.

"Klein?"

With a look full of stories, Klein was called out by Latil in surprise, and Klein hugged Latil, holding him tightly as he protested.

"Are you going to leave me again? Don't go!"

"Klein? You weren't sleeping?"

This kid, and you didn't even open the door? Latil was about to scold him, but Klein held Latil firmly with his strong arms and wouldn't let go.

"Why do you always leave me behind? Don't go this time. I won't let you go. If you have to go, carry me with you."

A refreshing scent came from Klein's embrace. Latil didn't know what perfume he had used, but it was a clear scent. Latil was about to scold Klein but closed his mouth when he saw his ears turn red. Although he was holding Latil back, he was clearly very embarrassed by the situation. It seemed he was still shocked by the time Latil left in just five minutes before. In the end, instead of getting angry or shouting, Latil patted Klein's back to calm him down.

"There's an urgent matter, so I have to go."

"Your Majesty!"

"But I'll come back this time. In 30 minutes, no, an hour. Wait for me."

Klein's expression was not very pleased, but he finally let go of his hands. As the large arms that had tightly wrapped around his body retreated, Latil felt a bit of regret. * * *

"What is it?"

As Latil left the harem and asked, Seon answered in a low voice.

"A letter has come from the temple. It's said to be a letter sent by the High Priest."

"Did they get in touch?"

"It seems so."

Latil quickened his pace. When he entered the office, he saw the chief steward standing next to the desk. As Latil approached, the chief steward handed him the letter with both hands. - I have heard about the incident with Hithar the priest and the matter of Your Majesty calling for me. Although I do not know the exact circumstances, I believe it is not a trivial matter since it involves human lives... Latil quickly read the letter and put it down on the desk. It was written in a somewhat verbose manner, but in summary, it said this.

"He will come to the banquet."

Surprised, Seon asked, "Is it an official visit?"

"No. It's unofficial. He doesn't want to reveal his identity."

"?"

"He will only show himself when he feels safe by my side."

Seon stared blankly at the letter on the desk for a moment and muttered, "He seems to be quite a cowardly person."

"Well, the High Priest isn't known for being a fighter."

"Still, it's quite unexpected."

"We need to double the number of guards for the banquet. Ensure there are no blind spots. Block off any areas that cannot be guarded."

After giving a few more instructions, Latil glanced at the clock. It had already been 30 minutes. Remembering his promise to Klein, Latil, seeing no more work to do, turned and left the office. Seon, seeing Latil leave, stood there for a moment, watching his retreating figure. The chief steward, while tidying up, frowned when he saw the captain of the royal guard standing there, staring at the empty corridor. * * * Not everyone can be in pain or happy at the same time. When Latil went to Klein's room, the servant Banil opened the door, and this time he went straight in. However, Klein was still nowhere to be seen, and instead, the curtains on the bed were drawn, hiding the inside. A silhouette could be seen beyond them.

'Is he telling me to pull these aside?'

Latil smiled inwardly, thinking that Klein, who usually seemed so straightforward, had a surprisingly delicate side. He approached and gently lifted the curtain. Worried that Klein might be undressing, but he wasn't. Klein was sitting on the bed, buttoned up neatly, unlike his usual self. When Latil entered the curtain, Klein opened his mouth slightly... and a blue gemstone was resting on his tongue.

The clean red tongue and the blue gemstone created a striking contrast, but Latil couldn't understand why Klein was holding a gemstone in his mouth at such a time.

"That?"

Just as Latil was about to ask why Klein was holding a gemstone in his mouth, Klein put the gemstone in his mouth and started to chew and swallow it. It turned out to be a candy shaped like a gemstone.

"Candy? What flavor is it that you're showing off and eating alone?"

When Latil changed his question, Klein reached out, sat Latil on his lap, and answered.

"It tastes like the sea."

"What kind of flavor is that?"

Salty? Salty? Refreshing? Not knowing, Latil asked again, and a soft, slightly moist, and reddish lip approached his nose.

"Do you want to check?"

Latil stared at the lips and then laughed, pressing his forehead against Klein's.

"Sure."

* * * To relax and stretch his stiff body from sitting at the desk all day, Latil finally had a sparring session with Seon. Latil swung his sword for almost an hour without stopping, but when his wooden sword broke, he stopped moving and walked to the bench, asking,

"Sir Seon, have you ever been to the sea?"

Seon handed his sword to a subordinate and followed Latil, answering,

"Yes."

When Latil sat on the bench, another guard quickly handed him a handkerchief. Latil wiped his neck and laughed.

"I've never been. In fact, I wasn't really curious."

"...Would you like to go with me someday?"

"That sounds good. I'm curious now. Is it real or fake?"

Seon was puzzled by the incomprehensible words, but Latil, instead of explaining, took the water offered by the servant and drank it. Then, he suddenly frowned and muttered,

"I can't figure out how Hyacinth and Klein grew up. How can brothers be so different?"

Seon's expression darkened at the mention of the two men's names. To hide it, Seon needlessly wiped his face with a towel and answered,

"Prince Thra and Your Majesty don't look alike either. ...Even though they are half-brothers, Prince Leand and Your Majesty don't look alike either."

Latil grinned and nodded.

"Aren't I better than my brother?"

But when Seon didn't answer immediately, Latil frowned and straightened up.

"Is it taking too long to answer?"

Seon put the towel on his knee and laughed playfully.

"I was conflicted between friendship and loyalty."

"Wow."

Latil pretended to be shocked and opened his mouth wide.

"Is that something to be conflicted about?"

"Does Your Majesty know which one takes precedence between the two?"

"I don't have to choose. I receive loyalty."

"Is that so?"

Seon nodded in agreement, and Latil poked his side.

"Sir Seon. You still haven't answered. Me or my brother?"

"..."

"Hey? You really won't answer?"

"The longer I hesitate, the longer I get to see you."

"Will you answer if I look elsewhere?"

"No."

When Seon really didn't answer, Latil felt a bit hurt and frowned.

"Sir Seon. If my brother asks you to choose between me and him, will you really be conflicted?"

Only then did Seon laugh bitterly and answer.

"I am always on Your Majesty's side."

His finger pressed deeply into the sharp edge of the broken wooden sword Latil had broken.

"I was born to be on Your Majesty's side from the beginning."

"…You don't have to go that far."

Latil shivered and waved his hand, and Seon's eyes twinkled playfully.

"Isn't that the answer you wanted?"

* * * There were eyes watching Latil joking with Seon from a distance. They were Tahir and Gestar. After writing the final report for the banquet and heading back to the harem, they heard that the emperor was at the training ground and went to check, only to see this scene.

"Hey, our innocent young master looks scary."

Tahir teased Gestar, who was silently watching the training ground, but Gestar, without blinking, answered shyly,

"No man likes to see his beloved woman getting along well with another man."

Although he pretended to be shy, he didn't feel like acting enthusiastically in front of Tahir, and his voice was cold. Tahir's servant and subordinate were nearby, but he didn't care, thinking they probably already knew about his situation.

"I don't."

When Tahir laughed and answered, Gestar wiped away his shy expression and muttered,

"Then you don't love the emperor."

Then, as if he didn't want to talk to him anymore, he left. When Gestar met his guard waiting far away and returned to the harem first, Hirul, who had been watching with his mouth open, clicked his tongue.

"Just as Mr. Sub-Head said, our young master is good at image-making."

But soon, Hirul shook his head and grinned.

"But he doesn't know. Our young master laughs more when he's angry. Of course, it's true that he doesn't love the emperor."

Tahir nodded in agreement and then asked in disbelief,

"Why are you so sure about my feelings?"

But Hirul asked back as if it was obvious.

"Because our young master doesn't like anyone but himself, right?"

* * * Despite many twists and turns, the banquet preparations were finally completed, and the invited foreign dignitaries gathered. Latil, drinking tea while looking down from a high window at the many carriages with the emblems of various countries entering the palace gates, thought,

'Among these countries, there are those who allied with Thra... Which one is it?'

It wasn't just that. Although Latil hadn't made a deal like Thra, he had also pretended to be a 'weak emperor' to gain the support of neighboring countries. Although he hadn't clashed with these countries yet, he had to be mindful of how their relationship would change when they realized he wasn't the 'weak emperor' they expected. Moreover...

'The High Priest. One of them is the High Priest.'

After finishing his tea in one go, Latil handed the empty plate to the servant standing next to him and turned to Seon.

"We must ensure the High Priest can approach me safely. Absolutely no accidents today. I trust you, Sir Seon."

"The High Priest might come, but someone else might be disguised as the High Priest."

"I know."

Very few people knew that Latil had sent a letter to Hithar the old priest. The priest was dead, and the letter was gone. Of course, it could have been a situation where the letter was found after the priest was killed, but there was also a possibility that the letter was known from the beginning and the priest was killed. Moreover, Latil had already considered the possibility that the culprit or accomplice was inside, which he had thought of during the tomb desecration incident. Therefore, it was natural that he had already calculated the part Seon was worried about.

"There is a way to confirm."

"Method? What is it?"

To Seon's question, Latil only patted his shoulder and walked away, laughing.

"It's a secret. I'll keep it to myself."

"!"

* * * As evening fell, the banquet finally began, and Latil received congratulations and gifts from many people. Among them, quite a few had heard about Latil's harem and, for some reason, gifted him beautiful men. Seon, who was initially smiling with Latil, gradually had a cold expression as the number of 'gifts' sent as men exceeded 30. But Seon's expression was still better. Rana, who sat closest to Latil, had a look that could freeze people with just a glance, causing some foreigners to whisper about him.

"That man will kill all the men sent to the emperor."

"Look at those jealous eyes. Scary."

Hearing this, Tahir bit his lip to stop himself from teasing Rana. After the 'gift-giving' time, which caused great anger among some, the music started, and it was time to dance. Latil quickly stood up to start looking for the High Priest.

"Your Majesty."

To this, the chief steward quickly approached and informed Latil in a low voice.

"You should choose a dance partner from the concubines."