Chapter 40

The first dance was always with her brother. Latil looked at the concubines standing beside her, who were staring at her, in response to the sudden proposal by the chamberlain. Lana Wen's eyes were already burning with passion, and Tashir was smiling as if it didn't matter whether he was chosen or not.

'Tashir, out.'

Klein had his hands tightly clasped, and Gestha looked like she might cry if not chosen. Kalain was...

'Kalain, out.'

With the expressionless Kalain excluded from the candidates, three men remained, looking at her with intense gazes. However, her deliberation among the three men was not long.

"Lana Wen."

After all, the Artax family had greatly helped Latil in her struggle for the throne. She couldn't embarrass the Duke of Artax, who had already been a laughingstock once when the harem was created.

"Your Majesty."

Lana Wen approached as if he knew he would be called, took Latil's outstretched hand, and the Duke of Artax watched with satisfaction, boasting to the person beside him.

"My son is truly excellent. He stands out among his peers. The Emperor can't help but be captivated. Isn't that right?"

The person beside him was Lord Chancellor, the father of Gestha, so his boasting had no effect.

"From the looks of it, it's not the Emperor who's captivated, but your son. Open your eyes and see."

"Open my eyes, and I see you burning with anger beside me."

"Artax!"

"Minister..."

"Artax!"

While Lord Chancellor fumed, Latil danced lightly with Lana Wen among the people. Having practiced martial arts since childhood and being naturally agile, Latil danced gracefully and easily. When Latil and Lana Wen spun lightly, people marveled at the beautiful couple, thinking they danced like birds. However, Latil regretted choosing Lana Wen as her dance partner amidst the praise.

'Lana Wen, why do you dance so poorly?'

Lana Wen danced so poorly that, thanks to Latil's voluminous skirt and Lana Wen's handsome face, people thought he danced as well as Latil. But Latil, as his dance partner, couldn't do that. Her feet ached from being stepped on repeatedly due to her partner's clumsy dancing.

'They'll definitely bruise.'

"Today, you've left a proper footprint in my heart, Lana Wen."

Unable to bear it any longer, Latil forced a smile and rebuked him. Lana Wen coldly replied, pretending not to notice.

"No matter how many footprints you leave, they will be fewer than the number you've left in my heart."

"I've never stepped on your feet."

"Your indifference tramples my heart. Every day, every hour."

"!"

"Whether today or tomorrow, whether now or with someone else, I wait for you all day. You don't know how I feel. So, for these three minutes of dancing, let me step on you."

Lana Wen's voice was cold and chilly, but it sounded like jealousy. Latil stopped spinning in his arms and met his eyes. People, noticing the Emperor had stopped dancing and was staring at the concubine, also stopped and looked at them. Latil, seeing that Lana Wen met her gaze without averting his eyes, smiled and asked.

"Have you been waiting for me?"

"Yes, always."

The response was neither quick nor slow, but devoid of emotion. Latil laughed heartily at his voice. When Lana Wen's hand twitched, the sensation was transmitted to Latil.

"What's so amusing?"

"Thinking about whether the one you wait for is me or the Emperor."

"!"

"Which one?"

Latil, raising her heel, whispered in Lana Wen's ear, a question only he could hear. The Duke of Artax, unaware of the situation, proudly raised a toast to the people. To him, it looked like his son and the Emperor were whispering lovingly, not arguing.

"Lana Wen will soon be the Empress."

"Indeed. By birth and appearance..."

"The Emperor is completely captivated by Lana Wen."

"Who could resist, including me."

"Viscount? What did you just say?"

"Ah!"

Lana Wen, unaware of what his father was doing, answered coldly without any change in expression.

"The Emperor."

Latil was momentarily surprised but soon laughed, patting Lana Wen's shoulder.

"Good answer."

"!"

"I trust a mouth that speaks desire more than one that whispers love. Your mouth is trustworthy."

***

After finishing the dance, Latil gave an order to the concubines, who couldn't dance with other nobles or ladies due to their status. They were to dance with each other at least once in turn. Latil's intention was to have them get along by dancing and holding hands, as they constantly fought among themselves in the harem. Publicly, this was a considerate gesture. Of course, it was an excuse, and in reality, it was revenge for the constant headaches they caused. And this revenge was most effective on Tashir, whom Latil had evaluated as "the least troublesome."

"Tashir, give me your hand."

Tashir, who feared Kalain the most, immediately extended his hand when Kalain, standing beside him, heard Latil's command. Tashir, unsure if he was being led or dragged by Kalain, walked to the dance hall. Gestha and Klein, left without a choice, glared at each other.

"The moment you step on my foot, I'll kick your ankle, you dried fish."

Latil, watching the concubines, nodded contentedly but then stiffened, sensing a peculiar gaze.

'What's this about?'

Given her position, Latil was always under scrutiny, but when she was with someone, the gazes multiplied. However, one gaze felt particularly persistent.

"Bring me a grapefruit."

Latil, holding a fruit plate, walked to a large pillar polished to a mirror finish. She slowly ate the fruit, and when she felt the gaze, she confirmed who was looking at her through the pillar. She saw someone on the opposite staircase landing.

'Why are you looking at me like that?'

When Latil naturally turned her body, the person quickly moved to another place.

'Could it be...?'

The High Priest said he would approach when he was sure it was safe, after observing the guests. Perhaps this person was the High Priest.

"Take it."

As soon as Latil thought this, she handed the plate to a passing servant and quickly walked in the direction the person had gone.

'Where did he go? I can't see him.'

While stealthily walking through a sparsely populated area, she heard a strange voice.

"Damn it. The High Priest must be around here somewhere."

'High Priest?'

Latil stopped and hid behind the pillar. Who just mentioned the High Priest?

"Hasn't he been caught yet?"

Latil narrowed her eyes. The voice, mentioning the High Priest, was full of dissatisfaction. Whoever was carelessly mentioning the High Priest didn't seem to have good intentions.

'But how do they know the High Priest is here? Very few people know this.'

Latil approached the voice. There was a Tarium noble stroking his goatee.

"Your Majesty?"

His name escaped her, but he was definitely a Tarium noble. He hastily bowed upon seeing Latil.

"To meet Your Majesty here is an honor."

But another voice was heard almost simultaneously.

"Why is the Emperor here?"

Latil frowned. The voice was definitely from this noble. How could he produce two voices almost simultaneously? Moreover, calling her "Emperor" in front of her. While not all nobles liked her, they usually were careful with their words and actions.

"Why is the Emperor just staring at me without saying anything? Did he... notice something strange? ...No, that can't be. It's fine. I haven't done anything. Yet."

The noble's voice was strange. He muttered as if Latil couldn't hear him.

"I'll just say I came out for some fresh air. Many people do that."

Then, the noble subtly lifted his head and smiled obediently, saying, "The air is good. I was just going out for some fresh air."

Latil was shocked.

'What? This person? Did he send his thoughts to me? Or did I read his thoughts?'

It was a first, and she was very confused.

"Your Majesty...?"

But Latil, seeing the noble's fearful gaze, quickly put on a gentle smile and waved her hand.

"No, go on. I'm meeting a concubine here."

"Then..."

But as soon as the noble left, Latil's expression hardened.

'Did I just hear his inner thoughts? Really?'

She had heard of ancestors with such abilities, but thought it was just a legend. Besides, Latil wasn't a mage. Yet, she suddenly heard someone's inner thoughts...

'Or maybe it wasn't inner thoughts.'

Regardless, what was important now was the negative information about the High Priest in his thoughts.

'This person. He definitely mentioned catching the High Priest. Does he know who the High Priest is? Is the High Priest in danger?'

After some deliberation, Latil decided to believe what she 'heard' and stealthily followed the noble from a distance. The noble initially looked back several times but, when Latil perfectly concealed her presence, eventually stopped and sped up, heading somewhere. After some time, the noble, who had gone to the garden terrace, leaned over the railing, looking intently at something, then turned and started down the nearby stairs. As soon as he was out of sight, Latil walked to the railing he had been looking over.

'What did he see?'

Latil, bending over, looked around.

'There?'

She finally saw something. In a dimly lit area surrounded by tall shrubs, a person in a华丽的长袍被几个人攻击。虽然几乎没有任何灯光，但拉蒂尔的夜视能力很好，她清楚地看到了这一幕。

‘就是这里。’

此外，她还明白了为什么尽管布置了严密的警卫，这样的事情还是发生了。袭击者中有一人的服装是警卫的制服。

‘果然内部有问题。’

拉蒂尔迅速撕开她华丽的裙子，踩着栏杆，一跃而下。

“！”

她踩着一个袭击者的背，稳稳落地。穿着长袍的人和袭击者们都被这突如其来的皇帝吓了一跳，纷纷看向拉蒂尔。袭击者们立刻拔出剑，但拉蒂尔比他们更快，用匕首的背面迅速击打最前面的袭击者的颈部，使其昏迷。

“呃！”

袭击者们因皇帝的突然出现而惊慌失措，互相交换眼神，似乎在犹豫是逃跑还是攻击皇帝。显然，他们没有接到相关的命令。看着他们混乱的眼神，拉蒂尔亲切地解释道：

“你们没有选择，不需要犹豫。该犹豫的是我。”

拉蒂尔的眼神变得锐利。

“杀掉你们，还是抓住你们。”

***

华丽的长袍被几个人攻击。虽然几乎没有任何灯光，但拉蒂尔的夜视能力很好，她清楚地看到了这一幕。

‘就是这里。’

此外，她还明白了为什么尽管布置了严密的警卫，这样的事情还是发生了。袭击者中有一人的服装是警卫的制服。

‘果然内部有问题。’

拉蒂尔迅速撕开她华丽的裙子，踩着栏杆，一跃而下。

“！”

她踩着一个袭击者的背，稳稳落地。穿着长袍的人和袭击者们都被这突如其来的皇帝吓了一跳，纷纷看向拉蒂尔。袭击者们立刻拔出剑，但拉蒂尔比他们更快，用匕首的背面迅速击打最前面的袭击者的颈部，使其昏迷。

“呃！”

袭击者们因皇帝的突然出现而惊慌失措，互相交换眼神，似乎在犹豫是逃跑还是攻击皇帝。显然，他们没有接到相关的命令。看着他们混乱的眼神，拉蒂尔亲切地解释道：

“你们没有选择，不需要犹豫。该犹豫的是我。”

拉蒂尔的眼神变得锐利。

“杀掉你们，还是抓住你们。”

***

A person in a华丽的长袍被几个人攻击。虽然几乎没有任何灯光，但拉蒂尔的夜视能力很好，她清楚地看到了这一幕。

‘就是这里。’

此外，她还明白了为什么尽管布置了严密的警卫，这样的事情还是发生了。袭击者中有一人的服装是警卫的制服。

‘果然内部有问题。’

拉蒂尔迅速撕开她华丽的裙子，踩着栏杆，一跃而下。

“！”

她踩着一个袭击者的背，稳稳落地。穿着长袍的人和袭击者们都被这突如其来的皇帝吓了一跳，纷纷看向拉蒂尔。袭击者们立刻拔出剑，但拉蒂尔比他们更快，用匕首的背面迅速击打最前面的袭击者的颈部，使其昏迷。

“呃！”

袭击者们因皇帝的突然出现而惊慌失措，互相交换眼神，似乎在犹豫是逃跑还是攻击皇帝。显然，他们没有接到相关的命令。看着他们混乱的眼神，拉蒂尔亲切地解释道：

“你们没有选择，不需要犹豫。该犹豫的是我。”

拉蒂尔的眼神变得锐利。

“杀掉你们，还是抓住你们。”

***

A person in a magnificent robe was being attacked by several individuals. Despite the lack of light, Latil's night vision was excellent, and she could see the scene clearly.

'This is it.'

Moreover, she understood why such an incident could occur despite the tight security. One of the attackers was dressed in a guard's uniform.

'There is indeed a problem within.'

Latil quickly tore her elaborate skirt, stepped on the railing, and leaped down.

"!"

She landed on the back of one of the attackers, surprising the person in the robe and the attackers, who all turned to look at her. The attackers immediately drew their swords, but Latil was faster, using the back of her dagger to quickly strike the neck of the foremost attacker, rendering him unconscious.

"Ugh!"

The attackers were taken aback by the Emperor's sudden appearance, exchanging glances, unsure whether to flee or attack the Emperor. Clearly, they had no orders for such a situation. Seeing their confused looks, Latil kindly explained:

"You have no choice, so there's no need to hesitate. I am the one who should be hesitating."

Latil's eyes narrowed.

"Should I kill you or capture you?"