Chapter 44

The High Priest's naked body was far more stimulating than when it was wrapped in clothes. The muscles that were prominent even at a glance now revealed their full form, and Latil couldn't help but swallow hard. Those long, smooth fingers and those arms, which seemed to have no fat at all, were so firm. If the High Priest hadn't had that solemn expression on his face, as if he were about to enter a holy ceremony, Latil might have been swayed. But thanks to his expression, which lacked even a gram of flirtatiousness, Latil looked at the High Priest with a face like a Tibetan fox.

"I'm not ready to fall."

Latil walked over and covered the High Priest's body with the blanket he had pushed aside.

"Such a sacred body is not often offered, Your Majesty. Please reconsider."

Latil gently tapped the High Priest's forehead with the book he had brought.

"Your Majesty!"

"Put on some clothes."

"No one has ever treated me like this..."

"Are you the only one? That won't work. Put on some clothes."

The High Priest tried to argue further, but as Latil started picking up the dropped notes, he had no choice but to wrap himself tightly in the blanket. Latil burst out laughing when he saw this. The blanket was pure white, making it look as if the High Priest's face was floating on top of sherbet.

"If you don't intend to take my sacred body, why did you come?"

"Is the description too long?"

"I made up my mind, but Your Majesty turned me down."

"You're not really a concubine. You don't have to go that far."

When Latil spoke firmly, the High Priest muttered in shock.

"You really sound like a High Priest."

'Why am I the one saying this! You should be the one saying it!'

Latil wanted to pull the High Priest's lips in frustration but couldn't bring himself to do it, even though the High Priest didn't act like one. Instead, he opened the book and read the prepared questions.

"I came because I have something to ask. First, do you have any subordinates who can carry out secret tasks?"

"Secretly...?"

"Someone who can keep their mouth shut and follow orders, even if they're not good. Someone who would take their own life if caught before being questioned."

At Latil's cold explanation, the High Priest showed a surprised expression for the first time. Despite living in the secular world, he still had the qualities of a High Priest.

"Subordinates are all brothers and sisters in the same faith. How could I give such orders?"

"None, then?"

"There is a group called the White Lotus Order, composed of Holy Knights."

The White Lotus Order? Latil thought it was a name he had heard in passing and asked.

"So you do have them?"

But he couldn't immediately recall what kind of group it was. Talium was not a country dominated by religion, and Latil himself was not particularly devout. Of course, most of the citizens had a religion, and even though Latil was not devout, he still had an instinctive reverence for the gods.

"They follow my will, but they are probably not the type you want. They respect me and help me because I am the High Priest, but they are not subordinates in that sense."

"I don't want respect. I want unconditional loyalty."

"That's not the case. The only object of their unconditional reverence is the god."

Latil sighed and rested his arms on his knees. Since he had obtained information that Tlaga might still be alive, he wanted to investigate carefully. It seemed he wouldn't get much help from the High Priest. Should he choose from the existing forces and issue orders...?

"Is that why you came to ask?"

"Ah, one more thing. Have you ever heard of someone suddenly displaying strange abilities that keep appearing and disappearing?"

"Magic?"

"No."

The High Priest thought hard and then said he had never heard of such a phenomenon.

"Okay."

You're no help at all. Latil swallowed these words.

'Well, you're not completely useless. Just being here prevents anything related to black magic from approaching.'

* * *

After leaving the High Priest's room, Latil walked while pondering what his ability might be and in what situations it would manifest. He stopped near the harem exit.

'This isn't the way to go. If I can't figure it out theoretically, I can test it out one by one.'

Latil wasn't the type to get discouraged or disheartened when things didn't go well. When he was betrayed by Hyacinth, he had immediately turned that emotion into anger and ambition. Latil often used even the smallest setbacks to fuel his drive forward.

'I'll try to meet as many people as possible. Those who will think a lot when they see me. That might give me some hints.'

This time, Latil found a direction and quickly turned back into the harem. The first person he sought was Gestah.

"None?"

"Yes. He went to the library to read."

But since Gestah was out, Latil went to Lanawen next. Fortunately, Lanawen was quietly in his room.

"Why have you come at this hour, Your Majesty?"

Lanawen was the perfect person to read someone's inner thoughts. His face was like ice, his voice cold, and he was taciturn.

"Do we always have to meet at night?"

"!"

Latil spoke smoothly and approached the window where Lanawen was sitting, sitting down next to him. Lanawen didn't push him away, but he didn't say anything either, leading to an awkward silence. However, Latil, who would usually initiate conversation, remained quiet this time to listen to Lanawen's inner thoughts. How long did they sit there in silence?

'Are you not thinking at all, or are you thinking and I just can't hear it?'

After about 30 minutes, Latil admitted that staying longer wouldn't make Lanawen's inner thoughts audible. He decided to visit another concubine and stood up from the window frame.

"Leaving already?"

Lanawen, who had been like a block of ice, showed a slight hint of regret as he stood up.

"You keep saying to go, that I'm being interrupted... ...inside."

"Never."

"Hmm. You didn't. It was quiet."

"?"

"No, just saying. Anyway, I'm leaving."

When Latil patted his shoulder, Lanawen's hand moved slightly upward. As Latil opened the door to leave, Lanawen's hand rose higher, as if trying to grab him, but only brushed the air. Lanawen moved his hand aimlessly in the air and, when the door closed, hesitated before lowering it.

"..."

The closed door felt like Latil's heart. Lanawen clenched his fist and stood there for a long time. But this door could be opened with a turn, unlike the silent door of Latil's heart. Karudun, Lanawen's shadow, who had temporarily left the room, covered his mouth with his hands and felt his eyes well up when he saw Lanawen.

"Master... You look so pitiful. Is it because of that casino dealer?"

"No."

Lanawen coldly answered and returned to the window, but Karudun was convinced it was because the emperor had spent the night with the casino dealer and sniffled.

"Don't be too disappointed. How could Master know that His Majesty's taste is for an angelic face with beastly muscles?"

"An angelic face? Does that mean he's better looking than me?"

Lanawen, who had great pride in his beauty, spoke coldly, and Karudun hurriedly waved his hands.

"Of course not. Master's face is unmatched in the world! It's a face that the gods themselves crafted with care!"

That was true. His beauty was worthy of such praise. But why? Why wasn't the emperor charmed by him? Seeing Lanawen's expression, Karudun hesitated and then cautiously suggested.

"Master... His Majesty seems to like muscular builds. What if you tried bulking up?"

"!"

* * *

The next person Latil visited was Tashir. Tashir wasn't in his room, but he was nearby and quickly approached Latil with a casual air.

"Who's this? Our Majesty, isn't it?"

Tashir, acting as if they were childhood friends, murmured, "I'll do something pretty," and hugged Latil tightly, smiling contentedly. His subordinate, Hiellan, was so impressed by Tashir's calculated and fox-like behavior that he almost cried. Latil, who had accidentally leaned against Tashir's chest, blinked and then laughed, slipping out of his embrace.

"You're just quick on the draw."

"Out of love."

Just as Latil was about to add a comment with a smile, Tashir's clothes suddenly tore, revealing one side of his chest.

Latil's eyes widened in surprise, and Tashir sighed, "Oh dear," without covering himself, instead placing his hand on his forehead.

"My clothes are old and tore. How embarrassing to show this in front of Your Majesty."

If you're embarrassed, you should cover yourself. Latil clicked his tongue when Tashir's hand moved up, causing his clothes to slip further down.

"Your chest is completely exposed, completely."

"Your Majesty's appreciation makes my face hot. So, how about it?"

"Not your chest!"

And your face isn't even blushing! Seeing that Tashir had no intention of covering himself, Latil finally straightened his clothes for him. As his fingers brushed Tashir's skin, his own shoulder twitched, but Latil pretended not to notice and warned him.

"Stop fooling around."

"My clothes are just old."

"Which old clothes are shiny and only the seams are torn?"

"Your Majesty's detailed observation makes my heart race."

When Latil gave him a sidelong glance, Tashir smiled and finally secured his clothes with his arm. Latil sighed and shook his head. He's such a strange guy. But even from Tashir, he couldn't hear any inner thoughts.

'He seems to just say whatever comes to mind, but...'

"Your Majesty? What brings you here? Do you have any special orders for me?"

When Tashir finally asked seriously, Latil waved his hand and moved on to the next concubine. However, Kallain, the next one he visited, was also out of the room.

"Where did he go?"

When Latil asked, Kallain's servant, who had a pale face like his master, answered.

"He said he wanted to stretch his body and went to the training ground."

"Okay."

"Should I tell him you came?"

"No, it's fine. It's not urgent."

After all, he had met Kallain yesterday. At that time, he hadn't heard any inner thoughts from Kallain either. Latil finally went to Klein as a last resort.

"Your Majesty!"

Klein was doing something alone in the room, and his neck and forehead were drenched in sweat. By the side, his servant from his homeland was playing the violin, and Aksian was holding a drum.

"What were you doing?"

Did you have a party with them? Latil asked in disbelief, and Klein, blushing, explained that he had been teaching his subordinates about musical instruments. How passionately did he teach to be so sweaty? Latil was genuinely curious but, seeing Klein's face about to explode, he swallowed his question.

"Okay. Keep... teaching them."

Since he couldn't hear Klein's inner thoughts either, Latil patted his shoulder and quickly left.

'No results at all.'

But as he was walking back to the harem exit, he heard Klein's voice from behind.

"Your Majesty!"

Why now? Latil stopped and turned around. Klein, with a towel around his neck, hurriedly ran up to him.

"What is it?"

When Klein approached, he didn't say anything, just tightly closed his mouth and looked at Latil with big eyes. Then,

'Ask me to go with you. Ask me to take a walk together. Tell me you're glad to see me. Tell me you wanted to dance with me at the banquet. Don't go. You came to see me. Say it's true.'

Klein's inner thoughts were clear.