Chapter 62

...

Seeing that Lanaum was not drinking the soup but only staring at it, his butler and alchemist, Cardun, tilted his head.

"Why is that, young master? Is the food not to your liking?"

"A bit strange."

"The smell?"

Cardun came closer, took a spoonful of the soup with a tasting spoon, and smelled it.

"Seems fine to me?"

Then Cardun took a mouthful of the soup, looked up at the ceiling, and moved his mouth. Seeing Lanaum staring, Cardun swallowed the soup and put down the spoon with a smile.

"It's delicious, young master. You like mushroom soup, don't you?"

"It was served yesterday too."

Do you not want to eat the same dish in succession? Cardun looked down at the mushroom soup that only looked delicious and asked.

"Would you like to change it?"

"It's not that I don't want to eat it."

"Is that so?"

"Usually, the same dish isn't served in succession."

"Ah... That's true. Now that you mention it, it usually isn't."

"..."

"But it's not unprecedented, young master. When I mentioned to the chef that you liked a certain dish, he served it for three days straight."

Seeing that Lanaum's expression didn't change despite his gentle words, Cardun asked cautiously.

"Would you still like to change it if you feel uncomfortable?"

Lanaum stared at the soup, then picked up his spoon.

"It's fine. It's not a dish I dislike."

After saying he didn't want to eat it, he actually finished the bowl of soup, which tasted good. * * * The problem only became apparent the next day.

"...Something feels off."

The next morning, Lanaum, who usually woke up at the same time, lay in bed thinking. It felt different from usual. Normally, he would get up immediately and wash, but today he just sat on the bed, which made Cardun, who had brought the neatly ironed clothes for the day, ask.

"Why is that, young master?"

"My..."

"Yes?"

Lanaum was about to tell Cardun about the difference between yesterday morning and today but changed his mind and shook his head.

"No. Never mind."

It felt a bit embarrassing to say, and he thought it wouldn't make much difference if he felt a bit weak for a day. In the end, Lanaum got up silently and went straight to the bathroom as usual. After bathing, he listened to various matters in the harem while Cardun dressed him.

"Recently, His Majesty seems to favor Tashir and the High Priest. He has taken Tashir out twice and suddenly rushed to see the High Priest. That's what they say."

"..."

"That's strange. How can he favor those people over you? Are you so handsome that you don't seem human?"

"I don't know."

"You should find out! You've been studying! You've been reading a lot of books! What have you been reading?"

"Cardun."

"Sorry. I got excited because I was upset."

"The book talks about what happens after bedtime."

"Then, does it mean... going to bed...?"

"It's not in there."

"How can that be! There's no such thing!"

As Lanaum calmly combed his hair, Cardun, disappointed, dropped his shoulders and exclaimed, "Ah!" before making another suggestion.

"How about getting closer to the High Priest or Tashir? You can see His Majesty when you're with them. Besides, with the High Priest next to you, your face will look even better, won't it?"

Cardun made the suggestion seriously, but Lanaum didn't have the time to consider it. Because he still felt unwell when he woke up the next morning. Lying in bed, Lanaum stared at the ornate ceiling, then closed his eyes tightly. Something... seemed to have gone terribly wrong. * * *

"Wow. How can this be?"

Ratil, who had used the ancient language he learned from Gestar to interpret the old map, almost swore when the results came out.

"Why?"

Tashir asked from the side, but there was no answer. Ratil silently pressed his forehead with his hand. It couldn't be helped. The old map pointed to the location of an object, and unfortunately, that location was inside Carisen. Carisen. The place where his ex-boyfriend, the emperor, is. And it's near the capital. This is crazy. This is really crazy.

"Are the mapmakers crazy?"

"Yes?"

"Why bury a map pointing to Carisen in Adamar?"

"Well... When the map was made, the borders and relations between countries were probably different from now."

"I know."

"Right. You seem upset as if you don't know."

When Ratil gave him a sidelong glance, Tashir exaggeratedly made a pouting face, clasped his hands, and twisted his body.

"Sweethearts should have nicknames. Should I call His Majesty a flounder? If His Majesty becomes my lovely flounder, I will be His Majesty's..."

"Minnow."

"...I don't resemble a minnow, Your Majesty."

"Meddlesome minnow."

"...That's too much."

When Tashir pretended to be dejected and sighed, Ratil snorted and looked back at the map. Tashir, seeing that Ratil's gaze had moved away from him, smiled and watched him. Ratil, who didn't know, was already aware of the relationship between Ratil and the Emperor of Carisen, and understood why Ratil was so troubled. But this was something he couldn't pretend to know, so Tashir quietly waited for Ratil to make a decision. After a while, Ratil finally decided what to do.

"There's no choice. I have to go and see."

"To Carisen? Are you going to go there yourself? It's dangerous. They might come after you again."

"I have the map. How can they come?"

"That's true. But if there's an enemy inside, they might chase after Your Majesty."

"Exactly. This matter needs to be handled secretly. Doing it myself is the best way to ensure security."

After thinking for a moment, Ratil added.

"While I'm there, I might as well see Queen Aini."

Queen Aini claimed that Prince Heum had returned from the dead. Talking to her might provide some new information.

"Then you'll go officially, using diplomatic issues as an excuse?"

"Yes. And..."

Just as Ratil was about to say more, someone knocked on the office door.

"What is it?"

When Ratil shook the bell to signal for someone to enter, a secretary soon came in, clasped his hands, and announced.

"Your Majesty. Lord Lanaum wishes to see you."

"Lanaum? I'm a bit busy now."

"He specifically asked to be brought in..."

* * * He could have turned him away, but Ratil knew that Lanaum wouldn't call him for trivial matters, so he put aside his work and went to the corridor. Walking through the long corridor into the harem, Ratil walked to Lanaum's room and realized he had neglected Lanaum.

'I've been taking care of the concubines with issues and haven't been able to take care of Lanaum much.'

Even though he is the son of a meritorious official and was forced into the harem by Duke Artax, he felt he had neglected Lanaum too much.

'He doesn't seem like the type to complain... but did he come to talk about this? But it doesn't seem urgent.'

When he arrived at Lanaum's room, Ratil saw Cardun waiting outside and asked him.

"What did he call you for?"

He wanted to prepare mentally before entering the room. But Cardun's expression was not good.

"Your Majesty."

His eyebrows and the corners of his eyes were drooping, as if he was trying to hold back tears, which surprised Ratil.

"Why? Is something wrong with Lanaum?"

"That's..."

"Why? Why is that?"

But Cardun, despite the emperor's question, hesitated to answer. Finally, unable to wait any longer, Ratil, feeling frustrated, opened the door and went in. There, he saw Lanaum standing in the middle of the room.

"Lanaum!"

When Ratil called his name, Lanaum slowly turned his head... and Ratil was shocked. His face was extremely pale, almost as pale as Kallain.

"Why? Are you sick somewhere?"

When Ratil hurriedly approached and put his hand on Lanaum's shoulder, Lanaum's expression became even more desolate, making Ratil feel uneasy. The pain... in his head?

Reflexively, he put his hand on Lanaum's forehead, but fortunately, there was no fever.

"Lanaum."

"Your Majesty."

"Come on, tell me. What's wrong?"

Ratil took Lanaum's hand and led him to the bed, sat him down, and bent slightly to face him. Looking into his eyes, he noticed the cold sigh on the usually sharp lips of Lanaum.

"It's okay. I'm on your side. Tell me, Lanaum. Where does it hurt? Or are you worried about something? Is it about the Artax family?"

Lanaum, looking at Ratil, moved his lips several times. The usually sharp and cold person was hesitating today, which was suffocating. Still, Ratil waited calmly for him to speak.

After a while, Lanaum finally spoke in a voice not much different from usual.

"I think I have a disease."

"What?"

Are you really sick? Seeing him act like this, it doesn't seem like a terminal illness. Ratil was startled and asked carefully.

"A... terminal illness?"

If it wasn't, he wouldn't be hesitating like this. Given his reaction, it must be a serious illness. If Lanaum is seriously ill, what should I do? Should I gather the palace staff to take care of him? Or send him to the Artax family for convalescence? Which would be better for recovery? Should I ask Lanaum? But can the High Priest treat illnesses?

"I don't have a terminal illness."

But Lanaum's answer was a bit strange.

"You don't have a terminal illness?"

Could it be Duke Artax? The Duchess? Either way, it would be a very sad story for Lanaum, so Ratil tensed up.

"Then who is sick?"

"...My future children."

But the answer was more absurd than sad.

"What?"

Who is dying? The death of a child is a very sad and painful thing. But it's a bit perplexing that it's about future, unborn children. If Tashir had said this, Ratil would have scolded him for joking, but since it was Lanaum, it didn't seem like a joke. But the words were too absurd...

"Did you... travel to the future? Can you tell me what year it is now?"

When Ratil asked with a serious tone, Lanaum furrowed his brows as if he didn't understand and sighed before explaining.

"The object is not functioning properly."

"Object? What object?"

'What does an object have to do with a child?'

When Lanaum pointed to his legs with his eyes, Ratil followed his gaze, then quickly looked up, eyes wide.

"What, what happened?"

"I don't know. Suddenly."

"Are you sure? Are you really sure? Did you check?"

When Ratil asked urgently, Lanaum moved his lips and looked at Ratil reproachfully.

"Why, why are you looking at me like that? I didn't do it!"

The reproach in his expression was perplexing, so Ratil waved his hand, and Lanaum asked in a voice that seemed to be scraping ice.

"How could I have checked?"

"Then it might not be true?"

"No. I can clearly feel it. It's not just today."

What to do. No, how could he be sick in such a place that causes trouble for others. Ratil hesitated and looked at Lanaum. They stared at each other in silence. They needed a solution, but neither of them could think of one. After a while, Ratil asked in a low, cautious voice.

"Let me... check it out, shall I?"