Chapter 63

It was embarrassing, but someone had to check, and if she did it herself, it might be a little less awkward, wouldn't it? At Latil's suggestion, Lanan's ears turned red, but she couldn't easily give an answer. They had only held hands and slept together, but they hadn't done anything as a real married couple. It was a perplexing situation.

"If you don't want to, I can call someone else. How about your attendant?"

"I hate that the most."

"Oh, right. You have to see them every day, so that would be a bit awkward."

Lanan, realizing there was no other way, finally lowered her eyes and muttered.

"Please check, Your Majesty."

Latil felt a lump in his throat and cleared it.

"It's a bit hot, isn't it?"

"It's almost summer."

"Right."

If the Duke of Artax had seen this scene, he would have slapped his son's back and scolded him for wasting his night studies. But given that this was their first night as newlyweds, it was better than this awkward situation, which was truly perplexing for Lanan.

"It's hot."

Latil fanned himself and looked around, and Lanan slowly spread her legs, as if a snail was crawling. A subtle and ticklish atmosphere filled the room, but outside the door, Cardun was only worried.

Lanan and Latil hadn't built a deep bond. If there were any problems, the bond they had built might help, but Lanan was just a concubine who didn't receive much favor from the emperor. The role of an empress or a royal concubine is different from that of a concubine.

"Sir... I hope you're okay."

Why did this happen all of a sudden? He was always healthy and never had any minor illnesses. Cardun sniffled alone by the door, and when a palace attendant looked at him strangely, he shook his hands and signaled them to go away.

'It feels a bit strange.'

How long did it take for Latil to check the curtains by the window and for Lanan to look at the door over Latil's shoulder? After trying everything, Latil slowly removed his hand and looked down.

"There's really no reaction."

"That's what I said."

"..."

"..."

"Um."

"Yes."

"Is it because you don't have feelings for me that there's no reaction?"

"Absolutely not."

Lanan answered immediately, and Latil felt embarrassed and mumbled, "Really?" He awkwardly clasped his hands and repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fingers. What Lanan said earlier. If there were feelings but no reaction, or if there were no feelings but a reaction was inevitable, what did that mean? He became curious about something unnecessary. Then, Lanan hesitated and placed Latil's hand on her chest.

"Latil?"

Surprised, Latil lifted his head, and the steady heartbeat from the firm muscles under his palm echoed.

"The heart is reacting properly."

"Uh-huh. It is."

Latil instinctively tried to curl his fingers, but when Lanan made a dizzy expression, he straightened them again. Lanan carefully placed Latil's hand back and, like Latil had done earlier, fanned herself. Latil watched Lanan's picturesque profile and asked cautiously.

"Um, Lanan. Are you sure this never happened before?"

"Of course. That's why I noticed the change immediately."

"I see."

But how? Latil didn't understand, but he decided not to pry further. The important thing was not how Lanan noticed the change but how to return her body to its original state.

"First, I'll look for a solution."

"Your Majesty."

"Don't worry too much. Maybe you're just tired. Okay?"

After calming Lanan, Latil immediately went to the High Priest. He could have called the palace healer, but the High Priest was the best at healing, wasn't he? He wasn't sure if the High Priest could handle this kind of treatment.

"Your Majesty!"

The High Priest, unaware of why Latil had come, simply smiled happily when Latil entered his room.

'Oh dear.'

Latil stepped back when he saw the Holy Knights of the White Flower Order sitting around the room playing cards. The knights looked at each other, blushed, and filed out like a line of ducks.

'The knights all have vivid imaginations, I see.'

"Did you come to embrace me, Your Majesty?"

'Including this one.'

Latil denied the High Priest's innocent question and firmly closed the door.

"Hmm? Is there something you need to say in secret?"

The High Priest, surprisingly perceptive at such times, immediately stood up, closed and locked the window, and drew the curtains. Once everything was ready, Latil sat on the sofa and began.

"Actually, I came because I want you to check something."

"What is it? I'll check anything."

"Um... Can you check Lanan's... precious... part?"

The High Priest, who had said he would check anything, recoiled in horror when he heard the request.

"Why would I do that?!"

"I want to know."

"I don't want to know!"

"No, that's not what I mean. There's a problem with the function."

The High Priest shuddered, and Latil waved his hands in distress. The High Priest jumped even more.

"Go to hell!"

"!"

"What do you want me to do?"

"No, Lanan isn't a bastard. I didn't mean that."

"Everyone is a bastard at first."

"Really, it's not. Anyway, can you at least check?"

No matter how nicely Latil asked, the High Priest refused.

"No! I don't want to see it!"

"Fine. Then don't look. Just close your eyes and check."

"Even worse!"

"Then touch it!"

"That's not the issue!"

The High Priest, who usually smiled kindly, was unusually terrified, so Latil finally frowned and asked.

"What's the problem? You're the High Priest, right? You're supposed to treat patients. Don't you find it unpleasant? Lanan is like a withered bean sprout right now!"

"..."

"Ah, just to be clear. I'm using a metaphor. It's not that part. It's a bit sensitive, but it's a disease."

Seeing Latil's obvious disappointment, the High Priest, feeling wronged, finally burst out.

"To treat, I need to touch the injured area!"

"Oh."

Is that so? Latil covered his mouth with one hand and widened his eyes, and the High Priest slumped his shoulders dejectedly.

* * *

Despite his reluctance, the High Priest eventually went with Latil to see Lanan. Lanan quickly opened the door when Latil returned, but seeing the High Priest being dragged in by Latil, she almost fainted. Looking at Latil as if he were a traitor, Lanan felt wronged. Why was she looking at him like that? He had brought the High Priest to treat her illness. Was he the one who caused the illness? He was just trying to find a cure.

Finally, Latil put on a stern face and pointed to the bed.

"Go over there. Both of you."

Lanan and the High Priest shuffled over like they were glued to the floor, and Latil instructed them to sit side by side.

"Try to heal her."

As soon as the order was given, both Lanan and the High Priest looked as if they hadn't slept for two weeks.

"..."

"..."

Seeing that neither of them moved, Latil sighed and tried to persuade them again.

"Lanan, you have a disease, and you want to get better. High Priest, you're just treating a patient. Right now, think of yourselves as a patient and a healer, not as my concubines."

Hearing Latil's words, the High Priest reluctantly rolled up his sleeve and muttered.

"As Your Majesty said, Lanan is a patient, so I'll treat her, even if it's awkward."

Lanan whispered, "Please take care of me," and Latil almost burst out laughing. But if he laughed, they would both run away, so he bit his tongue and maintained a stern expression.

"But, Your Majesty, Lanan. If this is a natural bodily change and not caused by an intentional attack, I can't do anything."

"A natural bodily change?"

"For example, if someone poisoned her and weakened her body, I can treat it. But if it's a congenital weakness, I can't do anything."

"If it's that, there's nothing we can do."

Latil nodded, and the High Priest took a deep breath and slowly lowered his hand.

* * *

A moment later, Latil learned that the change in Lanan was not natural. The symptoms improved immediately after the High Priest's treatment.

"So, this is it. Someone attacked Lanan and caused this. Did they give her poison or something?"

Latil muttered coldly, and Lanan, colder than usual, said.

"We must catch the culprit."

The High Priest, who usually smiled kindly, agreed with a huff.

"We must punish them. Of course, I won't treat them."

He still seemed a bit wronged. Latil nodded and asked Lanan.

"Right. Lanan, when did the symptoms start?"

"Two days ago."

"Was there anything suspicious or unusual before that?"

"Not really..."

Lanan was about to say no when she remembered the mushroom soup served twice in a row and sighed.

"Why? Did something come to mind?"

"Yes. Mushroom soup was served for breakfast twice in a row."

The High Priest looked puzzled, but Latil was surprised.

"The same menu was served twice in a row?"

"Yes."

"That's surprising. Suspicious."

The High Priest still looked puzzled, alternating his gaze between Latil and Lanan. He had eaten the same menu for a week at the temple, so he didn't understand why they were reacting this way. But since they seemed to understand each other, he remained silent.

"Then, should we gather the palace attendants and make the one who put the drug in your soup confess, Lanan?"

But when Latil suggested this, disregarding Lanan's dignity, the High Priest, thinking it was a bad idea, quickly intervened.

"Even if it's for Lanan's sake, how can we do that, Your Majesty?"

"Dignity is for the one who drugged her. Why not for Lanan?"

"What will you say to the attendants?"

"Who! Who dared to give Lanan the bastard drug!"

Hearing Latil's example, Lanan's face turned pale, and she quickly sided with the High Priest.

"I agree with the High Priest. I want to catch them secretly."

Latil knew that if he gathered everyone and gave a lecture, someone would reveal their true thoughts, so he wanted to find the culprit who drugged Lanan publicly. But seeing Lanan's pale face, he had no choice but to nod.

"Alright. Let's find them quietly. First... Yes. I'll go to the head chef."

* * *

When Latil met the head chef in the kitchen, he heard a surprising story.

"You prepared pea soup?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The head chef had never prepared mushroom soup for Lanan.

'So, what? Did the culprit switch the soup and put the drug in it?'

Latil smiled. Then, the task would be easier.

"I need to question the people who transported the soup."

After that, the matter progressed smoothly, and Latil discovered that the pea soup was supposed to go to Lanan's room, and the mushroom soup to Klein's room. The servants said they changed the soup because Lanan disliked peas. The servants could change the soup at their discretion for a picky master.

'So, was the target actually Klein?'

The servant who requested the change was Lanan's, and Klein couldn't have known in advance whether the servant would make the request. Therefore, it couldn't have been Klein's own doing.

'So, someone targeted Klein and drugged him. Who could it be? The person who argued with Klein the most... It must be Gestai.'