Chapter 73

It feels like I'm looking in a mirror. To see someone who looks exactly like me staring at me so intently. Could such a strange thing happen? It is often said that the one thing you can never see with your own eyes is your own face. Not the face you see in the mirror, but the face you actually see when you look at it. Latil is experiencing this now.

"Hello."

But just because it was amazing, he couldn't just stare at the face. Latil pretended to be shy, smiled, and first greeted the fake emperor, then the supervisor and assistant in order. The fake emperor, resting his chin on his hand, asked curiously,

"Why do you greet me first? Do you know who I am?"

It was a test-like question. No, he must have deliberately asked such a question to test him. But when Latil heard the question, he realized that the fake still didn't know he was the real emperor. The fact that he was asking provocatively like that meant he wanted to find something out.

'Should I say I know, or that I don't know? Most commoners don't know the emperor's face, though...'

Latil thought for a moment, quickly made a decision, and answered.

"Isn't it His Majesty the Emperor?"

At Latil's answer, the fake pulled the corner of his lips.

"How do you know my face?"

Latil answered calmly again.

"The interviewer gave up the most honored seat, and the other person couldn't even sit down. I thought it wouldn't be necessary to do this if it were just a regular official or noble."

The fake stared at Latil's face. In contrast, Latil pretended to be uncomfortable with the gaze, bowed his head, and only looked at the fake's feet. Fortunately, the fake didn't find anything strange about Latil and didn't say anything more, and the interviewer only asked a few ordinary questions.

"The results will be out in a day, so come to the office at 2 PM tomorrow to check them."

After the interview. Latil bowed and carefully left the interview room. But as soon as the door closed, the tension disappeared, and this time he felt his heart freeze cold. The applicants who saw this looked at Latil anxiously, wondering, 'What on earth is happening in there?' But since no one talked to Latil, no one could ask how the interview went. Latil also didn't talk to them and immediately left the interview site. Otherwise, curses and anger would have burst out of his mouth.

'Fake bastard. So shamelessly...!'

* * * Of course, Latil passed the interview. The real test for the maid position was the first document, and the second interview was only to see if the person would make a mistake due to excessive tension or if they would say something wrong in front of high nobles, so there was no way he would fail. Even if the fake emperor appeared, it would be the same. The fake emperor only came to find Latil, so it wouldn't have a significant impact on the evaluation.

'I need to meet Leian. If I wear a maid's uniform, I can walk around most places. If I leave my assigned area, I can say I'm a new recruit and got lost.'

Before his first day of work, Latil straightened his clothes and thought of dozens of ways to meet Leian.

'They won't place a new recruit in an important position from the start. At first, other seniors will take me around and give me menial tasks.'

However, when he actually started work, something unexpected happened.

"Work in His Majesty's room?"

The official in charge of the palace staff informed Latil that he was assigned to the emperor's room. Latil, surprised, asked again, and the official, with a scary face, replied,

"Working in His Majesty's room is a good thing, so why do you look so miserable? Never show such an expression in front of His Majesty."

Have you ever seen a face like you've eaten shit? Latil inwardly clicked his tongue but pretended to be scared on the outside.

"I haven't learned anything about working in the palace, and I'm worried I might make a mistake if I'm suddenly placed near His Majesty. Being suddenly assigned to such an important position isn't all good, is it?"

The official acknowledged that it was true but didn't change his mind.

"But since it's His Majesty's order, it can't be changed. You just have to do your best."

'I thought I hadn't been found out. Was I found out? Did he bring me to his side to mock me?'

Of course, if he goes to the fake's side, the opportunity to kill him will increase. But killing the fake had to be handled very carefully. Leian, Latil's half-brother, had already taken the lead and convinced Latil's close associates that the fake was the real emperor. Even if he tried to match the words one by one, it might be difficult to distinguish the fake from the real. Leian would never give such an opportunity. To counter this, Latil needed close associates who could immediately confirm that he was the real one. Without such preparation, if he rashly killed the fake, he might be accused of regicide and be killed by Leian without a chance to defend himself. He had to be careful. * * * However, even though he was assigned to the emperor's room, he hardly had time to see the fake. Latil realized for the first time how room cleaning was done in his absence.

"Clean the room before His Majesty arrives, and continue to ventilate it every hour. Boil water to keep it warm, and the maids will bring it into the room later."

"Yes."

"Bring snacks and drinks to the guards every two hours, and if the maids use anything in the reception room, quickly go in and return it to its original place."

"Yes."

"First, just follow the seniors. Oh, one more important thing."

"What is it?"

"A few days ago, a black mage tried to impersonate His Majesty and enter, so be careful."

"Goodness. I understand."

Latil answered the maid supervisor's earnest instructions with a sly smile, and the supervisor, though suspicious of the new recruit who suddenly came under his charge, didn't nag further. After that, Latil followed the maids and carefully checked if anything in the room had changed or if the fake had left anything behind. But there was nothing. The fake had meticulously used only the items in the room. Latil hoped he might meet Leian, but that didn't happen as he expected. From what he heard, Leian and the fake met somewhere, but Leian didn't come here. Meanwhile, Latil, who thought he could freely move around, was assigned to the emperor's bedroom and couldn't go anywhere else, always sticking with the other maids. * * * It was two days after being assigned to the emperor's room that Latil finally saw the fake properly. As expected, things didn't go smoothly, but with patience, the fake, complaining of a headache, didn't go to the state affairs and stayed in the room. The maids took care of the emperor, and the maids had to continuously prepare warm water and soft towels for the maids to use. Latil, still a new recruit, only did errands and assisted others, but finally, around 6 PM, he had the opportunity to be in the same room with the fake. It happened when all the maids were in the reception room, and the fake was lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Latil glanced at the fake with a squint as he moved between the window and the bathroom. He wanted to check if the fake was also wearing a magic mask like him. If he could lift the fake's face, the answer would be clear. If he could only remove the fake's outer appearance, he could immediately turn the situation around, regardless of what Leian was planning.

'Let's check.'

When the fake seemed to be completely asleep, Latil quietly and stealthily approached the sleeping fake.

"..."

Even when he got close, Latil didn't move immediately but carefully observed the fake's reaction. When he was sure the fake was asleep, he slowly, very quietly, and silently reached out his hand toward the fake's face. Just as his hand was about to touch the fake's face.

Ding ding ding ding. The bell hanging on the bed rang. The emperor's eyes snapped open almost simultaneously, and Latil quickly withdrew his hand, dipped it in the water towel, and pretended to wring out the water.

"What is it?"

"Calain has come to see you, Your Majesty."

Latil continued to pretend to wring out the towel until no more water came out, then lifted the towel and pretended to shake off the hot air by pressing it against his palm. The fake was looking at him, but he didn't even glance in that direction. During this time, the door finally opened, and Calain entered. Come to think of it, what are my concubines doing now? They must have been shocked to hear that the fake appeared. Klein must have been devastated.

'Has this fake also messed with my concubines?'

If Leian had a brain, he would have prevented it, not for Latil's sake, but because the fake might be exposed if he went near the concubines. Meanwhile, Calain approached the bed. As Calain got closer, the fake sat up and spoke to Calain in a weak voice.

"Why are you here, Calain?"

Hearing the tone, Latil was sure. Leian couldn't have done this alone. The tone the fake used with Calain was quite similar to how Latil treated his concubines. Without someone telling him, there was no way the fake could mimic the tone. Latil continued to wring out the towel while observing Calain. You won't fall for it, Calain, right? But thinking logically, it seemed Calain would fall for it. Latil deliberately didn't find the concubines to make them fight among themselves. He had few deep conversations with them. Perhaps only Tahir, who had been to illegal auctions and almost died and was chased, might notice, but Calain, who had only a few conversations, would naturally fall for it. This certainty grew stronger as Calain didn't even glance in his direction. Latil, feeling gloomy, continued to wring out the towel.

"I heard that Your Majesty is not feeling well. Are you okay?"

"I'm not. My head keeps hurting."

"Is it because of the black mage who appeared a few days ago?"

"It might be. I don't know how to handle this. There are no records left... But it's fortunate to have the High Priest by my side. Isn't it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty's foresight shines in times like these."

Calain comforted the fake with a low, soft voice and even approached the bed to pull up the blanket that had slipped halfway, covering the fake's knees.

"Lean on me in difficult times, Your Majesty. I am always on your side."

The fake, seemingly pleased with Calain's consideration, nodded with a smile. Latil almost tore the towel but barely held back. He wanted to soak the towel with water and slap Calain's back with it.

'You're next to my wife, bastard!'

When Calain, who didn't even glance at him, left after taking care of the fake, Latil, feeling even more upset, took the basin with the water towel and went out of the bedroom. Actually, he wasn't that close to Calain. Still, as one of his concubines, seeing someone take care of another so meticulously made him feel strangely disappointed. Latil splashed the remaining water in the garden near the palace and shouted that Calain was stupid. The way Calain was fawning over the fake with 'Your Majesty, Your Majesty' was really stupid! Although Calain's actual voice was a deep bass, it didn't remain in Latil's mind.

'Wait a minute. Your Majesty?'

Then Latil noticed something strange and was surprised. Your Majesty? Calain calls Latil 'Master.' Even if he's told not to, he insists on calling him 'Master.' But today, he called the fake 'Your Majesty.' Moreover, the ghost that was obsessed with the nape of the neck didn't cling to the fake's nape today.

'Did he notice?'

Just as Latil was surprised and turned his head. Calain, standing in the bushes, was looking directly at him.

'Not only did he notice the fake... Did he also notice me?'

What is he? A dog? Obsessed with the nape of the neck, does he really have a wolf's sense of smell? Latil wanted to approach him and ask, but remembering that his room window could see this location, he forced himself to ignore Calain. He finished the work and went back to the bedroom as if nothing had happened. But as he was shaking the water towel on the clothesline, the maid supervisor approached and said with a tone that implied he had done something wrong.

"Vanessa. Go to His Majesty quickly. He's looking for you."

Why me? Did he see me exchanging glances with Calain? Latil's heart raced, but he couldn't say no in this situation, so he reluctantly entered the room. Surprisingly, not only the fake but Leian was also there, having arrived at some point.

'Two people I want to strangle are here. Is this God's way of telling me to bash their heads together?'

Latil cursed inwardly but calmly approached the fake and asked.

"I heard you called for me. What is it?"

But the answer he received made it hard to maintain his calm expression.

"Take it off."