Chapter 92

"Is it really okay to follow?"

After the sudden zombie incident, Latil thought it might be too much to ask Hyacinth to come to Tarium, but Hyacinth said it was fine. It was unexpected.

"You don't need to apologize or be overly grateful. I have my own reasons to resent Lean, and stopping him is also my revenge, Latil."

"What if something happens while you're away..."

"On the contrary, now that I'm here, Duke Daga can't move even if I leave."

"Yes, that would be fortunate."

* * * When the delegation to Tarium was formed, the servants were busy loading the carriages, and the technicians began checking to ensure there were no issues. On the surface, Hyacinth was going to Tarium to thank Sadi for the help. In Tarium, they would be confused by "Who is Sadi?" but they wouldn't dare to turn away the Emperor of Carisen. The same goes for his brother and mother. They wouldn't even know if "Sadi" was the special envoy Latil sent to Carisen before the incident.

"You seem excited."

Latil was standing on the terrace, looking outside, and turned around in surprise. Kalain had approached without him noticing.

"You're too quiet."

Kalain stood next to Latil. Kalain's gaze naturally fell on the scene Latil was looking at. The busy people, the carriages that were already splendid but becoming even more so...

"If we return like this..."

"Hmm?"

"We won't have another chance to travel together, will we?"

While Kalain looked down at the carriages, Latil observed Kalain's profile.

"Are you sad?"

"You should visit often."

"Where?"

Feeling Latil's gaze, Kalain slowly turned his head. The moment their eyes met, Kalain whispered softly.

"To me."

The quiet whisper tickled Latil's ears, making his face flush. He quickly replied.

"Of course. You came all the way here for me. Even got accused of adultery with a maid."

But despite the promise to visit often, Kalain's expression showed no joy. He turned his head to look at something far away, and Latil became curious about his thoughts. 'Are you thinking of Domyis now?' He wanted to ask. 'Are you thinking of the things you wanted to say to Domyis, but are saying them to me because I'm a concubine? That's why you're looking far away?' Then Latil thought of Aini. Aini, who firmly believed she was Kalain's lover in a past life. Despite being calm and composed, she lost her rationality when it came to Kalain.

"Empress Aini..."

Latil hesitated, and Kalain looked at him again. Latil shook his head. He almost asked, 'Is there a chance Empress Aini is Domyis?' But he couldn't. Kalain didn't know that Latil knew about Domyis.

"She seemed to have some misunderstanding."

"What? If it's a misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding."

"Unfortunately, it's not related to me."

At that moment, footsteps approached, and they stopped talking. Turning around, they saw someone coming down the stairs and across the corridor. The person who approached was one of Aini's maids. She stopped a short distance from Latil and said,

"Miss Sadi, Her Majesty the Empress wishes to meet you."

Not Kalain? What's going on? Latil glanced at Kalain, but Kalain showed no interest. Knowing that Aini had shown strange interest in Kalain, the maid looked offended. Empresses and their maids have a close bond, so her reaction wasn't excessive. Latil nodded quickly to avoid a tense atmosphere.

"Alright."

* * * In Empress Aini's room. As Latil entered, he quickly scanned the room. The walls and pillars were adorned with gilded patterns, and the curtains shimmered gold in the sunlight. The golden candlesticks looked like they belonged in the gods' abode, and the large mirror gleamed. The chandelier, reflected in the mirror, made the room even more splendid. It felt strange. A few years ago, Latil believed this room would be his. It was so obvious that he never doubted it. Now, someone else was using this room, and he had been invited here. How ironic. He didn't feel good about it.

"Do you like my room?"

Aini asked. Latil turned to her. She was sitting leisurely on a long sofa, still pale from the incident at the ball but composed.

"I heard you called for me."

"You have a high status, don't you?"

Latil was surprised by Aini's sudden question. It was unexpected but true.

"Why do you suddenly ask...?"

"You naturally answered my question without hesitation."

"!"

"You've lived without caring what others think."

"...Sharp."

"I did a little investigation. Among the high nobility, there's no young lady named 'Sadi.' No young lady who would use 'Sadi' as a nickname. So who are you?"

She's smart when it doesn't involve Kalain. Latil clicked his tongue. He had to respond to her probing.

"It's an honor that you finally show interest in me, Your Majesty."

"!"

"I was disappointed that you only showed interest in my companions."

Latil smiled, and Empress Aini raised an eyebrow. But soon, a smile appeared on her lips.

"Don't be nervous. I didn't call you to interrogate you."

"I'm not nervous. I'm glad to receive your attention, Your Majesty."

Latil smiled again, and Aini slightly smiled, pointing to the plate of cookies on the table.

"Sit and have some."

"It seems this conversation will be long."

"A little, but it won't be boring. My cookies are not dry and taste good."

She's really not giving up. Latil once served Aini the dry, cheap cookies she had given him. When Aini brought this up, Latil clicked his tongue and sat opposite her.

"Speak, Your Majesty. Why did you call for me?"

"Kalain... is he happy?"

"I don't know. This time, I'm part of his group, but Kalain always stays in our Emperor's harem."

"Right..."

Aini's expression darkened, and Latil frowned.

"Your Majesty, even if Kalain was your lover in a past life, it was in the past. You are married to Emperor Hyacinth, and Kalain is someone else's lover. Why do you keep doing this?"

After hesitating, Latil spoke frankly. Since he would leave in a day or two, he decided to be more direct. Aini smiled bitterly and coldly.

"When your current spouse doesn't satisfy you, you tend to cling to the lover you loved deeply in a past life."

"!"

"Is that the answer you wanted to hear?"

"!"

Aini, who surprised Latil twice in a row, rested her chin and thought. Latil ate the non-dry cookies she gave him and waited for her to speak. About five minutes later, Aini's maid announced the audience time, and Aini stood up, asking,

"Not only our country, but Tarium is also troubled by 'non-human' things. Bodies are disappearing, right?"

"..."

"When you return to Tarium, ask their Emperor if he would love Kalain even if Kalain is not human. If he can keep Kalain happy."

"Not human?"

"...It's a test of resolve."

Why ask such a question? The content of the test is strange, but why does Aini, who has no connection to Kalain, ask this? Latil frowned but stood up as the Empress did.

"And tell him, if he can't make such a commitment and still wants Kalain, to send him to me."

"!"

* * * What are you going to do with him? No, are you going to divorce Hyacinth and live with Kalain? Latil stared at the burning bonfire, grumbling to himself. Kalain's opinion? You're going to ignore Kalain's opinion? Or are you going to make Kalain your mistress? It had been three days since they left Carisen, but the last words of Empress Aini were still on his mind. Her words kept coming to mind during the carriage ride, meals, and morning routines, causing him to frown. He didn't pass on those words to Kalain. He didn't think it was necessary. Then,

"Miss."

Kalain, who had gone into the bushes to take care of some business, approached Latil and handed him a small piece of paper.

"What is it?"

Latil took it, and Kalain, barely moving his lips, informed him.

"It's a note from Tashir. An assassin is waiting to take the reply."

Tashir? Latil quickly unfolded the note. * * * My flatfish. The council meeting will start when Duke Artax and Lord Regent lay the groundwork. The Emperor seems to have changed at some point, always passionate about politics, but suddenly stepping back and letting Prince Lean take the lead. Don't worry about the 'sudden' part. It's been prepared calmly. In Carisen, a noble lady turned into a zombie during a ball, right? In this area (you probably know from the information on the way), people are disappearing or bodies are vanishing. People are whispering that Prince Tella was the rightful emperor. They think these incidents are happening because the emperor changed. I'm worried you might be upset hearing such stories on your way here, but please bear with it. When the Emperor returns, the talk about Prince Tella will disappear. Isn't the Emperor the 'new emperor'? But timing is the most important for all this. You know, right? Tell me when you will arrive. by. The sexiest man who loves you * * * Why are you the only one still called flatfish? Arriving within five days. by. Someone annoyed by the flatfish sound. * * * My flatfish, the letter is short, but it's fine. It's hard to hold a pen with fins (laugh). Arriving within five days, so I'll set the decisive day for the council meeting a week from today (I'm writing this on the 15th). If there are no changes to the schedule, no further reply is needed. (Heart) P.S. A study found that flatfish like drugs. What a scary world, isn't it? by. Drug dealer.