Chapter 98

"People are really too much."

Tree entered the room with a large box, muttering gloomily. Gestha, who had been reading a book by the window, lifted his head.

"Why? What happened?"

"It's about what I mentioned last time."

"Again?"

"Yes. Again."

Tree put the box down in front of the bookshelf, grumbling.

"Isn't it really too much and too funny? Young Master was the first to realize that His Majesty was a fake! Yet, he is the one being criticized the most among the concubines!"

Gestha awkwardly smiled, fidgeting with the book in his hands. Tree almost shouted out, "Are you really laughing now?"

"No, people are really funny! They didn't even know His Majesty was a fake, but now they act like they are the greatest loyalists! It's only funny if they keep acting like that! Why do they criticize Young Master for trying to deceive the fake by staying close to him?"

Gestha "Hmm." and fumbled, pointing to two points in the air with his fingers.

"You said this is funny and that is funny. It doesn't seem to make sense."

"Young Master!"

Tree almost dropped the book she was holding, letting out a loud cry.

"I just need to believe that His Majesty doesn't believe the rumors."

This Young Master was particularly frustrating today. Maybe if I boil some spicy peppers and serve him some soup, he'll get a bit more fired up?

"His Majesty has visited Lady Kallain and Lady Lananwen. On the way back, I heard he called Sir Tashir to his office. Sir Gestha and the Chancellor have been very helpful in this matter, so why doesn't His Majesty come to us? It's all because of the rumors! This is not the time to laugh like a thousand-year-old rabbit!"

"You're talking more than usual."

"Young Master!"

Gestha bowed his head deeply. Seeing his socks moving, it seemed he was wiggling his toes. Tree revealed her dissatisfaction by roughly pulling out books from the box and haphazardly shoving them into the bookshelf.

"What Young Master should do is go to His Majesty and tell him everything. Young Master was the first to realize the truth, and that Lananwen, whom he adores, just happened to hear it! As for Kallain... well, since she was very helpful, it can't be helped this time!"

The more she talked, the more aggrieved Tree became. According to the rumors, Lananwen, Tashir, and the Chancellor had a secret meeting and planned to bring the Emperor back. Everyone praised these three as truly remarkable and genuine concubines.

"I'm also angry that Tashir didn't invite Sir Gestha to the meeting! Sir Gestha found the information, so how could he be left out?"

"..."

"Everyone knows that Kallain is ignorant, so they don't criticize her. They even understand that she was left out because she is a foreign prince. But no one understands Young Master's situation! I'm really angry, and my blood pressure is rising every five minutes..."

Seeing Tree's face turn red, Gestha quickly went over to find and quickly and firmly place the books in the bookshelf. While moving his hands, he tried to soothe Tree.

"It's okay. The more His Majesty neglects me now, the more guilty he will feel later."

"You can only feel guilty if you know what to feel guilty about!"

"He will know. Eventually."

"When?"

"I don't know either."

Tree finally grabbed her own neck. How can this clueless and overly positive Young Master face reality! But Gestha wasn't saying this without a plan. He already had a long-term strategy and was prepared for what had happened. You have to bend your knees to jump higher. But separately...

'I need to tone down my mouth a bit.'

* * * As Tree had told Gestha, Latil was in his office, having called Tashir to join him for a meal. Though it was called a meal, there was only a minimal amount of food due to the overwhelming amount of work. Tashir was called to the office because there was no time to go to the harem. This was all due to Lean's interference during the morning when Latil was away.

"Do you know, Your Majesty? Recently, Lady Lananwen, Lady Kallain, and I are called the three most favored by Your Majesty."

"What? Really? There's only one correct answer, right?"

"Of course, the correct answer is only me. I know."

"..."

"Is this silence an affirmation?"

If it were three months ago, Latil would have told Tashir to stop making nonsense, but this time he didn't. After all, Tashir had been very helpful this time. Instead, Latil handed Tashir a fork.

"Eat. Quickly."

"Yes, sir."

But when Tashir took the fork and kissed Latil's hand, pretending to eat, Latil ended up acting as usual.

"Stop making nonsense."

"Our Majesty can't handle the mood, can you?"

"Are you the one breaking the mood?"

"Still, His Majesty likes me, right?"

"..."

Seeing Latil open his mouth in surprise, Tashir quickly put a piece of fruit in it. The action was so quick that Latil scowled and chewed the fruit. The sweetness filled his mouth before he could get angry, and he ended up making a grunting sound while moving his mouth.

"You really have a strange personality."

"Curiosity is the beginning of love."

"Our love hasn't even started yet. You don't know that?"

"Starting is half the battle, so His Majesty and I have already reached the halfway point."

"..."

"You talk well."

"Is it really just talk?"

This time, Latil took a piece of fruit and put it in Tashir's mouth. The difference was that Latil opened Tashir's jaw with his hand before putting it in.

"Don't talk while you're eating this."

"I can talk while eating."

Latil reached out and covered Tashir's mouth. Tashir, still smiling, ate the fruit well. The movement of his lips on Latil's palm made Latil feel awkward and he put on a serious face. This wasn't planned! This guy is really like a big fox. A fox turned into a human. A fox mask is made of fox, so why is he fox-like without a mask? Latil suddenly imagined Tashir and a fox mask facing each other, both surprised to see each other.

"Maybe it's funny..."

"What is?"

"Nothing. It's just a thought."

Latil answered casually, then realized he was still covering Tashir's mouth and quickly removed his hand. Bowing his head, he saw that the food on the plate was almost gone.

'When did he finish eating?'

Latil put down the fork in his other hand. Since the meal was almost over, it was time to discuss the matter for which he had called Tashir. This was a change after Latil received significant help from Tashir. He no longer just called and talked about business.

"Your mother and brother? Any movement?"

"No. The former Empress has returned to the temple, and Prince Lean is living quietly in the annex palace."

"People? Many visitors?"

"The temple where the former Empress is located doesn't usually receive visitors. But the annex palace has many visitors, though fewer than before."

"Birds?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are there many birds coming and going?"

Tashir tilted his head at Latil's question. Latil told Tashir about the information he had noticed while in Carisen. There weren't many birds in the palace before, but the number of birds had gradually increased, and now bird sounds could be heard from all directions. There were signs that enemies were efficiently gathering information. It seemed they were using birds. If there were many flying birds, it would be hard to notice if messenger birds were mixed in.

"I see. I'll look into that."

"Thanks. I always rely on you."

But at this point, Tashir, who usually made some nonsense, was resting his chin and stirring an empty cup with a teaspoon. His forehead was creased, and his gaze was directed somewhere in the air.

"Why?"

Seeing his serious face, Latil asked, and Tashir finally put down the teaspoon and lowered his arm.

"I was thinking about Sir Gestha."

"Gestha?"

"It's from when he first entered the palace."

"What? Why?"

"I once saw Sir Gestha holding a bird with a broken wing."

"Gestha? A bird?"

"Yes."

After speaking, Tashir smiled and added.

"Of course, it might be unrelated. I'm not saying Sir Gestha is a spy. His personality makes it hard for him to be a spy."

"That's true. Gestha is kind."

"Well, that's not what I meant."

The Gestha Latil knew was kind and gentle. If he saw an injured bird, he would save it without much thought. So, it wasn't strange that he had saved an injured bird. Normally, Latil would have thought, "Of course, Gestha is kind," and moved on. But during his absence, Gestha had known the Emperor was a fake but still stayed close to him, even visiting him. Moreover, he had been betrayed by his trusted brother and mother, and even saw his brother betray his mother on the spot. After all these events, seeing Gestha holding an injured bird made Latil a bit suspicious.

"Considering that the Chancellor helped me, it seems Gestha is not an enemy..."

"Of course, that's true. I just mentioned it because it came to mind when we were talking about birds."

"..."

"Even if the bird was problematic, Sir Gestha might have just seen it injured and saved it by chance."

"True?"

Latil tapped the table with his fingers and suddenly stood up. Tashir, surprised by his sudden action, looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"To see you off."

"What? Suddenly? Are you going out? Are you very busy?"

"Yes. I'm going to see Gestha."

Tashir's expression became ambiguous.

"Are you going to see another man and sending me away? I feel hurt."

"I'm not going to visit, you know that."

Seeing Tashir exaggerating his disappointment, Latil stood him up, linked his arm, and pointed to the door with his finger.

"Let's do this. I'm not going to see Gestha; I'm just seeing you to your room. Will that work?"

Saying this playfully, Latil looked up at Tashir. He thought Tashir would grin and make some nonsense, but surprisingly, Tashir was smiling ambiguously.