Chapter 97

"Gesta-nim kept hanging out with the fake king, didn't he?"

"I heard that the Prime Minister knew the fake king was a fake. Then Gesta-nim must have had no choice but to do the same, to avoid revealing that he knew the truth."

"But still, it's a bit strange."

"Right. For someone who had no choice but to hang out, the meetings were too frequent."

"Didn't he even go to see the fake king first?"

"The fake king also kept looking for Gesta."

Ratil was entering the harem to have lunch with one of the concubines when he overheard the servants whispering in a corner. Ratil stopped, silenced his footsteps, and listened to their conversation.

"Even if the fake king was a complete stranger, it still seems strange. Isn't it even stranger that he was the late queen?"

"That's what I'm saying. Maybe the late queen and Gesta-nim were...?"

"Shh. Be careful what you say."

"It's suspicious, though."

Ratil frowned. Hearing them gossip about his mother and his concubine, he naturally felt bad. But...

'The Duke of Atraxis said the same thing.'

At the time, he thought the Duke of Atraxis was just saying it to praise Lana and belittle Gesta. But it seems there was some truth to it. Ratil recalled the gentle and sad Gesta, who spoke and acted cautiously. The pure and innocent Gesta, the most kind and gentle of all.

'He's gentle, but he seems to adapt well. Maybe he's the type who quietly fades away?'

He would adapt and survive anywhere. Ratil inwardly sighed. Since the Prime Minister had helped him, he didn't need to stir up this matter, but the part about Gesta being so close to his mother still didn't sit well with him.

'Didn't he do the same to me? Did Gesta think my mother's personality was better? Or was it insurance in case I didn't come back?'

After hearing the gossip about Gesta, he didn't feel like seeing him right away. Originally, Ratil had come to the harem with the Duke of Atraxis and the Prime Minister in mind. He planned to have lunch with either Lana or Gesta, or if the timing was right, all three together. But after hearing the gossip, his decision was clear.

'I should go to Lana.'

* * *

The table was set with large, plump roasted dishes, pies decorated with various fruits, large breads sprinkled with icing sugar, and soups with mushrooms peeking through.

"Eat a lot, Lana."

Ratil watched as Lana ate politely, taking small bites. He then took out a new fork and knife and placed a large piece of meat with bones on his empty plate, encouraging him to eat more. Lana looked at the barbecue on his plate and then at Ratil.

"Thank you."

Despite the long time since they last met, his attitude was still cold. However, he occasionally glanced at Ratil, and when their eyes met, he would faintly smile. Though he didn't openly show it, it seemed he was very happy that Ratil had come to see him. Even when he was still, Lana's beauty was striking, and when he smiled, it was as sweet as a master painter's brushstroke.

"Eat more. You need to eat more."

Ratil kept piling pudding and dried fruits on his plate, encouraging him to eat more.

"There's too much."

"You've only eaten a little."

"I usually eat a small amount."

Though they didn't talk much, the atmosphere was good. Ratil was happy to be back in his seat, and Lana didn't seem to mind sitting across from Ratil for lunch.

"I'm really grateful to the Duke of Atraxis. He always helps me with various things."

"..."

But as with most arguments, just when it seemed Ratil and Lana were getting along better, they ended up arguing over something trivial. The trigger was Ratil's expression of gratitude. Ratil meant it genuinely, expressing his thanks for the Duke of Atraxis's help. But when he lifted his head after putting a piece of pudding in his mouth, Lana's already cold expression had become even colder. It was so cold, Ratil almost wanted to put a thermometer on his cheek. The sweetness of the apple in his mouth was suddenly gone, replaced by a cold front. Ratil called out to him, puzzled.

"Lana?"

Why did his expression suddenly change? When Ratil called his name, Lana smiled as if nothing was wrong and wiped his lips with a napkin.

"No, I'm glad that Your Majesty likes my father."

"I don't like your father. I don't dislike him either, but it feels strange when you say 'like.' Do you understand what I mean?"

"I'm not very perceptive, so I don't understand."

I don't know if he's not perceptive, but he's very quick to give hints. Ratil swallowed the pudding he had been eating and put down his spoon.

'He seems angry. Why is he angry?'

* * *

After finishing the meal, Ratil analyzed the conversation he had with Lana as he left the harem to finish his work.

'I can't figure out where he's getting angry. Is his anger button different from others?'

But when he got to the entrance, he saw Klein leaning his head out.

"Klein? What are you doing?"

When he got closer and asked, Klein, who had been craning his neck to look at something, turned around in surprise.

"Your Majesty."

Ratil looked in the direction Klein had been looking. There was nothing there, just a path.

"Why were you looking there?"

When Ratil turned his head to ask, Klein looked awkward. Seeing his expression, Ratil exclaimed, "Ah."

"Were you checking if I was coming or not?"

Strangely, Klein's inner thoughts were visible even without reading them.

"No!"

Klein immediately put on a serious face and refuted, but Ratil realized he was right. A servant standing behind Klein quickly nodded, confirming that Ratil was correct.

"Do you have something to tell me?"

When Ratil asked, the servant behind Klein nodded again. It seemed the servant wanted to openly show that Klein was interested in Ratil. But Klein, unaware of his servant's betrayal, immediately said, "No."

"Really? I see. Then... keep doing what you were doing. I don't know what it is, but..."

As Ratil tried to pass by, Klein quickly reached out and grabbed the hem of Ratil's cloak. When Ratil stopped and turned around, he saw Klein looking away, his hand still extended. Ratil pulled his cloak, which Klein was gripping, towards himself.

"Do you have something to say to my cloak? Do you want to borrow it?"

When Ratil asked, Klein finally looked at him properly. But he still looked confused, unsure of what to say. Soon, Ratil understood what he was thinking.

'What do I do? How do I explain to Your Majesty that I wasn't there when he defeated the fake king?'

This time, it was Klein's inner thoughts that revealed the truth, not a servant.

Ratil bit the inside of his cheek to suppress a laugh, causing his cheeks to sink in, but Klein, absorbed in his thoughts, didn't notice.

'Since I was the only one among the concubines who didn't know the king was a fake, he must be disappointed. I have to pretend I knew... but how?'

Ratil covered his mouth with his fist and cleared his throat. He didn't expect Klein to be able to distinguish between the real and fake king, but he was curious about how Klein would try to deceive him.

'But why are Klein's inner thoughts so clear? Is it because he's simple? Or does he have strong emotions? ...I heard Kalain's thoughts in the morning too.'

Thinking of Kalain kissing him and calling him "Dormis" made the smile on his face disappear. Ratil shook his head to clear the thought. He knew Kalain was a man who came here after his lover died. Don't think about it. He's dead. Don't think about it. Ratil focused more on Klein to block out Kalain's voice.

'I couldn't attend the council meeting because I'm a foreigner? No, I would have been allowed in since my brother was there. The king would know this.'

Fortunately, Klein, lost in thought, was still very beautiful, making it easy to focus on him. While Klein's servant signaled, "Prince, Prince, say something!" Ratil quickly shook off thoughts of Kalain and looked at Klein's downcast eyes with interest.

'If I say I knew the truth but the other concubines didn't include me? ...No, he might think I'm bad-mouthing the other concubines.'

After a long time, the excuse Klein chose was ridiculous.

"I also knew the fake king was a fake, Your Majesty."

'He couldn't explain, so he just skipped the explanation.'

Sure enough, he's not very smart. Klein looked at Ratil anxiously, afraid he would ask more questions. Ratil felt a brief urge to tease him but decided to play along with his lie and smiled widely.

"I thought so. I trusted you, Klein."

Klein, who seemed to lack both a brain and a conscience, laughed along without any guilt.

"Do you know, Your Majesty? Kalain ran away with a maid."

"..."

"That maid was openly trying to seduce Kalain, and he fell for it. I didn't like her from the moment I saw her."

Klein, feeling superior, laughed and then asked, "To fall for such a strange maid while Your Majesty is here. Kalain has no taste, does he?"

Suddenly, Ratil, who had become a strange and suspicious maid, unknowingly stepped on Klein's foot.

"Ouch. Your Majesty?"

When Klein looked at Ratil in confusion, Ratil grabbed his head with both hands and shook it like a ball.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"

Klein was shaken without understanding what was happening. After a few shakes, Ratil let go of Klein's head and muttered.

"It seemed empty. But there is something."

"What?"