“The people of the Karisen envoy are really kind.”

Even with a large fox tail behind him,

and knowing that his partner was Emperor Hyacinth, Tasir pretended not to recognize him. Hyacinth, his face covered, simply nodded his head in response.

While Latil, lost in thought, was staying alone in the festival room within the harem,

Tasir, who hadn’t been affected by the soup incident, decided to investigate Hyacinth’s disposition before he returned to Karisen, and quickly went to the area where the foreign envoy was staying.

He specifically singled out a Karisen envoy with a covered face, and asked for help carrying a heavy object.

Of course, he timed it just right to not give away the fact that he was deliberately choosing him.

Surprisingly, Hyacinth agreed easily, and even helped carry the object all the way to the vicinity of the harem.

Latil witnessed the two when Tasir was thanking Hyacinth for his help.

‘I thought the Emperor of Karisen was arrogant. Surprisingly patient?’

While observing Hyacinth who had helped carry the object without showing any signs of displeasure, Tasir realized that the emperor of Karisen was calmer than he thought.

Regardless of his true feelings, Hyacinth had shown the courtesy expected of an envoy. A man who was born a crown prince and ruled as an emperor.

Her Majesty’s first love is good at acting. Not sure if he’s good at reciting lines because he’s taciturn.

Surprisingly calm. Strong patience.

He should make a note of it when he gets back to the room. Tasir, while checking Hyacinth’s characteristics internally, pondered if there was a reason to keep Hyacinth around longer.

A good idea soon came to him.

“Since you’ve helped me this far, why not stop by my room for a cup of coffee before you go? If you don’t like coffee, tea is fine. If you don’t like tea, we can have a drink.”

Having helped move the object to this point, it was time to hold him back under the guise of gratitude.

“I’m sorry, but my absence will cause concern for my group.”

However, Hyacinth, who had helped move the load, politely refused the invitation to have coffee together.

Normally, Tasir would have cheerfully bid farewell when someone refused.

But today, he had summoned him to gauge Hyacinth’s character, so instead of saying goodbye, Tasir insistently clung to Hyacinth’s arm.

“Oh, come on, it doesn’t take that long to have a cup of coffee. Take a break.”

“We have regular headcounts. The situation is urgent, let’s postpone it for later.”

Even when Hyacinth didn’t give in, Tasir persistently stuck to him.

“No, why? Let’s just have a drink together. I’m so grateful, you know. Huh?”

Whether Hyacinth reluctantly accepted the invitation or declined it, he was creating something to analyze.

Besides, when else would he have the opportunity to pester a foreign emperor like this?

Hyacinth just looked at Tasir for a moment, saying nothing.

But that only lasted for a moment.

Hyacinth, who had been silently looking down at Tasir, suddenly started speaking out of the blue.

“I prefer black and red, but I like to dress others in white, pale yellow, or silver.”

Why is he suddenly talking about his favorite colors? The conversation was completely out of the blue, without any context.

Tasir momentarily thought, ‘Am I too clingy? Does he think I’m being clingy because I like him?’ and quickly removed his hand from Hyacinth’s arm.

But Hyacinth continued to speak in his usual calm voice.

“I like blue topaz. I prefer hot weather over cold.”

“?”

“Although I am skilled in swordsmanship, sometimes when I get angry, I wield my sword with both hands. That’s even scarier, so it’s best to run away when I grip something with both hands.”

“……”

“Sometimes I show my weakness in front of others, but I become more lively when I’m alone.”

When Hyacinth stopped talking, Tasir’s expression hardened.

Now he understood why Hyacinth had suddenly said those things.

What Hyacinth was saying was not about himself. It was about Latil.

Latil’s favorite colors, the colors Latil prefers on others, favorite gemstone, weather, character, and when she becomes weak.

In other words, Hyacinth knew that Tasir was deliberately sticking to him, and that he had figured out his identity.

Although it was unclear when he had realized it.

When Hyacinth slowly lifted his hand and pushed back the hat he was wearing, his beautiful face, hidden by the purple fabric, was revealed.

When his eyes met with Tasir’s, a faint smile appeared on the corners of Hyacinth’s mouth.

“When we kiss, it’s the forehead, lips, and then cheeks in that order.”

“!”

After uttering a statement that Tasir couldn’t discern as mockery, truth, or falsehood, Hyacinth turned his back, holding his hat instead of reprimanding him for his rudeness.

And then he made eye contact with Latil, who had been watching him.

After staring at each other for a few seconds, Latil pointed somewhere with her chin. Hyacinth put his hat back on to cover his face and walked in that direction.

Tasir, who had been completely ignored, blinked blankly alone, raised his eyebrows and muttered “Ahh.”

“That wasn’t very fun.”

Latil walked ahead, and Hyacinth followed her silently five steps behind.

Neither of them spoke. It was the first time they had walked alone together since Hyacinth had asked Latil ‘Have you kissed my brother too?’ a few days ago.

Latil wondered whether Hyacinth was also thinking about what had happened then.

But instead of bringing up that topic, as soon as the walkway ahead ended, she turned around abruptly and asked,

“Why didn’t you tell me the most important thing?”

“The most important thing?”

“That I hate traitors.”

Latil had said it to attack Hyacinth, but unlike a few days ago, he did not look hurt. Instead, he asked back with a light smile.

“Is there anyone who likes traitors?”

Latil clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

“No. But why are you playing dumb.”

“It’s your harem that’s playing dumb, Latil.”

“Don’t call me Latil.”

“Even if you deny it, the one who called me was your harem, Latil.”

“Don’t call me.”

“Poor thing. It’s clear that he’s trying so hard to receive your love. He’s the successor of the top, right? He must believe that if he calculates love well and taps the abacus, it will come out.”

“Hey.”

“Well. There’s no need to blame a beast who wants to be loved. The bad one is the owner who doesn’t give love after gathering them, right?”

“Hey.”

“Latil, your harem isn’t going as well as you thought? What’s the point of gathering men if you can’t give a piece of love. Why is that? Because there aren’t brown hairs in the grey eyes that look like me?”

“!”

When Hyacinth returned the words that she had sent to him through the envoy, Latil scowled furiously.

But it was only for a moment. Latil soon smiled brightly and chose words that Hyacinth would hate to say to him.

“Don’t speak lightly of Tasir. He’s someone who could die for me. He is trying to win love. Unlike you who thought love would naturally follow you around and tried to take advantage of it, he is on a different level.”

“!”