What Guesta had said sounded dangerously scandalous. That the reigning Emperor was a fraud. That the ousted Emperor was the genuine one. Should these words spread out carelessly, it could easily incite a large uproar.

“Si, sir, you should be careful with your words.”

Tree nervously mumbled, then checked the window, doors, corners of the wall, and even the interior of a large vase he had been carrying earlier.

“You could easily be misunderstood.”

“It’s true. I’m certain.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“That.”

Guesta pointed with his chin to the books on the shelf, the books the Emperor had given as gifts.

“Weren’t they the promised books?”

“It’s not just that it wasn’t…. My promise with Her Majesty was to set aside time to go out and play. But even though Her Majesty said ‘I didn’t forget the promise,’ she didn’t seem to have any idea about it.”

“She might have forgotten.”

“She could have forgotten. But if she merely forgot, I don’t think she would have confidently given the book. But the false Emperor pretended to remember the promise with me and presented that book….”

Tree covered his mouth with both hands, shivering.

“Then, what should we do? It was Prince Lean who mentioned having a false Emperor, right? Then isn’t there a high probability that Prince Lean is siding with the false Emperor?”

“That’s true.”

As Guesta replied with a gloomy face, Tree’s face turned white and he exclaimed “Sir!” as if he had made a great resolution.

“What?”

When Guesta looked at him, Tree pleaded with a tearful face.

“We must keep this matter between us. Don’t tell anyone.”

“What are you talking about?”

Guesta furrowed his brow, but Tree couldn’t back down even knowing that Guesta was upset.

“It involves the Prince. It would be nice if the real Emperor returns, but if she doesn’t? The fake Emperor looks and acts so identical to the real Emperor, if the Prince supports the fake Emperor, then the game is over.”

“Do you think so?”

“If we spread the truth and mess up, we might be expelled along with the real Emperor. Think about how the real Emperor was accused of being a black magician and ousted.”

Tree whispered with an almost tearful face.

“If things go wrong, not only you, sir, but our masters might suffer terrible punishment. But if we pretend not to know….!”

Tree couldn’t finish his words as Guesta covered his mouth. His face was covered by Guesta’s surprisingly large palm, and his eyes blinked rapidly.

Guesta still had a gloomy look, but his expression was heavier than usual.

“I didn’t come here because I wanted to be a national scholar. I came here because I wanted to be her husband.”

Guesta removed his hand from Tree’s mouth and looked at his loyal servant with a sad gaze.

“Do you want to keep this matter a secret? Even against my will?”

His expression was lonely and sad, like a withered leaf left on a tree, but under that pitiful look, cold thoughts bubbled.

Guesta was even considering discarding this useful subordinate if Tree insisted on keeping this matter a secret and did not follow his words. What he needed was a servant who would faithfully execute his words, not a servant like this.

“Si, sir.”

Fortunately for him, Tree did not know Guesta’s cold inner thoughts, but his affection for Guesta was strong. Tree couldn’t persist in his opinion with Guesta going this far.

“I understand. I’ll do as you wish, sir.”

When Tree answered obediently though he looked gloomy, Guesta quickly wrote a letter and handed it to him.

“Deliver this to my father. He’ll believe my words immediately.”

“Yes.”

Even after that, seeing that Tree was still nervous, Guesta hugged him tightly and spoke with a gentle and kind voice.

“Tree. You grew up with me since we were little. You’re like a brother. A person who is both a brother and a friend. You know that?”

“Yes, sir!”

When Guesta, who had let him go, met his eyes and sent a look filled with belief, the loyal servant felt an urge to use all means to restore the real Emperor. If it meant that his lord could rest at ease, then he must do so.

“Don’t worry. I will work hard for you, my lord, even if it tears the soles of my feet.”

Meanwhile, Latil, who boldly impersonated the Black Forest to summon Tasir’s subordinates, began to move to Karisen again.

‘I wonder if Sosuran met with Serneut.’

She began to wonder if Sosuran had properly met Serneut and relayed the story, but there was no way to find out about that here and now.

In the days that passed, Latil finally arrived in the capital of Karisen.

“It seems like the Black Forest isn’t acting quickly.”

But even though it was well past the time when she should have come and gone half a dozen times, the assassins of the Black Forest, contrary to expectations, had still not arrived, making Latil anxious. She’s so proud. Maybe she’s afraid to come because there’s a mercenary king nearby.

If there was any consolation, it was that Carlein, who had been depressed after the duck incident, had returned to his usual expressionless self.

“How are you planning to get into the palace?”