As Guesta became angry, passersby began to gather, curious about what was happening. The High Priest tried to pacify Guesta, patting his back and shoulders.

“It’s okay. It’s just nonsense.”

“There are a lot of people who don’t know.”

“No, really, it’s okay…”

Despite the High Priest’s repeated reassurances, Guesta continued to be angry, and in the end, the High Priest decided to just carry Guesta away from the scene.

Once the High Priest set Guesta down a fair distance away, Guesta seemed out of sorts but slowly began to move. As if checking if his momentarily broken body had repaired itself.

“I’m sorry, Guesta. I thought there was no use causing more of a fuss there, so I brought you here.”

Guesta looked a bit surprised but soon broke into a refreshing smile.

“I was surprised, but it’s okay. I’m more worried about you, High Priest…”

“I don’t care what people say. Even if they spread false stories, the truth won’t change.”

“…”

“Ultimately, even if it’s after death, they’ll receive their punishment.”

With his affirmation and typical high priestly response, Guesta was silent for a moment, then nodded and laughed along.

“You’re right.”

The five servants were trembling, constantly looking around in fear. It was hot outside, but they were extremely cold. It had been like this since they ate the food given by ‘that concubine’.

Furthermore, the chill wasn’t simply goosebumps inducing; it was agonisingly cold, almost like it was freezing their flesh, making it extremely difficult to bear.

At that moment, the storeroom door opened, and someone shoved a foot inside.

The servants quickly turned their bodies. The person who entered was the same concubine who had given them the strange food. It was Guesta.

“Lord Guesta.”

“Lord Guesta.”

The servants hastily kneeled, but Guesta responded by closing the door again. As soon as the door closed, the servants rushed to plead for mercy from Guesta.

“We’re truly sorry, Lord Guesta. We won’t speak rashly again.”

“Please give us the antidote since we followed your instructions and spoke ill of High Priest Zaicin.”

“We promise never to speak ill of you, Lord Guesta! We swear!”

They begged for mercy while shivering uncontrollably.

The five gathered here were those who had slandered the High Priest today, and until now had been slandering Guesta.

Then, two days ago. They were caught in the act, snickering and suggesting that Guesta had something going on with the former Empress.

They were caught on the spot, but they thought Guesta, who was usually timid and kind, would forgive them if they apologized profusely.

As expected, Guesta forgave them, giving them strange food.

But when they ate that food, they shivered all over and felt cold, and Guesta explained that while it wouldn’t harm their lives, ‘if you don’t eat the antidote, you’ll have to live suffering in the cold forever.’

Because of this, they had to change their course and repeat what they had done, this time offering the antidote in return. It involved badmouthing the regent behind his back.

Even though they didn’t hesitate to curse Guesta, they instinctively resisted badmouthing the regent. However, the freezing cold ravaging their bodies was too painful, so in the end, they had to follow what Guesta ordered.

“Of course, you should be forgiven.”

Guesta, seeing them beg pitifully, replied with a gentle smile.

“The reason why I’ve made you do this is to show how terrible it is to spread false rumors.”

When Guesta finished speaking and rummaged in his pockets, the servants sighed in relief, wiping away their tears. Guesta took out a vial from his pocket and handed it to the servant in the front.

“There you go. Only one drop each. There isn’t much, so don’t take more than that.”

The servants bowed and tilted the vial onto their fingers, taking only one drop each on their tongues.

When the servants finished taking the medicine and returned the vial, Guesta received it, placed it on his palm, and murmured while staring intently at it.

“Zaicin had said so. If you do something wrong, you’ll be punished, even after death.”

Confused by what he said, the servants looked at Guesta.

Guesta, with a sly smile, put the vial back into his pocket, looked around at the servants, and raised a hand in a gesture of farewell.

“Try to see if it’s true. Goodbye.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the servants felt the cold that had been circulating under their skin rush to their hearts, and they fell to the ground. There was no chance to scream, no chance to feel the pain.

The five shivering servants in the storage room instantly turned into corpses.

Guesta looked down at them for a while, then walked towards the entrance. But since one of them had fallen and blocked the door, he reached out his foot and kicked them aside.

When the rigid body rolled over, Guesta opened the door and left with a light step.

Although it was late at night, Latrasil remained in her office, continuing to read documents. But then there was a hurried call for her outside the door.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

“Come in.”

Latrasil ordered, rubbing her eyes. Immediately, the commander of the knights entered.

“What’s the matter?”

Latrasil asked, trying hard not to yawn, then noticed the commander’s pale face.

“There must be something wrong. What is it?”

“The harem of the female concubine has run away, Your Majesty!”

At this, Latrasil covered her mouth and laughed. But when she removed her hand, Latrasil’s expression looked completely angry.

“What? Really?”

“Yes! And… it is said that the regent, Sir Guesta, has killed five servants!”

This time, Latrasil was truly shocked.

“What? That can’t be!”