“Just a slightly exaggerated gesture…”

“Enough, you should also wet your head. Quickly.”

As Klein clenched his fist threateningly, Guesta’s attendant stepped in, his eyes flashing fiercely.

At that sight, a sharplooking man with brown hair and red eyes, who had been standing behind Prince Klein, stepped forward and restrained Guesta’s attendant.

‘Ah. That must be Aksian.’

Although Guesta’s attendant had a fair bit of momentum, this man had an overwhelmingly stronger presence. Moreover, he was a face Latrasil had never seen before.

Latrasil realized that this man was Aksian, the Vice Captain of the Karisen Royal Guard sent by Hyacinth.

When it seemed like a physical altercation might break out, the head attendant shouted out in a stern voice, “This is outrageous!”

“How dare you act like this in Her Majesty’s presence!”

Only then did both Guesta’s attendant and Aksian step back, and they knelt down facing Latrasil. Latrasil also shifted her gaze from Aksian to Guesta and Klein.

Guesta was holding back tears with reddened eyes, while Klein glowed fiercely from his blue eyes underneath his drenched hair.

Although their expressions and atmospheres were different, their eyes seemed quite similar.

Latrasil had a hunch about what they wanted. They wanted her to side with one of them and settle this situation.

‘This is tricky. Why did I have to come here at this time?’

However, it was awkward to take sides without knowing the full details.

Of course, if she took her time and called in investigators to thoroughly investigate, she would be able to determine who was lying.

But she didn’t want to escalate the situation to that extent. In that case, she had no choice but not to take sides.

Latrasil first looked at Guesta. Guesta was looking at Latrasil with desperate, wide eyes.

Seeing those eyes, she felt a little sorry for not taking his side, but Latrasil turned her gaze away and spoke firmly.

“Whether it was a mistake or on purpose, you were in the wrong for splashing water, Guesta. You should apologize.”

Even though she wasn’t looking, she could imagine Guesta’s shocked face. Latrasil deliberately avoided his gaze and then addressed Klein.

“And Klein. Everyone makes mistakes. You can’t be certain it was on purpose, so for now, accept the apology and move on.”

Thanks to the image he usually projected, it wasn’t hard to get Klein to speak, even though he was unhappy that Latrasil hadn’t taken his side.

Latrasil signaled to Guesta. Apologize. Now.

In the end, Guesta stuttered out an apology to Klein. However, Klein’s expression did not improve.

Klein, feeling as though he had been betrayed by Latrasil, bit his lip and abruptly turned away.

“Tha, that…!”

Seeing his behavior, the head attendant was at a loss for words.

But Latrasil realized that Klein had taken surprisingly great offense at her not taking his side. She belatedly felt sorry.

Even if Guesta had really spilled it by accident, if Klein didn’t accept it as an accident, it wouldn’t matter whether it was on purpose or by accident his feelings would still be hurt. Did she expect too much of his magnanimous side?

Unable to watch any longer, Latrasil intended to call Klein aside to calm him down. She was planning to take Klein away to discuss Aksian anyway.

But it was at the moment when she was about to open her mouth.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

Three guards came running frantically. As curious eyes turned towards them, the one in the center, panting heavily, reported.

“Your Majesty, the assassin, the assassin targeting your Majesty has been captured!”

Everyone present stiffened simultaneously. Latil, too, was greatly taken aback. An assassin, without any prior signs, captured out of the blue?

However, the soldiers didn’t seem to be lying.

“Tell me as we go.”

Latil briskly moved past them and quickly headed to the Harem’s main gate. After all, this was more important than mediating a fight between Guesta and Klein.

Klein, left behind, stared at the retreating figure of Latil with eyes full of words. But Latil, already ahead, didn’t see him.

After Latil was gone.

“Your Highness.”

Axian cautiously called out, and Klein finally took his eyes off of Latil’s retreating figure.

“Are you alright?”

“How could I be alright?”

Klein asked back irritably, then glared fiercely at Guesta. Guesta was shivering with a scared face.

Klein glared at him for a moment, then turned around and went back to his room. As soon as he returned to his room, Klein almost threw himself onto the large chair.

His figure, heavily breathing, seemed filled with anger. Klein’s attendant quickly brought a dry towel and wiped his sweaty face and hair.

Axian sighed and muttered.

“You seemed to be doing well. His Majesty was very worried. But you don’t seem to be doing well, Your Highness.”

“What would a newcomer know?”

“There are things that are more clear in a newcomer’s eyes.”

“……”

“If she loved you, she would have taken your side.”

Klein coldly denied Axian’s pointed words.

“She loves me, in her heart.”

“?”

Klein, seemingly dissatisfied with the attendant dabbing at his sweat, snatched the towel and scrubbed at his hair.

“But……”

Klein sighed and dropped the towel.

“She just doesn’t express it well.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to express it?”

“What would a newcomer know!”

“A newcomer’s eyes……”

“Ahh, enough. Stop it.”

Klein flailed his hand, got up from the chair and trudged over to the bed. Seeing his listless catlike demeanor, Axian felt uncomfortable as well.

His lord was Emperor Hyacinth, but Klein was a prince he had known from the old days.

The prince who used to walk around fearlessly, filled with confidence, looked pitiful as he fumed alone after a fight.

“You’ve become much more mature. You used to resort to fisticuffs immediately. Emperor Hyacinth would have been proud if he saw you.”

“No way. A dog shits.”

“A dog obviously shits……” The attendant muttered quietly from the side, but neither Klein nor Axian heard.

Klein was absentmindedly resting his head on the bedpost when he suddenly turned his head towards Axian.

“More importantly, Axian. Why are you here?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“My brother asked you to protect me?”

“Yes.”

“He asked a weaker person than me to protect me?”

“!”

Axian cringed at Klein’s words, which naturally praised his own abilities, but he didn’t deny it. It was true after all.

Klein removed his head from the post. He sat with his legs slightly apart, resting his elbows on his knees and interlocking his fingers, staring at Axian with a smirk.

“Tell me honestly. Why are you really here?”

“You might not believe it, but it’s for protection. Really.”

Klein’s lips curved into a sneer.

“Not surveillance?”

“Protection.”

No matter how much he probed, Axian just grinned and repeated the same answer. Klein clicked his tongue and waved his hand dismissively.

“Well, you wouldn’t open your mouth about any orders you received. I’m not my brother.”

“That’s right.”

“Then forget about protection. Just run errands while you’re here.”

“If you say run errands……?”

Surely, it wouldn’t be an errand to fetch water. As Aksian lowered his voice riding the mood, Klein chuckled softly.

“You. Are you good at stealth?”

“?”

“The one who poured water on me. Go and do the same to him. There’s no need to get caught.”