“Latil was taken aback as soon as she entered Carlein’s room to find Ranamun there. To see Ranamun and Carlein standing side by side?

The decadent Carlein and Ranamun, with his cold and noble impression. Externally, they looked perfectly harmonious, but considering their backgrounds and personalities, it seemed like an unlikely combination.

Were they also in a fight? Latil quickly scanned them, recalling the situation between Guesta and Carlein.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be the case. Most importantly, the chessboard spread out on the table behind them was extremely peaceful.

“Your Majesty?”

Rather, Carlein asked flatly, finding it strange that Latil was standing nervously.

“Why are you behaving like that?”

“No, I just didn’t expect Ranamun to be here. The two of you… were playing chess?”

In response to the question, Latil quickly answered. However, even as she spoke, her gaze still lingered on the chessboard, and a loud voice rang in her head, ‘They were playing chess?’

It was odd enough that Carlein was playing chess, let alone with Ranamun. Chess, the two of them.

“You came looking for Carlein, does my presence bother you?”

Only after Ranamun’s cold interruption did Latil regain her composure. She also noticed that Ranamun’s voice felt even colder than when they last met.

‘Ah. Right, the atmosphere wasn’t great last time we met.’

Ranamun seemed to take pride in receiving a gift even though they hadn’t slept together.

‘Is it because of that?’

Latil inadvertently paid attention to Ranamun’s reaction. It was amusing to be aware of the nuances of someone in the harem, but he was also the eldest son of the Duke of Atraxil. As the child of a public figure, she had to be mindful.

No, with such a beautiful face showing such a deep expression, one can’t help but glance.

However, when Latil smirked at Ranamun while facing Carlein, Carlein asked with a slightly frowning face.

“Your Majesty, why have you come to ‘see me’?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Right. I came to see you.”

Only then did Latil turn to look at Carlein again, discovering in the meantime that Carlein was frowning.

Wait, why is he frowning? Latil inwardly shouted, but she responded calmly.

“I was curious how you’ve been after such a long time…”

But once again, Ranamun interrupted.

“I guess you weren’t curious about how I’ve been.”

In the meantime, Ranamun’s voice had grown colder.

“…That’s not it.”

Latil recalled that her father used to try his best to meet one person from the harem at a time. Back then, Latil didn’t understand why he did that.

But now, she thought she knew why. With three of them standing face to face in the room, the atmosphere was awkward, even though they weren’t fighting.

It was even awkward to see Ranamun and Carlein, who were definitely playing chess in harmony until a moment ago, exchanging strange glances with each other.

“I was planning to visit each of you in turn.”

However, without revealing her inner thoughts, Latil answered Ranamun calmly. Ranamun murmured with his lips tightly closed and his eyes downcast.

“So the first one is Carlein.”

Although it was cold, it was clearly a sign of hurt feelings. On the contrary, Carlein stood expressionless, but the corners of his lips were raised.

Latil awkwardly looked back and forth between the two and then stepped back.

“Your Majesty?”

“Why are you doing that, Your Majesty?”

“Oh… I just remembered an urgent matter.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re leaving already, Your Majesty?”

At Carlein’s use of ‘Your Majesty,’ Ranamun’s gaze quickly shifted to the side. It was as if he was wondering, ‘What’s that about?’

Despite catching that gaze, Carlein just quietly looked at Latil with his green eyes. Latil took a few more steps back and quickly exited the room.

Then, she closed the door to prevent the two men from following her.

“Your Majesty?”

Holding the door handle, Latil stood there as the guard outside called her in confusion.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Three times.”

“Pardon?”

“Your ‘Why are you doing that?’ I think I’ve heard it three times.”

“I don’t understand.”

“……It’s nothing.”

Latil mechanically laughed and pointed down the hallway with her finger.

“Let’s go back for now.”

Sonnaught raised an eyebrow and looked at the closed door.

“Just got here. Are you leaving already?”

“Yes. I realized I came in the middle of work… Huh? Why is Sir Sonnaught suddenly smiling so ominously?”

“I didn’t laugh.”

“No? You just laughed?”

“I didn’t laugh. Really.”

After leaving the harem, Latil went straight to the public office. The excuse she gave to Carlein that she was busy was a halftruth. After all, there was always a mountain of work to be done in the office.

As soon as Latil sat at her desk, she called the head of her secretaries and asked about the progress of the tasks she had ordered in the prison earlier.

“The portrait is being painted now. The investigators have left to capture the rumored black magicians, and the Gnosis clergyman has also left for the Sosta domain.”

“I see.”