Latil sighed heavily. It was not easy to catch the Emperor’s assassin. And the issue was branching out in a strange direction.

‘To think that the black magician and the curse were involved…..’

And when she was deeply lost in thought, the head of the secretaries hesitated as if he had something to say.

“Why?”

When Latil looked at him and asked, the head of the secretaries carefully opened his mouth,

“Well… Your Majesty.”

“Speak, Count Sable.”

“Why are you back so soon……?”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you go to see Lord Carlein?”

“Oh. That’s why everyone…”

Latil glanced at the clock. Sonnaught had asked something similar. It seemed she had come out too early.

Checking the time, it seemed the head of secretaries had asked the question because not even thirty minutes had passed since she had visited the harem.

‘Well. I barely said a few words and left.’

But it was awkward to tell the head of secretaries that she had left because ‘the two consorts were acting strange, having a strange competition over me’.

As Latil awkwardly laughed, the head of secretaries asked worriedly.

“Your Majesty. By any chance… are you not satisfied with the current consorts?”

“Oh, it’s definitely not that.”

“If you’re not satisfied, it might be good to take in three more.”

Suddenly, there was a loud noise and the head of secretaries stopped talking. Surprised, Latil turned her head.

“Oh dear. My apologies.”

Sonnaught was picking up the dropped scabbard.

“I must have tied it loosely.”

Why did the scabbard drop? As Latil looked at him in surprise, Sonnaught laughed and answered, properly connecting the scabbard to his belt in front of Latil.

Then, before the head of secretaries could scold him, he quickly asked Latil.

“Your Majesty. It seemed like the fake criminal was about to mention Prince Tilla, won’t you investigate this?”

The shock from the word ‘curse’ and the sight of the criminal spewing blood had made a deep impression. She had forgotten about Prince Tilla while ordering the handling of these matters.

“Ah. Right.”

Latil nodded, belatedly realizing that this matter also needed immediate handling. After all, that ‘fake criminal’ had said the name ‘Tilla’ before he died.

“That’s true. It wouldn’t hurt to investigate.”

At the heavy topic brought up by Sonnaught, the head of secretaries also forgot about the conversation regarding new consorts and asked with a serious face.

“Could the real criminal be someone who supported Prince Tilla?”

Sonnaught suggested another possibility.

“Or they could simply be trying to insult you, Your Majesty. The range could be different.”

Latil nodded at both of their words, agreeing with them.

“It’s possible that someone who supported Prince Tilla created a fake Emperor’s assassin to insult me, and it’s also possible that the real supporters of Prince Tilla were involved in the assassination of Abamama.”

Of course, either way, she couldn’t let it go.

“I will investigate this matter.”

While Latil was lost in thought, Sonnaught stepped forward. His attitude was reliable.

“No, Sir Sonnaught. There’s no need for you to step in.”

However, Latil immediately declined.

“I believe it would be better if I handled it because the investigation needs to be careful, Your Majesty.”

Although Sonnaught once again volunteered to investigate, Latil opposed it again this time.

“It’s alright.”

Sonnaught had already taken on many tasks. He had to lead the Imperial Knights, as a heir to the family he had several duties, and he had also received a secret mission from Latil to investigate the letter thief.

In the midst of all this, he had to serve as the emperor’s closest escort, as if three bodies wouldn’t be enough, another secretive task was added? It was absolutely unacceptable.

“I want to do it. The more such things, the more important it is to keep confidentiality, isn’t it, Your Majesty?”

“Sonnaught, you’re too busy as it is.”

“It’s alright.”

“It’s not alright. Honestly, I don’t even know if you can sleep properly right now.”

As Latil decisively spoke, Sonnaught hesitated and stepped back.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Sonnaught, but I worry because you’re working too much.”

Latil spoke in a pacifying manner, and after thinking for a while, she made her decision.

“I am… thinking of entrusting this to Tasir.”

Both Sonnaught and the steward were surprised and looked at Latil. Especially Sonnaught, his expression showed disbelief. Sonnaught gazed at Latil and slowly asked,

“Do you trust him?”

Latil shrugged her shoulders.

‘We will find out the answer now.’

After directing for Tasir to be brought to her room, Latil requested a maid to bring coffee and snacks.

Stripped down to a long blouse after removing her stifling uniform jacket and pants, Latil sat on the sofa, eating the snacks brought by the maid as she waited for Tasir. He appeared after about 30 minutes.

“Your Majesty, Tasir has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Latil shouted with a mouthful of snacks, her pronunciation muffled. Tasir, who entered the room, covered his forehead at the sight of Latil stretched out on the sofa with her long legs.

“Coffee?”

“Considering that you called me here, it doesn’t seem like you’re planning to put me at ease. Is this a test of patience?”

As Latil pointed to the sofa opposite her, Tasir hesitated before sitting down and let out a small sigh.

“Is this torture.”

“What is?”

“If I were to sit in front of you in this posture wearing only a shirt, how would you feel?”

“I’d like it.”

“……I see.”

With a subtle expression, it was hard to tell whether Tasir was laughing or crying. Latil snickered, and handed over the documents she had been reading before he arrived.

“Here. Check this.”

Tasir glanced through the documents.

“The content is almost empty?”

“Fill it up.”

With a smirk, Tasir looked up to meet Latil’s gaze.

“Don’t tell me, you called me not as ‘Consort Tasir’ but as ‘Leader of the Black Forest’?”

“Why distinguish? Both are mine.”

“!”

“You know the wouldbe assassin of the Emperor confessed, right?”

“Yes.”

“Did you hear he died?”

“I heard.”

“The other consorts don’t know.”

Tasir faintly smiled.

“I don’t know about that either. There doesn’t seem to be many consorts with good information.”

“Do you know the wouldbe assassin mentioned Prince Tilla’s name before he died?”

Tasir raised an eyebrow at that, unknown to him.

“Really?”

Of course, there was a chance he was acting. However, instead of deeply pondering whether he was unaware of this information, Latil issued her command.

“Find out whether those who supported Prince Tilla played tricks due to the death of the previous emperor, or whether they really are involved in the death of the previous emperor.”

Latil, after giving her orders, picked up another snack and started crunching. She looked as if she took it for granted that Tasir would follow her orders.

However, Tasir didn’t answer easily, instead, he alternately looked at the documents and Latil, his face showing deep thought.

Don’t want to do it? Latil stopped munching on her snack and watched him.

Eventually, a playful smile appeared on Tasir’s lips. It was the same smile he had when he first met her, when he seemed to murmur as if he knew Latil’s true identity.

Tasir, who gently placed the documents back on the table, leaned back on the sofa lazily.

“Do you know how to tame a dog?”

At his suddenly thrown question, Latil asked, “A dog?” Why suddenly a dog?

“Sometimes you have to be strict, but if it obeys well, you should reward it with a piece of meat. Along with praise.”

“?”

“What reward will you give me if I listen well?”

Latil raised an eyebrow at the unexpected proposal. Tasir bent his waist, rested his arm on his knee, and made his request with a smirk in his eyes.

“Please embrace me if I do a good job.”