At least once during the rotating dance, the concubines would dance with each other.

This was Latil’s thoughtful consideration, as the concubines were constantly fighting among themselves in the harem. Externally, at least.

Of course, this was an excuse, and in truth, it was revenge for the constant headaches they caused.

And regrettably, this revenge was most effectively applied to Tasir, whom Latil had judged as ‘the least corrupt’.

“Tasir. Give me your hand.”

It was because Carlein, the person Tasir feared the most, immediately extended his hand to him upon hearing Latil’s command.

“You’re not asking me to pick, are you?”

“If you give it willingly, you won’t be chosen.”

As Tasir ambiguously proceeded to the dance hall, either captured by Carlein or dragged by him, Guesta and Klein, left without a choice, cursed inwardly as they stared at each other.

“The moment you step on my foot, I’ll kick your ankle, you lump of muscle.”

As she watched the concubines, Latil nodded with satisfaction, but her expression hardened when she detected an uncomfortable stare focused on her.

‘What’s been going on?’

Due to her position, Latil was always under observation, wherever she was or whatever she was doing. The gazes were dispersed when she was separated from the concubines, but they doubled when she was close to someone, like before.

However, considering these factors, she felt one gaze sticking to her unusually persistently.

“Bring the grapefruit.”

Latil picked up the fruit plate and walked towards a large pillar, which reflected objects like a mirror due to its polished surface.

And she deliberately ate the fruit slowly there, and as soon as she felt the gaze, she immediately checked who was looking at her through the pillar.

Then she noticed someone looking at her from the opposite staircase landing.

‘Why are they looking at me like that?’

As soon as Latil turned her body naturally, the person quickly moved away.

‘Perhaps?’

The standin had said that he would approach her once he was assured of her safety. Maybe that person was the standin.

“Take it away.”

As soon as she thought that, Latil handed the plate to a passing servant and quickly walked towards the place where the person had disappeared.

‘Where did they go? I can’t see them.’

It was when she was secretly walking through a desolate place, killing all her presence. A strange voice was heard from somewhere.

[Darn it. The standin definitely said he’d come this way.]

‘Standin?’

Latil abruptly stopped and hid behind a pillar. Did someone just mention the standin?

[Have you not caught him yet?]

Latil narrowed her eyes. The voice grumbling about the standin was full of dissatisfaction.

She didn’t know who was recklessly muttering ‘standin’, but it didn’t seem like they had any affection for the standin.

‘No, how do they know the standin is here? Only a very few people know that.’

Latil decided to approach the grumbling voice. There, she found a Tarium noble stroking his goat beard.

“Your Majesty?”

He didn’t remember the name, but the person was clearly a noble of the Tarium Empire. Upon seeing Latil, the man quickly bowed in surprise.

“It’s an honor to see Your Majesty in such a place.”

But almost simultaneously, another voice was heard.

[Why did the Emperor come here?]

Latil frowned. The voice clearly came from this noble. But how did he produce two voices almost at the same time? And even referring to her as ‘Emperor’ right in front of her.

While not all nobles were fond of her, they usually were careful about their words and actions in front of her.

From blatantly saying ‘steward steward’ to calling her ’emperor emperor’ in her presence. Truly an incautious person.

[Why is the Emperor looking at me without saying a word? Did she notice something strange?… No, she couldn’t have. I’m fine. I haven’t done anything. Not yet.]

However, the voice coming from the noble was somewhat strange. The noble was muttering as if Latil couldn’t hear his voice.

[I’ll just say I came out for fresh air. That’s not uncommon.]

Then the noble slowly raised his head and, with a compliant smile, said, “The breeze is nice. I was on my way out to enjoy it.”

Latil was even more startled.

‘What’s with this person? Did he send his thoughts to me? Or did I read his thoughts?’

This was a completely new experience, so she was very confused.

“Your Majesty…?”

However, when Latil saw the man looking at her with frightened eyes, she quickly put on a kind smile amidst her confusion and waved her hand.

“No, continue to enjoy your stroll. I have a meeting with a member of my harem here.”

“Well…”

But when the noble withdrew, Latil’s expression hardened.

‘Did I just hear that man’s inner thoughts? Really?’

She had heard stories of her ancestors having such abilities, but she had assumed they were just fictional. Moreover, Latil was not a mage. But to suddenly hear someone else’s inner thoughts…

‘No, they might not be his inner thoughts.’

Anyway, that wasn’t the most important thing at the moment. The important thing was that the noble’s inner thoughts included some unpleasant things about the steward.

‘That man. He definitely said something about capturing the steward. Does he know who the steward is? Is the steward in danger?’

After some contemplation, Latil decided to first believe what she ‘heard’ to be true, and stealthily followed the noble from a distance.

At first, the noble looked back several times, but eventually, confident that he wasn’t being followed, he stopped glancing back and quickly ran somewhere.

How long did they move like this? The noble went to the back veranda, leaned deeply over the railing, looking at something intently, and then started going down the nearby stairs.

As soon as the noble disappeared from sight, Latil walked over to the railing where he had been standing.

‘What was he looking at?’

Latil, leaning over the railing, looked around.

‘There?’

Finally, she spotted a place.

In a faintly lit area surrounded by high shrubs, a few people were trying to attack a person in a flashy robe.

There was almost no light, but Latil had good night vision and saw everything clearly.

‘There.’

She could see why this was happening despite her meticulous placement of guards. One of the attackers was dressed like a guard.

‘There were internal problems as expected.’

Latil quickly tore off a piece of her skirt, stepped on the railing, and leapt down towards them.

“!”

When she landed on one of the attackers, both the robed person and the attackers were surprised and looked at Latil.

The attackers immediately drew their swords, but Latil was a step ahead, swiftly knocking out the attacker in the front with the blunt end of her sword.

“Ugh!”

The attackers seemed to be surprised by the sudden appearance of the Emperor. They were unsure whether to run or to attack, even if she was the Emperor. It was clear they hadn’t been given orders about this.

Seeing those confused gazes, Latil kindly explained.

“You don’t have a choice, so there’s no need to worry. The worrying is my job.”

The corners of Latil’s eyes were slightly curved.

“Should I kill, or should I capture.”