Renev decided to pick a gift for Viscount Belkain the next time she got to leave the palace.

“Amber. Let’s go inside.”

Ikar loosened his cravat and entered his office.

Just a few more papers and today’s work would be over.

Dhwan and Bain, who were reviewing documents in the office, bowed as they saw Ikar.

Ikar nodded lightly to both and took his seat.

Picking up the document on his desk, Ikar was about to start reading when he suddenly looked up.

“……!”

His eyes met those of the two who happened to be looking his way.

Dhwan and Bain hurriedly lowered their gaze to their documents.

“What is it?”

Ikar asked, glancing back and forth between the two suspicious people.

Then Bain elbowed Dhwan in the side, and Dhwan tilted his body slightly to avoid it.

With his back leaning against the chair, Ikar crossed his arms and stared at the two as they hesitated.

Dhwan was the first to break the silence, as always.

“Ah, Your… Majesty?”

“Speak.”

“There is a new report that came in while you were out.”

“What is it?”

Dhwan licked his dry lips and briefly avoided Ikar’s eyes.

What could the report contain that made him so hesitant?

Ikar narrowed his eyes slightly and gritted his teeth.

Feeling the tension in Ikar’s jaw, Bain quickly opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, today, um, it appears that Lady Seiren has ventured outside the royal palace.”

“Lady Seiren?”

Ikar raised one eyebrow.

Unlike other guests who frequently ventured out, Renev had never left the royal palace before.

“What for?”

“She went to a jewelry store and then…”

Ikar had thought Renev had no particular interest in jewels or any sort of treasure. Today, that belief had to be reconsidered.

“Apparently, she had a meal at a restaurant popular among nobles lately.”

Ikar slowly nodded his head.

He recalled hearing that Renev was trying to increase her food intake at the suggestion of Baron Weberling.

He had been a bit concerned as she ate so little.

Hearing that she had visited a restaurant for delicious food, a slight smile curved on Ikar’s lips.

Ikar nodded with a gentle smile.

“Well done.”

Thinking the report was over, Ikar was about to lower his gaze to the documents again.

But seeing Dhwan and Bain continually exchange glances, it seemed there was more to say.

“Is there anything else to report?”

Ikar asked, keeping his gaze on the document as he deliberately spoke indifferently.

“……Yes?”
“There seems to be an unreported matter.”

“Yes, well, there was no contact with any suspicious individuals outside. So I suppose you could say nothing was particularly suspicious.”

Bain answered with a casual laugh, but Ikar was already disregarding him.

‘Did he want to get some fresh air alone?’

It would have been nice if he had suggested going out together…

I would have gladly gifted him a jewel or two.

‘……?’

Ikar suddenly harbored doubts about his own thoughts.

Misinterpreting Ikar’s furrowed brows as discomfort for not receiving a full report, Dohan was startled and hurriedly opened his mouth.

“So… at least not outside.”

Initially, they only received reports about the activities of the guests once or twice a week.

After some patterns of the guests’ lives became apparent, it was said that no reporting was necessary unless something special happened.

The outings of the Duke of Siren were rare, so reporting it was the right thing to do.

Indifferently lowering his eyes to the documents, Ikar immediately raised an eyebrow.

‘So there was no contact with anyone outside?’

That implies that there was contact with someone inside.

“Wait.”

Ikar looked at Dohan and Bain with a stern face.

Dohan’s Adam’s apple wobbled under Ikar’s suddenly sharpened gaze.

Bain was restlessly uneasy like a thirsty puppy.

“It implies that there was contact with someone inside.”

Swallow.

In the quiet office, the sound of Dohan and Bain swallowing resounded loudly.

“Was I wrong?”

Ikar’s sharp questioning continued.

“I, Your Majesty, that is…”

Warm water poured gently from the lion’s mouth, generating frothy bubbles.

Soaking in a bathtub spacious enough for dozens, Ikar slowly rose.

Water cascading down his long, silky black hair mingled with his muscular torso before merging back into the bathwater.

After patting himself dry, Ikar donned a robe and laid down on the bed.

The bed was so plush and spacious that it could comfortably accommodate five people, the sheet caressing his bare skin felt as smooth as silk.

The emperor’s bedroom was adjusted to the optimal temperature and humidity for sleep.

But tonight, again, sleep did not seem likely to come easily.