What in the world!

"Leave already."

Look, I'm so harsh to you guys. I don't need to have more servants taking care of me.

"Pardon our boldness, Empress Dowager, but your health is more important. The Adviser also ensured we must properly take care of you."

They're even using their backer, huh?

"Tsk."

Ett, who was lying in her bed, didn't argue anymore and turned her back to them.

"Call him, then leave."

"Understood."

She had just woken up, and the moment one of the elderly maids who must have been watching her saw that she'd already awoken, more maids entered the door and came to take care of her.

It's like having maids designated to care for every part of her body. It's too overwhelming when she rarely sees any maids in this wing.

What happened? Why are they like this? Did she wake up too long to cause this kind of concern?

Not long before she found the answer, Akan entered at the same time all the maids had left. He gave her a glass of water.

"How long?"

"About a month."

Immediately, Akan prostrated. "I'm sorry, Your Ladyship; if I was early enough, you wouldn't have suffered to this extent."

"You did well."

Akan popping out was the best option.

"I knew you would come."

Ett put down her water, "Great job." So he shouldn't be burdened that much.

"I am undeserving of your complete trust."

Although it seems genuine, Ett, who always overthinks things, feels like it could also be sarcastic, not something she minds.

Waving her hand to tell him it's not a big deal, she questioned, "How was it?"

"Commander Gammarad already took care of it. Who would have thought that they were right under our noses? It made us all realize how incompetent we are to not know it earlier on."

Although slaves were in every empire for the festivities and the source to buy servants, those illegal traders were far more cunning and worse, hiding in Beggar's Street and dominating the place, making the residents genuinely live life even harsher than a dog.

"Has the commander seen you with me?"

Akan shook his head.

"Although he can be trusted, I assume Your Ladyship likes it if fewer people know of your identity."

Nice. I tried to let the boy call for help as a secondary measure. As the Commander, he'll soon figure out what to do next.

Her mind thought for a second about the boy before putting it away. Whether he stayed in that place or ran away, it's not her responsibility.

"You must be curious how I escaped."

"Indeed, but if her Ladyship doesn't want to say. This subject would respect it. However, I would be willing to accompany you if I may be worthy of your rendezvous escape."

"Bold."

Calling it rendezvous. It's like a covert meet-up.

"Forgive my choice of words."

"What else?"

"The Emperor didn't say anything. However, your previous Butler, Xiwen, was truly infuriated hearing how you disappeared and came back scathed, having the stench of being buried."

Akan could clearly remember how the Butler, who hadn't taken up his sword for many decades, pulled out of the knight's sword, slashing towards him. It wasn't actually meant to kill him; if he wasn't swift enough, there would be a deep gash on his nape.

That Butler, even though he has aged, that split jiffy feels extraordinary to be the strength of someone who's one foot away from the grave.

"I suppose you reasoned you were my accomplice?"

Akan nodded.

"As it should be, Your Ladyship."

That means her secret tunnel wasn't yet found. She nodded.

"The citizen would be pleased by the Emperor's action."

Akan bowed, and his brain quickly worked and led to a conclusion.

"Your Ladyship is wise."

With this, the Emperor's reputation would be better. One step is to lessen the deeply rooted perspective of the people of how tyrant the royalties are.

In the future, even if he becomes apathetic, it shouldn't be to the level of how tyrannic he was in the novel. Ett needs the people to be entirely dependent on him and support him. Even though he would not be what they expect as a kind, forgiving and righteous Emperor. Sigh, her plan was genuinely ambitious and far-fetched. Still, she'll try to do it if possible, even though it's not practical.

Feeling a little bit dizzy, Ett covered herself with her blanket.

"Remember, all good deeds were done by His Majesty."

To Akan, who still has recurring thoughts about her being on the throne, Ett clarified that he should not think about it anymore.

"Understood, Your Ladyship."

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"The satchel."

"Do you want to see it, Your Ladyship?"

"Have you seen what's inside?"

"I dare not."

When Akan carried Ett and as the physician unclothed her to treat her wood, she hid a satchel in her cloak. It was small and conspicuous, yet he dared not open it.

"This satchel, go back to Merry House and bury it on the biggest tree that was burnt, in secrecy."

"Is that all, Your Ladyship?"

He dared not ask a question.

"Yes."

"Understood, then I will bury it now."

"Then leave," and get some rest.

Akan made another bow and closed Her Ladyship's chamber. There were maids appropriately waiting on the side.

"You two can enter and take care of Her Ladyship. The eight of you should stay here, and the rest will do their previous duties."

"Understood."

"Yes, Adviser."

Leaving the East Wing, where the Empress Dowager is located, Akan didn't stop in his chamber. Instead, he took his cloak from the servant behind him and marched to the palace's exit. The carriage was ordinary and without any emblem of the royal family. This was usual for personal servants like them if they wanted to go out. Not long later, he entered the inn and went to the top floor.

"You really came."

"The Son of the Count of Montecraso should better be direct."

The person approaching him laughed.

"Ah, that's too honourable when the Adviser says it. Just call me Cashim."

Akan sat opposite of Cashim.

"Spit it."

"Don't be in a rush."

Cashim ushered the server to their drink.

"Their rum is quite soothing to the tongue; I hope it relieves the Adviser's strong taste in wine."

"I prefer it unsweetened."

"Hoho."

Taking his drink, Cashim chuckled, seeing the Adviser always looked strict and displeased whenever he saw him. "Don't be like that, and have a drink with your companion first."

"I don't recall being your companion."

"Ah, come on! We directed different battalions, but didn't we go from thick to thin together? Aren't you the Emperor's other hand next to the Archduke? Aren't we serving the same Emperor? "

"Enough."

Akan pinched the bridge of his nose. This chatty person is really annoying. Other hand of the Emperor? Of course, it's viewed as such. For a moment, the image of the Empress Dowager came to his mind.

"Then you already know that His Majesty got rid of those traders?"

"Yes, that fire was quite spectacular. How did the Emperor know?"

Akan shrugged and said vaguely, "He always knows."

"Can't agree more on that."

They didn't say anything to each other for a moment, as if they were in their own thought.

"Oh! Didn't you tell me to have my men investigate the Beggar's Street without the Commander's knowledge?"

"What did you find?"

"You weren't the first to find and infiltrate that place, right?"

Akan paused, his gaze narrowed.

"You're telling me someone came before us and incited the fire?"

Cashim nodded his head. "Yes."

Akan snorted, "I suppose one or two of the traders you tortured revealed something interesting?"

"Ha, as expected of the quick-witted Adviser. You already know the next work to give me, right?"

Surely, the Adviser will tell him to keep the situation of the first intruder from leaking out.

"Is this your bargain for me?"

As the only Emperor is left, is it even called a family? Cashim finds the Adviser's words funny.

"You are mistaken. Of course, to reach a certain title, I need something more compelling."

"I will peddle myself."

Akan splurted his rum, indignant by what he heard. "My word!"

Spitted-Cashim: "…" My word, indeed.

"It was just a spoof; you're so tense."

"I nearly unsheathed my sword."

"It's alright, as long as you're not scheming against me, Adviser."

This guy's s schemes are far more horrible than personally raising his sword.

"You just showed me how to deal with you."

"Haha."

Cashim gave him a letter.

"I hope this will be of interest to you."

Akan read through the document. He didn't take awhile long before crumpling the paper and throwing it in the heathen.

"And what did you find about the intruder?"

Cashim sighed.

"You really make sure you have the upper hand."

"Those traders said the First Boss was killed by a young boy and had taken the Han Herb."

"That Han Herb?"

Was that what Her Ladyship was aiming for but didn't get?

"Yes, 'that' Han Herb that even I had a hard time finding for myself."

Akan mulled, "If it's for a desperate benefit, let's leave it like that."

"Then what about our deal?"

Cashim already gave him the note, and he is helpful in many ways. There's no harm in partnering with him even though he still hasn't had any title yet, except for being the 1st son of Montecraso and known as an Informer.

"Don't expect that you'll always assisted."

He accepted! Cashim laughed, "Of course, you're present enough and highly honoured by mere peasants like us."

"…"

"Then here's the contract. Will you read it, or should I turn it to the next page for you to sign?"

"I'll read it."

"Make it quick; I have matters to attend to."

"Hah."

People from the palace are really hard to deal with.