"He's still in his deep sleep." Butler Xiwen uttered with a tired sigh.

After rampaging and killing almost half of the people in the palace, his red eyes became clearer, and then he fainted.

"Huh, like mother like son."

"Don't say that." Butler Xiwen glared at Akan, then shook his head, not saying anything. Akan took another chair and sat opposite from Butler Xiwen.

"I don't want to sit beside you, or else it looks like we're mourning."

"I didn't know such a rule existed."

"It's an unwritten law."

"..."

"Why didn't you tell me? Since when?" Akan narrowed his eyes at Xiwen. If not for the pigeon that Butler Xiwen sent, just mentioning to delay their stay, Akan would have no choice but to follow his advice even if he doesn't know the reason.

Butler Xiwen looks tired, "I thought it was just an accident at first. I didn't know it would repeat again." He paused, smiling gently, "Besides, who else could I trust besides the two of you without mentioning the reason?"

Archduke Froiz was the second one he mentioned.

"He wasn't like this on the battlefield."

Akan was sure of it. Was it a delay after the effects of the wars His Majesty participated in?

"It was when he came back."

Akan, "What do you mean it was when he returned?"

"Remember that incident?"

"…"

Of course, Akan remembered that incident; he could clearly picture what Butler Xiwen was mentioning.

It was called Welcome Greeting by the Emperor. Three months after the Emperor's arrival, he called hundreds of families and thousands of citizens as if he were back on the battlefield.

It was in the center of the town with a large platform already built and a long table filled with foods and drinks, as far as a hundred carriages falling in a line.

A grand time for revenge was when countless people who had loved ones made opposition and rebelled. If not for the schemes and diversion from the Empress Dowager and the tyrannical warning of the Emperor, who knows if the empire would have decreased in half.

That day, thousands of people were purged.

"It just happened then."

"He didn't faint then."

Akan argued.

"That's why I thought it was a coincidence, and His Majesty's behavior wasn't like it before."

The two men stayed silent again; each was drowned in their own thoughts.

It was good enough that it happened in the palace; if he went outside and went on a rampage, then even Butler Xiwen might not have prevented something that would happen to His Majesty.

"Can this be healed?"

Butler Xiwen shook his head, "No, the Imperial Physician said it might be the cause of his experience on the battlefield. A life-long trauma. What the Emperor needs right now is extreme rest. It might also be that he's been stuck in his office for so many days."

"Then we both should work hard to divide each work."

Butler Xiwen nodded, wanting to say something, but frowned as if in doubt.

"I know what you want to say."

My more profound thoughts regarding this, right?

"Then…"

"Don't."

Akan was decisive about this. "You called me and delayed our arrival; you know it better than I do."

"Still…"

"You just need someone else's decision to be reassured."

Indeed, Butler Xiwen was still troubled about it.

After all, the Emperor's matter is more important than his life.

"You think the Empress Dowager would care if you told her?"

"…"

"Adiand royalty's have always been cold-blooded with their kin. Please don't compare it to the 7th Emperor of the Adiand. He wasn't of pureblood; wasn't his reign ended as the Empress took his brother, who was pureblood instead?"

Butler Xiwen can't refute that.

After the Empress took the 7th Emperor's pureblood brother, she killed their own son by her own hands. The Empress was the second cousin of the ruler of the Adiand. It's as if she had the blood of an Adiand than the former 7th Emperor.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Those times were considered the worst and even best times for the country. In the best times, as the great Adiand Emperor wasn't as apathetic and tyrannical as his predecessors, the dark, cold, and gloomy country would paint a smile on their faces.

Worst, as it comes to an end and the people are back to their own dark selves, even more, they lose hope and succumb to the ways of the pureblood Adiand royalty.

It was to the point that even now, the people who stayed and integrated into this empire are used to it. Few of those people who were foreign and integrated over time were the ones who found this ruling vile and an act of mind manipulation.

When Butler Xiwen thinks of it, only the deep-rooted Adiand people mostly survived and didn't care when the Welcome Greeting happened. It is as if the Adiand people are used to seeing blood.

"More so," Akan looked at Guren before standing up. Slightly opening the window. "The Emperor's room is stuffy. Let's go out first."

"Butler, you need to rest a little to serve the Emperor. Don't you remember what you told me then?"

Butler Xiwen twitched his lips and slowly stood up; he fixed the ruffle on Guren's bed and turned back, "Adiand royals, only think of your usefulness."

Akan smiled, "Excellent answer, sire."

Both of them went out of the Emperor's chamber.

Only at this time did Guren slowly open his eyes.

"They're too loud."

They both know how to run their mouths; they are still too valuable for him to kill now.

Guren felt the gentle breeze coming out from the window, and for a long while, he just stared at the outside scenery, not moving from his bed.

Indeed, it's not stuffy in his chamber anymore. It's just quiet.

Too quiet.

***

"Rendezvous time, check."

Ett pulled the lever and soon entered her secret path to go outside.

It was late at night already, and no one would enter her room. Security-wise, Akan even put a knight outside her room and below the balcony, each having their own shifting schedule.

Huh, does Akan really think this is enough?

Ett pulled her hood to cover herself, hiding herself like a ragged child. The tavern is primarily open these nights, and kids like her sometimes wander around. Some guards would patrol every now and then.

Thanks to Akan, he even passed by a beggar child who was pleading, but the house owner shooed him away, and the guards just looked at him. A realization passed through her eyes.

"So that's it."

You can beg, but you can't steal.

She had heard this when she was in the academy. She would always hear one or two pieces of gossip, and one of them was this kind of gossip. You can beg, but you can't steal. Then, if you steal, you'll die.

"Hmmm…."

Ett grasped her purse, which was hidden well inside her body.

Well, she's no kind person, so to speak.

Seeing the familiar House of Isolet, Ett entered. The same usual man greeted her.

"You're good."

"As I should be in knowing my customer."

The owner, Mazi, replied with an ecstatic smile.

"The master has been waiting for you."

"Mm."

He knocked on the door thrice, slowly, twice fast. It's only now that Ett figured it was some kind of signal that it was a 'customer.'

"Enter."

"Then I'll leave you be My Lady."

"Yes, I know how to see myself out after this."

"Wonderful, then I hope you have a fruitful time."

Fruitful time, way to put it.

Mazi closed the door.

"Ah, if it isn't my beloved customer's beloved servant."

"I'm sorry our way of delivering the message was unclear."

Cashim chuckled, waving his hand.

"No, no, no. I understand. Come sit, my dear customer."

"…"

What's with this guy? She had goosebumps just by referring to her sweetly.

"Then do tell what you found out."

"Which do you want to hear first?"

"The very best."

This time, Cashim grinned.

"As expected of my favorite customer."

"…"

Cashim opened the shelf under his table and a piece of manuscript to her. Ett opened it.

"Oh, I see, so even this kind of thing, your Mistress trusts you."

Ett paused.

Right, how could Ett forget she has a 'Mistress'? Most employers or masters don't let their messengers or servants do this, even if they trust them well. She has to go through it.

"It's my honor in this lifetime."

Sob. It's so hard to act when faced with an observant being.

"Of course!"

"Then let me tell you the additional information."

"Why didn't you write all of it in here?"

"It won't be fun!"

"…"

Cough. "It's true. They didn't find anyone who could be seen on the western border or the outskirts of Jushen's Empire. Instead, one of my men who went to stroll in the neighboring valley of Oran found someone similar but not quite to what you said."

"How so?"

"It was a child."

"???"

Say what now?