"Is what Butler Xiwen would say."

"And he seems too devoted to taking care of His Majesty."

That was close. Akan is too fast to come.

"Well, he is compassionate, something even I, as your subject, lack."

Akan added, smiling sheepishly.

Even though Ett knows Akan's cunning nature, both of them are capable advisers, "You're equally good."

"Good?"

Akan doesn't think so.

Besides, is the Dowager changing the subject, fearing he might think she is helping out some of the Emperor's tasks?

No, that could not be possible. His Majesty and the Dowager are too cold-blooded to honestly care about each other when they all but think of nothing but their competencies. Yes, that's all of it.

Maybe the Dowager is too bored and annoyed that so many things haven't been done yet. It would be more plausible for the Dowager to think the Emperor is not competent and gathered these reports as she is irritated for taking it too long.

Yes, that must be it.

"Then let's continue organizing all of this."

"But of course, Your Ladyship."

***

"The...The Empress Dowager has fainted."

Hearing the Physican who passes by, Xiwen sighed.

"These days, the Dowager seems to be fainting now and then."

"Well, Sire Akan was saying she's pushing herself to finish everything like a pupil in an academy nearing her trial."

"Was there no way to stop it?"

Physician Fran was helpless about this, too. "We tried, but then she'll use command...after some time, she faints."

It's even beguiling to know she'll faint whenever the handkerchief that's incredulously stuck in the Dowager's nose reaches about half the middle finger.

Every day as a physician, he would be outside the door, joining the guards and waiting for Akan to call him. Now, Akan is out of the palace.

Yeah, how about making him the physician as the Dowager's guard? No matter how much he is paid, his fragile bones wouldn't be able to stand it. But what to do?

"Butler, I beseech you, Sire Akan, and I can't do anything about the willfulness of the Dowager. Although we admire her sense of responsibility, she is still a child. Why must she always test her delicate life?"

"I'll try."

Look, even the physician seems to be at his limit. Physician Fran even looks at him like he is the sun.

"Thank you! Thank you very much!"

Physician Fran's eyes brightened as tears glistened his eyes.

"I said I'll try."

"Yes, it's better than not saying you won't."

"..."

Is it that bad?

"Then let me attend to the Emperor first."

"Of course."

Bidding a temporary goodbye, Xiwen walked back to the Emperor's wing; entering the Emperor's study, he paused.

The Emperor is working with piles of papers just as he had recuperated.

"Greetings Emperor."

Guren was still reading what he was holding in his hand.

"This is your refreshment, Emperor. Please don't exert too much effort on your recuperating body."

"You may leave."

Butler Xiwen bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty." As expected, the Emperor is still working hard despite recuperating. There were dark circles in Guren's eyes. He even seemed to have become paler.

Butler Xiwen was worried about this. If he gets any skinnier, it will be direr as well.

After looking for the Empress Dowager, he should quickly go to the chef and discuss both the Dowager and Emperor's meal.

As he arrived at the Empress Dowager's wing, he saw the physician at the foot of the door pacing back and forth, extremely anxious as there was visible sweat on his forehead, and the moment Physician Fran saw Xiwen, he beamed a smile of relief.

"Butler Xiwen, you came."

"Physician Fran, I thought you went to rest?"

"Indeed, it could have been so. But alas, it's a miracle I haven't died after serving three generations of the Adiand royalties."

"Fran, you know that's not what I meant."

"Yes, just come."

Physician Fran had dutifully served the previous Emperor until the current Emperor. He knew many secrets, as well as the will to survive had kept him this long dodging the deaths of the people he knew as time went by. If not, he would be as good as dead if he can't shut his mouth.

Butler Xiwen paused and blinked as the door opened. He saw the scene before him. He looked outside, looked back inside, outside, then back again.

Physician Fran: "???"

Butler Xiwen felt like he was back in the Emperor's study room. It was the same, so the same. The difference is that the Empress Dowager has higher stacks of paper than the Emperor.

"..."

"Butler,"

Ett glanced at a tall, mid-height human statute only to see Butler Xiwen and Physican Franz.

"You two can enter."

Butler Xiwen felt touched. At least the Dowager knows he is present.

Physician Fran is like a parrot who has been through its dialogue a thousand times. He uttered, "Greetings, Empress Dowager. How are you?"

"As you can see."

"Your Grace, do you need any assistance?"

Butler Xiwen asked as well.

Ett glanced at Xiwen, "I am not your main duty."

"..."

That's true, but Butler Xiwen chuckled. He brought out cookies and tea; it was a different smell than before.

"I've made a new cookie with the help of the chef and a tea that Akan had given me. He said you like this when you were at the academy. Why not the Empress Dowager try it?"

Etta looked at him with a frown before she put down her fountain pen.

"Hmm."

Ett figured Guren didn't care about cookies and ignored Butler Xiwen's good intentions. If it were the old Ett, it would be the same.

"Then I'll just take a bite."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

It's not like there was poison anyway.

"Don't worry, Empress Dowager. I also made sure to test if it has poison."

"..." Erm, it's not like that.

"Then you leave. I'll eat just a bit."

Butler Xiwen smiled. "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

"..."

Ett stared at the cookie and tea placed beside her. Butler Xiwen cherishes both Guren and the Dowager, huh? Such loyalty is undeserving.

As much as I want to let you retire and have veteran benefits, Guren still needs you. When Akan comes, Ett will make sure that Butler Xiwen's duty should be limited. The man is already a dinosaur.

"Poor Xiwen, don't worry, most of the papers are stacked here. You and Guren would have a lesser burden. Even just a bit."

Piled up in papers working overtime, Ett knows it well. Children and older adults should not take too much of a toll on their bodies.

Her alas could only be her experience and strong mentality to do this. If not, she'll die. After all, there are no anti-depressants or stress relief in this place.

Who said being in a novel is fun? Can you focus on fixing up your son and your husband? Focus on romance and get your male lead. Hehe, good for them. Not for her. Reality is cruel.

"But it is what it is."

She'll have to get used to it and do what she can with this so-called mask of hers, Ett's mask.

***

Our Street, Imperial City

"What are you aiming at these days?"

Akan was sitting in one of the taverns owned by Casim. In front of him was Casim himself. They were far from the other tables as intended to be.

"Why? Should you know more than I do?"

"You're the master of rumors and truths you tell me."

Casim chuckled. "You're still sarcastic about the truth of my power."

Akan, "..."

This jackass always makes Akan irritated whenever they see each other. It's to the point that he wants to send him to the gallows or a slow, miserable life with no return—indeed, an unbearable folk.

"Alright, I won't tease you no more."

"I'm thankful."

"How genuine."

"..."

"..."

"Please go on."

"Oh well, haven't I told you I would need a title."

Cashim chugged down his rum.

"That's why you've been running around these days?"

"Akan, dare you say helping children is a whim of mine?"

"Yes, you're also sly to include the name of the Emperor with your signification."

Cashim shrugged.

"As long as I make a profitable influence, all is well."

He pointed outside, just beyond the walls of this tavern that they're into. Children were sweeping the pavement and a sack to put all the litter and dried leaves together.

"Haven't I contributed to lessening the struggle of the people? Look at the Lesser Children that are now happy to swing their broom and clean the dirtied pavement of our beloved Imperial City."

"Akan, politically and humanely, those people who came into our Empire would also see us in a good way even though the Empire itself does not care. Won't this strengthen our Emptoe's internal power?"

"Those outsiders care for not. They're only here to make a profit and foolish curiosity as they held few to lack information about us."

Akan argued. "What you're doing is making it look like we can also be as warm people who care about each other."

In Akan's view, it was better to be known as one of the rumors, which are accurate as being cold and caring if they have something in common. That's how most Adiand citizens are.

He sighed, "You know all too well. After that massive killing of the Emperor, the people have become more detached from the Emperor. If not for their respect of the strong, we won't be as collected as we are now."

Guren had proposed to avoid another bloodbath.

Each citizen should work for the benefit of the Empire, and such efforts wouldn't be for nothing. It was called the Sweats of One's Brow.

The more money they can give the Empire, the more reasonable cashback they will be given in modern terms. Primarily, these are directed to the common populace.

Cashim nodded but was still stubborn about continuing what she was doing. "I tell you again, Akan, there's nothing wrong with what I'm doing. Besides, the people will remember my generosity. Aren't our Emperor looking for people's usefulness?"

"Just for a title?"

Just for a title? Cashim laughed, "My friend, the title comes with a reputation for exuding power. Unlike you, I was not known and preferred to be in a reclusive state before. That's why few people know my contribution."

Of course, Akan knows that. He knows why it seems like this is not his plan. Cashim was always ambitious but not this direct with his plan.

He could help elevate Cashim's social standing, but there's no rush.

"Alright, as long as you do me a favour. Besides," Akan smiled, "I came here for your knowledge."

"Do tell."

"Do you have anything that can help a person going berserk?"

"Berserk, you say?"

Cashim's cogs turned fast, and he thought of one person that Akan must be concerned with. The Emperor then related it to what had happened before.

I see; what a troublesome knowledge.

"Let me look for it personally and tell you then."

In short, he must have known, but the authenticity may be false, or he doesn't have any information. There is also a possibility that the Emperor's madness is something unheard of.

Akan expected this.

After all, he had a hard time these days searching for reliable truths and diving into ascertaining the rumors of whatever he may have heard and read.

"Don't worry, my friend, I will help you with your madness. It must be due to what you've encountered in war?"

Akan's lips twitched. It's a good cover-up if someone hears them, but it's also unnerving to hear him grow mad on unpredictable days.

He smiled, "Yes, of course."

"Don't worry. As your friend, I have always known you are mad, but you've controlled yourself well. Such illness, I, Cashim, will help you lest you'll never marry a fine woman!"

This person knows how to get on his skin. Ah yes, this only person aggravates him to the core, and he doesn't know why.

"Then I thank you in advance for your understanding."

How badly Akan wants to rip that wide smile from Cashim's face.

"You're utmost welcome."