Gray gathered his thoughts and looked down at the petite woman before him.
What nerve did she possess to cover the mouth of a Sword Master?
Evidently, they did not even know each other’s names, which meant they were meeting for the first time.
Just then, Dalia finally devised an excuse and spoke.
“I felt terrible because I covered his mouth unintentionally, so I offered him my name by way of apology.”
“Yet the explanation for that ‘unintentionally’ part is entirely missing, is it not?”
“That is a private matter.”
When she used privacy as a shield, it was impossible to pry any further.
“You are rather good at slipping away.”
The Lady of the Pink Flower Field offered a faint smile once again.
“Perhaps that man happens to be your preferred ty—”
‘Was I about to ask if he was her type?’
Startled at himself, Gray hurriedly covered his own mouth.
‘What on earth was I about to say just now?’
“Pardon?”
The Lady of the Pink Flower Field tilted her head in inquiry, and right at that moment—
“Sire, if you leave like this—oh? Miss?”
It was Orion, the Emperor’s secretary.
“It seems you two are together once again.”
Orion offered a warm smile as he greeted them.
“Let us go.”
Gray quickly turned around, relieved at the opportunity to leave the spot.
“I believe we could spare another five minutes.”
Gray cut him off firmly.
“There is no need.”
“Farewell, Your Majesty!”
Her bright voice called after him, but he feigned deafness and lengthened his stride.
The Emperor’s Office.
Orion handed over the report, watching the Emperor’s expression with caution.
Though days when His Majesty was in good humor were rare to begin with, his mood had been uncharacteristically sour since yesterday.
Knowing neither the cause nor the remedy, Orion had no choice but to tread with utmost care.
“Still nothing new. And you call this a report?”
At the sharp edge in the Emperor’s voice, Orion flinched and took a step back from the desk.
‘Frightening.’
“There is also a note further down stating that the relationship between the collateral and direct branches is quite good. In fact, the direct line shows unusual deference toward Miss Herdlan of the branch family.”
“And is that something extraordinary?”
The Emperor’s voice was chilly as he set the report on the desk.
“Customarily, it is the collateral branch that curries favor with the direct line. Furthermore, a knight named Cole has been guarding the two ladies with extreme vigilance.”
“A knight?”
The Emperor’s disgruntled gaze snapped back to the parchment.
“Yes. A knight who accompanied the delegation as an escort. Ever since an operative from The Rooster infiltrated the palace disguised as a maid, he has taken to standing right outside the ladies’ suite door, making it difficult to gather intelligence.”
“A knight clinging to the door?”
The Emperor’s voice dropped low, echoing as if from the depths of a cavern.
“I did not specifically say ‘clinging.’”
Orion stole a glance down at his report.
‘Was that actually written there?’
“A knight, then…?”
What about the knight?
Had the knight done something wrong?
Orion shifted his gaze toward Ethan, Commander of the Imperial Guard and the very picture of knighthood.
Ethan stood behind the Emperor as usual, rigid and utterly expressionless.
“Tsk… a knight.”
At the Emperor’s click of his tongue, Ethan’s shoulders seemed to twitch ever so slightly.
Orion did not know the reason, but clearly, the knight was in the wrong.
‘Yes, it is entirely that knight’s fault.’
Orion nodded to himself in silence, then recalled the final line of the report.
“There is also intelligence that the young lady from the collateral branch frequently stares at a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes. She treasures it as if it were a love letter, always keeping it on her person with such care that we could not seize it.”
“A love letter?”
The Emperor’s tone sank even lower.
“Ethan.”
Ethan stepped swiftly before the Emperor.
“Summon the lady to the Emperor’s Garden.”
“At once, Your Majesty.”
As Ethan left the office, Orion stared at the Emperor, his eyes wide.
Granted, he had seen them conversing, but the Emperor’s Garden?
Could their relationship be deeper than he had imagined?
“You are allowing the lady into the Emperor’s Garden?”
“I am not letting her in. She will come of her own accord.”
“…Pardon?”
What did that even mean? The Emperor’s Garden was a place forbidden to all without his express permission.
Even Orion himself had never been permitted inside.
Curiosity surged within his chest, but the Emperor, as if weary of answering, set an hourglass down onto the desk with a dull thud.
Catching the hint, Orion held his tongue and quietly slipped out of the office.
Having received Ethan’s message, Hart made her way toward the ladies’ suite.
The Emperor’s Garden… Even she had never set foot inside. Could it be true that Miss Lia had been summoned there?
Hart had only just returned from an extended mission in a distant territory, looking forward to enjoying her leave, when this maid assignment had been thrust upon her without warning.
She had assumed it would be short work—merely buttering up two young ladies from a petty kingdom.
Yet the ladies stuck close to each other and acted with surprising shrewdness, complicating matters.
Even eavesdropping was no simple feat, given that the knight Cole was guarding the suite door.
‘If only I could extract clear intelligence quickly, I could wash my hands of this bothersome task…’
Hart’s eyes met those of Cole standing before the door. Flashing a sweet smile, she knocked and stepped inside.
“Miss Lia.”
Dalia lifted her head slightly from the chessboard she was sharing with Annie.
“Yes?”
“You have been summoned to the garden.”
Dalia tilted her head in curiosity. Hart leaned close, whispering into her ear so none could overhear:
“The Emperor’s Garden.”
At once, Dalia’s face lit up, as though bathed in her own private sunlight.
In that moment, Hart felt she finally understood why His Majesty took an interest in this young lady.
Was it not said that His Majesty cared little for women? Or did he simply fancy beautiful ones?
“Who summoned Lia?”
Annie, who had been watching in silence, looked at Hart with a sharp eye.
Belying her internal thoughts, Hart enthusiastically played the part of an excitable maid.
“Oh! In truth, it was the Commander of the Imperial Guard who called for her. But… how do you know the Commander, Miss Dalia?”
“The Commander of the Imperial Guard?”
Annie stared at Dalia, stunned.
Her orange eyes asked plainly, ‘What have you gotten yourself into this time?’
Before Annie’s lecture could begin, Dalia scrambled to her feet.
“I met him by chance. I’ll step out for a little while and return.”
“I am coming with you.”
Annie stood as well.
“I shall accompany you as well,”
Cole spoke up from the open doorway.
Hart watched the two of them attentively.
They were displaying an unmistakable urge to protect this young lady in particular.
“Shall I come along as well?”
Hart chimed in, raising a hand slightly.
“No, there’s no need. Everything is fine. I can go on my own.”
Dalia tried to hold everyone back.
‘If they find out I am going to see the Emperor, it will never end quietly.’
“This makes no sense…”
Annie’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, but Dalia flashed a confident smile.
In her mind’s eye, Lemon fluttered about, chirping and laughing.
“I have Lemon.”
“Ah, right.”
Annie alone grasped her meaning and was the first to back down.
Cole and Hart simply traded bewildered looks.
“Well then, I’ll be back soon!”
Following Lemon, Dalia reached the Emperor’s Garden and looked around.
At the center of the garden stood an outdoor table laid out with an assortment of sweets.
The Emperor had yet to arrive.
Setting the notebook and quill she had brought onto the table, Dalia pulled out a chair and sat down.
She plucked a grape from the fruit basket, rolled it around in her mouth, and slowly closed her eyes.
