Chapter 180

“You know you’re the one and only lover to me, right? I didn’t do anything romantic with the emperor last night. I just went to his room on the excuse that I couldn’t fall asleep because of the rainstorm. I went to bed fatigued, trying to find any clue while waiting until he finished his work. When I woke up, it was already morning.”

“Marie. I’m not going to doubt or rebuke you. It’s me who told you to do anything to deceive the emperor. ”

“However… ”

“It doesn’t matter even if you do more wonderful things in the future. You are mine anyway, right? Just like I’m yours.”

Ober gently stroked her cheek. She showed a little bit of tears as if she felt relieved.

“Next, look carefully at the rotation order of those who take care of the emperor’s bedroom.”

“Got it.”

“Since Earl McMillan was demoted, it became more difficult for me to gather intelligence about what’s going on inside the palace…”

She immediately noticed that he was intentionally fumbling. That meant that he was waiting for her answer because he expected something from her.

“You can rest assured. As you know, the current chief of the palace affairs department is my father. These days he seems to be quite busy as he has to take care of the Interior Ministry.

Let me ask him furtively. Do not worry.”

“Great. I believed you would give me a wise answer. My judgment was not wrong. ”

Ober kissed her forehead proudly. She held back the urge to lift her dress and kick his ass.

He stepped back and grabbed the picture on the desk. He didn’t want to stay with her any longer as he felt he heard all she had to say for now.

“Let me take this gift gladly. I like it.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Can I give you good news in return?” She nodded, with her eyes sparkling. “When the rainy season is over, I think there will be an engagement reception. I hear that preparations for the martial arts contest at the reception are in full swing inside the palace…”

He put on the gloves that he had taken off, “You will get a very good knight after the reception.”

“… a very good knight? ”

“As he is the man who will protect you, I’ve chosen him with great care. You can definitely look forward to it. ”

He came close to her, smiling at her enchantingly. His breathing was scattered over her nape.

“Okay. I look forward to it.”

She saw him off with a smile. He left the room. There was silence back in the room, mixed with the sound of rain. Staring at the closed door, she turned back sharply. She walked across the room in annoyance.

“As for the very good knight… Is he going to send Roeth, an informant or Kiara, an assassin to me?” She murmured and rubbed her stiff neck. As if she wanted to wipe off the dirt, she kept doing it for a while.

***

Dozens of wagons stopped at the border’s gate.

The Euroslaf gateway facing the borders of the Faisal empire, located in the northernmost part of Lennox, was the busiest gateway for those crossing the border. It was also called the central gateway because it was much larger than other gateways. As there were well-paved roads and plenty of amenities, most of the traders shuttling between Faisal and Lennox used the Euroslaf gateway.

Artroom, one of the top three traders in Aslan, was also a regular customer who used the Euroslaf gateway. Mordos examined the procession of the familiar traders. Among the carriages lined up in rows, a colorful, unloaded wagon stood at the front of the procession. He approached the wagon, humming a tune. When he approached, he saw a familiar face through the half-opened window of the carriage.

“Oh, who is this? Sir Mordos? Luckily for me, you are on duty today!”

“Oh, please! Don’t give me that ‘sir’ title.”

Mordos looked around and raised a finger and put it on the center of his lips.

“No problem at all. I think I told you before. Your father has the same title as mine, baronet, and you are a member of the Northern Knights, so you deserve that title!”

“Well, if you think so, I will take it… ” Mordos fumbled, stroking his chin as if he was satisfied.

Under the law of the noble system in Aslan, those below the rank of baronet could not be called ‘Sir’ in order to distinguish them from official nobles.

Knights who were formally officiated were given the title of Sir, regardless of their class.

Mordos was not an officiated knight but an apprentice. As a result, he was not qualified for the title.

Regardless of the fact, however, Mordos felt good when the other party called him like a noble.

After clearing his throat, Mordos touched the sword on his waist.

“By the way, you’ve come back early. Your procession seems to be a little shorter than usual. I thought the merchant procession of Yurt was always very long, and once they crossed the border, it would take several months for you to come back here.”

“It looks like the captain of Astorlf Knights couldn’t say anything even if he were sentenced for his negligence of duty. He doesn’t know an excellent knight like you with such a good memory and discerning eye is being wasted like this here. ”

Yurt chuckled, praising Mordos highly. But as Mordos looked inside the wagon, Yurt grabbed one of the pockets next to him and gave it to him.

“Ugh? Please don’t. You know. My boss is very strict.”

“That’s why I’m giving it to you. Take it quickly!”

“You don’t have to. I’m fine…”

“Oh my god… I’m in big trouble if someone notices me. A little bit of flexible attitude is the virtue of the knight. If you want to be a great man in the future, you should pay attention to your appearances. Now, just think you picked it up on the road and treated yourself to some nice wine this evening. If you are really uncomfortable, use the money quickly. Got it? ”

Yurt intentionally pushed the pouch into his pocket. Although Mordos waved his hands, trying to refuse it, he eventually looked around and put his hand in the pocket to check the pouch.

Laughing at him, Yurt cleared his throat and said, “Well, I have to go now. I’m busy.”

“Oh, yes. You’re always busy. Wait a moment.”

Mordos stepped back and blew the whistle once. Then the low-level guards who were checking Yurt’s procession stopped checking and withdrew all at once.

The head of the procession finally began to move forward.

“Let me treat you to a drink next time. I brought some nice wine from Faisal.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Please take care!”

Yurt smiled and raised his hand. After Mordos saluted, he closed the window and turned to the front.

“Hummm…. it looks like you’re very good at buying off people.”

Someone’s interesting voice was heard inside the carriage. Although his pronunciation was fluent, it was mixed with accents, strange enough.

“I’m flattered, sir. I just have money, and there are no people who don’t like it. That’s it.”

Yurt laughed, wiping the sweat off his sleek face. Although he gave a polite answer, he had been pouring a lot of bad words deep down.

Lennox was an area with less climate change than Milan, but they could still notice the change of seasons. As it was past mid-June, the temperature in the northern part of the country was quite high. So, when trapped in a narrow space in a wagon, it quickly became muggy.

Normally, he would not have crossed the gateway at this time of the year. At least he would have opened the window of the wagon, or put on loose pajamas and laid down with a cool bottle of water and an ice pack.

However, Yurt had a guest on his journey this time. As the guest was very special, Yurt could not treat him roughly. Of course, Yurt couldn’t let him use another wagon. He was not supposed to let anybody know he was carrying this special guest.

“By the way, aren’t you hot, Your Excellency?”

“Well. Not that much.”

The man, who Yurt called ‘Your Excellency’ casually shrugged.

“It’s much hotter in Faisal than here. Of course, it’s less humid here, but I’m rather cold.

I would say I feel like shivering. I think I need some more time to get used to it. Maybe it’s because I am acclimating to the climate in Aslan.”

“Maybe. If you feel uncomfortable or need anything, please let me know at any time.”

Smiling at him reluctantly, Yurt crumpled the wet handkerchief in his hand. In this hot weather, the guest was sipping hot liquor, dressed in a thick Faisal coat. Just looking at him made Yurt upset.

“But it’s summer here, so it may be hotter and more humid in the capital city of Milan. After crossing the Sor River, you had better change into Aslan clothes…”

“Sure, will do. I may feel a little uncomfortable, but it’s not good to attract others’ attention.”

“You’re very smart.”

Yurt barely answered and gulped down the cold water he had reserved for himself. But he couldn’t tell the guest why he hadn’t changed clothes before crossing the border if he was so concerned.

He vowed for the 74th time that once he arrived in the capital, he would receive the full payment for his service.