Spy
“Then, I think all urgent issues have been discussed.”
Ministers who had been dozing off sitting at the long table opened their eyes at the words of the Emperor, announcing the end of the long meeting.
Before Herhan ascended the throne, during the time of the previous emperor, there were not many political meetings.
Audiences with the emperor on business matters were limited to very important events such as the founding ceremony, and even that ended with a few reports to the emperor sitting on the throne in a grand reception hall.
But this young emperor is so full of ambition and his blood boils.
every time there was a fierce question and answer about the policy in the meeting.
No matter how much state affairs were reformed, ministers were the only ones who were bothered by biting off every single thing the previous emperor had done and fixing everything.
However, they couldn’t express their dissatisfaction.
When the new emperor came to power, there was already a big wind in the political world.
It was a questionable personnel appointment to simply remove the connections of the previous emperor and seat a new person.
Those from factions closely related to the previous emperor survived, and those who were obviously loyal to the new emperor were banished.
Whether it was a family that had held an important position for generations or rising new power, there was no standard for that.
Some survived and others were cut down, literally without a public vote.
There is even a rumor going around that the emperor puts a note with their name in a jar and selects people at random to use, so how could anyone dare to do anything outside of the emperor’s eyes.
“Is there anything more to discuss?”
In fact, everyone’s interest is in ‘Riella Blinite’, that’s why no one can recklessly bring out the name.
“If there is no more, I will finish here for today.…”
“I want to say one thing briefly. It’s about Riella Blinite, who is currently staying at the West Palace.”
When the emperor first heard the name, there was a huge stir in the bored meeting hall.
Herhan let out an amused laugh as he watched the eyes of the ministers light up.
‘Could they really be that curious?’
‘Well, there are only rumors about her, and nothing has been officially announced about her other than that she is from the kingdom of Liotta.’
Herhan sighed.
The first time he felt the need to publicly mention Riella was this morning when he saw Riella suffering because of the maids.
The more time it takes, the more people will want to use Riella.
So Herhan pondered.
‘What justification would I give for Riella? What excuse should I give to keep her safe while keeping her in my sight?’
“I’m sure everyone has heard of it already. Regarding the relationship between me and Riella Blinite.”
Herhan didn’t bother to say more, just flicked the itchy spot.
Thanks to this, everyone in the conference hall flinched and waited for words to follow.
“That rumor….”
It’s true or not true.
There were only two answers Herhan could give.
If he answered yes, Riella would become the Emperor’s wife and she would be exposed to more temptation and danger.
However, there is an excuse for Herhan to keep her close. If he made up his mind, it wasn’t difficult to keep Riella next to him and protect her perfectly.
But if he says it’s not true. Riella will be free from the many dangers and restrictions that bother her right away. She could live in the palace, and if she wanted to go outside, she could do so. It would just mean that Herhan would not have easy access to meet her.
In fact, Herhan had already made up his mind before entering the meeting room.
And now he’s about to announce it in front of everyone.
“The rumor is true…”
‘What! Are you saying it’s true? Really that lowly thing and His Majesty?’
‘It can’t be true. No matter how long the Emperor has been in hiding as a beggar, his taste in women wouldn’t be so shallow.’
‘If you two are really like that. Don’t tell me she’s going to become an empress? Oh no! Should I make connections from now on?’
‘Who are you? I haven’t even seen her face properly yet. Is it that pretty?’
‘Our Rosetta is out. ugh.’
‘But you’re never going to get married.’
‘Is she that pretty?’ ‘What the hell is this?!’
Suddenly, all kinds of voices flooded into Herhan’s head.
He took a deep breath and opened his eyes wide, but the scenery in Herhan’s field of view was still there.
A quiet meeting room. Dozens of ministers sat together, waiting in silence for the emperor’s words.
None of them opened their mouths.
Even so.
‘What is it? Why aren’t you saying anything?’
‘Oh, my God. Time keeps running. ‘I’m dying of curiosity!’
‘Is she pretty!’
The voices flooding into Herhan’s head didn’t know how to stop the turmoil even for a moment.
Herhan felt dizzy and touched his forehead.
His ability to read people’s minds worked only when he met his opponent directly.
No action has been taken, but everyone’s thoughts have never been poured out so uncontrollably at the same time.
‘His Majesty’s condition is strange. damn. Another seizure?’
Even the voice of Asion, who became nervous.
With a pale face, Herhan looked at Asion, who was standing next to him.
Contrary to his panicked heart, Asion approached the table with a smile as good as possible.
“Ah! You had an extremely urgent schedule, but I forgot what? Today’s meeting ends here. your majesty.”
The conversation was cut off at the height of the excitement, so the ministers were naturally upset.
Against them, Asion took offense. It was news about the subjugation of bandits in the north, and he asked if the minister would go out and fight directly if the bandits pushed in here because they missed the time.
Asion calmed the ministers’ anger and hurriedly dragged Herhan into the inner room
“Your majesty. Are you okay? Is it a seizure? Can you see me?”
‘I could see very well. I could walk normally, and there was no chest tightening or headache.’
So Herhan was even more confused. If it were the same seizure as before, it would be painful but not this confusing.
“I’ll call Jess right away.”
Asion had no way of knowing Herhan’s condition. He put Herhan on the bed and rushed outside.
Once the servants had been out of the room and he was alone in his room, there was silence.
‘It’s definitely not a seizure.’
Herhan got up and sat up, reflecting on the confused experience that had come to him.
The more he thought about it, the more he thought that this wasn’t a seizure he’d ever had, but that it might be another precursor to death.
‘If so, I’d better ‘prepare’ for the end. I may have regained my throne, but I’m not quite ready to die yet.’
“Your majesty! Are you okay?”
It was only a moment later that Jess and Asion ran into the bedroom.
As the two entered the room, the voices in their minds began to be heard again by Herhan. It seemed that these unknown symptoms hadn’t calmed down yet.
“Your Majesty, what is going on, another seizure?”
Jess said anxiously with a face that looked like he was going to cry. At the same time, he thought…
‘Shit. If Herhan dies like this, I will finish my research, even if it means I have to make a stuff.’
that perverted child. Herhan tried to reassure Jess that it was okay, but he was silent.
No matter how close a friend is, Herhan realized again today that it is beneficial to the relationship not to look into their mind as much as possible.
“Calm down. Because I’m fine.”
“You can speak! Thank God. When did your vision recover?”
‘It wasn’t when I recovered, but that I had never been blind from the beginning. Contrary to what you are worried about, this doesn’t seem like a seizure.’
Herhan was about to say that.
‘Could this be the work of a spy?’
‘I’ve already returned the medicine that the spy changed. I’m sure the drug won’t change again. What is it?’
The deep anguish of Asion and Jess, which was completely incomprehensible, was conveyed side by side.
Neither of them realized that their thoughts were being heard by Herhan.
“A spy?”
Herhan asked without hesitation.
At those words, Jess’ hand, which had been checked on Herhan, stopped abruptly.
“What? Oh no, Your Majesty. What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
‘This is strange, how can you read my mind when you’ve never touched me?’
Asion’s bewildered inner thoughts were conveyed to Herhan as well.
As Jess narrowed his eyes, he double-checked that he was wearing gloves.
“You said it was the work of the spy. He/she changed the medicine. I can hear you. Your mind.”
“No, I was very careful not to touch your skin, but how could you….”
“I also heard your ambition to make me stuffed.”
“That’s because I love you so much.”
Asion was at a loss for words. Rather, Jess comes out openly and shamelessly.
Herhan glared at the two.
‘They dare to keep secrets behind my back.’
But the punishment for that sin would have to be paid slowly later. What is more important than that was the ‘spy’.
“say it. Did someone change my medication? Is there a spy inside?”
“…..”
As if they had promised, the two kept their mouths shut.
Still, Herhan wasn’t nervous at all. Even if they shut their mouths, they won’t be able to stop the thoughts from leaking out.
Herhan thought it was convenient and good that his powers had expanded at just the right time.
“If you’re planning to keep secrets without me knowing, aren’t you two already narrowing the line of suspects to some extent? Tell me, who is it…”
But the next moment he realized what he had forgotten. That this convenient ability was actually a ‘curse’.
‘Riella Blinite.’
‘Riella Blinite.’
* * *
