Episode 22
Blood had splattered on Merlin’s face. Alastair’s gaze darkened.
“What happened?” he asked.
The man who had once been lost in love now returned to being the Emperor.
“Did he talk?”
There was now only the cold intensity of a ruler in Alastair’s voice.
“We interrogated Jim Cooper,” Merlin said. “I’ve been keeping a close eye on him around the clock so he doesn’t get killed like Officer Woodlock did.”
They had started the interrogation the moment Cooper was locked up. If left alone for too long, someone might try to silence him.
“He’s too important. We can’t afford to lose him.”
“How’s it going?”
“He’s still denying everything. Says he never got money from the Duke of Devilfort’s men.”
“This might take a while.”
“I’ll keep going. He’ll crack eventually.”
Alastair rubbed his aching temple. No matter how much effort he put in, catching the Duke always felt just out of reach.
Just like with the Count Myer case.
“I’m looking into people who might be the Count’s family too.”
Doing that on top of his emperor duties was exhausting.
“I’ve finished checking the east and south. Now it’s time for the west and north.”
He was digging through the entire empire, hoping to find Count Myer’s hidden child.
“We must find that child. They’re key to the plan.”
Alastair had a strategy:
One—reveal that the Duke of Devilfort was behind the bombing.
Two—bring out Myer’s child to speak up about their parent’s unfair death.
That alone would ruin the Duke’s image.
Three—expose the Duke’s cruel past one piece at a time.
Four—finally, release the truth about the death of Alastair’s mother, the late Empress.
These four big hits would shake the Duke’s place in the palace.
And when everything was ready, Alastair would strike.
That’s why he had to move in secret and be patient—gathering all the evidence carefully, ready to release it in one powerful wave.
“Merlin, as you know, I’ve been meeting quietly with former nobles loyal to the crown.”
He had been collecting their testimonies, helping them with money and shelter.
“But even they don’t know where Count Myer’s child is.”
It had taken him a whole year just to get this far.
He hoped to end it all within six more months.
Merlin reached out and used magic to change Alastair’s hair and eyes back to their usual light brown. The disguise was complete again.
Alastair looked at two small photo frames on his desk.
“…Master.”
One photo was of the man who had supported him when he became Emperor. The other was a woman.
“Mother.”
The two people he had loved the most were Count Myer and Empress Adeline.
He had to keep going—for them.
And now… for someone new he had come to care for. Someone he wanted to face with pride, in safety.
The reflection in the mirror looked both unfamiliar and familiar.
Until it all ended, he would have to keep living as someone else.
But it wouldn’t be forever. Alastair believed that with all his heart.
*
“Did you hear? They’re saying His Majesty is impotent!”
I almost spit out the coffee I was enjoying. Of all the things to overhear on a peaceful day at a café.
“No way, that can’t be true!”
Exactly what I wanted to say.
“Just because he hasn’t gotten married doesn’t mean they can say that.”
“I didn’t believe it at first either. But remember the bombing recently?”
“Yeah…”
“They say the shrapnel hit… a very sensitive area. That’s why!”
“Oh no…”
No, absolutely not. Smith said the Emperor safely escaped. These people are horrible.
“Where did you hear this?”
“My friend’s friend told me.”
“Then it’s probably fake. Gossip like this pops up all the time.”
“No, I swear! My friend’s friend’s younger sister’s friend is married to a noblewoman! It’s reliable!”
That noble family’s name sounded familiar.
Ha…
Of course—it was someone close to Duke Devilfort.
So now his people are spreading slander about the Emperor too?
They’ve already tried everything—getting rid of his allies, using bombs, pressuring the media, and now this?
“If that travelled, the Emperor can’t have heirs. What will they do?”
“We’re doomed! If he stays in power, it’ll only hurt the Empire!”
“Maybe it’s time to pass the throne to Duke Devilfort. He has children and—oops.”
They quickly went quiet, realizing they’d gone too far.
I set my cup down with a firm grip.
This isn’t good.
If no one does anything, the rumors will only get worse. And no matter how lazy the Emperor may seem, he’s still my boss.
If the Emperor’s authority collapses, so does the image of the aides’ office.
And let’s be honest—if things go badly, my government job could be in danger too.
With Grandpa always one bad decision away from ruining the family’s fortune, I needed this steady pay cheque.
So what should I do?
“…Let’s deal with it.”
Other female leads start businesses using their family wealth, but I’m just a broke civil servant. So I’ll serve the public instead.
No money in it—but it’s still the right thing to do.
“It’s annoying, but…”
I might not have cash, but I still care about protecting what I have.
So a few days later, I marched into work and went straight to Smith.
Honestly, ever since that day I accidentally sat on his thigh, it’s been awkward to look him in the eye. But he didn’t seem to mind, so I figured I’d just manage my own nerves.
“Mr. Smith, I need to ask you something about His Majesty.”
As expected, he welcomed me calmly. Hands clasped, gently fiddling with his reading glasses, he gave me a soft smile.
“Ask anything.”
“Is His Majesty… impotent?”
“…I already regret saying that.”
He pushed his glasses up with his middle finger like he wanted to flip off the whole world.
“Where did you hear such nonsense?”
Smith looked seriously offended. Anyone would think he was the one being insulted.
“So, you’re saying he’s not?”
My professional tone probably caused a mental breakdown in him.
“Have I misunderstood society’s ideas about privacy? Is this… a workplace question?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t serious. People are starting to believe weird things about His Majesty.”
“That he’s… impotent?”
His smile faded.
“Yes. You haven’t heard? People are whispering about it at cafes, on the train, in shops…”
“…”
“So you didn’t know.”
Smith was clearly a homebody. No wonder he didn’t hear the gossip. Tsk tsk.
“And Sir Merlin?”
“He barely leaves the palace. He practically lives there.”
Looks like I’m the only one in the palace who actually knows what’s going on outside.
“I have something I really want to say.”
