Yuder silently observed from a distance as Kishiar engaged in conversations with the Emperor's officials, who openly admired the way he had been handling matters. Although their ranks seemed to be rather high based on the introductions, their faces were entirely unfamiliar to Yuder. It was because he had never met them in his previous life.

Naturally, this was to be expected. If these were people whom Emperor Keilusa trusted enough to send this far, it was likely they hadn't retained their positions since the ascension of Emperor Katchian.

Kishiar appeared to be well-acquainted with them as he mingled friendly banter with discussions about future plans. Yuder, observing Kishiar’s radiant and healthy face, was reminded of the events from last night.

Despite the numerous occurrences yesterday, the interactions between Kishiar and Yuder had progressed just like any other day. There were no disturbances in their meals or daily tasks.

However, Yuder felt an indescribable sense that something unknown and hidden lay within that handsome visage. Though Kishiar seemed to have forgotten all about his sleep-talking, Yuder found it difficult to cease his discreet yet persistent observations.

"...Ah, is that the rumored young man your assistant from the Cavalry unit?"

Just then, one of the officials sent by Emperor Keilusa inquired about Yuder, drawing his attention. Yuder snapped out of his reverie and turned his head.

"Yuder is indeed my assistant, but I'm not sure what you mean by 'the rumored,' Melina. Could you clarify?"

"Do you really want to hear it?"

Melina, the official addressed, responded to Kishiar's curious question without hesitation.

"The rumors vary quite a lot. From tales of him indulging in drinking monster blood after slaying them, to being an Awakener with a second gender who possesses mysterious powers that can easily capture Your Highness, to even being strikingly beautiful at first glance. Particularly, the gossip about occupying a rest area at a party and eventually destroying the bed has been buzzing even beyond Tainu."

Yuder had a rough idea of how rumors about him might circulate, but hearing them so directly and explicitly was a first.

The malicious rumor about drinking monster blood probably originated from those who had seen the stains left by Pethuamet's blood. As for the rumors about breaking beds or being beautiful, those were intentional byproducts of the romantic schemes orchestrated by Kishiar, so they weren't a concern.

But the rumor about him being a second-gender Awakener was baffling. How did that get mixed in? While Yuder remained silent, Kishiar burst into laughter.

"So, listening to all this, it seems none of you believe a word of it?"

"It’s our job not to believe things too easily. Aren't they obviously false rumors?"

True to their words, the officials' faces didn’t reveal any personal emotions despite speaking directly about the rumors.

"Good attitude," Kishiar complimented them with a smile and then turned his head toward Yuder. Their eyes met, and it felt like peering into a calm, deep lake.

"But there's a difference between being skeptical and outright dismissing something as false without attempting to discern the truth. You see, in this world, there's almost no such thing as a perfect lie. Most lies carry shards of truth within them."

The message was clearly intended for the officials. Yet, Yuder felt as if it was directed at him, especially the part about there being no perfect lies.

"...Is that so? I couldn't even guess that the aspects I mentioned carry shards of truth. In that case, we will take note of the parts you claim to be factual, Your Highness."

"Ah, Melina. Can't you tell what's a fragment of truth at first glance?"

Kishiar tilted his head, asking the question in a serious tone.

"Where can you find a more accurate fragment of truth than the fact that my assistant is incredibly beautiful?"

"..."

For a moment, everyone's gaze simultaneously shifted to Yuder, only to return back to silence. Yuder, who had thought that he would speak about the second gender, also found his mind empty for the first time in a while. Fortunately, the official deftly changed the subject.

"Um… I see. Yes, understood. Your Highness, there are several important matters I'd like to discuss with you. Could we have the room?"

Given the look from the assistant, who obviously didn't want to speak about the real truth, Kishiar consented. Thanks to this, Yuder was able to step outside for a moment.

The place where they had been working all day was a space inside the mansion that, until a few days ago, had served as Baron Willhem's office. The Cavalry members guarding the exterior looked at Yuder with curiosity.

"Why did you come out alone? Where is the Commander?"

"He said they have important matters to discuss."

"I see. We're about to switch shifts; want to get some fresh air with us?"

Yuder quietly shook his head. The members seemed a bit disappointed, but Yuder barely had the energy left to even think about them. He walked over to a window and took a long breath.

Tainu had regained its peace at an astonishing speed since the day of the auction, and it was incredibly quiet today as well. Yet Yuder's mind was focused solely on those who were still in the office.

'I've spent so much time with him, and yet he's still so inscrutable.'

One moment he makes cryptic comments about lies and truth, and the next he suddenly changes the atmosphere with a joke. Was it a form of consideration, or was it an extreme attempt to hide his thoughts? It was hard to guess.

Did he mean not to take yesterday's events too seriously? Did he intend to overlook and move on from Yuder Aile's unusually different behavior this time as well?

'...Considering the Emperor's health, now is not the time to focus on other matters.'

If it had been before, he would have regained his composure the moment he made such an assumption. But he didn't feel as good about it now.

He hadn't wanted to realize that peace could make a person anxious in this way. For Yuder, it was an uncomfortably unfamiliar moment.

Unfamiliar emotions bubbled up like the surface of the sea on a stormy day.

"...Yuder!"

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind him. It was Kanna, wedged between the members who had come to switch shifts. With a face that still hadn't shaken off the hangover, Kanna waved her hand and came over, patting Yuder on the back.

"What the heck, man? Leaving me there alone, do you know how surprised I was when I woke up and the sun was already high in the sky, and I was the only one lying in Grandma Hellem's room?"

She said that, despite the heavy drinking yesterday, surprisingly everyone else had woken up before Kanna. After reading the teasing intent hidden in Mick's casual suggestion to have breakfast, she had declined and returned late to Baron Willhem's mansion. As he listened to this story, Yuder found himself thinking about Kishiar again.

If he had Kanna's kind of power, could he have quickly understood the unbelievable sleep talk he had heard last night? Could one read information even the speaker himself couldn't remember with such a power?

From the start, about this strange 'connection'...

"What happened, exactly?"

The train of thought that had been chugging along suddenly came to a halt, interrupted by a heavy question. Kanna's eyes, which had been fluttering nervously, were now shining with a completely different light as she looked at Yuder.

"..."

"For a moment, I sensed an overwhelmingly negative emotion from you... No, not sensed—I read it, even though I didn't intend to..."

Yuder paused his contemplations to meet her gaze. In her deep blue irises, faint glimmers of azure swayed. His eyes carefully scanned hers, moving between worry and puzzlement, yet filled with caution.

The fact that she'd spoken up when she didn't have to meant that Kanna trusted and cared for him deeply. On the other hand, it also meant that the gates to his emotions had become so lax that she had unintentionally read into them.

To think that he'd been so easily read by her, despite being a decade older, left him feeling a bit foolish. At the same time, he felt a complicated sense of pride in Kanna's remarkable growth.

"Um, ah, no. It might have been because I'm not feeling well from a hangover. If I said something weird and upset you, I'm really s—"

"It's alright. You weren't wrong."

While maintaining eye contact, Yuder gently furrowed his brows and interrupted Kanna before she could apologize further.

"I wasn't offended."

"Really?"

Yuder faintly lifted the corners of his lips. Whether it was from her effort paying off, Kanna's complexion finally brightened a little.

"Yuder, what really happened?"

Instead of answering, he studied Kanna, whose dark circles were more prominent due to her hangover, and then slowly opened his mouth.

"You said you read a negative emotion from me. Can you specify what you read?"

"Uh... well."

"It's okay, just be honest."

Seemingly worried, Kanna let out a deep sigh before answering, "Alright."

"Anxiety, worry... something like that. And... fear."

Anxiety, worry, and fear. Yuder echoed Kanna's words in his mind.

"At first, I thought it wasn't coming from you. It was so strong that I felt a tingling sensation in my chest bone... But your expression remained the same as always, so..."

"..."

"Yuder, are you afraid of something?"