Afterward, I had a brief conversation with the Emperor.

...Or, rather, it was more like the Emperor did all the talking.
The Emperor mostly rambled on about various things, like how they had wanted to meet me and how grateful they were for sparing the knights. Despite the unpleasant circumstances, they suggested we forget about the past and get along. They also mentioned that they understood some people would look at me unfavorably due to how quickly things had progressed.

To be honest, the Emperor spoke more than I expected. They didn’t seem like the imposing ruler I had imagined. Instead, they seemed more like a sociable noble, the kind of person who easily makes friends.

As I listened, I made my judgment.

‘...Like a sneaky raccoon.’

Of course, on the way to the palace, I got to hear more about the Emperor from Shin Hanbyeol.
Apparently, the Emperor had been rather prickly and aloof lately, perhaps due to the mounting pressure. This was in stark contrast to the warm, welcoming persona I had just witnessed.

If the rumors were true, it meant the Emperor was acting friendly towards me on purpose. They were intentionally showing favor, likely because of my status as a Manifested.