Sigurd answered the butler's confusion, "There was an assassination attempt on the Emperor, the night before."
"An assassination attempt? It doesn't seem any surprising as it had happened multiple times before." The butler Han said without a hint of astonishment, wondering why Sigurd even mentioned this as he had never done it before.
"That is not the point, when I visited the Emperor in the morning, His Majesty had awakened his magical powers." Those words were said with a solemn expression, his inky eyes finally shifted its vision on the Butler as he dropped the papers on the desk.
"What? How? Didn't His Majesty not have any mana , so how can the Emperor awaken his magical power that required a huge amount of mana?" At this news, Butler's calm turned into bewilderment as he could not believe it.
"This time, your work is to look into this, and report to me in the shortest possible time." Sigurd ordered.
Butler Han, having finally emerged from his bewilderment, regained his composure and accepted the task entrusted to him by the Duke with sincere demeanor, "I understand, My Lord. Is there anything else you want me to do?"
There was nothing else to be added, as the Duke remained silent at Butler's question.
Assuming that was all, Butler Han bowed again before turning to take his leave, soon to be halted just when Sigurd's low and deep voice sounded again.
"Be discreet and careful." Sigurd said to his Butler.
"I will be, My Lord." Butler assured, a faint gentle smile hanging on his lips, a memory from the past resurfaced, playing an image of a child, not more than 10 years old, handing him a chocolate cookie in a reward for finding his dog.
With a final bow, Butler Han exited the room, leaving Sigurd alone in the room.
Sigurd clasped his hand together, resting his chin upon them as his eyes narrowed and glanced outside the window where the moon hung in the sky, casting its luminous over the earth. His brow furrowed as he concluded, 'The Emperor is behaving unusually these days, I have to keep an eye on him.'
*The Emperor's bedroom*
"At this rate, I'm going to become insomniac!" Dew's annoyed voice rang inside the room as he pushed the blanket aside, swinging his legs to get off the bed.
Dew wearing the soft and loose nightwear of historical time to which he already grew accustomed, took a shawl from the side table.
Draping the shawl over his shoulder, he commenced a leisurely stroll towards the balcony, seeking solace in the moonlit night as the sleep continued to elude him.
The Emperor's lean body stood before the balustrade, a vision of elegance and strength against the moonlit night. The wind, with a touch of fervor, tousled his blonde hair, each strand catching the silver glow of the moon. The silky shawl draped over his shoulder slid slightly, revealing the smooth, pale skin of his neck, exposed by the looseness of his nightwear.
In that moment, Dew's majestic figure, bathed in the ethereal light, was a sight to behold, striking a regal pose that could make anyone's heart quicken with awe.
"Don't you know it's an offense to enter the Emperor's bedroom without asking permission?" Dew asked as he turned, his back facing the moon, also pulling up his falling shawl back over his shoulder, concealing his exposed skin.
The royal valet, Ruprecht, failed to reply in time as the Emperor continued his questioning, "Did you find out about the person who planned the assassination?" Dew asked, clearly wanting to know the information that the Ruprecht had brought.
*Few minutes before*
In the corridor, Ruprecht paced forth and backward, contemplating if he should report the Emperor now or in the morning. He knew that disturbing His Majesty at night is not good, but he had important information to report.
'Last night, His Majesty faced such an assassination attempt where the person used Soul puppets to ensure a fatal attack to the Emperor, fortunately His Majesty awakened his powers or else..' Ruprecht's movement stopped at that thought, fearing the consequences of that thing.
At last, he made a decision to enter the room to check if his Majesty is sleeping or not, also analyzing the surroundings of any threat. Planning to leave at once after doing so, he lightly pushed the door open.
He first looked in the direction of the bed, the bed curtains were open that made it easier for Ruprecht to see that the Emperor was not there, anxiousness started creeping in his heart, but soon he found a figure standing in the balcony.
With a hand on his sword, he moved forward and he eventually found who the person was.
That person was the Emperor, he calmed down a bit, and took a few steps before coming to a stop. The sight of Dew's side profile entered Ruprecht's vision, which made his gaze intense.
His words got stuck in his throat as he gazed at the sight before him with a blank canvas, lost in the mesmerizing brushstrokes of beauty that painted his vision.
But soon, that person turned towards him, unveiling a visage of striking beauty adorned with a touch of detachment, that sent the heart of the royal valet a flutter like a delicate butterfly in the garden of roses.