(From Blue''s Perspective)


    Two dayster, when I woke in the morning, the first thing I heard was that the King of Lacuna was dead. He had been murdered and the primary suspect was Count Joseph. Count Joseph was on bad terms with the King of Lacuna regarding the Queen''s position. Count Joseph insisted that he had made a promise with the previous King that his daughter would marry the then-crown prince.


    But the Kind of Lacuna did not want to marry her, saying she was too ugly.


    "When did it happen?" I asked to no one in particr.


    "We heard this morning, Your Highness," a maid said. "We heard the King of Lacuna also tried to assault Lord Luc''s mistress."


    "The mistress was left traumatized and doesn''t want to be Lord Luc''s mistress anymore. We don''t even know who that person is," another maid said, shaking her head.


    "I see. Help me get ready quickly. I need to see what the situation is myself," I said.


    "Yes, Your Highness."


    After getting ready, I quickly went to Dem''s office. I knocked on the door. "You know, you don''t have to knock all the time," he said from inside.


    "I heard the King of Lacuna is dead?" I asked. Continue your story on empire


    "He is," he replied nonchntly.


    "How? And did Count Joseph truly kill him?"


    Usually, we would find out more about a situation than the general people. Both Dem and I had spies there.


    "The proof says he did. And I also think he did," Dem said.


    "How was he murdered?"


    "His throat has been slit. That''s the primary reason for his death."


    "When did you find out about it?"


    "This morning."


    "Ah, me too. I woke up and the maids were talking about these things. I was really surprised… I mean, even two days ago, he was alright… Are you sure that Count Joseph killed him? It''s so sudden that..."


    "That''s what I think for now…"


    "But what if it''s not him? What if it''s the dark mage?" I asked.


    "… Why are you caring so much about his death? He is no one to you," he said coldly. "Just another King and nothing more. The kingdom still exists and there will be another rule. That''s it. We have no business who killed the previous ruler and how and why."


    "… I am just asking… Why would I care for him? I mean, I don''t even know him. Can''t I be curious?"


    "Curiosity is one thing. But you act like he is someone very close to you."


    "Close to me? Where did thate from?" I asked angrily.


    He looked at me and sighed. "I don''t mean you like him. But aren''t you being too curious?"


    "… I will go to my office then," I said. "Goodbye."


    "… See you over at lunch," he said as I turned my back.


    "Yeah…"


    I went to my office and called Flint and Reece. I told both of them about my power. Their reactions were pretty much expected, yet I was surprised.


    "But it''s Your Highness. Your Highness will never do something that is bad for us, this kingdom," Reece had said. "No matter what, we will always follow Your Highness, at least, I will. I believe in Your Highness."


    "Well, Your Highness is already my master. I am not changing my master just because of a little thing. That will be too much of a hassle," Flint had said, shrugging.


    Flint was wearing his usual silver robe. The employees of the Imperial Pce always wore something ck or golden. There was no color code for them, but they still maintained it, except for Flint. He always wore his silver robe, the same one every single day. If I did not force him to change, he would go on with it for weeks. It was not like he did not have money.


    He was even nning to buy another mansion. His words were- "Changing is a hassle since I have to choose what to wear and it''s a waste of time."


    "You are as gross as usual, Flint, aren''t you?" Perita grumbled.


    "Ist changed only three days ago," Flint objected.


    ''Yes, to Flint, changing three days ago is considered too little time. He would rather change two weekster.''


    "Reece, make a report on everything you can find out about the King of Lacuna''s death," I ordered. "Every single thing you can find out."


    "I knew Your Highness would be asking for this. I have started it already," he said. "I also have sent a spy since Your Highness gave me permission to make extra reports of an important matter and I could use spies freely for that."


    Reece was trustworthy, so I gave him the freedom to use any spy he needed to get information about the matters he would feel the need to report to me.


    "Alright, good job," I said. "For now, does any of you know anything about it?"


    "Yes, I do know a few things. I guess everyone knows about it too," Reece said. "The King of Lacuna diedst night; in the middle of the night approximately. He did not have any mistress with him since all of them were killed a few days ago."


    ''That''s Luc''s doing, isn''t it? Oh my god… That''s what he meant by getting rid of them…''


    "We don''t know who killed the mistresses. No one really cares about them since most of them weremoners. Anyway, for King Ford''s murder, Count Joseph is the primary suspect and he has been imprisoned. His throat has been slit and his lips were cut off."


    "What…? Really?"


    "Yes," Reece nodded. "Someone was very mad at him it seems; maybe Count Joseph. Anyway, it seems Princess Laetitia will be taking over the throne now."


    ''She has a crush on Dem. At least, she used to love Dem. I don''t know if she feels the same way now. I have never even talked to her, but whenever I hear her name, I remember the fact that she used to love my husband. I just can''t get over it.''


    "Do you know anything extra, Flint?" I asked, looking at Flint.


    From what I understood after being his boss, he knew more than normal people about almost everything. His curiosity about people''s personal lives was quite excessive as well.


    "A man wearing a hooded cloak did it," Flint said.


    "What? How do you know that?"


    "I just guessed. I mean, that person is not gonna reveal their identity easily, right? Besides, even if Count Jrd or whatever was behind it, he would not do it himself. He would hire an assassin," he said.


    "It''s Count Joseph… Anyway, if that''s all you know, all of you can go now. And Reece, take as much time as you need, but give me the best report you can," I said.


    "I will try my best, Your Highness," Reece bowed. "Please permit me to take my leave."


    "Yes, go."


    "Your Highness disregarded my opinion," Flint muttered.


    "Just go, Flint and work."


    "I am so d that the King has died," Perita said after Flint and Reece left. "I never liked him."


    "You don''t like him because you hate the fact that the knights of Lacuna fight without maintaining rules," I pointed out. "Because of that, you hate everything when ites to Lacuna."


    "That is a very important factor, Your Highness. Why would they not maintain rules?" she grumbled. "I don''t like them at all."


    "As Reece said, the new ruler will probably be Princess Laetitia. Do you hate her too?"


    "I have heard about her. Isn''t that the person who likes His Highness?"


    "She used to," I corrected her. "She is not chasing after my husband anymore, right?"


    "She is not, I think. But, does Your Highness know that Lacunas don''t ever give up? They are more famous for this trait than anyone else. Even if it''s something they cannot have, they still will keep trying to get it. I don''t think she doesn''t like His Highness anymore. Perhaps she is looking for another way," she said.


    "…"


    Others would perhaps not say things like that to me. But it was Perita. She was not enough smart to filter her words before saying. She gave out raw thoughts about everything. If someone needed a brutal honest review about something, Perita would be the best judge.


    "You really think so?" I asked.


    "Yes," she gave a nod. "That woman surely is plotting something. I heard His Highness only loves Your Highness. I am not good at understanding lovenguage, but from what I have seen, His Highness cares for Your Highness excessively, just the way I care for swordsmanship. So, I believe His Highness will never fall for her tricks."


    "I know he won''t fall for her… But she is very beautiful. I cannot help but worry…"


    "I quite like those who has a great skill for swordsmanship. I would automatically like that person. If beauty is the same thing as that, I think someone will fall for her. But what if His Highness''s main focus is not beauty, rather the person herself? Perhaps His Highness likes Your Highness because it''s Your Highness. I don''t think any beauty can make up for it."