"Is what Butler Xiwen would say."


    "And he seems to be too devoted taking care of him."


    That was close. Akan is too fast to come.


    "Well he is compassionate something even I as your subject lack."


    "You''re equally good."


    "Good?"


    Akan doesn''t think so. Besides, is the Dowager changing the subject fearing he might think she is helping out some of the Emperor''s task? No, that could be possible right? They''re too cold blooded to truly care about each other when they all but think of nothing but their competencies. Yes, that''s all of it.


    Maybe the Dowager is too bored and annoyed that there are so many things that weren''t done yet. That would be more plausible for the Dowagwe to think the Emperor is not that being competent these days and gathered this reports as she is irritated for taking it too long.


    Yes, that must be it.


    "Then lets continue organizing all of this."


    "Yes, Your Ladyship."


    ***


    "The...The Empress Dowager has fainted."


    Hearing the Physcian who passes by Butler Xiwen sighed.


    "These days the Dowager seems to be fainting every now and then."


    "Well, Sire Akan was saying she''s pushing herself to finish everything as if a student in an academy nearing her test."


    "Was there no way to stop it?"


    The physician was helpless about this too. "We tried but then she''ll use command...then...after some time we faints."


    It''s even beguiling to know that whenever the handkerchief that''s incredulously stuck in the Dowager''s nose reach about half the middle finger she''ll faint. Everyday as a physician he would be on outside the door joining the guards waiting when Akan calls him. Now,  Akan is out of the palace.


    Yeah, how about making her as his guard rather than a physician ah?


    "Butler I beseech you, Sire Akan and I can''t do anything about the will fullness of the Dowager. Although we admire her sense of responsibility she is... still a child."


    "I''ll try."


    Look, even the physician seems to be at his limit. He even look at him like he is the sun.


    "Thank you! Thank you very much!"


    "I said I''ll try."


    "Yes, yes it''s better than not saying you won''t."


    "..."


    Is it that bad?


    "Then let me attend to the Emperor first."


    "Of course."


    Bidding a temporary goodbye he walked back to the Emperor''s wing entering the Emperor''s study, Butler Xiwen paused.


    The Emperor is working with piles of papers just as he had recuperated.


    "Greetings Emperor."


    Guren was still reading what he was holding in his hand.


    "This is your refreshment, Emperor. Please don''t exert your recuperating body too much."


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    "You may leave."


    Butler Xiwen bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty." As expected the Emperor is still working hard even if he is recuoerating. There was dark circles in Guren''s eyes he even seems to have became paler.


    Butler Xiwen was worried about this. If he gets any skinnier it will be direr as well.


    After looking for the Empress Dowager he should quickly go to the chef and discuss the meal of the Emperor. If he does it to the Empress Dowager he might face her ice cold glare. No, that''s not a feasible thing to do.


    As he arrived at the Empress Dowager''s wing he saw the physician at the foot of the door pacing back and forth extremely anxious as their was visible sweat in his forehead, and the moment he saw Xiwen he beamed a smile of relief.


    "Butler Xiwen you came."


    "Physician Fran, you''ve worked hard."


    "Indeed indeed. It''s a miracle I haven''t died after serving three generations of the Adiand royalties. Come, come."


    Physician Fran had dutifully served the previous Emperor until the current emperor. He knew many secrets as well as the will to survive had keot him this long dodging the deaths of the people who he knew as time went by. If not he would also be as good as dead if he can''t keep his mouth shut.


    As the door opened and saw the scene in front of he he blinked. He looked outside, looked back inside, outside then back again inside.


    Physician Fran: "???"


    Butler Xiwen felt like he was back at the Emeperor''s study room. It was the same, so the same. The difference is the Empress Dowager has higher stacks of paper compared to the Emperor.


    "..."


    "Butler,"


    Ett took a glance seeing a tall statute only to see Butler Xiwen acknowledging his presence. This made Butler Xiwen touched.


    At least, the Dowager knows he is present.


    "Greetings Empress Dowager. How are you?"


    "As you can see."


    "Err...do you need me to help you."


    He said so subconsciously.


    "I am not your main master."


    "..."


    That''s true but, Butler Xiwen chuckled. He brought out cookies and a tea, it was a different smell than before.


    "I''ve made a new cookie with the help of the chef and a tea that Akan had given to me. He said you like this when you were at the academy. Why not the Empress Dowager try it?"


    Etta looked at him with a frown before she put down her fountain pen.


    In was obvious, the doctor who is by the door anxiously looking at him pulled the butler into this. Besides, Ett figured Guren doesn''t care about cookies and ignored Butler Xiwen''s good intention. Well if it was the old Ett it would be the same but...


    "Then I''ll just take a bite."


    Surely there won''t be poison right?


    "Don''t worry Empress Dowager I also made sure to test if it has poison."


    "..." Erm, I''m sorry I doubted you. I should be mindful of things besides it''s only few servants here especially to someone like Butler Xiwen.


    Right, few servants. Etta didn''t'' ask where they would.


    "Then you leave I''ll eat these all. Don''t just stand beside me."


    Butler Xiwen smiled. "Thank you, Empress Dowager."


    "..."


    Ett stared at the cookie and tea placed beside her.


    Alright she''ll just do something small today than come back when it''s midnight. Besides no one is guarding her door. After all, wherever the royalties wing is, it is considered the quietess and most sacred pathway. More like feared pathway. No one would come at those hours and the guard would change schedule or shift to a different post.


    ***


    Lur Street, Imperial City


    "What are you aiming at these days?"


    Akan was sitting one of the tavern owned by Casim. In front of him was Casim himself. They were a bit far from tghe other tables as intended to be.


    "Why? Should you know more than I do?"


    "You''re the master of rumors and truths you tell me."


    Casim chuckled. "You''re still sarcastic about the truth of my power."


    "..."


    This jackass always makes Akan irritated whenever they see each other. It''s to the point that he really wants to send him to the gallows or a slow miserable life with no return. Truly an unbearable folk.


    "Alright, I won''t tease you no more."


    "I''m thankful."


    "How genuine."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Please go on."


    "Oh well haven''t I told you I would need a title."


    "That''s why you''ve been running around these days?"


    "Akan dare you say helping children is a whim of mine?"


    "Yes you''re also sly to include the name of the Emperor with your signification."


    Cashim  shrugged.


    "As long as I make a profitable result then all is well."


    He pointed outside just beyond the walls of this taveen that they''re into. "Haven''t I contributed in lessening the struggle of the people? Look at the Lesser Children that are now happy to swing their broom and clean the dirtied pavement of our beloved Imperial City."


    "Akan, politically and humanely those people who came in our Empire would also see us in a good way even though the Empire itself does not care. Won''t this add some strength in our Empire''s internal power, and I started this!"


    "Those outsiders care for not. They''re only here to make profit and foolish curiosity as they held few to lack of information about us."


    Akan argued. "What you''re doing is making it look like we can be also seen as warm people who care about each other."


    In his view, it was better to be known as one of the rumors which is true as being cold and care only if they have something in common. That''s how most Adiand Citizens are. After the rule and the innocent that happened on Guren''s rule the people became more detached with the Emperor and it''s regime. And to avoid another bloodbath a proposal was made.


    Each should work for the benefit of the Empire, and their effort wouldn''t be betrayed. It was called the Gavarian Treaty.


    Basically, the more money they can give to the empire they would be given a reasonable cashback in modern term. Mostly these are directed to the common populace.


    "I tell you again Akan, there''s nothing wrong with what I''m doing. Besides, the people will remember my generosity. Aren''t our Emperor looking for people''s usefulness?"


    "Just for a title?"


    "My friend, title comes with reputation to exude power. I was not that known and prefer to be in reclusive state before, not like you that''s why few people knows my contribution."


    Of course Akan knows that. It''s also a way to have way to his questionable lineage and things that nobles might deem unfit. A mask that''s what it is. He knows yet why does it seems like this is not his own plan.


    Well he could help him elevate his social standing but indeed there''s no rush.


    "Alright, if that''s what you think is the best way. But I came here for your knowledge."


    "Do tell."


    "Do you have anything that can help a person going berserk?"


    "Berserk you say?"


    Cashim''s cogs turned fast he thought of one person that Akan must be concerned with. The Emperor and then relating it to what had happened before.


    I see, what a troublesome knowledge.


    "Let me look for it personally and tell you then."


    In short he must have known but the authenticity may be false or he doesn''t really have any information on it. There is also a possibility that the Emperor''s madness is something unheard of.


    Akan expected this. After all, even he had a hard time these days in searching for reliable truths and diving to ascertain the rumors of whatever he may heard and read.


    "Don''t worry my friend, I will help you with your madness. It must be due to what you''ve encountered in war is it?"


    Akan''s lips twitched. It''s a good cover up if someone hears them but it''s also unnerving to hear he grows mad in unpredictable days.


    He smiled, "Yes,  of course."


    "Don''t worry as your friend I had always known before that you are mad but you''ve controlled yourself well. Such illness, I,  Cashim will make sure to help you lest you''ll never marry a fine woman!"


    This person really knows how to get on his skin. Ah yes,  it''s this only person that aggravates him to the core and he doesn''t know why.


    "Then I thank you in advance."