After leaving the hallway, I quickly followed Perry’s lead.
My injured leg throbbed with pain, but I was more worried about missing Harpone than the discomfort.
How much time had passed?
I could see a figure walking briskly in the distance.
Yesterday, I had seen him leave the emperor’s office just like that.
As Harpone’s fast pace pulled him further away, I hurriedly called his name.
“Is there an emergency? How badly must you be hurt to look like this…?”
His flustered reaction was probably due to the piece of cloth wrapped around my face.
I awkwardly smiled and limped toward him.
“Hello, Harpone. I’m sorry for surprising you like this, looking like a mess.”
“…Who are you?”
“I’m Mayhen, the one you treated last night for my leg injury. But there’s a very urgent reason why I had to meet you, even in this state…!”
He gave me a suspicious look, adjusting his glasses.
“I gave you the anti-inflammatory medicine just a little while ago. What’s the matter now?”
“Well…”
As I tried to speak, I wasn’t sure how to phrase my request.
Besides, we were in the middle of the royal palace corridor, and anyone could come by at any moment.
I was worried that if anyone overheard that the emperor was suffering from insomnia due to drug addiction, it would lead to a lot of trouble.
I also didn’t want to be mistaken for an assassin again.
“This isn’t something I can discuss here. Could we talk somewhere more private?”
I cautiously suggested.
But Harpone gave me an even more suspicious look.
“That only makes it seem more suspicious. I don’t remember us being on such confidential terms.”
It was clear that the line had been drawn, and I didn’t know what to say.
He hadn’t been this cold when he treated me yesterday.
Now, there was a noticeable difference in the way he was treating me.
Feeling frustrated, I decided to be more open with him.
“I know a ‘secret’ about His Majesty, and I’ve agreed to help solve it in exchange for recognition of my usefulness.”
“And?”
“I need to find a solution by today, and time is running short. That’s why I’m asking for your help, Harpone. I have no ill intentions.”
He adjusted his glasses again and stared at me, his gaze sharpening.
“Then I don’t understand. Why are you involving me in this matter between the two of you?”
“Because you’re the one who would know a secret related to His Majesty.”
By this point, I thought he might have understood what I wanted.
His expression shifted, as if he was piecing something together.
However, his eyes became colder, and he looked at me with an air of distrust.
“I think I have a good idea of what the secret is. But what kind of insane doctor would reveal a patient’s personal information? Especially when it could be about the emperor’s weakness?”
“Ah…”
That was a fair point.
In my haste, I hadn’t considered Harpone’s position and had acted recklessly.
Before I could say anything, he added one more thing.
“Not to mention, you were the assassin who targeted the emperor, weren’t you?”
“…You knew that, too?”
“Even if you didn’t explain yourself yesterday, I wouldn’t have missed the horns on your head. There’s only one lambkin in Hamilton, and it’s you.”
“I thought you wouldn’t recognize it since you didn’t say anything.”
“As soon as a wounded patient appears before me, the value judgment of who they are doesn’t matter. They are simply patient. But this isn’t something I can overlook.”
He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.
After a long exhale, his words were as cold as ice.
“Depending on what I say to you now, I may have to live with the dishonor of being involved in the emperor’s assassination for the rest of my life.”
That was when I truly realized how badly I had put him in a difficult position.
Despite being commanded by the emperor, I had no right to involve the person who had treated me and even brought me medicine the next day.
I immediately lowered my head.
Regret, shame, and guilt swirled in my heart.
“I’m sorry, Harpone. I didn’t mean to. I acted in haste and only considered my own position. I won’t cause any more trouble like this again. If you prefer, next time we meet, I won’t even acknowledge you. I truly mean it…”
I waited for a response, but none came.
I wondered if I had angered him more than I had realized.
What should I do?
Bowing my head further, I stood frozen, trying to think of what to say next.
But then, out of nowhere, a soft laugh escaped me.
I looked up curiously, our eyes meeting.
I quickly lowered my head again, but it was too late.
He had already noticed.
“Please stop bowing your head. You’ll hurt your back at this rate.”
“I’m fine for now.”
“I’m the one uncomfortable seeing you like this.”
“Well then, I can’t help it!”
Startled, I lifted my head.
His expression had softened a little compared to before.
Has his mood improved a bit?
Harpone gave me an unreadable look before he began to walk away.
“Well, I’m busy, so I’ll take my leave.”
But I still had one thing I hadn’t asked him during our conversation.
Ignoring the discomfort, I decided to stop him.
“Excuse me, but…!”
“…Do you still have something to say?”
His face darkened again, and I hastily began speaking.
“The next time we meet, I’m unsure whether I should greet you properly. I haven’t received a clear answer, and I don’t want to ignore you, but if I do greet you, I’m worried it might upset you…”
My voice grew quieter, almost like the sound of ants’ footsteps.
Harpone clicked his tongue and muttered to himself.
“Unbelievable. An assassin who tried to kill the emperor. At this rate, you won’t even be able to kill a single bug.”
“…What did you say?”
“Nothing. I just said that pretending to know might not be a problem.”
“Ah, yes. I understand! Then, next time we meet, I’ll be sure to greet you properly.”
Just as Harpone turned to continue on his way, he stopped after walking a short distance.
With a deep sigh, he turned back and spoke.
“I can’t tell you anything about the emperor, but I can give you a small hint. You already have the way to solve the secret in your hands. Think carefully about it.”
What kind of cryptic words were those?
As I blinked in confusion, Harpone had already disappeared from my sight.
After confirming that he was gone, Perry turned to me and asked, “Should we head back now? If we stay out any longer, I’ll get into trouble.”
“Thanks so much for helping, Perry. I’ll repay this debt someday!”
“Don’t forget that. I’ll make sure to collect it, and with interest.”
“Of course.”
Back in my room, I thought about the conversation I’d just had.
“I already know? What exactly does that mean?”
If I knew how to treat the emperor’s insomnia, I would’ve used that method already.
If I had, I’d have been recognized as a great problem solver by now.
Then, suddenly, I remembered the first time I met the emperor.
The passionate night we spent together flashed through my mind, and I recalled how I had been acknowledged as a solver of problems.
“Could he be talking about that?”
If that’s the method he meant, it would certainly help with the emperor’s insomnia.
After all, I had seen him sleeping peacefully.
But how would I even bring it up to the emperor?
Just thinking about that night made my face flush with embarrassment.
“This can’t be it. But there’s still some time left! I’ll think of another way before then.”
Sadly, I didn’t have much time to think of an alternative, as evening was already approaching.
After a brief moment of leaving, Perry came back and told me, “The captain wants to see you.”