Chapter 14

"Thanks for your compliments, but I envy your position all the more. Since you serve the emperor at hand, you always see everybody respecting him, right? As I hear, you're close to His Excellency more than any other minister. It looks like His Excellency values your talents very much."

"Well, the Emperor is a benevolent person. Though my talents are limited, he says he needs my help, so I am trying to help him as best I can."

As he answered her questions out of courtesy, Colin smiled at her softly.

'Was he trying to sound me out?'

She instantly felt that way, but she didn't care because it was true he was one of the emperor's closest ministers.

"By the way, I would like to see the Emperor up close."

She should not have said so because Colin was surprised by her unexpected remarks.

"Pardon?"

"Well, I want to see His Excellency up close."

"In that case, you can submit a request for your audience with the Emperor and wait between three and seven days."