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Ryujin had no idea when he had passed out. Again.

One moment, he was examining his silver-haired appearance in the mirror, the next, he was being shaken awake by unfamiliar hands.

My head…

He groaned softly as he sat up, only to have a goblet of cold water pressed into his hands by a man who looked barely older than himself.

Ryujin blinked.

It was one of the younger physicians from this morning. His brown hair was disheveled, and his white robes were wrinkled, clear signs that he had likely been dragged in by an attendant in a hurry.

From memory, his name should be Galen.

Seriously. Ryujin internally grumbled as he drank. How weak is this body?!

In his twenty-five years of living, he had never once fainted and caused trouble for others. Yet here, he experienced it twice in a span of a single day. That day wasn't even over.

He had not even set foot outside his chamber yet. 

Ryujin passed out after being examined, and then passed out after taking a bath.

Would he pass out after eating, then? Pass out again after walking?

How was he supposed to investigate his situation if his body was this fragile? Where would he even start looking for his squad members?

There were limits to gathering information through his mind reading. The attendants were trained to be subservient. They mostly kept their heads lowered and rarely made eye contact, preventing Ryujin from reading their minds most of the time.

On the rare occasions their gazes met, their thoughts centered on him, giving him little to no new information.

[The Prime Minister must be hungry! He hasn't eaten food since he woke up from his coma. I should tell the chef to reheat his food...]

[Is His Grace still feeling thirsty? Should I refill his drink?]

[Should I inform His Majesty about the Prime Minister's health? No, I'm sure one of the guards had informed him.] 

[Strange… His body may have weakened from the poison, but he was detoxified by the High Priest. The Head Physician already confirmed he's in perfect health. And as a swordmaster, His Grace should have a stronger body than most imperial knights. Why did His Grace pass out? Could he be suffering from hidden internal injuries? Should we summon the Temple priests again to check?]

That last thought belonged to Galen. The young physician had taken the empty goblet from his hands and was now peering into his eyes, scanning for any abnormalities or signs of brain damage.

Hmm, if his body was perfectly healthy, then this might be a side effect of overusing the bone pendant's mind reading ability.

Though vague, Ryujin did recall feeling the pendant turning hot against his skin earlier.

Better not use it often, then.

Ryujin wondered if he could turn it on and off at will.

[Why is His Grace glaring at me? Had I done something wrong?]

He couldn't.

Testing it on Galen, thoughts continued to flow into his head.

If Ryujin didn't want to read other people's thoughts, he had to deliberately avert his gaze.

I will just look at their foreheads or nose when necessary.

Next time his head begins throbbing, he must force himself to stay conscious.

"Your Grace…" 

Galen asked him a question, but Ryujin pretended not to hear it, gazing at the empty space in front of him. With his good memory, he had heard enough of their language to recognize a handful of words.

"...rest…more sleep…"

Until Galen finished speaking, Ryujin kept his head in the direction of the open glass doors leading to a balcony. Deep inside, he did feel a little sorry for the physician who's only doing his job.

Galen left after a bow. The attendants left with him.

Finally alone, only then did Ryujin loosen up.

I deserve an Oscars for this.

There were a lot of advantages to acting mute and unable to understand a language.

First and foremost, Ryujin had no need to come up with a lie. 

Even though he's been peppered with questions since he woke up, all he needed to do was stare blankly at the speaker and they would give up on their own. With his usual poker face, no one could guess his real thoughts.

Another was that he bought himself time to observe. 

Language, culture, power dynamics, and expectations. Nobody had realized yet that he's not the real Duke of Carvalho. Comparison of behaviors and speech between Ryujin and Rio was impossible given the circumstances.

Not a day had passed since he awakened from his so-called 'comatose'. It might be possible to fool others for a week or two, but Ryujin was not betting on luck. His second-rate act would likely raise suspicions in the upcoming days, especially once he meets Rio de Carvalho's close friends or family members.

Well, one good thing was that people lowered their defenses against him, allowing him to see their true colors. 

Being underestimated is a huge advantage—people speak freely around a catatonic patient, assuming he doesn't understand. They would be careless. He could gather secrets and important information without others realizing.

Unfortunately, Ryujin has been failing this last bit.

I need to understand their language as soon as possible. I need to meet more people.

Who would meet the eyes and hold the gaze of a Prime Minister? Fellow noblemen, of course!

Another high-ranking government official, like a minister close to his rank, or aristocrats who like to scheme, or even better, part of royalty. 

Like the blond elf from when he first woke up.

Though Ryujin wasn't entirely sure, being the only elf in an empire of humans must mean the elf was of very high status.

I think he's a prince, or an envoy from an elven nation.

Ryujin guessed that the elf was a great source of information, given his probable relationship with the real Duke of Carvalho. Plus, being a high-ranking noble or a royal, he might have heard rumors or have intel on Ryujin's missing companions.

He had no idea how long had passed since he got separated from the squad, but he hoped they were at least in the same world as him.

For his plans to bear fruit, Ryujin must first succeed in stepping out of his bedchamber.

I must not faint!

So first, I need to eat!

He wondered how he would let the attendants know he's starving. Was there a call bell somewhere? 

Just as he stood up, there was a knock, and he heard voices outside the double doors. 

The knights guarding outside opened the doors and his visitor, a woman, curtsied as soon as she saw him.

Ryujin stared hard.

Nope. Not attendants bringing him food.

The woman was tall, graceful, and dressed in elaborate gold and deep blue silks. Her dark hair was intricately braided and adorned with shimmering pearls. By her sheer presence, Ryujin could tell she was someone important.

Or at the very least, someone important's problem.

His eyes lit up.

A noble! One who looks arrogant to boost!

If he read her mind...

"Your Grace," she spoke in the foreign tongue he could still barely grasp. Her voice was polite but carried the kind of authority that suggested she wasn't used to being ignored. "...Enella Laprogue…servant..."

I think Enella is her name.

Ryujin stared at her. Then he stared some more. 

Still doing her curtsy, the noblewoman's expression faltered slightly.

Five seconds, ten seconds...

After saying some words that sounded like an apology, Enella straightened herself. Realization dawned on Ryujin.

Ah, she must be waiting for me to tell her to get up.

As soon as their eyes met, her thoughts hit him like a brick.

[Oh, how tragic! One of the Empire's greatest swordmasters, struck mute by a cruel fate. Or perhaps... is he pretending? No, no, I mustn't be paranoid. But then again, the Prime Minister is known for his scheming. Hmm…]

Ryujin was covered in cold sweat. This woman was sharp. And suspicious.

A swordmaster and a politician to the bone, the real Rio de Carvalho sounds like a crazily scary man.

"...This is… most unfortunate," Enella continued in a polite tone, but Ryujin could hear her thoughts racing. 

[The Empress Dowager will be pleased. I was told to evaluate his state, but I did not expect the spy's report to be true.]

Empress Dowager? Wow. That's a big shot.

Hmm. Is she the Empress Dowager's lady-in-waiting? And her Boss is happy to know their Prime Minister is mute? Why do I suspect foul play?

Ryujin glanced at the women standing behind Enella. They didn't look like ordinary maids. They must also be ladies-in-waiting, but of a lower status. Some of them were visibly flustered when they noticed him observing them.

[Poor man. He must be so lost.]

[Does His Grace even remember his own name?]

[He's still quite handsome despite the ordeal…]

Their thoughts were similar to his attendants. It's either pity or admiration for him.

There was nothing new to learn.

Enella exhaled, seemingly satisfied with her visit. On the outside though, she appeared heartbroken about Ryujin's situation. She then spoke what sounded like a farewell.

As she and her companions swept out of the room, Ryujin stared blankly at the door.

Then, slowly, he dragged his hands down his face.

Am I in more danger than I thought?