บท 60: Unexpected news

''Good heavens!''

''Did you see his majesty?!"'

''...from the empress's palace…''

''I wonder what happened?''

''What else could have happened?!''

''His majesty and the empress…''

In the long hallways of the imperial palace, Nolan's ears twitched at the whispers around him. The buzz of hushed conversations and barely concealed giggles filled the air, growing louder as he quietly passed by clusters of maids and manservants. Most of them didn't even notice his presence with their sidelong glances and knowing smiles at each other.

"The emperor spent the night with her majesty…"

"Did you hear? He left the empress's bed chambers bare-chested!!"

''.....'' Nolan's keen hearing picked up snippets of gossip, each one adding fuel to the circulating rumors. As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided with a pair of maids, who were deep in conversation. They jumped back, eyes wide with surprise and embarrassment.