The prime minister quickly bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, forgive me.We have urgent business to discuss with you, but as you know, the door to your study is too soundproofed for us to knock outside to let you know."

Shagru regained his composure and made a slight movement of his head. The palace steward immediately closed the door, pressed his face against it, and turned his back to the room, so that he stood against the door.

The Minister of State, with his efficiency in the affairs of state, quickly picked up a woman's cloak from the ground, which was almost torn to pieces, and handed it to Shagru, who, in turn, shoved it at random to the woman and, without any scruffiness, began to arrange his clothes.The woman dressed quickly as usual. After arranging her messy long hair, she took out a small sandalwood fan and fanned it easily, as if she were a lady.

The eyes of the four courtiers lit up. Wasn't this beautiful woman, so beautiful that she dropped a drip of honey, the wife of the Duke of Greene, the great Lord near the southern border?

"Well, what is it?" he asked after he had packed his clothes.I am discussing the taxes of the Southern Territories with the Duchess of Green, and you intrude upon us. It is a crime against the state's tax policy, but I do not suppose that the four of them are so rude as to be so important to the Empire...So, who can tell me what happened?"