As an old hand, he was best at reading people.
Especially with his keen powers of observation.
Gaowen couldn't help feeling sorry for Charles.
This was a one-time, spectacular loss of face.
Besides, his niece seemed to have a purely physical attraction to Lynn.
He was an old hand who had seen countless people and plenty of things. He knew the signs.
His niece clearly looked like she'd gone weak in the knees.
And considering the rumors from their academy days, she was probably already someone else's.
Then Charles had been seen through by his own daughter. Even the Odris Family's Little Yellow Hair had figured it out.
But Lynn actually knew how to read the room after all.
Gaowen understood, of course!
Lynn wouldn't say who Chali was, but he'd pretend not to know.
He was using Gaowen's reputation as a little brat who was never serious to cover for him.
That reaction just now meant he was about to cause trouble again, fool around, and act like a spoiled young master—a super-smart idiot everyone found annoying.
So Gaowen gave him a look that said, "I understand everything." He glanced at Chali, then at the two across from them, and nodded.
He looked like he understood. Understood.
Then Gaowen earned himself a stomp on the foot from his own big sister.
"Ow."
Chali had already grabbed Isa's clothes and hidden behind her, praying they wouldn't find out or catch on.
Isa, who had seen through everything, wore an even more amused smile. Then she casually punished the already-sympathetic Gaowen, making Chali panic even more.
He was a grown man, old enough to be an uncle. Having his identity discovered by the younger generation would be mortifying!
And it wasn't just any identity.
He was the Emperor, the ruler of