Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 411

“Afternoon?” Nyx’s face froze, a flood of awkward memories rushing in, making her want to curl up and hide.

But Aurelius grabbed her, squeezing her slender arms and legs, forcing her to stay spread out and face his questions.

“H–He kissed me,” said Nyx.

“Just kissed you?” Aurelius wasn’t letting it go that easily. “How’d he kiss you? Tell me every detail, Nyx.”

43%

+53

As he pressed her, he mischievously toyed with her burning earlobe, rubbing it between his fingers. Feeling helpless, Nyx caught a glimpse of another tall figure approaching out of the corner of her eye.

“Why grill Nyx about it? She’s too shy to say,” Erik said, rescuing her poor ears and cupping them in his hands. His tone was calm. “If you’re that curious, I’ll just kiss her again and show you.”

That night, the General stayed in the palace, sharing the same bedchamber with the Emperor and Queen, and didn’t leave

once.

The maids were used to it by now. When they brought breakfast, they quietly included a serving for the General too, then slipped out without a word.

Nyx groggily ate her breakfast, then flopped back for a nap. Half–asleep, she felt soft kisses on both cheeks. The touches were gentle, and the familiar, comforting presence overhead put her at ease.

But after yesterday’s ordeal, her patience was shot, and she let out an irritated huff. Even when she got mad, she was still adorable. The men’s hearts thumped hard. Reluctant to leave, they each stole a few more dazed kisses before dragging themselves off to court.

Banon had held power without virtue, committed countless acts of rebellion and chaos, formed factions, and deceived the people–his crimes were clear, and by law, he deserved execution.

Out of kinship, the Emperor merely demoted him to a commoner, seized his wealth, evicted him from his mansion, and sentenced him to lifelong confinement to reflect on his sins.

At morning court, Aurelius officially announced Banqn’s punishment, and no one objected. When the tree fell, the monkeys scattered.

The Emperor’s move came so fast that the retainers in the prince’s mansion didn’t even have time to pack up and flee–they got caught and judged for their past crimes one by one.

Some of his diehard followers died resisting; others, learning the Emperor had a cure for the Moonshade Poison, turned on Banon then and there, abandoning the man who’d controlled them with toxins.

By rights, they should’ve faced trial for their own misdeeds too, but since they’d been coerced, their sentences were lighter— given a chance to reform, they might not lose their lives.

While Nyx practiced calligraphy, the men filled her in on what they’d confiscated from the raid. She suddenly remembered three old acquaintances from Banon’s household. “What about Lady Joyce, Mila, and Kaya?”

The last time she’d seen those three was at that banquet when Banon visited the Duke’s estate. She’d been too busy nabbing him to pay them much mind—her memory was fuzzy, just recalling them cowering in a corner, a far cry from their old

arrogance.

“Lady Joyce was old–she passed away last winter, Erik said, stroking Nyx’s hair and skipping the grim details, keeping it simple. “Mila and Kaya, like the other servants and slaves in the mansion, were made state slaves and sent to labor in the workshops.

1/5

16:14 Mon, 17 Mar MOD

Chapter 411

༣ 43%2

anger, so life couldn’t have been easy. State slavery was tough, but it might’ve been better than suffering in

the harshest labor spots,” the little white cat said, perched by Nyx’s hand, tail up, scratching at the rosewood table with aka–kasound. He couldn’t stand seeing anyone who’d

still cursing Nyx, yet sobbing and pleading for Banon, the guy who’d tormented them and

snagging a consort gig if he made it big. Greedy and stupid beyond belief. Sparing

streak–she chuckled softly, set down her brush, and reached out to pinch the tip of his

into her lap, rubbing his head

hundred times more guts, those sisters

girl they’d bullied and stepped on for years. Even knowing she was now the most revered woman in the land, they still dared to hurl insults at her by name–calling her shameless, a seductress who’d bewitched

their exact words, tweaking them into complaints about himself to tattle to Nyx. “They called me a tyrant, said I’m brutal and heartless,

but not bold enough to badmouth the Emperor–that

paused for a few seconds, then nodded. “Yeah. They also said I sold

her face soured instantly. Cussing her out was one

Aurelius’s handling of them. People that rotten deserved some hard labor to

with how this played out. The mood

Nyx while the cat served as her art tool, pressing cute paw prints onto the paper with his soft pads.

whiled away most of the day like that. But by night, the harmony fizzled out as they squabbled over who’d sleep with

set up a clock for you? When time’s up every

silent, tucking away their fangs and behaving themselves. If Nyx got mad enough, she’d kick them out and ban them from staying

settle down, a faint smile flickered in Nyx’s eyes. She didn’t kick anyone out, letting them both stay.

one button when a soft knock came at the door, followed by Aron’s cautious voice. “Your Majesty, are

froze mid–motion and buttoned back up. The three of them exchanged looks, frowning in

2/5

17 Mar N

Chapter 411

interrupt at a time like this–he

on an outer robe and stepped out to check.

43%

form, dressed in record time, and patted Nyx’s hair. “Ill head out for a bit. Go to sleep. Nyx–don’t wait

twisting her long hair into a bun. She grabbed his

Justice saw them appear together, their

accepted Nyx marrying the Emperor after being the General’s wife, so they quickly composed themselves. their faces settling back to normal as

a quick rundown of what happened- Banon had a backup plan. On the way to Four Peaks Mountain, he’d

you interrogate the guy he left behind to

did–used every trick in the book, but he wouldn’t say a word, practically

lineage and ambition, his slipping away

this badly, the officials in charge were in deep trouble–forget keeping their posts, they’d be lucky to keep their heads. If Banon wasn’t caught

them

old guy with a white beard who looked ready to faint–and took pity. She offered some

shadow guards to investigate. If Banon had left Hilltop City, he’d

Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, ordering them to grill everyone from Banon’s old

had someone pose as him to trick the escorts–chances are he’ll try that again, sneaking out

she also couldn’t just sleep while her partners were busting their butts. So she brewed a pot of hot

shadow guards reported back. Just as Nyx guessed, Banon had taken on a merchant’s son’s identity, grabbed a few loyalists disguised

coughed up a lead–Banon had some hidden forces in Yarrowfield. Yarrowfield used to be

“Summon the heir of Marquis Anders to see me.” While waiting, she casually

exchanged looks. “Yeah”

Anders’s heir. They came out three times a month–packed with scholars‘ essays and poems,

serialized stories.

3/5