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.”

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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.

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Banon’s downfall left him bitter and temperamental–they’d borne the brunt of his anger, so life couldn’t have been easy. State slavery was tough,

perched by Nyx’s hand, tail up, scratching at the rosewood table with aka–kasound. He

clueless–when they got dragged off, they were still cursing Nyx, yet sobbing and pleading for Banon, the guy who’d tormented them

he made it big. Greedy and

softly, set down her brush, and reached out to pinch the tip of

leaped lightly into her lap, rubbing his head against her chest affectionately. “Nyx,

a hundred times more guts, those sisters wouldn’t dare curse

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

to Nyx. “They called me a tyrant, said I’m brutal and heartless, even

those sisters were bold, sure, but not bold enough to badmouth the Emperor–that

Wolf, bewildered, seeking confirmation. Erik paused for a few seconds, then nodded. “Yeah. They also said I sold out my wife for

Cussing her out was one thing–they shouldn’t have dragged her partners into it.

objecting to Aurelius’s handling of them. People that rotten deserved

pretty pleased with how this played out. The mood stayed cozy for a

one ground ink for Nyx while the cat served as her art tool,

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

throbbing temples. “How about I set up a clock for you?

and behaving themselves. If Nyx got

flickered in Nyx’s eyes. She didn’t kick anyone out, letting

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

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

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Aron wouldn’t dare interrupt at a time like this–he wasn’t that clueless

most dressed of them, threw on an outer robe and stepped out

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

long hair into a

Justice saw them appear together, their eyes nearly popped

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

Banon had a backup plan.

interrogate the guy he left behind to impersonate him?” asked Aurelius.

every trick in the book, but he wouldn’t say a word, practically mute,” one official

lineage and ambition, his slipping away was

posts, they’d be lucky to keep their heads. If Banon wasn’t

them

looked ready to faint–and took pity. She offered some comforting words

hall, Erik summoned Arlong and sent him with the shadow guards to investigate. If Banon

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

trick the escorts–chances are he’ll try that again, sneaking out under

just sleep while her partners were busting their butts. So she brewed a pot of hot tea herself

the shadow guards reported back. Just as Nyx guessed, Banon had taken on

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

of Marquis Anders to see me.” While waiting, she

guards exchanged looks.

with the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Academy, and Marquis Anders’s heir.

serialized stories.

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