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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bitter and temperamental–they’d borne the brunt of his anger, so life couldn’t have been

tail up, scratching at the rosewood table with aka–kasound. He

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

rising with him, maybe snagging a consort gig if he made it big. Greedy

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

and the whole cat leaped lightly into her lap, rubbing his head against her chest affectionately. “Nyx, you’ve got no idea how nasty they were about

more guts, those

she was now the most revered woman in the land, they

their exact words, tweaking them into complaints about himself to tattle to Nyx. “They called me a tyrant,

it. In her memory, those sisters were bold, sure, but

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

it, and her face soured instantly. Cussing her out was one thing–they

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

men exchanged a glance, both pretty pleased with how this played out. The mood stayed

affairs, one ground ink for Nyx while the cat served as her art tool, pressing cute paw prints onto the paper with

like that. But by night, the harmony fizzled out as they squabbled over who’d

I set up a clock for you? When time’s up every night, you get

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

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

the door, followed by Aron’s

back up. The three of them exchanged looks, frowning in unison. The

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Chapter 411

was something urgent. 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 to check.

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record time, and patted Nyx’s hair. “Ill head out for a bit. Go to

Nyx said, fixing her clothes and twisting her long hair into a bun. She grabbed his hand before he

Justice saw them appear together, their eyes nearly

they quickly composed themselves.

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

left behind to impersonate

the book, but he wouldn’t say a word, practically mute,” one

With Banon’s lineage and ambition, his

their heads. If Banon wasn’t caught and stirred up more chaos, they’d face execution or exile,

them

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

him with the shadow guards to investigate.

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

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

also couldn’t just sleep while her partners were busting their butts. So

Just as Nyx guessed, Banon had taken on a merchant’s son’s identity, grabbed a few loyalists disguised as guards, and bolted

lead–Banon had some hidden forces in Yarrowfield. Yarrowfield used to be his fief. He knew it

“Summon the heir of Marquis Anders to see me.” While

guards exchanged looks. “Yeah”

joint project with the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Academy, and Marquis Anders’s heir. They came out three times a month–packed with scholars‘ essays and poems, political

serialized stories.

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