The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 130

CH130 Morgan

There couldn't be enough staff around her for it to take long to figure out.

She shook her head. "I only know when he has something to say that someone overheard something, but there are so many different staff members around me all the time. It's hard to know."

I nodded. "Here's an idea: have at least three different stories. Make sure you remember how

you've tweaked the story for different subgroups of attendance. You'll know then at least what subgroup of attendance are reporting to your brother based on what he says to you or what he criticizes you about." I smiled. From there, you can narrow it down by person by basically doing

the same thing until you figure out who the person is."

Lady Jun nodded. 'T'll give it a shot... Something simple should be easier to remember."

Just be sure to make it a significant detail... like a gift I gave you, a secret I told you, or something of that nature."

She nodded again. We spent the rest of lunch discussing our plan to gather information and suss out the people who were on his side.

Tsuneo

After lunch with Kai, I made my way to the western wing, where the renovations to the palace had already begun. The workers were sparse, their faces tired but determined, hammering away at broken beams, clearing debris, and reinforcing walls that had suffered years of neglect. I oversaw their work, ensuring that everything was progressing according to plan. Despite the steady progress, the palace still showed scars from the coup five years ago.

A wave of frustration hit me. The harem's selfishness had drained the resources, delaying the repairs, and now I would have to rush it. If they hadn't wasted so much, we wouldn't be scrambling to fix everything before the Convening. But there was no use dwelling on the past. I was here now, and we would make this place stronger than before.

As I moved through the corridor, inspecting the work being done on the tapestries and the flooring, a familiar presence stirred within me.

Tsuneo.

could feel his energy, pulsing beneath my skin, beckoning me

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direction.

There's something you must

veered off the main path, following the pull of Tarofu's presence deeper into the palace. His guidance was direct and strong, leading me through a series of narrow,

the noise of the workers. Before me stood an ancient door, its wood darkened by age, covered in intricate carvings I'd never seen before. "What is this place?" I asked, feeling a strange weight in the

that needs protecting and will help you in your efforts. I reached for the handle, feeling a subtle tremor in the wood as if the door had been waiting for me. With a creak,

eyes on it, I knew

it felt like I'd touched the very depths of the ocean. My fingers sank in deeper, and

is the source of the black dragon's power. It is a gateway, one that stretches far beyond

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that clung to my skin. "What is it doing here?

to protect the kingdom. Its power is immense, but it's dangerous. If left unguarded, others may seek to harness it for their

knot forming in my stomach. "You're

of the Celestial Compass are no fools. They will know of its existence, and if they can gain

started the last

... That and Pyra.

frowned at that. What did he mean? I looked around and stood. The pool had been left untouched for years, perhaps even centuries. The protections had weakened,

restore

need to commune with it. I will guide you... and no,

nodded. "Do

it will be easier and the palace

I nodded, my gaze lingering on