The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 136

CH136 Morgan

"I've passed that on to Tsuneo. He said that there's a list of sworn guards who can be trusted, and he'll work on getting the others sworn in or incarcerated to be investigated. "That will go for the staff, too. Everyone will be thoroughly screened, and the palace's defenses

will be restored before then."

Maya and Anya took note, before we could move on, a knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

The door creaked open, and two guards entered.

"Your Majesty," one of them said, bowing respectfully, "we are ready to accompany you."

Was it that time already? I guessed so.

I nodded, standing from my chair. "Thank you. Maya? Anya?"

They stood as did Jun who hurried ahead to get back to her room before we arrived at the harem.

We walked down the long corridors, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the walls. My footsteps echoed against the marble floors, matching the rhythmic stride of the guards.

We stopped at the first door, and I nodded to the guard. He knocked firmly.

A moment later, the door opened, and Lady Maro appeared, her face still pale from dinner. I met her gaze, watching the resistance and irritation war in her eyes.

""Lady Maro."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she stepped aside, allowing us to enter. Inside, there was a table piled with jewelry, gowns, and various other luxuries she had purchased with the extra funds.

she said bitterly, avoiding

us. Maya and Anya directed them on how to pack it up and separate it for cataloging. "The treasury will inspect

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nothing more. As I turned to leave, I noted that her servant was glaring at me openly. For a moment, I wondered if she was also a part

and continued

than I thought it would," Maya

Who is

own staff from her family's

look into them. She seemed rather

From what I knew of her, it would be unusual for her to leave it open like that. I motioned for

a table near the far wall. Something felt

Mei?" I called out, but there was

kicking in. I stepped back, allowing

'Search the room."

through the space. I stood near the entrance, my senses heightened. The longer I stayed, the more I felt something wasn't

back of the room, reaching for a wardrobe that seemed slightly out of place. Just as his hand touched the handle, a sharp hiss echoed through the room, followed by

instinctively ducking as thick gray smoke erupted from the wardrobe, billowing out in

thick, filling the room in seconds. I could barely see two feet in front of me as I coughed, the acrid scent stinging

CH136

my voice

clearly planned to escape, but she couldn't have gotten far. Through the haze, I saw a shadow dart toward the back of the room, heading toward the window. I lunged forward, my hand reaching out just as the figure moved, but the smoke made it

under my breath, I turned back toward the guards, who were

the window.

"Send out a search party. Lock

to follow my orders, and I stepped back into the hallway. I hadn't imagined that she would make it this easy to have a reason to interrogate

the nearest open window. The cool evening breeze hit

about Lady Mei?" I asked. "Was she an active child? Grew up

Your Highness. If anything she's always