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.

all there," she said

directed them on how to pack it up and separate it for cataloging. "The treasury will inspect everything, anything over the amount will be returned to you. If

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I turned to leave, I noted that her servant was

her room and

than I thought it would," Maya

Who is

family's home. They tend to keep

'I'll need to look into them. She seemed rather bold

it would be unusual for her to leave it open like that. I motioned for the guards to

few candles left burning on a table near the far wall. Something felt off. The air was

Mei?" I called out, but there was no

my instincts kicking in.

'Search the room."

guards immediately spread out, moving cautiously through the space. I stood near the entrance, my senses heightened. The longer I stayed,

a wardrobe that seemed slightly out of place. Just as his hand touched the handle, a sharp hiss echoed through

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

and trying to fan the smoke away, but it was too thick, filling the room in seconds. I could barely see two feet in front of me as I coughed, the acrid scent stinging my lungs. It wasn't poison it seemed. I suppose when she went back for the vial, she couldn't afford another dose for whatever this smoke

CH136

my voice muffled by

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 impossible to see clearly. I heard a soft thud and a

breath, I turned back toward the

the window.

back to the other half of the guards. "Send out a search party. Lock down the palace and the capital. No one leaves until

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 her about

the nearest open window. The cool evening breeze hit my face, helping to clear the lingering smoke from my

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

If anything she's always