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.

there," she said bitterly,

had come with 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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As I turned to leave, I noted that her servant was glaring

room and

than I

servant. Who

staff from her family's home. They tend

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

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

save for the flicker of a few candles left burning on a table near the far wall. Something felt off. The air was still, and a strange tension settled over the

Mei?" I called out, but there was

glance with the guards, my instincts kicking in. I stepped

'Search the room."

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

guards moved toward the back of the room, reaching for a wardrobe that seemed slightly out of place. Just as his hand touched the handle, a

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

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

CH136

I shouted, my voice muffled

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 scuffle of feet, but by the time I made it to the window, the figure was

toward the guards,

the window.

to the other half of the guards. "Send out a search

would make it this easy to have a reason to interrogate her about he relationship with Elia and his

hit

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

If anything she's always been