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.

said bitterly,

the small group of staff who had come with us. Maya and Anya 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

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I noted that her servant was glaring at me openly.

left her room and continued

smoother than I thought it would," Maya

servant. Who

own staff from her family's

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

my lips. From what I knew of her, it would be unusual for her to leave it open like that. I motioned for the guards to stay alert as I pushed

flicker of a few candles left burning on a table near

I called out,

the guards, my instincts kicking in.

'Search the room."

space. I stood near the entrance, my senses heightened. The longer

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

I yelled, instinctively ducking as thick gray smoke erupted from the

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

CH136

shouted, my voice

had 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 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

breath, I turned back toward the

the window.

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

that she would make it this easy to have a reason to interrogate her

moved toward the nearest open window. The cool evening breeze hit my face, helping to clear the

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

Your Highness. If anything she's