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, avoiding my

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 to you. If you are short,

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but she said 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 of

and continued down

I thought it would,"

servant. Who is

her own staff from her family's home.

to look into them. She seemed

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

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

I called out,

instincts kicking in. I stepped back,

'Search the room."

near the entrance, my senses heightened. The longer I stayed, the more

of place. Just as his hand touched the handle, a

thick gray smoke erupted from the wardrobe, billowing

instantly, covering their mouths 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

CH136

shouted, my voice muffled by

my hand reaching out just as the figure moved, but

my breath, I turned back toward

the window.

other half of the guards. "Send out a search party. Lock down the palace and the capital. No

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

breeze hit

tell me about Lady Mei?" I asked. "Was she an

If anything she's always been