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 bitterly, avoiding

said, nodding to the guards and 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 to you. If you are short, we'll be seeing

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her servant was glaring at me openly. For a moment,

her room and continued down

than I thought it

servant. Who

brought her own staff from her family's

look into them. She

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

room was dark, save for the flicker of a few candles left burning on a table near the far wall. Something

I called out, but there

guards, my instincts kicking in. I stepped

'Search the room."

my senses heightened. The longer I stayed, the more I felt something wasn't right.

out of place. Just as

down!" I yelled, instinctively ducking as thick gray smoke erupted from the wardrobe, billowing out in

me as I coughed, the acrid scent stinging my lungs. It wasn't poison it seemed. I

CH136

shouted, my voice muffled by

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

back toward the guards, who

the window.

went out the window." I turned back to the other half of the guards. "Send out a search party. Lock down the palace

hallway. I hadn't imagined that she would make it this easy to have a

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

Mei?" I asked. "Was

Your Highness. If anything she's always been