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

see," I 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

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I noted that her servant was glaring at me openly. For a moment, I wondered if she was also a part of all

room and continued down the

smoother than I thought

Who is

family's home. They tend to keep

need to look into them. She

her, it would be unusual for her to leave it open like that. I motioned for the guards to stay alert as I pushed the

was dark, 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

exchanged a glance with the guards, my instincts kicking in. I stepped back, allowing

'Search the room."

near the entrance, my senses heightened. The longer I stayed, the more I felt something wasn't right. "Maya, Anya have the

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

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

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

CH136

I shouted, my voice muffled by

the room, heading toward the window. I lunged forward, my hand reaching out just as the figure moved, but the smoke

back toward the guards, who were fanning the

the window.

her! She went out the window." I turned back to the other half of the guards. "Send out a search party. Lock

I hadn't imagined that she would make it this easy

hit my face, helping to clear the lingering

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

anything she's