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

up and separate it for cataloging. "The treasury will inspect everything, anything over the amount will

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85%1

I turned to leave, I noted that her servant was glaring at me openly. For

and

went smoother than I

Who

from her family's home. They tend to

into them. She seemed

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

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

I called out, but there was no

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

'Search the room."

heightened. The longer I stayed, the more I felt something

slightly out of place. Just as his hand touched the handle, a sharp hiss echoed through the room, followed by a

yelled, instinctively ducking as thick gray smoke erupted

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

CH136

her!" I shouted, my voice muffled by the

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

I turned back toward the guards, who were fanning

the window.

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

guards scrambled to follow my orders, and I stepped back into the hallway. I hadn't imagined that she would make it this easy to have a reason

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

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

anything she's always been quite