Chained to old wounds

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Morgan

“Are you going to talk to her right now?” Maya asked.

“Her and the others,” I said, smirking. “They’re not feeling the hurt of Tsuneo’s end of their access to the royal funds. Could you work on finding out where they could also be getting their funds. from while I… sow some discord.”

I opened the ledger. “You think Lady Maro knows she’s only one of many?”

Maya jumped up. “I’m coming.”

I laughed and looked at Anya. “Anya?”

She looked a little uncertain.

I could use a scribe and someone a little more familiar with the harem’s expenses…”

She bit her lip, then nodded.

I closed the ledger with a snap, grinning, feeling mischievous, devious in a way I hadn’t been able to in a long time. I had always been crafty when I needed, and it was so much better to bring people to a grinding halt by leveraging their own weaknesses against them.

“What can you tell me about Lady Maro?”

I didn’t know which one she was off the top of my head, but Maya had plenty to say. Lady Maro had always been one of the more… ambitious members of the harem, but this level of indulgence was probably the main reason she had never been considered to be a part of Haruka’s council. To think she thought that no one would ever catch her, was telling.

She was a spoiled woman. Maya said she was a noble’s daughter, his favored daughter and that noble’s patriarch was an Elder. Figured.

I chuckled, smoothing down my robe and squaring my shoulders. This was going to be good as Maya kept giving me all the details I needed.

As I made my way through the corridors of the palace, I kept my steps firm and deliberate. The servants murmured as we passed, nodding their heads and smiling a bit. When I reached the harem’s entrance. From there, Anya led the was to Lady Maro’s chambers, I knocked once–loudly

and pushed the door open without waiting for an invitation.

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Inside, Lady Maro lounged on a pile of silk pillows, surrounded by an array of luxurious fabrics and fresh

flowers. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine, nearly overpowering. She glanced up lazily, her eyes narrowing when she saw me.

It was enough to fool simple people, but I knew goods. The amount of silk she ordered was enough for several hundred robes. She hadn’t had nearly that much laundry done in all these

years.

“You’re even ruder than your predecessor.”

“Oh, I intend to be much ruder,” I replied.

She sneered, not even moving from her comfortable position. “To what do I owe this unexpected

De visit?”

“Your spending habits are out of control, and you’ll be repaying every piece of gold over the amount set by Queen Haruka.”

I looked around. “Though it doesn’t seem like you’ve been spending it the way that’s been

reported.

“You have no—”

“I’ve been reviewing the palace accounts,” I said, my voice cool. “And your name comes up repeatedly in connection with extravagant expenditures. I’ll give you a moment to try and justify it before I have the staff start repossessing as much as possible.”

Lady Maro raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, darling. Is that what this is about? Surely, you don’t begrudge me a few luxuries. After all, as a member of the royal harem, I am entitled to certain… comforts.” Her tone was dripping with condescension. “Not that you would know about that being just a human.”

I stepped closer, smiling thinly. “Luxuries? No. I suppose you need something to comfort you since the king would neve consider you as even half the woman as Queen Haruka. SHe flushed and sat up. “And I’m not worried about this obnoxious scent you have in the air or the cheap pillows

Lady Maro scoffed, her eyes filled with disdain. “I am a member of the royal family, I order nothing cheap!”

glanced over her room in disdain that made her bristle.

“Your tastes aside. I’m concerned about your copious amounts of theft from the royal coffers and

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learn your lesson.”

“How dare you speak to me like that,” she hissed. She scoffed, her eyes flashing with amusement. “When the king returns, we’ll see how he feels about a mere human speaking to an Elder’s

daughter.”

“A still living Elder, or one of the dead ones?”

She flinched and glared at me. “You talk a bit, but what are you going to do to teach me a lesson? You have no real power, and even

things to be worried about since you want to play the part of a royal?”

if you did, do you think anyone will care? Aren’t there bigger

“You’re one of the most insignificant parts of my very long list.” She snarled.” And you, Lady

Maro, are part of the problem.”

“Spare me the self–righteous lecture. I’ve been in this palace far longer than you. I know how things work. Tsuneo might tolerate you for now, but eventually, he’ll realize that someone like you is out of your depth.”

“I think you’re confusing my husband with someone else. He knows very well how capable I am,’ I said, my voice dropping dangerously low. “And he doesn’t tolerate betrayal.”

Her eyes flickered, but she didn’t back down. “Are you threatening me, human?”

I smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Not a threat. A promise. I’ll start with repossession of things you’ve spent of your budget, and if I don’t find it satisfactory, I’ll have you dragged to court for interrogation.”

Her eyes widened.

“You would be lucky if you were simply sent back home, but I assume you I plan to ask you to be exiled.” She went pale. “We don’t need anyone who would put their comforts before the wellbeing of the royal house, and since Queen Haruka is back, I doubt the king will think much of you.

“The king would never exile me, I have born him-

“The king? No. Crown Prince Tsuneo, on the other hand… I tilted my head slightly, holding her gaze. “I believe he had more affection for Ari than you even at the end and look where it landed

her?

Af the mention of Ari, her entire demeanor shifted. The color drained from her face, and she sat up straighter, eyes wide with fear. I wish I had been present for what Tsuneo had done to put that Hook of terror on her face. The sight of Ari being turned human had to have been terrifying.

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“You wouldn’t,” she whispered, her arrogance melting away.

I leaned in closer, my voice soft but unyielding. “I’d suggest you gather the overage quickly and without complaint unless you want to find out.”

For a long moment, she just stared at me, her breath coming in shallow, quick bursts. The memory of Ari’s punishment danced in her eyes. The fear was screaming from her eyes. Then, she flinched, realizing that I wasn’t bluffing.