Chained to old wounds

CH124

Morgan

Finally, Lady Maro swallowed hard, nodding once. I’ll… I’ll have it ready in a few days.”

“Tonight, I said and turned.

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Aren’t the silks and things here?” I cocked an eyebrow. “I think letting you have until tonight is

more than generous.”

She shut her mouth. I narrowed my eyes.

.or

“I’ll take it in gold, jewels, or goods, Lady Maro. Tonight.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned to leave. Then, I slowed as I reached the door, preparing

for the actual blow.

“Before I go…” I looked back at her. “Do you know where Elia is?”

Lady Maro hesitated, her eyes darting nervously from side to side. “No,” she replied, her voice

barely a whisper. “Why would I know where he’s gone? He was banished.”

I raised an eyebrow, my eyes fixed on her. “Are you sure?” I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of

suspicion and curiosity.

Lady Maro’s eyes widened, her expression one of fear. “I don’t know. How dare you accuse me—

I shrugged.

“That’s too bad,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “If you happen to see him, tell him that his brother, the king, is going to formally adopt his son.”

“His son?” She asked.

“Of course. Don’t you think Kai will make a great addition to the family? He certainly deserves the luxuries of the palace, even though his father is a traitor.”

Lady Maro’s face paled, her eyes wide with disbelief. I could see the pain welling up in her eyes, maybe even a bit of betrayal, but I felt nothing.

It served her right, and I knew that she would deliver the message… probably not nicely either.

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CH124

The news of Kai’s adoption would be a bitter pill for Elia to swallow. He seemed to be a jealous and possessive man. And there was a good chance that Lady Maro would pass what happened to Ari as well, but I’d see. I hoped that the news would force Elia to do something hasty, so we could deal with him before the Convening, but given our luck, there was a good chance that he was in league with one of the other kingdoms.

As I walked away, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. I had delivered my message, I had planted a seed of doubt in Lady Maro’s mind. All I had to do was wait. As I left Lady Maro’s chambers, I smiled.

Maya and Anya looked stunned. “I’m seeing a whole new side to you, Your Highness.

I chuckled. “Maybe. Let’s get going to Lady Jun’s chambers. It’s better to give the speech to as many as possible right now so they’ll all be ready by tonight.”

Anya led us through the halls to find Lady Jun. Maya seemed confused. She seemed to know I was

up to something, but she didn’t say anything. Lady Jun wasn’t exactly at the top of the list for other suspects, but she was someone that Lady Maro hated.

Based on what I saw in the harem records, Lady Jun had been friends with Elia, but she hadn’t

supported him when it came out that he was a traitor. That could mean a lot of things, but the

one thing I was certain of was that I needed to talk to her. She was softer than Lady Maro. Was she desperate for love, for attention? Maybe she just didn’t care one way or the other.

I knocked on the door and waited.

A moment later, the door creaked open. Lady Jun stood there, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Crown Princess,” she said. “What brings you here?

“I need to speak to you. May I come in?”

She hesistated but then she stepped aside. Her room was nowhere near as lavish as Lady Maro.

The door closed behind us and I noticed the servant coming out of the bathing chamber. She wasn’t a palace staff member based on her clothing.

Lady Jun hesitated, her eyes darting nervously from side to side. “You need to speak with me

about what?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

About Elia.”

Lady Jun’s eyes widened, her expression one of fear.

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CH124

“What about him?” she asked.

I smiled, a flicker of amusement playing on my lips. I heard you had quite the relationship with him before he staged the coup.”

Lady Jun’s face paled, her eyes filled with a mixture of shock and anger.

“His Majesty knows where my loyalties lie,‘ she stammered, still not looking at me.

I shook my head. “I certainly hope so.” I opened the file in my hand. Her eyes dropped to it. “I’ve been looking into the palace expenditures…”

“I never taken more than Queen Haruka stated.”

“That much is true, but based on your living quarters you have not been using it for yourself.”

She swallowed, looking more nervous. She turned to her servant. “Leave us.”

The woman scurried away. I narrowed my eyes and she turned, starting to pace.

“It was… It only happened once, and I have never given him money or aid in any way,” she said, fretting her hands. “I… I simply… I was lonely with the king away and… The borders—”

“Where did the money go then?” I asked.

“My family,” she said. “My family needed it. The king said that I could do with my allowance what I wished. The border wars have been… hard on my family. You cannot fault me for that.”

“Maybe,” I said. “Unless Elia is being harbored by your family.”

She flinched. I tilted my head. “It seems like you have indeed been giving him aid, if indirectly.”

“No,” she said. “My brother. If my brother has done so I knew nothing of it.”

Her jaw trembled. “It was so long ago… Surely the king will forgive such a small mistake…” She set her jaw. “It wasn’t enough to be considered an affair.”

even…

“By whose standards?”

“It was kiss,” she said. “And I knew as soon as it happened that Elia had no love for me. He saw me as a means to an ends… He always had.” She shook her head. “I did not tell the king as there wa

so much going on.”

Lady Jun’s face turned a deep shade of crimson, her eyes filled with a mixture of shame and regret.

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CH124

“I can’t tell you what to do with regards to your own married life, but you will cease sending aid to your family.”

She lowered her eyes and nodded.

“And if you have contact with Elin at all, you’ll use it to gather information on Elia.”

Lady Jun hesitated. “Why?”

“Because he’s a traitor who had sunk his claws into various members of the harem, including Ari,

and it’s time to end it.”

Her eyes widened. “You mean… Kai?”

“Yes.”

She pulled a face and nodded. “You have my word. I’ll get you whatever I can.”

“Good,” I said and stood. I paused. “And for what it’s worth. I believe that the king is a forgiving

soul…”

“And Queen Haruka?”

“Not so much, but she might simply send you back to your family.”

She shuddered. “I would rather be exiled.”