The envoys who had spoken out had ropes tied around their waists, making it impossible to break free.As the horses galloped, they had no choice but to run for their lives.But how could they outrun horses? Before long, they stumbled and fell, and were dragged across the ground.Even on sandy soil, the experience was brutal. After several rounds, the air was filled with their screams. Their clothes were torn, their flesh scraped open, leaving streaks of blood on the ground.Desperate pleas rang out."King George! Have mercy!""King George, we've learned our lesson!"The remaining envoys, watching in horror, were relieved they hadn't spoken out earlier.George ignored the pleas, drinking and eating as if nothing was happening. He had no fear of them dying right then and there.The atmosphere at the banquet was tense. No one dared to breathe too loudly.Vivian was an exception.Even though the envoys from Bayou were among those being dragged around, she continued eating and dr
Lily returned to the chamber and immediately informed Jane about the details of the summons to the king’s bedchamber.Jane was organizing her hidden weapons when she heard the news. She frowned slightly."Did Steven say this himself?"Lily shook her head. "He didn’t say it outright, but that’s what he meant. He also mentioned that aside from the late Lady Rosalie, His Majesty has never summoned any of the harem to Tyrian Palace. When I heard that, it sent chills down my spine."Your Majesty, are you really going to spend the night with him?""This is not something you need to worry about.” Jane’s tone remained indifferent. “For now, there is something else I need you to do."Lily listened attentively, expecting it to be something urgent. But in the end, Jane only asked her to grind some pills into powder, saying it was to keep insects away.However, at this time of year, there were no venomous bugs, snakes, or ants in the palace.-That evening, Jane arrived at Tyrian Palace.
The space between the desk and the throne was barely enough for one person to stand.Jane stood with her back to the desk and faced George.George remained seated, his posture as straight as ever. However, looking up at her from this angle felt unnatural. He had no idea what she was trying to do.She had suddenly rushed over like this. If she was trying to throw herself into his arms, she wasn't doing a good job of it just standing there stiffly.When Jane moved toward him, she hadn't thought much about it. That was because behind her, on the desk, was a worm-like venomous insect.It was small, brown, and inconspicuous.She had dealt with Vivian before and recognized it immediately. This was a Dreadspawn Larva. It looked harmless, but once it entered the human body, it would multiply rapidly and endlessly. These insects would gnaw away at a person's internal organs, clinging to the bones until there was nothing left but skin.It was extremely dangerous.At that critical momen
The moment Jane was placed on the bed, she came to her senses. She bit George's lip until he bled again. The taste of blood sharpened her mind, giving her an unexpected surge of strength.She shoved him away, snapping out of that brief daze.George pulled back from her lips, his head dropping into the crook of her neck as if all strength had left him. But his breathing remained steady. His nose pressed against the delicate skin of her neck, his hot breath searing her.She pushed him again, attempting to sit up.A hoarse voice brushed against her ear."Will you stay?"This was Tyrian Palace. Even at the height of her favor, Helena had never set foot here. His words were no different from asking her if she would spend the night with him.Jane answered immediately, "I must return."She didn't refuse outright, avoiding the risk of offending him. A man's pride could be a fragile thing, and they would go to great lengths to protect it.George let out a soft chuckle.There was a chi
It was late at night, yet Vivian had not gone to sleep. Close to midnight, she sat cross-legged on the bed and lit a candle to cultivate her venomous insects.Hearing the approaching footsteps outside, her eyes suddenly snapped open. They were filled with malice and wickedness.Perfect. She could use them to test her newest creature.Bang!Black-clad figures burst through the door. The small room was instantly packed with people.Vivian flashed a sultry smile at them before swiftly waving her hand. A strange-looking insect, resembling both a cicada and a mantis, was flung into the air.It took flight, landing on one of the black-clad men.Within seconds, his entire body burned with heat. He immediately grew frantic, tearing off his clothes while crying out about the unbearable heat. The scorching sensation came from within, and even after he stripped, his body remained searing hot.Unable to endure the torment, the man leaped out the window.Karlsen's face darkened. This woman
Jane suddenly lifted her gaze, her eyes calm yet carrying a silent warning.Vivian, caught red-handed, hesitated. Her hand, which had almost reached its goal, instead shifted upward, gently brushing against the mask as if stroking Jane's face."You're so cold. Let me see your face, won't you?"She was reckless and headstrong but knew her limits. No matter how much she toyed with Henry, he would never truly be angry enough to cut ties with her. But if she crossed his boundaries, if she removed that mask without permission, the bond between them would be severed for good.Jane said nothing, focusing on bandaging her wound.After regaining some strength, Vivian resumed her usual teasing."Now you've seen me naked, you have to take responsibility."Jane turned away to wash her hands, speaking as if in passing, "I heard you were going to enter the palace as a concubine."Vivian smirked. "What, are you jealous?"Jane looked at her, eyes cold and devoid of any romantic sentiment. "
Theon woke at noon the next day to find that Vivian was missing.During their journey, Vivian had often strayed from the group, so the envoy was used to it. He simply assumed she had gone to see Henry again.Having been dragged by a horse the previous day, his body was covered in bruises, swollen and aching all over. He had no energy to look for Vivian.He wasn't the only one. Other envoys were also bedridden, with the severely injured groaning in regret.Lymane, however, was particularly stubborn. Even though she couldn't get out of bed due to her injuries, she kept shouting, "Wesselham will never agree to Nidora monopolizing the onyxite mines!"Everyone! If we join forces, we can make Nidora back down! This matter is of grave importance. If we let Nidora do as they please, Romenia's fate today will be ours tomorrow!"Nordale's envoy was in the room next door. His entire body ached, and he needed rest, but with all the shouting, he couldn't calm down. Irritated, he grew more and
In just a few days, Jocelyn had lost three of her most capable subordinates. She knew they were most likely dead. She couldn't swallow this indignation.Did Jane really think that by getting rid of those three, she would have no one left to use?Jocelyn clenched her fists tightly, crushing the cup she was holding. A murderous intent flickered in her eyes.-Two days later, Gloria had taken her daughter-in-law, Tina, to make an offering at the temple, and they had yet to return.Robin was filled with unease. Wendy's abduction and tragic fate all those years ago were still fresh in his memory. He feared that his wife and daughter-in-law might have been taken by bandits as well. He immediately instructed the butler, "Fetch Caleb from his office at once! Quickly!"Before long, Caleb arrived.Hearing that his mother and wife were missing, his heart clenched with panic."How did this happen? How long have they been missing? What about the guards accompanying them?"Robin clenched
Jane never told George that Darren had died for her. The Thiberium poisoning had been meant for her. Darren had taken it in her place.She also never told George that Darren had already given her the Miracle Needles manual. At the time, she had been too busy waging war and had only learned half of it. So when he was poisoned, even though she hastily studied the rest, she still couldn't save him in time.Because of this, she could never forgive herself.That night, many struggled to sleep.George and the royal guards practiced combat through the night. The guards were miserable.Rachel lay awake until dawn, unable to calm her excitement about leaving the palace with the king the next day.The next morning, by the break of dawn, Rachel was already dressed and had prepared the offerings.The guards assigned to escort her had the carriage ready. When a concubine left the palace, she had to use the side gate.Rachel, however, didn't get into the carriage right away. Instead, she ask
In the evening, at Tyrian Palace, George was about to settle down for the night when he noticed that Jane was still reading.He walked over. "Is that book really so fascinating?"Jane didn't even look up."I've sent people to investigate the purchase records of floral brocade in recent years. While waiting, I thought I'd search for clues about that nine-tailed serpent motif."George snatched the book from her hands, forcing her to raise her head and look at him. "It could just be an ordinary design.""Perhaps." Jane reached for the book, but he spoke again."There's a military physician in the Northern Battalion with the last name Durand. Was he the one who taught you Miracle Needles?"Jane's gaze subtly shifted.Growing impatient, George pressed further. "I want the truth. Was it him?"Jane's expression was cold and detached. "Yes."A storm brewed within George.The Durand family never passed down the Miracle Needles technique to outsiders—only their own bloodline. That mea
There were screams from within the palace."You scoundrel! Who's sick? Who are you calling delirious? I'm perfectly fine! Ahh! What are you doing!"Since Mary was struggling so violently, Dina had no choice but to order her to be restrained. A moment later, Mary was tied to the bed, thrashing wildly as she shouted toward the door where Dina stood."Mother! Save me!"Dina couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. "Mary, I'm only helping you."Mary was utterly baffled. She had just been quietly embroidering a fragrant pouch, yet her mother suddenly thought she was ill."The queen. Get the queen!" Mary barked at Irene.Wilhelmina, who stood right beside Dina, felt a chill run down her spine.Why call for the queen? Could Mary really have lost her mind?–At Zen Palace, Jane was flipping through ancient texts, searching for any records of the nine-tailed serpent motif.Suddenly, Maya rushed into the inner chamber. She seemed out of breath."Your Majesty! Something terrible ha
"I only heard that Commander Morris was quite close to a military physician, and there were even rumors of an intimate relationship." At this point, Richard hesitated before adding, "But I believe those were baseless rumors. It was most likely just camaraderie between comrades."George's expression turned unusually serious."What is the physician's name, and where is he now?""I only recall that his surname was Durand."'Durand?'George immediately thought of the Miracle Needles. That physician was likely a descendant of the Durand family.Richard had no idea why the king was asking about this, so he returned to the main topic."Your Majesty, since Jocelyn is not the true Commander Morris, why have you not made this public?"George's gaze turned dark."I have my own plans."Right now, all he could think about was that military physician with the surname Durand.–Outside the royal study, Karlsen saw Richard step out and greeted him respectfully.Karlsen's face was expressi
At Grace Palace, Rachel sat in front of the mirror. Her gaze was slightly empty. Aurelia couldn't bear to see her like this."Your Highness, it's getting late."The king not coming didn't mean she should refuse to sleep.Rachel murmured softly, "Yes, it's late."Was the queen accompanying the king at this hour?She used to console herself with the thought that perhaps the queen, like her, was nothing more than a facade to deceive others and had never truly shared the king's bed.But if that were true, why would the king summon her to Tyrian Palace? Even Rosalie had rarely set foot there in the past. This proved that the king truly favored the queen.Then what was she?She had exhausted every means at her disposal, yet she couldn't make the king spare her even a glance.Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one.-The next day, during the court session, ministers were still debating over Jocelyn's death."Your Majesty, Commander Morris held great prestige among the people.
Jane proposed making the truth public to prevent the people from continuing to misunderstand. However, George's gaze was extremely cold."There's no need."Now, it was her turn to be confused. Between two difficult choices, one should choose the lesser evil. As a king, did he not understand this?George was very serious."If we expose that Jocelyn is an impostor, the Morris family won't escape punishment. Neither will the tens of thousands of Northern Battalion soldiers."Even if those soldiers were unaware of the truth, people could always find an excuse to accuse them. If that happened and someone with ulterior motives took advantage of the situation, the entire Northern Battalion would be thrown into chaos.By keeping this secret, he could still protect the Morris family and those soldiers.If the truth was revealed, he would have to handle the matter impartially. Otherwise, his authority would be compromised.Jane said nothing.In her heart, she naturally leaned toward her
George saw a light in her eyes that he had never seen before.The surroundings were silent. It was as if, as long as she looked at him like this, he could agree to anything.But he was not so easily swayed.After only a brief moment of distraction, he quickly regained his usual cold and imposing demeanor and spoke in a steady tone."In the second year of my reign, the allied forces of four nations attacked Nidora. I led the army into battle. After the war ended, I returned to the capital, passing through a misty forest on the way. There was an ambush in that forest."While fighting off the assassins, one masked individual released a creature that resembled a salamander. I was bitten by it and poisoned. Only later did I learn that it was Thiberium poisoning."Jane was well aware that Thiberium poisoning involved raising salamanders and feeding them a specially prepared poison daily. Over time, the creatures would absorb the toxins and become what was known as Thiberium, naturally
Mary was feeling guilty. Jocelyn had managed to escape from prison thanks to the Falcon Command Token she had secretly delivered to her. She had known the truth would come to light sooner or later, but she hadn't expected it to be this soon.Even more surprising was that after questioning her for a while, George suddenly stopped. Instead, he changed the subject and solemnly warned her."Mary, I can choose not to punish you for this matter, but from now on, stay away from Zen Palace."Mary's fists clenched involuntarily. She met George's gaze, refusing to back down, and smiled."Your Majesty, you've been on the throne for seven years now, yet you still have no heirs. That's quite unusual, isn't it? I heard from Grandmother that you've decided not to favor the harem unless the queen bears an heir?"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but over the years, you've shown favor to Lady Rosalie and Lady Helena, and even spent nights with Rachel. Yet none of them have conceived. So why do
Mary stared blankly at the person before her.The queen was actually Commander Morris who had saved her all those years ago.Good heavens! What had she been doing all this time?She had actually believed Jocelyn and gone against the queen at every turn. She had even exposed the queen's marriage substitution.For the sake of Jocelyn, an impostor, she had nearly caused the death of her true savior.At this moment, Mary was filled with regret and remorse.Jane lowered her gaze to the bracelet on her wrist and sensed something was off.Their eyes met suddenly. Mary's gaze was emotional, her voice trembling. "You–"She had countless things to say, but she didn't know where to start."Commander, I personally measured your wrist for this bracelet. Now, do you still wish to deny it?" Mary gazed at her intently.Jane's brows furrowed slightly. "Princess–"Mary interrupted her. "I was a fool. I conspired with Jocelyn and went against you at every turn. It's only natural that you bla