In the capital of Micaellis, the Crown Prince Noel tosses a goblet at a courier. “What do you mean that you can’t find the buyer?” The crown prince roared.

“I’m sorry, Sire. But the slave merchant guild can only state the dragon has since been freed,” the miserably looking courier said.

“Get out!” Crown Prince Noel roared as the miserably looking courier ran for his life. “Useless,” the Noel said as he flopped back in his chair. Noel crossly taps his finger in vexation as he thinks about what he could have done with a slave dragon. He had been so certain that no one would have dared to buy the dragon given the risks. And after the auction with ease, he would have been able to purchase the dragon in secret. Then when the parents of the dragon appeared, he would have ransomed the dragon offspring back to the parents. That was how it had always been done by those in power for even the dragons feared for the lives of their rare offspring being killed. But not only had that plan been ruined but to top it all off, the blasted buyer had already set the dragon free!

The doors can be heard opening as the Noel coldly roars, “Did I not order not to be disturbed by anyone!”

“I know my love,” a soft melodic female voice said.

Crown Prince Noel instantly sits up at seeing the gorgeous figure of his wife, Crown Princess Moria. Despite having given birth to two daughters and a son, Moria was still as ravishing as ever. With a figure that left men staring and a tiny waist that made one think it was impossible that she had ever even given birth. Moria was still one of the kingdom’s greatest beauties.

“I’m sorry, my dear, I didn’t know it was you,” Noel instantly apologized.

“I know dearest one,” Moria softly said as she gently poured a wine glass for him. “Here love, drink.”

Noel takes a sip and says, “You always know exactly what to do and say, dear. How do you do it?”

Moria merely smiles and says, “Practice, dearest one.”

Noel chuckles and says, “If only things were so easy.”

Moria takes a seat in a chair next to him and says, “Tell me, love, what is wrong?”

“The dragon I was to buy has been sold and set free,” Noel bitterly replied.

Moria frowns and says, “And what of the buyer?”

“The buyer has long since left the kingdom,” Noel bitterly exclaimed.

“And the identity of the buyer?” Moria asked.

“All that has been found is that the buyer is not a resident of the kingdom and arrived that same day and left the next morning,” Noel replied.

“Oh, a spy of an opposing kingdom?” Moria inquired.

“Impossible, the dragon was only caught a few days before and the distance is far too great for them to arrive on such short notice,” Noel drily stated.

Moria thoughtfully ponders the discussion and says, “Then what of agents inside our borders?”

Noel sits up and asks, “What do you mean?”

“What if the buyer was here representing another vassal within the kingdom? And what if the reason the dragon is free because the parent has already ransomed the child? Could it not be possible that there is a hidden enemy that is planning a rebellion against the royal family?” Moria pointedly argued.

“Yes, that would perfectly fit with the suspicious situation at hand,” Noel fervently agreed. “Thank you, my love!” Noel quickly places a kiss on Moria’s cheek, before rushing to see his father, the King.

Moria merely quietly brushes out her skirt and elegantly makes her way through the palace. At the front entrance, a prepared carriage is already waiting for her, before setting off at a rapid pace. The carriage quickly makes its way to its destination the manor of Duke Morgan.

A trained footman in the Duke’s livery opens the carriage door the instant the carriage halts as Moria daintily climbs down and makes her way to her father’s private quarters. Carefully knocking, Moria waits for her father’s permission to enter. “Come in, I’ve been expecting you,” Duke Morgan said.

Moria quickly enters her father’s study and takes a seat before him. “Well?” Duke Morgan curtly asked.

“It’s just as we thought the dragon had already been set free, but I have already planted the idea of an enemy in the kingdom,” Moria said with a smile.

“Excellent,” Duke Morgan said.

“Have you already planted the evidence, father?” Moria inquired.

Duke Morgan frowns and says, “That is not a subject for you to be concerned about.”

“I was only asking, father,” Moria unhappily replied.

Duke Morgan leans back and says, “I know Moria, but the less you know the less you will be suspected.”

“Very well, father. Is there anything else you will have me do?” Moria asked as she rose to her feet.

“That fairy girl from the brothel, Lumi, was it you that had her killed?” Duke Morgan interjected.

“Why the interest, father? That incident happened two years ago,” Moria retorted.

“Prince Sergio has sent someone to inquire about her again,” Duke Morgan chided.

Moria laughs with contempt, “Why would the Crown Princess of the Kingdom be afraid of a mere whore, father? It is simply preposterous!”

Duke Morgan leans back in his seat and says, “You know very well the reason why. Not only was Prince Sergio taking that whore as his bride, but that bride in question knew about your past folly.”

Moria takes a step back as Duke Morgan coldly adds, “The correct answer would have been to set the entire brothel aflame to conceal the folly of your youth, but that would be impossible given how many high-ranking patrons patronize the brothel. Therefore, the next step would have been to slowly poison that whore in secret as none would know the better. However, the incorrect answer would have been to have her so blatantly killed the eyes of other witnesses.”

Moria weakly staggers back into a chair and glares at her father. “I had forgotten all about it!” Moria hissed with fury. “But then, that whore appeared at the ball. And when I chided her that whore had the arrogance to sneer down her nose at me and tell me that I should not be the one talking.” Moria’s slit eyes narrow with rage as she hisses, “I was infuriated, yes, but that whore had the audacity to force me to recall those events which I had erased with my own hands! And though the only relief then to me, is knowing that man and bastard are both dead alike!” Roaring shrilly, Moria as if lost in a trance roar, “So yes, father, I did what had to be done to keep her loose lips, permanent SHUT!”

Duke Morgan rises to his feet and suddenly slaps his daughter, Moria blinks in shock and surprise as she touches her inflamed, red cheek. “That is for forgetting your place, Moria,” Duke Morgan flatly said. “You are a noble and even if that whore dared to speak of it none would have believed her as there is no proof. A noble’s character is never questioned unless there is proof. It would have only been seen as a baseless rumor. But more importantly, the Crown Prince would have vouched for your honor! So not only did you do a most foolish thing my daughter, but one that may have far more dangerous consequences as being the one held directly responsible for Prince Sergio’s fiancé's death.”

Moria bites her lips as Duke Morgan frostily continues, “Should Prince Sergio ever find out it will not just be your head that will hang but the entire kingdom’s! For without a doubt, Prince Sergio will go to his brother, King Elbert and as King Elbert’s only sibling, King Elbert out of anger and brotherly love will declare war on us! And I can assure you, should that day come, the King will have our entire household killed before him before the kingdom falls. And then my daughter, I wonder if you will still think that whore was of no importance?!”

Moria meekly bows her head and says, “What must I do father?”

“Nothing for the moment,” Duke Morgan flatly said. “But do make sure to rid yourself of any loose ends that still have yet to snipped in the bud.”

“I will take care of that as soon as it is permitted,” Moria hastily responded.

“Yes, but first put some blush into those cheeks. You look horribly pallid and you must look like yourself before you leave. I will not have gossip following after your departure!” Duke Morgan sternly reproached.

“Yes, father,” Moria coolly said as she did as she is told and composed herself. Bowing, Moria soberly says, “I am always in your care, father,” before turning away and departing.

Duke Morgan turns to the window and watches his daughter depart in the carriage bell. Duke Morgan studies the window for some time until a quiet servant door and steps inside. “Milord, you called?” The gaunt looking servant asked.

“My daughter will soon become rather ill and it would be a shame if she died,” Duke Morgan quietly said.

The gaunt man nods his head and says, “I will send the best physicians to the Crown Princess.”

“See that it is done,” Duke Morgan said, before taking a seat back at his desk. His entire family’s centuries worth of planning would not be destroyed because of a single daughter. With peace of mind once more restored, Duke Morgan returned to his plans as he sketched out every detail for nothing to go wrong.