Inside the unfamiliar tavern, two men sat together at a table in a dark corner, far from the bustling crowd. Their presence went largely unnoticed by the other patrons.
"The situation is worsening for us," one of the men said, taking a big gulp of his drink. He nearly choked as the strong alcohol burned his throat, causing him to cough. "The Emperor has increased city security, and the soldiers are keeping a close eye on everyone."
"T-That idiotic Prince," the other man hissed, frustration lacing his voice. "He couldn't keep his mouth shut and ended up dead. Now, the Empire knows, and our workload has doubled. We're in an even more dangerous position because of him."
"On top of that, the higher-ups are asking for progress reports," the first man added with a grimace. "I have no idea what to tell them. And one thing's certain—they won't tolerate excuses or failure."
"That's a real problem," the second man muttered. "I just hope they show some leniency toward us. After all, it wasn't our fault that Fedrick got caught by his father and ruined everything."
"That fat bastard probably soiled himself when he found himself face-to-face with that wild woman!"
"Well," the second man said with a sly grin, "can you blame him? We'd probably do the same if we were staring down that bitch! Haha!"
A few drinks later, the mood grew more somber. One of the men's expressions turned serious as he leaned forward. "We have to act soon. If we don't fix this, our lives will be on the line."
"Act? On what?" the other man scoffed. "Fedrick is dead. Whatever he knew died with him. There's no need to panic—for now. Relax, have another drink." He poured more wine into the empty glass and slid it across the table.
"You're impossible..." the first man muttered with a sigh, picking up the glass.
The second man laughed heartily as his companion downed the drink in one motion and slammed the empty glass onto the table.
"We need to deal with one loose end," the man said, his tone sharp. "Someone who knows about our plan. If we want to succeed and avoid disappointing the higher-ups, she has to go."
"You mean that bitch? Concubine Agatha, or whatever?"
"Exactly," the man replied with a dark chuckle.
—
Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Palace, Emperor Philip, Empress Selena, and Concubine Priscilla sat together on a luxurious sofa. An air of worry and unease hung over them, as though danger loomed just beyond their reach.
Across from them, Yuan and his wives sat together, their expressions serious. Out on the balcony, Miss Zara played with Little Zoe, the two enjoying the breathtaking view of the Capital City.
"So, what's your plan?" Valeria asked, her tone sharp and her legs crossed. A stern expression settled on her face. "How are you going to deal with this mess?"
Emperor Philip remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. After a long pause, he finally decided to spoke.
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice heavy with despair. "I had no idea something like this was happening. To think that a snake was hiding right here in the palace... and it was none other than my own son, my own flesh and blood."
Upon hearing her brother's response, Valeria felt as though Emperor Philip had trampled all over her patience. Fury ignited within her, her eyes blazing with anger as her blood boiled.
"Humph! Am I dangerous to 'you'?" Emma asked, narrowing her eyes at him with mock indignation.
"Why would I ever think that?" Yuan replied, his tone playful. "Don't you know how much I love you, wife?" He leaned in and kissed her neck, his lips brushing her skin with a teasing lick that sent an electrifying shiver through her.
"Stop it! You're embarrassing me in front of everyone!" Emma exclaimed, her cheeks flushing bright red.
"I-I was only joking..." she added, giggling nervously.
"I don't mind," Empress Selena interjected with a soft chuckle. "After all, we're all family now."
Priscilla joined in, laughing quietly. The scene's tenderness lightened the mood momentarily, and even her cheeks turned slightly pink.
A few minutes later, Emperor Philip cleared his throat, regaining focus.
"Soldiers!" he commanded. "Bring Concubine Agatha here for questioning about those involved in the coup d'état."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the soldiers replied in unison, bowing before swiftly leaving to retrieve Agatha from her confinement chamber.
Once they had left, Empress Selena turned her gaze toward Yuan, her tone serious.
"Yuan," she said, "ensure that after the procedure, there's no trace of poison left in her body. She still has a child to care for."
"I understand. Once we extract the information about the perpetrators, I'll ensure her body is completely cleansed of any harmful substances," Yuan replied with a nod and a calm smile.
A few minutes later, the soldiers returned, escorting Concubine Agatha into the room. Her expression was one of sheer disdain, her fury palpable. The loss of her son had consumed her, and her anger was directed squarely at Yuan and his wives.
"You've already taken my son's life! What more do you want from me now?!" Concubine Agatha shouted, tears streaming down her face. Her voice trembled with a mixture of grief and rage.
"Tell us about the people behind this," Emperor Philip commanded coldly, his gaze icy and devoid of any warmth. "Who convinced our son—'your' son—that he could take the throne? Because of them, Fedrick paid with his life."
His voice held no trace of affection for the woman he had once sworn to protect. The betrayal had severed any love he once felt for her. Now, she was nothing more than the mother of his children, a hollow connection with no remaining emotion.
Concubine Agatha's laughter rang out, sharp and deranged. Her bloodshot eyes glared at Philip as her lips twisted into a bitter smile.
"Hahaha! Do you think I'm foolish enough to tell you anything? Husband?" she spat the word with venom. "You killed my son. And now, the entire empire will pay for it!"
Philip's brows furrowed slightly, but he remained composed. "Oh? Are they that powerful?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
"Powerful? You have no idea!" Agatha exclaimed, her grin stretching into something vicious and wild. Her body trembled with the intensity of her emotions, her voice rising to a frenzied pitch.
"You're all doomed now!" she roared, her voice echoing through the chamber. "Every single one of you is going to die! This empire will burn to ashes!"