Barbara walked down a hallway and reached a guarded door.
A formation inscribed on the doors activated and a ray of blue light scanned her from head to toe.
Then the next formation checked her soul for five full minutes where Barbara had to completely let her guard down for the process to finish.
The sensation was vivid and real. It felt like hands from the outside were prying open her head and looking at her deepest thoughts.
Barbara clenched her fists as she suppressed the anger rising up from the bottom of her heart.
A minute later, she stripped out of her clothes and let another formation check her.
'Jataur's favorite woman and the mother of the best prince has to strip for a search. Hah.' Her heart grew colder but her eyes remained bright and charming.
The scan was still going on and if she expressed any negative sentiments, it'd be derailed.
After six more inspections, the doors opened. Taking few deep breaths, Barbara stepped in.
"My lady!" Jataur raised his arms and welcomed her from his large bed.
"Husband~" Barbara put on a charming smile and snuggled in his arms.
A few minutes passed.
Closing her eyes, Barbara felt the warmth of the man she once deeply loved and told herself that it was fine.
'I still love him. I love the warmth of his hands, the gentleness of his touch, the…'
"What did Oleg tell you?"
The discordant words dispelled her short-lived delusion.
Barbara's heart trembled for a moment as it faced the bitter reality. Whatever love she imagined only existed in her memories.
Jataur had definitely spied on her call. Yet, he was asking her about it. Just to test her loyalty.
'This happens with everone, every single time!' She tried to soothe herself saying it's normal but it only made her feel worse.
If he treated his beloved wife just like how he treated everyone, what does that say?
"He found their traces and learnt that they're going to strike soon. He requested reinforcements." She revealed.
"Hm…" Jataur cracked a smile as she didn't hide anything and caressed her hair. His fingers brushed down her neck and reached her breasts.
"Your majesty…I am tired today." Barbara broke free from his clutches and adjusted her clothes.
Jataur's eyes narrowed but he said with a smile. "Please rest, my lady. Your health is everything for me."
"Thank you."
Once she left the bedroom, Jataur overturned his pillow and started drawing an inscription with his aura.
The attack formations that had been silently active in the room so far, all programmed to do one thing—kill Barbara if she tried to harm him or even show killing intent toward him—were deactivated.
Barbara was wrong to believe that Jataur left his safety solely to the door. Unbeknownst to her, she had always been walking on thin ice.
With a snap of his fingers, the bedroom changed into a meeting hall.
'Asking her for sex which she always declines is the best way to send her off. Or I would've been late for this meeting.'
Jataur felt proud of himself. He never stopped to think if it was all worth it. Perhaps knew in the corner of his mind that the woman who loved him had slowly changed.
Instead of asking why, he patted himself on the back for coming up with the countermeasures.
"My dear son," Jataur addressed the young man sitting in the central seat of the three gathered in the secret room.
"Yes," Xoler looked at him with a neutral gaze and took his time before uttering. "Father?"
"Their traces have been confirmed and their plan has been found. For the prosperity of Zions and the safety of your father...and mother," Jataur stressed on the last word.
Xoler's body trembled. Even though nothing was spoken on the surface, he was able to understand that his mother was being taken hostage.
She was the reason he didn't try to snatch the throne position and bring back proper rule to the duchy.
He was afraid that if he went against his father, his mother would suffer. It had always been the reason but today, his own father admitted it.
'Why? Why should you be like this? Just because I'm the strongest in the duchy doesn't mean I have to kill my own father…'
Xoler gripped the armrests of the chair and nodded. "I see. It is my duty to remove any such threats. Please send me for the mission, lord father."
The aura of a rank 7 began to leak out from Xoler, filling the room with an oppressive atmosphere.
Beads of sweat trickled down Jataur's face but he acted calm. If his words were a veiled threat to Xoler, this action was Xoler's veiled threat against him.
"Seeing that you're so enthusiastic, I will not stop you," Jataur said with a bright smile and pointed to the men sitting on the left and right of the prince.
"But I can't let you face all the danger. Sage Nevar, the protect of our duchy, and Champion Gor, my close guard will help you in your endeavor."
The calm old man right of Xoler in ceremonial red-white clothes nodded calmly. He seemed to have expected it already.
The middle-aged man on the left lowered his head and obeyed, his every action filled with obedience.
Xoler's brows furrowed and his heart sank further.
'Not only does he want me to go to the mission, he wants to kill me there.'
For a moment, Xoler considered the possibility of attacking right away and ending this conspiracy.
But noticing the tiniest of fluctuations leaking from the walls, he refrained.
Moreover, while Sage Nevar seemed like a neutral party—a retired war hero who just wanted to spend his time in peace—Xoler couldn't trust him.
And Champion Gor…
"Grrr!"
Looking at the scowl on that slave's face, Xoler's felt a surge of anger. Yes, he couldn't attack his father here.
But once the mission got done and his father indulged in celebration, that'd be the perfect opportunity.
"We'll be leaving now." Xoler walked out in brisk steps.
The two followed.
Looking at his son leaving, a small smile crept on Jataur's face. "Please die, son."
