Morgan Shangguan lifted her teacup and glanced at him. Perhaps she had been lost in thought, for once failing to keep up with his pace, her eyes tinged with a trace of confusion.
Seeing her dazed expression, Damien found her utterly adorable. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Morgan hurriedly reached out, narrowly saving her tea from disaster. She turned her head, unable to escape Damien's lips, and could only mumble, "What are you doing?"
Damien smiled, pecked her lips a few times, then took her teacup and brought it to her lips. Morgan drank from his hand, and Damien said meaningfully, "You'll know soon enough."
Morgan and Damien were stopped at the study door. As the guard was about to report their arrival, a sudden crash sounded from inside. After a moment, a flustered guard emerged, glanced at them, and hurried away.
Morgan watched the guard's retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, and whispered three words, "Maxwell Jing."
Although Jing Moxhen's disguise skills weren't as refined as Qian Luo's, fooling these people wasn't much of a challenge.
Damien lowered his voice and chuckled, "When it comes to acting, Maxwell Jing is better at it."
Morgan curled her lips—Ethan Gu's cold face trying to act was a bit of a stretch!
The two whispered on one side, while another guard stood at the door, back straight and eyes forward, oblivious to their conversation.
Minister Magnus Shangguan was now seething with rage. He had always blamed himself for Mona Shangguan's death, so given how suspicious her passing was, he could not simply let it go without uncovering the truth.
Although Mona Shangguan had died, Adrian Yarrow had not come to the Prime Minister’s residence to pay his respects. Minister Magnus Shangguan was displeased, but there was little he could say—Adrian Yarrow was busy with his coronation, and attending a funeral at such a time would be inauspicious.
But only just now had he learned that all of this was orchestrated by Adrian Yarrow—he was the one who wanted to get rid of the child in Mona Shangguan’s womb!
There was both witness and evidence; Adrian Yarrow couldn’t deny it even if he tried. But could he really call the future monarch to account? To simply let it go—how could he possibly accept that? Mona Shangguan had always loved Adrian Yarrow deeply, yet in the end, she died at the hands of the one she loved most!
The guard who came to report saw Minister Magnus Shangguan’s face darken with fury and cursed his own bad luck. But since the Ghost King was requesting an audience, he had no choice but to deliver the message.
Upon hearing that Damien Gray sought an audience, Minister Magnus Shangguan frowned, clearly unimpressed. Still, he could not refuse him—refusing Damien Gray would be tantamount to slighting the Silvermoon Kingdom itself.
Suppressing his impatience, Minister Magnus Shangguan said, "Let them in."
After the maid served tea, Minister Magnus Shangguan finally asked, "Your Highness, Ghost King, what brings you here today?"
Damien Gray paused, his hand holding the teacup trembling slightly before he set it down. He seemed at a loss for words. Morgan Shangguan sat quietly, waiting to see what he was up to.
Damien Gray sighed and said, "To be honest, Prime Minister, I never intended to marry a princess. I was forced into it." His troubled expression made Morgan Shangguan suppress a smile.
Minister Magnus Shangguan frowned at him. "Your Highness, if you have something to say, please speak plainly."
Damien Gray hesitated, then said, "Prime Minister, could you help me refuse this marriage alliance? To be honest, the marriage doesn’t have to involve me. I truly don’t understand why the Crown Prince insists I marry the princess!" Before Minister Magnus Shangguan could reply, Damien Gray continued, "I know this puts you in a difficult position, but I only want a simple life with my consort. If I marry the princess, I fear peace will be impossible." He even dropped his royal self-reference, making it clear he was sincerely pleading for help.
Morgan Shangguan took a sip of tea, hiding the smile at the corner of her lips.
But Minister Magnus Shangguan was not a kind man. He replied coolly, "Your Highness, this is not something I can help you with."
Damien Gray seemed truly disappointed. As they left, Morgan Shangguan walked straight out, but Damien Gray lingered behind. Before leaving, he turned to Minister Magnus Shangguan and said, "Prime Minister, as long as I have my consort, I am content. But although she seems gentle, her spirit is fierce. If I marry the princess, she may never speak to me again. If you can persuade the Crown Prince to change his mind, please help me. No matter the cost, I am willing!"
The deep, unyielding emotion in his eyes was unmistakable to Minister Magnus Shangguan.
Yet as Damien Gray turned away, his eyes were cold. Minister Magnus Shangguan! He had once held back, remembering that this man was the father of Morgan Shangguan’s body—but now, he no longer cared to restrain himself.
After hearing what Mona Shangguan had said, his attitude toward Morgan Shangguan remained unchanged. He felt guilty about Mona Shangguan, but had never spared a thought for Morgan. If, for Morgan’s happiness, he had spoken to Adrian Yarrow—even if it changed nothing—he would have spared him. But now...
A cold smile tugged at his lips. Minister Magnus Shangguan would come to him of his own accord!
As soon as they returned to their room, Damien Gray pulled Morgan Shangguan onto the bed, nuzzling against her. Morgan wrapped her arms around his waist, half helpless, half amused. "What’s gotten into you now?" she asked, not bothering to probe his thoughts—sometimes, not knowing made things more interesting.
Damien Gray buried his head in the crook of her neck and murmured, "It’s nothing." He was simply feeling a bit tender; though he knew she cared little for those unrelated to her, he couldn’t help but ache for her.
Morgan Shangguan patted his head and suddenly said, "Damien, why do I feel like you’re becoming more and more like a child?"
Damien Gray looked up at her, frowning. "Are you thinking about those two little rascals again?"
Morgan Shangguan laughed. "No."
Damien Gray snorted. "You’re not allowed to think about anyone but me!"
Morgan Shangguan rolled her eyes. They were together all day—was there any need to miss him?
Minister Magnus Shangguan knew it was Adrian Yarrow who had harmed Mona Shangguan, but no matter how hard he searched, he could not discover the fate of the child. He knew Mona had taken the abortion medicine—the child could not have survived. But if that was the case, why had someone taken the child away?