Competing for affection with a ghost is understandable—after all, ghosts were once human, and to her, there’s little difference between people and spirits. But now, it’s just a puppy. Is there really any need to be jealous?
Morgan Shangguan didn’t want to pay him any mind, but she couldn’t help reminding, "Your Highness, mind your image!" Even though they were inside the manor, if he got into the habit, what if it burst out in public?
Maxwell Jing nearly laughed out loud at the door. Morgan Shangguan’s calm tone made her words amusing, especially since Damien Gray’s face was now as dark as the bottom of a pot!
A cold, violent aura surrounded Damien Gray as he strode over and snatched the puppy from Morgan Shangguan’s arms.
Morgan Shangguan’s face darkened. "Damien Gray, don’t you dare!"
Damien Gray froze, glaring hatefully at the yapping puppy in his hands. Then, with a furious glance at Morgan Shangguan, he huffed coldly, tossed the puppy back into her arms, and turned to leave, face still stormy.
Maxwell Jing carefully followed behind, afraid the prince’s rage would catch him too. If he’d known things would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have tagged along just to watch the drama.
But suddenly, he felt sorry for the prince. The Ghostmaster always did as he pleased, finding ways to keep himself free—even as a Ghost King. Yet now, he couldn’t even bring himself to kill a dog. Truly pitiful!
"Senior Brother…"
Damien Gray was still angry. Even seeing Claire Yi, he couldn’t mask his sour mood and asked with a stern face, "What are you doing here?"
Watching Damien Gray walk away, Maxwell Jing wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The Ghostmaster guarded the Princess Consort more strictly than a thief! He was supposed to stick by her side, but couldn’t get close—he’d have to think carefully about this boundary, since it concerned his happiness for the rest of his life!
Thinking about this, he headed toward the Nether Courtyard, sighing inwardly. He, the dignified Right Guardian of the Ghost Guild, now had only one task: to help the master guard against romantic rivals. And those rivals might not just be men—they could be women, or even some particularly adorable little animals!
Sigh... his life was truly hard!
"Miss, what’s wrong?" As soon as Damien Gray stepped out of the courtyard, Susie Yun rushed out, clearly awakened by his angry shout.
Morgan Shangguan replied calmly, "It’s nothing." Then, gazing at the puppy in her arms, she fell into a contemplative silence, lost in thought.
After sitting quietly for a while, Morgan finally stood up. Suddenly, she placed the puppy into Susie Yun’s arms and said indifferently, "You raise it."
"Huh?" Susie Yun was puzzled. Where did this puppy come from? And why was she suddenly being asked to raise it? To guard against thieves? Could such a cute puppy really do that?
Morgan Shangguan didn’t answer her questions, nor did she spare the puppy another glance. She simply walked into the house.
Maxwell Jing happened to witness this scene at the gate, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile. It seemed the Ghostmaster wasn’t so hopeless after all!
Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, an imperial decree arrived from the palace. Lady Sapphire, it was said, had taken a great liking to Morgan Shangguan and wished for her to enter the palace and keep her company.
Damien Gray asked directly, "How long will she have to stay?"
The eunuch delivering the decree was stunned. Morgan Shangguan glanced at Damien Gray and said coolly, "Forgive us, sir! His Highness must have risen too early and his mind isn’t quite clear yet!"
Lady Sapphire wants to speak with her? It seemed Emperor Alexander couldn’t hold back his questions. There was no way he wouldn’t be suspicious about the blessing ritual.
Suddenly, Damien Gray pulled her into his arms, sounding a little aggrieved. "Mo'er, if you’re gone too long, I’ll miss you!" After all, in front of people from the palace, they had to put on a loving act.
Morgan Shangguan shot him a warning glance, telling him not to overdo it. Then she smiled gently, "Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’m only keeping Lady Sapphire company for a chat. It won’t take long!" She didn’t want to linger in the palace either, and using Damien Gray as an excuse was quite convenient.
Damien Gray seemed to know exactly what she was thinking, a faint smile flickering in his eyes. If she was going to make use of him, he ought to get some reward, shouldn’t he?
He lowered his head and nipped at her lips, then, still worried, instructed, "Mo'er, you must come back soon. Otherwise, I’ll go to the palace to find you!" He glanced at Maxwell Jing, adding, "Let Maxwell go with you, just in case anyone tries to bully you!"
At this, Maxwell Jing’s mouth twitched. Who could possibly bully the Cloud Guildmaster?
The eunuch quickly laughed, "Your Highness must be joking—no one would dare bully the Princess Consort!" But in his heart, he muttered, clearly the Ghostmaster was utterly bewitched by Princess Mo. No wonder the emperor named her the Enchantress Consort. Maybe she really was a demon! Otherwise, why did all the women who entered the Ghostmaster’s manor never last more than three days, yet she was perfectly fine—and even managed to steal the Ghostmaster’s soul.
Claire Yi lowered her head, her nose tingling with sadness. Her senior brother had actually scolded her! Blinking away the tears that welled up in her eyes, she said a little aggrieved, "The puppy I was raising disappeared, so I came out to look for it!" After Lily Xia died, she had been heartbroken and with no one to talk to, she bought a puppy to keep her company.
Mentioning the dog made Damien Gray's already dark expression turn even colder. He said in a chilling voice, "From now on, no animals are allowed in the manor!"
Startled, Claire Yi nodded blankly. By the time she came to her senses, Damien Gray had already walked away.
Maxwell Jing followed behind Damien Gray, glancing back at her and shaking his head with a sigh. Of all things to raise, why a dog? And it just so happened to catch the Princess Consort's attention. How could the Ghostmaster not vent his anger?
Just as he was thinking this, Damien Gray suddenly said, "From now on, you will stay by Mo'er’s side!"
"Huh?" Maxwell Jing was a bit stunned. Was the Ghostmaster about to abandon him?
Damien Gray ignored his shock and continued, "No male creature is allowed near her. And... you’re no exception. Remember to keep your distance, or I’ll send you to the palace as a eunuch!"
Maxwell Jing jumped back in fright, nodding repeatedly, almost reaching to cover a certain part of himself!
After a moment's thought, Damien Gray added, "Females shouldn’t get too close either!" He didn’t want anything or anyone to take up the place that belonged to him in Morgan Shangguan’s heart.
Maxwell Jing nodded like a pecking chick, afraid that if he hesitated even a moment, Damien Gray would really send him off to the palace.