The sky gradually darkened.
As the full moon hung high in the sky, the deep night, when everyone was asleep, quietly arrived.
Although the Imperial Capital would be lively tonight, and officials and knights were constantly rushing out of the Imperial Palace, seemingly alarmed by some major event, Harvis’s place was quiet, even desolate.
“After all, those guys outside wouldn’t allow anyone to visit me, a prince suspected of treason.”
Harvis stood by the window, looking at the knights guarding outside his bedchamber, a self-deprecating expression on his face.
Looking closely, although Harvis’s complexion was normal, as if he hadn’t been mistreated, he was wearing a pair of handcuffs.
The handcuffs were fastened to his wrists, but unlike ordinary handcuffs, they weren’t connected by a chain, allowing Harvis’s hands to move freely.
But on the handcuffs, mysterious magic runes flickered from time to time.
Clearly, these were magic handcuffs.
Harvis was restrained by these magic handcuffs, sighing as he felt his magic power suppressed.
“With my current state, there’s no way I can escape from here, right?”
Even if he could escape from here, he couldn’t escape the heavily guarded Imperial Palace with its barriers.
Therefore, Harvis’s freedom was no longer something he possessed.
“How ironic.”
For the most influential prince of the Empire, the ideal heir to the throne in everyone’s eyes, to be reduced to this state was truly ironic.
However…
“Such self-pity isn’t like you, Your Highness.”
A voice suddenly came from behind Harvis, making him tremble. He abruptly turned around and looked.
In the next second, Harvis saw the cloaked figure who had appeared silently.
“You…?”
Harvis’s eyes widened, his face full of shock.
“What?” Shien smirked playfully, “Don’t recognize me anymore?”
Hearing this, Harvis fell silent.
After a while, Harvis relaxed and let out a wry chuckle.
“You finally came, Earl Buztout.” Harvis, whether seeing hope or feeling ashamed, smiled wryly and said, “I’m sorry for letting you see me in such a pathetic state.”
Harvis’s tone was filled with helplessness and an unprecedented sense of relief.
Shien shrugged.
“I also didn’t expect to see you in this situation after coming here as agreed.” Shien glanced at the magic handcuffs on Harvis’s wrists and said casually, “It seems that you, like that Knight Commander of the Bigusler family, haven’t had an easy time recently.”
“If eating and drinking well counts as having an easy time, then I suppose I’m doing quite well.” Harvis said helplessly, “I have to admit, I messed up this time. I underestimated that venomous Consort.”
It should be said that Harvis had been careless.
He thought he could use the opportunity of attending the selection of the Kingdom’s Treasure’s husband to go to the Kingdom for help, but he didn’t expect that his departure played right into Mara’s hands.
“If I hadn’t left, Mara wouldn’t have been able to spread rumors about me and Lord Rockto so blatantly, filling the Imperial Capital with talk of our treason.”
Harvis was truly helpless.
If he had been in the Imperial Capital at that time, with his caution and resourcefulness, he would have definitely noticed the actions of Mara’s faction and wouldn’t have allowed these rumors to spread, letting them use this opportunity to report him to His Majesty and gradually weaken his prestige and power.
Of course…
“If you hadn’t left the Empire, hadn’t gone out to seek help, then in your situation, it would have been equally difficult to deal with that so-called Imperial Consort who bewitched your father, ousted your mother, and now holds immense power, right?”
Shien pointed out Harvis’s predicament.
“Indeed.” Harvis nodded in agreement, murmuring, “If I hadn’t left the Empire, I would have been eliminated by that venomous Consort Mara sooner or later.”
From this perspective, the current situation wasn’t entirely bad.
After all, it was better to gamble than to die a slow death, seeking an opportunity to break the deadlock.
Thinking of this, Harvis felt a little better.
Especially with Shien’s arrival, Harvis saw hope of escaping his current predicament.
Thinking of this, Harvis spoke straightforwardly.
“You’ve already met with Lord Rockto, haven’t you, Earl Buztout?”
According to their previous agreement, after arriving in the Imperial Capital, Shien should have looked for Rockto first.
“Then you should have a rough understanding of the current situation from Lord Rockto, right?”
Harvis regained his usual calmness and composure.
“That’s right.” Shien didn’t beat around the bush, “I know about your current situation, and I also know that although Diere encountered some setbacks, her life isn’t in danger.”
Because of this, Shien came to Harvis first.
Otherwise, he would have already started searching for Diere throughout the Imperial Capital.