Forensic Imperial Concubine by Erika Black

The moment Rolando saw the couple riding their horses side by side, complicated feelings started to blossom inside his chest.
Although he had been able to deceive her with his gentle mask, he could not deny the hurt he was feeling. He felt like the fake
mask he put on was shattered into a million little pieces.
"Harper, it's late. Where are you going?" Rolando softly asked.
"Go home, Rolando," Harper replied, the smile on her face unchanging, as if she didn't hold grudge against him. Matthew's face,
on the other hand, darkened. His grim expression only meant one thing: he wanted to crush Rolando into a million little pieces.
"Home?" Rolando repeated. 'Home, Harper? Do you still consider the Bright Dynasty your home? Didn't that place only give you
pain?' he thought, feeling disappointed. "You still don't consider the Great Jade Kingdom your home?"
Harper shook her head, but her smile never faded. "I'm just a guest here, Rolando. You know that. You own the Great Jade
Kingdom and I'm just a passerby."
"The Great Jade Kingdom is your home, Harper! Bright Dynasty has given you nothing but pain!" Rolando firmly said in a
noticeably louder voice. "Why would you ever want to go back to that wretched place?"
"Honestly, wherever Matthew is, it is home for me. We can be in the Bright Dynasty, the Wonder Kingdom, or the South Kingdom
—I don't care. As long and he and I are together, I am at home," Harper replied, her face looking peaceful.
The smile on Rolando's face gradually faded away. Yet, Matthew was feeling and looking the exact opposite: the previously cold
expression on his face morphed into something warm and happy, with a soft smile gracing his lips.
"In that case, I guess I have no choice: in order to keep you here, I'd also have to keep him here." Rolando turned to Matthew,
rage and jealousy burning in his eyes. Without any kind of warning, he then lunged at him, his movement as smooth, sharp, and
quick as lightning. Matthew wasn't taken by surprise, however—he, too, was now rushing towards Rolando. Soon enough, the
two clashed, their energies neutralizing each other in a dazzling and heart-stopping display. Harper was unfazed sitting on her
horse, electing to just look on instead of intervening. Diana, on the other hand, was forced off of her horse by the sheer force of
the impact between Rolando and Matthew. Fortunately she was able to quickly recover and stand up, just in time to see how

majestic the fight between the two men was. It was her first time seeing them meet, and she was stunned by how powerful they
both were. Only then did she realize how utterly stupid it was for her to even suggest to deal with Rolando alone. Even if
Rolando got injured, it would literally take ten of her to at the very least neutralize him. 'Actually, even then it would be very hard,'
she thought, feeling sweat run down her face.
Zorro prepared himself for what was about to happen as soon as he saw Rolando blocking their way. Quickly, he retreated far,
far away so that he wouldn't be as affected. Seeing Harper stand her ground effortlessly, he was astounded. 'I have always
known that His Highness's strength is unfathomable, but I didn't expect that Her Highness's strength is on par as his! She doesn't
look affected by what is happening at all, which is impressive!' "Amazing!" Diana whispered in utter disbelief. As she touched her
bruised face, searing pain began to flood her senses. It only made Harper's nonchalance more admirable. "I really didn't expect
my master to be such a powerful being. No wonder she adores that weirdo, Matthew, another powerful being! But Emperor
Rolando... is just as strong as them. It's honestly amazing how she still hasn't taken a fancy in him!" she said.
Zorro rolled his eyes. How would it be possible for someone like Harper to fall in love with Rolando? Yes, Rolando was strong
and skillful, but that didn't mean that Harper would just fancy him. Stories had circulated that even Matthew found it hard to
convince Harper to marry him—he had to put so much effort into courting her! That was why Zorro believed that Harper wouldn't
just let Rolando into her life. She wasn't an ordinary girl, and so there was no way Rolando could trick her that easily!
As the two men were busy fiercely fighting each other, Harper started her journey once more, with her horse galloping right in the
middle of the action. After a while, she and her horse vanished into the darkness of the night.
"Harper... just... ran away just like that?" Diana was petrified. She couldn't believe that Harper escaped on her own while her
husband was still locked in a dangerous duel with Rolando! Zorro was stunned as well. His surprise was so great that his face
contorted into something unpleasant-looking. Just a few moments ago, he praised Harper for her power and dedication, but the
next second, she just abandoned everyone as if they were nothing! This unexpected action from Harper failed to shake
Matthew's resolve to win the fight against his foe, but it quickly disturbed his enemy Rolando, as he had only goal: Harper. She
had just claimed that any place, as long as Matthew was there, was home for

her, but now, as her husband was fighting, she escaped just like that!
"Go and get her!" Rolando immediately ordered.
Several shadows materialized out of thin air at once. They were Rolando's secret guards, and soon, they were flying towards the
way Harper went. Meanwhile, Matthew just took a glance at Zorro and Zorro immediately understood what he had to do: take on
the secret guards and chase after Harper. It seemed like Harper escaped because she didn't want to distract Matthew from the
fight!
At this development, Rolando couldn't help but be filled with annoyance. The man he was fighting was at the same level as him
when it came to power, skills, and determination. As long as the he was in his way, none of his people would be able to even
remotely get close to Harper. And once she escaped his grasp, it would be almost impossible for him to get her back again!
"Matthew, are you aware of the fact that Harper will perish the moment she goes beyond a certain distance from me?" Rolando
suddenly asked. Matthew paused to think about what he said, but after a fast few seconds, he was back in action again.
"My wife dying because of you? You must be kidding me. It's not that I don't believe you, man—I'm just highly confident in what
she can do!"
"You don't believe me?" Rolando retorted, flashing Matthew a malicious smile. "Matthew, trust me—you will send that woman
back to me sooner than you think. You can't kill me."
"Should I consider that a threat?"
"Well, come and see and if I'm threatening you," Rolando said as he withdrew his hands and stopped attacking Matthew. With
cold eyes, he glared at Matthew, saying, "I've long known that Harper is in love with you. I can't keep her, but there is no way I
would let go of her. The good thing is that I found a way to connect her to me forever. As long as I'm alive, she will be alive; yet if
I die, she will also die!"