You Hit My Heart by Kylie Stanford

Chapter 2040: A Hidden Paradise Tadasuke replied, "Prince Reuben moved out of the palace two years ago. He has his own residence outside." "Oh, Prince Reuben," Joyce repeated the name, chewing on the words.

On the surface, she appeared calm, but inside, she was in turmoil. She didn't want to show it in front of them. Luther must be going crazy right now. Their hard-earned peaceful days were shattered in an instant. She dared not think about how worried Anderson and Iris must be, not being able to see her.

She had no communication devices-no phone, no computer, no internet, no TV. She had nothing when she woke up.

The place she was in felt more like a step back in tthan a hidden paradise.

It was deliberately isolated from the outside world, with traditional customs. The people here were long confined by traditional thoughts and rigid behaviors.

"Do you have a phone?" Joyce asked Tadasuke. "Uh, do you know what a phone is?" She gestured with her hands, "About this big, you can make calls and hear the other person's voice, connect with others." Tadasuke looked slightly exasperated. "I know. We are not allowed to use them in the palace." Though she was older and had lived in the palace for a long time, it didn't mean she was ignorant of the outside world.

"Oh, then how do you contact your family?" Joyce asked in surprise.

"We don't contact them regularly. When we leave the palace on holidays, we can use electronic devices outside. We have 15 days off each year," Tadasuke replied. "We can reunite with our families every year." Joyce's mouth nearly dropped open. "Only 15 days a year? Working around the clock without weekends or legal holidays. That's forced labor. It's unbelievable that you all accept this willingly. It's exploitation. Aren't you protected by labor laws? Why don't you strike? Rohomes is supposed to be a developed democratic country." Tadasuke didn't know how to respond. Talking to Joyce felt like hitting a brick wall.

"What about inside the palace? How do you communicate? No walkie-talkies or Bluetooth receivers? You can't possibly send someone running for every little thing," Joyce said, exasperated.

"That's exactly how it is," Tadasuke replied.

"So if I want to make a call, I have to leave the palace first? No one here can lenda phone?" Joyce confirmed.

Tadasuke gave Joyce a meaningful look. "Madam, it's best not to associate with Prince Reuben or contact him." "Why?" Joyce asked, puzzled.

"Brothers fighting over a woman is a major taboo in the palace," Tadasuke said seriously.

Joyce felt like she couldn't communicate with anyone here. They all seemed to live in the last century. She wondered where they found the palace staff and how much they were paid to live like this.

Tadasuke advised earnestly, "No matter what you did before or where you cfrom, now that you're in the palace, you must put aside worldly thoughts and serve the Crown Prince wholeheartedly. That is your duty." Worldly thoughts? It sounded like becoming a monk.

Joyce felt like she was about to break down. She tried to explain, "First of all, I'm not from Rohomes. I'm married and have children. Actually, Reuben and I are friends..." Before she could finish her sentence, Tadasuke interrupted, "Madam, please return to Imperial Villa. I'll take you to your room and see if you need anything prepared." Joyce felt speechless.

They really were like robots with no sense of rights, only knowing how to obey royal commands.

Joyce followed Tadasuke to her room in Imperial Villa.

Tadasuke respectfully said, "This is the room specifically designated for you by the Crown Prince." Joyce stood outside and looked around before peeking inside. It was much more extravagant than she had imagined, practically a small palace. Before entering, she asked, "This place looks big and luxurious. Who usually lives here?" "Imperial Villa is naturally the residence of the Crown Prince's consorts," Tadasuke replied. "This is the highest-grade room in Imperial Villa." Joyce frowned. Something felt off. Consorts? What a joke. Wasn't it supposed to be monogamous? "Are there other consorts living here?" Joyce asked again.

Tadasuke shook his head. "Not at the moment." Joyce rolled her eyes internally. As expected. From what she knew about the Rohomes royal family, she hadn't heard of concubines being allowed. Only one legal wife, while the rest were unofficial mistresses living together. "Where do you live?" Joyce asked.

"The female officials and maids live in Nagare Residence," Tadasuke answered.

Joyce suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Do men and women live together? Or do men have separate quarters?" Men live in Hirohiki Residence. We ake care of your daily needs. You can command any maid or steward ere, including me. If you need nything, just letknow, and I'll rrange it for you," Tadasuke replied Joyce smiled slightly. "Yes, I do have a need." Tadasuke hesitated. "I can't help you contact Prince Reuben." Joyce shook her head and turned away with her hands behind her back. "I don't want to stay in Imperial Villa. Arrange a room forin Nagare Residence." With that, she walked out of Imperial Villa.

Tadasuke was stunned for a moment. Who would leave Imperial Villa to stay where the servants lived? The woman brought back by the Crown Prince was truly strange.

While he was lost in thought, Joyce had already walked far away.

Tadasuke had no choice but to run after her, struggling to catch up with her pace.

"Madam, please don't make things difficult for me. If I neglect you, I'll be punished. Please don't make it hard for me," Tadasuke pleaded breathlessly behind Joyce.

"I'll say it again I'm not the Crown Prince's woman. I can't accept your arrangements to stay in Imperial Villa. Either arrange forto stay in Nagare Residence or I'll sleep in the garden," Joyce shrugged indifferently. She quickened her pace, looking around before breaking into a run that Tadasuke couldn't keep up with.

Joyce ran far until she saw a high wall in the distance with a majestic archway guarded by two rows of stern guards standing opposite each other.

She ran straight to the gate.

The guards quickly stepped forward to stop her.

"No one can leave without the Crown Prince's order!" The guard captain shouted loudly.