The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 12

The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

CH12 Tsunco

Seeing her in such pain set an ache in my chest. It had been shocking, but the way her mind had exploded with grief and rage when I'd broken the sword had unlocked the depths of her mind to me, leaving me breathless. I saw the charred bodies of the women who had gone before her. It was so vivid 1 could almost smell the scent of burning flesh. I could taste her fear and feel my heart

grave, and racing the way hers had when she was brought up to the podium. I saw an older man, a grave, a young boy who lay in bed, pale as death and unmoving. I saw paintings of young women carrying the sword.

My father had commissioned the sword as a gift to the Ryuyama family for their daughter's skilled work on my mother's coronation robe. I remember playing with the golden chord she wore around her waist when I was a child. It was the one piece of her coronation garb that she always wore.

I watched her face, every shifting emotion in her eyes, and the way her emotions swelled and gushed forward. I heard ringing bells, screaming a warning. I saw a woman's face staring at her in shock. Who was she? I saw another older man sitting in front of a room with people facing him. The room reminded me of the throne room of my youth. She was furious and hurt. The memory

felt sharp with her emotions.

Slowly, her emotions ebbed, and her mind came to the forefront. The images faded, but I could hear her thoughts.

Why does it matter? I can't get out of here.

"No," I whispered. "You can't... and neither can I."

She blinked. I took a deep breath and met her gaze.

"Every Dragon King's queen has been chosen through the Trial of Fire. It marks you and me just the same. You could return to the human realm and never return, but you would be bound to me

until the day you died... You would seemingly cease to age and watch your family grow old and fade to memory. It is not a fate we would have placed on a human, especially not one with family if we had any other choice."

I met her gaze. "Again, I am sorry. There may never be a time when you can forgive anything that has been done, but I hope you can at least understand that it has been a choice of necessity, not spite."

She swallowed. Her lips trembled, and it took everything in me to stay where I was. Her scent was pulling me in, making me dizzy. The anger of earlier had turned to a low burning heat in me.

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She sniffled and looked away. Then, she looked up and past me. I assumed that Doctor Shang was

behind me.

it enough?" She

Majesty. It is my duty to serve you and His

whatever way I can."

don't believe in free

a moment, I saw a little girl

assure you that the throne pays me, but if it will ease your heart, we

sniffled and nodded

the realm. The youngest imperial healer since your father?" Doctor Shang kneeled beside me, looking up at her.

his hand to his chest. "I'll start reviewing the documents

to have a treatment devised within a

half a day, and t-three weeks passed." Her voice

has the long."

to himself.

I would appreciate it if you'd let her get you cleaned up. I'll

glanced at me. "Will you stay with

"Why?"

Majesty is coming," he said. "He's more likely to cut his visit short if you are here, giving you... time

glanced at me meaningfully, and headed to the door. I watched the door closed and the shimmer of jade and

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light of the sky started to fade, turning that shimmering blue of calmness. I felt

around us, bit by bit. How could a human woman be

deep breath as her hands

eyes. "My father was murdered by his wife and brother so that he could take

aren't you?" She nodded. "Why didn't you

My

was in the accident that killed my father... They'd

Goro's son. It would have

send me..." She looked up, and another tear streamed

"And... this Ren?"

me Ren.

feeling foolish. I pushed

"Mizuki is Goro's daughter."

you're nothing a