The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 16

CH16

Morgan

Tsuneo stepped back into the bedroom and out of sight. I lowered the barrier and let Doctor Shang in. He was alone, carrying a box and a satchel. There was a smudge of something on his check, and an herbal scent drifted across the room when he entered. "I've marked the remedies," he said and set them on the table. "They're intensive, but they are not quick fixes. I would need more time for that, but those remedies are brewing."

He set the remedies on the table and showed them all to me. There were three weeks worth of

remedies for my brother and a bunch of other vials filled with shimmering liquid. The glowing

blue ones were for his sister.

"There should be enough for the next three weeks in your time. Have Imperial Captain Ael and whoever else works with him attend to your brother to administer the potions. I'll have more intensive ones ready soon." "Thank you."

He pulled out a roll of paper and handed it to me. "These are notes about the notes for what the Elders have put together for you. They have it all gathered in the foyer."

I winced. "I'll.. figure it out on the other side."

I wasn't sure how best to get it all, considering the distance between the mirror in the unit's house and the gateway for the Trial. I hauled the bag of gold onto my shoulders, but Tsuneo came up behind me, taking the bag from me. Doctor Shang's eyes widened. "You-"

"Take the cart," Tsuneo said. The closet opened, and a floating box came out. "You are the queen. You don't carry a bag like a commoner."

I scoffed. "I'm Morgan, and I've carried a lot of bags."

He chuckled and put the bag and remedies in the box. "Not anymore."

The journals stood up and floated into the closet. Doctor Shang looked stunned, but he said nothing. Tsuneo cupped my face. There was a pleased light in his eyes.

'Safe journey, wife."

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CH16

"Wait," I said, grabbing his sleeve before he turned away. "About the money and stuff."

"Wife-"

embarrassment that washed through me.

can't just take your

jaw clenched. "Why can you not take

not our money. It's yours ar... imperial money. I can't just take

you

my jaw. "A

cocked an eyebrow. "A

their sovereign all the

his body. A wave of heat swept through me, but it felt like it came from beyond me. It

at the insinuation in his

the imperial family, right? Your father

sword."

he skimmed his fingertips across

lot." A smile tugged

"First rule of survival."

he said, the word laced with amusement. "Very well,

the shock of electricity that hit me at

in

name on his lips.

something... incredibly lavish for a...wedding

stammered, momentarily forgetting

lot to make up for." He chuckled, a rich, rumbling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Look forward to it." He turned away,

was meant to be

scoffed. "You want an ungrateful wife?

point where gratitude applies. As I said, there is much

I headed out of the door with Doctor Shang. He grinned at me and hustled off down the hall. I took the quickest path back to the mirror I'd come through, which was

the room inside Ael's unit's house. The room was empty, but the house wasn't. I could

room, searching every room I passed until I reached the

corner and

to the floating

for his sister. The top ones are for my brother, and the rest are..." I frowned, not sure how

said. "And none too soon. We had just

bowed his head. "Thank you. I will

more," I said. "The Elders-the king- organized food and stuff... but they put it near the gateway for the Trial, and I have no idea how to get it through different mirrors." His eyes bulged. "There will be no need. I'll gather caravans and horses to transport

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