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-"

that washed through me. "And like I

can't just take

jaw clenched. "Why can you not

money. It's yours ar... imperial money. I

not humoring you not

set my jaw. "A loan

cocked an

sovereign all the

of heat swept through me, but it felt like it came from beyond me. It was dizzying and gone just as quick as it

blinked. My stomach flipped at the insinuation in his

for the imperial family, right?

sword."

skimmed his fingertips across

A smile tugged

"First rule of survival."

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

of electricity that

sound in

on his lips.

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

what?" I stammered, momentarily

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

believe the last time was meant to be the

want an ungrateful

I said, there is much to make up for." He met my gaze, his

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

ornately carved mirror, I stepped into the room inside Ael's unit's house. The room was empty, but the house wasn't. I could feel their presence, and part of me wondered if

every room I passed until I

the corner and

His gaze dropped to the floating box behind me, and his eyes. widened.

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

"And none too

bowed his head. "Thank you. I will get them distributed across all the

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 it and

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