The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 25

The Dragon King's Substitute Bride.

CH25 Morgan

I scoffed. I knew from the night before that he was a mischievous old man, but jeez. Though, I was glad that there was a bit of light in his eyes.

"Well, pons, if it's any consolation, I feel worse for wear," I gestured to Ari. "That one is screeching, and your other son has insinuated that I'm sleeping with Doctor Shang."

He laughed. "Little Shang's love is his work at the moment." He looked at Ari. "I thought I was clear about getting along with Tsuneo's queen."

"She's keeping me from seeing him.

"It's her right." Her jaw dropped. "I've been taking care of him all these years!"

"And you could not pass the Trial. He is married now. You should be relieved. It's only a matter of time before he wakes, and he'll be at your wedding like you've always wanted."

She glared at me, and I shook my head. The old man was delusional if he thought she wanted Tsuneo at her wedding and not standing across the aisle from her. He looked down, and his eyes. brightened.

"Anya, what are you doing here? Are you getting fruit juice all over the doctor?" He scooped the little girl into his arms. She let out a little giggle that felt like a prick in my heart. Grief hit me. hard, and I averted my gaze. "You're red. That mother of yours get you sick again?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck, looking over his shoulder at me. There was something a little unsettling in her gaze, and I thought back to the night before. Was she a mermaid?

"It can't be proper for a young,

unmarried man to have breakfast with the queen," Ari hissed.

"Doctor Shang is an esteemed member of Tsuneo's retinue. There's nothing improper about it at

He smiled at me. "Probably here to give her a cure for that headache I know she has."

I looked at Doctor Shang, and he pulled a vial out of his robes and offered it to me.

He gestured across the way to the box. "For the

lax in his

725

put his plate on the table and reloaded Anya's plate. "As you are up

left, cooing at Anya. "It's been a while

Keiji followed him out. I looked

his daughter or

"Daughter."

revealing a young guard, his face serious. "Your Majesty," he announced, bowing slightly. "The next supply delivery is

timing, I thought with

started on that."I pushed to my feet, ate the rest of my pastry, and

into shoes, leaving the rest of the food. there on the table. I exited with my bag for the day and the medications. I locked the door behind me with a barrier. The guard from earlier was still there. He escorted

here.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

to where the mirror was. The

our

I stepped through. I

quickly, his brow furrowing slightly, "You alright? You look like you

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CH25

the nearby bench with a sigh. "But

the cave... Speaking of news, your family has sent messages about the business. Not really addressed to you, but you should probably see them." "How nice of them to make

house, walking despite the regal caravan that had been restored from my use. I didn't want the pomp and circumstance, and I wasn't going to take it if I didn't have to. Instead,

escort.

bills that had been on the books; had I missed something? Maybe it was some other trouble? What kind of trouble, though? Pushing thoughts of Tsuneo, the

shop. Taking a fortifying breath, I steeled myself

nostalgia hit me. Seeing worn wooden shelves and the sight of bolts of fabric and accessories was like stepping back in time. But the atmosphere inside the shop was different. Gone was the usual bustle of customers, replaced by

usually ran the shop. Their faces were now lined with

gasped, his voice thick with emotion. "Is it... is