The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

CH29 Tsuneo

A beat of silence passed. Then, she began. Her hands were gentle as she began cleaning the wound on my shoulder. It stung, but I barely noticed it around the throbbing pain of my claws. gouging into my flash. "Nothing?"

I said nothing.

"Fine. Poison's making you crazy?" I scoffed. "Not that then. Is it making you dragon hyper-aggressive for some reason?... Or is this like a beast gnawing its own leg off to get out of a trap?"

I set my jaw, and her hands went still.

""Tsuneo? Am I right?"

I hesitated. The memory of the hallucination and the searing pain was still fresh in my mind. Part of me wanted to confide in her, to tell her everything. But a deep-seated shame, honed by the sheer amount of damage this whole incident has caused, held me back. "It's complicated," I mumbled, my gaze flickering away from her.

"Uncomplicate it."

I scoffed. "It hurts."

"Too simple, try again."

"I didn't watch my food and drink, and now everyone is paying the price."

She went still. "You only eat off jade plates. Try again."

I blinked and looked at her. She frowned. "I know poison probably messes with your head, but it

had to be something else."

I blinked and nodded. All this time, we'd been working on the assumption that it was something I ate or drank because there were so few people who had access to my clothes, but I nodded. I didn't remember much about the day I passed out or the days leading up to it. Maybe."

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CH29

"You've got to get in close. Your clothes

like I should bathe in a

scoffed. "And this

something more?"

my throat once more. Was it so obvious, the way I was holding back? Taking a deep breath, I

my voice low and measured. "There are things I can't tell you yet. Things

"Uncomplicate it, husband."

words coming from her lips. Then, I eyed

"You're manipulating me."

wife, especially if it's

I laughed.

www

finally, the words heavier than I intended. "But trust is a two-way street.

of disappointment crossed her features, but she nodded slowly, accepting my answer

now.

said, her voice resigned. "So I'll keep guessing and

a practiced ease, she cleaned the wound, applying a cooling salve that soothed the burning ache. Her touch,

suffocating but strangely comfortable. In the quiet intimacy of the moment, a strange thought flickered to life - perhaps trust, like any bond, was built not on a foundation of complete openness but on a shared journey, one careful step at a time. The thought gave me a sliver of hope. Maybe, just maybe, with time, I could tell

guessing nerve pain," she said finally. "A neurotoxin

K 88%

10:03 Wed, Oct 16

CH29

paralytic."

I thought you were

father was a doctor, actually. His mother was a

sighed. "He

"Doctor Shang?"

The silence stretched once more, this time a comfortable one filled with the quiet thrum of

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