The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 42

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Morgan

She sputtered and drew back. "You-"

"Unless I am wrong and you simply came for a snack."

"I came because these wretches aren't doing what needs to be done. Tsuneo's awakening deserves-

"I'll be the judge of that." I turned to the rest of the staff. As I said before, whatever was on the menu is perfectly fine. My husband is not a difficult man. Serve with good intentions and on time. That is more than enough." I looked back at her

tedly. "And what's your excuse for your dress? It's not exactly your color."

She sneered. "What would you know about it? It was a gift from my Tsuneo. It belonged to my mother-in-law."

"Are you intimating that you are married to my husband?" I asked. "You do realize that as a concubine. Your authority would not exceed mine. Nor would it give you the right to wear my colors."

"They're my colors," Ari said, her chin jutting out defiantly. "You're really a stand-in for now."

The air crackled with tension. My hand instinctively went to the hilt of my sword, but this wasn't the time for a brawl. Ari's lie

was flimsy at best, and I intended to unravel it in front of these very witnesses. I just had to let her dig herself deeper and deeper into the hole. Even like her only burned when they hit absolute rock bottom. "Yours?" I repeated, my voice laced with skepticism. "How very... interesting. To my understanding, you failed the Trial."

She flinched. "And when exactly did my husband bestow this... precious gift upon you? Surely, it wouldn't have been after he fell into a coma as he woke up to save me from another would-be usurper. The color drained from Ari's face, her bravado crumbling. A collective gasp echoed through the room as the weight of my words sunk in.

what do you mean?" Ari stammered, her

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power dynamics. "We all know the Queen's chambers haven't been opened since her demise. And

for escape, for an ally in the sea of disapproving faces. But there was none. The staff all went back to whatever their tasks were, occasionally glancing over with a curious look. The tides of gossip would be changing quite soon. By dinnertime, everyone would know that Ari

lie!" she finally spat, her voice laced with

to know that you're lying. And enough to know that I have every

offer of lemon disease. Take it off, and see to

there will be consequences. That I

eyes. She straightened her posture, the defiance returning. Good.

mine. A gift from Tsuneo and his mother, and I won't be

tension. The servants huddled together, wide-eyed witnesses to the unfolding confrontation. I heard others coming in and recognized them from the

the afternoon light. "Very well, I said, my voice cold. "If

escaped the gathered women as I took a menacing step forward. Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the tense silence.

Ari, and before his gaze dragged over Ari

Tsuneo demanded, his voice sharp

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voice trailed off as he took in the full

at step, and collapsed to the ground in a heap of shimmering fabric. Her eyes, red-rimmed and brimming with manufactured tears, locked on

was so melodramatic it almost bordered on comical. Still, a flicker of concern crossed Tsuneo's face. He glanced at me, his gaze searching, his expression unreadable. Did he believe her? Was the trust, the connection we'd begun to build, just a figment

quelled it with a deep breath. Lowering my sword,

I thought it was my duty considering our positions

eyes flared with heat. His lips twitched.

race. I didn't know what to make of that expression. I aimed

out of fabric fairly