The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 43

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Morgan

Ari's tears faltered for a moment, her lower lip trembling as she cast a wounded look at Tsuneo.

"But Tsuneo," she whimpered, "she attacked me! I'm telling the truth!"

anger simmering

Tsuneo's gaze flicked back to her, and this time, there was no mistaking the anger s beneath its cool surface.

"The truth?" he repeated, his voice a low growl. He took a step closer, his eyes landing on the jade and gold fabric draped over Ari's form. Something nostalgic flickered across his face, quickly followed by a surge of icy fury.

"That, he spat, his voice laced with disgust, "is my mother's robe. Explain, Ari. How exactly did. this 'gift' come into your possession?"

People around us gasped. It was perfect. I could have asked for a better setup. Ari's carefully constructed facade crumbled. The color drained from her face, leaving her ashen and speechless. She stammered, her carefully crafted story dissolving into a pathetic whimper. The sight brought an unexpected wave of... relief. It wasn't the sweet, triumphant kind, but a quiet satisfaction that washed over me, a validation that I hadn't anticipated.

Tsuneo believed me, and.... I was right about his feelings about the robe.

I couldn't remember many people ever believing me in confrontations like this. I remembered countless arguments with Goro's daughter. She thrived on getting me into trouble. Her and her favorite cousin, a boy who hated me because I'd beat him in a sparring match when we were five, would lie, and fabricate stories, and every time, despite my tearful pleas, no one would believe me. Everyone, save for my father. He was my rock, my unwavering defender, the only one who saw through their charades and believed me. He'd been so fair... So kind.

He hadn't deserved to die the way he had.

The memory brought a lump to my throat, a bittersweet mix of sadness and gratitude. I missed my father dearly, the pain of his absence was still a fresh wound. But in that moment, witnessing Tsuneo's unwavering belief, a tiny spark of hope flickered within me. Perhaps, in some strange way, my father would have approved of him.

The Trial by Fire was a brutal tradition, and marrying a stranger, a prince no less was far from ideal.

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unwavering loyalty,

the past few days. It glanced at Tsuneo, his anger slowly giving way to a thoughtful frown. He met my gaze, a flicker of something... gratitude? passing

yourself," Tsuneo said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "And then you will apologize to my wife for the blatant disrespect. She may not know all about traditions, which you do, if my mother were here, would you think

played on

B-But-

"Remove the robe." There was no room for discussion in his tone, a stark contrast to his usual gentle

and streaked with dried tears, hesitated for a moment, but the steely glint in Tsuneo's eyes left her with no choice.

gasp and lunged forward. I gathered it into her arms, dusting it off as much as she could. I checked the look of it and nodded. It would need laundering and maybe a little mending, but it would

key? Why... why would I have that?" But the tremor

coy, Ari. Hand it

a small, ornate key. She tossed it towards Tsuneo with a flick of

back to

completely extinguished. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, her chin jutting

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a real queen. She's just a human on a borrowed throne. She has

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me, but before I could retort, Tsuneo's voice cut

concubines huddled together, their faces pale with fear. The servants

had to be