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.

our marriage, of course. The Trial by Fire was a brutal tradition, and marrying a stranger, a prince no less was far from ideal. But

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the strength in Tsuneo, his unwavering loyalty, and the way

that transcended the chaos of the past few days. It glanced at Tsuneo,

wife for the blatant disrespect. She may not know all about traditions, which you do, if my

played on my lips as Tsuneo

B-But-

There

hesitated for a moment, but the steely glint in Tsuneo's eyes left her with no choice. Mumbling under her breath, she fumbled with the garment,

a startled 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

eyes widened in alarm. "The key? Why... why would I have that?" But the tremor in her

coy, Ari. Hand it

tossed it towards Tsuneo with a flick of

turning his attention back to Ari, "an apology is

in front of her chest, her chin jutting out defiantly,

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She's just a human on a borrowed throne. She has no place here. She won't be here for long, one way or

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surged through me, but before I could retort, Tsuneo's voice cut through the air, sharp as a honed

huddled together, their faces pale with fear. The servants cowered. I looked

had to be something