The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 44

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Morgan

Ari's bravado seemed to falter for a moment, her gaze flickering between me and Tsuneo. Then,

with a defiant toss of her head, she spat, "I will not apologize to a human usurper."

The room erupted in gasps. The concubines, who had been mere observers until now, exchanged. wide-eyed glances, the weight of Ari's words settling heavily in the air. Usurper?

"She's stolen the place of your rightful bride! The rightful queen!"

The nerve of her. Fury surged through me, hot and potent. I didn't care about her thoughts about me being here. She was an idiot and asked to be here. It was the principal of the thing. This woman, this viper, had the audacity to speak of a 'rightful bride" while simultaneously

disrespecting the memory of Tsuneo's mother? I clenched my fists, the urge to slap the smug look off her face threatening to consume me.

But before I could react, Tsuneo did. His voice, when he spoke again, was devoid of any warmth, a chilling echo of the fury simmering beneath the surface.

"Guards!" he boomed, his voice echoing through the room. The doors flew open with a bang, revealing two stoic figures clad in black armor. It was my guard, the Queen's Guard, oddly enough., Their presence alone commanded respect, their silence a stark contrast to the commotion that had just unfolded.

Tsuneo didn't waste any words on explanations. He pointed a rigid finger at Ari. "Escort Lady Ari back to her chambers," he commanded his guards, his voice laced with steel. "And seize any and all items that may have belonged to my mother."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. Ari's face paled, the color draining from her cheeks like blood from a severed vein. "No, Tsuneo! You can't do this!" she shrieked, her voice laced with desperation. "Those are my things! Gifts from your mother!" "You're a liar. As such, I can't believe a word out of your mouth." His gaze held a chilling emptiness, devoid of any sympathy for her plight. We will determine the legitimacy of those claims later," he said, his voice cold.

The guards marched forward, their movements swift and efficient. Ari, realizing the futility of resistance, slumped in defeat. As they shered her out of the room, she cast a final venomous glare in my direction, promising silent threats that hung heavy in the air. The doors slammed shut behind them, leaving a heavy silence in their wake. The tension in the

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weight of the confrontation hanging

Tsumco

state of my emotions. The air hung thick with the residue of

blatant challenge to Morgan's position and, by extension, mine. I had to figure out how to deal with her later after I had to calm down a bit. Fury gnawed at me, a cold, metallic tang in my throat. Disloyalty, I could handle. But disrespect towards my wife, the woman who had not only saved my life but also begun to breach the walls I'd built around my heart - that was something I wouldn't tolerate.

wa

war hero. A dragon's heart was not swayed by diplomacy or

turmoil within me, sent a calming wave washing over my dragon. Contentment, a feeling I hadn't known I craved, swirled within him, mirroring my own desire

rough with the remnants of anger, "I apologize

questioned, a playful lilt in

at the corner of my lips. Indeed," I conceded. "But a show nonetheless, and one that shouldn't have happened

chest. "Don't worry about it,

taste in my mouth. "Ari is

gaze, a silent understanding passing

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voice firm. "I will speak with her... or perhaps my father can have a word. One

have my full support to do as you feel you

lips curved upwards in a genuine smile, a sight that sent a jolt of pure pleasure through my dragon. Seeing her happy, content... it filled a void I hadn't even realized existed. Perhaps, just perhaps, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, a seed of something real, something hopeful, had begun to take root. I cupped her

hope you are not deeply

scoffed. "I'm not offended

is not how I wanted your few

without a

her amusement, her willingness to