Chapter 51

CH51

Morgan

Tsuneo looked surprised.

"What is it?"

"I was under the impression that your family of humans-"

I snickered. He wrinkled his nose.

"Is that odd phrasing?"

"A little," I smiled at him. "But a little endearing..."

His smile turned warm, and his eyes brightened. I looked away.

"You were saying?"

"Your family... is from an area that bathes communally, isn't it?"

"My father's family, yes." I nodded. "But I never got the to never had the time, and I was always excluded from going."

go to the communal baths. I

My lips twitched at the thought.

"The Jaki Baths in my hometown are the best on this side of the continent, but I never went."

"Why?"

"Well..." I shrugged. "It was a luxury, for one."

"Your family didn't seem to be poor."

really.

looked at me as if he already knew I was lying and it pained him. I-bit-my lip and dropped my gaze to my knees. After everything, should I really be cagey about this? It wasn't like it was my fault that my family were jerk No one ever want to go with me when I had time, I said. "Then... I was too busy to go. Even though

that. He looked genuinely confused, or maybe troubled. Then he sat

"That's terrible."

shrugged. "ve always wanted to try it, so this is a

against the stone and

eye open. His eyes were bright

reconcile

haven't had a proper honeymoon," he began,

bulged at

like that, but... I wouldn't be

looked away. "You were

things settle

place in mind, I think you will like a great deal. There are these... fairy springs, hidden. deep within the mountains to the south. The water is said to

bathing in a magical pool, surrounded by nature, sounded worlds better than bathing with half

we are in your realm, we will go to these Jaki Baths so

I sunk down a little more into the bath

genuine smile playing on

"You need not thank

me, wife."

silence, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water. The tension of the evening had melted away, replaced by a sense of intimacy and relaxation we both needed. The world outside seemed to

blood roared in my ears, a maddening

CH51

82

away from the dining hall toward my room. Servants jumped out of my way, but I could hear them snickering, laughing, gossiping about me. About what that human woman had said. How the king was treating me now. How everything between

into my chambers, slamming the heavy oak door with a

gone so wrong? Tsuneo... my Tsuneo... he was supposed to be mine. I knew since we were children that we were destined

Empress.

His wife!

human's face flashed through my mind. I whirled around with a shriek of fury, knocking over a delicate porcelain vase in the process. The sound of shattering echoed through the room was almost cathartic. I screamed and threw chairs. I clawed through a tapestry I'd had since I was child. I couldn't stop until every surface was bare and overturned. My pillows on the floor. Sheets

"That little bitch!"

Tsuneo's wife. I'd taken care of him while he was in his coma. I was at his side. I spoke with the concubines and managed them and their petty gossip. I made the lazy servants do exactly what they should be doing. The king loved

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