The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 64

Tunco

I ate quiet, chiming in to the conversation occasionally, but my mind was uneasy. I needed to speak to Morgan, to assure her that she could believe me. Of all the women 1 had been with. An had never been on the list. But as I turned to face her, I found myself at a loss for words. How do you explain to someone that you've never bad a romantic or physical relationship with a woman claiming to have born your child? The thought of trying to articulate my feelings to Morgan, of confessing my complete lack of interest in Ari, filled me with a sense of dread. It wasn't the truth, but the implications that were:

Ar desires were off-putting, her ambitions even more so.

Kai started to dig into the pudding Morgan ordered for him.

Morgan, sering my discomfort, offered me a reassuring smile. "Its going to be alright, Tsuneo," she said, her voice soft but firm. "All of this will pass You'll ser

Her faith in me and her unwavering support filled me with a sense of warmth and gratitude.

Thank

↑ I murmured, my voice barely audible. I looked at the kid. "Eat up. There's a festival after dinner."

Alestial? The two of them asked

It's supposed to be a celebration.

Morgan smiled. "The never been to a festival... Will there be face painting?"

"And snacka?" kai asked.

"Yes"

They looked at each other, and grinned.

At the last remnants of the feast were cleared away, a surge of excitement swept through The crowd. The air crockled with anticipation as the palace grounds transformed into a vibrant spectacle of light, music, and revelry: H-led them out in the courtyard, noting that the blood had been cleaned up from when i'd returned with Morgan Together, we made our way through the crowd, the weight of the evening seemed momentarily forgotten as we

The portan

now a bustling marketplace, filled with st

stalls offering everything from exotic

ir delicacies to handcrafted trinkets. Morgan, her face- alight with childlike wonder, tugend at my arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"It's time to exploer, the declined, her voice filled with a contagious enthusiasm.

She bank. Kal i hand and they headed off. I trailed behind them. I smiled, my heart warming at their infectious py. Together, we ventured into the heart of the festival, the capsd pushing and pulling at us like saves against the shore. The cacophony of sounds, the dazzling array of colors, and the intoxicating scent of food and drink created a sensory overload that was both exhilarating and overwhelming. It had been a long time since I had been In a fettinal, a long time since we'd hail a reason to live one.

My mother had led them bringing the practice back to life during her reign. We wandered through the bustling marketplace, their hands clasped

ther as we nengated the throng of people. Mangan stopped at a stall selling handmade jewelry, her eyes drawn to a delicate necklace adorned with

a satchel of comms out of my pocket and paid of it, draping it around her

I said. "And

lifted up

was the held few coins I

CHL

offering everything from exotic delicacies to handcrafted trinkets. The air

throng of people with her and Kal. Their laughter a contagious melody that

she said, nudging

of us and paid. My taste buds tingled with the tartness of a piece. She hummed with

to focus on the festivities, but my mind kept turning it over. The secrets I'd carried with me my entire life, ones that I had shared and ones I had not, hung over my mind like a

her. Kai was a few feet away, getting his face

whispered and kissed her

us. For now, we would enjoy this moment of peace. I grabbed her

was done, we headed further into the crow. We stumbled upon a stage where a group of musicians were performing a lively folk song, I lifted

long, we found ourselves swaying to the rhythm, our bodies moving in unison with the crowd. As we danced, I stole a glance at Morgan. Her laughter, a clear and infectious sound, filled the air. I remembered being a

as well, turning his nose

song came to an end almost too quickly before we

the bustling marketplace, a particularly lively stall caught our attention. A large wooden tub filled with water and floating apples drew a crowd of onlookers,

at that," Morgan exclaimed, her eyes sparkling

me, his face alight with curiosity.

at that and lifted

his voice. "Alright, let's give

we approached the stall,

booming voice, welcomed us

to the apple bobbing

for the most apples caught goes to the handsome

เท

beautiful princess!"

of cheers erupted from the onlookers, and I couldn't help winning a prize for

it but

a surge of adrenaline. Competition was in my blood, and the prospect

Kai

eyes twinkled, grinning. I

her eyes widened.

King's

CH 65

Tsuneo

Let him win?

dragon? I looked across the tub as he bounced in place and almost scoffed at myself. I

if this was just

down, facing the tub,

cooling the earth further. My robe was probably ruined. Kai kneeled beside the smaller tub of water, his small

face a mask of amusement,