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

comms out of my pocket and paid of it,

on you." I said. "And

smiled and lifted up to

held few

CHL

was a dazzling spectacle of color and sound. Stalls lined the palace grounds, offering everything from exotic delicacies to handcrafted trinkets. The air was filled with the

that lifted my spirits. We stopped at a stall selling brightly colored sweets, a dizzying array of colors and flavors that

your favorite," she said, nudging

for the both of us and paid. My taste buds tingled with the tartness of a piece. She hummed with delight as Kai ate

or a partner, but as a friend, a confidant. In her presence, I felt a sense of calm, a grounding force that anchored me. I tried to focus on the festivities, but my mind kept turning it over. The

blinked, looking down at her. Kai was a few feet away,

whispered and kissed

we would enjoy this moment of peace. I

a stage where a group of musicians were performing a lively folk song, I

was infectious, and before long, we found ourselves swaying to the rhythm, our bodies moving in unison with the crowd. As we danced, I stole a glance

as well,

to an end almost too quickly before we headed back through the

A large wooden tub filled with water and floating apples drew a crowd of onlookers, their

at that," Morgan exclaimed, her eyes sparkling

Kai looked down at me, his face alight with curiosity. "Please?"

that and lifted him off

let's give it a try," I

approached

man with a booming voice,

the apple bobbing

for the most apples caught

เท

beautiful princess!"

and I

it but

surge of adrenaline. Competition was

you a prize, Kai promised bravely.

eyes twinkled, grinning.

and her eyes

King's

CH 65

Tsuneo

Let him win?

the tub as he bounced in place and almost scoffed at myself. I caught her gaze

or if

down, facing

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

a mask of amusement,