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

of comms out of my pocket

lovely on you." I said. "And it is

and lifted up

the held few coins I

CHL

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

through the throng of people with her and Kal. Their laughter a contagious melody that lifted my spirits. We stopped at a stall selling brightly colored sweets, a dizzying

she said,

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

sense of calm, a grounding force that anchored me. I tried 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

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

I whispered and kissed

now, we would enjoy this moment of peace. I

stage where a group of musicians were performing a lively folk song, I lifted him onto my shoulders so he could look around and over

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

remember Reiji being there as well, turning his nose up at

came to an end almost too

a particularly lively stall caught our attention. A large wooden tub filled with water and floating apples drew a crowd of onlookers, their laughter and cheers adding

exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

alight with curiosity. "Please?"

at that and

couldn't resist the enthusiasm in his voice. "Alright, let's give it a

approached the

jovial-looking man with a booming voice, welcomed us with a hearty

the

voice echoing through the crowd, First prize for the most apples caught goes to

เท

beautiful princess!"

onlookers, and I couldn't help

it but

Competition was in my blood, and

Kai promised bravely. "A good

grinning. I believe

gaze, and her eyes widened. She giggled, waving

Dragon King's

CH 65

Tsuneo

Let him win?

as he bounced in place and almost scoffed at myself. I caught her gaze and nodded. He might

win, or if this was just custom among humans to let children win

down, facing the tub,

earth. The water had been colder than I had anticipated, cooling the earth further. My robe was probably ruined. Kai kneeled beside

her face a mask