The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 83

CH83 Tsuneo

How much longer would it be? Had it been minutes? Hours? Every second of not feeling her presence felt like an eternity. This was maddening. How had my father hung on all these years? I paced the chamber, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't help but feel anxious. This was the heart of the kingdom, the heart of the palace. This was literally the safest place Morgan could be in our entire realm. And yet, I did not feel that she was safe because she wasn't here. Morgan's absence felt like a vold that seemed to consume everything.

I turned to my father, his gaze fixed on the gate where the statues had not moved again, still blocking the way.

"Father," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "What's happening?"

He didn't respond, his eyes still fixed on the portal. I reached out, my hand resting gently on his shoulder.

"Father," I repeated, my voice filled with a mixture of concern and fear.

He turned to me, his eyes filled with a strange intensity.

"Sit down," he said, his voice barely a whisper. We should talk as it seems that your mother has quite a bit to say to your wife."

1 hesitated, my mind racing. What did he mean by that?

I sat down, my heart pounding in my chest. As I looked at my father, a sense of unease overtook me. He was acting strangely, his behavior filled with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The golden scales on his neck seemed duller and patchier than ever. A part of me knew he wasn't just shedding them, per se

"Tsuneo," he began, his voice filled with a

with a sense of urgency. "You must tell me the truth."

My heart skipped a heat. The truth? What truth?

"About what?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He hesitated, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

your reluctance to take

was the last thing I wanted to talk

Morgan

stories about mother-in-laws. Haruka's eyes were filled with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, regarded me with a knowing glint. "You and Tsuneo, she began,

twisted, and

no intention of having

blinked. "The fun part, that is. Tsuneo was always quite popular, so I know he knows

and she laughed. "What are

son have had an... interesting marriage so far. You need advice? A woman's perspective on it? I can tell you want him,

me feel more comfortable with the idea, or was that just hopebal thinking? I'd never talked to anyone about... of any nature, I didn't really see the need to since I was never planning to get married, and the guys in town were... less

eyes sparkling

a few things to share," she replied, her voice filled with a playful tone. As for the kids, it would probably be best that you

said that as well, but do you

She frowned.

might be a question you'll have to ask him. Even if it's not a literally,

"Why?"

Family and all that," she replied, her voice filled with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Imagine the chans he would cause safeguarding you and your children?" She shook her head. "He's already stressing himself out enough about being crown prince, The stress of worrying about his children always being under attack. He'd probably level

dropped. 'Level the

nodded. "And probably bring the whole

00

know he was at

don't think his father has really talked to him about it yet. There aren't a lot of black dragons born into the royal family. There's no real cosmic need for it. It would be best not to talk to him about it right now. He already fears so much about being the Black Dragon. He doesn't need

I knew that there was something on the horizon that needed him. I

Prepared for...

you're worried about it being alright, that's probably not the case... It's much, much bigger

that."

be nice to have all

turned misty.