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.

to

last

Morgan

with a mixture of amusement and curiosity,

gut twisted, and I

intention of

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

and she

need advice? A woman's perspective on it? I can tell you want him, or at least, you are

that. Would talking to her about it make me feel more comfortable with the idea, or was that just hopebal thinking? I'd never talked to anyone about... of any nature, I

laughed, her eyes sparkling with

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

as well, but do you know if that's supposed

She frowned.

question you'll have

"Why?"

their treasure. 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

dropped. 'Level the

bring the whole realm to a grinding

00

know he

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

a black dragon, I knew that there was something on the horizon that needed him. I hope you're prepared for it. I hope we're all prepared for it."

burched. Prepared

beamed. "That's the fun part. I have no idea! But if you're worried about it being alright, that's

that."

would be nice to have all the

eyes turned misty.