The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 88

Chapter 87

CH87

Hayato

The days turned into nights, and the nights into days. I watched over Tsuneo, heart aching with every passing moment. The palace hadn't allowed me to go back to the garden, so I could only hope that was a good sign.

But how much longer did I have?

The sedatives were wearing off. Doctor Shang had to administer them every hour now, and they were looking to stop being effective at all soon. Tsuneo would wake, and I had no answers for him.

My eyes ached from lack of sleep, my body heavy with exhaustion. But I refused to rest. I paced back and forth, my mind racing, searching for a solution.

Whoever had sold the poison had vanished into thin air, but I made it a point to locate anyone who might have possession of its ingredients and the finished form and ban the sale of it in the kingdom. The palace was in chaos. The kingdom had been thrust back into a state of terror, the same terror that had plagued us for the years Tsuneo was unconscious but worse. The nobles were squabbling, the people were restless.

I turned to Doctor Shang.

"Is there anything else we can do?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He shook his head, he looked just as tired as I was. Resigned and utterly hopeless.

"The sedative is the best we have," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "But it won't last much.

longer."

"How much longer do we have?"

"Hours, perhaps..."

A wave of despair washed over me. Would that be enough time?

My heart ached. "By the heavens and waters... will it never end?"

sorry, Your Majesty," he

yourself for this. It was my foolish daughter who set this all in motion." I sighed and rubbed

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escaped my eye, rolling down my cheek. I had failed him, I had failed

the palace. No one but the guards, the Knights, trained members of the Imperial forces is to remain." I looked over at him. don't think

us all... I am a prudent king of nothing else. Go. Have

He nodded and left.

waited for the time to count down. I watched Tsuneo grow more aware slowly. He wasn't waking up just yet, but it

over me.

you love her! I know that your heart and soul cry out for her. She is in the arms of the phoenixes in the hidden spaces of the palace. I... I have no way of getting to her. I have no update to

taking the throne all these years because of your nature. I know you've also feared that I would simply slip away into death after your mother. That is not the case, son. I have anchored myself

truly need you to be my heir. I need you to be need you to be Tsuneo, not the

a frantic knock sounded on

"Come in," I said.

room, his face

when you

I

his voice barely a whisper. "We have received a

heart pounded in my chest. A message? From

from?" I demanded, my voice filled

darting nervously from side to side. "From the

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My eyes

white tigers. We had been at war with them on and off for centuries. I thought that when my wife was declared dead and my air comatose, they would have attacked, but

does it say?" I

a scroll, his hands trembling slightly. I unrolled it, my eyes scanning the words. As I read, a wave of disbelief washed over

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