The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 96

CH96 Ari

I groaned and slowly lifted my head. My head spun. So many days in darkness had made my sense dull, but I heard his voice.

"Had a good time in the dungeon thief?"

I snarled, lifting my head. "You-"

I broke off, stunned at the sight of the man standing over me, wearing Tsuneo's face, but there

was nothing in his expression that I could recognize as Tsuneo.

I went still. There was a darkness behind his dark opal eyes that had never been there before. The air felt cold. My heart raced.

Then, he turned. "If everyone is

Then, I looked around.

here, let's begin."

The hall was packed, filled with the Elders, servants, and a few guards. I saw most of the court there as well. It seemed that everyone but that human was here. Was she dead? That would be my luck.

"What the hell is going on? 1-

"Quiet," Tsuneo said, his voice low and cold. It felt like a hand had wrapped around my throat and squeezed. I could barely breathe.

"Father," he said, turning to the king. "Where would you like to begin?"

He blinked, looking between him and me. "I'm curious to know your sense of justice and proceedings, Tsuneo... I will allow you to run it as you see fit."

A cruel, vicious smile came over his face. "Thank you, Father."

He gestured to the group of servant. "We'll start with the most disturbing of crimes: your treatment of the staff. Never has it been allowed, condoned, or right to treat those who care for the members of the royal family in such a fashion. You, who have benefitted only from the benevolence of the royal family have stepped on the very benevolence to which you owe your life, or did you forget that you are the daughter of a traitor and should have been killed?"

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CH96

eyes widened. I cringed. I hadn't known that Tsuneo knew. I hadn't even thought he would ever bring it up. The murmurs that filled

sick.

that you were more than content to follow in your father's

to speak but the sounds wouldn't come

them. "We'll go in order as you are lined

here."

didn't recognize most of them, but I noted that Anya was at

it really necessary to have every single one of

glaring at the man over his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with a dark light. "If you seek to make a mockery of that belief, I'll have

but I didn't understand why het would do this. Who cared

servant came up to stand beside Tsuneo, her eyes down

want you to go to the box and

could speak, or yell, I could barely move, but she went to the boxes that had been brought and pulled out a necklace

launched into this sob story about how I'd taken it from her, and how it had been a family heirloom, but who

owned belonged to me. I

my

noblewoman, or her mother or grandmother had. I looked the king prepared to

by one the servants and guards stepped up.

has Ari

of

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CH96

have family who

Highness. I would never allow my sisters to work here for as long as Prince Keiji

alive-

The Elders sputtered.

home from Elder Hara. Ari has... more than once intimated that she would ensure that we would all be fired if I didn't comply ith her wishes." Elder Hara went still. Tsuneo didn't even glance at him. I glared at the man, but I couldn't speak. The bastard should

serve me.

Tsuneo said. From the look on your face it causes you enough grief by the