The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 99

CH99

Tarofu

The Elders looked terrified. I almost laughed.

Good. It was better to have them running scared. It was only a matter of time before Keiji rose

again.

What? Tsuneo roared from the back of my mind.

You have much to learn about being a celestial.

"The Convening won't take place for several weeks.

"How can you be so sure of that?" An Elder asked, his nose wrinkled. "You have no idea when they will arrive."

Jilted my head looking at him. "I suppose neither do you."

He flushed.

"The turtles will travel by ocean from their island, but their travel across land will be slow. The tigers move quickly in bursts, but they will require frequent stops and they are much further away. There is a mountain range between us after all. With the size of the caravans they will come with- guards, nobles, women, servants-it will take several weeks from the time they leave."

They stammered and I pointed to the ceiling. "And the Alignment always falls on the first day of the Convening. It is several weeks out."

Hayato frowned, then he lifted his head, leading the Elders to lift their heads to the giant star compass in the ceiling. They had likely never noticed that it was more like a clock because they weren't keeping track of things as needed. They all looked back at me and I smiled.

"Should I go on?" I asked. "Or you need me to explain how it works?"

Hayato smiled. "Your proposition, Tsuneo?"

"You should take a break."

My father looked at me, his eyes filled with surprise. "A break?"

"Yes, a long, restful break. I smirked. "You need rest. I can handle the preparations."

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CH99

Hayato's eve

the Elders with a question in

while I'm sure the king welcomes your

plan, which should be mostly oversight for him if the Elders and the Crown Prince are doing their jobs properly." I cocked an eyebrow. Are you telling me that you don't plan

They sputtered.

are too young," one of the Elders said, her voice filled with a

experienced a Convening,

""That's beside the point.

off resting and preparing for hosting the event and leaning on his heir and his Council for the preparations unless you are admitting that you are not up to the task." They flushed and Hayato smiled,

have not been married

clenched my fists, my anger rising. "My wife

the Elders had not allowed the monitoring of trade to become so lax, taking kickbacks or whatever else you've

eyes but fear. They didn't care what happened to Morgan, but

of the Elders insisted. "She

have no talent for healing," I said. "She is perfectly

"Son."

I looked at him.

""Is she?"

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CH99

toward him, meeting his gaze. "But you need rest. You have lost two children in to

I glanced toward the scales on his neck and worked my jaw. The golden

say? A week at least?" Hayato hesitated. "I promise not to kill any of them... Or exile

chuckled at that. "I would know

you're exhausted," I said. "And

frowned at that.

Prince, aren't I? I am more than capable of leading this

were clearly against it, but

"Okay.

"Your Majesty-

irrefutable," he said. "He will have his own part to play in the Convening, and if I cannot trust my heir with... planning

stood and pat my shoulder. "I will check