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

and he glanced at the Elders with a question in his

I'm sure the king welcomes your concern, we

and executing the plan, which should be mostly oversight for him if the Elders and the Crown Prince are doing their jobs

They sputtered.

her voice filled with a

father has never experienced a Convening, either.

""That's beside the point.

said. "He would be better off resting and preparing for hosting the event and leaning on his heir and his Council for the preparations unless you are admitting

"And what of your wife? You should be focusing on her. You have not been married for long. You have a duty there that should come first. An

my fists, my anger rising. "My wife will be

monitoring of trade to become so lax,

no guilt in their eyes but fear. They didn't care what happened to Morgan, but they didn't

still unconscious correct?" One of the

no talent for healing," I said. "She

"Son."

I looked at him.

""Is she?"

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CH99

"A phoenix always rises... His eyes widened. "Even if there is only a spark left, and Morgan has more than a spark. She will wake soon I leaned toward him, meeting his gaze. "But you need rest. You have lost two children

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

hesitated. "I promise not to kill any of them... Or exile

"I would know your mind

said.

frowned at

your Crown Prince, aren't I? I am more than capable of leading this meeting. I

it, but Hayato's eyes seemed to fill with

"Okay.

"Your Majesty-

will have his own part to play in the Convening, and if I cannot trust my heir with... planning a meeting, then the future of the

and pat my shoulder. "I will check in with you