The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 104

CH104 Tsuneo

I blinked at that, trying to keep my surprise off my face. Hope filled me. Was my mother really coming back?

You mean... You mean she's coming back?

Of course. Why would think that she wouldn'

I shook my head. A staff member, a new girl, came to me and filled my water cup. I thanked and a drained it quickly. People came in, pushing carts full of food with them. I started to eat, trying not to be saddened by Morgan's absence and savoring the quiet that hung over the room. The tension didn't bother me. It never had. Let them fear me. Fear was useful-it kept people obedient, kept them from crossing lines they shouldn't.

If more people had feared my father, I doubted that Kai would even exist.....

"You started eating without me?" I looked up as Kai came in. His little feet rushing toward me. chuckled as he pouted up at me.

"I thought you were taking a nap."

He rubbed his eyes. I picked him up and set him in Keiji's seat. Someone gasped in horror, but 1 ignored it and waved a servant over to fill his plate. Kai swung his feet under his chair, his small hands gripping the edges of his plate as he stared at me with wide, curious eyes.

"I was, but still." He pouted. "I was looking forward to eating

"Well, I havent taken a bite yet."

With you."

"We should have fruit first," he said. His small face lit up with an innocent smile. "Do you like peaches?"

"I do. Would you like some?"

He nodded. "They're my favorite. They're really good!... But aren't they out of season?"

"Not quite," I said. "There's a farm that supplies the palace that grows peaches year round thanks to the fairies."

so awesome,"

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over. She brought a

cut up,

should they be

got to do it in halves and

me like

slices. I sprinkled just a little sugar on them as he instru We drank tea, then I picked one

or had.

even faster. "See! I told you they were the

one of the slices, holding it between my cks. "Thank you for

his chin proudly. "Lady Morgan says that even

chuckled. "My wife's wisdom

of utensils and the murmur of servants. No one else dared speak. They avoided my gaze, each of them too wrapped up in their

remained heavy with silence as

of course, one of them had to say something. It didn't surprise me who it was that

disgraceful? I look down the table. Kaito, my older brother, spoke loud enough to make sure I heard, not that it was hard. "After all your talk and that farce, to be acting like this? He's not even trying to hide that it was all

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CH104

is more to dealing

"You

foolishness is well

don't how you did it. We've always known there was

term

"You're just-

I leaned on

Tarofu said. He is a coward. weakling, there are many in this world

do not see you as their brother. They do not see you as anything more than an oddity. A favorite. Disarming them requires them to see a different side of you. Your interactions with Kai are already rattling their cages... Playing the role of a snarky younger brother will

Toward what?

whatever schemes they