The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 109

CH109 Tsunco

I clenched my fists, the realization sending a fresh wave of anger through me.

Had he been behind that idiot's access to poison?

What other strings had he been pulling in the palace all this time?

I turned sharply, heading back toward my office, my mind racing ahead. If the funds were being funneled to Elia, that meant there was a trail. He would have left traces, contacts, payments, something that could lead me directly to where he was staying. I didn't want to have to wait for news about Ari to reach him, assuming that he cared about her at all.

This time, he wouldn't be so lucky as to just vanish into wilderness of the celestial realm.

I was going to exile him in the most painful way possible so he could live the rest of his life with his phoenix.

When I reached my office, I closed the door behind me. I opened the door between my and my father's office. Sota hadn't moved from his spot, but he was still working. Good.

He was probably working toward some sort of leniency.

Hours passed, and the tension between my eyebrows was building at a steady pace. A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Sota was still working quietly and Renji hadn't come to see me. "Enter," I said, my voice cold and steady.

The whole of my father's harem harem members entered my office. I wasn't surprised. They were

most likely here to co

about the seizure of their treasury keys.

Lady Maro glared at me. "You overstep your place."

"And yet you have come to speak to me," I said. "I assume my father told you that you are to deal

with me and not him."

She flushed.

"The King refuses to see us," one of them whined, her voice filled with a mixture of entitlement and petulance. "It is our right."

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CH109

does not grant you an audience," I said.

you would know anything about

You are a concubine

think you have power now,

to entertain you. He is exhausted," I

them protested, her voice rising. "He

a mixture of frustration and determination.

a whisper. "He has a duty to the kingdom. There

He will see you when he feels he is

to us. We have things to purchase for

on the ledgers, you all are more than comfortable," I said. "Get

king hears about

since you wish

"I would rather be done with

As I grew nearer, I started

their eyes filled with a mixture of fear

"Is everything alright?"

eyes darting nervously from side to side. "We haven't seen the King in days," he replied. "It is... unlike him to at least come out and take

night."

heart sank and started to race. Had

out

They shook their head.

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CH109

"Food?"

by the time of the next meal

them into my father's chambers, opening the doors

is not here,

Where is he?

response was seemed lost in the

voice barely a whisper.

and one of them left. The other remained. I looked

back to their

"But-

say or you

they turned and

pounding in my chest. I had to find my father, I had to know he was safe. I couldn't even hear Tarofu's voice at the back of my head. I joined the search, but with each passing moment, dread

him having left the palace at all. I considered that he might be in the chamber where my mother was. I willed myself to go