The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 111

Bride

CH111

Tsuneo

Beautiful.

Breathtaking.

My Pyra....

Pyra... I blinked as the name, the word, rang through my mind. I had never thought about it. before, but it was an old word for light and fire, generally meaning life-giving fire. It was generally our word for true, healing fire? ad it become our word for healing because of what Tarofu called his wife? The stories said that when the phoenix died so long ago, all life went cold and nearly vanished.

Slowly, her body floated and landed on the banks. The glow began to fade. Her face was serene and peaceful. I reached out, my hand hovering between us. A wave of warmth washed over me, a comforting energy that seemed to radiate from her. My feet dragged me forward, drifting like a moth to a flame. Then, I reached her, my fingers brushing against her cheek.

I felt a jolt of energy, a connection forming between us. Morgan's eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting mine, no longer that rich brown, but glowing golden and red, like red-gold and molten

gold.

*Morgan?"

"Tsuneo," she whispered. 'I hope... you've been behaving with that troublemaker in your head."

I laughed, sweeping her into my arms.

"Don't ever do that again."

"I don't plan on it... I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Much better now."

Hayato

guilt. The air was charged with something I hadn't felt in a

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Hope.

could go back to that beautiful place with Haruka and stay there

had never been one for outward displays of emotion unless in private. He'd loved Haruka just as fiercely as I had, and she

from the four-day coma, after all. Looking at them now, it felt even

buried my thoughts of Haruka, only to be visited when I was alone and could lay down my guard in the privacy of my chambers, but that dream, that place, had ripped me open, unleashing the deep well of grief that I had nearly drowned in years ago. Haruka's absence felt as acute and as heart-wrenching-as painful-as the moment I'd found her

stay there, still gnawed at

arms, whispering something. His voice too low for me to hear, and she smiled resting her head on his

that made me wonder if they even realized or care that there was anyone or anything else in the world. I pushed

them have their reunion in peace and return

slipped away, heading toward the hidden passageway that would take me back to my chambers. The secret tunnels beneath the palace were as familiar to me as the back of my hand. I had used them for years to come to this garden or get around unseen in the palace, either to visit Tsuneo or handle court affairs. These past five years, they

needed that sanctuary more than

the entrance to the passage,

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I couldn't even remember the last time I carried a sword regularly. No one should have been in these tunnels. Few knew of their existence, and even fewer had access to them. My mind raced, wondering who it could be. An

he have even gotten this

ready myself. Then, I froze in place, stunned and haunted by

if I had seen a ghost. As much as I wanted to run to her, I could make

was in the garden, not that place. It wasn't

The dream I'd had of

could

bit longer than she usually had it. It bounced with every step. The crown bounced off her head, clattering to the ground. The sound rang true, but still