The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 138

CH138

Morgan

""Wait!" She cried as I expected.

"Give me a reason why should. And it better include you coming quietly."

She hesitated. Then, the last remnants of her resistance crumbled. Mei's shoulders slumped, and for the first time, she looked as fearful as she should be. She was cornered, and she knew it.

"You'll regret this. I'll make sure of it."

"I'll take that as an agreement." I sheathed my sword and nodded at the guards.

As the guards moved to restrain her, I couldn't help but wonder how she expected this to work out. She had to have known that I'd already found out about the poison. If she didn't think I knew, then she had to think that I had suspicions. It was dicey place to be in, but why run?

She unlike some of the other ladies had a bunch of expenditures related to food. All she had to say was that she had eaten it all, secured it for her home territory, or negotiate to have it taken out of her future allowances. She must have panicked, or maybe she always planned to run and this had just given her a chance to..

Either way, I'm sure I'd find out soon enough.

The guards moved in swiftly, binding Mei's hands with enchanted shackles that glowed faintly in the darkness. Her eyes flickered with fury, but she said nothing as they led her back towards the capital. Her gaze was full of venom, burning with a defiance that told me she wasn't finished-not yet.

"You should have been burned to a crisp..."

"How do you expect to burn a phoenix?" I replied off-handedly.

I called for the horse and mounted it again following the group back towards the city. As I watched her, my mind raced ahead through possibilities and paths of action. Capturing her was the first step, but what was the next one? Elia had so many different points of contact with the royal household....

How had it come to this?

What exactly had Hayato done to make Elia hate him so much? Perhaps he just resented the fact

10:13 Thu, Oct 24

CH138

Hayato had the

1:85%

that the celestials had some of the

concubines willing to betray him so readily?

asked the same questions of Goro, Adele,

forced to marry Hayato and no amount of kindness could undo

I could almost sympathize.

under the evening sky. The tension hung thick in the air as we made

face Mei. "Given what I know about the king. Why would you betray him?

her shoulders tensed. Finally, after

think that just because you're the Crown Princess now that you

certain that I could trust a thing she said. I kept my expression steady, though my thoughts were swirling. What was she talking about? The Convening or

already caught, why don't you get yourself

leniency from a

a forgiving man." I smiled

money what's the big deal? I'm a wife of the king I should be able to spend

capable of being frivolous, but even if she

it's just money,

CH138

She huffed.

care what

Mei, replied, my

"But you're going to have to come clean at some point, one way or the other. It would be easier for you and everyone involved if you

or about what's going to happen it would have been easier if

I said. She flinched.Cor was that the problem? Did you do

She flushed. "Shut up!"

you he made that

"You don't know-

of them is already giving him an

sharp breath. I watched her mind turn my words over and smiled

to finally get it.

her gaze and clenched her jaw. "I

need