The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 140

CH140 Morgan

Tsuneo remained unmoved for the most part. The rest of the family shifted uneasily in their seats. I watched him. He blinked and blinked again. His eyes flickered, and then a slow creeping smile took over his face. It set my heart racing. He looked devious. He looked of vicious. He looked blood thirsty and oddly pleased about it.

I shivered a little, and I heard Pyra sigh from the back of his mind.

This is not good. Do not let him accept that challenge.

I couldn't help but wonder why she thought I could stop him.

"You challenge me?" Tsuneo asked, his voice a little darker than usual. I realized that it had to be Tarofu talking.

"Are you too afraid to face me?" Boran asked.

"And what are the terms of your challenge?"

He flinched. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, what do I get when I kill you?" Boran went pale. Everyone stopped eating. "Land? Money? Your inheritance? Do you have any land rights to name, that weren't bestowed upon you by my father?" Tsuneo tilted his head. "Though it's yet to be seen if you will have an inheritance from your mother's family given their potential involvement with her actions."

"See!" He thrust his finger at Tsuneo. "You're just a bloodthirsty killer! Hardly fit to be regent! Who said that it would be a challenge to the death?"

How else did you mean to have the right to free her if you were to want to kill me?"

"What?"

"I'm the Crown Prince Regent. The only way you would have the right to overrule one of my decrees is if you became the Crown Prince Regent. The only you can take my place is if my father gave it to you, or you managed to kill me in rightful combat-much like the challenge you've issued. But for me to accept that, I would have to know what I would be gaining from it."

"Why-You could just see that your position upon losing a game."

"And that is where you were wrong," I said, eyeing him. "Something you would know if Mei hadn't been so busy coddling you all your life, but allow me to teach you now. The first rule of war is to not leave your enemy alive. As it does give them a chance to try and kill you again. The only resolved threat is a dead threat."

He looked absolutely mortified.

""You're a monster."

you are unfit to try and

energy as you're not even willing to put to your life on the line, nor have anything to offer me.

"You can't just-"

his voice dropping an octave. "Your mother's crimes are against the crown and the royal family. This is not a matter of personal dispute; this is treason. If you do not wish to offer a formal challenge and you bring this up again, you can join her in the dungeons. I'll even have them put you in the cell across from hers if you'd

fury burning bright in his eyes but tempered by the raw authority in Tsuneo's voice. There was a

turned back to his plate as though nothing had happened. "Eat your meal. This is chance to enjoy a dinner as

about

closer, coming close

a taste

in their places is always fun to

that made gasp. He winked

lessons coming along,

excitement. I started sword training! Master Shinji says I'm a

Tsuneo chuckled.

him?" I

firm without being too harsh.

his head. "I was taught by a general, but Master Shinji has taught

in his tone that felt wistful, but I didn't ask about

me about your lesson yesterday," Tsuneo

said that was normal. And then, he showed me how to block and stuff, and at the end, we

match!"

"How did you do?"

grinned, his eyes sparkling with pride. "I

laughed, imagining it.

like a great

my father. When

to use a sword, he spent

time building my confidence

ve

not just holding a

so much that thought I was

capable.

have that kind of experience, and I was glad that Kai