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

even willing

"You can't just-"

and the royal family. This is not a matter of personal dispute; this is treason. If you do not wish to offer

voice. There was a pause, and then slowly, he sank back

This is chance to enjoy a dinner as part

was something magnetic about it. His decisiveness, his ruthlessness... I nudged him. He looked down at me and cocked an eyebrow at me. "That was

smiled and leaned closer, coming close

a taste

whiny people in their places is always fun

stole a brief kiss that made

are your lessons

I started sword training! Master Shinji says

Tsuneo chuckled.

know him?"

to whisper. "Master Shinji i the best choice for teaching children. He'ss firm without

"I was taught by a general, but Master Shinji

tone that felt

about your lesson yesterday,"

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

match!"

"How did you do?"

grinned, his eyes sparkling with

laughed, imagining it. Master

like a great guy.

a bit of my father.

sword, he

time building my confidence

ve

not just holding a weapon,

so much that thought I was invincible, but that

capable.

told me that Tsuneo didn't have that kind of experience, and I was glad