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."

are unfit

of energy as you're not even willing to put to your life on the line, nor

"You can't just-"

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.

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

is chance to enjoy a dinner as part of this family. Consider yourself confined to you rooms

to be stern, but watching him completely dismiss the challenge with such confidence and control-there 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

leaned closer, coming close enough that

have a taste

their places is

chuckled and stole a brief kiss that made gasp. He winked at me and turned

are your lessons coming along,

up with excitement. I started sword

Tsuneo chuckled.

him?"

to whisper. "Master Shinji i the best choice for teaching children. He'ss firm without being too harsh. I believe he used to have a school in

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

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

me about your lesson

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

match!"

"How did you do?"

grinned, his eyes sparkling with

laughed, imagining

a

of my father. When first

use a sword,

time building my confidence

ve

just holding a weapon,

that thought I was invincible,

capable.

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