The Dragon King's Substitute Bride (Morgan and Tsuneo)
Chapter 105

CH105

Tsuneo

Kaito sputtered, struggling to speak.

I regarded Kai with a wry smile. "Is that what you want? To call him uncl

"Well... sort of." He poked at a peach. "He's a lot nicer than my father, so I want to have a good relationship with him... And he's the king, so I should definitely work on a better relationship with him so I won't have to live like father does." He leaned closer. "I have a bigger plan thought.

I leaned closer and lowered my voice. "Oh, and what is that?"

"You have to promise not to tell, he whispered, pursing his lips. "I'm trusting you."

He narrowed his eyes and I smiled, leaning down so my ear was closer.

I promise. I won't even tell Lady Morgan."

He hesitated then leaned up and whispered soft enough that no one else should have heard it. I was impressed that he knew enough to actually whisper.

"I want to be adopted."

Tarofu cackled. This kid is the best!

I leaned up and eyed him. "Lofty."

w do you

"I know, but I have a plan. Do you think it's possible if I do well on my studies? think 1

d be doing something else?"

I smiled down at him and chuckled. "Why are you pulling me into your scheming?"

"Lady Morgan isn't here, so you're the next best option."

I laughed at that. "I can't argue with that. My wife is quite crafty. I picked up my glass. "And I'm sure he'd love to, even if you don't. I'll vouch for you." *Really?"

I nodded. "Kaito isn't too much different than the idiot I killed or his sister, to give you an idea."

Someone down the table gasped and dropped their chopsticks.

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"But he had it coming, Kai said, huffing. "That philosopher says do not stir up trouble if you do

not have solutions."

Interesting paraphrasing, but accurate.

"I'm sitting in his seat, right?"

"You are." I paused. "How'd you know?"

He nodded down the table. They all seemed angry when you put me in the seat, and there wasn't a seat for me." He frowned and scanned the table. Though I'm not sure where my seat would even be."

"It can be right where you are if you'd like," I said.

"He hurt Lady Morgan, right?"

"Yes."

"As long as I can still play with Lady Morgan, and I don't have to acknowledge that guy... I gratefully accept your aid." We shook on it and I couldn't help but smile at how serious he seemed. He looked down bashfully, his voice a whisper again. "I've always wanted an older brother."

I pinched his cheek and whispered back, 'It'll be nice not to be the youngest."

"Awesome," he said, blissfully unaware of the storm his words had started, returned to his peaches, his legs still swinging under the table. The hall went silent again, but this time, I felt a simmering amusement bubbling within me. I pushed my peaches toward him, expecting him to take at least half of the pile.

It seemed like the brotherly thing to do. And it was the least of the treats I owed him for embarrassing Kaito and clearing up my suspicions. Having them all look at Kai suspiciously and wonder what I was going to vouch for him was going to be the highlight of the day.

I almost laughed out loud at how suspicious and irritated they all looked. They were probably going to report to their mothers about this new allegiance and speculate about what was going to happen to them.

But I didn't dwell on that. It wasn't as interesting as the fact that we were cousins... which meant Kai was the son of the traitorous uncle I had only ever heard about. I'd thought he was dead, but it seemed like he'd survived his coup attempt.

He had been a co-conspirator with Ari's father, it was no surprise that they had kept in touch.

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Interesting that Ari had become entangled with him enough to bear him a son.

How surprising that his son was as cheerful and sweet as Kai was. I supposed this was why my father had allowed Ari to come in as a ward of the royal family.

"There is only one uncle who isn't accounted for," I said. I leaned back in my chair, fingers tapping the edge of the table as I glanced at Kaito. He looked like he wanted to spit nails. "Seems like I should have Ari brought back for questioning, and wasn't so uncalle or to exile her in the first place." Kaito grumbled and sank back into his seat and didn't say a single word more.

Lunch ended in the same strained silence it had begun with, save for Kai's occasional bursts of chatter. The concubines who had been in attendance and my siblings ate in sullen quiet, their eyes fixed anywhere but on me. Kaito had the good sense to hurry through his meal and leave as quickly as possible, as though he feared saying something else that would make him

dumber than he was.

eem even

When they had finished eating, each of them left, leaving me and Kai as the only people in the hall by the end of it. It was a bit concerning that my father hadn't come down. Eating with everyone was the best part of his day, usually. I suppose he was more tired than he let

on.

I stood, nodding briefly to the servants as they cleared the table,

"Thank you," I said. "Lunch was lovely."

Kai, still swinging his legs, hopped down from his seat, beaming up at me with a bright, innocent

smile.

"Tsuneo, can you walk with me to my lessons?" he asked, eyes wide with that hopeful gleam only a child could manage.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second. There was work to be done, records to review and whatnot, but I nodded all the same. If Tarofu was right, it would serve me to let the servants at the least see me as less of a murderous sibling-killer, and I could use a little more joy. You're learning.

There was something about his unshakable innocence that was oddly refreshing.

"Of course," I said. How are you liking your lessons so far?"

Ka practically bounced at my side as we left the dining hall, his small hand reaching for mine

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I

without a second thought. The action surprised must didn't play forehand and

walked through the corridors. I let him chatter adventure he was planning in his mind

et his lessons, his tutors, and whatever new

As we passed through the palace corridors, servant downward as we walked. It was all routine to me

fed and mered wide, their cast

pe her part of life in the palace B Kader seem to notice any of it, caught up in his own world of stones and quer

"So," Kai said, glancing up at me, "are you really ging to vouch for me, or were you put playing

mare just

along?"

I smiled. "I am a man of my word... little brother