The Dragon King's Substitute Bride (Morgan and Tsuneo)
Chapter 119

CH119

Substitute Bride

Morgan

"No," he said. "The turtles are matriarchal... conniving though... The ti his jaws and his eye started to glow. "I don't think their coming will be a very relaxing thing."

rs are just vicious." He set

He narrowed his eyes. "I doubt the witch has changed her mind about the way things should go."

"What does that mean?"

"The lady of the Hardest Shell, as she was once called, wanted each of our realms to remain separate from each other, to preserve the nature of the compass as having four distinct lines... or she wanted to take Pyra's place."

My eyes widened. Overlapping triangles? Great. Wouldn't that mean it was more likely that the tigers and the turtles would team up to get what they wanted?

A wave of unease went through me and I pushed it down. I couldn't focus on the battle ahead not

owing how far behind we were in preparations now.

odded. "Alright. Let's... talk more about the Convening when they're feeling a little more alkative? What have you been up to while I was unconscious? What can I take off your plate?"

"Are you hungry?"

I blinked and chuckled. 'Not literally. I meant what tasks can I take on so you can focus on other things?"

He murmured to himself. "What an interesting way of describing it. Where should I start?"

He sighed, his eyes glimmering with light. It was almost like I could see Tarofu at the back of his mind, stirring, listening, but not commenting. There was an intensity in his silence that set me on edge, but I waited for Tsuneo to speak. The quiet of our chambers was welcoming, relaxing even. I could feel Pyra's anxiety simmering at the back of my mind, but I pushed it back. If she had something to say, she would just have to speak up about it.

"We're going to need a plan," Tsuneo said. "I'm not sure how much of what needs to be done is something I can pass off to you. Not just to prepare to host, but for whatever the Elders and the other celestials have planned."

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"How about we start with preparations first, hm?"

His lips twitched. About that."

I furrowed my brow, leaning forward slightly. "What's going on?"

He ran a hand through his hair, a weary sigh escaping his lips. "While you were unconscious, I've been dealing with... issues in the palace. And not just political ones. Financial ones."

"Financial?" I echoed, confused. "I thought the dragons were the wealthiest?"

"We are," Tsuneo snickered. "And the treasury records were impeccable until five years ago, around the time of the coup attempt. Since then, a lot of money has been funneled out of the accounts, and it's been difficult to trace beyond seemingly heading into the harem." of

That would explain why Haruka was so relieved about the accounting books. Five years. financial mismanagement, embezzlement or otherwise wasn't the worst considering how long their history was, but it would be a pain in the ass to sort through. hts about where it could have been going?"

thing," Tsuneo said, frustration seeping into his voice. "Most of the money was

d through the harem accounts, so some of it could just be the harem being wasteful in my mer's absence, but the rest, based on who's accounts it all ended up in..." He huffed. "It would seem that Ari and Lady Maro were likely supporting Elia in secret." "Elia?" I asked, confused. "Who's that?"

Tsuneo's eyes darkened. "My father's brother. He's also Kai's biological father thus Ari's lover, but I have reason to think that Lady Maro might also be entangled with him." He shook his head. "He tried to take the throne years ago, and he's my prime suspect in the incident that led to my coma."

It hit me like lightning. My father's casket flashed through my mind.

"His brother?"

Tsuneo went still and eyed me.... this had struck a cord in you."

"Goro and my father were bothers..." I scowled. "At least they were in my father's mind."

He nodded. "The same is true of my father. I doubt even now that he doesn't see him as his brother, despite everything he'd done."

"How much money do you think has gone to him, and for what?"

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"If it was just enough for his livelihood and Kai, I might not be so irritated, but based on the things that Kai has been telling me and the amounts I suspect, that's not the case." He shook his head. "It's at least a few hundred thousand li in gold."

"A few thousand?" I gasped. My family's secret treasury was easily one a few tens of thousands of li. I couldn't even fathom that much money being in a treasury, let ne missing and no one have. noticed it for five years!

How much money did the dragons even have?

"I'm thinking that I might be able to trace it through merchants or something, but I have no way of knowing what aliases he may have been using for supplies, material, weapons, or what ever."

I clenched my fists. "We need to go after him. If he's preparing for another coup, they're in danger. Only a few were told that they were leaving and where they were going, so they should be safe on their trip, but what about when they get back?"

"I've shut off general access to the treasury, so whatever preparations he's making, hopefully will be slowed by the stop of the flow of money."

I hated the thought of waiting, but there wasn't much other choice.

"So what do want to do in the meantime?" I asked, my voice tight with frustration.

"There's another issue, Tsuneo said, his expression grim. "The palace is in desperate need of repairs. The harem has been incredibly wasteful these past five years, and the food stores are nearly depleted. We're going to have to restock supplies and make cuts to the budget if we want to get the palace prepared to receive them in Spring..." He sighed. "A lot of the farmland has been neglected. It's a bit of a mess, but I can't blame my father. The Elders weren't doing their jobs, and in my absence, Keiji or Kaito should have stepped up to actually do some work instead of enjoying the fact that was no longer around."

He shook his head. "How they could think themselves worthy of anything when they would rather watch father suffer than help him for the sake of the kingdom is beyond me."

"No one said they were smart," I said and sighed. "They've drained that much that it's a problem?"

"They've been living lavishly, unchecked. It's not a matter of a monetary shortage so much as a shortage of time." He uffed. "What I would give to have a connection to a fairy gathering." "What do you mean?"

'Fairies could restore the fields and have them flourishing in a matter of days." He smiled. "There's

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nothing quite like a fairy renewal over the land, but they've retreated away from the palace since the attack."

"Do you know why?"