The Dragon King's Substitute Bride (Morgan and Tsuneo)
Chapter 96

CH96 Ari

I groaned and slowly lifted my head. My head spun. So many days in darkness had made my sense dull, but I heard his voice.

"Had a good time in the dungeon thief?"

I snarled, lifting my head. "You-"

I broke off, stunned at the sight of the man standing over me, wearing Tsuneo's face, but there

was nothing in his expression that I could recognize as Tsuneo.

I went still. There was a darkness behind his dark opal eyes that had never been there before. The air felt cold. My heart raced.

Then, he turned. "If everyone is

Then, I looked around.

here, let's begin."

The hall was packed, filled with the Elders, servants, and a few guards. I saw most of the court there as well. It seemed that everyone but that human was here. Was she dead? That would be my luck.

"What the hell is going on? 1-

"Quiet," Tsuneo said, his voice low and cold. It felt like a hand had wrapped around my throat and squeezed. I could barely breathe.

"Father," he said, turning to the king. "Where would you like to begin?"

He blinked, looking between him and me. "I'm curious to know your sense of justice and proceedings, Tsuneo... I will allow you to run it as you see fit."

A cruel, vicious smile came over his face. "Thank you, Father."

He gestured to the group of servant. "We'll start with the most disturbing of crimes: your treatment of the staff. Never has it been allowed, condoned, or right to treat those who care for the members of the royal family in such a fashion. You, who have benefitted only from the benevolence of the royal family have stepped on the very benevolence to which you owe your life, or did you forget that you are the daughter of a traitor and should have been killed?"

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CH96

My blood ran cold. The king went still, his eyes widened. I cringed. I hadn't known that Tsuneo knew. I hadn't even thought he would ever bring it up. The murmurs that filled the room made me

sick.

"It seems that you were more than content to follow in your father's stead."

I tried to speak but the sounds wouldn't come out.

He turned to them. "We'll go in order as you are lined up

here."

I didn't recognize most of them, but I noted that Anya was at the very end of the very long line.

"Prince Tsuneo, is it really necessary to have every single one of them-

"Every member of the kingdom is just as important as every other," Tsuneo said, glaring at the man over his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with a dark light. "If you seek to make a mockery of that belief, I'll have you bound, investigated, and tried within the week." He narrowed his eyes. "Close you mouth and listen."

The Elder sat back, pale and clearly shaken. Tsuneo was furious, but I didn't understand why het would do this. Who cared about these peasants?

The first servant came up to stand beside Tsuneo, her eyes down cast.

"First, I want you to go to the box and replace that which Ari stole from you."

I could speak, or yell, I could barely move, but she went to the boxes that had been brought and pulled out a necklace and bracelet set that I often liked to wear.

She launched into this sob story about how I'd taken it from her, and how it had been a family heirloom, but who cared. She was a servants, she shouldn't have such nice things anyway. She was

y servant. Everything she owned belonged to me. I could take what I wanted.

my

Besides, she probably just stole it from some other noblewoman, or her mother or grandmother had. I looked the king prepared to defend myself, but I went still as I noted the look on his face. His eyes were cold and furious.

One by one the servants and guards stepped up. I sneered at the man who stepped up.

"And what has Ari taken from you?"

my peace of mind, Your Highness."

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CH96

"You have family who works here?"

"No, Your Highness. I would never allow my sisters to work here for as long as Prince Keiji was

alive-

The Elders sputtered.

"But they work in the city, at a place that she frequents often enough." He set his jaw. "My sisters and I are saving up to buy back our family home from Elder Hara. Ari has... more than once intimated that she would ensure that we would all be fired if I didn't comply ith her wishes." Elder Hara went still. Tsuneo didn't even glance at him. I glared at the man, but I couldn't speak. The bastard should have been grateful that I had even deemed him worthy of the opportunity to

serve me.

"I will not ask the details of what she has blackmailed you into doing," Tsuneo said. From the look on your face it causes you enough grief by the day. Was it illegal?"

"No, Your Highness."

"Were you ever paid for it?"

"No, Your Highness."

Tsuneo set his jaw and glanced at me. His eyes colder than ever.

"I am at least grateful that she had the sense not to try to incriminate a royal guard, Tsuneo said, "Is there anything else you would like to say?"

"I wish to be released from service," he said, dropping his gaze. "I... I do not think I will ever view my position in the palace the same.

Tsuneo went still. "Even if Ari will never walk these halls?"

"Nor the streets of the dragon kingdom for the rest of her life."

He said nothing.? "You need no

"Think on it, Doha." He jerked his head up and his eyes widened. Was that his name? give an answer at the moment. If you decide that it is still too much, arrangements will be made for you and your family regardless."

He nodded shakily, and bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness."

The guard stepped back and more people came up. Most of them taking pieces from the box or clothes. Some of them were my favorite pieces. The king looked more and more angry by the second. Good. He should be angry that all these peasants would dare speak against a member of the royal family.

When Anya came up and removed the drapings over her face, the entire room went still and quiet. The wounds were more disgusting than I remembered. I almost laughed remembering the way she'd screamed when the water boiled and burned her face and patches of ski celed off as easily as peeling an apple. The patchwork of scales was gnarled and distorted, but flickered lightly with that iridescent shimmer that had drawn so much attention ages ago.

What irritated me most, is that even with all the scarring, it was obvious that she had once been beautiful. I set my jaw. The king was still and pale, staring at her. She closed her eyes, trembling as she spoke and told the court how I'd burned her, skinned her years ago. The Elder whose son she had been set to marry looked disgusted when he was n mentioned.

Tsuneo took her hand and cupped her face. "Patience."

She sniffled as he drew her into his arms. "You've been so very brave and so very strong, can you

hold on a little longer?".