The Dragon King's Substitute Bride (Morgan and Tsuneo) novel Chapter 104

CH104

Tsuneo

I blinked at that, trying to keep my surprise off my face. Hope filled me. Was my mother really coming back?

You mean… You mean she’s coming back?

Of course. Why would think that she wouldn‘

I shook my head. A staff member, a new girl, came to me and filled my water cup. I thanked and a drained it quickly. People came in, pushing carts full of food with them. I started to eat, trying not to be saddened by Morgan’s absence and savoring the quiet that hung over the room. The tension didn’t bother me. It never had. Let them fear me. Fear was useful–it kept people obedient, kept them from crossing lines they shouldn’t.

If more people had feared my father, I doubted that Kai would even exist…..

“You started eating without me?” I looked up as Kai came in. His little feet rushing toward me. chuckled as he pouted up at me.

“I thought you were taking a nap.”

He rubbed his eyes. I picked him up and set him in Keiji’s seat. Someone gasped in horror, but 1 ignored it and waved a servant over to fill his plate. Kai swung his feet under his chair, his small hands gripping the edges of his plate as he stared at me with wide, curious eyes.

“I was, but still.” He pouted. “I was looking forward to eating

“Well, I havent taken a bite yet.”

With you.”

“We should have fruit first,” he said. His small face lit up with an innocent smile. “Do you like peaches?”

“I do. Would you like some?”

He nodded. “They’re my favorite. They’re really good!… But aren’t they out of season?”

“Not quite,” I said. “There’s a farm that supplies the palace that grows peaches year round thanks to the fairies.”

“That’s so awesome,” he said.

1/4

I waved the new girl over. She brought a bowl of fruit.

“They’re best cut up, Kai said.

“Yeah? How should they be cut?

“First, you’ve got to do it in halves and then…

I followed his instructions, cutting a peach for him. His bright little voice cut through the awkward silence that filled the hall. I couldn’t help the slight twitch at the corner of my lips. Kai was the only one who talked to me like this, unafraid, oblivious to the weight of everything surrounding us. It was probably strange for them all to see me following directions from a five year old as if cutting a peach into eighths instead of half would make it taste better.

Soon, his little plate had a pile of peach slices. I sprinkled just a little sugar on them as he instru We drank tea, then I picked one up to taste, pretending that it was the best version of

or had.

ging his legs even faster. “See! I told you they were the best like this!”

od,” I conceded, chuckling. I reached for one of the slices, holding it between my cks. “Thank you for teaching me the proper way.”

He lifted his chin proudly. “Lady Morgan says that even crown princes can learn something new.)

I chuckled. “My wife’s wisdom knows no ends…”

The table remained silent except for the soft clink of utensils and the murmur of servants. No one else dared speak. They avoided my gaze, each of them too wrapped up in their own discomfort to even feign normalcy.

The hall remained heavy with silence as we ate.

Then, of course, one of them had to say something. It didn’t surprise me who it was that had the gall to talk. He always has more pride and arrogance than sense.

“Don’t you think its disgraceful? I look down the table. Kaito, my older brother, spoke loud enough to make sure I heard, not that it was hard. “After all your talk and that farce, to be acting like this? He’s not even trying to hide that it was all a rouse for that human…..