Chained to old wounds

CH102

Tsuneo

The water pulsed and turned warmer as if in reply. At least I meant you could hear me. I sat down

with a sigh.

The loneliness was overwhelming. Without Morgan by my side, the palace felt empty and lifeless. I was starting to understand why my father said that no dragon was meant to be alone. Once I hadn’t been bothered by solitude. I had craved it, enjoyed it. Now, the thought of being alone was

unbearable.

“I’ve been spending most of my mealtimes with Kai,” I said. He misses you as well… I’ve arranged tutors for him and they say that he’s a bit behind, but catching up quickly…

Her

He didn’t inherit his smart from his mother…

I laughed. You may be right.

“He’s attempted to teach me some game he learned. It’s distraction enough for now. But it won’t

be for forever.”

I sighed and stood. “I will come back this evening. Perhaps then we could talk a bit.”

Even just hearing her voice would be nice.

I left the pools and threw myself back into repairing the palace. How much of the palace had actually been damaged in the attack five years ago, But I was glad to have something to occupy time e aside from spending time with Kai. Palace staff came to help me, but I waved them off.

my

“I need you aff to be keeping the palace running as it is and preparing for their arrival.”

They left me with materials and went back to their stations.

How exactly am I meant to do this?

Tarofu laughed and took over. It was like watching myself in a dream. The shadows melted and drifted over the materials they’d left. The stones danced as if carried by the wind. Before lining up and reforming the fallen walls. Water and silt followed, glimmering with crushed gems.

Gemstone inside the walls?

You will understand when it’s done, but the short version is that the gemstones act as magical

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stores. It’s why there was so little damage in the first place and what gives the palace its

sentience.

We worked for fours, restoring the palace wall, and that was only the first part of the repairs that needed to be done based on the images that Tarof had shown me of what the palace looked like

before.

We swept through every room that had been affected by the explosion. I took note of what needed to be repaired and replaced in terms of furniture to bring it up with the Liter over the palace’s

budget.

But no matter what I did, no matter how busy I made myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness. I missed Morgan, I longed for her return. And with each passing hour, my hope seemed

shakier.

I finished the last of the repairs Tarofu wanted to make before lunch and headed to the kitchen, planning to have a quick meeting with the staff to check in on their progress and pass off a few more shopping requirements before they went to the market later.

As I crossed the palace grounds into the central palace courtyard, I was met with a scene I hadn’t expected.

The members of my father’s harem were harassing the palace staff, their voices raised in anger and frustration. What they were so angry about, I had no idea, but I was about to find out.

Tarofu was already irritated and seemed ready to spill blood at the sight. I was hard pressed to deny the desire to punish them for their stupidity.

The servants cowered before them, their faces pale with fear. I couldn’t believe my eyes. These women, who were supposed to be examples of grace and refinement, were behaving like savages.

I suppose she wants me to really clean house….

I almost laughed at that, letting him take over. I had expected him to yell, but he didn’t. Instead, we slipped into the shadows, melting into the darkness beneath a stone bench before appearing, sitting casually nearby.

My father’s eldest concubine let out a shriek of terror.

I didn’t even move. I didn’t have to. The concubines all went still and pale, staring at me as if I would make them human right then and there.

Tarofu was more than tempted. The concubines all turned to me, their eyes wide. They clearly had

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not expected me to intervene, and were spooked by my sudden appearance.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked, my voice low and even.

They flinched,

The eldest of the concubines stammered. “1-

If you’re going to lie, shut up.”

“You can’t speak to—”

“Quiet, I commanded, my voice echoing through the courtyard.

She flinched again and I looked back the staff. They looked nervous and I gentled my tone.

“Could you step aside please? We will go to the kitchens together in just a moment.”

They nodded and shuffled to the side. I swept my gaze over the group, recognizing each of them, including Keiji’s mother,

Consider this your only warning. You may have been allowed to run amok as there was no one to watch you, to stop you. You may have been able to abuse your position, much the way that Ari did because my mother was gone, I was unconscious, and my father was filled with grief, but that is no longer the case.”

I rose, more gliding into a standing position. My body felt as if it were made of shadows, a darkness that resisted all light.

“You have no right to treat the staff any way you please,” I continued, my voice still cold and soft. They lost color from their faces and cowered, staring at me like frightened creatures would stare at a creature planning to eat them. “They are our staff, citizens of our kingdom. They support us in return for our protection. They are not your slaves.”

The women exchanged uneasy glances. One of them, the younger of them all shuddered.

Th–They

“I will not tolerate you harassing them. If you have a valid reason to reprimand them, that is something different, but never should you raise your voice or your hand to them. If you continue to harass the staff, you will bear the consequences.

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The eldest of them and Keiji’s mother set their jaws, trembling.

“Are you going to kill me the way you killed my children?”

I smiled, coldly, turning on her and staring in her eyes.

“If you give me reason to.”

She gasped, looking as though she would faint. Tarofu had stepped forward. I wondered what that looked like in her eyes.

“Now, I looked over at the staff. “I am a reasonable man. Did they have business with you? A request? Are any of you assigned to their chambers? The harem at large?”

“No, Your Highness,” the young woman in front of the group said. “None of us are.

I looked at the concubines. Are you looking for the staff for the harem? The kitchen?”

The eldest set her jaw. “My lunch is late.”

I glanced at them. “You… Gen, you work in the kitchens, correct?”