Chained to old wounds

CH44

Morgan

Ari’s bravado seemed to falter for a moment, her gaze flickering between me and Tsuneo. Then,

with a defiant toss of her head, she spat, “I will not apologize to a human usurper.”

The room erupted in gasps. The concubines, who had been mere observers until now, exchanged. wide–eyed glances, the weight of Ari’s words settling heavily in the air. Usurper?

“She’s stolen the place of your rightful bride! The rightful queen!”

The nerve of her. Fury surged through me, hot and potent. I didn’t care about her thoughts about me being here. She was an idiot and asked to be here. It was the principal of the thing. This woman, this viper, had the audacity to speak of a ‘rightful bride” while simultaneously

disrespecting the memory of Tsuneo’s mother? I clenched my fists, the urge to slap the smug look off her face threatening to consume me.

But before I could react, Tsuneo did. His voice, when he spoke again, was devoid of any warmth, a chilling echo of the fury simmering beneath the surface.

“Guards!” he boomed, his voice echoing through the room. The doors flew open with a bang, revealing two stoic figures clad in black armor. It was my guard, the Queen’s Guard, oddly enough., Their presence alone commanded respect, their silence a stark contrast to the commotion that had just unfolded.

Tsuneo didn’t waste any words on explanations. He pointed a rigid finger at Ari. “Escort Lady Ari back to her chambers,” he commanded his guards, his voice laced with steel. “And seize any and all items that may have belonged to my mother.”

A collective gasp rippled through the room. Ari’s face paled, the color draining from her cheeks like blood from a severed vein. “No, Tsuneo! You can’t do this!” she shrieked, her voice laced with desperation. “Those are my things! Gifts from your mother!”

“You’re a liar. As such, I can’t believe a word out of your mouth.” His gaze held a chilling emptiness, devoid of any sympathy for her plight. We will determine the legitimacy of those claims later,” he said, his voice cold.

The guards marched forward, their movements swift and efficient. Ari, realizing the futility of resistance, slumped in defeat. As they shered her out of the room, she cast a final venomous glare in my direction, promising silent threats that hung heavy in the air.

The doors slammed shut behind them, leaving a heavy silence in their wake. The tension in the

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room remained palpable, the weight of the confrontation hanging in the air.

Tsumco

The heavy oak doors slammed shut with a finality that mirrored the state of my emotions. The air hung thick with the residue of Ari’s defiance, her venomous words echoing in the cavernous chamber.

Rightful bride. I scoffed. It was a blatant challenge to Morgan’s position and, by extension, mine. I had to figure out how to deal with her later after I had to calm down a bit. Fury gnawed at me, a cold, metallic tang in my throat. Disloyalty, I could handle. But disrespect towards my wife, the woman who had not only saved my life but also begun to breach the walls I’d built around my heart – that was something I wouldn’t tolerate. Especially now when everything in this situation. was already working against our relationship.

Ari was a spoiled brat. She always had been. A lot of that was my father’s fault, allowing her to be treated like a princess rather than a ward. But more of that was the concubine’s fault for filling her head with nonsense.

wa

It didn’t matter that her father was a war hero. A dragon’s heart was not swayed by diplomacy or bound by politics.

My gaze fell on Morgan, her posture relaxed, a hint of a satisfied smile playing on her lips. The sight of it, a stark contrast to the turmoil within me, sent a calming wave washing over my dragon. Contentment, a feeling I hadn’t known I craved, swirled within him, mirroring my own desire for peace and normalcy. She was also undeniably sexy right now.

“Morgan,” I began, my voice rough with the remnants of anger, “I apologize for the spectacle.”

She turned to face me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Spectacle?” she questioned, a playful lilt in her voice. “It was more of a one–woman show, wouldn’t you say?”

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Indeed,” I conceded. “But a show nonetheless, and one that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

Her smile softened, her gaze meeting mine with a warmth that sent a familiar flutter in my chest. “Don’t worry about it, Tsuneo,” she said, her voice gentle. “It seems your… little sister has a rather inflated sense of her own importance.”

“Sister, I scoffed, the bitterness of the word leaving a sour taste in my mouth. “Ari is no sister of mine. Not anymore. No sister of mine would treat you like this.”

1 met her gaze, a silent understanding passing between us.

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“Leave her to me,” I assured her, my voice firm. “I will speak with her… or perhaps my father can have a word. One way or another, she will be brought into line. If she will not see reason after

that, you have my full support to do as you feel you must.”

The corners of her lips curved upwards in a genuine smile, a sight that sent a jolt of pure pleasure through my dragon. Seeing her happy, content… it filled a void I hadn’t even realized existed. Perhaps, just perhaps, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, a seed of something real, something hopeful, had begun to take root. I cupped her face.

“I hope you are not deeply offended.”

She scoffed. “I’m not offended at all.”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead and sighed. “This is not how I wanted your few days after what happened to go.”

“What’s life without a little drama?”

I chuckled. Seeing her amusement, her willingness to move on, soothed the prickling unease within me.

With a newfound lightness in my step, I gestured towards the doorway. “Shall we return to our chambers, My Lady?”

Morgan’s smile widened, a playful glint in her eyes. “Lead the way, Your Highness.”

“I’ll get this cleaned and returned, Maya said with a slight bow and a knowing smile.

“Thank you, Maya… Do make sure that it’s all returned and held for Morgan?”

She grinned. “Down to the last bracelet and earring, Your Majesty.”

I turned back to the kitchen staff. “My apologies for the interruption.”

Then we left. As we walked side–by–side down the opulent corridors, a comfortable silence settled. between us. Yet, the weight of the unspoken hung in the air. The events of the afternoon had. brought us closer. I could see it in her eyes, feel it in her aura. She seemed to trust me more.

We reached the heavy wooden doors of our chambers, and I paused, a thought striking me.

“Morgan,” I said, my voice hesitant. “Would you… care to join me for lunch? Before you return to… your realm this afternoon?”

Her smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “Lunch? she echoed, a

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hint of amusement in her voice. “Is this… a date, Your Highness?“