The Dragon King's Substitute Bride (Morgan and Tsuneo) novel Chapter 3

"Lady Ari, please be respectful," an attendant said firmly. "She had passed the Trial of Fire."

She sneered at me. I returned her dismissive look. Ari flushed.

"Even if that's true, my brother deserves better," she snarled. "You have no right to wear the queen's colors, human!"

I narrowed my eyes. "Is that because you want to wear them?"

She snarled and drew a sword.

The attendants went still, but I darted forward, striking her in the wrist. She let the sword go, and I snatched it out of the air. Ari stumbled and tried to swipe at me, but I dodged and shoved her back into the wall, then pressed the blade to Ari's throat. Ari gasped and flashed her sharp teeth.

"Your Majesty--"

"Let me make something clear," I said. "You may have run around being a terror before I arrived, but I'm not one to be bullied."

She snarled. Her eyes flashed with light. "You human wretch. You'll regret this."

"Not as much as you will." I pressed the blade closer to her neck. "The next time you pull a sword on me, I'm going to take your fucking arm off."

She snarled. "My brother will never accept you."

I scoffed and stepped back, dropping the sword at her feet.

"I'm not asking him to. I didn't ask to be here. Send me back.”

The attendants looked nervous. “That’s not possible.”

Ari snarled, snatching the sword up from the ground. "You..."

"Lady Ari, you've attacked Her Majesty," the attendant said. "Under the law..."

I smirked and held up my hand. "Don't worry about arresting her. Just... report it to whoever the powers that be are. Whoever is going to get her in the most trouble."

Her eyes bulged. She went pale.

"Aren't there officials? Elders?"

"The Imperial Elders will want to know about this," the attendant said slowly, glancing at me. “They will also want to meet you."

“No, thanks.”

“That’s not an option.”

“Do I have any options?”

Their eyes glinted. “No.”

I scoffed.

Ari snarled at me. "Just you wait..."

She turned and stomped out. Two attendants followed after her.

The attendant looked at Maya. "I have to report to the Elders about you. Maya, please look after Her Majesty."

I looked at Maya. She smiled as a gong started to ring through the palace.

"What is that?"

"It marks the time," Maya said. "It's just past dinner time, heading into the sleeping hours... As the new queen, it's your duty to bathe the King and change his clothes."

I cocked an eyebrow at her. "You... expect me to change a man... twice my size? Who I have never met? Seems a bit odd to be so... careless with your king."