Predatory Marriage

Chapter 134. Stop

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Leah’s voice cracked, hoarse from screaming. Ishakan brought out a silk rope to tie her wrists and ankles together.

“The King of the Kurkans is carrying out a bride kidnapping,” he explained nonchalantly.

Her heart dropped, but the conversation would not continue for much longer. She felt weak, probably due to whatever liquid he had made her drink. Her vision blurred and her consciousness rapidly faded.

“Please… don’t do this…” Leah muttered helplessly.

Ishakan stared at her.

“You can hate me, Leah,” he whispered softly.

Her trembling eyelids closed. For a while, he held her body and then carefully put her to bed in the carriage.To keep her from being shaken around, he wrapped her with cushions and blankets, then slid out of the carriage and shut the door.

The Kurkans galloped on. They continued relentlessly, only stopping before the exhausted horses collapsed, long after the sun went down and darkness spread over the plain. Heat steamed from the horses’ bodies. They had traveled a long way without rest and were taken to stables to be fed and watered.

At Genin’s instructions, the Kurkans brought out new horses. They had prepared this base beforehand. As they quickly changed horses, Haban looked up at the sky and whistled in three times. The screech of a hawk echoed in response, and a moment later, a large hawk landed on his shoulder.

As Haban stroked the bird and gave it chunks of meat, Genin untied the small paper tied to its leg and read it, frowning. She destroyed the paper and informed Ishakan.

“The royal family has begun a pursuit. According to the message, the Crown Prince himself is leading it.”

“Sooner than I expected.” He frowned. He had bribed nobles to learn the route of the wedding procession, then altered their reports with lies. It would take the Kurkans three weeks to reach the frontier. They couldn’t avoid pursuit from the royal family, but they had to reach the desert before Byun Gyeonbaek learned of the situation.

And there was the problem with Leah. According to Morga, the person who had brainwashed her could easily track her down. The potion they had made her drink would help avoid it, and Morga was using magic to interfere with the Queen’s spells.

“What about matters related to the Queen, Morga?”

“At the moment you don’t have to worry, but from now on I’d better stay close to the Princess,” Morga replied, wiping sweat from his forehead.

“All right, do so.” Ishakan gave his permission and moved toward the other Kurkans. They would make a final inspection before departing.

Morga approached the carriage with a deep sigh. He didn’t have the nerve to open the carriage door. Genin watched him stare at it regretfully and finally opened the door for him, and even helped him into the carriage in a show of solidarity.

“Thank you, Genin.”

“You don’t have to thank me for this. Take care of her, Morga.”

Morga nodded solemnly, but as soon as the door closed, he sighed again, crumbling onto a seat. The Queen’s power was stronger than he expected. It was like torture, trying to block it alone.

The carriage began to move again soon after, and from then on, they would continue without stopping until they reached the next base. Wiping away sweat with his sleeves, Morga looked at the Princess.

She was sleeping, bound with silk rope and wrapped in blankets and cushions. If the potion worked correctly and hindered the Queen’s spells, she would sleep until they reached the desert. As he calculated the time remaining, he pulled a crystal orb from an inner pocket over his chest. Black smoke swirled inside the glowing orb. It was a tool he didn’t use often, but under the circumstances, he was forced to pull it out.

“Let’s go with this…” Morga muttered, placing a rosemary leaf on the Princess’s forehead. He saw the binding on her wrists as he bent over her. They had restrained her to keep her from jumping out of the moving carriage if she woke up, and he looked with pity at the slender wrists. If the potion was working, it should be okay to untie them. But the instant he untied it, something happened.

“……!”

With a loud noise, a crack appeared in the crystal orb and Morga slumped over, nauseous. Although everything was spinning before his eyes, the first thing he did was check on the Princess. Her closed eyelids slowly lifted, revealing her beautiful purple eyes. They stared straight ahead, unfocused, and then slowly turned toward Morga. Unconsciously, he held his breath as he looked at her.

Her small body rose and her white hand grabbed Morga’s neck, and goosebumps rose all over his body as she tried to strangle him. Morga leaped up and slid the curtains back, punching through the carriage window to shout.

“Stop! Stop!”

He had made a mistake. Even though they were being pursued, they had to stop immediately. Morga shouted again, this time so loudly the veins rose in his neck.

“Stop the carriage now! Quickly!”

It wasn’t just brainwashing. She had already become the Queen’s puppet.