Predatory Marriage

Chapter 160. Kurkan Marriage (2)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Leah also sobered when she heard that they would have to spend five nights together. Genin frowned.

“Remember the other full moon day?” she asked. “It’ll be harder than then.”

“Harder than then…?”

“Yes.”

Oh my god. The thought was so shocking, Leah dropped her fork.

“Of course, I’m saying all of this assuming you become his partner…” Genin added reluctantly. It wasn’t something she wanted to say.

“I want to be.”

Genin swallowed in surprise.

“I want to become his partner,” Leah continued softly. “I want to be the Queen of the Kurkans…”

Her voice faded away.

“Everyone will be happy,” Genin interjected quickly, her eyes sparkling. “Please tell Ishakan yourself later.”

***

After breakfast, Leah listened to her schedule for the day.

She would eat lunch with Ishakan, and then meet with Morga and the other Kurkan sorcerers. Afterward, she was to do nothing else at all, except perhaps to wander.

Leah had no intention of doing that. If she wanted to settle in this place, she needed to learn its language and culture. She wanted to learn Kurkan. Genin promised that a professor would come the next day to begin teached her.

With her schedule arranged, Genin helped her wash and change her clothes. Though it was a little awkward, Genin was able to attend Leah well enough.

Leah stroked the skirt of her dress. Unlike Estia, where soft, pastel fabrics were used, the Kurkan style used many fabrics in vivid primary colors.

“I’m sorry,” Genin apologized as she pinned jewels in Leah’s hair. “There is fierce competition to fill the position of ladies-in-waiting to serve you…”

But it would take time, so Genin promised to serve her in the meantime, even if she was not ideal. When she assured her that only the strongest ladies-in-waiting would be allowed to serve her, Leah laughed.

“Is there somewhere I can pick flowers?” Leah asked, surreptitiously rearranging the accessories Genin had clumsily put in her hair.

Now that she thought about it, Ishakan had always proposed to her. She had never given him a proper answer, but this time she would tell him directly, as Genin had suggested.

It had always been hard for her to express her true feelings. But since Ishakan was trying so hard for her, she wanted to change. With Genin beside her, she went to walk and find flowers to pick.

“……”

Several pairs of eyes glowed at the corner of the long hall as they approached, but as soon as they made eye contact with Leah, they quickly disappeared. All the way to the garden, she continued to see Kurkans hiding here and then, vanishing as soon as she saw them. There was even a Kurkan hanging from the ceiling in one room, who ran away as soon as Genin spotted him.

Leah didn’t understand why they all kept hiding and sneaking glances at her. Had Ishakan told them anything else?

It was very interesting to be able to see the palace, since there hadn’t been much time to look when she first arrived. The cool shadows were pleasant. She had heard the western desert was hot, but the palace itself felt cool, probably because of all the vegetation.

“If you see a flower you like, feel free to pick it,” Genin said as she collared some Kurkans hiding in the bushes and threw them down the hallway. Leah looked out into the garden, holding back her laughter.

And she wondered how there could be vegetation in this place at all, when it was surrounded by barren, sandy desert. Among all the exotic plants, here and there she saw flowers that she knew. Pausing in front of some pink peonies that had not yet fully bloomed. After much deliberation, she plucked the one that looked prettiest.

“Leah.”

Someone suddenly hugged her tightly from behind, and she turned her head back, startled.

Ishakan was smiling. She had meant to go visit him in his office; she hadn’t expected him to come looking for her. Genin had already tactfully vanished.

“Do you like peonies? I’ll have to tell them to plant more.”

Leah’s lips quivered as she clutched her peony. Even though she had decided to tell her, she was embarrassed now. Ishakan rested his chin on top of her head.

“There are still four kisses to go today…” he said.

“Before that, I have something to tell you, Ishakan.”

Leah turned to face him, her hands trembling as she offered him the peony. He looked at the shaking flower with surprise.

“Take me as your wife,” Leah said as her face turned pinker than the peony.