Predatory Marriage

Chapter 171. Military Meeting (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

The thought that it was such a short time before the wedding startled her. Ishakan was organizing their wedding as quickly as she had asked. But now that the date had been set, she felt strange. She didn’t dislike it. She was just bewildered at so many changes happening so fast.

“Since everyone is busy planning the wedding, you should build up your stamina in the meantime, Leah.” Even as she spoke, Mura observed which foods Leah ate most, to learn more about her tastes. “In the evening, you have to meet Morga for treatment.”

As Mura kept her distracted with conversation, Leah didn’t realize how much she was eating, and so ended up consuming far more than usual. Ishakan would have applauded if he could have seen it.

“I will also teach you the Kurkan language. I’ve studied linguistics, so I should be able to teach you well enough.”

Leah swallowed her mouthful of food. “You won the selection and studied linguistics? Mura, you are amazing.”

Mura’s eyes widened and her face reddened at the compliment. “Of course!” She said proudly. “I’m…I’m very intelligent…!”

Leah smiled. For some reason, it made her think that Mura’s personality matched Haban’s well. After her breakfast, she had hot tea with honey. From the way Mura was looking at her, she thought she was going to try to encourage snacks, but Leah thought she might explode if she had anything else to eat. –

After her tea, she prepared to return to the palace, washed and dressing with the skilled help of the other ladies-in-waiting. They had brought dresses that would fit Leah, and she tried them on until she found the one she liked the best. While the ladies arranged her, Leah thought about what she could do for Kurkan.

The first thought that came to mind was to work on palace matters. She was sure she would be useful in both politics and finance, as she had worked in those areas in Estia. As long as she could adapt to Kurkan, she thought she would do well. But perhaps it was still too early to do so. She had come to the desert as Ishakan’s bride, but she was still a foreigner. If a foreigner tried to move in too quickly, it might cause antipathy among the Kurkans.

Since everything was already well-ordered, it wouldn’t be bad for her to slowly begin work after she officially became Queen.

As she was pondering what she could do before then, Leah suddenly bit her lip.

“……”

The sound of chains rattling filled her ears. She was sick of these insistent sounds, tired of feeling afraid. Every time she listened to these hallucinations it made her feel as if she were standing on a frozen river. If the ice broke one day, she would plunge into the cold, dark waters.

Leah looked at her reflection in a mirror. Her face was pale.

Ishakan was right. This endless anxiety would only go away once the problem was eradicated at its root. She couldn’t live in fear for the rest of her life. Ignoring the sound of rattling chains, Leah looked at her ladies-in-waiting.

”Is there to be a meeting today about the conquest of Estia?” She asked with determination. The diligent ladies paused for a moment. They all knew that she had been the Princess of Estia. Mura answered.

“I have heard that there will be a military meeting this afternoon.”

“I would like to attend the meeting. But first I need to ask permission…”

“Permission?!” Mura scoffed. Leah smiled. The agitated attitude was just like Haban’s. “There’s nothing in the desert you can’t do. You don’t need to ask anyone’s permission.”

Mura was very clear about this. Leah laid her hands on the skirt of her dress, squeezing gently. Somehow, it made her heart tingle.

In Estia, she had been looked down on by both the royal family and nobility, but here in Kurkan she had priority. It felt strange to be told that she could always do whatever she wanted, it encouraged her to do the best she could. As soon as she was fully dressed and ready, she stood up enthusiastically.

“Can you get me a quill and paper?” She asked. “I’d like the paper to be…large.”

Soon, they placed the paper and quill on a table, and after musing for a moment, Leah picked up the quill and began slowly to draw.

***