Predatory Marriage

Chapter 174 – She Can’t Get Pregnant (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Morga repeatedly praised her for everything from her memorization of the complicated floorplan of the Estian palace to her map drawing and everything else she had said at the meeting.

“I also heard that you made Byun Gyeongbaek your spy.” He was surprised that she had thought of lying about the effects of a potion.

Leah bit her lip, embarrassed. She was not used to compliments, and as his praises went on and on, Morga only belatedly came to his senses.

“It’s not ready yet, please wait a moment.”

Placing a pot of hot water over a brazier, he carefully began to introduce the ingredients that were lined up neatly nearby. Before he added them to the pot, he weighed them on a scale.

“I’m making a potion. Now is the perfect time…” Somehow, he seemed a little unsure. As he added the last ingredient to the pot, he explained, “There is no law that states that sorcery will work. It changes based on the situation. Even if the same ingredients are used in a potion, the result may vary due to the position of celestial bodies, or the state of the sorcerer, or other factors.”

As he watched the pot, he explained that the more skilled the sorcerer, the more likely they were to achieve consistent results.

“Do love potions exist?” Leah asked curiously. Listening to his explanations had reminded her of something.

“In theory, they do,” Morga answered, stirring the liquid in the pot with a spatula. “But depending on who makes the potion, the effects will vary. Since love potions try to influence emotions…in my case, I can only make aphrodisiacs.”

But the love potions sold by the Tomaris were fake. Having experienced the effects of such a potion in the past, Leah listened quietly.

“Only a sorcerer with great power can make a true love potion,” Morga explained. “But a sorcerer of that level could make anything.” Pausing, he grabbed some elaeagnus fruits and added them to the spot and stirred again. “Throughout history, there has only ever been one sorcerer that powerful.”

“…I see.” Leah was relieved. She had been thinking of Cerdina.

“Are you worried about the Queen?” Morga looked at her intently. He could see the emotion in her eyes.

Leah hesitated.

“I hear auditory hallucinations occasionally,” she admitted, confessing the thing she hadn’t wanted to say. “I can sense that we’re still connected.”

She trailed off, but Morga understood what she meant.

“Hopefully those symptoms will subside a bit after the ceremony. Please hang in there a little longer.”

Leah nodded slowly.

“Don’t worry, Leah.” He said firmly. “We’ll protect you.”

***

The spell he cast this time wasn’t as powerful, so Morga said she wouldn’t sleep for days, but she was still very tired. As soon as she returned to her room, Leah fell asleep. She drifted awake to the feel of someone beside her hugging her and called out sleepily.

“Ishakan…”

“Keep sleeping, Leah.” He whispered.

But she hadn’t seen him in more than half a day, and turned around to have a conversation with him. His hair was damp from a recent washing.

“What food did you have for dinner?” he asked.

“Lamb, and several other things…I ate a lot. My ladies-in-waiting served me very well. And you?”

But instead of answering, he touched her body, his hand caressing her belly.

“You don’t look like you’ve eaten much,” he said. His large hand cupped her backside. “You have to choose the dress for the wedding soon. You won’t be able to wear it, being so thin.”

“I’ll try to eat more.”

For a while, they talked about the wedding, until she remembered something else she had wanted to ask.

“Will I get pregnant if we do the ceremony?” She was afraid that her weakened body would not be strong enough to carry a child, but she didn’t want to admit it even to him. Her voice was casual. “I only ask you to mentally prepare myself.”

Ishakan stared at her for a moment before he answered belatedly.

“If you don’t want to, no.”

As soon as she heard his answer, she knew the truth.

Her face stiffened. Leah forced a smile onto her face, trying to seem unconcerned..

“…I can’t get pregnant,” she whispered softly.