Predatory Marriage

Chapter 178 – Security Measures (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Leah smiled bitterly as she imagined her father’s funeral, with all the nobles in Estia gathered. No one there would mourn. She couldn’t protest; even his own daughter hadn’t shed a single tear. But at least his body would receive a proper burial.

Now Blain would take the throne. She worried about what the callous and violent man would do to torment the employees at the palace, but she shook her head and put those thoughts aside. She shouldn’t think of Estia on her wedding day.

Eating some of the dates Mura had left for her, Leah let her thoughts fill with other things.

After a while, Mura returned with a small tray bearing a red flower without a stem. Leah placed the flower in her mouth so that it seemed to be blooming from her lips. Until she met Ishakan, she would have to carry the flower there.

Following Mura outside, she climbed into a magnificent sedan chair. It looked heavy, but her ladies-in-waiting lifted it with no sign of difficulty and carried her to a small building at the rear of the palace, avoiding the noisy guests. The small annex there was used only for important events. A small wall surrounded the white stone building so only its domed roof could be seen.

“You must go alone from here,” said Mura as they left her before the arched doorway. “Ishakan is waiting inside…”

Leah nodded and entered the walled courtyard, inwardly impressed. The environment behind the wall was completely different, with small tiles in elaborate patterns on the floor and channels of water flowing in four directions. Small flowers floated on the surface of the clear water, revealing the tiles at the bottom of the channels.

Small lanterns were neatly distributed to illuminate the whole area. The path Leah followed was covered by a red silk carpet that stretched all the way to the building. The bells jingled on her ankles as she approached the door.

Taking a deep breath before the dark wooden door, she pushed it open. The interior was dimly lit, with curtains on every window, light shining dimly within. Moonlight cascaded through the circular opening in the ceiling.

Leah looked at the full moon behind thin clouds, then turned around to look at the room. It was different from any place she had ever seen before. In the center was a circular bed, placed under the window in the ceiling so the moonlight illuminated its white sheets. Beside it was a small table and armchair.

But no matter where she looked, she didn’t see Ishakan. Beyond the bed, Leah found a place covered by a thin hanging cloth. Cautiously, she approached.

“Leah.”

A voice spoke from the other side of the cloth. Quickly she pulled it aside, catching the smell of alcohol. Leah automatically took a step back.

“……!”

She almost dropped the flower in her mouth, blinking in bewilderment. She remembered what Mura had said.

—We will establish security measures.

Leah had expected her to do something, since she was so worried, but she would never have imagined this.

The large iron pillar before her did not match anything else in the small building. Ishakan sat in front of it with his arms bound and his upper body wrapped in heavy chains. When he lifted his head, she saw that he was blindfolded with a red cloth. Suddenly, he smiled. When he spoke, his voice was warm.

“Hello, my bride.”