Predatory Marriage

Chapter 95. Take The Royal Princess of Estia (2)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

As the door closed behind them, Leah clasped her hands tightly together. Instead of saying goodbye to the King of the Kurkans, Count Valtein and the Finance Minister only exhaled deeply as they watched him leave. It was like coming back to life without the suffocating pressure of his presence.

Leah was thinking. There was something behind that enigmatic smile Ishakan had given her as he left, as if he had been hinting something to her. Gathering up all the documents she had diligently prepared, she stood. Count Valtein and Minister Laurent were sprawled over the table soulessly, and looked up in surprise.

“Princess?”

“I’m going somewhere,” she said vaguely. She left hurriedly without dispelling their confusion.

But as soon as she opened the chamber door, she was met with a surprise. Ishakan was waiting for her, and she almost crashed into his chest, stopping abruptly on her toes. He was amused.

“Where shall we go?” He asked cheekily, as assured as if they had agreed on a date. Leah realized she had a long way to go before she could triumph over this man.

There was only one place in their current location that was both suitable and secluded. She grabbed Ishakan and led him down the long corridor to the Glory Room. It was filled with paintings and sculptures oriented toward the circular window set in the domed ceiling. A single beam of bright light passed through the window to illuminate the floor. It was meant to symbolize the ambitions of Estia, the country’s hope for unwavering glory and for the light to shine only upon them.

Although Estia’s artists worked tirelessly to fill the room with their creations, pouring their hearts into every piece, the sight frustrated Leah. She was fed up with the empty vanity and colorful ostentation of Estia. The masterpieces might represent something noble, but the same couldn’t be true of her nation. The country would have been better served by selling half the masterpieces in the royal palace to fill the empty treasury.

That included the pieces on display in the Glory Room, but the noble families who valued this display of virtue–which only they were allowed to see–would never allow it. So she had to keep her wish to herself.

Ishakan looked surprised as he entered. But instead of looking at the statues and paintings, he looked up at the ceiling, to the small window. As Leah approached him, he pushed her gently under the light, making her silver hair glow and her purple eyes sparkle, enchanting. He smiled.

“How pretty,” he said, making her face redden at the praise. That he had chosen to direct the unexpected compliment to her instead of the masterpieces surrounding them made it impossible to look him in the eye. But he was as persistent as ever, placing his hands on her shoulders and bending to lay a sweet kiss on her forehead, and then another softly on her cheek.

She tried not to look at his mouth as he drew away. She was surprised he hadn’t stolen a kiss from her lips.

Ishakan let out a sigh. “Did you eat breakfast?”

“…Yes.”

“What did you eat?”

“Fruits and vegetables.”

“How much?”

“Half a plate of salad and peaches,” she replied, though she felt he was questioning her too closely. He looked quite serious as he asked, which bewildered her.

“How many peaches?” He asked earnestly. It was such a ridiculous question, Leah just stared at him. He sighed. “All right. Then just come and sit for now.”

Taking Leah’s wrist, he walked around the room, searching for a place to sit together. The room had no use other than the vanity of Estia.

“Is there nowhere to sit?” He asked, disappointed.He ended up sitting down in front of a statue, leaning against it and patting his thigh, offering it to Leah as a seat. She was skeptical.

“We don’t have chairs, after all,” He shrugged, smiling mischievously.