Predatory Marriage

Predatory Marriage — Chapter 72. Full Moon Night (2)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Eyljee

Leah got rid of those thoughts and said, “I didn’t expect to find you here.”

Although she hoped Ishakan would participate in this auction, she didn’t expect that they would meet each other. She had originally planned to leave before the auction began, maintaining her incognito profile. The best course of action she had thought of was to also infiltrate as a guest. Unexpectedly, she had ended up revealing herself as a slave trader.

“How did you get in?” she asked.

Leah found it hard to believe that he had infringed on the strict security. Ishakan had even made it as far as the reception room.

Ishakan laughed at her surprise. “Well, are you supposed to be more surprised than me?” He hinted playfully.

Afterwards, silence dominated the room. Leah realized too late that she had been sitting on Ishakan’s lap for too long. Unconsciously, this had not seemed strange to her. In fact, she was used to her skin touching his. The fact that she felt comfortable being with Ishakan in such an intimate position, surprised her.

As her instincts indicated, she began to break free from her control. However, Ishakan’s thick arms, which had wrapped around her waist, showed no intention of letting go. Trapped in her steel grip, she raised her head and slowly found his eyes.

“What I asked the other day,” Ishakan expressed with modesty.

Leah was stunned as soon as she heard his voice low and tenuous. Ishakan grabbed her chin and lifted it as she avoided his gaze so their eyes would meet.

“Have you thought about it? You’ve escaped without giving me the answer.”

His hoarse voice tickled her ear. This seemed strange to her. The feelings he aroused in her, even though she had prepared her answer beforehand, made her stop for a moment. She wanted to tell him to forget their conversation, that she had mentioned that subject casually for him to leave her alone. However, those words refused to come out of her mouth.

In the past, she would have said so without hesitation. But now, the words were stuck in her throat. No matter what, she couldn’t let go of those words even if she wanted to.

His thumb slowly touched her lip sliding down, while her mouth closed tightly. Ishakan whispered as he brushed his nose against hers.

“You don’t need to live responsibly, Leah.”

“……”

The warmth of his breath, and his nose caressing her made her feel an indescribable emotion. Why was he being so sweet?

“You seem to be the only one who wants to continue with the negotiation. Why are you so tied to the royal family?”

She could become a fugitive. Throw everything overboard and live freely.

His twisted words sounded so sweet that not even a honey-coated palm date could compare. Their implicit meaning attracted her.

Leah looked at him enraptured. The weight of responsibility on her shoulders was almost unbearable, and the freedom she had chosen – the death – would be the fate she would have as a princess. Ishakan told her to get rid of all the burdens that were on her mind.

If Ishakan, as he promised, were to take responsibility for her, could she give up everything? The man in front of her, since he came into her life, had turned her upside down.

Leah raised her voice helplessly.

“…Why would you do this for me?”

“…For now, let’s say… That we are compatible in bed.”

Hearing his cheeky words, she gave him a piercing look. Ishakan burst out laughing at her gaze. His laughter gradually faded, allowing the atmosphere to return to the comfortable silence.

His golden eyes looked firmly into Leah’s violet eyes. He lowered his gaze, traveling through her small nose, to the soft curve of her lips. His thumb, which had previously been touching her lips, slowly crept into her mouth.

To his amazement, the soft, velvety tongue licked his finger. Leah’s eyelashes trembled, her instincts betrayed her.

The light in Ishakan’s eyes shone even brighter. Strange. She couldn’t find the right words to describe them clearly, but his golden eyes, today, she found them particularly special.

It was as if he had bewitched her, drawing her to himself.

The king slowly brought his face closer to hers. His thumb slid slowly along her teeth. Ishakan narrowed his eyes as he smiled and whispered seductively.

“Did you know that today is a full moon?”

SLAM!

The next second, the door opened wide, interrupting the couple who were immersed in their own bubble. Upon hearing this, Leah was surprised and quickly distanced herself from Ishakan.

It was Genin who appeared, grabbing the neck of Count Valtein who was standing next to her. Genin’s mouth opened slightly. Her words were caught in her throat as she pointed to Leah, stunned.

Count Valtein, who had entered the room with Genin, was very surprised when he saw Ishakan and Leah together.

A somewhat tense and peculiar atmosphere was created.

As Count Valtein cursed in his mind, someone appeared behind Genin’s head.

“Ahh!”

The person who exclaimed, was also surprised when he saw Leah. It was the handsome Kurkan who had taken Leah to the royal palace the other day. He opened his mouth and mumbled.

“What is this…? Why is the princess here…?”

Ishakan clicked his tongue, dissatisfaction reflecting on his face.

The man named Haban entered urgently, so Ishakan approached Leah. Ishakan acted as if the others were a plague that could not set their eyes on Leah.

“You said you had self-control!” Haban exclaimed, exalted.

“Yes. It didn’t work well.” Ishakan responded calmly, getting Leah down from his lap. Then, he grabbed the back of her neck, and pulled her head to his chest. His other hand went down to her waist, and his thumb made small circles on it. “I think I lied, Haban.”

Haban stared at Leah’s red face and asked, “What did Ishakan say to you?”

“He said nothing, except that today was the full moon…”

Leah replied, perplexed. Ishakan became angry and yelled at Haban.

“You’ve been talking a lot of nonsense!”

Genin released Count Valtein’s neck and slowly approached her. Then, she carefully stole Leah from Ishakan, putting Leah behind her and making sure her big body was hiding her.

Having no idea of their dispute, Leah asked what was going on. Genin turned around and stared at her. Her voice sounded tense as she answered.

“When Kurkans mention the full moon, it usually has a sexu4l meaning.”

“Huh?” Leah opened her mouth in surprise.

“The day the full moon rises…”

Genin looked at Count Valtein as she whispered quietly, making sure only Leah heard her.

“It’s mating season.”