Predatory Marriage (Web Novel)
chapter-232

Chapter 232 – Doubts (2)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

“Because you are under spells.”

“……”

“Spells that make you forget me…and forget everything else.”

He said it quietly. But just like the smell of blood that emanated from his body after he had been delivering his lesson, he couldn’t hide his distress, even though he was trying to pretend it wasn’t there.

“But it doesn’t matter now.” He explained that due to the complicated circumstances of the spell, the best option had seemed to be for her to remain in Estia until she regained her memories. He had planned to wait. If he took her away before then, there was a chance that she would never remember him.

But now, he was willing to take that risk.

Leah remembered what he had said, that he didn’t care if she loved someone else, that even then he wanted to run away with her. She didn’t understand why he was so devoted to her. Had she really married him during some period she couldn’t remember?

Memories…

She thought. She remembered Baroness Cinael weeping. The lady’s gown had been neat, but old-fashioned, and the sleeves had been frayed at the edges. She was not financially prosperous, and surely needed the money, but she had refused the payment Ishakan had offered her.

Leah knew how hard it was to refuse money when it was badly needed. It was proof that Baroness Cinael was truly loyal to Leah. They must have spent a great deal of time together to have such a relationship.

But Leah couldn’t remember it. And now there was a possibility that she would lose those memories for the rest of her life.She wasn’t sure that was the right decision. But she loved Ishakan so much, she was willing to run away with him and leave everything behind, even the title of Princess of Estia. She was definitely in love with him, beyond all reason.

Thoughts of Blain kept popping into her head. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t forget him. It was as if she were tied to him with chains, she could not let him go.

Her expression sobered, and she swiped at her face to hide it, pretending to wipe away sweat. She didn’t want Ishakan to know who she was thinking about.

“…Leah.”

Ishakan was very perceptive. Sighing, he pulled her into the tub. Her body sank into the warm water and her silver hair floated on the surface.

“All right,” he said, sitting her on his thigh and stroking her cheek with his warm hand. “I don’t care what you’re thinking…”

Leah kissed him. After a while, she drew back to whisper to this man who knew everything.

“I want to forget.” Leaning in to kiss him, she whispered again. “It’s very stressfu…”

The words were interrupted by Ishakan’s sudden, deep kiss, his tongue thrusting between her lips into her mouth. His hot breath mingled with the steam in the bathroom.

“Ah, Ishakan…ahh…”

She clung to him as if he were her refuge. With his skin pressed to hers, she could forget Blain for a little while. But she knew better than anyone that this was only a temporary solution.

***

The next day, Leah opened her eyes at sunrise, awakened by an excruciating headache.

She woke with her hands clutching her head to see Ishakan standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, wearing only a single cloth wrapped around his waist, exposing his upper body. Just outside the open door stood Haban, his face rigid.

“The King of Estia has come with knights.”

Leah tried to pretend she didn’t care. But she couldn’t. Her body reacted in spite of her, her heart suddenly pounding as memories flashed through her mind. By all rationality and reason, the person she loved should be Blain. That was who she remembered.

Her headache grew worse as soon as she denied it, and Leah stifled a moan at the pain. The faint scent of burning drifted past her sensitive nose. Where was it coming from? The question distracted her from the pain long enough that she heard Haban speaking, annoyed.

“You set the orchard on fire?”