Predatory Marriage

Chapter 169. Genin Revenge (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

What did he mean, she already knew? Had they met in the past? But if she had ever met Ishakan, she couldn’t have forgotten him. Leah looked silently at the man before her.

He had sharp features. Illuminated by the moonlight, that face was superior to any face she had ever seen, even among Kurkans. She would never forget that face even if she had wanted to.

But Ishakan didn’t seem willing to discuss the matter further. He lifted her in his arms and changed the subject.

“Enough of this boring talk,” he said, assuming a mischievous expression. “There are things to do, Leah. I have to kiss you, and there are things you need to eat.”

“……”

Leah wanted to speak, but no words emerged. Ishakan smiled at her reaction.

“A tent has been set up for us, so we will sleep there tonight, outside the city.”

She didn’t care where she slept, as long as it was with him. At her nod, Ishakan walked toward another tent. As he carried her there, he murmured something she didn’t understand.

“…The royal palace will be a bit noisy today.”

***

Under the dim moonlight, Genin breathed slowly. A burning heat coursed through her entire body and her eyes glowed, eerie.

Flesh and blood were scattered and splashed everywhere. Amidst the carnage, only disembodied heads were identifiable on the ground. The purist Kurkans, followers of the dead king, had come to a miserable end. The ghastly expressions on their faces were proof of the torment of their deaths.

For hours, Genin gazed at the mangled bodies, covered in blood. When she had learned that these people who she had believed were dead were still alive, she couldn’t help being glad. Glad that there was still a chance to inflict this pain upon them. But now that it was over, Genin was not happy.

As she sat, lost in thought, a familiar, fresh scent wafted by her. She looked up.

“…Ishakan,” she said, in a broken voice.

He stood with his long pipe in his hands and exhaled a puff of smoke. His golden eyes looked calmly at Genin and the massacre she had committed.

Though the place reeked of blood, he walked toward her and lit a thin cigar, handing it to Genin. Her hand trembled as she took it.

After a few puffs, the tumult of emotions and the predatory gleam in her eyes faded. Genin squeezed her eyes shut.

“……”

Tears spilled from her eyes, streaking through the dried blood on her face, and soon began to patter onto the ground.

They had killed the ones who had cut off her husband’s legs before her eyes. But though she had killed them in the most painful way possible, Genin still regretted it. No matter what she did, it wouldn’t change the past.

“I promised to protect him…I couldn’t,” she sobbed. “Even if I have revenge, nothing will ever be the way it used to be…”

The cigar fell to the ground and she wiped at her tears with the back of her hand.

“I shouldn’t have…put him in danger from the beginning…” Genin’s teeth gritted as she forced the words out between sobs. “You wouldn’t have been as foolish. You would have protected your partner no matter what. I was so stupid…”

“Well, I don’t know.” Ishakan exhaled a long puff of smoke. “I’m not a god.”

“But…”

“If something like that happened to me, I would feel as you do.” Genin listened to him with wet eyes. “That’s why I do everything I can,” he said firmly. “You did everything you could, Genin.”

At those words, it felt as if something that had been lodged heavily in her heart vanished. Genin bit her lower lip and knelt on the bloody ground.

“Thank you for giving me this chance.”

Really, Genin should not have been handed this task, given the risk that her emotions might get the better of her. Since these Kurkans were invading the royal palace, they had to be dealt with decisively. But Ishakan had given her this opportunity, so she could finally have revenge. There was only one way Genin could pay this kindness.

“I will serve Lady Leah with all my heart.”