Predatory Marriage

>“Is it necessary to give the Princess to Byun Gyeongbaek?”

Cerdina smiled at her son’s ruthless behavior.

“Because you are not a King yet.”

“……”

Blain’s gaze shuttered, and Cerdina’s face hardened when she saw his suffering.

It made her think of the dead Queen.
Leah had inherited her beautiful features.
Every time Cerdina saw her, it reminded her of the dead Queen and she would get cranky.

Cerdina had only used Leah as a tool to incite Blain’s desires, to make him want power and share his mother’s ambitions.
But even though Cerdina had cunningly covered his eyes and ears until now, Blain now understood his emotions.
Blain would achieve great things in the future.
A simple princess should not represent the end of the road.

“Think again, Blain.”

Cerdina hoped he wouldn’t be swayed by a woman.
She wanted to give her son a suitable wife, moderately dumb, who could produce good offspring.
Someone as intelligent as Leah was hard to handle, and after Cerdina had damaged her so badly with her spells, she had too many flaws to allow her close to Blain.

Approaching slowly, Cerdina offered him the wineglass.

“As your mother I only want to give you the best,” she whispered affectionately.

Blain snatched the wineglass from her hand and drank the black liquid to the bottom without hesitating.
He dropped the empty glass to let it fall by the broken wine bottle, looking fiercely at Cerdina.

“I trust you will keep your promise.”

Though her perfect smile faded a little, she regained it as if nothing had happened.

“Of course I will.
I will do whatever you want.”

You will be a king, Blain.

Imagining the dazzling crown that would soon be placed on her beloved son’s head, Cerdina opened her arms to him.

Blain embraced her.
His eyes were filled with a deep displeasure.

***

The Kurkans left the Palace of Estia.

Unlike the ostentatious welcome they had received when they arrived, their departure was unceremonious.
Early in the morning, under the watchful eyes of the royal knights, they quietly left.
They were not seen by any member of the royal family or by any of the high-status nobles.

Leah, at the Princess Palace, only received word once they had gone.