PREDOTARY MARRIAGE

23

Without a doubt, he was a handsome man—with silver hair and deep blue eyes mirroring Lisa’s features. However, his beauty was only a mask, fro what lay inside was hideous than, more than one could ever imagine.

Cold and quick-tempered, the crown prince of Estia was feared by the many. Truth of this matter, Lisa felt horrified whenever he looked at her. Just like this moment, for instance.

His piercing eyes ran all over her. After scrutinizing the box that Lisa is currently carrying, he slowly looked at Jungkook. While observing the situation, Jungkook pleasantly greeted Blain without any hint of embarrassment.

“Good morning, Your Highness!”

At the outset, he pretended to be acquainted with Blain. Only then did Blain acknowledge him. The courtesy greeting was dull and wry. Shortly right after, the atmosphere went silent.

A strange aura surrounded them. The sound of the water flowing from the fountain reverberated amidst the silence. After the muffling silence, Blain finally opened his mouth.

“I didn’t know that the King of Kurkans will be here.”

Jungkook struck back, “Is this a place I am prohibited from entering?”

“Well, I don’t know what the custom of Kurkan is like.” Jaehyun gritted his teeth and said, “But here in Estia, it is not good to see an unmarried woman alone with a man.”

He glanced back at Lisa while spiteful words spilled from his mouth, which sounded like daggers aimed at her.

“Sister.”

Lisa bit her lips as he called her “sister.” Although Jaehyun was her half-brother, he has never treated her respectfully. On the contrary, Lisa was harshly educated to respect the crown prince, Jaehyun politely.

He used to call Lisa by her name or call her sister whenever he felt like it. It seemed that he formally addressed her because the king of Kurkans was around. After all, there was no good in finding out that the royal family was a mess.

“I came to tell you something. Let’s go to a silent place.”

He said it in a tone of suppressed anger. She dealt with this situation before, and knew very well how Jaehyun’s anger would escalate If she resisted longer.

Therefore, Lisa answered submissively, “Yes, Your Highness.”

With that, Jaehyun snatched her wrist right and roughly pulled her with him. Her foot stumbled across the jagged edges of the slab of stones, and her body tottered, but Jaehyun did not care.

While being dragged away, Lisa looked back at Jungkook. She excruciatingly tolerated the pain and was able to gaze at him with a serene face.

Their eyes met. Jungkook’s eyes never left Lisa’s form. He was displeased and was ready to strangle the man to death. However, Jaehyun was Estia’s next ruler, and disputing with him would rather make things complicated. What’s more, making such commotion would likely affect the princess.

But still, he couldn’t help but mouth, Need help?

His golden eyes hoped a reply. In his disappointment, however, Lisa lowered her eyes indicating her refusal.

This is for the better, she thought.

She did not want to be dragged by Jungkook. Deep inside, she was desperate for his help. But it has been a long time since she realized that following her heart is naïve.

That man is the king of Kurkans who came to devour Estia. He must have premeditated all of his political plans. Even though his intention is not clear as of the moment, it is best not to get involved with him.

Lisa dismissed her thoughts, and unbelievingly shook her head. She felt Ishakan’s persistent gaze, but she ignored it and blindly permitted Jaehyun to drag her away.

As soon as they arrived in the nook of the garden, far from Jungkook’s sight, her body was roughly pushed against a tree. Her short dress was scraped and torn by the wooden bushes.

Brutally, Jaehyun pulled her hair—wrecking her beautifully curled mane. It was so strong her head tilted backward.

“What were you doing?”

With such force, she feared her neck was going to snap anytime. She was overwhelmed with pain, Jaehyun’s words sounded vague to her ears.

Shaking her, Jaehyun asked her again.

“I asked! What were you doing with that man?” His blue eyes gleamed with madness.

As if him maltreating her was not yet enough, he did something much more horrible.

Disgust crossed Lisa’s eyes as soon as she felt him grope her. He intrusively touched her shoulders, chest, and waist… and even tried to raise the hem of her skirt.

She barely mustered strength when she slapped Jungkook on his cheek—hard. Her strength may be far inferior to him, but she couldn’t let such repulsive conduct continue.

Jaehyun released her hair and then forcefully flung her. An ample distance from him, Lisa scowled at Jaehyun, who looked possessed by the devil.

“Don’t sway your hips in front of the Kurkans.” Towering over Lisa, he coldly warned her.

“Understand, sister?”