PREDOTARY MARRIAGE

31

blood of the knights Byun Gyongbaek brought with him.

Suddenly, Lisa had thought about the knights of Estia. Because they had been living in peace for so long, they hadn’t bothered to polish up either skills or weapons. They could never hope to go up against the might of the Kurkans.

Should war break out, she would possibly be forced on her knees, begging Byun Gyongbaek for their lives. And should that happen, Estia would be at Byun’s mercy.

As realization dawned upon her, Lisa shook out of her thoughts as the grim atmosphere washed over her.

Estia’s last hope lies with the peace treaty. They should quickly seal it with the Kurkans without further delay.

Tonight seemed much longer than the previous ones.

Jaehyun stood beneath the night sky, taking in a deep breath of the chilly air as he looked up to the darkened skies. With the moon lighting its usual silver hue, it painted the sky with a faint light, reminding him of someone.

Despite knowing they had roughly the same color, he couldn’t help but feel her hair held a uniqueness only to him. It didn’t matter how hard he tried to find it in something else, he could never achieve it.

His eyes remained glued to the moon, watching it until clouds rolled by and covering its light. He dropped his gaze, slowly lifting the cup of wine to his eye level as he watched the dark liquid swish and swirl, before bringing it up to his lips and downed it in one gulp until not even a single drop was left.

Seeing he finished it, Jaehyun set it aside

“Jaehyun.” He heard a soft voice call out from behind him, and he turned to look.

“Mother,” he acknowledged. But whereas her expression was soft and smiling, full of love for her only son by blood, Jaehyun’s face was nothing but devoid of emotion. He only blinked at her, not even offering a smile in return.

Such a cold reaction, but Dara did not mind.

“Have you finished?” she asked him, and he only thrust the empty glass towards her. Dara stared at the empty goblet, and fixed her shawl, pulling it over her shoulders, before speaking once more.

“We’ll catch a cold out here, let’s come inside,” She told him, but Jaehyun did not move. He only remained in his spot, leaning over the rails, as he continued to stare at her. Soon the clouds left the moon, finally revealing its light once more.

The light reflected Jaehyun’s silvery locks, creating a wonderful shine.

Silver hair, the mark of one meant for the throne. So extraordinary it was, it sparkled beneath the moonlight. Looking admiringly at her son, Dara held his stare with a soft smile.

As if sensing where she was looking at, Jaehyun ran his hand through his hair.

“What happens when the peace treaty is amended?” He asked, holding her warm gaze with a cold and calculating look. “Will Byun Gyongbaek and Lisa’s marriage happen then?”

Dara only gave a knowing smile, stepping towards him steadily, and cupped his cheek gently, “When you become king,” she started, the wind carrying her voice. “When that happens, then everything you want, everything in this kingdom will be yours, Your Highness.”

Jaehyun gave her a brief smile, in his nervousness, he moved his arm, effectively knocking off the empty glass, which crashed into shattered pieces when it hit the rocky terrain. Dara watched as the pieces scattered all over, before moving her gaze back to him.

“Mine?” he asks, “Not Byun Gyongbaek’s?” He could feel the rage bubbling up inside him, but Dara had expected this.

Her smile was still present, ever so soft and pleasant to the eyes. Her red lips remained as it had been when she first entered Jaehyun’s place.

“Oh my lovely son,” She cooed at him, smiling like she was an angel, but Jaehyun kept his glare at her, full of hatred and contempt. Dara only gave him a bright smile.

“Worry not about anything, I shall take care of everything.”