PREDOTARY MARRIAGE

52

Lisa’s pale complexion soon turned to normal, and when Jisoo saw that she burst into grateful tears! A fact she sheepishly admitted to the princess.

“I really thought something worse would happen.” Jisoo continued, as her lips began to tremble, and eyes turned watery.

Lisa opted to change the conversation, wanting to prevent any further waterworks from the Countess.

“What happened to Byun Gyongbaek of Oberde?”

At the mention of Byun, Jisoo’s expression brightened up as she delivered the news.

“Byun Gyongbaek was completely humiliated this time.” she proudly announced.

“Is there even something that can humiliate him?” Lisa asked, raising a brow in doubt.

“I thought so, too.” she giggled before continuing her story in a cheerful manner.

“I didn’t know how much drink he had, but he was discovered by the fountain without his pants on. By the end of the banquet, all the aristocrats who were coming out of the hall saw him in such a shameful way.” She winced as she remembered that moment.

Jisoo had been amongst the many witnesses that time, and thus had provided the princess with a detailed description of his embarrassing discovery.

Apparently, they all discovered him face down, butt naked.

“He also sustained a broken leg, so he might be limping for a while. But we very well know Byun Gyongbaek doesn’t get drunk that easily.” Jisoo pointed out, “I even heard that even if he did get that drunk, he isn’t one to make such grievous mistakes. So, it’s quite possible he was poisoned or drugged with the wine.” she mused to herself, before brushing it off as unimportant.

Judging by Jisoo’s disposition, it’s most likely that word of what Byun Gyongbaek did to Leah last night, had not spread throughout the palace.

As his plans were thwarted, he would most likely see it as a defeat on his part. He was shamed, and in front of the aristocrats and Kurkans at that. He will most likely call something for a settlement of affairs after that incident.

She wondered if she should mention it.

But her worries did not last for in the end, it was something she couldn’t dare say to Jisoo. Even if she were to mention it, she’ll most probably end up spouting hateful words, and nothing she would’ve done could have changed that.

As she was lost in deep thought, she failed to notice Countess Jisoo had gone silent, and now just watched her with nothing to do. There was an awkward silence that enveloped the room, and despite Jisoo wanting to say something just to break the silence, she found she couldn’t do so.

Eventually the light atmosphere from before gradually dissipated, leaving nothing but a heavy feeling lingering in the air. Jisoo hesitated for quite some time, mustering her courage, before she was finally able to call out Lisa’s attention once more.

“Princess.” she called out, bringing Lisa out of her thoughts.

Lisa immediately could tell there was something she really wished to talk about, but had hesitated so she began talking about it in a roundabout way. Jisoo felt her mouth grow heavy as if her tongue was made of lead.

Taking a deep breath, she finally managed to open her mouth to speak despite the great difficulty.

“I, I wanted you to know…” she began, gulping as she tried to force the words out, “I was the one who changed you that time… just by myself…” she trailed off again. Lisa could see from her eyes alone she was fighting through many emotions in that single moment.

“Princess, do you… have you…was there any unwanted advances in your relationship?”

Jungkook had undoubtedly left marks all over Lisa’s body. Aside from the countless bitemarks she’s retained, there were also bruisings and handprints left on her thighs and buttocks.

The outward appearance of the blemishes around her body might have appeared harsh on an outsider’s point of view, that even labelling it with bad romance couldn’t even begin to describe it. It was only natural for Countess Jisoo to have misunderstood the implications based on her findings alone.

“Oh no, it’s not something unwanted.” she replied lightly, which only made Countess Jisoo bewildered.

“Then, in that case… was it… your partner… one of the barbarians?” she asked, “Perhaps… the King of Kurkans?” taking the fact her mistress might’ve had sexual relations with them, she immediately amended how she called them.

She couldn’t very well continue calling them barbarians now, could she?

Unfortunately, Jisoo was only met with silence when Lisa refused to answer further. She couldn’t help but begin to fret worriedly about the possible consequences, as she brought a hand up to her lips, one of her many nervous ticks.

Seeing the Countess fill herself with senseless worry, Lisa finally answered the question she was yet to truly ask…

The one the Countess was really concerned about…

“Do not fret.” she said, “You have nothing to worry about my virginity.”

It was a vague answer, neither a lie, nor was it an absolute truth.

But if she were to be asked whether it was still intact, obviously it wasn’t. She had lost her chastity quite some time ago already. And despite the fact she had planned to end it in a one-night stand, such a thing hadn’t been possible.

Lisa wondered if she could even make Countess Jisoo one with such naivety, understand her reasoning.

“And also, I…” her voice cracked, before she cleared her throat as she tried to keep a cool and relaxed facade. “I don’t plan on having a relationship with him. It’s only a passing fling.”

It was as if someone slapped her in the face as Jisoo found herself gobsmacked by her answer…

“Pri-princess…” she stuttered, still a little out of it. She couldn’t find a right way to respond to the sudden reveal. She only barely managed to whisper to herself…

“What’s happening?”

At her stupefied question, Lisa could only look away somberly.

“I too do not know, Countess.”

For Lisa truly did not know what was happening with her. She couldn’t even understand Jungkook. His entirety was a mystery, one she couldn’t even begin to decipher. At every time she thought she finally cracked the secret to him, he’d go and surprise her every moment, sometimes doing things she hadn’t thought he would even do.

For ever since she met him, every reason Lisa had, began crumbling.