Chapter 354. Wine (2)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Leah decided to pretend to drink the wine.

But the moment she lifted it to her mouth, the glass flew out of her hand and struck the marble floor with a loud crack, and Lesha was standing on the table.

It all happened so fast, it was impossible to follow with her eyes. But Leah could see the knife in Lesha's small hand, pointing at Herod's neck.

"You leave my mama alone," he snarled, his eyes narrowed. "Or you'll be sorry."

***

Judia's ladies-in-waiting took great care in dressing her.

Her dress was simple, but fit her well, highlighting the shape of her body. They also spent a lot of time styling her hair, and when they were done, all of her ladies were amazed at the result.

"My God..."

"Magnificent. Even a heart made of stone would race."

Judia pulled a robe on over her gown and left the palace, satisfied.

The King of Kurkan had planned to spend the night outside the palace instead of attending the banquet, and Judia had asked her subordinates to find his location. When she discovered he was going to spend the night at an inn, it seemed like a signal to proceed with a tryst.

Throughout the whole carriage ride to the inn, she was so excited, she couldn't stop smiling. He must be interested in her. Surely, he had only acted as if he were indifferent because there had been so many people watching in the banquet hall.

When the carriage arrived at the inn, Judia got out and instructed the coachman to wait there until early the next morning, then hurried inside the inn.

But as soon as she opened the door, Judia sensed something was wrong.

A prickling sensation raced over her skin, as if hundreds of needles were pricking her at the same time. It was a phantom pain from all the stares.

There were dozens of Kurkans in the inn. Sitting freely on the tables, chairs, even on the stairs and in the window sills, perched on the railing of the second floor.

It seemed no coincidence that they were all there, especially when all of them stopped at once and turned to look at Judia, all those eyes unblinking.

Those stares were like an invisible blade pointed at her throat. If she even breathed wrong, her whole body would break apart. If she had been only a little less bold, she might have fainted on the spot.

It felt as if she had become prey, with bait in her mouth. Judia's face paled, and her eyes darted in one direction.

The man she was searching for was sitting at a table at the back of the inn. And though she hadn't consciously tried to find him, her eyes were drawn by the force of his presence.

Judia spoke, thinking of his name.

"Oh, Kurkan King!"

Ishakan watched her silently and gently waved her over. It let her catch her breath again, and as soon as she did, she felt more confident. It was clear that this man had been waiting for her.

"I have something to tell you, so I came to find you, even if it is impolite," Judia said, clasping her hands together and looking at him with moist eyes. "It's about the peace agreement. But I don't want others to hear...could we speak privately?"

As she requested it so politely, Ishakan granted it.

"Everyone withdraw."

The Kurkans disappeared the moment they heard his command. Judia felt a shiver down her spine as she watched them disappear, melting into the shadows. Even seeing it with her own eyes, she could barely believe it.

"So what do you want, Queen?"

At the sound of his pleasant voice, Judia gathered herself. At last, it was just the two of them, and the desire to have him seized her. Her heart raced, and she felt a tingling of anticipation between her legs.

She was sure that after tonight, she would have the King of Kurkan in the palm of her hand. Especially since she had brought it.

Judia acted boldly. Removing her robe, she sat down before Ishakan, and even with such recklessness, he did not reproach her.

Smiling softly, she looked down at the table. There was a deep bowl on the table, filled with wrinkled brown fruit.

She had heard that Kurkans frequently ate dates. That was probably where the sweet scent was coming from. It seemed fitting to pair their sweetness with the drink she had brought. Judia set the bottle of wine on the table with satisfaction. The dates seemed like a good omen.

"First, may I offer you a drink?"