PREDOTARY MARRIAGE

60

“…hah.”

An abrupt scoff squeezed out from behind his clenched teeth. On the back of his hands, lines of blue popped. Jaehyun had seen the explicit play happening under the table.

His blood was riled by the provocative exchange he had witnessed between Lisa and Jungkook. In a fury, Jaehyun contemptuously discarded the tableware he had picked up to the quivering servant, who had been waiting anxiously since the crown prince bent to pick up the piece of porcelain himself.

It was the first time he had seen the royal do that, and the expression that crossed Jaehyun’s face afterwards had been frightening.

With a nervous and humble posture, the servant immediately brought back new tableware for him. Jaehyun, who had begrudgingly received it, could not forget the image he had seen. His hands grasped the cool white porcelain tightly. His grip so strong, at any moment, it seemed the tableware would break under pressure.

Unlike Jaehyun, who was struggling to contain his rage, Jungkook slowly drew his cup towards his lips and smirked. His posture was ever so relaxed, that one could easily tell, he comfortably fit into the luncheon.

Judging from his attitude, it seemed that Jungkook had deliberately acted as such, for Jaehyun to see.

The next moment, Dara cocked her head and glanced towards them. Her gaze narrowed at the servant, an apparent expression of dissatisfaction spread across her face. Her eyebrows furrowed distastefully—it appeared that the queen had seen Jaehyun picking up the tableware himself.

For a prince to act lowly in front of the esteemed guest present, Dara inhaled sharply and shot daggers at the innocent trembling servant, who feared to even look directly at her eyes.

Lisa could not find her shoes, which had peeled off. She blushingly hid her feet deep inside her dress, hoping that would stop Jungkook from touching her provocatively again.

Jungkook laughed lowly, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. His low rumble tickled her ears and made her want to hide herself. She felt a nudge beneath the table, and quickly slipped her feet back into the delicate shoes Jungkook had stolen away.

Jaehyun grasped the knife in his hand, the tense grip made it difficult for him to cut up his meal. The aromatic lamb dressed in thyme and smoked lavender that had been served, laid untouched.

He seemed to be trying to put up with it somehow. But the moment his eyes met Jungkook’s, who was smiling leisurely across the circular table from him, he eventually, with a rough gesture, laid down the tableware again.

The furious prince, who had been ignoring Jungkook up to this point, spoke to him for the first time.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

Amusement flashed across Jungkook’s face. He seemed to be having fun, taunting Jaehyun. He stared at him as if asking if he wanted to try it.

“I heard it’s hard to get ingredients in the sand desert, but I’m worried that unfamiliar food might not suit your taste.”

Although Jaehyun’s words implied that the food Jungkook was eating was far more precious than just a normal meal, Jungkook’s expression remained the same; relaxed and carefree. He was a king after all, no matter how rare the food, what was there that he could not get? Jungkook briefly opened his mouth, and drawled.

“That’s what I’m saying. More than I expected…”

He tilted his head, eyes turning to look at Lisa. From her large amethyst eyes, to her small nose, pouty lips and small chin, he mapped her face in his eyes. Traveling further, he reached where her porcelain skin met the neck of her dress, which was gently wrapped around her shoulders, like a silk cocoon.

He’s eyes ravaged her, examining every soft curve, and texture of the beauty before him. Soon, he reached for a serviette cloth, intricately embroidered with lace. The tip of his fingers leisurely wrapping around it as he brought it to his mouth.

“…so much better.”

It was strange to learn of the affection he could express with the light, pleasant and calm tone. For someone who was an absolute beast in the sheets, and knew how to use his masculine body to make a woman feel good, he was surprisingly gentle. With an indescribable like in his eyes, he whispered.

“I want to stay in Estia for a long time.”

The grind of teeth could be heard from the opposite side of the table. Jaehyun’s eyes flashed deadly pale. The noble sarcasm that had meant to humiliate Jungkook in the Estian society, had not even laid a small scratch. In front of a man who was the fierce embodiment of a beast, sharp words were weak; all bark but no bite to him.

At this point, even the tactless Estian King seemed to recognize that the situation had taken an odd turn. The king looked at Jaehyun and Jungkook in bewilderment

However, the king had long been out of the minds of two men. Jaehyun who completely was caught up in his anger, forgot everything that told him to remain silent. The delicate nature of the political situation before him vanished with his anger, and he opened his mouth, fury in his eyes.

“I heard that the King of Kurkans has not yet married.”

He uttered what he should not say. “Will you plunder a bride in Estia?”

Surprised, Lisa grabbed him by the forearm, but he immediately shook off Lisa’s hand.

“Jaehyun.”

Feeling the seriousness of the situation, the Estian King also called out his name and warned. But despite the warnings from his family, Jaehyun refused and ignored them.

“At least I hope the king won’t do that.”

Jaehyun ended his words by twisting his mouth into a sneer.

“It is considered a barbaric act on the continent.”