Predatory Marriage

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—Look for her.

—She must be on the second floor.

Startled, she turned.
Those weren’t the voices of her ladies or the knights.
Quickly, she went to her desk and set the lamp down, grabbing a sharp, slender letter opener.
Looking quickly around the room, she saw only a few places to hide: under the bed, in the closet, or under her desk.
She would be found quickly.

There was no one to call for help.
She would have to protect herself.
Nervously, she opened the window.

Beneath the window was a thin ledge, barely wide enough for her toes.
But if she held onto the window frame, she could stay there for a long time.
With the slender knife in her mouth, she set her foot on the window sill.

“……!”

Golden eyes stared into hers from the darkness.
After a moment, she slowly took the knife from her mouth and set it on the window sill.

Ishakan stretched out his arms to her without a word.

He would catch her if she jumped.
How strange that she trusted this man so much.

It was a long distance from the second floor bedroom to the ground, but she felt no fear.
She had no doubt that he would catch her.
Leah leapt from the window sill, her silver hair fluttering behind her, and Ishakan’s arms went around her nimbly, at precisely the right moment.

Her breath was unsteady and she opened her mouth to begin to tell him that they should go, that there were strangers in the house, but she couldn’t say it.
She was frightened, but his golden eyes were utterly calm.
It would be absurd to tell this man to run.
The idea of fleeing was anathema to him.
Leah pressed her lips together.

“You surprise me in so many ways,” Ishakan said, lifting an eyebrow.

Through the open window, she could hear the sound of her bedroom door being broken down.
A moment later, there were shouts and curses from many male voices.
Holding her in his arms, he looked down at her, shining in the moonlight.

“I have come to help you.”