Chapter 52 – A Passing Fling (2) Leah’s pale complexion soon turned to normal, and when Melissa saw that she burst into grateful tears! A fact she sheepishly admitted to the princess. “I really thought something worse would happen.” Melissa continued, as her lips began to tremble, and eyes turned watery. Leah 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, Melissa’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?” Leah 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. Melissa 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.” Melissa 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 Melissa’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 Melissa. 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 Melissa had gone silent, and now just watched her with nothing to do. There was an awkward silence that enveloped the room, and despite Melissa 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. Melissa hesitated for quite some time, mustering her courage, before she was finally able to call out Leah’s attention once more. “Princess.” she called out, bringing Leah out of her thoughts. Leah 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. Melissa 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. Leah 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?” Ishakan had undoubtedly left marks all over Leah’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 Melissa to have misunderstood the implications based on her findings alone. “Oh no, it’s not something unwanted.” she replied lightly, which only made Countess Melissa 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? 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂 Unfortunately, Melissa was only met with silence when Leah 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, Leah 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. Leah wondered if she could even make Countess Melissa, 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 Melissa 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, Leah could only look away somberly. “I too do not know, Countess.” For Leah truly did not know what was happening with her. She couldn’t even understand Ishakan. 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 Leah had, began crumbling.