I Became a Barbarian's Bride - Chapter 130
Kagan still couldn’t grasp what exactly she feared.
He knew Nisha was afraid of him learning something, but the nature of that fear remained unclear.
‘Is she worried I’ll find out about her troubled past?’
Maybe.
But hadn’t he already shown her that her value as Katun was significant?
So, what was she so afraid of?
“Why are you asking me this?”
After a long silence, the words that finally came out of Nisha’s mouth were neither permission nor refusal, just a question.
“Well, it’s your country, so I thought your approval was necessary.”
“…If I say no, will you not do it?”
“Yep.”
Kagan responded with a crooked smile, one that resembled the sly grin of a fox casting illusions, making Nisha pause for a moment in silence.
“I don’t know.”
Nisha slowly shook her head.
“Wouldn’t it be best for you to do whatever you want, Kagan?”
Without a word, Kagan’s lips curved into a soft smile.
If she truly cared, she would have tried to stop him.
She was someone who would go to great lengths to protect even a mere maid or stable hand.
The fact that she was brushing off the lives of her family like this was somewhat puzzling.
‘So this is confirmation.’
Well, he had asked to test the waters in the first place.
“Then, should I get rid of him?”
“……”
Was she reluctant to speak directly, or was she simply hesitating, gauging his reaction?
Kagan slowly reached out and gently grasped her chin, his fingers brushing against her cheek as he spoke.
“Say it, Princess. You need to say it for me to help you.”
At his whispered words, Nisha’s eyes widened.
She realized the truth hidden in his gentle gaze.
‘Did he figure everything out?’
With a troubled expression, she swallowed her breath and pressed her lips tightly shut. Kagan’s smile grew even brighter.
His golden eyes began to flicker.
A strange light danced within them, as if red hues were about to mix in, and Nisha found herself blinking.
People said the world he saw through those eyes was different from the one most people saw. She wondered just how different it was.
As if scolding herself for letting her thoughts wander, she felt his grip on her chin tighten slightly.
“Princess. Should I kill him? Or should I let him live in luxury? I heard Roshan’s taxes have doubled.”
“……Taxes? No, if they raise it that much, the people…”
“Yes, it’s corrupt, isn’t it? Trash. Not exactly the actions of someone who supposedly cherished his daughter.”
At his subtle remark, Nisha inhaled sharply.
It was clear without her needing to say anything. This man, in some way or another, had figured out one of the secrets she had been keeping hidden.
“Hm? Are you going to let him live, then?”
Kagan whispered seductively, his words laced with a quiet intensity.
He turned his body toward her, intertwining his fingers with hers, while his other hand tilted her chin upward.
As he slid his knee slowly between the legs of her chair, he lowered his head so that his flickering eyes were directly in front of hers.
“Princess.”
His voice was a soft murmur.
A whisper that seemed to say he would keep any secret she shared, as long as she confessed it.
‘I didn’t mean to dig this deep…’
Seeing her cheeks flush and her lips part slightly in hesitation, he found himself wanting to hear that voice of hers whisper words of death.
Kagan wanted to show her something.
He wanted her to understand the power he wielded, the one she now had a hold over.
The ripple effect that just one word from her could cause.
He wanted her to imprint in her mind what would happen if anyone dared to anger the master of Xieman.
“All you need to do, Princess, is say the word. One word is all I need.”
“……Why?”
“Why?”
Kagan Xieman tilted his head slowly.
