The Unlucky Bride Is Loved by the Fortunate Desert King - Chapter 18 – Gossip and Sorrow

Because of the festival preparations, I hardly saw Al anymore. Since Ishaq was Al’s attendant, he too was busy following him around, helping with all the arrangements.

It seemed that every year, it was customary to build a large altar in the mansion. Lately, I could hear the constant sounds of hammers striking stakes and the lively chatter of workers coming from all over the grounds.

(I want to see Al…) Even in the middle of his busy schedule, Al still tried to come and see me whenever he could.

But lately, he had been completely consumed by preparations from morning until night. Sometimes, he only stopped by early in the morning while I was still asleep — quietly watching me for a moment before leaving again.

I told him that he could wake me up when he came, but Al firmly refused. “To wake you when you’re sleeping so peacefully… I could never bring myself to do that.” He wouldn’t change his mind no matter what I said.

Ishaq was the same. “Al came by earlier,” he would tell me. “He watched your sleeping face for about five minutes and seemed quite recharged afterward.”

Since neither of them would wake me up, I once tried staying awake all night, but Ishaq stopped me immediately. “That would harm your health,” he said firmly.

My daily life practically revolved around Al and Ishaq. So, when both of them became busy, I suddenly had far too much free time on my hands. But sitting alone in my room all day only made me feel gloomy.

Seeing that, Ishaq apparently negotiated with Al to give me permission to “walk freely around the mansion grounds.”

And that’s why I was now wandering the estate. It was noisy but full of energy, reminding me of the school festivals from my student days. Of course, the scale here was far grander, but the atmosphere — the cheers, the workers spreading blueprints and arguing over designs — felt strangely nostalgic.

In this mansion, I was introduced as “a guest of honor staying for a while under Al’s care.” Still, that title must have sounded suspicious, because a few servants occasionally gave me questioning looks.

In the distance, I saw some men and women building a tall platform. “By the way,” one of them said, “that young master’s guest — who exactly is that person? We were just told to treat them with great respect, but no one explained anything.”

Realizing they were talking about me, I hurriedly hid behind a pillar. A female servant, apparently on break, was serving tea to a carpenter-like man.

“Oh, you mean that cute-faced one? I’ve only greeted them a few times, but they seem like a good person. I heard they’re supposed to marry someone from another household. Though, why they’re staying here, I have no idea.”

“If they’re connected to the young master, they must be someone important… But being promised to another household’s head? What’s that about?”

“Well, Ishaq specifically warned us not to pry, so I don’t dare ask. But now that you mention it, I’ve never seen the young master or Ishaq sending any message to that other family.”

Thump. My heartbeat pounded violently in my chest.

It startled me that they were gossiping about me — but even more terrifying were those casual words.

—They’ve never seen Al or Ishaq contacting the other household.

Al said he would send word to Asaad.

But… what if he never actually did? The bl00d drained from my face.

If Al hadn’t contacted Asaad, then I… I would be here, living with another man — betraying my promise to become Asaad’s bride. That would be a terrible act of unfaithfulness.

My heart raced so hard it felt like it might burst. A cold sweat ran down my back.

And there I stood, completely frozen in place.