Chapter 266 – Clarifications (2) Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan Blain was not part of the royal family of Estia. Cerdina had not only hidden the fact that she was Tomari, she had conceived a son with another man and then claimed that he was the son of the king. And even that had not been enough for her. She had aspired to place him on the throne, and had succeeded. Leah’s expressionless face slowly hardened as she realized everything Cerdina had done. She bit her lip. But in her fury, she suddenly had an idea. “Is it possible to make it look as if a spell has been broken, even if it hasn’t?” She asked thoughtfully. “It is possible.” “Then...if it’s also possible to pretend to be under a spell...” Slowly, Leah outlined her plan for him. If done correctly, they might be able to damage Cerdina’s spell on the people of the palace. She would need to shake them hard, if she wanted to wake them up. Leah talked for a long time, excited by the possibility, and Ishakan finally agreed to try it if Morga agreed that it was possible. And though Leah was exhausted after talking for so long, as soon as she caught her breath, there was another matter she wanted to discuss. “I remember escaping with you,” she said, sure that he would remember all the details of the story. But Ishakan only looked at her curiously. “We never escaped,” he said, crossing his arms. “I kidnapped you.” “You kidnapped me?” She asked, puzzled. Ishakan looked mischievous. “Oh, yes,” he said, smiling. “You didn’t want me to, but I kidnapped you anyway.” “Don’t joke.” “It’s the truth.” “......” The more she learned about her past, the more confusing it was. What had her relationship with this man been like? Leah shook her head and brushed it away. “I meant...when we were young.” The words sank into him, and she saw the pupils of his golden eyes contract, and then shrink. Somehow, that sight made her feel a little afraid. “I remembered that moment. A little. Only a short memory...” He said nothing, just looked at her as she stammered, trying to remember the details of that too-brief vision. “We were running down a narrow hallway, and you looked young...and you were hurt, you couldn’t run very well. And you were so thin...” She trailed off. That was all there was. Not even a story, only the briefest flash of a memory. “I thought you had forgotten...” He said slowly, and his voice wavered slightly. “That memory...was part of a spell? And you remembered it...” He trailed off. Was there something more she didn’t know? He was so troubled, she ran a hand over his forehead. “Does that mean you’re younger than me?” She asked, searching for a lighter question to make him feel better. He smiled. “Kurkans look younger before our coming of age ceremony. And back then I wasn’t just being...mistreated. They didn’t feed me.” That revelation shocked her. She had only been joking, she had never imagined...the smile fell from her face. Somehow she had thought Ishakan had always been as he was, powerful and unshakable. But he had been young and weak, once. He had been abused. “How...?” She whispered, and Ishakan smiled, shrugging. “There were a lot of bad people.” “......” But Leah couldn’t dismiss it that lightly. Looking at her unhappy face, he frowned. “It’s pathetic, isn’t it? My heart hurts too, when I remember.” He touched her cheek, under her eyes where tears were welling. “Kiss me. That will make you feel better.” Quickly, she lifted her lips to his, and Ishakan’s arms wrapped around her waist to pull her into his lap. She had meant only to give him a single kiss, but somehow it lingered and deepened as heat burst between them. “Ahh...” Ishakan’s tongue thrust between her lips as he squeezed her br3asts, his hands hot through the thin fabric of her nightgown. Leah squirmed, trying to push him away as he moved over her hungrily. He was trying to distract her, but her worry for him tugged at her heart. “What happened to the people who hurt you...?” She asked, determined to finish their discussion. If he hadn’t retaliated against them, then she meant to do something about it herself. “It’s all right,” he said bluntly, untroubled. “I already killed them all.”