<h4>Chapter 61 - When Patience Runs Out (2)</h4>


    Chapter 61 – When Patience Runs Out (2)


    The luncheon atmosphere felt like it had been doused by ice-cold water, sending chills to those onlooking. Although the continent despised the Kurkans, calling them barbarians, the remark was said behind their backs.


    One would never dare to say it in front of them, much less to their king!


    Cerdina stared at in, shocked by how upfront he was in the presence of Kurkans, let alone Ishakan.


    In the freezing tension, bright golden, yellow eyes and frosty blue eyes collided with each other. An internal battle raged as in red down at Ishakan. A relentless hatred conveyed in his re.


    “I’m saying this out of concern.”


    Ishakan, who had never lost a fight in his life, was not the type to avoid in’s provocation. Instead, he chuckled at in, who openly brought out his ws and emanated hostility. It was a smile that looked like the tease of a yful young child.


    He tilted his head back slightly and raised his eyebrows.


    Seeing hisnguid gaze, in clenched his jaw, preventing the string of venomous words to leave his mouth. He utterly despised the man before him.


    “Estia doesn’t seem to have much intention of making friends.” Leah looked at Ishakan with trembling eyes, but his gaze focused on in, missing her. “I thought you had the same goal, but now, I don’t think so.”


    The rxedughter disappeared. With his mouth closed in a straight line, in his golden eyes, a storm gathered.


    “Is today’s luncheon to interrogate me?”


    “No.” It was Leah who answered on behalf of the Estian family, breaking the silence.


    “Misunderstanding, my king.”


    “…”


    Ishakan turned his gaze slowly. He looked at Leah with an expressionless face.


    Knowing the weight of the situation, Leah quickly covered up for in. “The prince wants peace with the Kurkans more than anyone else. He’s the one who is abolishing the very of your kind.”


    She did not know what in or Cerdina were thinking, but she was desperate to keep the peace in Estia.


    in opened his lips to say something but stopped when he felt Leah clench his forearm. Fortunately, he kept his mouth shut again.


    “However, he made a slip of the tongue as he is not particrly good at expressing his feelings.” She breathed a sigh before continuing, “May I ask for forgiveness on his behalf?”


    Everyone knew that everything Leah had said was pure ttery, in an attempt to pacify the disrespected King of Kurkans. It was just a matter of whether he would decide to ept the apology or not.


    Soon, Ishakan, who was staring at Leah without even blinking, raised a question.


    “…is it the prince’s work to investigate very?”


    “That’s right.”


    Ishakan belted out augh, as if he was in a jovial mood. On the contrary, Leah went silent. There was no way that in would be interested in the Kurkans nor the ve trade. It was all Leah’s work. But as always, what Leah aplished became in’s contribution.


    This arrangement had be natural that Leah had be used to being robbed. Her whole life was not hers.


    Ishakan nced at Leah, and lowered his voice softly.


    “This is the second time, princess.”


    It was a pointless answer. But only Leah understood.


    “…Thank you.”


    For Leah’s sake, Ishakan endured again. Patience was not a virtue of the Kurkans, especially one of Ishakan’s status. She was already at a loss of what to pay him for controlling his temper for her, twice.


    The luncheon continued again in spite of the unsettling atmosphere. The formal conversation was cut short, and no one mentioned the heated exchange, which transpired just moments ago. The servants waited carefully, not daring to move lest they make a mistake and disobeyed. They were treading on thin ice.


    Leah finely cut the aromaticmb into small pieces. It was as if a stone had been lodged in her throat. She couldn’t swallow; it felt painful to even gulp. Her appetite hadpletely disappeared, but she kept on filling her mouth, keeping herself busy.


    Suddenly, a soft voice spoke up.


    “Leah.”


    Her body became stiff as the queen called her.


    “How’s the food today?” Cerdina smiled brightly as she said so.


    She then leisurely used her silver fork to dip a piece ofmb into an herbed sour cream, then popped it into her mouth. It was a warning from the queen.


    Hence, Leahid down the tableware as she watched Cerdina eat. She was unconsciously?overeating, her way of steering her attention away from Ishakan.


    Her heart had calmed down. For several days, because of her sudden illness, she was able to eat to her heart’s content without Cerdina’s interference. Of course, it was ridiculously smallpared to a typical meal, but it was far beyond the queen’s standard.


    “Isn’t the princess eating too much?”


    This was said with the intention to humiliate her.?Glutton.


    “I don’t think I eat a lot,” Leah responded, and dipped her head.


    “Ah, the food must be terrible.” The moment these words left Ishakan’s mouth, Cerdina let out a disgruntled sigh. It was a luncheon hosted by the royal pce. The fact that the food was wed was no different than an insult to her.


    Leah looked at Cerdina nervously. The queen’s facial expression went sour since Ishakan’s exchange with her beloved son.


    “Is it because the king doesn’t like it? We should have prepared some Kurkan food, but I wanted to show you Estia’s culture, so…”


    She smiled, sweeping the silk dress which glimmered in the sunlight. Ishakan was thrilled, he found her character ridiculously amusing, that she dared steal his gift to Leah.


    “I even thought of wearing Kurkan clothing. Ah, I’m ashamed.”


    There would be no third time. Ishakan was no longer patient. Hisrge bronze hand picked up a ss of wine, the deep rich contents swirling a brilliant red. He rose from his seat and then, without hesitation, tipped the ss over Cerdina’s head.


    “Argh!”


    Cerdina screamed. Her perfectly rouged face and ted hair were soaked with alcohol. The dress she was wearing also had arge stter stain. The precious clothes that could not be bought, even with a noble household’s wealth, was ruined.


    “Oh, dear.”


    Cerdina shot daggers at him. The wine dripped from her hair, and down her chin. She waspletely drenched.


    What’s more, Ishakan still had the nerve to wear a smile. Amusement and irritation dancing across his golden eyes.


    “It’s my fault, Your Highness. I’ll send you a new dress.”


    But unlike his smiling mouth, his eyes were cold.


    “This time, in a color that suits the queen.”