It was like a dam bursting. Memories poured forth in a deluge, pounding into Leah’s aching head as they found their proper places. Her whole body prickled with goosebumps and she shuddered repeatedly in the flood.

“Ahh…”

Leah exhaled softly.

Finally, she understood what was really happening, and she slowly lifted her head.

“……”

Ishakan’s golden eyes were exactly the same.

From the first moment they met until now, the way he looked at her hadn’t changed. And how he had suffered, waiting for her. She had hurt him countless times because she couldn’t even remember who he was.

She couldn’t imagine the pain he had endured. And yet he had decided to wait, knowing all the risks in a way she could not, with no guarantees of success. He had trusted her.

“Ishakan, I-I..” Leah tried to speak, her words stuttering.

But he already knew what she wanted to say.

“It doesn’t matter,” he whispered. “You came back.”

His arms wrapped around her, hugging her tight.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Leah.”

It was all she wanted to hear. Leah squeezed her eyes shut, but there was no time to indulge her emotions now. After a moment, she drew back.

Her beautiful wedding dress was soaked with blood, but strangely she felt it was an improvement. Leah turned her attention to Blain, a much altered figure in her bloody white gown.

Blain was already glaring at her, his blue eyes burning with rage.

“It was all a lie,” he said, with a ludicrous expression of betrayal. There wasn’t the least sign of remorse for what he had done to Leah, no guilt, no regret. “You tricked me, you only pretended to be a doll, I can’t believe…”

His voice was furious.

“It was even a lie when you spread your legs for me!”

He dared to blame her for even that. It had never once even occurred to him to reflect on himself.

“His hair…his hair!”

Even as they watched, Blain’s silver hair, the hair that symbolized the royal family of Estia, was changing color. His hair shifted hue as if it had been dyed back to the blond that was his actual hair color. Blain stood frozen as shouts rose among the guests.

“A Tomaris trick!” Byun Gyeongbaek shouted on cue, pointing at Cerdina. “How dare a lowly Toma impersonate the royal family! She doesn’t even fear divine punishment!”

The guests began to murmur among themselves in confusion.

“They aren’t Tomaris, are they? What nonsense is this!”

“But…His Majesty’s hair…”

Byun Gyeongbaek shouted into the confusion.

“The Tomaris have deceived us all! Count Weddleton!”

Count Weddleton jerked, hesitating as he looked nervously at Cerdina.

“I-it’s true. Cerdina is a Toma. And B-blain is not a son…of the royal line of Estia…”

The words of Cerdina’s own father instantly ignited chaos. Count Weddleton’s voice grew stronger as he finished.

“I swear it is true by my name as Count Weddleton.”

The spell broke.

Suddenly, the eyes of every person present filled with life, shaken from the dreamy calm of the spell by the sudden shock. They looked at each other in confusion.

“……”

Amidst the din of the crowd, Cerdina laughed scornfully, as if she meant to try to continue the lie, but her own body betrayed her as she suddenly shuddered and vomited red blood. The unstable powers within her rocked her body as her broken spells backlashed against her.

Swiftly, the Kurkans moved in to subdue her, but as soon as they drew close, black smoke blew up to drive them back.

Cerdina slowly lifted her head. Her mouth was stained with blood as smoke poured out of her body.

“Yes, I’m Toma!” She shouted wildly, scrubbing the blood from the corners of her mouth. “And all of you were ruled by the Tomaris you so despise!”