There was no way he would send Leah back to Estia, even if it made her hate him. But now that she had decided to stay by his side, Ishakan didn't see any reason to keep her tied up. Ishakan kissed her wrist.
"First, you must eat," he said. "You have slept for a long time, so I will bring light food."
Ishakan exited the hut and immediately returned with a tray filled with food. But perhaps because he considered Leah a patient, this time he didn't bring food piled in high layers today. Leah laughed inside.
Ishakan sat in the chair beside Leah's bed and organized the food one course at a time. First, he placed some hot porridge before her, and then lined up the courses to follow in a line as she ate bit by bit.
Leah had been smiling as she watched Ishakan cutting tender veal into small pieces, but she suddenly darkened as memories came to her mind. From an early age, when her appetite had been at its peak, Cerdina had regulated her food. Leah had eaten in Cerdina's company at least once every two days, and every time it made her sick to her stomach. Eating was extremely stressful.
Cerdina had taught her a strict etiquette for eating. If Leah made the slightest mistake, Cerdina would stop eating immediately and hit her with a stick on the part of her arm hidden by the sleeve of her dress. And when Leah was too hungry and tried to eat more, Cerdina would laugh scornfully and point out the flaws in her body, pinching the flesh of her belly and thighs, even though Leah had a normal constitution as a child.
—I don't think you can currently consider yourself the Princess of Estia, Leah.
Cerdina's gaze was cold as she told Leah that she must always have a dignified appearance.
—Do you want to hear people saying that the stepmother made a mistake in raising her stepdaughter?
Then Leah would have to plead with her, begging to be forgiven, saying that she had made a mistake and wouldn't eat anymore. Some people had taken pity on Leah and had tried to give her food in secret, but all were expelled from the palace after brutal torment.
The cycle repeated itself several times and after she saw what Cerdina had done to the victims, Leah began to refrain from eating on her own. She was even more careful because she feared the Countess Melissa, the only person she could trust, would be expelled.
As long as Leah restrained herself, everyone would be at peace.
She felt unpleasant as she ate the porridge, and put down the spoon. She couldn't eat anymore. It felt as if she had suddenly become full. When she handed him back the half-eaten bowl of porridge, Ishakan frowned.
"Don't tell me you're done."
"I'm full." Leah hesitated for a moment, then spoke quietly. "I'd like to eat more, but...I can't. Maybe it's because I haven't eaten in a long time."
Ishakan was silent. His eyes glowed brightly, but any hint of danger quickly faded. He didn't try to coax her any further, just took the food away, and then came back to hug Leah tightly.
Even though she hadn't eaten much, his warmth made her feel full.
"Let's get some fresh air," Ishakan said as he stroked her hair. "I want to show you something."
Carrying her in his arms, his big hand pushed open the canvas door of the barrack. Leah gasped as they passed from darkness into light, a scorching sun and golden sand as vast as the sea.
It was the desert.
"Oh..."
The exclamation of amazement escaped her. It was truly a landscape to admire. The endless sand dunes were far more beautiful than she had imagined from the few lines of description she had read in a book.
She couldn't hide her excitement. Her eyes sparkled as Ishakan laid his hand on her head to shade her. Leah was enthralled, looking at the landscape.
"Let me down, Ishakan!" She cried, and then realized how loud she had shouted and lowered her voice. "I want to walk on the sand."
Ishakan laughed and kissed Leah's cheek. "I can't, it's too hot."
Leah was still barefoot, having just gotten out of bed. She could only look regretfully at the sandy desert from Ishakan's arms, and then turned her eyes closer. The barracks were near an oasis, and she found it amazing to see the palm trees and grass there, the only place in the endless sea of sand that was tinged with green.
As Leah watched the rippling water, Ishakan approached the oasis and lowered Leah into the shade of a tree. The sand in the shade was much cooler, sheltered from the scorching sun.
The feeling of her bare feet sinking into fine sand was strange. Leah looked up at Ishakan, unable to move forward. He smiled, holding out his hand, and they walked together across the sand.
There were many date palms around the oasis, each filled with red fruits, so laden that the branches were weighed down, as if they were about to fall. Bending, she picked up a fallen fruit from the sand. It looked familiar as she examined it. It was a date. Curious, she looked from the palm to the fruit.
As Leah was examining the fruit, Ishakan's head turned back, and she followed his eyes, surprised.
There were Kurkans hiding behind the date palms, their heads poking out curiously as they looked at her with their peculiarly bright eyes.
"Ah..." Frightened, the sound escaped Leah, but they seemed to interpret this as permission to approach. From barracks, wagons, camels, from behind the palms and other places, they moved forward as if fruit had fallen, and surrounded Leah in the blink of an eye.
Startled, she dropped the date in her hand. Ishakan had been watching quietly, and spoke.
"You're causing a ruckus," he said, catching the date.
The Kurkans backed up a few paces at his words, but kept looking curiously at Leah. Since Kurkans all had large physiques, they were taller than Leah, and she felt as if she were surrounded by trees. She had to look up at all of them, and her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at them.
"Wow..." she breathed, her eyes growing large.
A male Kurkan standing to one side pointed at her and shouted, "She really is small and white! She looks like a snowflake!"
"You shouldn't talk so loud!" Another Kurkan scolded, startled. His voice was serious. "It might break..."
Haban had told them that they should be very careful, and though speaking loudly wouldn't destroy anyone, it seemed like everyone was taking it seriously.
Leah looked down at the back of her hand. In the sunlight, her skin was so white and translucent that even the veins were visible. Compared to the tan, healthy skin of the Kurkans, her white skin made her look like a sick person. And even as she wondered whether she should tan her skin or not, the Kurkans were looking at her face, her delicate neck, and her slender arms. Their expressions sombered.
All eyes went to Ishakan and lingered there. He lifted a threatening eyebrow, and one of the oldest Kurkans spoke.
"Well...have you eaten yet?" He asked kindly. "Do you want me to bring you food?"
"I've already eaten."
"May I know what you've eaten?" His tone was very soft and gentle.
"Half a bowl of porridge..." Leah answered naturally.
There was silence at the answer. The Kurkans gaped, open-mouthed and disbelieving. Had she said something wrong? But Leah had no idea what could be wrong with half a bowl of porridge.