"What gift?" He had already given her so much. Leah couldn't imagine what unreasonable gift he was preparing now.
But Ishakan said nothing more and quickly disappeared before Leah could say she didn't want it. Leah lay back down on the soft bed.
There was no longer any need to worry about matters of state, endless documents, or fear meeting Blain or Cerdina. There was nothing before her but leisure. For a time, she simply relaxed, until someone knocked at the door.
"Leah, it's Genin."
Leah quickly pulled a robe on over her nightgown.
"Come in," she said.
Genin appeared holding a tray in both hands. She bowed her head in thanks to the Kurkan holding the door for her, but when he tried to poke his head into the room, she immediately kicked him out. There was a cry.
"Argh!"
In the hallway, there was the sound of someone hitting the floor. Genin closed the door with her foot deliberately and then approached with the tray, filled with towers of food.
"Good morning, Leah. I've brought delicious food."
"Hello Genin," Leah greeted Genin cheerfully. "Thank you so much."
Carefully, Genin placed the tray on the nightstand beside the bed.
"You can talk to me as you like, Leah," Genin said firmly. "From now on, you can speak with anyone you meet. In the desert, there is no one more honorable than you."
"But..." She hesitated.
"It's related to Ishakan's reputation," Genin insisted. It seemed that she must. Genin stared at her, as if waiting for affirmation.
"I understand, Genin," Leah answered hesitantly.
Genin looked satisfied and promptly placed the tray filled with food in front of Leah, neatly setting a fork and knife beside the plates. She did not forget to mention that the cutlery had been custom-made for Leah.
Perhaps because of Ishakan's tormenting, she had a big appetite. She also had a clearer mind today than she had had for a long time. She felt refreshed, and there were no bad thoughts. For once, she could eat with enthusiasm.
Leah's shoulders twitched when she tasted a very sweet jam made from palm dates, and she set it down in favor of seasoned chickpeas. While she diligently ate, Genin's hands were busy setting out tempting new dishes. The Kurkan woman was barely restraining the urge to ask Leah to taste this or that.
While Leah ate diligently, Genin kept moving her hands. She seemed to be barely restraining her urge to intrude and forced herself to make other conversation instead as Leah ate. While she tried to keep it casual, with talk of the weather and explanations of daily life in Kurkan, but Leah's daily life could not be considered normal. Inevitably, they wound around to the topic of bride kidnapping.
"Bride kidnapping is the last resort," Genin explained. It was only used as a last resort when there were obstacles to getting married, despite the shared feelings of the couple involved. On the mainland, it was difficult for someone to marry a Kurkan when they were despised as barbarians.
When Kurkans kidnapped brides, those women were given time to choose whether they wished to return home or to marry. According to Genin, so far, none of them had returned.
"I also experienced bride kidnapping," Genin added. Leah could see a little embarrassment in Genin's face whenever her husband was mentioned, a little blushing. Genin confided that since it had been so long since she had been home, she had brought him flowers. Leah smiled.
"Does your husband like flowers?" she asked.
"Yes, very much. He liked to garden as a hobby, but now...it's a bit difficult..." Darkness flashed through Genin's face, disappearing quickly. "He is curious to meet you."
Genin said she had proudly told her husband all about Leah, so he was very curious. Leah said that she was nothing to be proud of, but accepted nonetheless. She was also curious about Genin's husband. The discussion led very naturally to marriage, and Genin explained the Kurkan customs.
"There is a ceremony for the two of you to welcome each other as a couple. If you plan to have the ceremony, you need at least a month to prepare." Genin said seriously. Lead had to gain weight and exercise to improve her stamina. "Because... a Kurkan wedding doesn't end in one day."
Before the ceremony began, they would have to spend five nights together. On the last day, a wedding would take place in which they would swear fidelity in front of the guests.
Leah also sobered when she heard that they would have to spend five nights together. Genin frowned.
"Remember the other full moon day?" she asked. "It'll be harder than then."
"Harder than then...?"
"Yes."
Oh my god. The thought was so shocking, Leah dropped her fork.
"Of course, I'm saying all of this assuming you become his partner..." Genin added reluctantly. It wasn't something she wanted to say.
"I want to be."
Genin swallowed in surprise.
"I want to become his partner," Leah continued softly. "I want to be the Queen of the Kurkans..."
Her voice faded away.
"Everyone will be happy," Genin interjected quickly, her eyes sparkling. "Please tell Ishakan yourself later."
***
After breakfast, Leah listened to her schedule for the day.
She would eat lunch with Ishakan, and then meet with Morga and the other Kurkan sorcerers. Afterward, she was to do nothing else at all, except perhaps to wander.
Leah had no intention of doing that. If she wanted to settle in this place, she needed to learn its language and culture. She wanted to learn Kurkan. Genin promised that a professor would come the next day to begin teached her.
With her schedule arranged, Genin helped her wash and change her clothes. Though it was a little awkward, Genin was able to attend Leah well enough.
Leah stroked the skirt of her dress. Unlike Estia, where soft, pastel fabrics were used, the Kurkan style used many fabrics in vivid primary colors.
"I'm sorry," Genin apologized as she pinned jewels in Leah's hair. "There is fierce competition to fill the position of ladies-in-waiting to serve you..."
But it would take time, so Genin promised to serve her in the meantime, even if she was not ideal. When she assured her that only the strongest ladies-in-waiting would be allowed to serve her, Leah laughed.
"Is there somewhere I can pick flowers?" Leah asked, surreptitiously rearranging the accessories Genin had clumsily put in her hair.
Now that she thought about it, Ishakan had always proposed to her. She had never given him a proper answer, but this time she would tell him directly, as Genin had suggested.
It had always been hard for her to express her true feelings. But since Ishakan was trying so hard for her, she wanted to change. With Genin beside her, she went to walk and find flowers to pick.
"......"
Several pairs of eyes glowed at the corner of the long hall as they approached, but as soon as they made eye contact with Leah, they quickly disappeared. All the way to the garden, she continued to see Kurkans hiding here and then, vanishing as soon as she saw them. There was even a Kurkan hanging from the ceiling in one room, who ran away as soon as Genin spotted him.
Leah didn't understand why they all kept hiding and sneaking glances at her. Had Ishakan told them anything else?
It was very interesting to be able to see the palace, since there hadn't been much time to look when she first arrived. The cool shadows were pleasant. She had heard the western desert was hot, but the palace itself felt cool, probably because of all the vegetation.
"If you see a flower you like, feel free to pick it," Genin said as she collared some Kurkans hiding in the bushes and threw them down the hallway. Leah looked out into the garden, holding back her laughter.
And she wondered how there could be vegetation in this place at all, when it was surrounded by barren, sandy desert. Among all the exotic plants, here and there she saw flowers that she knew. Pausing in front of some pink peonies that had not yet fully bloomed. After much deliberation, she plucked the one that looked prettiest.
"Leah."
Someone suddenly hugged her tightly from behind, and she turned her head back, startled.
Ishakan was smiling. She had meant to go visit him in his office; she hadn't expected him to come looking for her. Genin had already tactfully vanished.
"Do you like peonies? I'll have to tell them to plant more."
Leah's lips quivered as she clutched her peony. Even though she had decided to tell her, she was embarrassed now. Ishakan rested his chin on top of her head.
"There are still four kisses to go today..." he said.
"Before that, I have something to tell you, Ishakan."
Leah turned to face him, her hands trembling as she offered him the peony. He looked at the shaking flower with surprise.
"Take me as your wife," Leah said as her face turned pinker than the peony.