Chapter 47 - I Waited for You (1) (2/2)

The first thing she had to do, was to go back to the main palace.

Leah forced her throbbing arm, which could barely move, to pull the string hanging from the canopy of the bed. In response, a bell rang and the door opened after a faint knock.

The woman who appeared had quite a large build, making the door dwarf in comparison. Tall muscular physique, with deeply tanned skin and broad shoulders—these were all features unique to a Kurkan. The woman dipped her head low and politely greeted Leah.

In return, the princess looked at the woman in the eye.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, princess. I am the escort guard of Ishakan. You may call me Genin.”

Leah’s eyes raked over the woman in front of her. She had not seen her during the welcome banquet and conference for the Kurkans. Yet, despite not appearing in public, for her to be an escort guard, Genin must have possessed a high status.

To her surprise, Genin returned her scrutiny with an equal curious gaze. It was only after a short while that Genin, who had been blatantly observing her, realized the rudeness of her actions. Flustered, she hurriedly apologized to the princess before her.

“Pardon my rudeness for staring.” A reddish tinge on the woman’s brusque face appeared. “I was just startled by the fact that you have such a white and small physique.”

Her following remark, too, was considered rude in Estia. However, Leah found her frankness rather pleasant, making her smile gently in response.

It was indeed true that she was smaller than what was considered average for women. Moreover, her pale complexion was quite extraordinary, especially when paired with her silver hair. For the Kurkans, she resembled a glass mannequin rather than a human.

“I apologize. Please forgive my lack of courtesy,” Genin sincerely voiced her remorse.

“It’s fine.” Leah insisted, waving her hand at the woman, who was incessantly apologizing.

Genin then gingerly approached the bed, and carefully placed on it the tray she had been carrying.

“I have brought you something light to eat,” she said with her head down.

However, it was today that Leah discovered the disparity between Estians’ and Kurkans’ culture. A tray, towering with a variety of delicacies, with just the assortment of bread alone being three storey high, was the Kurkan’s definition of a light meal.

She let out a furtive sigh at the culinary spectacle before her. Then, hesitantly, she reached out to the top loaf, afraid that one wrong touch and the delicately balancing loaves would crumble down.

“These are your drinks, but I am not familiar with your preferences, hence I prepared these… This is for your dessert…”

The glasses she had placed on the table, crowded the small space. The one standing on the edge would at any moment, fall and shatter, thereby spilling its contents. Leah reached out to save it from dangerously falling. Her action of picking up only one glass of milk, startling Genin.

“This is enough for me.”

“Yes??”

Due to Genin’s shocked response at her choice to eat only a meager amount of food, Leah popped one more fruit to her mouth. Watching her eat, Genin uncomfortably fidgeted. She cautiously raised her voice in an apprehending tone.

“Is the food not good? I prepared Estian food though…”

“I do not eat much.” Leah curtly responded.

“…”

Genin’s facial expression became even more puzzled—doubting whether the princess was trying to starve herself to death. Leah smiled a little as if she read Genin’s mind. Concurrently, it seemed that she had also discovered as to why Ishakan chose not expose Genin to the public.

Leah’s meal quickly ended with a piece of bread, a glass of milk, and several fruits. While gathering the dishes, Genin stole glances at Leah, internally brooding if she would want to eat more.

However, Leah’s resolve was undeterred. For her, she had already eaten too much.

Whilst Leah was looking at Genin who was cleaning up the dishes, she noticed a tattoo carved on the back of her hand. As she looked on, she noticed that the tattoo extended to her forearm covered by her sleeves.

She suddenly remembered Ishakan, particularly his b0dy, which was surprisingly devoid of any tattoos.