“Dad.”

Lesha was about to drop a bombshell over breakfast.

“I had another dream about Mom.”

“Another one?”

“Mmm.”

Immediately, Ishakan lowered his silverware, and Leah did the same. Lesha had been born with a gift for seeing the future, though his control of those skills was still nonexistent, since he was so young. Usually they appeared in his dreams, and the content was often trivial: approaching visitors, morning weather. But every once in a while, he saw something important.

Last time, it had been a vision of the King of Balkat, who had intended to use a drug on Leah. Lesha’s parents always took his dreams seriously.

Lesha looked down, considering his dream, and then plucked a pomegranate off the table.

“It’s very strong.”

“……”

Leah and Ishakan looked at the pomegranate. Red fruits were known to be healthful. But Leah remembered the Redblood Fruit. Lesha even went so far as to put the pomegranate on Ishakan’s plate.

“Mama should eat this, to be stronger.”

“Of course,” Ishakan said kindly, cutting the fruit apart and spooning the seeds onto Leah’s plate. “Don’t worry, Lesha. I will find it.”

But if he could find it, Leah would already have eaten it long ago. After breakfast, Leah and Ishakan went for a walk.

“What if we can’t find it?” Leah asked. She had wondered if he would bring her more pomegranates, to keep his word to Lesha. But Ishakan had interpreted the dream another way.

“The fact that he saw you eat it means there is a way to get it,” Ishakan replied. To him, the prophetic dream meant his success was assured. Closing his hands on Leah’s waist, he lifted her up, startling her as her feet left the floor. “I must do it, if it is good for you.”

Leah’s cheeks flushed.

“…then I would like it,” she said. Ishakan had taught her to be honest about the things she wanted. posted only on novelutopia. Ishakan embraced her, kissing her, and Leah had to endure his kiss for a long time.

* * *

The day had come to leave.

Everyone in the royal palace had gathered to bid Leah farewell. Not just the nobles, but even her retired ladies-in-waiting from the Princess Palace. Countess Melissa and Baroness Cinael were weeping into their handkerchiefs.

“Anyone would think I was never coming back,” Leah joked.

“Please don’t say that!” Countess Melissa exclaimed. “I just remembered the last time…”

When Leah had been sent to the border of Estia, to marry Byun Gyeonbek.

“This time is different,” Countess Melissa said, brightening as she looked at Leah. “I’m glad you’re happy, Your Majesty.”

Silently, Leah hugged her, and of course once she had hugged Countess Melissa, everyone else wanted one too. It took a long time to say goodbye. But after some last farewells with the nobles, they finally set off for the desert.

“Let’s go!” Lesha shouted, and the carriage set off. Ishakan spurred his horse alongside the carriage window.

“If you don’t feel well, tell me,” he said.