Leah had been very preoccupied, lately. There was a lot to be done before she left for the desert, with preparations to pass certain affairs of state to trusted persons, and establish a system of communication so she would receive news from Estia even in the desert. She also had gifts to pack for all her Kurkan friends, and spent time with Lesha in her spare time. She would have needed ten bodies to get everything done. And though she enjoyed the hard work, her body couldn’t quite keep up. After she had been afflicted by sorcery for so long, her body was still weak, despite many treatments to help her recover. Lesha’s birth had been a miracle, given her condition. Now she was unexpectedly pregnant again. The only reason could be Ishakan’s relentlessness. Every day, he tormented her, it would be strange if nothing had come of it. But she was tiring faster with her pregnancy, and Mura noticed it immediately. Her eyes widened when Leah said she couldn’t do anything today but review documents, and she did not even go in her office; she remained in her bedroom instead. Mura turned away Lesha, who was missing his mother, to ensure Leah had enough rest. “Your health is a priority,” Mura said, as she helped her with her clothes. Mura would not hesitate to threaten to destroy even the palace of Estia to take care of Leah. Leah was in bed early that night. The comforter was warm by a hot water bottle that Mura had heated in advance, and though Leah had worried she wouldn’t be able to sleep, drowsiness rolled over her as soon as the comforter covered her. She wondered when Ishakan would arrive. He had departed the palace the day before yesterday, and she had received a message today that he would be arriving tomorrow, or the day after. Maybe when she woke up tomorrow, he would be here. Or he would visit her tonight, if only in her dreams. Leah smiled inside. How could she wish he would visit her dreams when she hadn’t seen him in days. Especially when she thought she might be ill. Very ill. Oh, she loved him more and more... She fell asleep, hoping he would return. * * * At first, she didn’t realize she was dreaming. Leah stretched out on the bed. “What?” Her voice sounded childish. Something was wrong. Sliding out of bed, she moved quickly to the mirror. A young Leah stood before her, just nearing adulthood. Leah gazed in bewilderment at her immature sixteen year-old self, and pinched her arm hard. Ow. Her eyes filled with tears at the pain, but nothing changed. It was a very realistic dream. Leah tilted her head. Why would I dream that I’m sixteen years old? And then she bit her lip. When she was sixteen, Cerdina and Blain had been there. Thinking of them, she let out a soft sigh. Please, don’t let this turn into a terrible nightmare. As she stood before the mirror, there was a knock at the door, and Countess Melissa appeared. “Good morning, Princess,” she said, setting a basin of water on the table for her to wash. “Good morning,” Leah replied. Even the countess looked younger, just as she had been when Leah was sixteen. Leah watched her carefully, and Countess Melissa gave her a warm smile. “Why are you looking at me like that?” “...Oh, nothing. I think I’m still half asleep.” The countess began to comb Leah’s hair. Maybe dreaming about the past wasn’t so bad. But she changed her mind as soon as it was time for breakfast. Leah was so shocked, she couldn’t speak when she saw her food on the table. “......” There was only one plate. And all there was on that plate was a plum, a single slice of wheat bread, and a small piece of cheese. No milk. No juice. Only a glass of water. That’s right, this was how she had lived. It was a tiny amount of food for Leah, who had become accustomed to a Kurkan-style diet. How easily she had forgotten her own past. It only took a few motions of her fork, and her meal was finished. Looking at her empty plate, suddenly she wanted Mura. There would be more food on the table before her plate was empty. Mura would never have brought her food like this. Countess Melissa called out to her. “Princess...?” Leah looked up from her breakfast.