“Did you just compare me to some foal?”
Having finally decided to get angry, Talia sharpened her voice. Varkas let out a faint sigh.
“Please stop picking needless fights and finish this.”
This time, he brought over a bowl of apricots. Talia glared at it as though it were her mortal enemy before turning her head away.
Silently observing her, Varkas dragged a chair beside the bed and sat down. Then, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, he picked up one of the fruits and began carefully peeling away its soft skin with a knife.
Watching him calmly perform something that only maids usually did, Talia raised her voice.
“Stop that. Who asked you to wait on me? Just leave a troublesome woman like me alone and do your own—!”
Still screeching, Talia twisted her face as soft flesh was suddenly stuffed into her mouth.
The man, having effectively silenced her, wiped the juice from his fingers with a cloth and spoke in an infuriatingly composed tone.
“If Your Highness would stop skipping meals, I would be able to focus on my own work.”
With the piece of apricot still in her mouth, Talia glared up at him.
She wanted to snap back and ask what business it was of his whether she ate or not, but first she had to swallow what was in her mouth.
In the end, she crushed the tender flesh with her teeth.
Sweet juice that made her tongue ache spread through her mouth along with a refreshing fragrance.
Surprisingly, it was not unpleasant.
“Would you like another?”
Watching her eat attentively, he picked up another fruit.
After hesitating for a moment, Talia gave a haughty little nod.
Varkas immediately began peeling the apricot. Carefully trimming the flesh with the small knife, he looked like a craftsman working on a delicate ornament.
The unfamiliar sight quickly soothed her irritation.
Talia once again stole glances at him as though observing some unknown creature.
Perhaps feeling guilty for forcing medicine down her throat, Varkas had begun tending to her meals with almost obsessive care.
At first, he merely checked that she wasn't skipping meals.
At some point, however, he had started putting the food directly into her mouth. It seemed that after seeing how little she actually ate, he had finally realized the seriousness of the situation.
“Here.”
He held a neatly peeled slice of apricot to her lips.
Talia reluctantly opened her mouth.
Along with the sweet flesh, his firm finger brushed the tip of her tongue.
Blushing furiously, she instinctively jerked her head back, but Varkas grasped the back of her neck and lightly covered her mouth with his other hand.
Apparently, he thought she was trying to spit it out.
Talia wrinkled her eyes in disbelief.
Did this man think she was some child throwing a tantrum over food?
“Just eat this much. I won't force you anymore.”
Varkas spoke as though coaxing her.
Staring at him through narrowed eyes, Talia mechanically moved her jaw.
Only after she swallowed the soft fruit did his hand withdraw.
“How about taking a short walk today?”
After tidying away the fruit bowl as well, Varkas suddenly suggested it.
Talia, who had been wetting her lips with lukewarm water, looked at him in surprise.
“I can go outside?”
“The healer said fresh air and sunlight would aid your recovery.”
Varkas brought over a coat and draped it around her shoulders.
Talia frowned.
“I never said I wanted to go.”
“Do you dislike the idea?”
He tilted his head slightly.
Still pouting, Talia reluctantly lowered her legs from the bed.
Before her feet could even touch the floor, however, her body rose into the air.
She was startled by how naturally he picked her up, but soon relaxed her shoulders.
She no longer had the energy to snap at him.