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-Chapter 48/49-
To her surprise, Maxi found that she was enjoying herself. Riding through an open field was far easier than navigating a winding mountain path. As she galloped through the golden meadow, illuminated by the winter sun, her posture improved naturally. When she stopped to rest at the top of the hill, she found that she was sitting upright.
"I brought some wine."
Riftan dismounted next to a large tree at the hilltop. He then wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her off her horse as if she weighed little more than a feather.
"Your body feels hot. And I can feel your heart pounding like a drum."
Maxi wiped off the beads of sweat on her forehead and tried to catch her breath. Just as Riftan had said, her whole body was pulsating.
"I-It does feel like a t- tiny drum is b-beating inside me."
"That's an endearing way to put it."
He planted a kiss on her flushed cheek before lowering her to the ground. He then walked over to the large tree, spread his cloak under it, and sat down. Maxi went to join him. As the winter breeze cooled her body, she pulled her robe closer to her body. She watched as the wind rippled through the golden fields in the village at the bottom of the hill.
"Th-This place is b-beautiful."
"It's even more beautiful in the spring when the wildflowers bloom."
Maxi felt her heart swell with anticipation. It was a new feeling; she had never thought the day would come when she could dare hope for something. She felt anxious and happy at the same time.
"Come closer. You'll get cold if your sweat cools."
Riftan leaned against the tree trunk and wrapped his cloak around her. Maxi drank from the small wine flask he had handed her. Though she was seated on his lap, she did not feel uncomfortable the way she had when he had teased her earlier. In fact, having his powerful arms around her felt natural.
"Let me have a sip."
Riftan locked an arm around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. Maxi brought the flask to his lips and carefully tilted the container. He took a few gulps before pulling away.
"Why don't you like yourself?"
It seemed that Riftan did not intend to drop the matter. Maxi shifted her eyes uneasily. Was the reason not obvious to him? She spoke like a complete and utter fool. Still, she found amusement in the fact that he continued to feign ignorance.
"H-Have you n-never disliked yourself?"
"I have, countless times."
He seemed to relax a little. As he pressed his lips to her forehead, she realized that her words must have troubled him the whole time that they were riding.
"But I've never disliked myself so much that it would be the first thing that came to mind."
"Th-That's because th-there isn't much t-to dislike about you."
Riftan looked amused. "Is that so?"
"I-I'm sure y-you're well aware of it y-yourself."
"I can't say that I am. Do enlighten me."
Maxi looked up at him, incredulous. "Y-You're one of the b-best knights in the realm. Y-You're strong, t-tall, and c-clever..."
"No one's called me clever before, though I've been called a lumbering oaf by many."
Maxi frowned. It was true that Riftan often lacked courtesy and was unrefined in speech, but he was far from being an oaf. His eyes always had a sharp look about them, and his words revealed keen insight. She sometimes had the feeling that he could see right through her.
"If you r-really were dull-witted, y-you wouldn't be s-so well respected."
Riftan's lips twisted into a cynical smile as if he was not quite ready to agree. He leaned his head back against the tree.
"What else?" he asked coolly.
"Y-You have h-honor, you're a great 1-leader, and y-you're... h-handsome."
"You think I'm handsome?"
"Y-You know I d-do."
"How would I know whether you find me attractive or not?"
Maxi blinked in disbelief. "I-I have an eye for b-beauty, just like e-everyone else."
"Each time I visited Croyso Castle, you shuddered at the sight of me as if I were an ogre. It certainly wasn't a look of admiration. Even the wrinkled face of a goblin wouldn't have elicited such a look of horror."
"I've n-never even seen a g-goblin before."
"You know that's not my point."
Riftan tilted her chin up so that her eyes met his.
"Whenever I came close to you, you looked as if you might faint."
His accusatory tone unnerved her. She had been oblivious to the fact that he had noticed her before their wedding, and she was surprised to learn that he had observed her reaction.
"I-I was... a-afraid of you. Y-You were intimidatingly b-big, a-and you always had th-this icy air a-about you. It seemed like y-you were a-always angry."
Riftan remained silent. Maxi shifted uncomfortably in his arms.
"Do you still find me frightening?"
Maxi shook her head slowly. Riftan studied her face for a moment, then slowly lowered his lips to meet hers. The kiss had a different kind of warmth from the playful kisses he had teased her with earlier in the day. When she felt his soft tongue enter her mouth, Maxi let out a low moan.
With one hand cradling her neck, Riftan gently stroked her wind-blown hair as he sucked on her tongue. A tingle ran down Maxi's spine. She felt her chest tighten. As Riftan cupped her breast with one hand and gently squeezed, heat began to simmer inside her.
"R-Riftan... W-We're outdoors."
"It's all right. It's just you and me here. If anyone approaches, I'll be able to tell immediately."
The warmth emanating from his body made her tremble. She had not noticed his arousal because of his calm expression. When Riftan pulled her closer and lifted up the hem of her dress, Maxi looked up at him, startled. His eyes were burning with desire.
"Don't be afraid. I would never hurt you."
Feeling his words echo inside her chest, Maxi held her breath as she gazed up at him. He put his forehead to hers and rubbed her nose with his before moving down to suck on her lips. A long finger slid under her dress and began to gently stroke her between her thighs. Maxi clutched at his soft hair.
He would never hurt me.
"You smell like winter," he moaned, burying his face in her neck to breathe in her scent.
Maxi thought to herself that Riftan also smelled like the crisp winter breeze. The pungent musk of tree bark and the faint scent of horses filled her lungs.
"Damn it. I want to kiss every part of you, but if I strip you naked out here, you'll get sick."
Riftan impatiently stroked her body over her dress. Maxi did not feel cold because of the heat burning inside her, but she did not tell Riftan, unable to muster the nerve to lie nude in an open field. They were already doing something they ought not to be doing. Still, she couldn't bring herself to pull away from him.
Riftan sucked and nibbled on her neck as he swiftly undid the straps of his trousers. Sitting inside his cloak, Maxi pulled her dress up to her waist. She felt him slowly enter her. When she felt him stretch her to her limit, she let out a cry. Riftan soothed her by gently stroking her hips and kissing her neck.
"I'll never hurt you again, Maxi. It's all right."
Maxi could not recall him ever hurting her or the reason why she had ever been afraid of him. It felt as if Riftan Calypse had always been part of her. Maxi clung to his neck like a drowning woman.
Riftan took hold of her hips and pushed himself in deeper. As their bodies merged, her whole body throbbed, and the sound of wind became more distant. She began to move on top of him, mimicking her movements atop the horse. She took him to the hilt and tightened around him before releasing him reluctantly, repeating the motion again and again... Her heart hammered, and her mind dissolved ecstatically under his shower of kisses.
Riftan very nearly had to haul Maxi back to the castle on his horse. After carrying her to their bedchamber, he bathed her in warm water, dressed and fed her, and lay her on his chest to lull her to sleep.
This was not the first time that Riftan had cared for her so tenderly. When they were together, he acted little different from a nanny. He constantly tried to feed her, and he was particularly adamant that they bathe together. In the mornings, he liked to snatch the comb from Ludis to comb her hair himself.
Such actions baffled her. All her life, she had been told that courtesy, polite disinterest, and duty were all that constituted the relationship between husband and wife. She had never once heard of a man treating his wife with such affection.
-Chapter 47/48-
They rode through a narrow forest path that led out of the back gate. The only sounds were the rustling and crunching of leaves and the chirping of the birds in the sky. It seemed as if the whole world were asleep.
Maxi observed Riftan as they rode in peaceful silence. He looked gracefully at ease atop his horse. She, on the other hand, had to bend forward and clumsily grip the reins to keep herself from falling. Riftan looked back at her and smiled wryly.
"I didn't know my wife was such an unpracticed rider."
"A-As I m-mentioned... I h-had few opportunities t-to ride."
"Relax your shoulders. Horses get nervous when they sense their riders are tense."
Blushing, Maxi took deep breaths and tried to loosen her shoulders. But each time the horse moved, her hips bounced, and she felt her body constrict once more. After observing her for a few moments, Riftan brought his horse closer to hers.
"Relax your upper body. Squeeze your thighs to the rhythm of the horse's movement for balance. Just like when you were on top of m—"
"R-Riftan! Y-You mustn't say such th-things out loud!"
"Why? It's just us here."
"S-Still! I-It's improper!"
Riftan burst into laughter. "Heavens. I haven't the least idea why you're getting so upset. In bed, you were so—"
"R-Riftan!"
Maxi lost her balance as she attempted to cover his mouth, but Riftan swiftly caught her as if he had anticipated her fall.
"All right, all right. Calm down."
Maxi glared at Riftan, who looked back at her mischievously before leaning down to kiss her forehead. Maxi lost her balance a second time, prompting Riftan to steady her again.
"Looks like I'll have to teach you the foundations, starting with how to sit on a horse." Riftan laughed.
"I-I'd be able to r-ride better if you'd just s-stop distracting me," Maxi muttered.
Riftan's grin only grew wider. Maxi tried to maintain her haughty demeanor, but she found it difficult to look indignant when she saw his mischievous charm. Each time he smiled, her cheeks went red, and her heart began to beat faster.
"Is that so? So be it then."
Riftan galloped ahead, steering the powerful stallion with ease with his long, muscular legs. Before long, Maxi realized that he was riding at a pace slow enough that she could catch up. She knew that he was capable of riding like the wind as he had done on his return from Drachium, so this small gesture made her heart swell. No one in her life had cared for her as he had done; she could almost believe that he really did see her as attractive and a good wife.
"You're not accustomed to riding, but you like animals, don't you?"
Maxi blinked. "H-How did you kn-know?"
"I once saw you sitting in the garden of Croyso Castle during one of my visits. You were petting a cat you had on your lap."
Maxi was startled. It had never occurred to her that someone might have been watching her. She tried to recall if she had ever seen Riftan in the garden.
"He was purring away blissfully. I remember it well because everything was so soft and serene."
"I-It was p-probably the k-kitchen cat that was k-kept for catching mice. H-He was often s-starved because he wasn't a g-good hunter, s-so I'd feed him in s-secret."
"So he was trying to repay the favor."
Riftan looked deep in thought for a moment. Suddenly, he glanced over his shoulder to look at her.
"What else do you like?" Seeing the puzzled look on her face, he smiled bitterly. "I've said it before, but you're veiled in mystery. It's rare that you reveal anything about yourself. Why are you so reluctant to show me who you are?"
Maxi felt her heart drop. Did he not know the answer to his question? Was he truly blind to her impediment? The way Riftan treated her was so starkly different from her father's cruelty that she was no longer sure of how she should perceive herself.
"I-I've never been r-reluctant..."
"Then tell me about what you like, what you don't, and what you think about every day."
"Why d-don't you g-go first? Y-You don't t-talk much about y-yourself either."
"I'm certain I've said more about myself than you have."
He knitted his brows as if he were combing through his memories, then shrugged.
"Very well. Allow me to show you some chivalry. I like horses, wine, and rich food. As a matter of fact, I like anything that fills the belly and pleases the tongue. Other than that, it's gold, jewels, honor, and powerful weapons. Nothing that an ordinary man wouldn't like."
"W-What do you d-detest?"
Riftan snapped off a branch blocking their path with a dagger. "Liars and incompetent fools. I've seen too much pompous scum in this world who flaunt their unmerited stations. They're outnumbered only by riffraff who deceive others for profit."
Though she knew his words were not directed at her, Maxi felt a chill run through her body.
"Now it's your turn," said Riftan.
Maxi tried to mask her anxiety. Riftan seemed oblivious to her agitation.
"I-I like what m-most people like, too."
"That's not a fair answer. Give me a proper one."
Maxi thought for a moment before speaking again. "I l-like to read. At C-Croyso Castle, I spent in-most of my time in the l-library."
"Rodrigo did mention that you spend a good deal of your time here in the library."
"Y-Yes. Th-There are so many r-rare books here. Th-Though Ruth tends to use them as his b-blanket..."
"Shall I drive the rascal out of there?"
"I would n-never h-hear the end of it i-if you did."
A line creased Riftan's forehead when he saw Maxi's look of horror. He gave her a cryptic look. "It seems you two have been getting along well."
"H-He helped me g-greatly with the r-refurbishments. H-He's fussy and he nags, b-but he's a g-good person."
Her response only seemed to irritate Riftan. He turned to face away from her.
"You're right. He's fussy and talks too much, but he's an upright fellow."
He rode in silence, lost in thought.
"What do you hate, then? You'll need to answer that for this to be a fair exchange."
Lashings, shouting, and beatings were the first things that came to mind, but Maxi could not reveal that. Still, she did not want to lie to a man who had said he most detested liars. She hesitated before blurting out an answer.
"M-Myself."
Riftan blinked as if he had not understood.
"I-I hate myself the m-most," Maxi repeated.
Just then, they reached the end of the path, and a vast meadow came into view. Before Riftan could press her further, Maxi spurred her horse into a gallop up the hill.
-Chapter 44/45/46/47-
"Mmm..."
A firm hand gently cupped Maxi's breast over her dress. She awoke to see the faint light of dawn filtering in through the windows. She had fallen asleep after supper while reading in bed.
She was drawing the blankets over her shoulders to ward off the morning chill when a powerful arm snaked around her waist. Startled, she turned to look behind her. Riftan was fast asleep, his bare chest exposed. Wondering when he had returned, she peered at his face with suspicion. Was he pretending to be asleep again?
Maxi narrowed her eyes, on alert for any sign of movement. But Riftan continued to breathe softly. Convinced that he was genuinely asleep, she gently pushed his arm away. To her surprise, he released her.
Maxi turned toward him as quietly as she could. Though Riftan usually woke at the slightest noise, he remained sound asleep. The sight warmed her heart.
He must be exhausted.
Riftan's face was bathed in the bluish glow of dawn. Maxi gently traced its outline with her hand. His hair had grown longer and now sat over his fine forehead in a tousled mess, pricking his eyes. Seeing the slight frown on his face, Maxi brushed back the strands, and the frown disappeared. She smiled at the sight of him sleeping sweetly.
Maxi continued to look at him adoringly, though he was about 30 centimeters taller than her and twice her size. On impulse she crawled into his arms and put her head against his chest. Seeing that he was still deeply asleep, she felt the urge to do something more daring.
She buried her face in his neck and took in his warm masculine scent, which reminded her of sunlight mingled with the fragrance of the soap. As she drank in the inexplicably sensual scent, heat rose inside her belly.
She buried her face in his neck and took in his warm masculine scent, which reminded her of sunlight mingled with the fragrance of the soap. As she drank in the inexplicably sensual scent, heat rose inside her belly.
Maxi followed the outline of Riftan's jaw with her finger. He was truly a stunning man. Even in the dark, his smooth skin gleamed like gold, and with his long lashes lowered, he looked as innocent as a lamb.
Something must be wrong with me.
Just a few months prior, she would never have thought to describe this rugged knight as innocent. But now, she was overcome by a strange desire to embrace him and rub her face against him. She suppressed the urge. She not only lacked the courage, but she was also loath to disturb his much-needed rest.
Maxi slid out of bed and left the room with her robe in hand. The crisp morning air chilled the corridor. She draped the thick robe over her thin woolen dress and made her way to the kitchen. When she arrived, there was a warmth in the air.
"My lady! What brings you to the kitchen so early in the morning?"
Maxi gave him an awkward smile as she made her way to the fireplace. "I-I woke up early, and I l-left the room so as n-not to disturb the l-lord. Is it a-all right if I s-stay here?"
The cook seemed flustered that the lady of the castle would ask such a thing. He nodded so vigorously that Maxi worried his head might come loose.
"Of course! Would you like to have your breakfast now, my lady?"
"Y-Yes, please."
As she sat in front of the warm fire on a full stomach, she felt drowsiness overtake her. Just as she was thinking about returning to bed, Ruth shuffled into the kitchen.
"Why, you're up early today, my lady."
Maxi's face fell in dismay. Ruth quickly made his way to her as if to stop her from escaping.
"I see you're enjoying an early breakfast. That must be nice. I, on the other hand, haven't had a single bite since dinner last night thanks to the special task Sir Riftan assigned to me."
Maxi gave him a stiff smile. "I-I was b-busy yesterday..."
"I'm sure you have a lot on your hands," Ruth added in a softer tone. "But strengthening our defenses is our priority. We need the magical device to stop further attacks. And you, my lady, are the only person who has the arithmetic skills to help me."
Maxi narrowed her eyes. She would have bet on her own life that Ruth did not think highly of her arithmetic skills.
"I-I understand, b-but making winter p-preparations is also i-important. I-I'll help you as s-soon as I'm finished."
"The safety of Anatolians takes precedence over all else for Sir Riftan. If I can complete the device with your help, his worries will be greatly alleviated."
Maxi's ears pricked up, and her eyes brightened. "Would it r-really?"
"Certainly, my lady."
Excited by the chance to prove herself to Riftan, Maxi hardly took notice of the fact that Ruth had artfully chosen just the words that were needed to convince her. She glanced at the servants, who were listening intently to their conversation while pretending to work. Then she let out a long sigh as if she had been given no other choice.
"I-If that's the case, I'll h-help you f-first. A-Are you s-satisfied?"
"I'd be happier if you could start right away." Ruth ran a hand over his haggard face.
Maxi and Ruth made their way do the library and Maxi’s jaw dropped when she saw the mess he had made in the library in just two days.
"Why are y-you working h-here instead of your t-tower?"
"There isn't enough room. And Sir Riftan has made it clear that the tower will no longer be mine if I don't finish this device within a week."
Maxi frowned as she thought about the lofty tower located in the back garden. How could Ruth possibly have run out of space? Surely he wasn't sleeping in the library because he lacked room in the tower? Ruth seemed not to notice her disapproving look as he sat down. Maxi grudgingly took the seat across from him.
"Your task, my lady, is quite simple. I'd like you to draw copies of these diagrams using these tools. I'll explain how to use them, of course. They should be easy to use as long as you know basic arithmetic."
Maxi studies the diagram with interest.
"Magic runes are tools that allow us to amplify the mana in our surroundings tenfold or even a hundredfold. That's how all magic is created. A mage's talent is determined by how efficiently they use these runes to create the desired effect."
Maxi tilted her head. "B-But I've seen m-mages use magic without r-runes before."
"That’s possible only when we’ve memorized the spell so well that we can draw the runes in our heads. But only basic spells can be used this way. Advanced spells take a great deal of time and effort to prepare."
"D-Does that m-mean you can use m-magic if you know how to d-draw these r-runes?"
"The runes won't work if you can't activate them with magic, and for that, you'd have to know how to control mana. Magic isn't something you can create from nothing, but something you must harness."
"B-But I've seen ordinary p-people use magical d-devices."
"That's because they have magic stones."
Ruth rummaged through the cluttered desk and pulled out a glimmering red stone the size of Maxi's palm.
"This stone contains a fixed amount of magic and functions as an energy source for magical devices. By placing one inside a device, ordinary people can use magic."
Maxi studied the stone. Holding the stone in her hands, she felt as if she had been given a glimpse into a strange new world. Her heart began to beat faster.
"Now, if that satisfied your curiosity, shall we get started? If we don't finish this soon, I shall lose my tower."
Ruth shoved a pile of books to one side to make room on the desk. Maxi set the stone down and listened attentively as he explained step by step how to make calculations and how to draw the complex designs.
With Ruth's detailed directions, Maxi quickly grasped the task at hand, methodically adding and subtracting as she redrew the diagrams with a ruler. Though it was a complex task that she could not fully comprehend, she never found the work tiresome.
They worked in silence.
Just as her fingers began to ache from gripping the quill, the library door burst open. She turned to see Riftan striding toward them.
Her eyes widened when she saw that he was clad in leather trousers and a black tunic instead of his armor, a sign that he did not intend to leave the castle that day. She had half risen from her seat to joyfully greet him when she heard his icy voice.
"The servants tell me you've been here since early this morning. What do you think you're doing here?"
Riftan ran his eyes over the piles of books and parchment on the desk. The displeasure on his face puzzled Maxi.
"What's all this about?"
Ruth seemed unfazed. "Isn't it obvious? Her ladyship and I are making the device you requested."
"What I want to know is what my wife is doing here."
"I've asked her ladyship for her assistance. If you recall, I informed you countless times that it was nigh impossible to finish the device by myself within a week."
Riftan leaned over the desk until he was looming over the sorcerer. "Are you trying to get back at me by ordering my wife around?"
"I didn't ask for her ladyship's help just to annoy you. She happens to be the only literate person in this castle who can also do arithmetic. It's not as if I could ask the knights for help now, could I?"
"But you think it's acceptable to ask my wife?!"
"R-Riftan, I really d-don't mind," Maxi quickly cut in.
Riftan gave her a sharp look, making Maxi's shoulders quiver. But after all that Ruth had done for her, she could not allow him to be berated thus.
Trying to keep her voice even, she continued, "I-It's not difficult, and more i-importantly, it's f-for Anatol. I d-don't want something s-similar to h-happen again."
"I'll make sure it never happens again." Though Riftan's voice was now softer, he still looked irritated. "But there's no need for you to put yourself in danger."
"And what danger could she possibly be in? Are you afraid she'll die from the prick of a quill?"
"You're prone to starting fires with the flick of a hand! And why are you here instead of your tower? What if you start a fire?!"
"What I'm making is a protective device. The chances of an explosion or a fire starting are slim to none! The worst that could happen is that the library becomes safer."
Riftan scowled, irked that he had no further arguments to make. Maxi gently tugged at his tunic. She knew that the best way to stop two hounds from fighting was to separate them.
"P-Please don't be a-angry. R-Ruth says i-it's safe."
"I'm not angry, just worried." Riftan sighed. "Fine. Help him if you must, but don't overexert yourself. And Ruth, don't you even think about involving my wife in dangerous experiments."
"Just what kind of person do you think I am?"
"A loose cannon."
With that, Riftan pulled Maxi toward him. In the past, a frown from him had been enough to terrify her, but strangely she now felt no fear at the fact that a large, angry man was pulling at her arm. His displeasure still made her anxious, but she knew that he would not hurt her.
"That's enough for today," said Riftan, leading Maxi toward the door. "You can carry on on your own for the rest of the day."
Ruth quickly rose from his seat. "Where are you going without your armor?"
"Nowhere. Even I need days of rest from time to time."
Maxi's eyes went round. Seeing the same surprise on Ruth's face, she surmised that Riftan rarely took rest.
"But what about the intruders?"
"I've sent a messenger to Livadon. They'll be released once I receive compensation. Until then, keep them alive in the dungeons."
"What if his father refuses to pay?"
"Then I'll cut off their—" Seeing the look on Maxi's face, Riftan stopped and waved his hands at Ruth. "I'll take care of it."
"Fair. Enjoy your day off. It's well deserved."
"How gracious of you."
Maxi turned to nod goodbye to Ruth before exiting the library. In the corridor, bright rays of sunlight flooded in through the windows. Riftan looked out the window for a moment before turning to Maxi with bright eyes.
"We'll need something warmer before we go out. It's a fine day, but the wind's chilly."
"W-Where are we going?"
"You have your own horse now. You should take her out before it gets too cold. I'll show you a good place to ride."
Maxi's lips parted in surprise. She was pleased that he wanted to spend time with her outside the bedchamber.
"B-But you m-must be tired. M-Maybe you should r-rest..."
"I'm not an old man, Maxi. But if you insist on spending time in the bedroom..."
Maxi caught her breath when she saw the desire in his eyes. Her face burning, she cast her eyes down. Riftan laughed softly and pulled her into a firm embrace.
"It's tempting, but we are going out today. I want to show you, my land."
After changing into a dress more suited to riding, Maxi followed Riftan to the stables. With the help of the stable boy, she led her beautiful new white mare outside. Riftan followed behind with his mighty war horse, which Maxi immediately recognized as the one that he had ridden on their journey to Anatol.
Riftan gently stroked the horse's neck. "You remember Talon, don't you? Aside from his fiery temper, he's as perfect a horse as you could wish for."
"D-Do you like h-horses?"
"I've dreamt of having one ever since I was a boy of ten. And Talon here is the best among all the horses I've had."
Riftan rubbed his cheek against Talon's muzzle. The sight suddenly filled Maxi with jealousy. She turned away, mortified that she was jealous of a mere beast. According to the teachings of the church, nothing was more shameful than a woman's jealousy.
Riftan stepped toward her. "Have you given her a name?"
Maxi shook her head, trying to rein back her emotions.
"N-Not yet."
"You should choose one soon. She'll warm up to you faster if you call her by her name."
"W-What should I n-name her?"
"It's your horse. You should be the one to decide."
After mulling it over, Maxi said, "R-Rem..."
Riftan smiled playfully. "'Rem' because she's white? I see that my wife's imagination is wanting."
"I-It has a n-nice ring to it." Maxi did not mention that the inspiration for the name had come from the order of knights under his command.
Just then, a groom came to saddle the horses, and Riftan helped her onto her horse. Still unused to being on horseback, her body stiffened reflexively. She clutched the reins nervously.
Riftan stared at her awkward posture. "You're not used to riding, are you?"
Maxi nodded, embarrassed. "I never l-left Croyso Castle. Th-There wasn't much ch-chance for me to ride."
"I know. I heard the rumors. It was said that the Duke of Croyso's eldest daughter avoided the outside world because of her delicate disposition."
Something in his voice made Maxi nervous.
"I-I didn't know th-that was how p-people perceived me."
"The Duke of Croyso is one of the most powerful men in the Western Continent. It's only natural for people to take an interest in his daughter. And unlike your sister, you never made any public appearances, which only served to inflate their curiosity. I know of a knight who sneaked into Croyso Castle just to catch a glimpse of you."
Maxi avoided his gaze. She had been entirely unaware of such curiosity.
"H-He m-must have been d-disappointed," Maxi said brightly, trying to mask her self-doubt.
"How so?" Riftan turned to look at her, frowning.
"He w-went through all that t-trouble just to s-see an ordinary-looking w-woman."
Maxi tightened her grip on the reins as she tried to feign nonchalance. Calling her looks ordinary was generous, but she did not want to go so far as to admit that to Riftan. Her ears turned red.
Riftan slowed down to ride by her side as they made their way toward the back gate. "I have to disagree. I find you charming."
Maxi smiled awkwardly, certain that he was only being polite. "Th-Thank you."
Riftan frowned. "It's not my habit to say things that I don't mean. If I didn't find you alluring, you wouldn't drive me into a frenzy when we're alone together. Or had you forgotten because we had one peaceful night yesterday?"
Maxi's whole body flushed with embarrassment. At a loss for words, she opened and closed her mouth repeatedly. Riftan leaned in closer and cupped her chin with his hand. Her heart began to pound when she saw the desire in his eyes.
"Perhaps riding was a foolish suggestion. Shall we turn back?"
Maxi shook her head, and Riftan straightened his back with an inscrutable expression. She could not tell whether he was smiling or frowning.
"Then let us hurry. We don't want the sun to set before we've even left the castle."
Maxi trailed after him, trying to calm her racing heart.
-Chapter 42/43/44-
"There isn't much we can do about their attitude," said Ruth. "The Remdragon Knights suffered greatly because of Duke Croyso."
Maxi flinched and turned around. Ruth languidly dipped a piece of bread in the rich stew and brought it to his mouth before continuing.
"The Dragon Campaign brought great fame and honor to the order. But if fortune hadn't been on our side, or if it hadn't been for Sir Riftan, we would have lost many lives. The Red Dragon was a formidable foe, and many nearly didn't make it back alive. Sir Riftan was at the forefront of it all, dancing with death."
Maxi's blood ran cold, but Ruth's voice remained as calm as if he had just been commenting on the weather.
"The duke pushed the campaign onto Sir Riftan despite being fully aware of the dangers. Sir Riftan received a wife in exchange for his troubles, but even she failed to fulfill her duties."
"B-But I—"
"That is how the knights have seen it till now." Ruth lowered his spoon with an impassive face.
Maxi's lips quivered. Until that moment, she had remained convinced that she was the one who had been abandoned. As she saw it, Riftan had been forced to marry her, and he had left her without a word because he had never wanted her. But Maxi knew that this would only sound like an excuse to the knights. The color drained from her face.
"I-I truly d-didn't know th-that he w-wanted me here."
"The knights who were sent to escort you were turned away at the gates."
"I was n-never told a-about it." Her voice came out as a whisper.
"Did it never occur to you to come to Anatol yourself with your father's knights?"
Her father would never have allowed it; nor would his knights have agreed to accompany her. In fact, it had never occurred to her that going to her husband's castle was a possibility. Lost for words, Maxi hung her head. Ruth shrugged and dropped the matter.
"Well, there's no use bemoaning what has already passed. You are Sir Riftan's wife, regardless of what the knights think. Pay them no heed unless they insult you."
Ruth rose from his chair. It was unclear from his nonchalant tone whether he had intended to console her or whether he merely wished to end the conversation, and so Maxi simply gave a weak nod.
"Then I shall look forward to your ladyship's help in the library in the coming days," Ruth said lightly, rolling his shoulders left and right before exiting the dining hall.
Left to herself, Maxi felt isolated and anxious. She listlessly stirred her soup, wondering whether everyone else saw her as a shameless woman who had neglected her duties after her husband had left for a deadly campaign. If they did, they most likely resented her charade of acting like the lady of the castle now that he had returned a hero.
How could Anatolians be expected to respect her after the miserable spectacle she had made of herself? Unable to bear these thoughts, she put her spoon down and left the dining hall.
"My lady!"
Maxi turned around when she heard Rodrigo's polite voice. He had just entered the great hall carrying a large wooden chest.
"The lord has asked for you."
"I-Isn't he at the n-northern gates?"
"He has just returned. He's in the garden—"
Maxi ran outside before the steward could finish his sentence. She passed the pavilion to reach the stairs from where she could see the garden bustling with servants moving chests into the castle. Her eyes widened at the endless stream of chests being unloaded from the enormous horse-drawn wagon standing at the entrance to the garden.
She walked past the servants and cautiously made her way down the stairs. In front of the wagon, Riftan was talking to two merchants dressed in the attire of the Southern Continent. Sensing her presence, he looked over his shoulder.
"Maxi."
Maxi ran to him like a puppy answering her master's call. With a faint smile on his lips, Riftan took the reins of a strikingly beautiful mare from the merchant and tugged lightly.
"Do you not like her?"
"S-Sorry?"
Riftan placed the reins in Maxi's hands. "I said I'd bring gifts, didn't I?"
Wide-eyed, Maxi looked from Riftan's impassive face to the mare's gentle one. Sensing her bewilderment, Riftan pulled her closer and placed her hand on the mare's muzzle. Maxi stroked its golden mane with shaking hands. In response, the horse gently rubbed its muzzle against her hand.
"My horses are too big and wild for you, but you should be able to handle this one. She's young but well trained."
"She's l-lovely," Maxi murmured, enthralled.
"She's yours now." Riftan's lips curled up into a smile.
"This is th-the most wonderful g-gift I've ever r-received."
The mare let out a charming snort as it continued to rub its muzzle against Maxi's palm.
"C-Can I really h-have her?"
Riftan frowned slightly. "I told you, she's yours. No one else here would ride such a dainty horse."
The mare gave a great snort as if she had understood him. Maxi laughed softly and stroked its ears. Riftan tilted his head, keeping his burning gaze on Maxi.
"Do you like her?"
"I-I do."
Maxi could not find the words to express how much she adored the mare. She tried to keep her voice from shaking.
"I t-truly do. Th-Thank you, Riftan."
Riftan lowered his head to kiss Maxi. When she took a step back in surprise, he simply turned to the merchant.
"My wife is pleased, and you arrived two days earlier than expected. For that, I'll reward you with fifty percent above the price we agreed upon."
When he finished talking to the merchant, Riftan put his arm around her shoulders. "Let's go up to our room. I have more gifts waiting for you."
"Th-There's more?"
Riftan pointed to the chests being unloaded from the wagon. "Every one of those is filled with gifts for you."
Maxi's jaw dropped. There were enough chests to fill an entire room.
"I've instructed the servants to bring them up to our room. Come."
Riftan handed the mare's reins to a servant and began walking toward the great hall. Maxi followed at his side, her steps as light as if she were walking on clouds. Her anxiety had dissipated.
"I th-thought you were b-busy repairing the g-gates."
"I've given them my orders. The knights will take turns standing guard until the new gate is finished. Anatol will be safe from intruders even without me there."
Maxi had asked not because she was worried about the castle's security, but because she did not wish to keep Riftan from his duties. But instead of correcting him, she continued to ascend the stairs and entered the wide-open castle gate. Riftan, who had been striding across the great hall, suddenly turned to look back at Maxi.
"I haven't told you yet how magnificent the castle looks. Rodrigo tells me you worked day and night."
Maxi blushed at the sudden compliment. "D-Do you like it?"
"Of course. When I went downstairs in the morning, I thought I'd woken up in someone else's castle."
Maxi breathed a sigh of relief. "Y-You didn't say a-anything, s-so I was w-worried..."
"I couldn't stop in the middle of my outburst to sing the praises of the castle's splendor now, could I? Besides, I'd just seen you in grave danger! How could I have noticed anything else? You could have gilded these walls with pure gold, and I still wouldn't have noticed."
Seeing his eyes glint in anger at the memory, Maxi cast her eyes down. Riftan let out a short sigh and stroked her hair to soothe her.
"But that's all in the past now. Let's go see your gifts."
Maxi nodded and followed him up the stairs to their bedchamber.
"I-Is all of this f-for me?"
"Is it not to your liking?"
"N-No, I l-like them."
Riftan looked relieved. He picked up an emerald hairpin and carefully slid it into her hair, just above her ear. Next, he clasped a sparkling diamond necklace around her neck. Seeing Maxi's astonishment at the sumptuous jewels, Riftan softly kissed her cheek with a satisfied grin.
"I knew they would suit you perfectly."
"Th-Thank you." Maxi's cheeks burned, and Riftan's eyes glowed with pleasure. Brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, he urged her to try on the rest of the jewelry.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Maxi felt both delight and unease.
Riftan frowned at her troubled expression. "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing." Maxi quickly put a smile on her face. "These are b-beautiful."
After confirming that everything had arrived, Riftan left to check on the captives. Meanwhile, Maxi decided to finish writing the fabric order that had been interrupted by the commotion the day before. After discussing the details of the order with the maidservants, she made a thorough list of the necessary items. When she finished, she went to the kitchen to oversee food preservation for the winter.
Maxi glanced at the servants laboring away in the kitchen. As lady of the castle, it was her responsibility to manage every item of housekeeping, and from her observations, the servants never had a moment's rest. As she listened to Ludis's explanations on food storage methods, she tried to gauge the amount of work that was still left.
The servants performed backbreaking labor every day. Their duties included cooking for all the castle's inhabitants and cleaning every nook and cranny, but with winter approaching, they also had to make warm clothing for the knights and store fodder for livestock. Maxi decided to ask Riftan if she could hire more servants.
"I-I'll ask Aderon if he can f-find us more help f -first thing tomorrow—"
"My lady!"
A cheerful voice interrupted Maxi before she could finish her sentence. She turned to see who it was, and her eyes widened when she saw six squires standing next to the braziers with sweat running down their foreheads. Ulyseon, who was at the head of the group, quickly made his way toward her.
"I heard what happened, my lady! Is it all right for you to be walking around already? Those damned bastards! How dare they—"
"I-I'm fine."
Garrow sighed, noticing Maxi's discomfort at the sudden outpouring of concern. "Calm down, Uly. You're making her ladyship uncomfortable."
"I've just never been so frustrated about being a squire before. If I were a knight, I could've..."
Seeing Ulyseon's crestfallen face, Maxi stifled a laugh. He reminded her of a large dog with its ears tucked back.
"Th-Thank you for your c-concern. But I-I'm fine, really. S-Some of the guards w-were injured, but Sir R-Riftan arrived j-just in time."
"Yes, so I heard. And I heard those cowards surrendered immediately when they saw him. Can't blame them! Those gutless scoundrels don't stand a chance against Sir Riftan!"
"W-We were j-just cooking up some s-sausages." She turned to the cook. "W-Would you s-serve them some?"
The cook, who had been busily stuffing meat into clean entrails, looked up and grinned. "I'll have a few ready in a jiffy, my lady. You there! Go bring me a plate of sausages!"
The squires eagerly gathered around, and Maxi slipped out of the kitchen to let them enjoy their snack in peace.
"My lady, the lord has sent word that he'll be late and that you should dine without him. Would you like your meal in the dining hall?"
Maxi looked up from her writing when she heard Ludis's voice. She had not noticed the maidservant enter. Wondering how long she had been at her desk, Maxi looked out the window. Darkness had already fallen. Was Riftan still working at that hour? Though he was a strong man, she couldn't help but worry that he was not getting adequate rest.
"My lady?"
"I-I'll eat in my r-room."
Maxi rose from her seat.
-Chapter 40/41-
Maxi was awoken by the sound of firewood being thrown into the fireplace. Outside, it was already dark. She blinked and looked around the room. When she saw Riftan standing in front of the fire, she quickly tried to get up.
But her body went limp when she felt the throbbing between her legs. She groaned quietly at the sharp ache. Hearing her, Riftan swiftly turned his head. He was dressed in a fresh black tunic and looked as if he had just finished bathing.
"You're a light sleeper," Riftan said, a faint smile on his lips.
Maxi shook her head. "I d-didn't even n-notice you g-getting up to wash."
"I wanted to wait till you were awake so we could bathe together, but I had to go interrogate those damned intruders."
He walked toward the bed and planted a kiss on her bare shoulder. Blushing, Maxi looked up at him with worry in her eyes.
"Y-You interrogated them?"
"Yes. I even summoned a cleric to confirm their leader's identity."
"A-And? W-Were his claims t-true?" Maxi asked cautiously.
Riftan frowned.
"He is a Livadonian noble."
Maxi's head spun. Had she made a mistake? The situation might not have escalated so dangerously had she just allowed the man entry. As if he had read her thoughts, Riftan brushed a lock of hair from her face and kissed her cheek.
"D-Did he c-come here to h-harm you?"
Riftan looked at Maxi with a blank expression before bursting into laughter.
"He's not that crazy. He just never thought I'd make it from Drachium to Anatol in eight days. He made a grave miscalculation."
Maxi remembered Ruth telling her that it would take at least ten days for Riftan to arrive in Anatol. Riftan had arrived two days earlier than the sorcerer's prediction.
"Or rather... I arrived at just the right moment. If I had come a day or two later, things would've been much worse. He had three high-ranking knights and a magical device with him. It wouldn't have taken them long to get past our defenses. I should’ve beheaded him and hung his head outside the castle walls to set an example. But as you said, I’d hate to leave you again for war."
"Th-Then..."
"I shall send a message to his father as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. I'll demand compensation and tell him to rein in his son."
Maxi breathed a sigh of relief. Smiling, Riftan left a trail of kisses from her shoulders to her cheeks. His damp hair emitted a sweet fragrance. Recalling Ruth's comment about the knights' strong dislike for floral scents, Maxi stifled a laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Riftan looked at her questioningly.
"Y-Your hair s-smells like roses."
Riftan blushed. "I figured you'd like me to smell nice..."
As Riftan began fidgeting with his damp hair, Maxi's chest tightened. In the early days, his crude language and imposing figure had suggested to her that he might turn out to be as violent as her father. She had not in her wildest dreams expected to find her fearsome husband so endearing one day.
"I suppose it's not becoming of a man." Riftan sniffed himself sheepishly.
Maxi gazed at him silently for a moment, then raised her tired body to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. Riftan's entire body stiffened. Blushing, Maxi planted another kiss on his jaw.
"I-It does smell nice. It's n-not unbecoming of a m-man."
"I'll have to use this soap for the rest of my days, then."
Riftan pulled her toward him by the waist and kissed her, then gently squeezed her tender breast with his hand. Startled, Maxi pushed him away.
"W-We've already..."
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"I-I wasn't trying to—"
She had kissed him only out of an overwhelming rush of affection. She had had no intention of seducing him so soon after a round of intense lovemaking. But Riftan ignored her and began to strip off his clothes, kissing her more passionately.
"You fanned the flames yourself, Maxi." Riftan lowered himself onto her.
Her body went weak at the sound of his whisper. He entered her gently, and this time, she felt more pleasure than pain. When it was over, she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
It was well past noon by the time Maxi awoke the next day. With Ludis's assistance, she bathed and got dressed. Riftan had left at the break of dawn to deal with the intruders, and Maxi worried that he had not had sufficient rest after his long journey.
"I'll bring your meal to your room, my lady."
"Th-That's all right. I'll h-have it in th-the dining hall. I should f-finish my work from y-yesterday."
"The lord has instructed that you stay in bed today."
Maxi gave Ludis an embarrassed look. It was true that Riftan holding her countless times the night before had exhausted her, but not so much that she needed bed rest, particularly when she had slept until midday while Riftan had gone to work without proper rest. It would not do for her to laze in bed.
"I'm f-fine. I was j-just a little sh-shaken by yesterday's e-events."
"But the lord..."
"I-I'll talk t-to him."
Ludis nodded silently at Maxi's stubborn insistence.
Maxi made her way downstairs with a spring in her step.
Ruth and three Remdragon Knights looked up from their lunch when she entered. Maxi froze. Unless there happened to be a special occasion, the knights usually had their breakfast and lunch in their quarters. As such, she had never encountered them in Riftan's absence, and she found herself standing in place, blinking.
-Chapter 38/39/40-
"What were you thinking?"
Maxi froze. When she looked up, Riftan was towering over her on his horse, his back to the sun. His face was difficult to see, but she could tell that he was furious.
She shrank back in fear and began to stammer. "I-I heard th-there was a problem..."
"And what the hell could you have done?"
Maxi's blood ran cold. She quickly lowered her head to hide her shock. Riftan, who had treated her with such kindness before he left, now wore an expression so icy that she felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her.
"I-I..."
She bit her lips and desperately tried to think of an answer, but her mind drew a blank. She heard Riftan emit a stream of curses over her head before she was suddenly lifted off the ground by the waist. She shrieked as Riftan placed her in front of him on the saddle.
"I'm heading to the castle first," Riftan said to the knights. "Clean up this mess."
And without waiting for a reply, he took off. Villagers who had gathered to watch from afar scrambled to make way. Maxi clung to Riftan's armored chest with her eyes squeezed shut. The arm around her waist tightened, the cold forearm armor digging into her side painfully.
He must be angry because I interfered when it wasn't my place.
Maxi's entire body shook. Enraged men frightened her, and she felt faint at the thought of such an immense man admonishing her.
Violence was not the only thing she feared. Seeing the man who had been so kind to her suddenly turn so cold made her heart ache. Suppressing the urge to beg him not to hate her, she clutched his cloak.
They soon reached the castle. Riftan dismounted before helping Maxi down.
"Take my hand."
She hesitantly placed her hand in his, and he lifted her off the horse. But instead of setting her down, he continued to carry her across the garden, ignoring the servants who had rushed out to greet them.
"Send Talon to the stables," he ordered in an icy voice.
Riftan strode into the great hall. Maxi looked up to study his expression, but he marched on without sparing a glance at the space she had spent weeks renovating. She could see that he was livid. She swallowed hard before opening her mouth to speak.
"R-Riftan... P-Please put m-me down."
"Shut your mouth."
Riftan climbed two steps at a time with Maxi in his arms. Though he had traveled for days in full armor, he showed no sign of fatigue. Only when they reached the bedroom did he finally set her down.
Maxi tried to find her balance as Riftan's eyes bored into her. Was he going to berate her now? Would he strike her? But she had only tried to settle a conflict as the lady of the castle...
Clutching her dress, she was about to speak when something abruptly entered her mouth.
"Mmph!"
Her eyes widened. She felt a cold, armored hand slide behind her head before grabbing her by her hair to pull her in. Sweet, chapped lips rubbed against her own soft lips, and a wet tongue slid inside her mouth.
Maxi gripped Riftan's arms. Her heaving chest was pressed tightly against his armor, and the stubble on his chin chafed her skin painfully. Gasping for air, she looked up with quivering eyes to see Riftan's cold, hardened face staring back at her.
"What were you going to do if I hadn't arrived just then?" he snarled.
He grabbed her face, and Maxi shuddered as the cold steel touched her skin.
"I-I didn't think th-they'd b-break through the gates..."
"You shouldn't have been there in the first place!" Riftan cried, his voice growing louder. "You should never, ever put yourself in danger. Do you understand?"
Maxi quickly nodded, which seemed to placate him. He relaxed his shoulders and let out a long sigh. After hesitating for a few moments, Maxi caressed his chin. Riftan leaned his finely shaped forehead against hers. His hair smelled faintly of grass, and Maxi wondered if he had slept in a meadow the night before.
"I felt my blood run cold the moment I saw you out there. Dammit! I didn't ride day and night to come find you like that."
"I-I'm sorry."
Riftan's face grew serious again.
"If I had arrived just a second later, things could have been much worse. Dammit..."
"I-I didn't m-mean to d-distress you. I'm s-sorry."
Riftan began to knead his face with armored hands. Startled, Maxi tugged at his arms to stop him. Riftan stared at her hand for a moment before undoing the knot binding the armor to his arm. After removing the vambrace and gauntlets, he threw them onto the floor and pulled Maxi's face closer to his.
"Are you hurt?"
"N-No, I'm fine."
"Show me."
Like a moth to a flame, Maxi's gaze became fixed on Riftan's dark eyes. Hot, calloused hands grazed her cheeks and disheveled hair. Her breath quickened, and her heart began to race. Every night that he had been away, she had curled up alone in their spacious bed, missing him terribly.
"I want to see it with my own eyes," Riftan said in a low voice, caressing the soft spot behind her ear.
His hands slid down to push her robe off her shoulders. Maxi shivered, though she wasn't cold. In fact, she could feel sweat trickling down the back of her neck. His muscular body emanated heat from beneath the cold armor, igniting a spark inside her.
Riftan removed Maxi's hairpin, and her hair cascaded down. Tossing the pin onto the floor, he grabbed a handful of her mane and brought it to his face.
"A head for every scratch."
"W-What?"
"I'll cut off a head for every bruise I find on you."
Hearing Riftan whisper such words so gently made the fine hair on her body stand up. It was a stark contrast from the fiery temper he had shown earlier. He slowly slid her dress off her shoulders. Her body shook like a dragonfly caught in a spider's web. His dark eyes moved steadily from her pale collarbone to her breasts, which were still covered by a thin chemise. Maxi felt breathless.
"That's one head," Riftan murmured, pointing at a small bruise on her forearm.
Maxi tried to cover up the mark. "Th-This is from when I-I bumped into a shelf in the l-library..."
"Don't lie."
"I-It's not a— oh!"
Riftan gently kissed the bruise. His wet lips made soft pecking noises as they moved down her arm. When he reached the spot on her wrist where her erratic pulse could be felt, he bit down gently. Then, he wrapped an arm around her hips and lifted her off the floor. Maxi instinctively clung to his neck, her breasts just below his head. He pressed his lips to them as he strode to the bed.
"Riftan... I-I promise, I'm not hur—"
"I told you, I'll confirm that myself."
Riftan strode to the bed and gently lowered Maxi onto it. Her dress was bunched around her waist. He pulled it off and threw it on the floor. Clad only in her chemise, Maxi looked down nervously. Riftan removed her shoes before lifting the hem of the chemise. When his hand grazed against the scrape on her leg, she felt a sting and reflexively tried to pull her leg away.
"I g-got this when I t-tripped over my own f-foot..."
"This just sealed their death sentence."
Riftan's eyes grew frighteningly dark as he examined the wound. Maxi held his arm firmly.
"It d-doesn' t hurt at all. Please d-don't kill anyone."
"They not only tried to raid my land, but they even tried to harm my wife. Killing them and their family isn't nearly enough. If I don't make an example out of them, this could happen again."
"B-But y-you've only just returned..."
She had not meant to whine, but the words escaped her lips before she realized it. Flustered, she jerked her head up, unsure of where she should rest her eyes.
She squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out, "Y-You'd have to l-leave again if w-war broke out... Th-Then I'll be a-all alone... again."
"Dammit," Riftan muttered under his breath.
He pulled her down toward him and kissed her with such fervor that she thought he might devour her. Maxi moaned into his mouth. As he pushed her head back, her body arched backward unsteadily. Riftan raised her chemise to her waist and stroked her hips. The coldness of his armor and the searing heat of his hands made her head spin. Maxi clung to his neck with shaking breaths. His tongue, which had been roving inside her mouth, slowly slid out to lick her wet lips. When he looked down at her, his black eyes were full of desire.
"The things you do to me..."
Licking the saliva dribbling down her chin, Riftan pulled the chemise over her head. Finding herself naked on the bed, Maxi curled up into a ball. Riftan cupped her breast with a burning hand and began to suck greedily. Maxi pulled him closer, letting out a soft moan. She brushed her hands against his bronze neck before combing them through his thick black hair. It was a strange feeling. She was naked under a fully armored man, allowing him to do to her as he pleased. She felt both powerless and hedonistic at the same time.
Riftan's eyes clouded over as his hands began to move more urgently. Unable to contain himself any longer, he suddenly pulled her into a crushing embrace. Her breasts were firmly pressed against his armor, their hardened tips grinding roughly against the cold metal. The chill of the armor against her skin sent a tingling sensation up her ears.
"These past few weeks have felt like years. You were all I could think about."
Riftan pushed his hand between Maxi's legs, muttering under his breath. A startled cry escaped her throat, and she was torn between a desire to spread her legs open and the instinct to squeeze them together. But before she could move, Riftan spread her legs wide open and lowered his head between them. Startled, Maxi twisted her body and pulled at the sheets.
But her efforts to escape were futile. Riftan put his mouth on her without a moment of hesitation.
"R-Rif— ah!"
She instinctively squeezed Riftan's head with her thighs. He seized her ankles to hold her legs open and continued to caress her with his tongue, the obscene act leaving Maxi gasping for air. She writhed and bit down on the sheets.
Though this was not the first time that he had used his tongue, Maxi felt overwhelmed. Panting, she hungrily accepted his tongue as heat coursed through her. She moaned softly at the sensation of his soft hair tickling her thighs and the sound of his uneven breaths. Just as she was about to reach climax, Riftan stopped.
"I'll be inside you soon enough."
Maxi began to rock her hips urgently. Seeing her plea, Riftan stroked her gently and swiftly undid the straps of his trousers. As he lowered them, something rigid sprang out from beneath.
But Maxi had little time to feel embarrassment. Unable to contain the heat surging through her body, she pulled Riftan closer. When he brought his hips to hers, she rocked her lower body and rubbed herself against his hardness, frantic with desire.
"Dammit!"
Riftan grabbed her hips to put them in position and plunged into her, making her legs spasm and jerk. His hardness thrust into the deepest part of her before slipping out swiftly. Maxi desperately clung to him.
Riftan let out a low moan before thrusting into her again. After the long break from engaging in such acts, the movement was painful, but Maxi was hungry for more. A little more. And a little more... Crushed by the weight of Riftan's cold armor, she urged him on by rocking her hips faster.
Riftan devoured her flushed body with flickering eyes, his lips aquiver. But soon, he was the one being devoured as Maxi wrapped her legs around him and tightened herself. She surprised herself with her own hunger. Riftan let out a long exhale.
"I swear... The things you do to me."
"R-Riftan."
Maxi looked up in exasperation at Riftan, who appeared to be trying his best to restrain himself. She had wanted him to take her with greater urgency, to crush her like a man blinded by desire as he had done in the past. And so she used her legs to pull him in deeper.
Riftan drew a sharp breath. His restraint snapped, setting his desire loose. And like a horse galloping through the fields, the silver-plated giant began to thrust into her like a madman tearing apart her delicate body. Maxi's hunger grew. Wanting to feel him deeper and deeper inside her, she stretched out her legs and pushed against the sheets.
Riftan had carried her up the stairs with ease just moments ago, but he was now breathing heavily. Her ears went numb at the sound of their bodies bumping against each other and at the creaking of the bed and his armor.
"Maxi... Maxi..." Riftan panted, his voice breaking.
With his face flushed and his eyes clouded with longing, Riftan looked beautiful. When Maxi caressed his face, he pulled her to him by the waist and crushed her lips against his. Like two animals in heat, their bodies came together, sucking, biting, and licking.
"Ahh..."
Maxi writhed as his cold armor pressed her against the soft sheets. He thrust again and again, trying to bury himself deep inside her. But even that wasn't enough. She wanted him deeper still, to fill her completely.
"Dammit, I haven't even taken off my armor."
His convulsions had stopped. He tried to get up, but Maxi impulsively clung onto him when she felt him slide out of her. Her body still throbbed with need. He gazed down at her feverish face with dazed eyes before slowly pulling out. Maxi shuddered as she felt something lukewarm trickle down between her legs, and Riftan gently rubbed her thigh as if to soothe her.
"Just wait. It's not over yet."
"N-No... I-I'm..."
Suddenly overcome with embarrassment, Maxi quickly brought her legs together. Riftan threw off his remaining armor, greedily taking her in with his eyes. After dropping his breastplate, spaulders, and greaves onto the floor, he pulled his tunic over his head.
His broad back glimmered beneath the light streaming in through the windows. Maxi stared transfixed at the bronze muscles covering his body like golden armor.
Male bodies had always frightened her, but Riftan's imposing body, which had made thirty knights cower in fear, did not alarm her. Instead, the sight filled her with a strong urge to touch it.
"Come here." Riftan reached toward her.
He was now sitting on the bed stark naked. As Maxi approached hesitantly, he began to stimulate himself with his hand.
"Climb on top of me."
"R-Riftan, I...."
"I know you weren't satisfied. Let me fill you again."
Riftan parted her thighs and sat her on top of his knees. Embarrassed by the position, she tried to get up, but Riftan had a firm grip on her waist.
He took her breast into his mouth, nipping and sucking at it while grinding himself against her. Feeling faint, she held onto his head and rubbed her cheek against his soft hair.
Panting, Riftan plunged into her. Sharp pain and pleasure coursed through her body as their bodies merged, their limbs entangled like snakes.
"Did you miss me terribly?"
She gazed at him through misty eyes. As their bodies began to pound against each other faster and faster, Maxi feared that her heart would burst.
"Tell me that you did."
"I m-missed you t-terribly," Maxi stammered in a daze.
Her body writhed in anticipation as his body melted into hers. Riftan clenched his teeth and began to thrust deeper. Maxi clung to him tightly.
His hardness relentlessly chafed against her sensitive flesh, mirroring the friction between their sweat-soaked bodies. Though they were pressed so close together that not a hair could have passed between them, Maxi needed him to be closer still. Whimpering, she pressed her quivering body against his.
More, more. A black snake called desire reared its head inside her stomach. She wanted to swallow him whole, for him to possess her, and for her to possess him.
"Maxi... Maxi..." Riftan whispered, his voice shaking.
Maxi gazed at him with misty eyes, hardy able to believe that such a dazzling man was looking at her with such rapture. Tears welled up in her eyes.
-Chapter 37/38-
Ruth galloped out the garden. Maxi followed suit. When they passed through a gate, Maxi saw about thirty guards standing in formation. An elderly, white-haired knight stood at their head. When Ruth approached, the knight turned his horse around.
"I heard some rabid bastard is causing a rucks at the gates," he growled, tapping the sword at his waist. "This old thing was starting to miss the taste of blood."
"You won't be fighting them, Sir Obaron. Your task is to protect her ladyship."
"What?"
The old knight glanced at Maxi with a disappointed look. Maxi suppressed the urge to shrink back and nudged her horse forward.
"Th-Thank you, S-Sir Obaron."
The old knight sheepishly scratched his cheek with a thick finger at her cautious greeting.
"Rest assured, my lady. With me here, those fellows won't be able to cause much trouble."
He then returned to his place at the head of the guards and swiftly led them out of the gates. Ruth galloped after them, signaling with his head for Maxi to follow.
Ruth looked down and addressed them loudly.
"Which among you is the nobleman?"
"It is I, Rob Midahas!" the man on the chestnut horse answered.
He squinted and stared straight up at Ruth.
"Are you the Lord of Anatol?"
"I am a mere servant. Our lady is here on behalf of the lord."
Ruth calmly pointed to Maxi, who was standing next to him. When the stranger's sharp gaze fell on her, she instinctively took a step back. The man curled the corners of his lips into a sneer.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure you've been informed that I am Rob Midahas, the Lord of Kaysa, an estate in Western Livadon. I come to befriend the Remdragon Knights after hearing about their victory over the dragon. I hope you'll welcome me in."
Maxi glanced at Ruth, but he remained standing with his arms crossed. He plainly had no intention of answering the man. Trying to loosen her rigid tongue, Maxi slowly opened her mouth to speak.
"I-I heard... you h-have nothing to p-prove your identity. I c-cannot allow... unidentified individuals t-to enter!"
"We lost them on our journey here. Your cleric can confirm my identity once you let us in."
"A-Anatol does not welcome unidentified g-guests. Th-This is our lord's command, and we cannot d-defy his orders. C-Come back when y-you have new i-identification."
The man furrowed his brows and answered in an irritated voice.
"I can't understand a word you're saying. Let me speak to someone who can talk properly!"
Maxi blanched at the blatant insult. She froze, but Ruth soon stepped in front of her as if to defend her.
"You're speaking to the Lady of Anatol. Mind your manners."
"I only spoke the truth! I can't understand her!"
Maxi clutched at her robe, suppressing the urge to flee. She mustered all her courage to speak once more.
"A-As I've said... C-Come back w-when you have y-your identifications w-with you! I w-will not open the g-gates!"
"We passed through monster lairs to reach Anatol! And you want us, weary travelers, to turn back without rest?"
The man's voice grew more menacing and his attitude more domineering. Maxi shrank back, her lips trembling. With a furious look on his face, the man began to shout even more loudly.
"Is the Lady of Anatol so uncharitable?"
"I-I..."
"I will return with hundreds of knights if you deny me entry now. I won't forget this insult!"
"W-Without identifications, I c-cannot— "
"Your cleric can confirm my identity! I've said that already!"
As the man's demeanor continued to grow more threatening, a familiar sense of dread paralyzed Maxi. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
Seeing Maxi shake, Ruth intervened.
"Stop being so unreasonable! Don't blame us when you're the ones who lost your identification. Do you expect us to allow thirty armed men into our land?"
"Ha! Is Anatol so weak they can't let thirty men enter? I see that without their lord, Anatol is a mere den of cowards."
"How dare you!" Sir Obaron, who had been trying to contain his anger, drew his sword as he yelled in outrage. "Ruth! Open the gates! I'll cut off that arrogant bastard's head!"
"Sir Obaron!"
Ruth turned to give the old knight an admonishing look, then immediately spun around again and stretched his hands into the air. But it was too late. A massive flame hurtled toward the gate with a tremendous roar and hit it with a thud. The rampart shook violently. Maxi shrieked and gripped the nearest wall while the guards retreated in confusion.
Rob Midahas unsheathed his own sword. "You want my head? I'd like to see you try!"
Maxi sank to the floor. Ruth quickly collected himself and pulled her up by the arm to lead her down the rampart. Maxi stifled a scream when she saw that the flames had smashed through the towering gate, allowing Rob Midahas' knights to rush in.
"Shield!" Ruth yelled, his hand outstretched.
Gusts of blue wind created a barrier that blocked the knights. But before long, one of the knights shattered the barrier with a swing of his sword.
"He's a high-ranking knight! Sir Obaron!"
"Leave it to me."
Sir Obaron jumped down from the rampart, roaring at the trespassing knights as he swung his massive sword. The sound of clashing metal pierced the air. Maxi tried to run faster, but her foot caught on a rock, and she tripped.
"My lady!"
Ruth turned back to look at her, but he was too busy creating a barrier to help. Just a few steps away, Sir Obaron was locked in a fierce battle with the intruders.
Ruth and the guards were trying their best to keep the black-robed knights at bay. Anatolians who had come to see what the commotion was about fled in terror when they realized what was happening.
Finally, a guard helped Maxi to her feet, and Ruth called out to her.
"My lady! Take shelter!"
"B-But..."
"Please get out of here! There's nothing you can do—"
Ruth suddenly stopped yelling. Maxi felt a sudden shift in the air. She looked up to see one of the guards on the rampart lowering his bow and shouting something.
"Th-The Remdragon Knights are here! The lord has returned!"
An icy silence swept across the grounds. Just moments ago, the intruders had been charging at the gates, but they were now looking behind them in disbelief. Knights clad in silver armor were thundering down the hill toward them.
When Maxi saw the man at the fore, she sank to the ground in relief. She kept her gaze focused on Riftan, who looked capable of overcoming any obstacle without fear. Though they had spent only three weeks apart, the separation had felt like months.
Riftan reached the gates and appraised the black-robed knights. Beneath his dark, wind-tousled hair, a pair of icy eyes narrowed menacingly.
"I didn't think I'd have guests while I was away. What do we call uninvited guests?"
Riftan raised a hand. The Remdragon Knights swiftly surrounded the enemy, the swords in their hands gleaming brilliantly under the sun.
"Trespassers, sir."
"Thieves, more like."
The knights chimed in as they reined in their excited steeds. Maxi watched the confrontation with bated breath. The black-robed knights, who had seemed so self-assured earlier, now looked uneasy. Riftan spurred his steed to get closer.
"You had the nerve to come to my land and cause a ruckus. For that, I'll make sure to have 'In honor of his boldness, foolishness, and disregard for life' engraved on your tombstone."
Riftan's voice was soft as he made the chilling statement. As he drew his sword, the assailants' faces went pale with fear. Their leader quickly lowered his sword and addressed Riftan.
"I-I am Lord Rob Midahas of Kaysa! A nobleman of Livadon!"
"A lord?"
Riftan paused and raised an eyebrow.
"Your people have offended me by questioning my identity and refusing me entry! This little scuffle got slightly out of hand, that's all!"
"A little scuffle, you say?" said Riftan ominously, taking in the battered gate and the injured guards on the ground.
Rob's face stiffened.
"I-I apologize for letting my anger get the better of me. W-Why don't we end things here? I-I'm sure you wouldn't want things to get more unruly than they have."
"This means war."
Riftan's calm voice sent shivers through the crowd. He slowly approached Rob Midahas, grinning like a wolf baring its teeth. The Remdragon Knights, who had the intruders hemmed in, parted to make way.
Riftan's face betrayed no trace of concern as he continued, "You came to my gates with your men and attacked. What could that mean if not war? In response, I'll cut off your head, ride to your land, and reduce it to ruins."
"D-Do you mean to break the armistice between the Seven Kingdoms? Our king won't forgive you!"
"You lost its protection the moment you destroyed my gate."
Rob Midahas went pale as if he had also sensed impending doom. He hastily made to retreat, but before he could go far, Sir Obaron blocked his path with a sword.
With the panicked look of a cornered rat, Rob Midahas cried out, "I-I have hundreds of knights in Kaysa who are pledged to me! If you kill me, it really will mean war!"
"I very much look forward to it," said Riftan, raising his sword.
Ruth dashed toward Riftan, shouting, "Sir Riftan! You mustn't kill this man if he really is a nobleman. It's best to deal with him after we've confirmed his identity and sent word to Liva— "
"Are you questioning my decision?" Riftan asked, impervious to the sorcerer's urgency.
"War only brings loss. It's best to follow protocol and receive compensation."
"I disagree," Riftan answered coldly. "Protocol? I can just invade his land and pillage everything there."
He seemed unconcerned about the thirty knights before him and the hundreds more he would find in Kaysa. Ruth let out a sigh.
"We truly will find ourselves in conflict with Livadon if we do that..."
Ruth trailed off as he glanced at Maxi, who had been hiding behind the guards.
"Must you sully the eyes of our esteemed ladyship any further? You should show her the essence of a knight's chivalry."
Riftan furrowed his brows and followed Ruth's gaze. When he saw Maxi slumped on the ground, his eyes widened in shock, and his impassive face turned hostile. He glowered at Ruth.
"Hell! Why is my wife here?"
"It's only natural that the lady of the castle should handle disputes while her husband is absent."
Ruth was unfazed by Riftan's wrath. Riftan gritted his teeth. In a flash, he had the tip of his sword on Rob's neck.
"Surrender your weapons and dismount your horses. I'll let you keep your heads if you don't resist."
"L-Let me go! I'll leave immediately and never—"
"You want me to release you after attacking my land?" Riftan angrily cut him off. "You shall either die here, or surrender. Now choose."
Rob frantically assessed the situation. His knights were completely surrounded. Realizing that they stood little chance of victory, he threw his sword onto the ground and dismounted. When his knights followed suit, Riftan signaled to the guards.
"Bind them and toss them in the dungeons!"
Maxi released a sigh of relief, astonished that Riftan's arrival had put an end to the confrontation so quickly. A guard helped her to her feet.
"Are you all right, my lady? Are you hurt?"
-Chapter 36-
After a busy few days, the renovations finally came to an end. Maxi and the servants thoroughly inspected the great hall, which had transformed beyond recognition.
"Is everything to your liking, my lady?" Aderon asked apprehensively.
Maxi nodded, brushing her fingers against the glistening windows. Sunlight streamed in through the glass and illuminated the entire hall.
"I-It's splendid."
Seeing Aderon's face break into a satisfied grin, Maxi found herself smiling as well.
"The castle is practically unrecognizable. Sir Riftan will be surprised when he returns."
Maxi turned around to see Ruth walking down the stairs while scratching his unkempt ashen hair.
"D-Do you think R-Riftan will like it?" Maxi asked nervously.
"Why wouldn't he? He was the one who asked you to redecorate the place."
Ruth's indifference did little to assuage Maxi's worries. She looked at him resentfully as he gave an undignified yawn.
"W-Would it h-hurt you to give a c-compliment?"
"The place is so dazzling that I can hardly open my eyes! The splendor is enough to put me in a trance!"
Maxi glared at Ruth. Ignoring her, Ruth gave himself a good stretch before striding past her. Then suddenly, he came to a stop as if he had remembered something. He looked back at Maxi and the servants.
"I’ve just finished making the reagent for the tree. Would you like to test it out?"
Maxi nodded.
Ruth dramatically extended his arms toward the heavens as if he were being granted some special power, then lowered them again and clasped his hands in prayer. Maxi tried not to laugh at the spectacle.
Soon, however, she noticed a faint light collecting around Ruth. She stared in amazement as the light began to form a small sphere. The soft light flowing from Ruth's hands danced in the air before enveloping the tree. And the ghastly tree slowly began to absorb the light.
Spellbound, Maxi reached out to touch the warm light. The moment her fingers made contact, the light began seeping into her hand. She pulled her hand back, startled. Ruth, who had seen the whole sequence, looked at her in surprise.
"That's unexpected," he said, lowering his arms.
The tree had finished absorbing the light. Ruth touched its trunk as if to confirm something before turning to look at Maxi again.
"It seems you have some mana affinity, my lady."
"M-Mana affinity?"
"It's the primary requirement for anyone who wants to learn magic."
Maxi's eyes widened in surprise. She blinked and stared at her hands. Did he mean to say that she had a gift for magic?
"I-I see."
Maxi's shoulders slumped. Of course. How could she expect to be capable of such an incredible ability? Seeing her disappointment, Ruth smiled faintly.
"But it is a rare talent. You're quite full of surprises, my lady."
"W-What do you m-mean?"
"You're surprisingly short-tempered, prone to exaggeration, competitive, and now, mana affinity..."
Maxi's face flushed with embarrassment, but Ruth grinned and continued.
"I thought you were just a feeble, demure lady when we first met, but you're proving to be quite interesting."
"Th-That didn't sound l-like a c-compliment!"
"It was," Ruth said, a smug smile on his face.
-Chapter 32/33/34/35-
Maxi took the path that led around the garden to reach the stables. After talking to the stablemaster about what was needed for the winter, she left the stables and walked into the spacious garden. The high walls cast chilly shadows. She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders more tightly.
The breeze carried the scent of grass. Loose strands of her hair danced in the wind, tickling her. She absentmindedly brushed them away but stopped when she recalled Riftan likening her voluminous hair to cotton clouds.
When she looked up, she saw the mountains that Riftan had likely traversed to reach the capital. He should have arrived in Drachium by now. She pictured the royal capital alive with festivities, and Riftan dressed in silver armor, standing tall and gallant before the nobles like a hero out of a legend. No one would dare look down on his humble background anymore. Even the noblewomen who had once shunned him would fall for him...
Maxi felt her mood plummet. Her stomach turned as she imagined Riftan surrounded by refined, brilliantly dressed noble ladies in the ballroom of the royal palace. And basking in their admiring gaze, Riftan would begin to regret marrying her. He would realize his mistake in not divorcing her...
"What are you doing here all alone, my lady?"
The voice snapped Maxi out of her unpleasant reverie. She turned around to see two youths in black tunics looking at her with puzzled expressions. Recognizing them as two of the squires she had seen at the banquet, she straightened up. The youths greeted her with their hands on their chests and bowed respectfully.
"No need to be alarmed, my lady. We just wanted to make sure that you were all right."
"I-It's all right. Thank you."
"Were you taking a stroll, my lady?"
"N-No... I was j-just inspecting the castle."
Ulyseon's face turned serious. "We may be inside the safety of these walls, but it's still dangerous for you to wander on your own, my lady. The castle has been seeing more visitors lately, and if an accident were to occur..."
"An a-accident?"
Her voice came out shaky, which in turn sent the youth into a fluster.
"It was not my intention to scare you. I was just concerned... Oh! Would you allow me to escort you, my lady?"
"I-It's all right. I don't want to t-take your t-time..."
"It is an honor for a knight to serve a lady. I may not be a knight yet, but I'm prepared to protect you with my life!"
He cleared his throat and addressed Maxi in a calmer voice.
"In any case, you mustn't walk around alone. If you'd like, I can call the guards to escort you."
"I'm just t-taking a walk... There's n-no need to g-go that far..."
"These walls do not guarantee safety, my lady! If something were to happen, I would never be able to face Lord Calypse..."
Ulyseon's face turned pale at his own words.
"If this w-worries you so, then p-please..."
The squire's face lit up instantly. "Where should I escort you, my lady?"
"I-I was on my w-way to the forge..."
"What a coincidence! That's where we were headed. Allow me to lead the way."
Ulyseon took the lead with a spring in his steps. Garrow shrugged and followed. Maxi hesitated, then began to follow with quiet steps.
During the walk, Ulyseon and Garrow was taking about how great of a knight Riftan was. They turn to Maxi and ask her if she know about her husband’s greatness.
Unsure of how to answer them, Maxi filled the gaps in her memory with embellishments.
"I-I saw Riftan cutting a full g-grown giant in half! T-Ten giants attacked us, and he g-got rid of them a-all in the b-blink of an eye!"
"Ten giant ogres! Did he really?"
"What an incredible tale! Could you tell us more?"
Maxi flinched. She could tell from the squires’ eager faces that they expected an epic tale, but she had already said too much to admit the truth. She desperately racked her brain for heroic tales that bards has told.
Suddenly Maci stopped flailing her arms and froze. She turned around to see Ruth crouching under a tree, scraping moss from between the roots. He stood up with a sack in his hand.
"Mage Ruth!" Ulyseon exclaimed, running toward the sorcerer. "What are you doing here?"
"I am making a reagent for the trees on her ladyship's request," Ruth replied, lifting the sack. "But did I interrupt? It seems she was in the middle of recounting the fierce battle against the ogres."
Maxi blushed from head to toe, wishing she could crumble into dust and be blown away by the wind. Ruth, who had seen her vomit and faint, could call her bluff if he wished. The squires, however, seemed oblivious to her embarrassment and continued to chatter away.
"Yes! We were just at the part where Sir Riftan killed ten giant ogres in the blink of an eye!"
"Ten giant ogres, you say?" drawled Ruth.
Maxi's heart pounded and her eyes darted from side to side as she tried to think of an excuse to leave. Ruth gave a knowing look before continuing with a straight face.
"Then I guess her ladyship hasn't told you about the battle in the mountains."
"Battle in the mountains?" "We were crossing Anatolium when a pack of werewolves charged at us. Now, how many of those beasts were there? My memory's been failing me lately. Lady Calypse?"
"I d-don't remember..."
"Ah yes, there were simply too many to count."
Maxi stood frozen, cold sweat dripping down her back.
"I think her ladyship is better equipped to recount the finer details," Ruth said, smiling.
The youths looked at her expectantly, but Maxi's face was now flushed crimson. She did not have the nerve to concoct stories in front of Ruth. Ruth seemed to take pity on her, for he soon came to her rescue.
"But her ladyship has many affairs that require her attention. We mustn't take so much of her time."
"Y-Yes, I-I do have some m-matters to attend t-to..." Maxi said hastily. She straightened up to leave, but Ruth stopped her.
"That reminds me... I have a message for you. Your tale was so enchanting that I forgot I had news for you, my lady."
"N-News?"
She looked at him distrustfully, half expecting him to start mocking her. Ruth, however, simply pulled out and unfolded a small piece of parchment.
"Sir Riftan used the magical device at the royal palace to send this letter to my tower. He plans to leave the capital as soon as the victory celebration is over. The journey will take a fortnight at most. But at their pace, I expect we'll be seeing them in ten days' time."
Maxi's embarrassment faded at the unexpected news. Beaming, she took the parchment from Ruth to see Riftan's date of departure and travel route.
"Th-Thank you f-for t-telling me. It's t-time for me t-to visit the forge now..."
"Of course, my lady. I am very much aware that you are busy."
Ruth's sarcastic words echoed behind her as she left with quickening steps. The lightness of her feet surprised her. She resisted the urge to hum a tune, conscious of the young squires following behind her.
After completing her inspection of the castile, Maxi returned to her room to organize her list of orders. And as soon as she awoke the next morning, she rushed to the library and asked Ruth to check the list for errors. The sorcerer was fast asleep on the threadbare carpet with books piled on top of his body in place of a blanket. He scowled when she woke him but scanned the list without a word of complaint, using an ink-dipped quill to mark out a few items.
“Let me add a few items.”
Maxi widened her eyes. It was the first time Ruth had suggested spending more money. Curious, she peered at the words he was scratching onto the parchment.
"W-What are you wr-writing?"
"Names of scholars. I'd like to order anything and everything the merchants can find written by them."
Maxi stared at him blankly.
"A-Are you asking me t-to buy p-personal items with the c-castle budget? A-And something so e-expensive and e-extravagant at that!"
"My lady, knowledge is valuable beyond all measure," Ruth said solemnly. "I assure you, these books are not for myself. They're for the library, and anyone is free to come and read them."
Her jaw dropped at his brazenness. Ruth detested seeing visitors in the library. He made no attempt to hide his displeasure even when she, the lady of the castle, entered. In fact, he had practically taken over the library in addition to the castle tower.
"I've n-never seen a-anyone but yourself using the l-library."
Maxi snatched the quill from his hand and crossed out the items on his list just as he had done to her. Startled, Ruth snatched back the piece of parchment.
"I'm the sorcerer of this castle! Improving my skills is for the good of Anatol!"
"I-I knew it! Y-You're ordering these books f-for yourself! A-And... these books aren't e-even b-books of magic!"
"And how would you know that, my lady?"
"I s-spent twenty-two years in a l-library!"
Ruth's blue-gray eyes shook. It was a clear sign that the books had nothing to do with magic. Maxi smiled triumphantly.
"G-Give me that list. We c-can't afford all these b-books!"
"M-My lady!" Ruth cried, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Aren't you worried that your future child will grow up to be nothing but a sword-swinging fool?"
It was Maxi's turn to be shaken. Her face turned red as if someone had poured scalding water over her head. She could almost feel steam rising from her head.
"Ch-Ch-Child? W-What on earth are you t-talking about?"
Heat prickled her eyes. She tried to cool her burning cheeks with her hands, her heart racing at the thought of holding a baby in her arms. As she squirmed in anguish, Ruth grabbed her hands.
"Surely you want to raise your child to be clever and wise?"
"B-B-But the ch-child hasn't even been b-born..."
"It'll be too late by then! Children need knowledge to grow! You must prepare a good environment for them in advance!"
Maxi could not understand the rush but, overwhelmed by the sorcerer's insistence, she could not argue back. Her distracted state provided Ruth with an opening to scribble down a purchase list.
"There. All done."
After filling nearly five full lines with his requests, he returned the parchment to her with a satisfied look. Maxi took it reluctantly.
"You said w-we must c-cut spending..."
"Knowledge is more precious than gold, my lady."
"I’ll put in the o-order for the books."
"Thank you," Ruth said crisply before returning to his book.
-Chapter 29/30/31-
As soon as merchant left, Maxi dashed to the library. Recording the workers' wages alone took her many hours. She was sighing deeply when she heard a rustle. She whipped around to see a man emerging from a pile of books in the corner.
"R-Ruth?"
Ruth scratched his light gray hair and gave her a bleary-eyed look. Maxi stared back blankly, unsure of how to react. He appeared to be sitting atop a collection of precious books. How long had he been there?
"Why has there been so much commotion lately?" complained Ruth, unperturbed by the fact that the lady of the castle had caught him sleeping on the library floor.
"W-We're refurbishing th-the castle..."
"Yes, I know about the castle, but I was asking about you, Lady Calypse."
"M-Me?"
"You've been groaning and muttering to yourself in the library for days. Are you aware that you were disrupting my sleep?"
As she opened and closed her mouth at a loss for words, the sorcerer stood up and walked toward her.
"Is this a ledger?"
Maxi hastily gathered up the mess of papers scattered across the table, but she was too late. Ignoring her attempts to hide the documents, Ruth picked up a few sheets and examined them. He frowned.
"Just how many miscalculations are there?"
"G-Give it back!"
She tried to snatch the papers from him, but he simply turned around and raised them above her reach. He groaned quietly as he examined the contents.
Ruth's mouth seemed to be on the verge of frothing. With narrowed eyes, he snatched away the accounting books she had been hiding behind her back. Her mouth dropped at his insolence. A gentleman would never touch a lady's belongings without her permission. Her face flushed with anger, and she pulled at his sleeve.
"G-Give it b-back! H-How d-dare you...!"
"How much gold have you spent?"
"I-I d-don’t know exactly h-how much…"
"Do you have an estimate?"
She slowly shook her head. Ruth rubbed his temples in undisguised annoyance. She wondered for a moment whether he had the right to admonish her, but the fear that she might have made some grave mistake overrode the thought.
After a long pause, she decided to confess.
"I-I'm n-not used t-to handling such m-matters..."
"Then you should have asked for help!"
He was right. Maxi stared at her toes, feeling like an utter fool.
"H-How much of it is wr-wrong?"
Maxi had to grip the back of a chair to stop herself from falling. Her only wish in refurbishing the castle had been to please Riftan. Realizing that he might fly into a rage instead, she felt the blood drain from her body. Close to tears, she looked up at Ruth with pleading eyes.
"P-Please t-tell me w-what I d-did wrong... I'll c-correct my m-mistakes..."
Ruth rubbed his temples as he pored over the ledger. Maxi searched his face, her head hung low like a child who had been scolded. After inspecting the receipts at length, Ruth sighed loudly and ran a hand down his face.
"I don't even know where to start, my lady. Are these all the receipts?"
"Y-Yes, they are!" she managed to respond despite wanting to crawl into a hole in the ground.
He narrowed his eyes at the pile of parchment, then closed the ledger with a thud.
"It's late. Let us continue tomorrow," he said dourly.
"You c-could show me n-now..."
"Look at the state of this ledger. This isn't something we can take care of in a day."
Maxi heard his teeth grind. There was nothing more she could say. Crestfallen, she nodded.
The next morning, Maxi rushed to the library as soon as she awoke. There, she was greeted by Ruth yawning.
"You're early," he said.
Maxi could tell by his unkempt appearance that he had slept in the corner of the library again. She narrowed her eyes. She had sneaked out of her room at sunrise to avoid being humiliated by Ruth's sharp tongue in front of the servants with barely enough time to wash her face. But lo and behold, the man who had frightened her out of her wits just the previous night was lounging about without a care in the world.
"Let's have a look at the list of purchases first. We must cancel unnecessary orders at once."
Ruth rose from his corner and sat down at the desk. Maxi seated herself across from him, running her fingers through her uncombed hair.
"Th-The m-merchant will c-come th-this afternoon. T-Tell me w-what I sh-should c-cancel, and I'll d-do it."
"Very well," he said, organizing the papers by date.
Maxi clutched her skirt while he inspected the papers.
After Ruth was done inspecting the papers, he pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and drew a blueprint of the castle.
"Now, my lady. Let us try recording the purchases again carefully, without the overpriced items this time."
Maxi eyed at the quill nervously. She had been expecting Ruth to take matters into his own hands.
"W-What if I m-make more m-mistakes..."
"You'll have to keep accounts in the future. If you make a mistake, I'll help you correct it. But you should have a try first, my lady."
Her mind went blank as she looked at the ledger. Unable to recall a single thing she had learned, she began to sift through the receipts in a panic. She had to write down anything she could.
When she managed to compose herself, she began copying down item names and expenditures, starting from the oldest receipt. This time, her records included not only the quantity and cost of purchased items, but also the number of workers hired, their wages, and the length of their contracts.
As the calculations grew more complicated, cold sweat beaded on her skin. She added, added, and added again. But how much was each currency worth? The more she thought about it, the deeper her confusion grew.
After watching her struggle without a word, Ruth intervened with a frown.
"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it seems that you do not know the currency conversions."
"I d-do!" Maxi answered hastily, tightening her grip around the quill.
Ruth gave her a dubious look. She felt her mouth go dry.
"It's j-just that... I've n-never b-bought anything myself... so I g-got a little c-confused..."
Ruth pulls out some coins and taught Maxi about currency conversions.
After a couple of lessons about currency conversions, Ruth suggested that they go back to the ledger.
"We must finish before the merchant arrives."
The merchant was visibly upset when Maxi canceled some of the orders. He tries to persuade her to reconsider, but she stood her ground. In the end he drew up a new statement with a sigh of surrender.
As he pulled out a chair to sit at the table, Maxi sat down across from him and rolled her eyes. His cold remark was at odds with his soft features. She had sensed it earlier, but the sorcerer was far more ill-tempered and sharp-tongued than his face suggested. Though he was nosier and more talkative than Riftan, the two men undeniably both had difficult personalities.
"Please record the transaction in the ledger. I'll help you make any necessary corrections."
"A-All right..."
She obeyed without questioning his right to give her such instructions.
"This calculation is wrong."
"Oh, I'm s-sorry..."
Ruth silently observed her as she scratched away with the quill. After some time had passed, he pressed a thumb to his forehead and tapped one corner of the parchment. When she hastily corrected the mistake, he pointed again to the section below.
"This unit here is wrong."
"I-I'm sorry..."
"And please keep the accounts in greater detail. We want to avoid confusion when they're settled."
"I-I understand..."
"Here, the spelling is wrong. Please refrain from scrawling. These are official records that will be passed down for generations."
Maxi withered. Not even the tutor that Duke Croyso had hired had been so strict. When she finished writing in the ledger, Ruth reviewed the numbers as if he were inspecting her homework.
"This is acceptable," he said haughtily as he closed the ledger, his face brightening as if a great burde had been lifted. "We've seen to all the problems. Now, my lady, I'd like to ask that you not disturb my sleep."
Maxi rolled her eyes again. Did the man plan to continue sleeping in the library? Had Riftan not mentioned that his quarters were in the tower? But it was not her place to interfere.
After a long hesitated, she informs Ruth after other places that needed to be repair and renovation.
Ruth clutched his head, regretting that he had ever intervened.
From that day forward, Ruth oversaw Maxi's bookkeeping. She would enter the library and silently hover over him as he slept in the corner, and he would rise, grumbling that he should never have meddled. Still, he examined the ledger meticulously and advised her on the purchases. Though his advice bordered on nagging, he was of great help, and Maxi found herself turning to him for even the most trivial problems.
-Chapter 28-
"My lady, if I may..."
Rodrigo cleared his throat before continuing.
"Could I trouble you to inform the lord that lunch is ready? The kitchen has been busy since dawn preparing a proper meal for the knights before the long trip."
"C-Certainly!" Maxi exclaimed.
Overjoyed to be given an excuse to see Riftan, Maxi rushed to the training grounds. When she arrived, she halted in her tracks as the knights seemed to be in the middle of a serious discussion.
Maxi, who had been waiting in the back, noticed the discussion drawing to a close and quietly approached Riftan. He turned around with a puzzled expression.
"I told you to take more rest. Is something wrong?"
"N-No, it was t-time for me to r-rise."
She stepped toward Riftan, pretending not to notice the knights stealing glances at her. Riftan looked worried.
"R-Rodrigo said that l-lunch is ready..." she said shyly, feeling her chest tighten. "So I c-came to t-tell you..."
Riftan looked toward the sky to gauge the time by the angle of the sun. He turned toward the knights and called out, "Let us eat first."
The knights dispersed. Riftan wrapped an arm around Maxi's shoulders as they began to walk. Maxi peeked at Riftan's dashing figure standing tall under the bright sun. Dressed in silver armor and a navy-blue tunic, he looked like a magnificent hero who had just strolled out of a temple mural. Maxi understood why his subjects called him the incarnation of Wigrew, the legendary knight who had ascended to the heavens.
"Are you all right?"
"I-I'm fine," she answered, hastily fixing her eyes on the ground.
"You looked like you were in pain the last time we did it."
Her face burned as if it had caught fire.
"I-I feel f-fine..."
"It'd be nice if you'd say that in bed as well," he said, frowning. "Tell me it's fine when I ask for more."
"Y-You shouldn't s-say such..."
Maxi looked around, afraid that someone had overheard them. The knights, however, were far ahead of them. She quickly regained her composure and gave Riftan a stern look.
"Y-You shouldn't say s-such things. W-What if someone hears?"
"So what if someone hears?"
Riftan, who had been watching her impassively, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Oh, my sweet, innocent lady."
He drew her toward him by the waist and rubbed his lips against hers. She shuddered at the coldness of the armor that she felt through her clothes. Just below her ears, her pulse quickened.
"Don't make it so hard to leave."
Once lunch was done, the knights exited the hall and mounted their horses. Maxi went out to the courtyard to send Riftan off.
"I’ll be back soon."
"P-Please b-be careful."
She stood on the tips of her toes to receive Riftan's kiss. Their lips touched lightly before locking together, and he gently pushed his tongue into her mouth to explore its corners. Then suddenly, he sat up straight and led his horse to the front of the party as if nothing had occurred. The knights, who had been watching in disbelief, sighed and followed. Blushing, Maxi watched as they grew smaller in the distance.
After Riftan’s departure, Maxi fell ill and was confined to her bed for two days.
-Chapter 27-
Maxi and Riftan listened to the sound of rain as they lay naked in bed. When desire struck, they locked themselves in a heated embrace, making love until they could not tell whose body was whose.
When they were finished, they bathed and ate the meal that the maidservants had brought to the room. Riftan placed her on his lap and fed her pieces of sweet fruit, cream-topped bread, and delicate pastries. Maxi wondered whether such indulgence was proper, but too exhausted to feel embarrassment, she leaned against his chest and accepted the food from his fingers.
Riftan smiled at the sight. "You're just like a little bird."
And as if he could not resist her charm, he pressed his lips to her cheeks after offering her a sip of wine. She felt herself go weak. Like a mother bear protecting her cub, he did not let go for even a moment. He washed and fed her, then kissed every corner of her body. She had never known such passion and devotion.
An inexplicable thrill surged through her. Not even her own mother had cradled her like this. She felt the urge to throw her arms around him and rub her face against his chest, but she was too exhausted.
"I never imagined that I'd be jealous of a grape," Riftan muttered as he pushed one into her mouth.
She popped the tart fruit between her teeth and swallowed. He licked the juice that trickled down her chin. The sweet feel of his hands on her cheeks and the dance of his fingers on her glistening lips intoxicated her as if she were submerged in a barrel of golden wine. The sensual heat in the room mingled with the damp scent of rain in the air.
"Crush and swallow me like that grape."
He stuck his tongue deep into her mouth. Their entangled tongues passed between their lips, speaking more plainly than any language. Her throat tightened. As a passionate shudder shook her arms, she wrapped them around his neck. He pushed her onto her back.
Pieces of fruit spilled onto the bed as their bodies knocked over the fruit bowl. Riftan's muscular chest, smooth as marble, pressed down on her soft bosom as he licked her juice-stained skin. The sheets, sticky with nectar, wrapped around her body.
"Oh..."
"Mmm..."
Joined in a wet kiss, they rolled around the bed. His mouth smelled of fruit. As their flushed bodies longingly rubbed together, they breathed in each other's sweet breath. Heat simmered in her heart.
Riftan looked into her eyes and pleaded, "Say my name."
"R-Riftan..."
"Again..."
"R-Riftan... Ooh..."
"More... Say my name again..."
She called his name again and again until her voice grew hoarse. At that moment, she existed only to fulfill him. She forgot all sermons on temperance and the virtues of a modest woman. Instead, she felt the joy of knowing for the first time in her life that someone needed her. Enraptured, she thought she might lose her sanity.
It feels so good. He's taken my life and resurrected me.
She looked at Riftan through a fog. Nothing existed in the world but his name.
Unfortunately, the rain began to subside in the evening and by dawn, it had ceased. Maxi squinted at the bright morning sun. She tried to rise, but her limbs gave way as if her bones had evaporated. When she groaned quietly at the dull ache, a large hand began to stroke the length of her back.
"Go back to sleep."
The sharp glare of the morning sun cast stark shadows over Riftan's sculpted face. Maxi watched, transfixed. He had woken up before her and was already dressed and fully armored. Her heart sank.
"A-Are you leaving t-today?"
"We leave at noon. First, we have to prepare weapons and rations for the journey." He lifted her chin and tenderly kissed her swollen lips.
He pulled on a pair of silvery-white steel gauntlets and forearm guards, then picked up his sword.
"I'll come and see you before I leave, so go back to sleep."
-Chapter 26/27-
"E-Enough..." Maxi whimpered hoarsely.
The sky was bright white, covered by a blanket of misty clouds. Milky sunlight seeped in through the windows. It was well past dawn.
Maxi crawled across the sheets to evade Riftan, but her limbs had been depleted overnight. She did not have the strength to pick even a small flower.
"R-Riftan, p-please..."
"Just a little more..."
His breath grazed her between her legs as she buried her face in the sheets. The flicker of the dying fire licked their skin, which glistened with sweat and the essence of their love. Even that faint heat felt like torture.
"It's amazing that you have a part that can receive me," Riftan murmured to himself as he fondled her. "And that I have a part that can connect with you..."
Raised high in the air, Maxi's hips trembled. Her wide-open thighs were stiff and cramped, and her wet, swollen flesh throbbed. She sobbed quietly. Laid defenselessly bare under his scrutinizing eyes, her heart constricted.
"Do you know how beautiful you are here?"
His hand gently parted and stroked her most intimate region. Maxi sank her teeth into the pillow, sure that she would go mad. It felt as if her entire body had melted, leaving only the part that he was stimulating. Tears streamed down her cheeks at the intensity of her climax.
"Maddeningly beautiful..." Riftan whispered, stroking her waist to soothe her.
His deep, husky voice grazed her neck and the back of her ears. Overwhelmed by the sensations, Maxi tore at her hair. His hot breath warmed her sensitive flesh and his teeth nibbled gently on her engorged nub. Every nerve in her body seemed to split.
"I c-can't... Ah...!"
Her hips jutted even higher into the air. Riftan clasped his hands tightly around her buttocks, tasting her before sliding his thickness into her yet again. She lacked the strength to lift even a finger.
His heavy mass pressed her into the bed, which creaked as it shook. Swollen to an unbearable degree, he parted her wet flesh and filled her to her depths. With each thrust, he grew bigger and his movements rougher. Her body, flushed and sensitive, was shaken and pressed into the bed. As her vision dimmed, sounds became indistinct.
Momentarily disoriented by the sensation of plunging down a cliff, Maxi was brought to her senses by the sound of raindrops striking the windows. Riftan lay quietly behind her with his arms wrapped around her. He was still sheathed in her wet passage, sated from continuous release.
Maxi's eyelids fluttered as she lay dazed in his arms. She was unsure of how long they had been asleep. Pressed against her back, Riftan's chest rose and fell gently with each slow breath.
"I want to make love to you until you melt and become one with me."
Riftan wrapped his arms around her, then reached for her breasts and began to knead. The red peaks of her bosom were sore from his persistent attention. When she let out a soft moan, he tilted his head to tenderly suck her lips. Maxi gazed up at him with swollen eyes.
His hair looked as if someone had tried to tear at it. His face, usually as cold as a metal blade, was flushed red and glistening with sweat, while his stern eyes were now clouded with passion. Scratch marks were strewn across his neck and arms. Realizing that it was she who had created those marks, Maxi cautiously touched the angry welts.
Riftan smiled faintly. "Not even the basilisk I fought gave me a scratch..."
"I-I'm sorry..."
Her voice came out as a croak. He lowered his head once more to smack a kiss on her lips. His black pupils seemed to stare straight into her mind, frightening her.
"You... are a dangerous creature."
She wanted to ask what he meant, but she had lost her voice. He kissed her once again, their tongues entwining.
"I knew from the moment I saw you that you'd leave me covered in scars."
His last words were spoken so quietly that she could barely understand them. Slowly, she sank into a deep sleep.
-Chapter 26-
"My lady, the lord has returned. He plans to dine with the knights in the dining hall. Do you wish to join them?"
After hesitating briefly, Maxi nodded. The company of knights was uncomfortable, but she did not want to forgo dinner with Riftan.
She was descending the stairs when she heard angry voices. She paused, then slowly stepped toward the source. Through the half-open door of the dining hall, she glimpsed Riftan engaged in a heated argument with three knights.
Maxi had been hovering by the door, unsure of whether she should enter. Hearing the knights' words, she froze.
Hearing their agitation grow, Maxi turned on her heel.
"P-Please bring my m-meal to m-my room," she instructed Ludis before making her way up the stairs.
Her mood failed to improve even as she dined alone. She wondered whether she would be all right while Riftan was away. Everyone had been kind to her, but perhaps that was because he was with her. She felt uneasy.
Still in her thoughts, a hand suddenly entered her vision. Maxi whipped her head around in surprise, not having noticed Riftan enter.
Riftan bent forward slightly to pull out the pin that held her hair in place. Her thick braid fell heavily onto her back. He undid the braid, the softness of her hair putting smile on his lips. He wound an arm around her shoulders and kissed her earlobe. She shrank in his embrace.
"I need to leave for the capital in a few days. I'll bring back a cartload of gifts."
"A-All right..."
"I'll come home as soon as I can. I'll just attend the ceremony and return immediately..."
He trailed off as his soft, moist tongue parted her lips. Her eyelids quivered. She tasted traces of wine on the tip of his tongue. With his warm palms cupping her cheeks, he gently rubbed his stubbled chin against hers.
There was something distinctive about the way he pursued her. Though his persistence and wildness frightened her at times, his tenderness was sublime. Under his gentle touch, she felt like a delicate wildflower that he had torn from the ground and brought home to treasure.
"Damn it... I really don't want to go," Riftan whispered.
When their lips parted, a string of silver saliva stretched between them. Maxi gazed up at him from beneath trembling eyelids. He took her breast into his hand and pulled her closer by the waist.
"I just want to lock myself in this room and rest for as long as possible."
His passionate voice was thick with fatigue accumulated over three grueling years. Maxi felt guilt and sympathy well up in her heart. She hesitated, then gently embraced his head. As she began to stroke his hair, he stopped peppering kisses on her neck and looked up in surprise. Her voice trembling, she managed to squeeze out a few words.
"Ch-Cheer up."
His obsidian eyes flickered with an indecipherably dark emotion. He looked down at her with a turbulent expression, then suddenly locked his lips onto hers. As their moist breaths mingled, she felt goosebumps rise on the back of her neck.
"You're the one who started this, so don't blame me later," growled Riftan.
He lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. Unafraid this time, she felt a sharp thrill. She was beginning to realize the important place he had come to occupy in her life.
And that was the only thing that frightened her.
-Chapter 25-
Having been stuck in the castle for days on end, she longed to breathe fresh air.
Outside, the heavy rain had diminished to a drizzle. She stepped out to the terrace that connected to the garden, where she observed the gray sky and water-logged grass. Maxi extended a hand past the eaves and felt cold raindrops land on her skin. Though the rain looked light, her sleeve was soaked within moments.
"Why are you out here?"
She lowered her eyes to see Riftan walking across the bleak garden. With a few long-legged strides, he climbed the twenty steps that separated them.
"And with such a thin dress on."
"I-I w-wanted s-some fresh a-air..."
His eyes narrowed under his low-hanging hood. With a cold, wet hand, he brushed away the strand of hair pricking her eyes. Maxi wondered if she should comb back his dark fringe in return. Though it seemed natural for him to touch her, something about doing the reverse seemed improper.
"Put on a cloak if you want to take a walk. What if you catch a cold?"
"I'm s-sorry..."
He raised an arm to embrace her shoulders before realizing that he was drenched. He lowered it again.
"We should go back in."
Maxi followed him into the castle. With each step, Riftan left thick, muddy footprints on the flagstones. As she was silently making a note to have a mat placed at the entrance, she spotted a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. Riftan noticed her puzzled stare and hurriedly hid the flowers under his cloak.
"It's nothing."
"O-oh..."
She averted her gaze. An awkward silence fell. The only audible sound was the plodding of their quiet footsteps until Riftan muttered a curse and held up the flowers.
"I saw these in the fields and brought some back."
Maxi's eyes widened. Blue petals no larger than her pinky nail sat atop a handful of thin stalks. The raindrops on the petals sparkled in the light. Maxi's eyes darted back and forth between Riftan and the flowers. Had he picked them himself?
Riftan scowled. "They looked so pretty in the fields... But now that I take a closer look, they seem ragged."
He hesitated before handing her the bouquet.
"Just throw them away if you don't like them."
"I-I'd n-never."
She quickly took the flowers from him. She touched the wet petals, which gave off a faint scent of rain and grass.
"They're s-so p-pretty..." she whispered.
Riftan's face changed subtly. Perhaps he thought she was only being polite. She opened her mouth and closed it again, not knowing how to express the emotions welling up inside her. Instead, she buried her face in the wet flowers and pretended to sniff them. In that moment, nothing was lovelier than the sight of those flowers drooping from the weight of rainwater. Knowing that Riftan had braved the heavy rain to pick flowers for her, a lump formed in her throat.
"Th-Thank you."
A faint blush tinted Riftan's cheeks. He turned away and trudged down the corridor.
"Let's go back to our room. I need a bath."
She trailed after him, cradling the flowers as if she were afraid of damaging them.
-Chapter 24-
The servants ushered Riftan and his knights to the sauna when they returned drenched late in the evening. After warming himself in the steam, Riftan ate a hearty meal with a generous volume of wine before withdrawing to the room to polish his sword and armor.
He raised the sword to the light and Maxi marveled at the sight.
"It m-must be a fine b-blade."
"I won this in my first sword fighting competition. It's one of the finest swords in all the Seven Kingdoms."
"W-Were you the ch-champion?"
"Of course."
Maxi watched as Riftan sheathed his sword before blurting out, "Th-They say that the ch-champion receives a k-k-kiss from the h-highest-ranking l-lady..."
She trailed off and lowered her eyes, ashamed of letting slip words that should have been left unspoken. Riftan gave her a puzzled look, to which she could only respond with incoherent explanations.
"I once r-read a b-book about a kn-knight and a p-princess. When the kn-knight won the j-joust, the p-princess kissed him on the l-lips. I th-thought it was a w-wonderful s-scene..."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I've never been the romantic hero," Riftan said, remaining composed. "I didn't want a kiss from a woman I didn't even know."
"A l-lady's k-kiss is the g-greatest h-honor a kn-knight can r-receive."
"I used to be a lowly mercenary, so that idiotic mentality is foreign to me. What honor is there in kissing women who would scowl if I so much as took a step in their direction?"
His words seemed sincere. Unsure of how she should react, Maxi flitted her eyes across the room. Riftan leaned his sword on the wall and lay down on the bed with his limbs splayed out. Seeing her body tense, Riftan rolled onto his side and smiled bitterly.
"I won't disturb you tonight, so lie down and rest. You said you were sore."
She nodded, a flush creeping down her neck. He pulled her arm to make her lie down next to him, then extinguished the bedside lamp with a lid. Darkness fell.
Listening to his steady heartbeat, she began to relax.