Under the Oak Tree

Season 1 (1)

Suji Kim

Copyright ©️ 2022 by Suji Kim

Originally published as "Under the Oak Tree" (in Korean) in the

Republic of Korea in 2017 by RIDI Corporation.

English translation copyright by RIDI Corporation, Republic of Korea. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

For information, address RIDI Corporation.

www.ridicorp.com

ISBN 979-11-6882-104-0

Contents

Title Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Also by Suji Kim

Chapter 1

Maximilian Calypse paced around the drawing room.

She was so nervous that she did not realize she was biting her fingernails until the Duke of Croyso entered the room. Hearing his cane strike the floor with a clack, she hurriedly hid her hands behind her back.

“Have I not warned you time and again about that revolting habit of yours?”

“F-Forgive me…”

Hearing the biting chill of her father’s voice, Maxi hung her head low. The duke clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

“Do not embarrass me. You have been fortunate beyond what you deserve. Should your repulsive behavior besmirch our family name, I shall not forgive you.”

Cold sweat trickled down her back. As she opened her mouth to form some semblance of a reply, her spine went stiff with fear.

“I-I sh-shall do as you c-command, F-Father. W-When he comes, I-I will…"

Even without raising her head, Maxi knew perfectly well what sort of expression her father was making, for he wore a grimace of disgust whenever he heard her speak. Scrambling for words, Maxi tried to remain calm.

“I-I w-will persuade h-him t-to remain in th-this m-marriage…”

“Enough!”

The duke rapped his cane on the floor.

“Is it too much for you to talk and behave normally even for a day — no, for even an hour? What kind of man would want a stuttering wife?”

“I… I…”

“Riftan Calypse is no longer a low-class knight! He is now one of the best swordmasters in the continent — a hero who defeated the Red Dragon, Sektor! The church will annul this marriage at a word from him!”

Panting, the duke pressed a hand to his forehead. The mere thought of divorce scandalized him.

“I shall not allow the eldest Croyso daughter to be divorced by some lowborn knight! I will not stand by while my halfwit of a daughter ruins the reputation of this house!”

Maxi bit her lips, words rising in her throat like bile. It’s not my fault. Neither she nor Riftan Calypse had ever expressed a desire to be wed to each other. It was her father who had pushed the marriage through.

As if he had read her thoughts, the duke followed with a scathing remark.

“If only you were half as beautiful as Rosetta… No, if only you were normal! Then I would not have to crawl at that lowborn’s feet to humor his whims!”

At the mention of her half-sister, who was as beautiful as a rose in full bloom, the handful of defiance she had mustered slipped through her fingers like dry sand. The duke took in his daughter’s face, which had turned deathly pale. He carried on without mercy.

“King Reuben may wish to take Riftan Calypse as his son-in-law, but there’s nothing he can do if Calypse refuses! Had you managed to win your husband’s affection, you would not be facing divorce! You have no one to blame but yourself!”

“B-But… h-he left for the c-campaign the d-day after the w-wedding…”

Maxi had hardly had a chance to talk to Riftan, let alone win his affection. She was about to protest when her vision went white for a split second as her father’s cane landed on her side. Gasping for breath, she curled up. The pain was so severe that she could not even scream.

“How dare you talk back to me! Just thinking of that loathsome impediment of yours infuriates me!”

She quickly nodded to avert further blows. The duke’s lips twitched as if readying itself to spew forth another stream of vitriol, but a knock on the door distracted him. He spun around to face the door. The quiet voice of a maidservant came through.

“Your Grace, the Remdragon Knights have arrived.”

“Show them in!”

Her face filled with terror, Maxi raised her eyes at her father. He hissed through his teeth.

“Make it clear to Calypse that the marriage will not be annulled. I warn you once again — if you bring shame upon our house, you’ll pay the price!”

The duke stomped out of the room. Maxi leaned against the window, stifling her breath while waiting for the throbbing pain to subside.

Blinded by the autumn sunlight streaming in through the window, she blinked back her tears. Crying would not make anything better. It would only drag her down deeper into the abyss.

Maxi clasped her shaking hands together. She had to collect herself — divorce was equivalent to a death sentence for a noblewoman. She would not only end up the target of ridicule, but also disgrace her entire family.

It was an unimaginable dishonor, one that could only be counteracted through a duel against Riftan Calypse. But the Duke of Croyso had no sons, and none among his relatives or sworn knights stood a chance against Riftan.

Who could win a duel against a swordmaster who had felled a dragon? Tarnishing her family name seemed inevitable. The duke would never forgive her — a timely accident might kill her before the annulment was complete. She would not put such designs past her father.

I must do everything to prevent that…

But would Riftan Calypse listen to her?

She bit her lips, feeling as though she was standing at the edge of a precipitous cliff. Her marriage had been arranged solely for the convenience of the duke and his knights.

Three years prior, when news had spread across the continent that Sektor the Red Dragon had awoken from hibernation, King Elnuima Reuben III had issued an order for his vassals to participate in a campaign to subdue it.

Duke Croyso had also been bound by law to gather his forces and embark on the campaign. But he had found a way to shift his duty to Riftan Calypse by marrying off his daughter.

Maxi shuddered, recalling the thinly veiled insults whispered among the guests on her wedding day. As a low-class knight, Riftan had had no choice but to obey the duke’s command and make an appearance in the wedding hall. Maxi could not imagine the resentment and humiliation he must have felt that day. He had looked as if he was suppressing something, and she had been terrified by the expression on his face.

If I were half as beautiful as Rose, could I have won his heart?

These thoughts only deepened her torment. Riftan Calypse was a stunning man. Even Rosetta, who often mocked his humble background, could not help but blush when she saw him dressed in the ceremonial attire of his order.

Riftan could have chosen any beautiful lady to court. How could he possibly find a plain-looking woman with a stutter attractive, especially now that his accomplishments had superseded his lowborn status?

Now that he’s likely to marry a princess, my pleas won’t be enough to change his mind.

They had spent a single night together after the wedding. The following morning, Riftan had left for the campaign without a word, and he had never once written to her in his absence. Maxi could not be sure that he even thought of her as his wife.

With her mind clouded by dark thoughts, she had just buried her face in her hands when she heard a sullen voice.

“This is a sight to behold.”

Maxi looked up with a jolt to see a giant of a man glowering at her from the door. She had not heard him enter.

“A wife trembling in fear while awaiting her husband’s return from mortal peril,” the man said sarcastically, approaching her with slow, silent footsteps.

Dressed in silver armor and a navy-blue tunic reminiscent of a monk’s robes, Riftan was far more powerfully built and intimidating than Maxi remembered. Frozen, Maxi held her breath as she watched him draw closer.

“I didn’t expect a warm welcome, but did you have to tremble as if I were carrying the plague?”

His frigid tone snapped Maxi out of her trance. Realizing that she had managed to displease him within minutes of their reunion, blood drained from her face.

“I-I am relieved t-to see you u-unharmed…”

What else could she say? She did not even know how to address him.

Riftan? Too intimate. Sir Riftan? He would surely mock her. Max’s voice trailed off in confusion. Unsettled by his piercing gaze, she took a step back.

She could not fathom why he was looking at her like that. His face hardened further with each step of her retreat. Finally, he yanked Maxi’s arm toward him with a threatening whisper.

“At least pretend you’re happy to see me!”

She froze. Their bodies were so close that she could smell the potent undertones of leather, horses, and sweat. The overwhelming maleness of the scents pushed up memories that she had hidden even from herself over the past three years.

The curious heat radiating from his muscular body. A gaze that seemed to see straight into her mind. He had looked at her with that same look in his eyes that day. Like a hound about to rip apart fresh meat…

Maxi hastily lowered her gaze. She could feel her face burning. There was no stopping the torrent of memories now that the floodgates had opened. Memories of that night washed over her, as vivid as if they had occurred just yesterday.

Chapter 2

“Take off your clothes.”

A bewildered Maxi looked apprehensively at her new husband. Her nursemaid had led her by the hand to the bridal chamber just as the wedding feast was coming to an end. She was sitting on the bed after the maidservants had finished bathing her when he entered the room.

Unable to gauge his intentions, she could only stare at him wide-eyed. She could not comprehend why the man who had ignored her throughout the ceremony would abruptly make such a demand. Although she was vaguely aware that intimate, unspoken things happened between husbands and wives in the privacy of the bedroom, she had never been made privy to the details.

Her nursemaid had impressed upon her that she must follow her husband’s commands and remain still, no matter what he did. Surely removing her clothes wasn’t one of the commands that she was expected to obey without question… She was still in a daze when he pulled his tunic over his head and shot her an impatient look.

Riftan Calypse stepped closer. “Must I remove them myself?”

Maxi let out a gasp. Every cord of muscle on Riftan’s body seemed to be made of steel. His shoulders were twice as broad as hers. His long, thick neck was connected to a solid chest, which tapered down to a taut, slim waist, not unlike that of a graceful panther.

Maxi had heard that Riftan was a giant even among the knights, but to see him standing before her eyes was overwhelming. Her mouth went dry. A few blows from her father had caused her unbearable pain. Would she survive if a man like Riftan decided to strike her?

“You’re looking at me as if you’ve seen a monster.”

Maxi flinched. His tone was frosty. He crossed the distance to the bed with a single stride and looked hard at her. Maxi’s line of vision was filled entirely by his body, which gleamed bronze in the glow of the flames dancing in the fireplace.

“Do you find me so undesirable?”

“Ah… I-I…”

He leaned over her. Two black pupils embedded in a near-flawless face gave off a frightful glint. His mouth, clenched shut, twisted into a cynical smile.

“How could I, a lowly knight, expect to please the proud daughter of a duke?”

Maxi trembled uncontrollably at his contemptuous tone. As his wife, she was his possession and at his mercy. He had the right to flog her and subject her to the cruelest of punishments if he so wished. Realizing that she had earned his scorn, she broke into a cold sweat.

“Come. Fulfill your marital duties.”

Maxi wanted to ask what her duties were, but the question never left her lips. She kept her gaze locked at his feet as his body cast a dark shadow over her. A long, calloused finger reached down to lift her chin. There was something subtle in his gaze that she could not read.

“A marriage is annulled if it is not consummated. Do you wish to leave me?”

She trembled, feeling as if she was drowning in the depths of those dark pupils. This brought yet another sneer to his lips.

“Speak now if you want me to dress and leave.”

“…”

“I won’t stop once we begin.”

Maxi’s mouth went dry. Her father would never forgive her if she let him leave. Remembering that they had never had a choice to begin with, she squeezed her eyes shut and began to unclasp her belt with shaking fingers.

She feared her father’s blows far more than the shame that she would suffer at the hands of this strange man. Should she fail, her father would not stop at a beating. He would punish her brutally and send in another knight to this very room in a matter of days. She was nothing more than a tool for her father’s convenience.

Maxi removed her jewelry one by one and set them next to the bed in suffocating silence. The only sound in the room was the crackling of burning firewood. Riftan’s gaze bore into her. She pulled down the straps of her linen dress and removed her arms from the frilly sleeves.

The night air felt cold against her bare back and shoulders. Not daring to expose herself further, she stopped undressing, clutching the dress to her bosom. Seeing her hesitate, Riftan knelt on the bed and pulled her dress down.

“W-W-Wait…”

The dress slipped off her body before she could stop it. She desperately clutched at her skirt. Riftan grew impatient.

“Keep your hands away.”

“W-Why a-are you p-pulling…”

She gazed up at him in confusion. His face was concealed in shadow, silhouetted against the light. Being unable to see his expression only intensified her terror.

“Do you want me to leave? Make up your mind.”

Maxi stifled her sobs. As she reluctantly lowered her hands, the dress slid to her waist. Riftan pulled it down further and flung it on the floor, sending shivers up her spine.

“There’s no turning back now.”

His deep voice chilled Maxi’s heart. His rough, warm hands caressed her tense body. She pushed him away instinctively, only to end up caught more firmly in his embrace as he locked an arm around her waist. As skin touched skin, his body exuded an unfamiliar heat that made her shudder for a reason she could not explain.

“N-Not so c-close…”

He carried on as if he had not heard her stammering plea, leaning forward to brush a kiss on her breast. Maxi’s eyes widened in shock.

Warm lips swept across soft skin. A shiver coursed through her body at this new sensation. At the sight of him burying his face in her bosom like a newborn babe, her mind went blank.

“Relax.”

Using his calloused palm, he stroked her back, which was paralyzed with fear. His damp breath gave her goosebumps.

Rubbing his chin on her soft skin, he slid a hand under the garment that was covering her waist. Maxi jumped in shock, her lips quivering. She had never imagined that a man’s hand would intrude on this region of her body.

“W-What are y-you—"

“Stay still. You’ll get hurt without warming up.”

Maxi’s legs struggled helplessly. She had only ever exchanged a few greetings with this man, and now — now, here he was, touching her most intimate parts so casually. She could not believe it.

“P-P-Please, d-don’t…”

She grasped his thick shoulders as if to plead with him. It was his turn now to quake and quiver. Her hands burned when she touched his firm, smooth skin as if she had wrapped them around a red-hot iron.

Riftan’s lips moved slightly. But instead of words, Maxi received a rough kiss. He tasted of something savage and untamable. She was still trying to make sense of what was happening when he removed the last piece of clothing left on her. She screamed — but even that was swallowed by a kiss.

“Damn it…”

He let out a series of curses and moans. Maxi gasped for air like a fish out of water. He was encroaching on parts of her body that she had never even known existed.

She thrashed her legs against him, but they were soon weighed down by the bulk of his unyielding body. She was trapped like a helpless animal caught between the jaws of a wolf.

“Damn it, I can’t hold back any longer…”

He muttered to himself impatiently, his fingers entering her deeper still. Maxi held her breath. She had long forgotten her nursemaid’s instructions about dutifully submitting to her husband’s will. Under his touch, her body twitched and jerked like a fish gasping for air, overcome by unthinkable sensations.

“N-No! D-Don’t… Oh!”

It was futile to struggle; there was no chance of escape from his rough kisses and caresses. She tore at the pillow.

She could not believe that something so grotesque was happening. Her eyes felt as if they were on fire, and her mind spun.

What’s happening to me?

Chapter 3

“This will hurt a little.”

After what seemed like a lifetime, Riftan’s hand stopped. Maxi sank into the bed, her limbs hanging limply as she tried to catch her breath. Her body had been so tense that, drained of strength, she could not struggle anymore. Riftan undressed completely and wrapped an arm around Maxi’s waist, lifting her up.

Their warm bodies touched. Only then did Maxi realize that they were both slick with sweat.

His back shone a reddish gold in the glow of the dim light, reminding her of the time she had sneaked into a blacksmith’s workshop and watched how they cast statues out of molten gold. Was this how it might feel to have bubbling metal poured over one’s body? She felt her body dissolve as if submerged in a crucible of liquid gold.

“Take a deep breath.”

His voice had become so husky that it was hard to make out what he was whispering. His lips grazed her earlobe, sending chills down her spine. Holding onto his sinewy arm, she allowed her legs to open without thinking. Riftan promptly paired his hips to hers.

“Ah…!”

A dull pain radiated through her lower body before she could grasp what had happened. She struggled, terrified. He weighed her body down with his own to stop her from breaking free, then nibbled at her lips. Her breasts pressed flat against his rugged chest, she felt him enter deeper. Close to tears, she scratched at his arms.

“I-It… hurts…”

“Too tight…”

Droplets of sweat trickled down his neck and onto her face. As she writhed in an attempt to flee, he quivered slightly and used his two hands to secure her waist in a firm grip. A deep line creased his forehead.

“Just… stay still…”

“H-hurts… It h-hurts…!”

“Don’t move, damn it— ugh!”

She felt his body tremble. She held her breath as he crushed her in an embrace. As if he could not hold back any longer, he began to move rhythmically. Each movement produced a sharp pain that drew a faint moan from her.

Her body rocked like a boat on turbulent water. Her mind sank into miry depths, her knuckles turning white from gripping the sheets. What was he doing to her?

“Damn…”

At long last, he released a strangled moan before collapsing on her. His body radiated so much heat that had the air been just a little cooler, it would have let off steam. Panting, Maxi could see that his shoulders were also rising and falling rapidly. She felt a strange sense of emptiness. Eyelids aflutter, she stared blankly at the ceiling. What had just happened to her?

“Why are you crying?”

It was only then that she realized she was crying. She tried to cover her face, but a wet tongue began to crawl across her cheek. He cupped her face so she could not turn away and hissed through his teeth.

“Don’t look away from me.”

His dark eyes flickered with intense emotion. The hairs on her nape stood up. He continued to pelt her tear-streaked temples and cheeks with kisses.

“You’re now my wife. There’s no turning back, whether you like it or not.”

A hand reached into her hair to pull her into a kiss. There was little she could do but let it happen. Again and again…

When she woke up, it was well past noon, and Riftan had already left for the campaign. She learned from her nursemaid that a cleric had come to inspect the blood on the sheets and declare the marriage valid. She also learned that the consummation of marriage was a rite of passage for newlywed couples.

That was all that had transpired between her and Riftan. She had lost her virginity, and he had left for the Lexos Mountains in the duke’s stead. It was difficult to believe that they were man and wife — even at that moment, with him standing before her eyes.

Lost for words, she stared silently at his stormy face. Her ears rang with echoes of her father’s voice, threatening her with all manner of punishment should Riftan Calypse divorce her. Her lips, however, were sealed shut. What could she possibly say? He was a stranger to her — a husband in name only.

“For heaven’s sake, stop shaking!”

Riftan yelled. Maxi flinched and took a step back. He tightened his grip on her arm and closed the distance between them again.

“Do you find me so horrendous? Have I come back a monster?”

“I… I…”

He ran a hand through the thick, shaggy hair that covered his eyes, glaring at her. Her vision blurred. Far from completing her mission — to persuade him not to divorce her — she had managed to offend him less than five minutes into their reunion. Her lips twitched.

I need to say something. Anything. Please…

“I, I… was m-merely n-nervous and… I d-didn’t know w-what t-to say…”

Her cheeks burned red with shame. Tears welled up in her eyes. But this was not the time to burst into tears — that would only enrage him. She searched desperately for words.

“Y-You’re n-not a m-m-monster… I-I-I’m j-just n-nervous… and c-c-can’t stop sh-shaking…”

Her tongue failing her more than usual, she could not bring herself to meet his eyes. The mission had been hopeless from the start. How could she possibly persuade him when she had this dreadful impediment?

The burning flush crept up to the tips of her ears. She hung her head in shame, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Perhaps she would be better served by keeping her mouth shut; a proper woman would not stutter and shake like a halfwit.

“Damn it all…”

She flinched at his quiet cursing. Her father had been right — there was not a single man in the world who would desire her as his wife. Asking him to turn down a princess’s hand in marriage would be ludicrous.

Overcome by a feeling of helplessness, she felt her eyes prickle with tears. At that moment, something cold touched her cheek, snapping her out of her thoughts. A steel gauntlet was cupping her face.

“Open your mouth.”

Unable to grasp his intentions, she gazed numbly at the pair of black pupils that hovered a hair’s breadth from hers. Riftan sighed as if his patience was being tested once more. He pushed her chin down and forced her jaws open.

A soft, wet tongue inserted itself into her mouth, causing her yet another shock. She found herself gripping his arm to steady herself.

Biting his lips, he muttered in annoyance. “Should’ve taken off my armor first…”

It happened so quickly that she had no chance to brace herself. She stood there uneasily until he pushed her onto the sofa behind her. Pressing a knee into the side of her thigh, he removed his silver gauntlet with a deft movement.

The long, thick fingers that emerged from the gauntlet touched her cheeks tenderly. Her hands clutched his tunic as if they had a mind of their own. Again, the man pressed his lips to hers while removing the other gauntlet. A warm hand dug into her hair and roughly grasped the back of her head.

His tongue twisted and tangled with hers, roving over her teeth. She found it harder and harder to breathe. She shoved at his chest, but he clamped down harder on her lips.

“Just a little more…”

Her heart skipped a beat at his pleading voice. Warm hands slid over her face and neck, stroking the curve of her back before they found her bosom. When he felt her squirm with embarrassment, he pulled her in by her waist and laid her down on the sofa. Then without delay, he pulled her skirt up.

“R-Riftan…!”

This time, she understood what he wanted at once. In a panic, her eyes darted toward the door. How could he do this in the middle of the drawing room — and in broad daylight, no less! — where someone could burst in at any moment?

But Riftan seemed unperturbed. He nibbled on the back of her neck, pressing his body against hers. When she felt his hardness between her legs, she cried out in shock. He began to rub against her slowly. With each movement, the steel cuisse covering his powerful thighs brushed against her, the cold metal raising goosebumps on her skin.

Unable to bear it any longer, Maxi shut her eyes tight. Then suddenly, Riftan sprang up and covered her body with his cloak. She realized that someone was watching them. A man dressed in the same armor as Riftan was standing at the door with a stunned expression on his face.

“What are you looking at, you little rat?!”

Chapter 4

Maxi leaped to her feet at the sound of Riftan’s fierce roar. For a split second, the blond man at the door seemed taken aback by the intensity of Riftan’s ire, but he growled back in kind before long.

“How could I have known you’d be engaged like this in the drawing room, Commander? I assumed you would hear me approaching right away as usual. I simply didn’t see the need to knock.”

“Get out!”

Riftan’s bellow turned Maxi’s face white as a sheet. She dreaded what was to come after the man left the room. She sent a pleading look to the man at the door, but he simply muttered curses through gritted teeth and spun around.

“A carriage is waiting for you outside, Commander. You said you didn’t want to stay a moment longer at Croyso Castle.”

“Keep it waiting, then.”

Struck dumb, the man scowled before letting out an exasperated sigh. “Please be quick, Commander.”

The man threw Maxi a displeased look before exiting the room, the door slamming behind him.

Maxi studied Riftan’s face for signs of anger. He scratched the back of his head, then shot her a fierce look. She withered under his intense stare, and he scoffed at the sorry sight.

“I won’t pounce on you again, so no need to tremble like that. Hell, I never even planned to jump on you here.”

She dared not raise her head. Instead, she stared at her clasped hands as if she were trying to bore a hole through them.

Riftan rose from the sofa and straightened out his disheveled clothes.

“You heard him, didn’t you? A carriage is waiting. It’s leaving soon.”

Maxi felt the blood drain from her body. He had tried to ravish her only moments ago, and now he was speaking of leaving. She had not yet managed to convey a single coherent thought to him, let alone persuade him.

“B-But…”

In her panic, she desperately clutched at his tunic without noticing the state of her own rumpled clothes.

“C-could w-we t-t-talk for a m-moment…”

“There’s no time to lose. Get the servant to pack your things. We’ll talk in the carriage.”

Maxi had been shaking with fear, but now a puzzled expression dawned on her face. She repeated his words hesitantly.

“M-My th-things?”

“Yes. Your things. Do you not have things to bring with you?”

She blinked, still not understanding. A great sigh escaped Riftan, who deftly adjusted her clothes into some semblance of propriety. He hoisted her up, then called to the maidservant waiting just outside the door to pack her bags. Even after hearing his order, Maxi could not believe that he really intended to take her with him.

“Pack only what you need. We can’t dally too long.”

“Th-there’s n-not much t-to take. J-Just a f-few…”

“Good. We’ll leave now, then. If you need anything, you can find it in my estate.”

Riftan sent the maidservant away and led Maxi out of the drawing room. She almost had to run to keep up with his giant strides. Everything was moving so quickly that she did not have the faintest idea of what was happening.

“Y-Y-Your e-estate…?”

“Why? Does it amaze you that a lowly knight holds land of his own?”

He glowered at her over his shoulder, voice dripping with sarcasm. “King Reuben bestowed an estate upon me when I became a knight, along with a castle that should have become your home after our wedding.”

Maxi only grew more confused. A castle that should have been her home? But Riftan seemed uninterested in explaining further. He was already striding down the staircase that led to an expansive garden. Next to the colossal fountain stood an extravagant carriage pulled by four horses. An entourage of fifteen or so knights stood guarding the carriage.

Their boisterous voices died down when Riftan and Maxi approached. Some of the men threw furtive glances at Maxi, who stood awkwardly behind Riftan. She felt her cheeks burn under their curious gazes.

“What are you waiting for? Get in the carriage.”

“B-But… Fa-Fa-Father is w-waiting f-for me. I-I n-need his p-p-permission…”

Riftan’s face hardened at the mention of the duke. Tightening his grip on her arm, he dragged her toward the carriage.

“You are my wife. Why should I seek permission to take you with me? Your father has no right to interfere.”

With that, he lifted her up and placed her in the carriage, where she sat in mute astonishment. My wife… Did that mean he didn’t intend to divorce her? She could not untangle the thoughts jumbled in her head.

“Go!” Riftan shouted out of the window, seating himself across from Maxi.

The carriage rattled to a start. Still in disbelief, Maxi watched as Croyso Castle shrunk into the distance. She had run through dozens of scenarios in her head as she pictured their reunion, but none of them had prepared her for this.

Why is he taking me with him?

She stared dumbfoundedly at her husband, who was taking in the passing scenery with one arm draped over the windowsill. He looked calm and composed. Could this be the same man who had rained blistering remarks and kisses on her before bounding out of the castle, dragging her with him?

She recalled her father’s words.

King Reuben has offered him the princess’s hand in marriage. He will not let such an opportunity slip by!

Duke Croyso had drilled those words into her head. But he was not the only one who had assumed that Riftan would marry the princess.

A renowned sorceress, Princess Agnes had fought alongside Riftan in the campaign against the Red Dragon. Two warriors falling in love after sharing the thrill of the battlefield was an irresistible piece of inspiration for the bards, who wasted no time in composing and performing the romantic tale throughout the city. All who had heard news of the princess and knight’s victorious return were anticipating a royal wedding.

Maxi herself thought that divorce was inevitable. Even the cleric who had officiated their wedding would not have disagreed. Everyone knew that Duke Croyso had strong-armed Riftan into marriage, and Riftan had every right to demand a divorce.

So why…?

Maxi stole a glance at Riftan’s finely sculpted features. His tousled hair sat splendidly atop his chiseled forehead, rippling in the gentle breeze blowing in through the window. His lustrous, golden-brown skin gave him an exotic appearance. The arduous campaign had put a sharp edge on his naturally stony face, giving him a forbidding air.

Maxi had never seen Princess Agnes in person. Rumor had it that the princess was a remarkable beauty with brilliant golden hair and deep blue eyes. Maxi imagined that standing together, Riftan and the princess would look like a work of art.

Her attention turned to her own reflection in the carriage window. A broad, round forehead and a small, low-bridged nose dusted with brown freckles. Large, round eyes that seemed to throw her features off balance. Wavy hair twisted into a single braid, stray strands sticking out like pieces of straw.

She could only think the worst. It was impossible that Riftan really wanted her as his wife. There had to be a catch. A secret design, perhaps. What was he planning to do with her?

As if he sensed her misgivings, Riftan whipped his head around to look at her. Shriveling before his piercing look, Maxi averted her eyes. She must have done something to displease him, for he began to curse.

“Do you find me so unbearably repulsive? At least try to hide it! I don’t have the slightest intention of jumping out of the carriage to spare you the trouble of my company!”

“Y-Y-You aren’t r-repulsive. I-I n-never s-said…”

“Then do something about that dreadful look on your face!”

Maxi’s hands flew up to cover her face. It was true that she felt uncomfortable and afraid in his presence, but she had not realized that her expression so clearly betrayed her feelings. Knowing that her face had angered him, she was at a loss for what kind of expression she should wear.

Riftan sighed. “You must realize that we’re not like other married couples.”

Maxi felt cold sweat beading on her forehead.

“I don’t know much about you,” he continued. “And you don’t know much about me. But you are my wife, and that means I am to spend the rest of my days with you. How can I treat you as my wife if my mere presence is enough to make you tremble like a leaf?”

“Th-The rest of y-your d-days… w-with m-m-me?”

Seeing her surprise, his features twisted into a frown.

“We were married three years ago. We’re man and wife. Aren’t couples supposed to live together for the rest of their lives?”

She looked at him as if he had suddenly grown another head. She could not believe her ears. Did he genuinely want her to be his wife? Or was he lying for some ulterior purpose? Perhaps he was mocking her, thinking that she had not yet learned of his engagement to the princess. Increasingly distressing thoughts filled her mind.

Chapter 5

“I may be a man of low birth, but I hold the vows of marriage sacred,” Riftan snapped at a perplexed Maxi. “It astounds me that the daughter of a duke would show such utter contempt for our vows.”

“C-Contempt?”

“If not contempt, then what is it? You married me, yet you’ve disregarded my existence all this time. Do not expect that I will tolerate any more of it!”

Dismayed, Maxi could only stare at him. How could he accuse her of such a thing? He had left the morning after the wedding without a word!

“I-I’ve never disregarded y-you! You’re th-the one wh-who…”

“Enough! As Lady Calypse, you should have left for my estate after the wedding night. Yet for three years, you have chosen to remain in your father’s opulent castle!”

Riftan gave a loud snort.

“Then again, how can I expect the daughter of a duke to give up her standing for the life of a half widow, waiting for the return of her husband’s corpse?”

Taken aback, Maxi could not think of a retort to his accusations. The words he was uttering were incomprehensible to her.

“H-How c-could I have left f-for your e-estate? I d-didn’t kn-know w-where it was. Y-you d-didn’t t-tell me a-anything…!”

“Enough with the lies! I made every preparation for you to come and live on my land before I left for the campaign. In the event of my death, you would have inherited the estate! A duke’s daughter may not care for a paltry piece of land, but it is a place I hold dear. And it was your duty to be there, yet you left it neglected.”

His eyes blazed with anger. He did not seem to be lying — there was no reason for him to invent tales. Maxi gulped.

“I-I didn’t kn-know… Y-You d-didn’t say a w-word…”

“My men told me you refused to leave,” he said, his voice bitter. “Spare me the excuses. For three years, I have known precisely what you think of me. And why are you trembling, damn it? Are you afraid I’ll give you a beating?”

“I-I’m s-sorry. T-truly, I kn-knew n-nothing of it. I awoke th-that morning to f-find you g-gone… N-No one ever t-told me.”

He narrowed his eyes as if to assess whether she was telling the truth. Like a prisoner awaiting judgment, she waited for his next words. A few moments later, he spoke in a softer tone.

“Even if that were true, you should have left for my land. A wife’s duty is to take care of her husband’s house. If that didn’t occur to you, I can only take it to mean that this marriage is worthless to you.”

Again, she could think of no reply. Their marriage was not as meaningless to her as Riftan imagined. Still, it was true that she had not wholeheartedly accepted the arrangement. She had simply thought that they were victims of her father, and their marriage, an unavoidable sacrifice. Had Riftan been sincere about their marriage all along?

“What were you going to do if you were pregnant?”

“P-P-Pregnant?”

Hearing the unexpected word, Maxi looked up with a start. The corners of Riftan’s mouth twisted.

“It was possible that you were. I performed my duties to the fullest that night, did I not?”

His sardonic tone drained her face of blood. The events of that night remained a harrowing and shameful memory in her mind. She was now aware that every marriage required consummation, but still, her whole body shook when she recalled the acts of that night.

Riftan, however, spoke of their wedding night as if it had been a trivial affair. Maxi trembled with renewed dread. Seeing this, Riftan’s face contorted into a scowl, and he slammed his fist into the wall of the carriage.

“Don’t make that face! As if the thought of having my child sickens you!”

But his fierce growl was cut short as he leaped out of the carriage, one hand on the hilt of his sword. Maxi screamed.

“Commander! Ogres!”

“I know! Cast a shield around the carriage!”

After shouting orders, Riftan turned to Maxi.

“Whatever happens, do not come out!”

He slammed the door shut without waiting for an answer. A thunderous roar shook the ground. Maxi clapped her hands to her ears.

Thud, thud.

With every tremor of the earth, the carriage shook.

She curled up into a ball on the floor, not daring to look out of the window. She had heard rumors that monstrous creatures had been spotted near the dukedom of late, but she had not expected to encounter one within an hour of leaving Croyso Castle. Her entire body shook.

“Stop the ogre at once!”

Hearing urgent shouts coming from outside, she swallowed her sobs. The carriage shook violently. The knights’ cries mixed with the eerie shrieks of something inhuman, creating terrifying echoes. Maxi buried her face in her skirt.

Thump, thump. The dull sound of something striking the carriage. Maxi looked up, fearful that the ceiling would come crashing down. Then she started in shock — an enormous eye, green and bloodshot, was staring at her through the window.

She screamed and leaped to the other side of the carriage, pushing her back against the wall. The world turned upside down, and her body fell backward. She reached for the wall to steady herself, but her fingers found the doorknob instead. The door flung open. She tumbled out of the carriage and crashed to the ground.

Pale with terror, Maxi scrambled to get back to the safety of the carriage. But her legs were paralyzed with fear. She desperately looked around for help, but the others were busy fighting the ash-skinned giants. She would have to find her own way to safety.

She began crawling toward the carriage when she saw an ogre lumbering toward her, stomping its enormous feet. She shrieked at the top of her lungs. Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light, and the ogre fell flat on its back.

“My lady! You must get inside at once! There’s a shield protecting the carriage. It’s safer in there!”

A hand tugging at her shoulder snapped Maxi out of her daze. Startled, she turned around to find a lean man staring her down.

“Mountain ogres, my lady. Fortune frowns on us, but with Sir Riftan here, we have nothing to worry about. Please go back in!”

“I-I didn’t m-mean to come out. I-I was th-thrown…”

Stammering, Maxi tried to explain. Riftan’s stern order forbidding her to come out echoed in her ears. She had not intended to get in their way.

“Th-the c-carriage w-was sh-shaking, and…!”

“My lady! Get inside!”

The man cut her off impatiently. She stopped speaking, wincing at his irritation. He was right — this was no time for making excuses. After collecting herself, she had begun climbing back into the carriage with unsteady steps when she heard another thud.

She turned around to see blood spurting like a fountain out of the cloven torso of an ogre. Maxi clapped a hand over her mouth. Her stomach had become tense with anxiety over the past few days, and it now twisted painfully. Something sour rose in her throat.

She attempted to push the liquid back down but to no avail. Watery bile splattered on the floor, and her throat burned.

“My lady!”

Alarmed, the man wound an arm around her heaving shoulders. Maxi panted and clutched her stomach, hot tears prickling her eyes. It felt as if something was tearing her guts out.

“Heavens… Are you all right, my lady?”

Maxi gasped for air. She thought that the pats on her back might calm her, but her nausea would not subside.

“What happened?!”

Hearing Riftan’s concerned voice, she managed to look up. He was standing in front of the ogre’s cloven corpse. Without realizing what she was doing, she began backing away from him. He stepped toward her. With each stride, he left a dark red footprint on the ground. The long, sharp blade of his sword gleamed blue, blood trickling down from its edge. His armor, silver-white mottled with dark blood, gave him a ghastly appearance.

In her retreat, Maxi lost her balance and stumbled. She put a hand on the carriage to steady herself. Riftan’s face went hazy, warping like smoke before her. The world spun. Her vision dimmed, and sounds became indistinct as she sank into the dark depths of unconsciousness.

Chapter 6

With the fall of the Roemian Empire — conqueror of the western kingdoms whose rule once reached the Southern Continent — came the age of lords.

The empire was split into the Seven Kingdoms: Wedon, Balto, Dristan, Osiriya, Sykan, Arex, and Livadon. Kings sought the loyalty of their vassals to protect their territories, and vassal lords strove to bolster their armies with ever greater numbers of knights and sorcerers.

Duke Ezion Croyso, Maxi’s father, was no exception. The first Duke of Croyso had been one of the lords of Wedon who had successfully seized the rich lands that had once belonged to Roem’s imperial family. Over the generations, the Dukes of Croyso joined dozens of wars to secure fertile lands and tens of thousands of serfs.

But thirty years prior, the Seven Kingdoms had signed a ceasefire to fight off the increasing numbers of monsters that had started to flood the lands. As part of the agreement, Duke Croyso had been pressured to return the territories he had annexed back to Dristan. Unwilling to let half the dukedom slip through his fingers, Duke Croyso soon devised a fitting solution. He would strengthen the legitimacy of his rule by marrying a princess of the old Roemian Empire.

He succeeded in finding and marrying a maiden of Roem’s fallen royalty. The maiden’s name was Arian Roem Girtha and, at the time, the duke found her a satisfactory match.

Arian was a beautiful and virtuous woman, dutiful and docile. But above all, she was a direct descendant of the great House of Roem, which had once ruled all the land under the sun. With Arian as his wife, the duke managed to extricate himself from territorial disputes, much to his great satisfaction.

But before long, he encountered that age-old problem of noblemen — the matter of heirs. Like all other lords, the duke longed for an heir who would inherit his titles, vast lands, and Croyso Castle. Yet even after six years of marriage, Arian could not to bear him a child, with every pregnancy ending in miscarriage. The duke grew exceedingly impatient.

He devoted all his efforts to securing a healthy heir, from enlisting the help of high-ranking clerics to seeking out sorcerers, but the decade-long struggle yielded nothing but frustration.

Then at long last, as if God had answered his prayers, a healthy child was born.

Unfortunately, the child turned out to be a girl.

His hopes dashed, the duke became despondent beyond words. And by the time the girl was two or three years old, a violent rage had taken root in him, for the girl was not only utterly useless — she also had a stutter.

He abandoned what little expectation he had had for his daughter. He had hoped to marry her off to a prince of Wedon to secure an heir from their union, but he would never allow a child with an impediment to be his heir. It was his firm belief that only an immaculate, healthy male child could honor the Croyso name and legacy.

Arian died without giving birth to a male heir. Repeated cycles of pregnancy and miscarriage had drained the life out of her. And the duke, who needed an heir carrying the royal blood of the Roemian imperial family, wasted no time in marrying one of Arian’s cousins.

To his dismay, his second wife died of illness, leaving only a daughter behind. As rumors spread that the House of Croyso was cursed, none among the Roemian imperial bloodline would agree to marry their daughters to the duke. He had no choice but to pin all his hopes on his second daughter, Rosetta.

Unlike her older sister, Rosetta was beautiful, intelligent, and outstandingly talented. If he could secure an heir by marrying her off to the son of a prestigious family, he would be able to preserve the pedigree of his house and maintain his rule over his vast territory.

To that end, he spared no pains nor expense. The most distinguished tutors, hundreds of servants, dazzling clothes, sparkling jewels… Anything Rosetta wished for became hers. The duke did everything in his power to make her the most desirable bride in Wedon.

As for his useless daughter Maximilian, he wasted no time on her. She was the least of his priorities. As a matter of fact, she would have been better off had her father forgotten that she existed at all. But from some point in time, the duke began to see his eldest daughter as a thorn in his side, for most nobles were averse to a match with a family that had produced flawed offspring. Some went so far as to avoid such families altogether, believing that their blood carried ill luck. They would likely reject Rosetta as a daughter-in-law to prevent the birth of a child with defects.

Such thoughts intensified the duke’s resentment. He wished a plague or illness would take his firstborn, who had given him his first taste of failure in life. As if it had not been enough to bring shame upon him, his useless excuse of a daughter had also ruined the future of the family. The taller Maxi grew, the more intense his anger became. And it was Maxi who bore the brunt of his unmitigated rage.

In the name of teaching her manners, he lashed her day after day until her flesh blistered. Whips tore open the skin on her back whenever she made the fatal mistake of being noticed by outsiders. The duke never forgave even the smallest of errors.

The duke felt that her flaws were a threat to his house. He felt justified in beating her to perfection. Everything was Maximilian’s fault for emerging from her mother’s womb as an imbecile. He was only treating her as she deserved.

No amount of scolding could correct her imperfections, and for this, she was blamed. She was a mistake, a good-for-nothing miscreant who should never have been born. Such words were driven into her ears like nails while she was growing up.

The Croyso stumbling block!

A disgrace to our house!

Foolish, unsightly girl!

No better than a rodent!

Not once did she hear her father call her by her name. Under his unforgiving blows and contemptuous gaze, she shriveled like a dried leaf, resigning herself to living out the rest of her days as the unwanted, shameful, despicable Maximilian.

◆◆◆

“Maxi! Are you all right?!”

Feeling a firm hand shaking her shoulders, Maxi awoke suddenly. A pair of black eyes were looking intently into hers. Still in a daze, she blinked, not comprehending what had happened. Riftan gently brushed back the strands of hair that were stuck to her forehead, and the intimacy of the gesture brought her back to her senses. She sprang up and looked around.

“W-Where am I…?”

“An inn in a village near Zeno. Do you not remember? An ogre attacked the carriage. We got out of the woods while you were still unconscious.”

Riftan placed a large pillow behind her back. Burying her back in the pillow, she looked at him in confusion. He poured water into a bowl on the table, then handed it to her.

“Drink. You’ve been sweating. You need water.”

Maxi stared blankly at the rippling water without taking the bowl. Frowning, Riftan pressed her further.

“I didn’t poison it, if that’s what you’re thinking. Drink.”

She lifted the bowl and brought it to her lips. As the lukewarm water filled her stomach, she felt her insides turning again slightly. She lowered the bowl, grimacing.

Riftan raised an eyebrow.

“Do you still feel unwell?”

“N-No…”

“Tell me if you’re still in pain. I’ll call for the cleric.”

“N-No, I f-feel better.”

After observing her with narrowed eyes, Riftan took back the bowl and walked to the table to set it down. Only then was Maxi able to study the room.

It was a shabby room. The floors and walls were made of wood. The only pieces of furniture were a bed, a table, and a few chairs. She examined the ceiling for spiders and noticed a silken web gleaming in a part of the room where the light reached.

The one saving grace of the room was its clean bed. She was sniffing the blanket for mold when she suddenly frowned. Something was amiss. Hoping that she was wrong, she slipped a hand under the blanket. She felt bare skin.

She jumped, realizing that she was wearing nothing but a men’s tunic. Her undergarments were nowhere to be found.

“M-my c-clothes! W-where…?”

Riftan glanced up from rearranging the towel and water bowl. He answered her as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

“I undressed you because your clothes got soiled with vomit. That’s my tunic you’re wearing. You didn’t bring a single piece of clothing with you, so we had to make do with mine.”

Maxi opened and closed her mouth like a carp. Should she be astonished that he was blaming her for not bringing spare clothes when he had given her no time to pack? Or should she be more shocked by the fact that he had undressed her while she was unconscious?

“You’ve been unconscious all day. I’ll order something for you to eat.”

“Oh… W-Wait…”

With that, Riftan left the room without a sign of guilt on his face. Maxi quickly scanned the room for something to wear, but all she could find was Riftan’s armor piled in a jumble on the floor next to the bed. There was nothing in the room resembling a suitcase. She had no choice but to pull the blanket up to her nose.

Shortly after, Riftan returned. Seeing only Maxi’s head peeking out of the blanket like a turtle in its shell, he gave a slight frown.

“There’s no use hiding now. I already saw everything when I was cleaning you up.”

“C-c-cleaning me up?”

Chapter 7

Riftan twisted his lips cynically in response to Maxi’s question.

“As I’ve told you many times, you are my wife. We have lain together, albeit three years ago. What are you so ashamed about?”

An intense red flush colored Maxi’s body from head to foot. Sensing her distress, Riftan’s face went dark.

“All I did was change your clothes, yet you look at me as if I violated you! You shouldn’t have fainted if you didn’t want me touching you!”

Maxi flinched as he began a tirade about fragile noblewomen fainting at the drop of a hat. Her eyes glistening with tears, she whispered a faint apology.

“I-I’m s-sorry.”

He clenched his mouth shut and left the room. Maxi hung her head low. It had been less than a day since his return, yet she had already angered him countless times. Was it wise to accompany him to his estate?

She bit her lips anxiously. He thought of her as his wife now, but he could change his mind at any moment — it was only a matter of time. Even now, it was evident that he disliked her, and he would surely only become crueler once he realized how useless she was.

As a distinguished knight whose name was known across the continent, Riftan would be invited to countless festivities and banquets. Maxi knew better than any that she was not someone he could proudly show off at such gatherings. He would see that before long and start abusing her. Would she be better off returning to Croyso Castle sooner rather than later and begging her father for mercy?

She pictured Riftan standing erect with a sword in his hand. It had taken only a single swing to cleave in half a monster three times his size. A whipping at his hands would cause her unthinkable harm.

But so far, he hasn’t struck me even once.

She creased her brows at this sudden thought. He had not raised his hands against her even when he had been consumed with anger. Perhaps he was not as vicious a man as her father. But she flattened her hopes before they could bloom. They had only just reunited — there was no telling how their relationship would unfold.

She was still deep in thought when the door rattled. Riftan walked into the room, a tray of steaming soup and bread in his hands.

“Vegetable soup and barley bread. Eat some before you sleep. Tomorrow, we leave at sunrise.”

He set the tray on the bedside shelf.

Maxi blinked in confusion. He had stormed out only moments ago, but now here he was, bringing her food as if nothing had happened. He was truly unpredictable.

He placed a wooden spoon and the bowl of soup in her hands. “What are you waiting for? Eat it while it’s warm.”

“Th-Thank you…”

She stirred the soup, blowing on it before bringing a spoonful to her lips. It was hot, but not hot enough to scald her tongue. Though she had no appetite, a few mouthfuls of savory soup helped to settle her stomach.

She stole a furtive glance at Riftan while stirring the contents of the bowl. He had dragged a chair next to the bed and was polishing his sword. Without his armor and with his long legs resting languidly, he looked two or three years younger than his age.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head. Maxi blushed, embarrassed that she had been caught stealing looks.

“I-I just… I-I wanted to a-ask…”

Stammering, she stirred the soup listlessly with the spoon. He turned to look at her.

“I-I have n-no c-clothes to ch-change into…”

“It’s late now, so I’ll buy you some new ones tomorrow.”

“W-What about m-my c-clothes…”

“I asked the inn’s maidservants to wash them.”

Riftan studied his reflection in the blade of his sword. She hesitated for a long time before opening her mouth again.

“M-May I h-have m-my u-undergarments b-back, at least…”

Unexpectedly, a deep blush spread across Riftan’s face. He rubbed his face with a rough movement before reassuming a nonchalant attitude.

“They got torn. I had to throw them away.”

“P-Pardon…?”

“They tore when I was taking them off, so I threw them away.”

She flinched at his brusque tone but continued to press him.

“W-Why would y-you t-take my u-undergarments off…?”

The question seemed to take him off guard. He began to mumble a reply, his eyes avoiding hers.

Suddenly he glared at Maxi, who was still clutching the blanket like a shield. “I had no choice! You couldn’t breathe, and your face was turning blue. Those dreadful undergarments of yours were just about strangling you, so I tried to loosen the straps! All I did was pull at the kn-knot… Hell, how was I supposed to know that the skirt was sewn onto the bodice?”

Her cheeks burned, and her scalp felt as though it might give off steam. Knowing that he had seen her undergarments, she wanted to sink into the ground. It had been her nursemaid who had forced her into them, convinced that it would help her win her husband’s affection.

She had put on the dreadful thing at her nursemaid’s stubborn insistence, but she had never imagined that Riftan would see it. She buried her face in her hands, swallowing the impulse to jump out of the window.

Riftan sighed.

“Don’t make that face. I’ll get you new undergarments tomorrow. Would you like to borrow mine for now?”

“N-No! Th-There’s n-no need…”

She shook her head. She did not have the faintest desire to wear undergarments that belonged to someone else, much less ones that belonged to him. At the same time, she felt uneasy wearing nothing but a loose tunic. She went back to fiddling with her spoon, trying to read his face. But this only made him stare back in frustration.

“Are you just going to stir your soup all night? Eat up. You haven’t even touched the bread.”

She hastily shoved a few spoonfuls of soup into her mouth. But it was her habit to eat like a bird, and there was still a mild discomfort in her belly. Unsure that she could stomach the coarse bread, she took a few sips of the soup before lowering her bowl.

“You didn’t even finish half of it.”

“I-I had n-no a-appetite…”

“Don’t be picky. You won’t be able to get anything extravagant until we reach my estate. Eat, even if the taste doesn’t agree with you. How will you endure the journey otherwise?”

He scolded her as if she were an ill-mannered child, making her blush.

“Do you plan to trouble us all by starving yourself and fainting through the whole journey?”

“I-I’ll eat…”

She pushed a few more spoonfuls down her throat but had to stop when her stomach turned. Seeing her lower her spoon so quickly, Riftan frowned but did not insist further. He took the tray from her with a sigh.

“I can already tell it’s going to be a headache trying to satisfy the noble lady’s palate.”

He turned away, clucking his tongue. She hunched her shoulders to make herself small. His moods changed like the wind — he had kindly brought her supper, only to burst into another bout of anger — and she could never adapt to them fast enough. Abject thoughts came one after another.

Am I that much of a nuisance to him? He must secretly regret bringing me. Why did he make me come with him…?

Maxi had been treading cautiously, but she could no longer suppress her curiosity.

“W-Why are you t-taking me w-with you?”

“What?”

Riftan stopped in his tracks. He had been walking toward the door with the tray in his hands, but he now turned to look at her.

“What do you mean?”

“I kn-know you d-didn’t m-marry me b-because you wanted t-to… so I d-don’t know why you’re t-taking m-me with you…”

His face hardened. She held her breath, unsure whether it had been her stutter or her question that had caused him to frown. She continued haltingly.

“W-We’re… I m-mean to s-say, we d-don’t even kn-know each other w-well enough to be m-man and w-wife… A m-man like you d-doesn’t have to t-take me… you c-could h-have any w-woman …”

“Shut your mouth!”

Riftan stomped back to her bed and slammed the tray down, glowering at her.

“If you don’t want to come with me, just say it!”

“N-No, th-that’s not w-what I…!”

“Don’t try to fool me! My castle may not be as large as Croyso Castle, but it’s more than enough to house a slight woman like you! I have gold if gold is what you want, damn it! You’ll continue to live in luxury, so enough of your nonsense!”

She shrank back like a frightened tortoise. Why did he think that luxury was her greatest concern? Frantically gesturing with her hands, she tried to rebut him.

“Th-that’s n-not what I’m w-worried about! I was j-just w-wondering why you’re t-taking me…”

“You’re my wife! Our marriage is recognized by the church! Why should I need a reason to take you home? You’re the one who remained in your father’s castle even after the wedding!”

“If you w-want a d-d-divorce…”

“What?”

He grabbed her shoulders roughly. Hearing his rage-filled voice, Maxi went numb, feeling like a mouse before a hissing serpent. Perhaps he really would strike her this time. She clenched her eyes shut in terror, bracing herself for the blow that never came.

Maxi cracked her eyes open to see a pair of black pupils gleaming with cold wrath. The hands on her shoulders shook as if they could barely contain their anger.

“Divorce? Are you saying you want a divorce?”

Chapter 8

“N-No… Th-That’s not what I…”

“What is it, then? Is there another man?”

Unable to make sense of Riftan’s words, Maxi could only gaze fearfully at his blazing eyes. He closed in on her, spitting words out through clenched teeth.

“Were you with another man while I was off fighting for my life?”

“N-No!”

Her voice faltered. His grip loosened, but his face was still contorted in suspicion.

“Then why did you bring up divorce?”

“Everyone s-said that when you c-came b-back, you would d-divorce m-me and m-marry the p-princess, s-so…”

“Princess?” he asked sharply, understanding finally dawning on his face.

Maxi nodded, holding back tears. He blinked before emitting a stream of curses, running a hand through his hair.

“Blighted fools, wagging their useless tongues…”

He then scooped her into his arms, blanket and all, and sat down on the bed. Ignoring Maxi’s flailing legs, he placed her on his knees and cupped her face with his hands. She felt his tongue licking up the tears that had welled up in the corners of her eyes. His warm breath tickled her cheeks and lips, distracting her enough to stop weeping. He wound an arm around her waist and let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t know what silly rumors you’ve heard, but I turned down that proposal a long time ago.”

“You t-turned it d-down?”

Maxi’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

“Of course I did! Did you think I would accept such a deranged offer?”

Deranged? Why was it madness to offer a princess’s hand in marriage to the hero who had saved the world?

“I thought the king had finally lost his mind when he made such an offer to a married man!”

“B-But…”

“But what? It is a sacred vow we swore before God. If I ever find a bastard who dares to break the holy vows of matrimony, I’ll castrate him with my own hands. Do you think me a base scoundrel?”

Maxi gave him an incredulous look. Was he sincere? She knew well that knights prized loyalty, but Riftan seemed to have an almost religious devotion to chivalry.

How could he choose a forced marriage over an opportunity to marry into royalty? Glory, titles of nobility, and an unimaginably large dowry would have become his. Above all, his child would have had the right of succession to the throne.

Yet, he had dismissed all of that as madness for a wife he had never wanted.

Perhaps he’s the mad one.

It finally dawned on her that Riftan regarded their marriage with utmost sincerity. He had no ulterior motive — he was taking her with him because she was his wife, just as he had said. She was overcome with surprise.

“B-But…”

Did he truly have no regrets? Perhaps he did not understand the opportunity he had just let slip by. Forgetting that her predicament obliged her to cling to him, she blurted out another question.

“Are y-you really a-all right with that? P-Princess A-Agnes is very b-beautiful…”

“Have you met Agnes?”

She winced. Riftan said he had rejected the princess, but they were close enough for him to address her by her first name.

“N-Not in p-person…”

“Then how do you know she’s beautiful? I cannot stand women who romp about unbridled like wild stallions.”

Taken aback by hearing him speak so candidly about the royal family, Maxi looked at him with a bewildered expression. He used a thumb to wipe off the traces of tears around her eyes before continuing.

“Forget that ridiculous rumor. Palace life suffocates me, and I don’t intend to live out my days under the shadow of a haughty princess.”

“B-But…”

“Enough with your buts! Did you bring up the rumor as an excuse to escape the marriage you so despise?”

A threatening glint flashed across his eyes. He relaxed again only when Maxi vigorously shook her head.

“Good, then. Don’t you ever mention such nonsense again. I won’t be so patient next time.”

Maxi rolled her eyes. Patient? He had been shouting away all this time! But her thoughts came to a halt when she felt Riftan’s hand on the small of her back. She froze. His hands inched down, making their way under the blanket that was covering her.

“W-Wait…!”

Maxi kicked her legs in alarm, realizing anew that she was wearing nothing but a thin tunic. Riftan slid a hand under her bottom and lifted her slightly. He pulled out the blanket from beneath her, then tossed it on the floor.

She frantically pulled the tunic over her legs, but to no avail. Riftan simply rolled up the lower half of the tunic and grasped her high-perched breasts. She let out an unceremonious scream as the roughness of his warm hands brushed across her tender skin, sending strange and intense sensations coursing through her body.

“W-W-Wait…”

“Is that your favorite word? Or have you forgotten your own husband’s name?”

Riftan, who had been burying his nose in her nape, raised his head, looking disgruntled. Maxi blinked like an owl. Then his eyelids quivered, and his lips smacked hers roughly as if to chastise her. But his lips were surprisingly warm and soft, and for a moment, Maxi doubted whether those cold, harsh words had come out of those same lips.

“Don’t look so startled. As you said, we were not married under ordinary circumstances, but there was little we could do. You must learn to accept me.”

He combed her hair back with his warm, firm fingers. The tenderness of the gesture surprised her. His lips incessantly explored her cheeks, temples, and ears, his warm breath tickling her nape. She felt his muscular thighs twitch under her rear.

Maxi grasped Riftan’s clothes without realizing it and clenched her eyes shut. She knew what this overture meant, for she had experienced it once before. And she remembered the pain that had followed. Her body stiffened, drawing a sigh from him.

“Try to relax. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

“B-But…”

“This isn’t your first time.”

Riftan stopped nibbling on the soft flesh of her neck and gazed at her.

“Do you not want to?” he asked hesitantly.

She could only open and close her mouth in response. She did not have the heart to refuse. He had turned down a chance to marry the princess to honor his marital vows. It would not be right, she felt, to deny such a man her bed.

After a long pause, she nodded in affirmation. Riftan wasted no time in pushing his tongue deep into her mouth to taste every corner. She put a hand on his chest, only to pull them back in shock when she felt how fast his heart was beating.

Moist lips peppered soft pecks on her chin before sliding along her neck and coming to a rest on her collarbone. Damp breath and a wet tongue caused the hairs on her nape to stand up.

“Raise your arms.”

With a rigid movement, she obeyed. As his calloused palms stroked her from the waist to the armpits and pulled the tunic over her head, she hugged herself to hide her bosom. He embraced her from behind and planted a kiss on her shoulder.

“I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

Maxi watched him with trembling eyelids. His eyes greedily drank in her body. Following his gaze, she beheld her own body under the reddish lamplight.

Round breasts and a flat midriff. A pair of pale thighs, and the tender region between them. She shut her eyes in shame at the sight of her bare body. But closing her eyes only amplified the sensation of his fingers stroking her nipples. After nibbling at her collarbone, he took her breasts into his mouth with a sudden hungry movement and began to suck.

Maxi gasped. She felt him moisten her skin with his lips before tasting it languidly with his warm tongue. Teeth nibbled her flesh, stopping just short of causing pain. A tingle coursed through her from neck to ear.

“H-Hey… W-Wait…”

“Riftan.”

He sucked hard as if to punish her. Maxi emitted a small scream. Not knowing what to do with her hands, she tore at his clothes. He loosened her hands and draped her arms around his neck. Her insides tingled at the touch of his warm skin and the tickle of his sleek hair on her neck.

“Say my name… Riftan…”

“Uh, um…”

“Say it.”

His command was firm but gentle. Finally, she called his name in a shaky voice.

“R-Riftan…”

A shiver passed through his shoulders. He muttered something unintelligible in a guttural voice before overwhelming her with wild kisses. His brawny arms tightened around her waist with such strength that she thought she might snap in half.

A passion she had never experienced before overcame her. She clung to his neck, panting. With his lips on hers, he chuckled.

“That’s it. Hold on to me tight.”

For the first time, she saw him smile. He rained kisses on her with a hand on the back of her head. With his other hand, he drew circles on her navel before pushing it between her legs. She clamped her thighs together, but it was too late — his hand had already settled in position. He moved his fingers gingerly. Feeling a tingle in her stomach, she sat up with a jolt.

Chapter 9

“You’re beautiful.”

Riftan whispered happily as he admired her flushed cheeks, his face changing markedly. His piercing eyes softened, and the corners of his hard lips curved into a boyish smile.

His shapely lips covering hers, his fingers touched her delicately like a bard playing his lute. Maxi’s ears turned red at the wet sounds coming from her body. Odd sensations began to simmer inside her, causing her to quiver and her toes to curl. She instinctively tried to escape his touch, but Riftan only pursued her more insistently.

“Ah…!”

A flash of lightning passed from her lower belly to the top of her head. Maxi held on to Riftan’s shoulders tightly. She felt his thick chest rumble with laughter.

“Does it feel good here?”

“N-No… It d-doesn’t…”

She was suddenly afraid. Her flush had spread down to her chest, and she could not believe that the strange voice coming out of her mouth was her own. Feeling her limbs melt, she buried her face in his shoulder to stifle the moans that threatened to escape her. His uncompromising attention on that most intimate part created a heat within her that burned to the point of being unbearable. Maxi whimpered and panted, feeling as if her insides might evaporate.

“S-stop… ah!”

“It’s all right. Just let yourself feel it.”

He paid her pleas no heed and continued his torturous caresses. What am I supposed to feel?

Maxi’s lips trembled. His hands began to move faster. Something below bubbled up before erupting, sending tremors through her body. She screamed, thrashing for release. He drew her in closer.

Trembling helplessly, Maxi rubbed her forehead against Riftan’s neck. Her body writhed, and her legs shook. She could feel the drum of his quickened heartbeat. Like a man dying of thirst, he drank in the air with erratic gulps.

“This was all I could think about while I was stuck in that living hell. The feel of your body, you melting in my arms… I’ve wanted this for so long.”

He hungrily sucked on her lips and returned to stimulating the still sensitive part. She whimpered and shook her head. There was no escape from the flood of overwhelming sensations.

His tongue traced a damp path around her ear, his fingers pushing into her wet entrance. As his fingers encroached on her body, she felt her most delicate muscles contract. Riftan breathed a low growl into her ear.

“Do you know how soft and warm you are below?”

He began to murmur to himself. Maxi felt his fingers inching out before thrusting deep inside. She felt mild discomfort at the slight friction, but it was not as painful as she remembered.

Was her memory of that first night all wrong? Never had she felt a sensation so tender, warm, and intense. His thumb continued to roll over the piece of flesh it had been teasing as his fingers slid in deeper. The back of her neck tingled.

Panting, Maxi tried to get used to this curious sensation, feeling as though she had landed in a different world. Just yesterday, she had thought him a frightening man and doubted whether she would ever grow to be comfortable with him. Now, she was clinging to his neck and allowing him to touch her all over. She found it surreal but not disagreeable.

“Loosen up a little.”

“It h-hurts…”

“Relax. You have to relax so it won’t hurt when I enter you.”

When I enter you. The shock of his words did not last long. As his fingers moved slowly inside her, Maxi’s mind went blank. Her legs trembled lightly. She panted breathlessly. He peppered kisses on her forehead, temples, and eyelids, whispering with unrestrained passion.

“I’ll tell you what to do. Trust me and relax.”

She shook her head in confusion. He gently stroked the back of her head and pushed his fingers in deeper. A quiet moan escaped her lips.

“I c-can’t… d-don’t know h-how…”

“Breathe out… relax your body, slowly...”

She exhaled, long and slow. Gradually, she felt her body relax. He kissed her cheeks as if to praise her and stroked the length of her back.

“Now, try to tighten this part.”

He showed her which part she should squeeze by pressing and rubbing it. Without even thinking about it, she felt her body tighten and squeeze his fingers. He laughed again.

“You’re driving me mad. No, that was a compliment. Relax again… Yes, just like that.”

As she loosened her body, he entered. When he slid out, she squeezed again.

“Ah…”

He muttered something inaudibly. Her body began to contract and relax on its own as heat coursed through her veins. Her legs writhed, her waist twisted, and her thighs began to shake uncontrollably. And then she felt another eruption.

She pressed her face into his shoulder, waiting for the overpowering sensation to pass. Something trickled down her legs.

“Shh. You were so good,” Riftan whispered as he laid her flat on the bed. Still riding the high of the climax, Maxi slumped on the blanket.

Riftan nimbly pulled his clothes over his head and climbed onto the bed. It was not the first time she had seen his bare body. Still, the sensual sight of him glowing in the darkness made her heart flutter, and she realized once again how beautiful he was.

“Hold on to me.”

He lay on top of her, and she felt something push itself between her thighs. She encircled her arms around his neck. Pulsing with heat, Riftan’s body weighed down on her. Strange. Were they really doing what they had done three years prior? The feeling of him filling her was uncomfortable but not as painful as she remembered.

“Just a little more…”

Riftan murmured as he ran a hand over the back of her head. The flicker of the lamp sitting near the headboard cast shadows on his face. A droplet of sweat trickled down his forehead and along his cheek before coming to a stop at his chin. Maxi reached her hand to touch the sparkling bead on his smooth, golden skin, sending tremors through him.

“Ah!”

When he lowered himself, Maxi twisted at the sudden pressure, locking her legs around him. A pained whimper escaped him.

“Don’t squeeze too tight.”

“I’m s-sorry…”

She looked at him with wet eyes. They were pressed together like lumps of clay, and, with each rhythmic movement of their bodies, she was kneaded and remolded. How was it possible to feel another being so intimately? Ragged breaths, quickened heartbeats, feverish bodies… Shaped into one, their bodies were indistinguishable.

“It feels so good…”

Riftan moaned and drew her closer into his arms. Sweat dripped from his shoulders onto her breasts. She looked up at his hardened face. He was holding back his moans with furrowed brows and a pained look on his face. Did this really feel good?

“You r-really f-feel g-good…?”

Riftan’s face broke into a smile at her expression of doubt. “Why else would I lay here with a woman who fainted today?”

With that, he tightened his grip on her waist and moved his lower body in urgent need. His hot flesh pulsed deep inside her, drawing a whimper from her. Each time he exited and pushed in again slowly, Maxi’s body responded in rhythm as he had taught her. Riftan panted, muttering hoarsely between each gasp.

“I hadn’t planned to take you like a crazy animal… I wanted to let you rest, but that undergarment of yours… ah!”

His firm abdomen pressed against hers. Maxi’s fingers left scratches on his back.

“I… I tried to hold back, but…”

She could no longer hear what he was saying. His movements became so irregular to the point that she was unsure of when she should relax and tighten herself. Unable to match his motions, her body spasmed. Even as she thought that she could not bear it any longer, he gathered speed. Maxi’s legs shook.

“Maxi…”

Large hands held her cheeks. She squinted at him.

Why is he calling me like that?

Seeing longing in his face, she became confused. In that moment, she felt as though he was very close to her. He took her face into his hands and showered her with kisses. Then his body, which had been bucking like a stallion, stiffened. There was nothing left to take, yet he seemed to thirst for more. The thing filling her swelled even more, then with a pulse, it spewed forth something warm and wet.

“Ah…”

Maxi wound her arms around his sweat-slicked back, watching his breath fog. Then he collapsed on top of her, his heart pounding out of his chest.

“Damn it! I didn’t want to be rough this time.”

As he tried to catch his breath, she gazed at him through heavy eyelids. His dark eyes, still smoldering, gleamed in the dark. Remaining inside her, he brushed feathery kisses on her shoulders and nape.

Chapter 10

“Did it hurt?”

It had burned a little, but she shook her head. He gave a sigh of relief and kissed her temple, the intimate gesture making her heart swell. She had not expected to feel this way. She had anticipated pain and emptiness, the bitter feeling of violation — but none of that had come to pass.

“Am I crushing you? One moment.”

Riftan lifted himself and withdrew slowly. She felt something viscous leaking inside, making her recoil and draw her legs together. Riftan stopped her firmly.

“R-Riftan…!”

“Stay still. You must be tired. Let me clean you.”

Riftan pulled the basin toward him and wrung out a wet towel before bringing it between her legs. She felt the cold towel gently wipe the junction of her thighs.

“Are you sure it doesn’t hurt?”

“It d-doesn’t.”

Pain was the least of her problems — she had turned beet red. But Riftan seemed not to notice and simply continued to clean her groin with care before moving on to his own. She avoided his eyes and snatched up the blanket to cover herself, eliciting an amused snort from him.

“You’ll get used to it soon enough.”

With that, Riftan threw himself down next to her. Maxi squeezed her legs together in alarm. Unperturbed, Riftan moved to the center of the spacious bed and pulled her to his side with practiced grace. Pressed so close to his slick body, she squirmed.

“R-Riftan…”

“If you keep squirming like that, I’ll assume you haven’t had enough.”

It was not an empty threat — she could feel him swell against her lower belly. She froze. Riftan nonchalantly slid an arm under her head to draw her closer, then pulled the blanket over their bodies. He slipped his fingers through her hair and closed his eyes. Maxi realized that he intended to sleep next to her.

“R-Riftan…”

“What’s the matter?”

Riftan acted as if sleeping together in the nude was the natural order of things. Not knowing where to look, Maxi swallowed what she had wanted to say and only managed to whisper hesitantly, “G-Good night.”

He must have fallen asleep, for he gave no reply. Watching the fluttering pulse on his thick neck, Maxi drifted into sleep.

◆◆◆

Maxi awoke to something pressing down on her bosom. Feeling suffocated, she blinked her eyes open in confusion to a tanned, muscular arm blocking her vision. She raised her head slightly to see Riftan fast asleep with his head buried in her hair. Memories of the previous night came rushing back. She blushed.

Under the blanket, they were in a naked embrace, his long and sturdy legs entwined with hers. His arms were hugging her tight as if she were a pillow.

Maxi had never known an embrace so passionate. Not even her own mother had held her. As her eyes roamed uneasily, it occurred to her that she should find something to wear before he woke up. If he woke up and found her like this…

Burying her face in her hands, she recalled how she had writhed in his arms. How could she face him? She would rather throw herself out of the window! A proper lady would never have acted as she had.

Even her nursemaid had preached to her that a wife’s marital duty was to stay as still as a corpse when submitting to her husband’s will. She felt the heat of shame spreading across her cheeks. Far from being corpse-like, she had writhed and moaned. Would he not think her a wanton woman?

Anxiety washed over her. She could not let him see her like this. After cautiously freeing herself from his arms, she searched under the bed. Dressing like a proper lady might not be possible, but she at least had to cover her nakedness.

She discovered a tangle of clothes pooled on the floor in the corner of the room. She desperately tried to grab them, but they were just out of reach. Not daring to wander about the room naked, she leaned over the edge of the bed with her arm outstretched. But instead of moving forward, she was yanked back.

“What are you doing?”

Maxi turned to him, surprised. She had thought he was asleep, but he was observing her through half-open eyes. When she tried to break free, his arm wrapped around her waist and nimbly rolled her toward him, pinning her under him.

“R-Riftan… It’s m-m-morning…”

“Yes, it’s morning. I was dying for you to open your eyes.”

He pressed his lips to her eyelids as he spoke, causing her to jerk at the ticklish sensation. A mischievous smile spread across his face as he showered light kisses on her face and ears before moving to her neck, tickling her with the flutter of a butterfly’s wings. Flustered, she pushed his face away.

“P-Please d-don’t… Let m-me p-put on some…”

“Do you know how much I had to restrain myself the entire night?”

He brought her hand to his lips and inserted her finger into his mouth. As his tongue savored her finger, she blushed to the tips of her ears. She had never known that her hands could be so sensitive.

“If you knew how I felt every time you blush,” Riftan muttered to himself as he nibbled on the ends of her fingers, “You would never blush again.”

Unable to bear the embarrassment, she hid her hands under the blanket. Riftan’s brows twitched, then he snatched the blanket away. Maxi screamed before curling up into a ball.

“Why are you trying to hide?”

“Th-The s-sun has risen! It’s so b-bright…”

“All the more reason to let me see. I want to admire you in the light of day.”

He pulled at her bent legs. She was embarrassed to the point of tears. It was hard to believe that she was entangled with a man in bed in broad daylight when just yesterday, she had been cowering in fear in her father’s castle. His hand roamed over her shoulders and breasts before roving down to her waist and settling between her thighs. His fingers slid easily into her, where she was still wet from the previous night.

“Maxi… How was last night? It wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“R-Riftan…”

“You felt good, didn’t you?”

She would die of embarrassment before she answered him. His fingers began to move dexterously in that most intimate of places.

“For me, it was heaven. Do you know how hard it was for me to leave you three years ago? I wanted to throw the Dragon Campaign to the dogs and be with you. It was agony for me to rise from your bed, though I know you must have wanted me to disappear…”

Maxi’s eyes went round with surprise, the shame of her nudity forgotten. A crooked smile appeared on his lips, and he grazed the tender spot under her collarbone with his teeth.

“I still feel the same way. When I’m with you… I can’t hold back.”

His teeth nipped her lightly, his fingers pushing in deeper. She reflexively tightened her legs around his arms, drawing out a satisfied moan from him.

“It is your bad luck, being the wife of a man like me.”

Maxi was convinced that she was the inadequate half in their marriage. As her father had said, the marriage was a blessing beyond what she deserved. Why, then, did Riftan think she was unfortunate? But her thoughts soon grew hazy, eclipsed by the heat kindling within her.

Maxi panted, squeezing the fingers that had begun to move vigorously inside her. As his feverish gaze surveyed her body from head to foot, she could not avert her eyes. His fingers withdrew and were immediately replaced by the deep thrust of his length.

“Ah…!”

He let out a savage growl, biting her earlobe. “You’ll be the death of me, damn it.”

She clutched tightly onto his iron-hard shoulders, feeling like a prey animal that had been captured by a hound. His grip dug into her thighs, spreading her to the brink of pain. Then he started to move steadily.

The pillow soaked up her moans as he moved with the smooth, gentle cadence of a slow-flowing stream before abandoning his restraint to move wildly over her. At length, he climaxed and slumped onto her in a heap. She gasped for air, feeling his hot breath on her forehead.

“I could do this for days.”

“You’re h-heavy…”

He seemed fully capable of pinning her to the bed for days with his powerful mass. Seeing her stricken face, he playfully bit her ears.

“You taste so good here too.”

After nibbling on her reddened earlobe, he dug his tongue into her ear. She shuddered at the touch of his wet tongue.

“R-Riftan…!”

“I love this. Had it not been for that accursed lizard, I could have bedded you every day and every night. We could have had children of our own by now!”

“N-No more, stop… Ah!”

Ignoring her protests, Riftan continued to brush his sweat-slicked body against hers while teasing her ear. Drained from the endless marital duties, Maxi was shocked to find Riftan again placing himself between her legs.

Maxi almost burst into tears. She was considering whether she should try to faint when he suddenly stopped at the sound of someone banging loudly on the door.

Chapter 11

“Damn you! What do you want?!”

“Time to wake up, Commander! The sun’s high in the sky! How long are you going to lounge about in bed?”

A loud yell came through the door, and Riftan threw a fierce look at the speaker as if he could see through the door.

“Did I not tell you I’d gut you alive if you disturbed me again? Do you have a death wish?”

“Can you not contain yourself until you’re back home? We have to leave for the capital as soon as we reach the estate!”

“Delaying things by a day or two isn’t the end of the world! Stop whining!”

“Commander!”

“I’m coming, I’m coming! You ruined the mood, you little bastard!”

Riftan ran a hand through his hair, and Maxi stiffened as he spat out expletives that she had never heard in her life.

He sprang up with a look of annoyance. “Get the carriage ready! We’ll depart soon.”

In response, the man behind the door stomped away.

Riftan let out a great sigh and looked at the floor. “I really shouldn’t have brought those bastards with me…”

“…”

“Wait here. I’ll go and find something for you to wear.”

She nodded, her pale face peeking out of the blanket. Riftan was picking up his clothes from the floor when he noticed her tears and frowned.

“What’s with the waterworks?”

“…”

“Speak. Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but I am not a patient man.”

How could she not have noticed her husband’s red-hot temper? But she chose not to put such thoughts into words.

“Y-your men outside kn-knew…” she stammered in a timid voice.

“Knew what?”

“W-What we were d-doing in th-this room…”

Her cheeks felt as if they were on fire. Riftan had been staring at her intently, but now his lips began to twitch. Much to her disbelief, he burst into boisterous laughter, clutching his stomach.

“R-Riftan!”

“You really do drive me mad.”

Almost choking with laughter, he lifted her in her blanket and set her down snugly on his lap, her legs dangling in the air. For someone with such an intimidating presence, he had an extraordinarily innocent, boyish laugh. Still guffawing, he nibbled at her shoulder, which was already pocked with tooth marks.

“My sweet, innocent lady, of course they know what we did. My men are not half-wits. They know what happens in the bedroom when husband and wife are reunited after three long years.”

“B-But…”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. We are married, and that’s what married couples do. It’s only natural.”

Natural? She knew well the duties that were expected of a wife in the bedchamber, but what she had shared with him last night felt anything but natural. Shared? Had it been an act of giving and taking? Her own thoughts surprised her. Had it not just been a rite she needed to endure to bear a child?

“You’re blushing again. Tsk, I would have taken you here and now if it weren’t for those nuisances outside…”

“…”

“Don’t cower like that. They’ll smash the doors down if they hear us at it again.”

He gave her a playful peck on the tip of her nose before setting her down. Wrapped in the cocoon of her blanket, she rubbed her nose and watched Riftan pick up and put on his clothes one by one.

She quickly averted her eyes, but he seemed unfazed by his own nakedness. He was fully clothed, armored, and giving her instructions in no time.

“Wait right here.”

She nodded. She was in no state to leave the room; her shaking legs would give out if she tried to stand. When Riftan strapped on his sword and left the room, she crawled to the headboard to crack open the window.

Beneath the pale blue autumn sky was a cluster of small villages. Unpaved dirt roads grooved by carriage wheels, some five or six wooden cottages, scattered meadows, a vast orchard… Maxi was taking in this pastoral scene when she suddenly sensed an intense gaze. She looked down. Three knights standing by the carriage parked in front of the inn were staring back at her. Startled, she hurriedly closed the window. She had covered herself with a blanket, but she did not wish to show her disheveled state to these strange men.

Did I delay their departure?

She bit her lips in trepidation. Moments later, she heard footsteps stopping before the door. Someone knocked.

“Wh-Who is it?”

“Water for your morning ablutions, m’lady.”

“C-Come in.”

Still wrapped in her blanket, Maxi sat hugging her knees in one corner of the bed. Two maidservants entered with a large washbasin, kettle, and snow-white towel in their hands. They exchanged uneasy looks.

“We’re here at your husband’s behest, m’lady.”

“I c-can do it m-myself…”

“He said you would need help…”

Her face felt hot.

“It’s r-really all r-right. I will t-tell my h-husband.”

The women did not insist further and left the items on the table before exiting the room. Maxi waited until their footsteps had grown faint before she walked over to lock the door. She then soaked the towel in warm water and began to clean her body, which still ached from the previous night.

The touch of the warm towel was refreshing. She wiped away the sticky layer of sweat and secretions, noticing the red and purple marks strewn across her shoulders, chest, arms, and legs.

Was this how every woman woke up after performing her marital duties? Recalling their acts of the previous night, she blushed again. Though she knew that no amount of scrubbing would make the love marks disappear, she rubbed at them furiously with the wet towel.

Spending the night with Riftan had been as taxing as it had been embarrassing, but she had not felt the same terror as she had three years prior. Truth be told, his embrace, smile, and gentle kisses had enraptured her in a way she had never known.

Far from finding her inadequate, Riftan treated her as his wife and seemed pleased to have her company. He had even told her that he had left her after their wedding night only with great reluctance.

Three years ago, I wanted to throw the Dragon Campaign to the dogs and be with you. It was agony for me to rise from your bed.

It felt like a dream. Afraid of the sparks reigniting inside her, she plunged her head into the washbasin. She washed her tangled hair with soap and dried it with a towel before applying a generous amount of perfumed oil. She had just started combing her hair when she heard another knock on the door.

“My lady, your husband sends you a change of clothes.”

She opened the door just enough to receive a rose-red dress embroidered with gold thread. As she unfolded the dress, a girdle, a sash, and a thin piece of cloth resembling an undergarment fluttered to the floor.

The undergarment was not so different from the one her nursemaid had given her. Her cheeks burned. How had he managed to find such garments in this backwater? And surely, he had not mistaken this to be her taste in clothes?

She was whimpering in shame with her face covered when she heard yet another series of knocks. This time, it was Riftan.

“Maxi, did you get the clothes? Have you changed?”

“N-Not yet…”

“Hurry. We must leave soon.”

“One m-moment…”

At his urging, she hastily put on the flimsy undergarment. Feeling no less naked, she threw on the white chemise and pulled the extravagant dress over her head, then tugged the flowy skirt down so that it grazed her ankles. But she was not used to getting dressed without the assistance of servants. Fastening the girdle was not so hard, but the straps on the back of her dress were impossible to reach. She was groaning in frustration and her shoulders cramping from the strain when Riftan knocked again impatiently.

“Are you dressed yet?”

“Uh, um…”

“What?”

“C-Could you s-send for someone t-to help me?”

“…”

“The s-straps on the b-back…”

“Open the door.”

“P-Pardon?”

“Open the door!”

She opened the door slowly, clutching her dress to prevent it from sliding off. Riftan pushed past her, closing the door behind him. As he appraised her from head to toe, she hastily stammered out an apology.

“F-Forgive me f-for b-being slow. But the d-dress…”

“Don’t apologize. I’m not angry,” he said, examining her flowing skirt and swinging sleeves. “I don’t know much about women’s clothes, so it didn’t occur to me that getting dressed alone would be difficult.”

Awkward silence followed. Maxi wriggled her fingers, deep in self-deprecating thought. Do such lavish clothes suit me? Do I not look ridiculous?

Suddenly, he grabbed her shoulders and spun her around.

“Let me help you.”

“Uh… I…”

One by one, he started to fasten the straps. Something about the rustle of the dress put her on edge. After much fumbling — he was plainly unused to handling women’s clothes — he spun her around to face him again.

“All done.”

“Th-Thank you…”

“I bought it from a merchant who happened to be staying nearby. It may not be to your liking, but this is the best I could do. I’ll find you something nicer once we reach my abode.”

Maxi blinked. The dress was luxurious beyond anything she was accustomed to. Was it not to his liking?

Her life was not as extravagant as he imagined. All her dresses had been sewn by the maidservants with the scraps of fabric left over from Rosetta’s clothes, for only Rosetta had known their father’s generosity. Maxi had never worn something so richly embroidered. Seeing him concerned that she would not find the clothes acceptable, she felt disheartened.

Perhaps he was more used to luxury than she had assumed. And perhaps it was a good thing that she had not brought her belongings. What a stroke of luck to have avoided the humiliation of putting her shabby wardrobe on display! Pretending to straighten a crease in her skirt, she attempted to speak in a detached manner.

“This d-dress isn’t s-so b-bad.”

Anxious that she had come across as too haughty, she quickly searched his face. But he betrayed no sign of displeasure as he draped a cloak around her shoulders. She turned her attention to his hands, which were now carefully fastening the cloak straps. To see a knight attending to her most trivial needs felt surreal.

Chapter 12

“Come, let us go.”

Maxi blushed and nodded as Riftan helped her into a pair of ankle-high leather shoes. Hand in hand, they stepped out and walked down a wooden staircase. Downstairs, armored knights were milling around a tavern crammed so full of tables and chairs that it was difficult to move.

One of the knights crossed his arms. “I thought we were going to spend the whole day here, Commander. Are we leaving now?”

Riftan ignored him and ushered Maxi out.

Another knight approached them from the door and complained loudly. “Come now, Commander. We’re not going to gobble the lady up. No need to shield her so—"

“Shut your mouth. Have I not told you to watch your tongue?”

Maxi looked at the knight with a bewildered expression. He was a curly-haired young man, tall and well built. His sharp gaze was disapproving, without a shred of friendliness. She hid herself behind Riftan, earning herself a loud snort from the blond man who was standing behind the curly-haired knight.

“It’s ludicrous! All this just for the daughter of the Duke of Croyso…”

“I told you to shut up!” growled Riftan.

Seeing that he meant this as a warning, the men held their tongues. Riftan turned toward Maxi and thrust her into the carriage.

“Don’t mind them.”

After reassuring her, he slammed the carriage door closed.

“They have no love for your father, but you are no longer a Croyso. You are now Lady Calypse — my wife. And I’ll make sure they never disrespect you again after today.”

Croyso’s daughter. Those two words were a stark reminder of how their relationship had come to be. Unable to think of a suitable reply, she kept her eyes fixed on her knees.

“Have my men hurt your feelings?”

Riftan’s voice was tinted with concern. With a jolt, she looked up in disbelief. No one had ever bothered to ask about her feelings, yet he was walking on eggshells before her — the tail was wagging the dog. She smiled in spite of herself.

“You know…” began Riftan, gazing at her with an inscrutable expression on his face.

“P-Pardon?”

“This is the first time you’ve smiled at me.”

As he reached to caress her cheek, she felt her breath catch in her throat. His lips quivered as if he wanted to say something, but instead he withdrew his hand and bellowed through the carriage window as if nothing had happened.

“What are you all waiting for? You said we were in a hurry!”

Someone outside grumbled, and the carriage began to move. In the awkward silence, Maxi stole glances at Riftan. He was leaning his head against the window with his eyes closed as if he had forgotten about her presence. Seeing this, she felt her nerves calm, and she presently found herself leaning her head against the wall.

Weary from days of being tense with fear, Maxi barely noticed the violent rattling of the carriage. She drifted into sleep, feeling as if she was being gently rocked in a cradle.

◆◆◆

The carriage left the village and passed through vast farmlands, moving slowly on the unpaved dirt roads. It was dark when they reached a small village near Eudychal Forest. Maxi had never traveled so far by carriage, and she was drained. Riftan, who had disembarked to identify himself at the village entrance, returned to retrieve a bedroll and lamp.

“We’re staying the night here. It’s cold outside, so bundle up.”

Maxi fastened the straps of her cloak and pulled the hood over her head before stepping out of the carriage. Riftan put an arm around her shoulders and strode toward his men. The knight who had been talking with the village guard turned around at Riftan’s footsteps.

“There are no suitable lodgings here, Commander.”

Riftan lifted the lamp in his hand and quickly scanned the area. Four or five unlit cottages lay clustered at the end of a winding dirt path. Following Riftan’s gaze, the knight hastily added an explanation.

“Those five cottages are all occupied by farmers who were sent for the harvest, but there is an empty barn.” The knight glanced at Maxi, his voice trailing off. “Perhaps we could stay there for the night…”

Riftan frowned and turned to speak to the guard. “Is there no suitable lodging for the lady?”

“Only cottages to house the farmers during the harvest season, sir. We could have two emptied at your command, but I’m afraid they’re no place for your lady.”

“Still, better than a barn. You will be rewarded handsomely if you can arrange one.”

Maxi clung to Riftan’s arm in surprise. “I-I’m all r-right…”

She did not feel right forcing out serfs who had been slaving away all day under the sun. Nor did she wish to spend the night alone in a dark, spooky cottage.

She squinted into the darkness and tugged at Riftan’s sleeve. “I d-don’t want to b-be alone…”

In the uncomfortable quiet that ensued, Maxi realized how her words had been received. She let go of Riftan’s sleeve as if it were on fire, blood rushing up her neck. Riftan gave no answer, perhaps struck dumb by her shamelessness. She clutched at her dress, not daring to look him in the eye. The knights exchanged awkward looks but, much to her relief, they soon changed the subject.

“Is it decided, then? I’m starving. Let’s get some rest!”

“You there! Where can we find some water? We should look after the horses first.”

“There’s a brook by the mill. This way.”

Only after the men had dispersed did Riftan take Maxi’s hand into his.

“We should go as well.”

“Y-Yes…”

She almost had to run to keep up with Riftan’s long strides. If it were not for Riftan’s quick reaction, she would have tripped over the bumpy ground countless times. They followed the ditch and came to a stop before a large wooden structure that emerged in the dark.

A few knights entered first and hung their lamps up. Maxi followed Riftan inside and studied her surroundings. Everywhere the light reached, silken cobwebs gleamed like the tangled white hair of a specter. She would not have been surprised if a ghost suddenly appeared. The wooden floorboards creaked under a thick layer of dust.

Maxi tiptoed across the floor lest she step on bugs or a rat. The men, however, set down their bedrolls nonchalantly and shed their unwieldy armor piece by piece. Riftan was no exception. He spread an ample amount of hay in the corner of the room to cushion his bedroll.

“Over here.”

But Maxi could not bring herself to lie down. Certain that the makeshift bed was infested with bedbugs, she managed only to perch on the edge. The barn was by no means small, but with eighteen people inside, it felt cramped.

Riftah took off his breastplate and greaves. After pushing the discarded armor into a corner, he stretched and cracked his neck.

“We won’t find a comfortable bed for days. You must bear it until we reach Anatol.”

Maxi nodded, hugging her knees. She had never been in the same room as so many men, and she was nervous. The knights, however, were too busy lighting the brazier and preparing food to pay her any attention.

One of the knights who had returned from watering the horses stuck his head into the barn.

“Commander! There isn’t enough fodder for the horses!”

“Then ask the guard where we can buy some grain,” Riftan replied in a matter-of-fact tone while unclasping his leather belt.

“We tried negotiating already, but he says the grain isn’t his to sell. The granaries in these parts all belong to the Duke of Croyso.”

Maxi flinched at the unexpected mention of her father’s name. Riftan pushed his hair back and clicked his tongue.

“Seems he wants us to pay more.”

“Your orders, Commander?”

“Just pay him what he wants.”

“Perhaps we can give him a good scare so we won’t have to—"

But the knight’s voice trailed off when he noticed Maxi.

“On second thought, we shouldn’t give the duke cause to find fault with us. Very well, I shall negotiate as per your order. Just don’t scold me later when you find our purse has lightened.”

With that, the knight left. Maxi withered, realizing that the knights were far more hostile to her father than she had imagined. Perhaps that explained their indifferent attitude toward her.

Had she been born with Rosetta’s charming features, would things have been different? Maxi wilted further at the thought of her half-sister delighting in the gifts and love letters brought by the knights who regularly visited Croyso Castle. She was only brought out of her self-torment when Riftan left the fireside and approached her. She raised her head to see a bowl full of hot potatoes, burnt brown here and there from roasting in the fire.

“Careful. They’re still hot.”

Riftan ignored his own warning. He grabbed a steaming potato with a large, calloused hand and took a bite. Maxi followed suit, gingerly wrapping a scalding hot potato in her sleeve before peeling off the burnt skin to reveal soft yellow flesh.

As she took a small bite, she was overcome by a wave of hunger that anxiety had been keeping at bay. The roof of her mouth burned, but she continued to chew and swallow bite after bite of steaming hot potato. Even the chewy, half-cooked pieces tasted like a rare treat. She found that she had devoured a fist-sized potato in no time.

Riftan, who had been watching her eat, had a peeled potato ready for her. Maxi frantically waved her hands.

“I’ve had m-my share. You sh-should have it, R-Riftan…”

“Just take it.”

He pressed the potato into her hands, then snatched another one from the bowl. Without even peeling it properly, he bit off a large mouthful. After staring at her own potato, which had been peeled smooth, she brought it to her mouth and began to eat with gusto, blowing every now and then.

With her stomach full, she felt sleepy. Her fear of bedbugs forgotten, she laid her head on the bedroll. The flame of the brazier in the center of the barn cast a dim light on the walls and ceiling. One by one, the knights finished eating and arranged their bedding.

It was she who had refused the privacy of the cottage, but she was still embarrassed by the idea of sleeping among so many men. She pulled her blanket up to her chin. Seeing her stir, Riftan set aside the sword he had been polishing and lay down next to her. He wrapped an arm around her tightly, but Maxi pushed it away.

“R-Riftan… Th-There are other p-people here…”

“No one gives a damn, so stay still. You’re cold, aren’t you?”

Chapter 13

Riftan slid an arm under her neck and rubbed his cheek against her head. He appeared to be warming her up, thinking that she was cold. Not knowing what to do, Maxi peeked over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching them. As Riftan had predicted, no one so much as glanced their way, but she did not have the nerve to stay pressed to his side.

“I’m all r-right, so c-could you m-move over a little…”

“Can’t you see she’s embarrassed? You should really be more considerate!”

Maxi’s head snapped up to see who the speaker was. A lean young man who looked to be in his early to mid-twenties stood a few feet away, holding a small lantern in his hand.

“Mind your own business, Ruth. Away with you!”

“There’s no need to growl at me like a watchdog! I have no intention of harassing your lady.”

Maxi’s eyes went round with surprise. The young man spoke with the tone of a man scolding a feral dog, seemingly unfazed by Riftan’s daunting presence. As his gaze settled on Maxi, she hastily sat up, and Riftan reluctantly followed suit.

“What do you want?”

“The night was chilly, so I took the liberty of bringing something for the lady.”

He fished for something in his robe pocket. When his hand reappeared, there was a small stone shining faintly on his papery palm.

“A firestone. I cast a spell on it to keep it warm, so hold onto it.”

“Is this r-really for m-me?”

His unexpected kindness surprised her. The young man raised an eyebrow.

“Who else? Those men over there could sleep soundly in the nude under a pile of snow.”

His tone was scathing, as if he did not care who could hear him.

“But you are different, my lady. You are not in fine fettle, by the looks of it. I would be the one to suffer should you catch a cold, so consider this a preventive measure.”

What he meant was plain — she was not to be a deadweight. She took the stone without a word. Just as he had promised, a draft of warm air enveloped her. She stared at the stone in awe before realizing that she had not expressed her gratitude.

“Th-Thank you, S-Sir R-Ruth.”

A subtle look flashed across the young man’s face. “I’m a sorcerer, not a knight. You can just call me Ruth.”

With that, he turned around as if to say he had no further business and walked across the room to his bed. She was watching him blankly when Riftan plunked himself down and pulled her toward him, evidently annoyed.

“You must be tired. Go to sleep now. We leave at sunrise tomorrow.”

He snuffed out the bedside lantern. As if on cue, the knights put out their lanterns one by one, and darkness descended. Maxi squirmed uncomfortably in his arms before a wave of intense fatigue overcame her. She closed her eyes, the steady thrum of Riftan’s heartbeat soothing her like a lullaby. Moments later, she was deep asleep, all qualms about sleeping in a dirty barn forgotten.

◆◆◆

When morning dawned, the village was animated with a vitality that bore none of the eerie silence of the previous night. The beauty of Eudychal Forest was visible just behind the row of cottages, and to the front of the humble lodgings was an endless field of rippling golden wheat.

Maxi stepped out of the barn and washed her face with ice-cold water from the brook. Using her wet hands, she combed her long tresses that were tangled like vines. A cool breeze brushed past her damp face, raising little goosebumps along the length of her back. After wiping her face with her flowing sleeves, she returned to the barn. The knights had already finished packing and were assembled in front of the carriage.

“Don’t wander around alone.”

“I’m s-sorry.”

Hearing Riftan’s stern voice, she rushed to his side. Riftan frowned in displeasure and lifted her bodily onto the carriage.

“Monsters are frequently sighted in Eudychal Forest. Never wander alone.”

She flinched, reminded of the ogres she had seen on the first day of their journey.

“I’ll b-be c-careful.”

“Good. We have too much luggage to load onto the carriage, so I’ll have to ride horseback from today. Call out if you need me.”

He closed the door. Moments later, the carriage began to rattle down the bumpy dirt road. She watched the passing scenery through the window. The wheat fields grew distant, and her vision was soon filled with a dense wall of trees. Rays of sunlight shone through the canopy of leaves and fell on the winding path like a veil woven with golden thread. The knights rode in formation at a leisurely pace through the cascading light.

Maxi anxiously scanned the dense thicket for foul monsters that might jump out to ambush them. But her worries were for naught, and the journey progressed peacefully. Before long, she slumped onto the seat, exhausted from the strain of her nerves being on edge in the shaking carriage. Her vigilance, after all, would not protect them.

After a good while, the carriage came to a stop. The door opened, and Maxi saw Riftan standing there.

“We’ll rest here.”

Relieved, she hopped out of the carriage. She felt a tingle in her stiff legs as blood began to flow through them again. Stifling a groan, she bent forward awkwardly to rub her legs. Seeing this, Riftan spread his cloak over a flat rock for her to sit on and began to massage her cramped legs. Flustered, she glanced around. The knights who had been watering the horses were now looking her way in disbelief.

She blushed and pushed him away. “R-Riftan, I’m all r-right…”

“Is that a habit of yours?”

“P-Pardon?”

His hands were just above the hem of her skirt, massaging her calves lightly.

“Every time you open your mouth, you say you’re all right.”

She watched as his strong, sinewy hands gently squeezed her legs. She could not think of a suitable reply, and instead wanted only to ask why he was being so kind to her. The butterflies in her stomach were pleasant, yet they also gave her the uncomfortable feeling of wearing clothes that were a touch too small.

“I-I really am all r-right now…”

Only when she freed herself from him did Riftan stand up. She pretended to smooth the creases of her skirt.

“Take some rest. I’ll get you something to eat.”

Soon after, Riftan quietly returned with bread and cured meat. The bread was so dry and tough that Maxi could only push it down her throat after soaking it in water. After finishing her meal, she took her leave from him to relieve herself in the thickets.

The dull journey resumed. Inside the unsteady carriage, Maxi whiled away the time by counting the trees passing by the window. The further they went, the thicker the forest grew, such that the sun barely shone through the dense canopy.

When it grew so dark that it became impossible to journey further, the horses came to a halt. Maxi was permitted to disembark only after the knights had patrolled the vicinity to ensure that no monsters or wild animals were lurking.

She clutched the handle of her lantern and approached Riftan, who was setting up a small tent near the carriage. The other knights were setting up their tents around a campfire. Riftan hammered a stake into the ground to secure his tent, then turned to her.

“The woods are thick with fog before dawn. We need these tents to protect ourselves from the frost.”

Maxi looked down at the triangular tent that stood at waist height, then bent over to peer inside. It looked as if it would not fit even one person.

“Isn’t it t-too n-narrow for t-two p-people?”

She tilted her head quizzically, and Riftan stopped hammering. He turned to her with an embarrassed look.

“I’m sleeping here alone. You go sleep in the carriage.”

Maxi’s face went red. Realizing in shame that she should not have assumed they would be sleeping together, she hurriedly thought of an excuse.

“We’ve b-been sleeping t-together, so I th-thought…”

“Spare me. I could barely hold back last night as it is.”

He let out a deep sigh, and she hung her head with a hurt expression on her face. Seeing this, he muttered a curse and began leading her away by the hand. She tried to follow him as best she could on her unsteady legs.

They were not far from the camp, but it was already alarmingly dark. The haunting cries of nocturnal birds mingled with the rustle of leaves in the wind. As Maxi squeezed Riftan’s hand in fear, he pushed her against the thick trunk of a tree and kissed her hungrily.

She gasped audibly. A soft tongue passionately wrapped itself around her own. She flinched at the sensation, but her movement only made him cup her face and kiss her more deeply.

His soft hair tickled her forehead as his large hands gently stroked her neck and cheeks. He tilted his head to taste the roof of her mouth and explore the insides of her cheeks. A drop of saliva dripped between their lips and trickled down her chin.

Following its trail with his tongue, he whispered, “I want to stay up all night like this.”

He guided her hand down his body. She felt his hardness throbbing under her palm and gave a start. She tried to snatch her hand away, but his grip on her arm was too firm.

“Have you any idea how excruciating it is to keep my hands to myself in this state?”

Chapter 14

Riftan rained ravenous kisses on her. Caught between the tree trunk and Riftan’s torso, Maxi struggled for breath. His hands cupped her rear and pulled her close, his bulge grinding on her belly. Heat ignited between their bodies. Afraid of how she might react, Maxi tried to twist out of his embrace.

“N-No… N-Not here…”

“You’ll be the death of me, goddammit.”

Groaning, he knocked his head into the tree. Her body tensed at the sight of his shoulders heaving with ragged breaths. She braced herself, thinking that her rebuff had displeased him, but he slowly backed away from her.

“I can’t help myself whenever I’m around you, so you should sleep alone in the carriage. Do you understand?”

He patted her cheek lightly. She nodded. Once again, he led her away by the hand, this time back towards the camp. A burly knight sat perched on a rock, warming himself by the fireside rock. When he saw them returning, he flashed them a knowing grin.

“Done so soon, Commander? It’s been too long since you brandished your sword! Has it gone rusty?”

Riftan stopped in his tracks and threw the man a murderous look. Unfazed, the knight continued to snicker. A mutter came from the direction of another knight who had been leaning against a tree while polishing his sword.

“Vulgar oaf.”

“And how virtuous is the young scion of the House of Ricaydo?”

“More virtuous than you will ever be.”

“Ha! The tongue that praises its own master often spouts lies. Prigs like you are the worst lechers when no one’s looking— Oww! You little…!”

At a kick from the blond knight, the burly knight sprang up and drew his sword. Maxi clung tightly to Riftan in shock as the blond knight leveled the sharp edge of his sword at his rival. Putting an arm around her shoulders, Riftan directed a fierce glare at the two men.

“Looks like you are both sprightly enough to take turns standing the night watch.”

“Commander!”

But their protests fell on deaf ears. Riftan brushed past them and headed to the carriage. Maxi’s anxious gaze fell on the two men, who were still glowering at each other with murder in their eyes. Riftan turned her around to face him.

“Don’t mind them. They’re always at each other’s throats.”

She nodded blankly. Not all knights in the same order got along, it seemed.

Riftan helped her onto the carriage before going back to put the finishing touches on his tent. Maxi sat at the door of the carriage and held out a lantern for him while he worked. He tossed a bedroll into the tent, then settled on a bulging tree root to polish his sword.

Soon, two knights who had been on patrol returned with three black-feathered birds the size of geese. Grabbing the birds by the wings, the knights twisted and ripped the appendages off at the joints and discarded them on the ground. Then, with one swift motion, the skin was pulled clean off. Maxi froze in shock. Next, the knights sliced off the legs with a dagger before casually tossing them onto the pile of feathers. Feeling her stomach turn, Maxi hastily withdrew to the safety of the carriage.

Riftan soon returned with roasted, golden-brown meat. He insisted that she eat, but she flatly refused, unable to bring herself to try a single bite. Instead, she chose to have the dry-as-bone bread, which she gulped down with the help of a few cheese morsels. Riftan gnawed on meat that dripped with sizzling fat and scowled disapprovingly.

“It’ll take another day to get out of this place. You need to reserve your strength for the journey.”

“I-I’m eating m-my fill.”

She really was continuously cramming food into her mouth, knowing that there would be no end to his nagging if she stopped. He raised an eyebrow as if he had something to add, but he soon gave up and directed his attention to the food in his hands. Maxi finished her meal and returned to the carriage, trying her best to ignore the mound of feathers next to the campfire.

As the night wore on, the chilly night air became heavy. One by one, the knights entered their tents. Maxi spread her bedroll on the seat of the carriage and lay down. She could hear the occasional howl of wild animals and the rustling of leaves.

The cold seeped into her spine. She quietly opened the door and looked down at Riftan’s tent. For a reason she could not explain, the sight of his long legs jutting out of the tent put her mind at ease. She laid her head down again and tried to fall asleep, but she was haunted by the cries of birds that seemed to be mourning the gruesome fate of their brethren. Pulling the blanket over her head, she plugged her fingers into her ears.

◆◆◆

Maxi tossed and turned all night. She managed to fall asleep just before dawn, but she was awoken by a flurry of activity before long. Knights were putting on their armor in the gray of dawn. She hurriedly splashed some water on her face and combed her fingers through her hair. The knights had a rushed meal of bread and water before signaling their departure. Maxi ate her fill of the same and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage began to move with speed. Maxi dozed off despite the rattling. Contrary to her worries, the journey thus far had been smooth and easy. The knights even seemed disappointed by the lack of monsters, grumbling aloud that not even a common forest goblin was to be seen. Maxi thought to herself that goblins were the last thing she wanted to encounter.

They rode for half a day without a break. After stopping for lunch by a small spring, the journey resumed. Maxi’s arms and shoulders ached from gripping the handle all day to stop herself from tumbling over inside the juddering carriage.

Yet even when her head began to throb, she could not work up the courage to ask to stop for a moment’s rest. She endured until night fell, granting her respite. She ate the food Riftan handed her without much appetite and fell asleep the moment she lay down on the blanket on the carriage floor.

A good night’s sleep made the following day more tolerable. They departed at dawn, and by midday, Eudychal Forest was behind them. The carriage no longer convulsed so violently, and Maxi let out a sigh of relief.

Unlike the rugged terrain of the forest, the roads on the plains of Anatolium were paved well. She opened the window and took in the lush grassland, which was sprinkled with cream-white wildflowers. After days of having her vision obstructed by dense forest, the wide-open plains were refreshing.

“Anatol lies just beyond those mountains.”

Riftan, who had been leading the knights, approached the carriage. She stuck her head out of the window and looked ahead to see snow-white peaks lining the horizon of the open plains.

“Endure just a little longer. We might be able to reach Anatol as early as tomorrow evening.”

She almost cried out in relief at the thought of sleeping in a proper bed. For the rest of the day’s journey, she pictured herself soaking in a warm bath and dining on soft, freshly baked bread and thick vegetable stew. She would have a pie stuffed with jam and a sweet-smelling fruit wine for dessert before falling asleep in a soft, clean bed.

The carriage came to a stop just as the sun was starting to sink below the horizon. The knights barely acknowledged her as she stepped out of the carriage. Standing among them, she felt like a lost child. She began to look for Riftan.

She cautiously passed through a group of men who were busy setting up camp. Spotting Riftan watering the horses by a river, she hurried towards him. He turned to her with a concerned expression.

“What is it? Is something amiss?”

She could not bring herself to admit that she felt uneasy without him in her sight. Instead, she bent over and pretended to wash her hands. Riftan crouched next to her to wash his hands and sweat-slicked neck. His long, muscular neck glistened in the sunset like heated copper. She stole a furtive look at him as he ran a hand through his windswept hair. His handsome features moved her heart once more.

Suddenly, he pointed at her feet. “Look, your skirt is getting wet.”

His words snapped her out of her daydream. When she stood up, she found that her skirt, dirt-streaked from days of travel, was now heavy with moisture. She clutched her dress and tried to rub away the mud stain. Riftan watched her for a while before getting down on one knee before her.

“Let me help.”

“I-It’s all ri…!”

She was about to take a step back when he frowned. She hesitated, recalling how he had asked whether it was her habit to always say that she was all right. While she was wavering, he took hold of her skirt and soaked the muddy part in the river before wringing the water out.

Not knowing what to do, she crouched next to him. Knights valued honor more than their own lives, and a knight would never bow his head before someone who was not his sworn lord. But Riftan always stooped before her for the most trivial affairs.

Perhaps he was not averse to lowering himself before her because he was lowborn. Would the other knights not disparage him for kneeling before a woman like her?

“Your skin is cold,” Riftan said as he washed his muddy hands nonchalantly. “Warm yourself up by the campfire.”

Maxi began making her way up the hill, taking care not to soil the skirt he had just cleaned. A cold westward wind cut through the field. She pulled the hood tightly over her head so the wind would not ruffle her hair, watching as Riftan’s pant cuffs became damp as he watered the horses. The sun sank behind the mountains, and indigo darkness descended.

Chapter 15

“The rainy season is upon us.”

Riftan, who had returned with the horses, looked up at the sky. Maxi followed his gaze. Thousands upon thousands of brilliant stars twinkled in the clear night sky. Maxi cocked her head. There was no sign of rain.

A knight who had been splitting dry twigs to feed the campfire quietly agreed with Riftan.

“It’s that time of year. We’re well into Etherias[1].”

“Just thinking about tramping through the mountains in the rain is depressing. Your armor gets heavier, your greaves sink into the mud…” grumbled another knight who was warming his hands by the fire.

“We’ll arrive in Anatol before that. No need to worry.”

“Have you forgotten? We are to depart again for the capital in just a few days!” The grumbling knight furrowed his brows and glanced at Maxi, who stood next to Riftan like a duckling huddling against its mother.

“We’ve already lost time because of the detour. No good will come of keeping King Reuben waiting any longer.”

“Can’t be helped once the monsoon starts,” said Riftan, binding the reins to a stake before plunking himself down next to Maxi.

The blond knight Ricaydo, who had been listening silently, reacted with disbelief.

“Is the hero who defeated the great dragon disobeying the king’s summons over a rainstorm?”

“Who said I’m disobeying? I’m only suggesting a slight delay.”

“We’ve wasted enough time! If we keep the king waiting any longer—”

His words stung Maxi as if she had been whipped. Blood drained from her face, and she bunched her skirt in her fists. Riftan’s face hardened.

“Ursuline Ricaydo. Watch your mouth.”

The knight’s lips twitched as if he had not finished, but Riftan’s menacing voice shut him up.

A heavy silence shrouded the camp. Only the crackle of burning firewood was audible until one of the knights broke the stillness. He spoke with such cheer that he came across as flippant.

“I agree with the commander,” he said, scratching his head. “I don’t want to enter the capital looking like a mongrel drenched by the rain. Three years we toiled for that campaign! At least let us return in shining armor!”

“Fool! Are appearances all you care about?”

“Sir Ursuline, Sir Hebaron has a point. Why not use this opportunity to show the capital that the Remdragon Knights are not to be trifled with?” remarked Ruth, who had been watching the scene unfold from the shadows.

Hebaron Nirtha raised his chin triumphantly.

“See? Even our sorcerer says I’m right.”

Ruth tried to appease the blond knight. “For now, we watch where the wind blows. There may yet be time before the rains begin.”

The mood lightened, and Maxi quietly released her breath. She gathered from their conversation that the detour to the Duchy of Croyso had delayed their arrival in the capital considerably.

She recalled the map of the Roviden Continent that she had once seen in the castle library. Located at the southwestern end of the continent, Anatol was on a small peninsula that jutted out into the Isirian Sea like a serpent’s head. She vaguely remembered hearing that the land was surrounded by rugged mountains and bordered by a vast ocean to the south.

Drachium, the royal capital of Wedon, was located in the northwestern corner of the kingdom, far north of Anatol. To reach Drachium from Aranthal, the site of the Dragon Campaign, the fastest way was to follow the Yserium River upstream. Maxi’s knowledge of geography was limited at best, but it was not difficult to see that they were taking a circuitous route.

Have they incurred the king’s wrath because of me?

Maxi understood why Sir Ursuline was so anxious to reach the capital. Riftan had turned down King Reuben’s offer of the princess’s hand in marriage. And now he was disobeying the king’s summons, which was intended to honor his victory in the Dragon Campaign. Her guts twisted.

It can’t be because of me. There must be some other reason. What kind of knight would disobey a king’s summons just to bring his wife home?

She dismissed her initial worries. It was simply absurd that Riftan would go to such lengths for her. In this age of lords, the power of kings had declined; lords who owned vast tracts of lands and the manpower required to maintain them often exerted greater influence than kings. But unlike the monarchs of the other six kingdoms, the King of Wedon still held considerable power.

King Reuben III had earned the fealty of hundreds of high-ranking knights through displays of might. It was implausible that Riftan would shirk his duties to such a king for her.

“Come, no need to tire ourselves with fruitless arguments. Let us eat.”

A knight who had been carving a wheel of cheese began to distribute the pieces. Riftan passed Maxi a cup of wine, which she drank to wash down the dry bread that she had grown to loathe. After a dinner of salted meat, bread, and cheese, she stepped into the carriage.

Despite her utter exhaustion, she could not fall asleep. Her thoughts wandered to the following evening when she would arrive at her new home. What would Anatol be like? Just a few days ago, she had been trembling in fear, but now, even as anxiety gripped her, a sliver of hope flickered in her heart.

Perhaps I’ll be able to start a new life.

But fearing disappointment, she suppressed the hope sprouting inside her.

My good fortune won’t last forever.

She had not only escaped the threat of divorce but also broken free from the terror that was her father. And her fearsome husband had turned out not to be a heartless man — on the contrary, he was kind. Too many good things had come at once, and Maxi knew that the goddess of fortune seldom smiled.

Pulling the blanket up to her neck, she resolved that come what may, she would be brave.

◆◆◆

The sun was at its zenith when they arrived at the foot of the mountain the following day. A narrow path led into the valley, and next to the path stood a small watchtower. Four sentries hastily came out to greet the knights before leading them to a rest area, where they were able to sit at a table for a proper meal of hot stew and roast potatoes.

After sating their hunger, they rode again. They decided to take the most direct route to reach Anatol before sundown, which meant that Maxi had to step off the carriage to ride with Riftan. She had ridden ponies and foals before, but never a warhorse. Perched awkwardly on the horse, she nervously gripped the saddle. Riftan locked an arm around her waist and drew her toward him.

“It’s a shortcut, so it’ll be a bumpy ride. Lean on me if you want to rest.”

She did not wish to be a burden, but with her lack of riding skills, it was impossible not to hold on to him as they rode through the mountain. She desperately clung to his arms, certain that she would fall off the horse any moment, but he did not utter an unkind word.

After they had been riding a while, they heard shouts from a knight in the lead.

“Commander! There are five werewolves two thradions[2] ahead!”

The other knights drew their swords. Paralyzed with fear, Maxi gripped Riftan’s clothes.

“You’d better not make me take care of it!” bellowed Riftan.

“Worry not, Commander! I’ve been itching for some action!”

With that, Hebaron charged forward, and the werewolves roared. Seeing Maxi gasp and tremble in terror, Riftan pulled her toward him and buried her face in his chest.

“It’ll be over soon. Keep your eyes closed.”

She closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her ears. But she could not block out the clash of swords and bestial roars.

“Commander! Above you!”

Maxi looked up reflexively and shrieked. Quick as lightning, a monster with dark fur jumped from its branch and pounced. But before the creature could reach them, it was sliced in half mid-air.

Before she could grasp what had just occurred, Maxi found herself looking down at a sprawled corpse. Riftan clucked his tongue at the sight of his blood-spattered cloak.

“Can’t you even count, Gabel? There were six, not five.”

Gabel scratched his head in shame, having dashed over too late.

“Black werewolves can use concealment spells…”

Riftan snorted in response, then spurred his horse forward. Monsters with the bodies of humans and heads of wolves lay dead on tree roots that protruded from the ground like coiled snakes. After wiping their swords clean, the knights remounted their horses.

Their incredible strength struck Maxi dumb. She had read about werewolves some years ago and knew that they had bones as hard as cast iron and skin as tough as chainmail armor. They couldn’t easily be killed even with a steel sword, yet Riftan’s sword had cleaved such monsters clean in half.

“We should hurry. There might be more of them around,” said Ruth, scanning the area.

The other knights nodded, and the horses began to gallop along the sloping path. Maxi clenched her teeth to stop them from biting down on her tongue. For many hours, they rode over rocky, thickly wooded mountain paths. When they passed the peak, Maxi was greeted by a panoramic view.

Chapter 16

Maxi was spellbound. Beyond the wide-open plains lay a sizeable village enclosed by gray stone walls.

“That is my land, Anatol,” said Riftan, pointing at the village. “Our people are mostly mercenaries or miners. There are serfs, too, but the land is ill-suited for cultivation, so our peasants mostly raise sheep, chickens, or goats.”

As she listened, Maxi surveyed the land that was to become her home. Pastures sprawled before a towering gate, and overlooking the village was a precipitous mountain. On the mountainside, an enormous, golem-shaped fortress leaned forward. A faint shiver ran up her spine as she beheld the proud structure. Calypse Castle, solitary and intimidating in its immensity, reminded her of Riftan.

“It may not seem luxurious on the outside, but the castle is quite nice on the inside. And compared to most castles, it’s of a decent size.”

Riftan sounded nervous as he watched Maxi’s gaze fixed on the castle. She turned to him incredulously. The stone fortress covered half the mountain. Was this what he considered “a decent size”?

Perhaps Riftan was comparing his castle to the Croyso castle, which was twice as large and built in the spectacular architectural style of the fallen Roemian Empire.

Riftan added uneasily, “We can renovate the interior if it isn’t to your liking. I can order furnishings to make the castle as splendid as your father’s, though it won’t be easy to change the exterior. The castle may look dreary on the outside, but it can’t be helped, damn it! There are a lot of monsters in these parts, so…”

“A-Are there many m-monsters?” Maxi asked in alarm.

Riftan groaned. “Nothing for you to worry about! You see how tall those walls are? That was the first thing I built when I was granted this land. Years of construction went into those walls to protect the village. No monster can step foot in there!”

“I’m n-not w-worried…” Maxi answered, sensing his agitation. She was not trying to placate him, for the walls did look sturdy and safe.

“Enough talk, Commander! We’re famished!”

At the knight’s urging, Riftan pulled on his reins, and the warhorse galloped down the hill. Maxi squinted as the wind buffeted her face. Her hood came off, and her hair unfurled from its bun and lashed about in the wind. Soon they reached the gates.

“The Remdragon Knights have returned! Open the gates!” the knights bellowed.

Seeing the crest on the knights’ armor and robes, the guards opened the gates without a word. Inside, a crowd had gathered to welcome the great lord who had defeated the evil dragon. When they saw Riftan, they cheered in unison:

Rosem Wigrew d’Calypse! The incarnation of Wigrew!

Frightened by the booming shouts, Maxi burrowed her face against Riftan. The incarnation of Wigrew, the legendary hero — it was the greatest honor that a knight could hope for. Peasants who had abandoned their work to rush over raised their pickaxes like flags and joined the chorus. Women dressed in their best clothes waved colorful handkerchiefs above their heads. Miners stood on their cart waving their hands, builders cheered from the roofs, and children with soot-covered faces smiled brightly to reveal the white of their teeth.

Maxi had never seen such a sight. A staggering number of people were chanting Riftan’s name in concert as if someone were conducting them.

Here was a world utterly unlike her father’s lavish but frigid castle, where the servants’ heads had been perpetually bowed in fear. Warm vitality filled the air, and the people’s faces lit up with joy and pride.

“Commander! The people have arranged a welcome feast for us. They’ve been preparing since they received news of the victory!” announced a knight from Riftan’s retinue.

Riftan waved his hand dismissively.

“I must return to the castle without delay. Enjoy yourselves.”

With that, he spurred his horse forward. The horse reared, then galloped along the flagstone-paved road at full speed. The people thronging the sides of the road rained flowers on their hero. Maxi watched the flying petals with eyes quivering with emotion. They were not cheering for her, yet her heart was racing. Riftan, on the other hand, continued to ride with an impassive face.

He gets so emotional sometimes…

But at other times, Riftan wore an expression so cold that he could have been mistaken for a granite statue. The man baffled her.

Maxi turned her attention back to her surroundings. Anatol was so large and full of such vigor that no one would think of it as a backwoods village.

The wide roads and village square were densely lined with shops, inns, and cottages that were built three to four stories tall. The knights made a beeline for the taverns by the brook flowing through the village. Ornately dressed prostitutes leaned out of the windows to blow them kisses, some even pulling their bodices down to reveal their bare bosoms. Maxi gaped at the scandalous scene.

“Let us hurry,” whispered Riftan as more people flocked to the road.

Maxi nodded, and the horse galloped across the square. Past the brook was a long ride up a gentle slope thick with trees. At last, a moat and stone walls the color of light ash appeared.

Having received news of their lord’s arrival, the guards quickly lowered the drawbridge. Maxi’s eyes went round. Up close, the castle was even more magnificent. They crossed the bridge and passed through the gates to see an expansive courtyard, training grounds, and a building that looked to be a guardhouse. The place resembled a fortress more than a castle.

After passing the guards, they entered the castle’s inner gate.

“We’re here,” said Riftan.

They climbed a steep ramp and found themselves just outside the main keep. Maxi took in the structures one by one: bleak gardens, colossal stone buildings, and an imposing tower. In front of the steps leading to the main keep, some four-dozen servants were standing in an orderly manner with their heads bowed.

“Welcome back, my lord. We are happy to see your safe return.”

“Yes, yes,” Riftan answered absentmindedly before hopping off the horse and helping Maxi to the ground. He handed the reins to the stocky old man standing at the fore.

“Make sure Talon gets his rest. It was a long ride.”

“As you command, my lord. And the knights…?”

“There’s a celebration in the village. They’ll likely be staying in the taverns or inns. If any of those fools happen to return without drowning in wine, let them have clean rooms.”

“We prepared the training grounds and living quarters as soon as we heard news of your return. But if I may ask, my lord, the lady here is…?”

Feeling the old man’s gaze shift toward her, Maxi involuntarily tensed her shoulders. She heard Riftan’s matter-of-fact voice from above her head.

“My wife. I went to fetch her as soon as I returned to the kingdom.”

“Welcome, my lady. My name is Qenal Osban, and I am the stablemaster of Calypse Castle. I tend to the lord’s horses.”

“N-nice to m-meet you. I’m Maximilian… C-Calypse,” mumbled Maxi.

She avoided the servants’ gaze. Before she had a chance to examine the effect of her presence on them, Riftan took her hand and led her up the stairs. Seen up close, the castle looked even bleaker. In most castles, the steps leading up to the great hall were brilliantly decorated. Here, there was only a neglected pavilion and a lone tree without a single leaf growing on it. It seemed that no one had attempted to landscape the courtyard.

The castle’s interior was no better, and Maxi shivered as she followed Riftan into the dimly lit hall. The air inside was just as chilly as it was outside. The floor was made of clay tiles, not marble, illuminated only by the faint light of an old chandelier hanging precariously from the ceiling. The main stairway connecting the entrance to the banquet hall was uncarpeted.

Riftan strode to the center of the room to survey the hall before turning around in fury.

“What is the meaning of this?” he asked.

The servants who had accompanied him inside paled, but Riftan did not relent.

“Did I not order the castle to be refurbished before my return?”

“We did as you commanded, my lord,” an old servant answered. “A new carpet for the drawing room, new furniture, oil for the lamps, and the large quantity of expensive candles you requested—”

“That’s not what I asked for! I wanted you to make the castle look as spectacular as possible!”

Riftan’s voice grew louder. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“I sent you more than enough gold!”

“Did you mean for the entire sum to be used for refurbishments, my lord?” the old man asked, unable to mask his distress. “W-We are not accustomed to spending such large amounts of gold without knowing your express wishes…”

“I said I was leaving everything to the steward’s discretion! Look at this mess! How could you let this happen?!” snapped Riftan, his eyes roving over the dark, ghastly interior of the castle.

The servants exchanged looks, their faces white with fear. Not even the most smooth-tongued sycophant could call the Calypse castle well kept. The staircase was missing balusters here and there. In place of glass, the windows were covered by a foggy film that had faded yellow with time. And not a single curtain had been hung to protect the room from the chill. It almost felt warmer outdoors.

“Times were good without your lord here, were they? You’ve grown lax!”

“W-We did our best to redecorate the castle as you commanded. We even replaced the beds and the old furniture so you could rest comfortably as soon as you returned…”

“How dare you make excuses—”

“R-Riftan! I-I w-want to r-rest now…”

Maxi tugged at Riftan’s sleeve, unable to bear the stormy mood. He flinched and gazed down at her, then lifted her into his arms. Maxi flailed her legs in surprise.

Chapter 17

“R-Riftan…!”

“Stay still. You said you needed rest.”

“I c-can walk! L-Let me d-down!”

Ignoring Maxi’s protests, Riftan continued to ascend the stairs. At the top was a vast hall with an intricately patterned reddish-brown carpet, which led to a heavy oaken door. Riftan crossed the hall and upon reaching the door, he propped her up with one arm and twisted the doorknob with the other.

“At least the room’s in a better state,” he said, setting her down on the bed.

Maxi looked curiously around the neat and cozy bedchamber. The floor was covered with a patterned carpet, and an elegantly engraved wooden pillar stood in the center of the room. Next to the bed were a fireplace and a large arched window. The evening glow filtering in through the glass illuminated the long divan and shelf that had been placed by the window.

Maxi brushed her fingers across the veil hanging on the corner of the luxurious cherrywood bed, which was covered by thick fleece bedding. The bedroom, at least, seemed to have received special attention from the servants.

“Everything here must seem so shabby in your eyes,” said Riftan, watching Maxi uneasily.

She gave him a puzzled look. He ran a hand down his face and spat out a curse.

“Damned fools. I clearly told them…”

“N-No. Th-this room is lovely. The c-castle, too… And the b-bed is w-wonderful.”

“Don’t bother. I’ve seen Croyso Castle enough times to know better. Compared to your father’s castle, this place is a wretched barn.”

“N-No! Th-That’s not true.”

But Maxi’s exclamation must have rung hollow, for it failed to wipe away his frown. She cast her eyes down, resenting her foolish tongue. Suddenly, Riftan shot her an irritated look.

“It’s your job to decorate our home! The castle would not have fallen into such disrepair if you had come here sooner. In the lord’s absence, it is the lady’s duty to manage the castle!”

“I… I’m s-sorry.”

“Damn it. What I mean to say is… Why don’t you decorate this place as you like? I’ll give you as much gold as you need to buy what you want. Expensive ornaments, new carpets…”

Maxi blinked at the unexpected suggestion.

Riftan continued animatedly. “Women love to decorate and pick out furniture, don’t they? I can get you more servants to help.”

Seeing the expectation on Riftan’s face, Maxi broke into a cold sweat. She had paid little attention when her nursemaid had lectured her on the duties of a lady, doubting that she would ever have an opportunity to perform them. Never having put her knowledge into practice, she did not have a sliver of confidence in her abilities.

“You don’t want to?”

Riftan narrowed his eyes when he received no answer. Maxi hurriedly shook her head, loath to do anything that might put an end to her husband’s generosity.

Days of travel had taught her one thing: Riftan Calypse did not have the slightest clue what kind of treatment she had suffered at Croyso Castle. In his eyes, Maxi was a cultured noblewoman who had grown up in luxury and as the apple of everyone’s eye. And unpolished though he was, he was making every effort to treat her as such.

Maxi felt her mouth drying. Her father was likely at the root of this misunderstanding. Ashamed of his eldest daughter’s stutter, Duke Croyso had never presented her to high society. Instead, he had confined her to the castle, playing the part of the doting father who sought to protect his sickly daughter. The public knew her as the duke’s cherished but ailing daughter, and Riftan seemed to have taken that rumor at face value.

Riftan had seen with his own eyes how plain and dull-witted she was. Maxi could not understand why he had not realized his mistake, but she decided to draw out the misconception for as long as possible. If he discovered that, far from being a noblewoman, she had been treated no better than a pest, he would feel deceived.

Riftan had already suffered for three long years because of their unwanted marriage. He would be demoralized to find out that his wife had been nothing but a nuisance to her family. It would be enough to curb his generosity.

Maxi anxiously clutched her skirt, unable to bear the thought of Riftan despising or even pitying her. She wanted him to think of her as a highborn lady who had known no want. So, instead of admitting that she had little experience managing a castle of this size or ordering servants around, she simply nodded uneasily.

“If th-that is your w-wish…"

Riftan’s face lit up.

“I’ll tell the steward to get the ledgers ready,” he said. “Don’t worry about the money. The castle is yours to decorate.”

And fingering her tousled hair lightly, he added, “This is your home now.”

Home. The word burrowed into her heart, and she had to stop breathing to calm the flutter in her chest.

He means nothing by it. I shouldn’t read too much into it.

Maxi answered with feigned nonchalance, “I’ll d-do my b-best to m-make this place cozy.”

“Good.”

Riftan’s face broke into a satisfied smile, and he planted a kiss on her cheek. Maxi shrank back, suddenly conscious that she was alone with him. Her body smelled acrid from days of travel without a bath or change of clothes. She took a step back.

“I w-would like to take a b-bath…”

“Ah. Of course.”

Riftan turned to sniff himself and stood up with a mortified expression. “I’ll tell the maids to prepare your bathwater.”

He then left the room to give the maidservant instructions. Maxi rose from the bed and shed her dirty clothes in the corner of the room. Four maidservants soon entered with a room divider and a wooden bathtub. As they poured hot water into the tub, Riftan took off his armor and set it on a nearby table.

“Leave us now,” he said to the servants. “You will be summoned if you are needed. In the meantime, prepare something for us to eat.”

“Yes, my lord. We will leave your clothes here.”

After the maidservants had left, Riftan pulled his sweat- and dirt-stained tunic over his head and undid the straps of his trousers. Flustered, Maxi turned away from him. Riftan approached her to loosen the straps on the back of her dress.

“R-Riftan…!”

“Let’s bathe together.”

Feeling his warm hand running down her bare back, she let out a small scream. He combed her tangled hair with his hands, then swept her tresses over her shoulder to expose her nape. Maxi trembled at the sensation of his soft lips brushing her nape.

“It’s salty.”

“D-Don’t… It’s d-dirty…”

He turned her to face him and pulled her clothes down. She closed her eyes, unable to look squarely at his naked body under the light.

“Would it kill you to stop making that face?” he demanded coldly, suddenly grabbing her chin. “I know I don’t have the pretty looks of a nobleman’s son, but am I that horrid to look at?”

“I never said y-you were h-horrid!”

She opened her eyes in surprise. Looking displeased, Riftan stared at her with his intense black eyes. Was he oblivious to his own beauty?

“I’m just n-not used to th-this. I-I’m ashamed…”

“It’s normal for married couples to bathe together.”

“N-Normal…?”

“At every castle I’ve visited, the lord bathes with his wife,” he commented coolly, tugging at her dress once more.

Maxi wanted to ask how he knew that, but she closed her mouth when she felt a draft on her bare skin. She trained her attention on the light from the fireplace that softly illuminated her body.

“It’s not strange at all,” he reassured her. “In the north, it’s customary for the lady of the castle to wait on visiting nobles and knights as they bathe.”

He gently massaged her shoulders as he spoke. Maxi’s eyes went round.

“I-Is that e-expected of me too?”

“You jest.”

A savage grin spread across Riftan’s face.

“If any fool dares make that request, I’ll give him a bath in the Stemnu River.[3] You need not mind anyone other than me. Come.”

His brawny arms wrapped around her waist, and they entered the bath. Water spilled over the rim. Maxi sat hugging her knees at the edge of the tub. Riftan, on the other hand, shamelessly relaxed his imposing body in the water and leaned his head against the tub.

“Is the water too hot?”

“It’s all r-right.”

Chin-deep in water, she curled into a ball and tried to avoid touching his long legs. Riftan, who had been watching her, pulled her arm toward him and placed her on his lap.

“R-Riftan…!”

“Let me wash you.”

He picked up a bar of soap from a nearby shelf. She tried to free herself from his lap, but he was gripping her waist so tightly that she could not budge. He then began to rub the soap on her shoulders and neck.

“I-I can d-do it m-myself!”

“You can wash me afterward.”

Chapter 18

Riftan gently kneaded the round swell of her breasts with soap-covered hands. Maxi hastily lowered her arms to cover herself, but that did not stop him. Feeling something hard pressed between her buttocks, she clenched her eyes shut. His hands glided through the warm water, exploring her waist and abdomen. Tenderly, he caressed every curve of her body and massaged the knots under her skin before washing her tangled hair. Her tense body began to relax.

“Now, wash my hair,” he said, rinsing her hair clean.

Maxi gazed at him blankly, her eyelids heavy with sleep. But she soon took the soap in her hands and began to rub it across his scalp. As Riftan lowered his head so she would not strain her arms, she felt his hot breath on her bosom.

Suppressing her embarrassment, Maxi carefully worked her hands through his soft hair. Riftan gently licked the droplets of water pooling in the hollow pit of her collarbone. It was like bathing a large dog; he could not stay still, licking everything he could reach. Her mind traveled back to the time she had sneaked out into the garden as a girl to play with her father’s hound. They had splashed water over each other just the way she and Riftan were doing.

“The foam’s getting into my eyes,” whined Riftan, scooping a handful of water to his face.

Seeing him pout, she almost broke into laughter. She splashed water onto his hair to rinse it clean of foam. Riftan then picked up a kettle from the shelf and poured more hot water into the bathtub. The knots in her muscles softened like jelly and, shoulder-deep in steaming water, she began to nod off. Tension had held her exhaustion at bay, but fatigue now washed over her. In her half-sleep state, Riftan’s touch felt soothing.

“Maxi…”

He purred in her ear, then adjusted her so she could lean against his chest. A sweet, tingling sensation coursed through her. She sank into him, the steady beat of his heart lulling her to sleep. Her eyelids grew heavier.

“Maxi? Are you… asleep?”

“…”

“Are you really asleep?”

Riftan’s gentle strokes on her back turned into insistent shakes. She tried to say something, but all she could manage were unintelligible mumbles. Her vision began to fade. Soon, she was snoring lightly with her nose buried in his shoulders.

Riftan looked down at her at a loss.

“I don’t believe it…”

◆◆◆

A blinding ray of sunlight pried open Maxi’s eyelids. Her limbs ached, and her head throbbed. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she rose from the bed only to feel a draft chill her skin. She looked down to find herself stark naked under the blanket and hastily covered herself again. Disoriented, she tried to recall what had happened.

I arrived in Anatol yesterday, and…

She had fallen asleep while bathing with Riftan. Her head snapped up to scan the room, but she was alone. Riftan’s robe lay next to the dying embers in the fireplace. Where had he gone?

She searched the room for something to wear. A neatly folded chemise on the window-side shelf caught her eye. Wrapping the blanket around her body, she scrambled to her feet and was reaching for it when she heard a knock.

“Y-Yes?” she said sharply.

“Begging your pardon for disturbing your sleep, my lady,” answered a gentle voice. “It’s time to rekindle the fireplace…”

“I-It’s all right. I’ve h-had enough sleep. Y-You may e-enter.”

A tall maidservant who looked to be about thirty entered the room and bowed.

“My name is Ludis Ain. I will be serving you from today.”

“I’m M-Maximilian C-Calypse. P-Pleased to meet you.”

The handmaid betrayed no sign of surprise at her stutter.

“You retired to bed without dinner last night,” Ludis responded courteously. “Shall I send for your breakfast now?”

“I-I would like to ch-change first…”

“One moment. I shall help you get dressed.”

Ludis took out a few logs of firewood from her basket to feed the embers, using a poker to stir occasionally. She then brought Maxi the folded clothes. Maxi quickly slipped on a linen undergarment and, on top of that, a thin chemise. Ludis filled a small washbasin with warm water and added a few drops of scented oil. She then soaked a clean towel in the fragrant water to dab Maxi’s face, neck, and arms before helping her into an elegant, ankle-length dress.

Maxi gasped at the intricate embroidery. With its hanging sleeves, the golden dress gave her the appearance of having butterfly wings. It was no less lovely than something out of Rosetta’s wardrobe.

“Please tell me if it’s too tight,” said Ludis, tying a red ribbon just beneath Maxi’s bust.

Maxi shook her head. She could hardly believe that the woman in the mirror was her. Her pale face looked radiant, perhaps due to her good mood, and her unruly auburn hair now elegantly complemented the gold of her dress.

“Would you like me to braid your hair and put it up, my lady?”

“Y-Yes, please.”

Maxi sat down in a chair by the window. Ludis adjusted the mirror and began to comb gently. Listening to the ivory comb slide through her hair, Maxi looked outside to see a palisade of gray cliffs and tall conifers that pointed toward the sky like spears.

“Do you wish to eat in here, my lady?”

She was about to say yes, but she realized that she wanted to look around the castle. Here, there were no scowling half-sisters or fathers who could fly into a violent rage at any moment. She was free to roam wherever she liked. She mustered the courage to look Ludis in the eye.

“I-I’ll e-eat in the d-dining hall.”

“Yes, my lady.”

In the blink of an eye, Ludis finished braiding her hair into a bun and fetched a pair of long-toed shoes for her. Maxi slid her feet into the fashionable shoes, then examined her reflection in the mirror. After days of travel, a change of clothes and freshly styled hair had done wonders for her appearance. Her cheeks flushed with excitement. Would Riftan be pleased to see her?

“W-Where’s R-Riftan— I-I mean, Lord C-Calypse?”

“I’m told the lord went to the training hall at dawn,” answered Ludis, looking concerned. “My lady, do you feel unwell?”

“N-No…”

Unsure of why she had given that impression, Maxi cocked her head. Then immediately, she realized Ludis must have thought her ill because of her stutter. Blood rushed to her face, and her excitement was swept away by a great wave of mortification.

“I-I’m all right.”

Her shaky voice sounded awful even to her own ears. Unable to bear the shame any longer, she left the room. Ludis ran after her with a troubled expression.

“M-My lady! Please allow me to guide you through the castle.”

Maxi had darted out in embarrassment without knowing the lay of the castle. She gave a slight nod, grateful that Ludis had continued to treat her with respect.

“This way…”

As Ludis led her toward the stairs, she peered into corners of the castle that she had missed the previous day. The gray stone walls, though coarse, had a natural beauty. Sunlight streamed in through the arched windows, casting intricate shadows on the floor. She squinted in the blinding light as she followed Ludis.

Calypse Castle looked different in daylight. It was as bleak and as empty as it had been at night, but it also radiated an antique charm.

It’s the perfect castle for a knight…

“Is there anything you would like to eat or food you dislike, my lady?”

“N-Not really…”

Maxi trailed off. A long-suffering look flashed across Ludis’s face. Perhaps she was lamenting the misfortune of having met a difficult mistress. Casting aside self-disparaging thoughts, Maxi followed Ludis through the kitchen. A long cherrywood dining table stood in the center of a spacious dining hall, and a row of servants stood by the wall. One of them pulled up a chair for her.

“I trust you had a good night’s rest, my lady?”

“Y-Yes, I did.”

“Forgive me for not introducing myself yesterday. My name is Rodrigo Ceric. I oversee all the servants in this castle.”

Maxi realized that he was the old man who had been on the receiving end of Riftan’s ire the previous day.

“P-Pleasure to meet you,” she said, trying her best to remain calm.

Rodrigo bowed. “At your service, my lady. Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything you need.”

“S-Speaking of w-which, the l-lord t-told me yesterday that I c-could decorate the c-castle…”

“Indeed, the lord made it clear this morning that I am to assist you in any way I can, my lady. I was planning to summon the merchants to the castle soon. Would you like to look around the castle before that?”

“Y-Yes, I w-would.”

Chapter 19

Maxi searched the steward’s face for signs of scorn at her stuttering. But Rodrigo betrayed no such emotion as he set the silver cutlery and cup on the table. Relieved, she began to eat the food that the attendant served her. She had fallen asleep without dinner the previous night, and eating little more than coarse bread during the journey had made her ravenous.

She started with a spoonful of rich soup before proceeding to the soft, freshly baked bread, spreading it generously with butter and jam. Though she usually ate like a bird, the sight of such mouthwatering fare after days without a proper meal had given her a voracious appetite. She finished the thick soup and a slice of meat pie with relish before cleansing her palate with sweet apple cider. Even if she had not been so hungry, the food would have tasted exceptional.

“Would you care for some more, my lady?”

“I-I’ve had plenty, th-thank you.”

She dabbed her mouth with a napkin and rose from her seat. After exiting the dining hall, Rodrigo guided her through the castle while recounting Anatol’s history.

“Calypse Castle was built 150 years ago by Sir Anatol, a Roemian knight. After the empire fell, monster attacks became more frequent in this area, and the Seven Kingdoms gradually lost control of this region. Forty years ago, the region was incorporated into Wedon because of its location. In those early days, this area was barely populated. It was a wild land where monsters roamed free.”

Rodrigo continued as he led her through the hall. “But ten years ago, Sir Riftan Calypse, aged eighteen at the time and newly knighted, became the new lord of Anatol. He ordered a thorough renovation of the castle, and the walls were raised again. The population has tripled thanks to Lord Calypse fortifying the castle against monster attacks.”

The steward’s voice was full of awe and respect. The previous day’s scolding in front of the servants had not diminished his loyalty.

“That being said, the focus was on utility more than on architectural beauty,” Rodrigo added almost apologetically. “The castle is quite stark in appearance.”

Maxi smiled awkwardly. Her mission was now clear.

“H-How many rooms a-are there in t-total?”

“More than one hundred rooms in the main keep alone. The tower and annex hold some forty chambers. When you count the guard barracks and knights’ quarters, there are 250 rooms.”

His answer dismayed her. How could she possibly redecorate so many rooms?

But Rodrigo was not finished.

“Five drawing rooms, two banquet halls, and refreshment rooms on each floor… but none have seen use in decades,” he lamented. “The knights do not favor tea. I must confess, it has been too long since I last brewed a nice pot of tea.”

She pictured Riftan holding a dainty teacup. The image was dreadfully unflattering. Seeing Maxi chuckle to herself, Rodrigo gave a discreet cough.

“Do you enjoy drinking tea, my lady?”

“I… I do.”

“Then I’ll have the page prepare refreshments. Nothing but the finest tea leaves for you, my lady.”

“Th-Thank you.”

A soft smile spread across the old man’s wrinkled face, and Maxi felt her anxiety dissipate. The steward seemed to be a gentle soul.

“Shall we move on to the next room?”

Rodrigo continued his explanation as he trudged up the stairs. “You must already be aware, my lady, but the dining hall is on the first floor next to the grand hall, and your ladyship’s bedchamber is on the third floor. Lord Calypse’s study is located at the northern end of the same floor. The second floor holds the banquet hall and guest quarters, and the library can be found on the fourth floor.”

“Th-There’s a l-library?”

“Yes. The lord owns a collection of some 8,000 books, though most are from the days of the Roemian Empire. Would you like to see the library?”

She hesitated for a moment. Books were costly; Riftan might not welcome her rummaging through them. Maxi shook her head.

“N-Next time, p-perhaps…”

“Of course. Then let us proceed to the drawing room and banquet hall.”

She nodded. Drawing rooms and banquet halls served the vital function of receiving guests, and it seemed prudent to survey the rooms before planning their decoration. She followed Rodrigo into the banquet hall.

The room was completely bare, not a single chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling. Maxi gaped at the dreary spectacle. A chill rose from the stone floor, and a draft swept in through the cracks in the windows.

“We’ve never held a banquet here, you see…” Rodrigo trailed off in embarrassment.

“Y-You must have had g-guests visit…”

“The only guests who visit the lord are knights who do not care for balls or banquets. Lord Calypse opens the wine casks for such guests from time to time, but he has never hosted a formal dinner with other lords. The reconstruction of the castle and walls required so much gold that none could be spared for the entertainment of guests.”

Rodrigo sighed. “After years of disuse, his lordship seems to have forgotten about the very existence of these halls.”

Maxi resisted clutching her hair in exasperation. Riftan may have managed to avoid hosting banquets thus far, but he was now a man of influence, lauded as the strongest knight in the continent. Sooner or later, guests would flock to the castle. She could not leave the castle in its present state.

“P-Please ask the merchants to c-come as soon as p-possible.”

Rodrigo nodded eagerly, then led her to the drawing room and guest quarters. The drawing room was no better, but the guest quarters at least housed some basic furniture. There were sturdy beds and clean sheets in each room, and elegant shelves occupied the spaces by the windows. Maxi ran her eyes over the rooms before following Rodrigo to the servants’ quarters on the first floor.

“The men live in the annex, and the maidservants sleep on the first floor of the keep so they can answer summons at all times. You need only ring the bell in your room to call for them, even in the small hours of the night.”

According to Rodrigo, a total of eighty-seven servants worked in the castle, a number that seemed far from sufficient for maintaining a castle so large. Perhaps, however, there had been no need for more hands with the master of the castle absent for so long. After introducing Maxi to the maidservants, Rodrigo led her to the spacious kitchen, the last stop of their tour. There, she felt a warmth that she had not felt in other rooms.

She examined the enormous flame-spitting oven and the fireplaces that lined the wall. A bathtub-sized pot sat simmering on red-hot coal. In an open oven beneath the air vent, a deer was roasting on a spit.

Servants busied themselves kneading dough, peeling potatoes, carving smoked meat onto plates, and washing a veritable mountain of dishes and bowls at the sink. Gesturing at the hustle and bustle, Rodrigo began to explain.

“The kitchen is the busiest place in the castle. The servants can barely rest as they must cook for the knights and soldiers every day. We’re short on labor, so every servant in the castle is deployed to prepare lunch and dinner.”

“So th-that’s why th-there were n-no servants in th-the other rooms…”

Maxi silently resolved to ask Riftan to hire more servants.

“Shall we head to the annex, my lady?”

Under the sun, the gardens looked even more barren. The place was thick with weeds, and the leafless tree next to the pavilion may as well have been cut down.

Maxi frowned. The great hall was the pride of every lord. The gardens leading to the entrance of the main keep were always designed to impress guests, for they were the first thing that visitors would see. For this reason, her father ensured that the gates of Croyso Castle were decorated with many-hued flowers and well-groomed trees all throughout the year.

The gardens don’t need to be extravagant, but I must improve the place so that no one can ridicule it.

She rubbed her temples, confounded by where she should begin with the renovations.

“I-Is there no g-gardener?”

“The servants usually take turns cleaning the gardens…” answered Rodrigo, wiping the sweat beading on his forehead. “That is to say, we don’t have any gardeners.”

The servants could not be blamed. It was the responsibility of the lord and lady to keep the castle presentable. When Riftan had departed for the long campaign, the task should have fallen to her. In that moment, she finally understood her husband’s earlier rebuke.

“I’d l-like to see the a-annex now.”

“Certainly, my lady. This way.”

She followed Rodrigo through the gardens and along a narrow dirt path. A few ancient-looking oak trees cast delicate shadows on the path.

“In the past, the annex was the residence of Lord Anatol’s kin, but it has since been renovated for use as lodging for the squires.”

“Are th-there many s-squires here?”

“Around thirty, I would say. After Lord Calypse took on the mantle of commander of the Remdragon Knights, many lords sent their sons here. After a period of apprenticeship, they will be knighted and formally join the order.”

Rodrigo came to a halt. Maxi followed suit and stopped in her tracks. In a wide clearing at the end of the path, a group of youths who looked no older than fifteen stood in rows, wielding wooden swords.

“Ah, it’s their training hour. Shall I announce your presence, my lady?”

“N-No… I d-don’t wish to d-disturb them. We c-can see the annex l-later…”

Maxi waved her hands in agitation, then froze. Before the youths stood Riftan, tall and commanding.

“It seems that his lordship is overseeing their training,” the steward said, his voice suddenly nervous at the sight of Riftan’s imposing figure standing in the shadow of a tree.

“I think it’s best if we return, my lady. The lord doesn’t approve of anyone intruding on training sessions.”

“L-Let us g-go back, then.”

At Rodrigo’s suggestion, she turned around. She was about to take a step when someone grabbed her wrist.

Chapter 20

Maxi turned around in surprise to see Riftan staring back at her. Just a moment ago, he had been standing some distance away. How had he approached her without her noticing?

“Were you going to leave without saying a word?”

“I d-didn’t want to d-disturb you…”

“You’re not disturbing us at all.”

He took hold of her arm and turned around to look at the squires. The young men, drenched in sweat and red in the face, were looking at them with curiosity.

“We’re taking a break!” Riftan bellowed. “We’ll start again in an hour. Go and rest in the annex.”

He then led Maxi away by the hand. Flustered, she turned to look at Rodrigo, but the steward stood with his hands politely clasped, making it clear that he did not intend to follow. Riftan did not look back as he led her along the path.

“Have you eaten?”

“I-I ate in the d-dining hall… The s-steward was g-giving me a t-tour of the c-castle…” She stammered without meeting his eyes. Remembering how she had fallen asleep while bathing with him, she felt her cheeks grow hot.

“F-Forgive me for t-troubling you l-last night.”

“Troubling me?” he asked, his pace slowing so he could look at her.

“I f-fell asleep j-just like th-that…”

“It’s fine. You’re not used to long journeys,” he answered brusquely before picking up his pace again.

Maxi studied his expression. Despite his words, he looked displeased.

“S-Still, you must have been t-tired too… But you had to t-take care of m-me …”

“I wasn’t tired,” Riftan replied coolly. “Quite the opposite.”

“P-Pardon?”

Her question drew a sharp look from him, making her flinch. Riftan let out a sigh.

“Never mind. You said you were looking around the castle? I’ll guide you.”

“All r-right…”

Though she wanted to ask if she had done something wrong, she decided it was best to keep quiet.

◆◆◆

They crossed the gardens and climbed the stairs to the battlements. Atop the wall, Maxi could see rocky mountains and steep cliffs in the distance. The sloping hills were thick with verdant trees.

“Thirty to thirty-five sentries patrol the ramparts every day, keeping watch for monsters,” explained Riftan. “If they sight enemies, they sound the kopel.[4] The sound of the horn is a cue for the knights to lead our forces into battle.”

Maxi beheld the fortress that stood steadfast against the raging winds. The structure of the castle was simple. It was surrounded by tall, sturdy walls, and in front of the outer gates were the knights’ quarters and training grounds. The main keep and the annex could be found within the inner gates. As a whole, the rustic castle resembled a kneeling giant. To its rear was a spacious garden, and in the center of that garden was a tall, slender tower that looked like an iron spike.

Noticing Maxi’s inquiring look, Riftan explained, “Ruth lives in that tower. It’s near the mountains, so it’s easier for him to use long-distance magic should the need arise.”

Riftan furrowed his brows in annoyance.

“But don’t get too close,” he continued. “He cast strange magic runes all over the tower in the name of research, and they can be a real pain to deal with.”

“M-Magic runes…?”

She glanced up at him, her curiosity piqued. He seemed to have little desire to explain further, leading her along the patrol route toward the castle’s rear.

“What you see over there is the stable. That’s the barn, and that structure there is the granary. We always keep the granary stocked in case we come under siege.”

Riftan’s monotonous voice faltered as he scanned her expression.

“I must be boring you. I’m not much of a storyteller. Especially around women…”

“N-No, I’m not b-bored.”

She gave him a half-smile. It was difficult to picture Riftan bantering or engaging ladies in conversation. Still, it was hard to believe that he was uninitiated in the art of courtship. Unless he had recently transformed into a good-looking man, Riftan had lived twenty-eight years as a handsome young lad. It was implausible that women would have left him in peace.

Every knight who had regularly visited Croyso Castle had been a master of courtship. Time and again, Maxi had heard the maidservants giggle as they whispered animatedly amongst themselves about the knights’ seductive skills. At some point, Riftan must have bedded a young maidservant, or perhaps even a beautiful noblewoman. Maxi recalled his mention of the northern custom of the host’s wife attending to guests while they bathed. How else would he have learned of such practices?

Maxi’s spirits plummeted. His past deeds were not her business.

“What’s wrong? You’re frowning.”

Maxi quickly thought of an excuse. “Oh, th-the wind is j-just a little c-cold.”

Riftan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She held her breath at the overwhelming masculine scent emanating from his body.

“I should’ve told them to prepare warmer clothes.”

“It’s a-all right. It’s s-sunny. If th-the wind w-weren’t blowing, it w-would be w-warm…”

“Do you like the dress?”

She glanced down at her clothes. He would find it strange if she told him that she had never worn something so beautiful.

“Y-Yes, I do.”

“I’ll call the dressmaker to the castle so you can order anything you want. You can have dozens of dresses, hundreds even.”

Riftan raised her chin and looked at her with a penetrating gaze. Blood rushed to her face. Was this the act of a man who did not know the first thing about courtship? She averted her eyes.

“Is th-that a h-habit of yours?”

“What do you mean?”

“Always t-telling me you’ll g-get me anything I w-want.”

He frowned at her candor. “I mean it. I told you I wouldn’t give you any less than what you had at Croyso Castle.”

Maxi gulped. She had neither lived in luxury nor received the things she wanted. Would he still show her such kindness if he discovered that she was not the noble lady he imagined? She felt as if she had deceived him.

“I-I’d like to g-go back inside and r-rest now,” she mumbled, trying to avoid his eyes.

“Are you tired?”

Seeing her nod, Riftan took a step forward. A fierce wind whipped through the dense forest on the mountain. The trees themselves seemed to howl, making Maxi pause in her tracks. The wind brought with it an inexplicable scent of loneliness.

Will I be living with this scent for all the years to come?

Her eyes briefly rested on the bleak landscape before she turned to follow Riftan.

◆◆◆

Maxi returned to her room alone, for Riftan had returned outside to supervise the squires’ training. As she sat beside the fireplace, Ludis brought a tray of ginger tea and biscuits flecked with dried fruit.

“Lord Calypse will hold a feast with the knights this evening,” said Ludis, pouring her another cup of tea. “Would you like a new outfit for the occasion, my lady?”

Maxi gave her a puzzled look. “N-New outfit?”

“Yes. This is your first appearance as Lord Calypse’s consort. I thought it might serve you well to dress for the occasion, my lady…”

Ludis trailed off, her face tensing. She bowed her head and continued.

“I-I spoke out of turn, my lady. Please forgive me.”

“N-No, it’s all right.”

Maxi peered into the mirror that stood against the wall. The elegant bun that Ludis had styled so carefully had become disheveled in the wind. She brushed back the loose strands and nodded.

“Th-Then p-please…”

Ludis rose and left the room with the teapot in her hand. She returned with a small box containing a comb, scented water, and jewelry. Maxi sat in front of the mirror as Ludis swiftly undid her hair and combed until it gleamed under the light. Maxi was accustomed to her nursemaid combing with a force that threatened to tear off her scalp. In contrast, Ludis’s hands seemed miraculously skilled.

“Would you like a hairpin, my lady? Or a circlet, perhaps?”

Ludis opened the box of jewelry. On the red satin lay brooches adorned with precious stones, pearl necklaces, gold rings, and silver hairpins. Maxi’s eyes went round with wonder.

As far as Maxi knew, Riftan had no mother, sisters, or other family members. Why, then, did he have all this jewelry? It was also strange, in fact, that he had had such an extravagant dress prepared within a day of her arrival. Could it have belonged to a former lover?

“My lady, are these not to your liking?”

“N-No, they’re lovely…”

Maxi focused her attention on the ornaments, trying to ignore the strange feeling.

“P-Please use th-this hairpin…”

“Yes, my lady.”

Ludis braided Maxi’s hair and rolled it into a thick bun, fixing it with a sparkling hairpin studded with flower-shaped jewels. Next, she hung a string of pearls around Maxi’s neck and slid a crystal ring on her finger. Maxi beheld her richly dressed self as she would a stranger. With her flushed cheeks, wavering eyes, and uncertain expression, she looked like a clumsy child who had stolen her mother’s jewels.

“Shall I bring other jewels if these are not to your liking?” Ludis asked cautiously. She studied Maxi’s expression while straightening the creases on her mistress’s skirt.

Maxi shook her head.

“I-It’s all right. Th-These are g-good enough.”

Ludis rose from her seat, visibly relieved. Maxi wrapped a thin shawl around her shoulders and left the room. Outside, the sun was already setting.

Chapter 21

Maxi was strolling along the hall while glancing out of the windows when a bright voice addressed her.

“It seems you are ready, my lady. I was just on my way to escort you to the dining hall.”

She spun around to see Rodrigo, smartly dressed, swinging his spindly legs as he rushed toward her.

“The knights have arrived. Let us hurry, my lady. Lord Calypse is waiting.”

Maxi followed him downstairs. When they reached the entrance of the dining hall, she heard boisterous voices coming from within. She peered inside without entering. Under the twinkling lights, fifty men sat crammed on either side of a long dining table, and maidservants waited on them. The table was laden with delectable roasts, loaves of bread, goblets of wine, and ripe fruit. Flames blazed golden in the fireplace.

Maxi hesitated, unsure that her presence was appropriate at a knights’ banquet.

“Is something the matter, my lady?” Rodrigo asked with a hesitant look on his face.

When Maxi mustered up the courage to enter, silence fell upon the room. Dozens of pairs of eyes swiveled toward her.

Riftan beckoned. “Come here, Maxi.”

She snapped out of her daze and walked over to the seat next to him. Maidservants promptly placed small portions of food on her plate.

“Some of you haven’t been introduced. This is my wife, Lady Maximilian Calypse.”

She anxiously examined the knights’ faces. They wore ambiguous expressions, neither friendly nor hostile.

“I trust you’ll treat her with the respect she deserves,” said Riftan, a hint of warning in his tone.

Only then did the men begin to extend their half-hearted greetings. Maxi mumbled her thanks in response. After the exchange, the knights resumed their meal while Maxi stared at her food. Riftan half-filled her glass with wine.

“Why aren’t you eating? Is the food not to your taste?”

“N-No, it’s d-delicious.”

“Then eat.”

He picked up a drumstick with his bare hands and sank his teeth into it. His table manners were no different from when he had been eating at a makeshift campsite.

Riftan finished the generous portion of chicken in no time and reached for another piece. After gulping down wine like water, he urged her to eat with a sharp look. She gaped at his insatiable hunger.

He always pressures me to eat…

She sliced off a steaming piece of smoked meat and brought it to her mouth. Next, she served herself salad greens to balance the fatty meat and sweet seasoning. Despite her anxiety, the food tasted delicious. The chef of Calypse Castle was plainly far more skilled than the one at Croyso Castle.

Riftan, who had been watching her eat, deposited more food onto her plate.

“Try some of this. It’s good.”

She took a bite. Marinated in a red sauce, the meat had a gamey taste, but it was not inedible. Through narrowed eyes, she surveyed the plates on the table. Most were piled high with meat of unknown origin. As soon as she finished her plate of food, Riftan passed her steamed fowl stuffed with beans and potatoes.

“Here, eat this too.”

“I c-can’t eat all th-that.”

“You’ve barely eaten! Come now, just a bit more.”

Maxi scrunched up her face. She had forced herself to eat everything that Riftan had given her, and she now felt nauseous. Unable to endure another bite of the greasy feast, she set her fork down. Riftan frowned.

“Even swallows eat more than you do.”

“Th-That’s not t-true. I’ve had so m-much…”

Riftan snorted. A heap of bones, picked clean, sat on his plate. Even among the knights, he seemed to have an exceptional appetite. She really did eat like a bird in comparison.

“H-How much is e-enough?”

Maxi sighed. Riftan glanced at her with his mouth full. He gulped down the food before answering her matter-of-factly.

“You should eat a whole chicken, at least.”

“I don’t th-think… most women c-can eat that m-much…”

“I know one woman who did.”

Maxi winced. Who was the woman he was referring to? Was he fond of women with big appetites? Most men wanted healthy children from healthy wives. She looked down at her own thin body. Squeezing her eyes shut, she pushed more food into her mouth, drawing a smile from Riftan.

“Try eating more and more each day. You’re too frail.”

She nodded with a piece of bread in her mouth. Riftan began drinking with the older knight sitting next to him. Sipping her wine, she studied their faces.

There were new faces in the hall that she did not recognize from the journey. The center of the table was occupied by younger knights drinking and laughing raucously, while at the far end were youths who had seen no more than sixteen summers. At the head of the table, two knights in their forties or fifties offered Riftan glass after glass of wine.

Maxi continued to sip her wine, intrigued by their conversation. The progress of the squires’ training, the year’s crop yields and mine output, increased sightings of certain monsters, the efficacy of various weapons… She had never had the chance to learn about such matters. Riftan was engrossed in conversation with the senior knights when the youngest of the knights-in-training sprang up from his seat.

“Sir Riftan! Is it true that in the final battle in the Lexos Mountains, you cut through Dragon’s Breath with your blade aura?”

Everyone stopped talking to look at the young man. Unruffled by the stares of the senior knights, the silver-haired squire continued to chatter away.

“They say the flames of Dragon’s Breath can blow off the tops of mountains! It’s the most powerful magic in the natural world. How were you able to cut through that with a sword?”

“My blade aura just so happens to be special,” answered Riftan, plainly irritated.

“Our captain’s sword can absorb any magic that it encounters,” interjected a knight who had been filling a large tankard with ale. “The stronger the opponent’s magic, the stronger his sword becomes.”

Maxi recognized the speaker as Hebaron Nirtha, one of the knights who had traveled with them to Anatol.

“Well, even without such unique attributes, our captain is an excellent swordsman! He put that pompous commander of the Osiriyan Temple Knights in his place!”

“He’s the commander, not captain,” Ursuline Ricaydo, the blond knight, pointed out. “When will you fix those mercenary habits of yours?”

Hebaron snorted loudly. “Captain, commander, it’s all the same to me! Don’t lecture me on useless distinctions.”

The silver-haired youth who had been watching the quarrel began to shout with renewed excitement.

“Is it true, then, that Sir Riftan dueled Sir Kuahel Leon of the Temple Knights? Why hasn’t such a marvelous tale been told?”

“It was not the time to brag about the two greatest knights dueling each other,” Ricaydo said sharply. “The Dragon Campaign was right before us. The campaign’s high command silenced rumors about the duel, fearing that Sir Kuahel’s defeat would demoralize the Temple Knights in the alliance. One duel can always lead to another among hot-blooded knights. We were there to hunt a dragon, not to fight in a tourney.”

“S-Still, it was a duel between the two strongest knights in the continent! It’s a pity that no one has heard of it. It must have been a duel to eclipse all other duels!”

“Slaying the dragon was more than enough,” Riftan said drily. “I don’t need any more exploits to my name. And it wasn’t an official duel. We were preparing for the Dragon Campaign, so neither of us showed our true skills. As for the dragon, my contribution was greater than his solely because of my sword’s ability to absorb magic, not because of my swordsmanship.”

“It’s not like you to be so modest,” quipped a young knight who was munching on an apple by the fireplace. “A victory’s a victory. You both agreed to duel under limited conditions, and you won fair and square.”

The squires’ eager eyes were trained on the speaker.

“Sir Gabel! Please tell us more about the duel!”

Gabel Lachzion shrugged. “You’d rather hear about that instead of the campaign?”

“No! You must tell us about the dragon, too!”

The knight chuckled at the youths’ enthusiasm. Maxi, too, was listening intently. She had heard the bards sing at her father’s banquets about the knights’ heroic deeds, but she had never heard the stories straight from a knight’s mouth.

Gabel guzzled a tankard of golden ale to quench his thirst before recounting the campaign’s early days, beginning with a vivid account of a battle against ogres and trolls. By the time his account reached the struggle against three basilisks in the valley leading into the Lexos Mountains, Maxi was just as enthralled as the bright-eyed squires.

The monsters she had encountered in person had been terrifying, but she was captivated by the creatures in Gabel’s eloquent narration. As she silently marveled at his talent for storytelling, she felt something touch her neck.

Chapter 22

Maxi turned around in surprise to see Riftan fingering her necklace while resting his head on one arm.

“W-What is it…?” Maxi trailed off and inhaled sharply.

His hand grazed her nape, then began to stroke the bare skin above her plunging neckline. Mortified, she looked around the room, but the others were too engrossed in conversation to notice. She let out a sigh of relief and pushed Riftan’s arm away, but he did not budge.

Riftan smirked and began toying with the strands of hair that had come loose on her neck. He tapped her collarbone with his fingertips, sending a tingle through her. She trembled. His hand traced the length of her spine before grasping her waist. Feeling his touch on her belly, she blushed.

“R-Riftan…”

“It seems my wife has had too much wine,” Riftan addressed the knights. “We’ll take our leave now.”

The knights, who had been chattering animatedly among themselves, exchanged knowing looks. Maxi blushed crimson, certain that she would die from sheer embarrassment.

“Let’s go.”

Ignoring the knights’ suggestive jests, Riftan helped Maxi to her feet and led her out of the dining hall. She followed with faltering steps. Her vision flickered as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Not a sliver of moonlight trickled through the opaque windows, and the corridors were illuminated only by dim lamps. The walls gave off a deep chill.

“R-Riftan… P-Please slow d-down…”

She pulled at his arm, unable to keep up with his quickening pace. Suddenly, she found herself suspended mid-air. She stifled a scream. Riftan pushed her against the staircase wall and began to kiss her passionately. Though the entanglement of their tongues felt almost unbearable, she found herself tightening her grip on his arm. She had tasted his lips countless times, yet each kiss felt new and strange.

“I wanted to do this all day… I was holding back for your sake, but you were staring at other men…”

His growl reverberated through her ears and throat, the vibrations tickling her insides. She moaned faintly. His powerful chest pressed against her bosom, Riftan seized the back of her head with a calloused hand to pull her close.

With each step he climbed, he showered her with a barrage of kisses. She clung to his neck, afraid of tumbling down the stairs. Riftan had once been a source of fear, but his touch now caused her thoughts to trickle down and pool inside her stomach like silt.

“Damn these stairs! Why are there so many?”

As he slid a hand under her skirt to stroke her thigh, she let out a shriek.

“N-No…! N-Not out here…”

The rest of her words were swallowed by Riftan’s kiss. A shiver ran through her as she dug her fingers into his shoulders. His calloused hands slipped below her undergarment, the contact between his fingers and her intimate spot producing a squelch. Her insides melted, and her heart pounded against her chest.

“I want to enter you right here and now…”

As he pushed his fingers in deeper, she felt his hot breath on her neck. She could not tell whether the sensations sweeping through her body were from fear or passion. Shuddering at the thought of someone spying on them from the shadows, she clung to Riftan more tightly.

Burning with desire, his lips brushed across her ears, neck, and collarbone, while his thick fingers gently rubbed her tender flesh. When she moved her body the way he had once taught her, Riftan fastened his teeth on her skin and sucked to the point of pain. He panted heavily like an eager hunting dog standing before an ensnared bird.

“Not even death will stop me today.”

Riftan bounded up the last flight of stairs as Maxi held onto him for dear life. He yanked open the door. As soon as it was closed behind them, he undressed her to reveal her round breasts under the light. She held back a scream as she watched his mouth envelop the pert bud of flesh. His tongue flicked the sensitive bud, and his teeth grazed her skin before clamping down to suck. Disoriented by the frothing thrill shooting through her, she writhed.

“R-Riftan…”

“Let me have you,” he growled, his command sounding like a plea. “Don’t say you don’t want it.”

Maxi felt her heart pound under his intense gaze.

“I… I…”

“I’m about to die,” he said, his voice cracking. “Let me fill you. Please.”

As he sucked on her lips, the skin around her eyes grew hot. Without a word, she wound her arms around his neck. He embraced her more fiercely, and they tumbled onto the bed.

Shame and excitement. Trepidation and anticipation. As these emotions swept through her, she kissed him in a daze. Above them, the sheets bunched together like cotton clouds. He pulled out her hairpin to undo her elaborate braid before tearing off her chemise. The cool air that brushed against her bare body roused the last bit of reason left in her.

“W-We should b-bathe first…”

“So you can fall asleep again? Not a chance.”

He cut her off mid-sentence and grabbed her breast. The soft mound of flesh had become moist from his attention.

“I’ll bathe you later, so…”

The rest of his words were lost as he murmured into her skin. Like dough in a baker’s hands, she surrendered herself to his touch, her limbs floundering under the sheets. Each time the tip of his tongue swirled around the most sensitive part of her breasts, she felt her blood foam.

“Th-This feels s-s-strange…”

She was stuttering more severely than usual, but she was too preoccupied to feel shame. Riftan stroked her ears soothingly and placed himself, almost bursting with excitement, between her legs. His hardness rubbed slowly against her womanhood, separated only by a thin layer of clothes. Though their bodies were pressed together, she felt an unbearable emptiness within.

“My heart might stop.”

Riftan’s voice tickled her tense neck. He pressed his lips to hers again while undoing his trouser straps. Their tongues intertwined gently. Maxi clenched her eyes shut when she felt his hot flesh against hers. His flesh, which had been brushing between her legs, parted her entrance and entered with a single, deep thrust. Maxi writhed at the still unfamiliar sensation. Every muscle in Riftan’s body tensed as he let out a restrained moan.

“Don’t tighten so much…”

“S-S-Sorry…”

“Breathe out… Yes, a little more…”

She thrashed like fish caught in a net. His warm breath, laced with the sweet scent of wine, moistened her skin. Damp with perspiration, his raven locks tickled her forehead. She felt a pulse where they were connected.

“Is this how it would feel to soak in hot cream?”

Though his words were sweet, he wore the expression of a man under torture. As the friction of coarse cloth stimulated her bare skin, Maxi tried to get used to the feeling of him filling her. Their tightly entwined lower bodies rubbed together like writhing serpents.

Unable to bear it any longer, Maxi squirmed, and Riftan began to move.

“Ah!”

His thick length slowly slid into her before pulling out to the tip, only to thrust in deeper. Her sheath became dewy with honey. A tingle reached the ends of her limbs. Moaning quietly, she arched her back.

Riftan leaned over her to put his mouth over her breasts, each suck rekindling the heat inside her. Her body shook with his movements, and the hotness between her thighs surged to engulf her whole. Her legs trembled as she reached climax, and she squeezed. Riftan gasped and swelled inside her.

“N-No…”

Maxi thrashed beneath him. Her body felt like a stranger’s. Riftan’s body, burning like red-hot iron, weighed hers down with urgent but graceful motions. A gaze so intense that it startled her; a heartbeat powerful enough to rise to the surface of his skin; and the primal movement inside her… Her mind was overwhelmed. A pain so passionate and sweet…

Maxi shook as if a bolt of lightning had struck her, her heart beating uncontrollably. As she twisted her torso to break free from the maddening sensations, Riftan scooped her up and placed her on his lap.

“Ah! Ah…”

Maxi found herself on his knees, facing him with her legs spread open. She received him even more deeply and shuddered, the stimulation too much to bear.

Riftan held her head and whispered, “More… Just a little more, Maxi…”

Maxi clung to his neck. Once broken, the sluice gates could not be closed. Each time he sank into her, her hips quivered with a life of their own, and her body squeezed as if to seek something more. Just as she thought that she could no longer bear the stimulation, his movement finally came to a stop. She closed her eyes, feeling a lukewarm essence erupt inside her body. A drop of sweat trickled down her cheek.

“I thought I was going to die,” Riftan whispered, licking the droplet.

Still in a daze, Maxi looked up at his flushed face with half-closed eyes. A pair of black eyes flickered between strands of disheveled hair, unsated.

Chapter 23

“Don’t fall asleep just yet.”

Sucking Maxi’s lips, Riftan slowly rubbed the part where they were joined together. Her eyes snapped open. He laid her on her back before tossing off his tunic. Their bodies, still connected, quivered in the afterglow of pleasure. Spent though they were, he grabbed her ankle and propped her leg on his shoulder. He lifted his hips.

Maxi let out a low moan as the obscene sight of their nude bodies entered her vision. She remembered the cleric who had once preached to her about the conduct of a virtuous wife. But as Riftan began to rock his body again, she found her hesitation fade.

“Ah… A-Ah…”

“Look at this.”

He lifted her head to make her see how they were joined. She stifled her breath in shock. He pushed himself in to the hilt, his lean torso pressing against her with every thrust. Wave after wave of burning heat wreaked havoc on her insides. She writhed beneath him like a harpooned fish.

“Ah…!”

“Don’t close your eyes. Look. I’m inside you… Mmm…”

Riftan moved urgently inside her, a vein rising to the surface of his neck. Maxi wavered between the impulse to push him away and the desire to embrace him. Riftan gritted his teeth and shuddered as if he were suppressing something. Then, he began to rock his hips with unrestrained vigor. He swelled to a degree just short of breaking her skin as he grated against her insides. With each movement, he broke and remolded her, their lower bodies emitting wet sounds. Maxi covered her face with her hands and moaned.

The agonizing rapture continued all through the night.

◆◆◆

Maxi awoke to the sound of raindrops striking the window. Her blurred vision registered droplets of water trickling down the window, beyond which was a stormy sky. The chilly air made her shiver. As she drew the covers closer, the sinewy arm that had been draped around her shoulders drew her into an embrace.

Maxi blushed and lowered her gaze. Riftan’s large hand was cupping her breast. His thigh, hard as marble, was pressed between her legs where he had entered countless times the previous night. After shifting away from him without waking him, she turned her head to look at him. He was deep asleep with his head half-buried in the pillows and an innocent expression on his face.

Innocent…?

She shook her head. It was the last word that she would associate with the man. Still, she could not take her eyes off his peaceful face. His usually stern eyes looked soft and relaxed, and with the frown gone from his face, he looked like a twenty-year-old youth.

Maxi felt a sudden urge to brush back his unkempt hair. Feeling her touch, Riftan shook his head slightly and exhaled sleepily. Her heart skipped a beat. She fought the desire to run her hand across his smooth forehead and cheeks.

“R-Riftan… It’s time to wake up…”

Though it was impossible to tell the time from the cloudy skies, she knew that they had been in bed for a long while. Gingerly, she tried to slide out of his embrace. Riftan murmured something unintelligible and nestled against her. The faint scent of sweat and musk emanating from his tanned skin ignited heat in her lower belly, and she held back a moan.

She lay on her stomach and clenched her thighs together. The region between her thighs stung and her limbs ached from the previous night. Biting her bottom lip, she waited for him to fall asleep again. She soon felt his arms relax and began to cautiously rise from the bed, but she found herself pressed down by Riftan’s weight.

“R-Riftan…!”

Pushed flat against the bed, she flailed her arms. He seized her buttocks and spread her open before thrusting into her, though she was still swollen. She gripped the sheets and gasped for air.

“Feels like I’m melting…”

His sleep-laden voice tickled the back of her ears. Maxi buried her face in the soft sheets as he placed himself behind her and cupped her breasts. His manhood began to move inside her.

“Mmm…”

“O-Oh…”

She let out a quiet moan as she received him. His hands released her breasts and moved down to tenderly rub between her legs. The steady warmth inside her grew into a full blaze.

She spread her toes out like a fan and buried her face in the sheets. He pushed deeper into her, his broad chest pressing into her back. She felt a bite of pleasure on the back of her neck.

Though she had experienced it several times during the night, the feeling of him swelling and pulsating inside her felt strange. Her whole body convulsed.

“It’s only morning, and you’re already making me go crazy.”

He pressed his lips to her quivering back and pulled out slowly. She whimpered at the foreign sensation.

“Wait here.”

Riftan ran a hand through his tousled hair and yawned loudly before springing out of bed.

Maxi watched as he strolled across the room stark naked and pulled on his trousers. For a man whose first act in the morning had been to ravage her, he looked as languid as a cat basking in the sun.

“Bring us some bathwater and a change of clothes,” he instructed a maidservant who had been waiting outside the door.

With that, he ambled back to bed. Maxi trembled softly in the aftershock of her climax. He gazed down at her with his dark eyes before perching on the edge of the bed to smack kisses all over her bare shoulders and back. She groaned.

“I-I’m t-tired…” she mumbled, fearing that he might try to enter her again.

Riftan frowned. He brushed a hand across her pale buttocks, which were wet with bodily secretions.

“Are you in pain?” His voice was thick with concern.

“It’s a b-bit s-sore,” she managed to stammer.

Again, deep creases appeared between his brows.

“I must have pushed you too far,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Maxi could only blush in response. Moments later, maidservants entered with towels and a bathtub filled with hot water. After sending them away, Riftan scooped her into his arms and carefully lowered her into the tub. She moaned quietly as her aching muscles loosened. As Riftan shed his trousers and slid in behind her, water spilled over the edges and splashed onto the floor.

“You can relax. I won’t do any more today.”

Sitting with his long legs spread open, he tenderly embraced her tense shoulders. Maxi curled into a ball, watching as he soaped his face and hair. After rinsing his hair, he poured fresh water into the tub and proceeded to wash hers. She was embarrassed to be treated like a child, but she was too tired to object.

“Your hair is so fluffy, like a red cloud.”

Her long tresses floated on the surface of the water like the tentacles of a red jellyfish. He took a few locks in his hand and twirled them around his fingers. Her eyes went round. She had never imagined that anyone would compare her dreary, unruly hair to something as beautiful as clouds in the sky.

“It’s always g-getting t-tangled up. I-It’s uncomfortable.”

“But your curls are so cute.”

Her eyes became rounder still. The man had peculiar taste.

“Let your hair down when you’re with me. I love seeing the way it falls across your shoulder. And I love feeling your curls on my skin.”

Hugging her waist from behind, he nuzzled her shoulder with his nose. Chin-deep in water, Maxi tried to smooth down her hair.

After soaking in the warm water until their fingers and toes pruned, they got up to dry themselves. Riftan sat her in front of the fireplace and dried her hair with a towel. She did the same in return.

Riftan pulled on the tunic and trousers that the maidservants had prepared. The neckline of the snow-white tunic was embroidered with gold thread, and wearing it, he looked like a masterpiece.

“Just stay in bed and rest today. It’s raining, so you won’t be able to go out.”

Maxi nodded. She was still wrapped in sheets, lacking the courage to dress in front of him. Riftan put on a pair of long boots over his starched trousers and fastened the leather straps.

“A-Are you g-going out?”

Maxi looked at him quizzically as he donned his armor and gathered his sword and robe. Riftan turned to look at her with a gentle smile, fastening the sword to the belt around his waist.

“Do you want me to stay?”

Maxi opened and closed her mouth, unsure of what she should say. He draped the robe around his shoulders and continued to speak in a detached tone.

“I’ve been away for a long time, so there are duties that require my attention. I’ll be inspecting the estate all day. Send a guard to me if anything happens.”

“B-But it’s r-raining so heavily…”

She looked at the rain pounding against the window. Riftan shrugged.

“I once made my way through a mountain in a heavy storm. A stroll around my estate is nothing.”

With that, he lowered the hood over his head and strode toward the door.

“I’ll be back.”

“T-Take care…”

He gave her an indecipherable look over his shoulder before exiting the room.

Chapter 24

Maxi climbed down from the bed with trembling legs and pulled on the undergarments and chemise prepared by the maidservants. But she could not find a dress. She rang the small bell next to the head of the bed. A few moments later, Ludis entered the room with fresh clothes.

“Would you like your hair braided and pinned up again, my lady?”

“J-Just b-braid it over my sh-shoulder.”

Ludis deftly twisted her hair into a braid and fastened it with a ribbon. Maxi put on a simple but comfortable dress and sat by the fireplace with a bowl of warm chicken soup and cornbread. When her hunger was sated, she sat by the window to watch the rain. In the afternoon, she summoned Rodrigo to continue the tour of the castle. With each step, the area between her thighs ached, and her tender nipples stung as they chafed against her clothes. Still, she did not want to idle around in bed all day.

I only just got to the castle…

It would not do to give the servants the impression that she was a slothful mistress. She returned to her room only after finishing the tour in the drawing room of the annex. Before retiring, she received a ledger of purchases from Rodrigo. However, she found it difficult to tell from the records on the yellowing parchment which items had been essential, and which had not.

The truth was that Maxi had no experience making any sort of purchase. The extent of her knowledge was that gold coins were called soldem and silver coins, liram. But the ledger listed names of currencies that she had never heard of. She began to sweat.

Denar, derham, dant…

She had heard in passing that these were currencies used in the Southern Continent, but she had not the slightest clue how much they were worth. Maxi leafed through the ledger. Purchased necessities included weapons, foodstuffs, clothing, oil, candles, and firewood. The numbers in the column next to the item names seemed to indicate the quantity purchased and total cost.

Maxi tried to estimate the value of each currency based on these figures, straining to remember her lessons from her governess. It had been too long, however, since she had done any arithmetic.

After a long struggle, Maxi gave up and closed the ledger. Downbeat, she flung herself onto the bed. It crossed her mind that it might be best to ask Rodrigo, but the thought was eclipsed by the echo of her father’s voice telling her that a master must always maintain his dignity in front of his servants.

The servants are bound to mock and deceive a foolish, incompetent master!

She winced, recalling the indifferent servants at the Croyso castle. They had never been openly disrespectful, but she had always sensed condescension in the way they spoke to her. Sooner or later, the servants at Calypse Castle would assume the same attitude.

She tried to comfort her withering heart.

Th-There’s still time…

◆◆◆

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. Observing his nimble hands, Maxi asked whether such tasks did not usually fall to the servants. Riftan shrugged.

“I’ve been doing this since I was fourteen. And I don’t trust anyone to handle my companion here.”

He raised the sword to the light. The blade was entirely different from the ornamental sword that Duke Croyso wore on his belt at banquets. Broad and long, its tip was pointed like a spire, and the handle undecorated. It was simple and unsophisticated, yet it seemed far more majestic than the gold- and jewel-studded sword that belonged to the Duke. 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.”

Riftan spoke with undisguised pride. Maxi had never seen a sword fighting competition before, though Rosetta had attended several with their father as the beloved lady of many a competing knight. She had always returned in a sour mood, grumbling about how the raucous events were filthy and barbaric.

“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…”

She was making a fool out of herself. Her father’s screams echoed in her ears: You never know when to keep your mouth shut!

“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. Another day at Calypse Castle had gone by.

◆◆◆

The rain lasted several days. During that time, Riftan inspected the village, the mines, and the farmlands. Meanwhile, Maxi was permitted to peruse the library at her leisure, and she spent much of her time there. She was surprised to find that the books were made of paper. The collections seemed to date back to the days of the Roemian knight who had once ruled Anatol.

She resisted the temptation to delve into Roemian poetry and literature. Instead, she spent the days struggling through arithmetic books. She did not have grand ambitions. Her goal was simply to study currency units and basic arithmetic. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she made no progress.

“My lady, the regional head of the merchant guild has arrived,” announced Rodrigo.

Maxi closed her books and emerged from the library. She followed Rodrigo into the drawing room, where she found a clean-cut man who looked to be in his mid-thirties. He stood up and bowed respectfully.

“An honor to make your acquaintance, Lady Calypse. I am Aderon Suner, at your service.”

Maxi forced a smile. With the rain abating, she had been informed that the merchant would visit that day, but seeing him in person petrified her. Feeling her mouth go dry, she spoke hesitantly.

“Thank you for c-coming despite this r-rain.”

“No, my lady. It is my regret that I could not visit sooner.”

Maxi sat down at the table, and the merchant smiled politely. He appeared to be a good-natured man. Her reunion with Riftan had brought many occasions on which she was expected to speak. With practice, she had learned to talk without being nervous to the point of breaking a cold sweat. Still, she felt anxious.

Sensing that Maxi was not going to initiate the discussion, the merchant spoke.

“I am told that you are planning to refurbish the castle. May I ask where you plan to start?”

Maxi fixed her gaze on the cup of tea that the maidservant had poured for her. She slowly opened her mouth.

“F-First, I’d l-like to r-replace the windows. The c-corridors and h-halls are too d-dark… m-many of the windows in the r-rooms are b-broken.”

“Replacing all of the windows in the castle will be quite costly, my lady. Are you thinking of using balt glass?”

Maxi thought of the gleaming windows at Croyso Castle. Were there different kinds of glass?

“The price varies enormously depending on the transparency of the glass. From the inexpensive balt glass to the crystal glass of the Southern Continent, I can provide anything you need. Would you like me to prepare some samples for my next visit?”

“Y-Yes… I-I’d like that.”

“Is there anything else I can offer, my lady?”

“C-Curtains for the w-windows and… A ch-chandelier for the b-banquet hall, as well as c-carpets and t-tapestries for the walls…”

The merchant’s face lit up at the prospect of a lucrative transaction. Maxi, on the other hand, felt her throat constrict. Riftan had said he would provide her with all the gold she needed, but was there truly no limit? She squirmed in her seat, uncertain of whether she was spending too lavishly. The merchant continued to issue a torrent of words.

“We would need some time to procure all the goods. I shall return at the earliest possible day with samples. May I see the rooms you wish to redecorate?”

Maxi looked to Rodrigo for approval and gave a nod. The merchant would know better than she which items were needed.

They exited the drawing room and headed to the largest banquet hall. Rodrigo tailed them with an old maidservant and two guards. Aderon briskly appraised the empty hall and proceeded to deliver a lengthy speech on what kinds of items were necessary and which he would recommend. Maxi tried her best to memorize his words.

“In my humble opinion, the stone floor should be replaced with marble. What do you say, my lady?”

“I think we sh-should f-focus on w-what we r-really need…”

“Imagine how splendid this hall would look with smooth marble floors and murals on whitewashed walls! If you wish, I shall send the best artisans among our guild’s ranks.”

She smiled awkwardly in response. “I-I’ll th-think about it.”

“This is the castle of the greatest knight in the continent! Its grandeur should match the prestige of its owner!”

Chapter 25

After telling Maxi to take her time mulling things over, Aderon left the banquet hall to inspect the bleak corridors and empty rooms. When he returned, he listed all the items that he thought were necessary. Some of his suggestions were too extravagant, but she agreed to have the stair railings and rattling window frames replaced at once for safety.

When the merchant left, Maxi returned to her room to examine the ledger. It contained records of the number of coins that Riftan had allocated for the castle’s refurbishment, but she could not gauge how much the currencies were worth. Though her father had treated her little better than vermin, she had still been a duke’s daughter, and as often happens with the daughters of nobility, she had never held a coin in her hand.

I should ask for help…

But whose help could she seek? Riftan’s? He would stop being kind to her if he discovered her incompetence. The servants’? They would talk behind her back, mocking their stuttering mistress who lacked the most basic knowledge. As paranoid thoughts began to surface, she gravitated toward the most convenient solution.

Perhaps I should go along with the merchant’s suggestions.

Aderon had traveled to many castles to sell his wares, so he was certain to have a discerning eye. He might overcharge her, but she was sure that the castle would undergo a splendid transformation with his help.

Riftan said cost wasn’t a problem.

Having reached a decision, Maxi felt calmer. She closed the ledger and walked out of the room with lighter steps. 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. The thin branches on the trees beside the pavilion were drenched black, giving them a ghastly look. The flowerbed, thick with weeds, gave off a pungent whiff of wet 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.

◆◆◆

Aderon returned the next day with two servants and bags of samples in tow. Maxi sat in the drawing room listening to his lengthy explanations. Glass with an emerald hue and irregular surface, glass that was smooth and transparent, and rough glass that glowed a beautiful silver… After describing the merits and demerits of each type, he spread out brilliant fabrics of all colors before her.

“Banquet halls require thick curtains, my lady. What do you think of this mahogany-colored one? The roses in gold embroidery make it exquisite, and it would certainly befit a lord’s banquet hall. Ah, and here is another of our very best. Gold silk! Its elegance and splendor are a match even for the lofty banquet halls of the royal capital.”

Maxi busily inspected dozens of fabric samples. Ludis cautiously set down a cup of tea and browsed with her. After hesitating for a long while, Maxi decided to ask Ludis’s opinion.

“L-Ludis, which d-do you think looks b-best?”

“I beg your pardon, my lady, but I lack the eye for such things.”

Ludis looked so bewildered that Maxi could not inquire further. She returned her gaze to the table. After a lengthy deliberation, she settled on a costly rose-colored curtain with gold tassels and elaborate embroidery along the hem.

With the color for the curtains set, the next decisions were easier to make. For the banquet hall, Maxi opted for a red carpet and a tapestry depicting the legendary knight Wigrew riding a white dragon.

“And for the floor, my lady? Marble, perhaps?”

“Th-That would involve c-complex c-construction work… I’ll th-think about it.”

“Very well, my lady. It will take time to have the goods sent over from the capital, but in the meantime, please think it over.”

Maxi nodded. Next, the merchant presented her with a miniature of a chandelier. Seeing her exclaim in delight at the palm-sized replica, the merchant lost no time in showing her more models, this time made of marble. A rearing unicorn, a dragon with its wings spread wide, the head of a roaring lion, a fully armored knight…

Maxi was marveling at the intricate detail of the statuettes when she heard a series of knocks. She gave permission to enter.

“My lady, the tailor is here,” said Rodrigo from the doorway.

“The t-tailor…?”

She tilted her head, remembering with a flash that Riftan had promised her new clothes. She turned toward the merchant at a loss. Aderon, ever tactful, was already putting away the samples.

“I can come back another day, my lady. And I will leave these figurines for you to examine at your leisure. You can decide which one suits your fancy before our next meeting.”

“Y-You c-came all the w-way here… I’m s-sorry.”

“It’s no trouble at all, my lady. I shall visit whenever you need me.”

After Aderon’s departure, Maxi went to the dressing room with the maidservants. The spacious room was filled with rich fabrics, a loom, and colorful skeins. A gaunt, well-dressed man in his forties and a woman in her thirties rose from their seats and bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, my lady. My name is Roanne Selous, and this is my wife, Linda Selous. It will be an honor to make your gowns for you.”

“A p-pleasure…”

“Lord Calypse instructed us to make you dresses of the finest quality without regard to cost. Is there a style you have in mind, my lady?”

“I have n-nothing specific in m-mind.”

“Then allow me to show you what is fashionable right now.”

The tailor pulled out a scroll of yellow parchment and spread it before her. As she studied the sketches, she felt as if she were dreaming. Though she was not entirely sure what the pictures represented, she grew excited all the same. She had seen Rosetta surrounded by tailors before, but she had never received the same attention.

Maxi browsed fabrics and had her measurements taken as she listened to the tailor’s explanations. Next, she put on a headdress, veil, and belt before examining her reflection in the mirror. A woman adorned like a peacock stared back at her, her eyes bright with excitement. The cone-shaped headdress was tall enough to graze the ceiling. Combined with the mass of jewelry piled on her, it made her look absurd.

“I th-think a smaller h-headdress m-might be b-better...”

The tailor nodded and began scribbling notes. After putting in an order for three new dresses, Maxi left the dressing room.

When she looked out of the window, the sky was already dark. Time had flown by. She promptly returned to her room. Unaccustomed to managing so many tasks in one day, she was exhausted. She sat on a chair and massaged her shoulders, which ached from constant tension.

She was twisting her neck left and right just as she had seen Riftan do when the small vase by the window caught her attention. The wildflowers had bloomed overnight. She was reminded of the awkward expression Riftan had worn the previous night.

What a strange man…

The first time she had seen him, she had had no inkling that a kind soul lay beneath his ruthless veneer. He had stood coldly in the middle of the great hall at Croyso Castle, looking less like a guest than a conqueror about to lay siege to the place. Who could have imagined such a man picking flowers for his wife?

He’s too good to me. This must be a dream.

Her face clouded over. Flowers and dresses, people who treated her with respect, and a kind husband… Her life had changed at a dizzying speed.

Chapter 26

“My lady.”

Maxi turned to see Ludis standing quietly by the door.

“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.

“Then allow me to arrange your hair again.”

Ludis used a comb and hairpin to twist her disheveled hair back into a neat bun. Maxi inspected her dress and face in the mirror before leaving the room. Outside, servants were busy lighting lamps along the corridor. She passed by them and 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.

“We must leave for the royal capital tomorrow!”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. I told you we’re leaving in three days.”

“You must attend the ceremony! How much longer will you test His Majesty’s goodwill?”

“For once, I agree with Ricaydo. With the rain subsiding, we’ll have no problem making the journey.”

Maxi had been hovering by the door, unsure of whether she should enter. Hearing the knights’ words, she froze. She recalled that they had made similar remarks during the journey. As the hero of the Dragon Campaign, Riftan should have made for the royal capital as soon as Sektor was slain. Maxi tried to approximate the distance between Anatol and the capital. By her calculation, Riftan would be absent for a fortnight at the shortest or a month at the longest.

“I’ve sent a carrier pigeon to the capital. This is the first time I’ve come home in three years. King Reuben will understand.”

“Commander, I know you’re trying to distance yourself from the king,” said the knight standing furthest away from her. “But if you make it too obvious, you could lose his favor.”

Ricaydo turned around abruptly. “Distance himself?”

“Elnuima Reuben III is anxious to have the commander in the capital. Commander, are you wary of becoming shackled to the royal family under the pretext of their rewarding you for your contributions?”

Riftan remained silent.

“And there’s the matter of Princess Agnes. It’s clear that the king wants to tie you down. I understand why you’re wary, but you must avoid antagonizing him. He distrusts his vassals as it is.”

“Elliot’s right. If we miss the celebration, the king will think that he was humiliated in front of his vassals. With his propensity for holding grudges, there’s no telling what kind of retribution he’ll plan.”

“Hebaron Nirtha! You dare blaspheme the king?”

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.

Ludis, who had been waiting on her, noticed her glum expression.

“Is the food not to your liking, my lady?”

Maxi quickly shook her head.

“N-No, it’s d-delicious. I j-just… don’t h-have an a-appetite.”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m j-just a little t-tired. I’d like to r-rest.”

“Should I take away the plate?”

Maxi nodded, and Ludis left with the half-finished food. Still seated at the table, Maxi gazed at the figurines that Aderon had left behind. The tiny statuettes had lost their charm.

Being alone should not have alarmed her; in fact, she had always been alone. For twenty-two long years, she had lived with a cruel father, callous half-sister, and disrespectful servants. There was no ostensible reason for Riftan’s month-long absence to make her feel so forlorn.

A hand suddenly entered her vision.

“What’s that you’re looking at?”

Maxi whipped her head around in surprise, not having noticed Riftan enter. He was examining a marble miniature in his hand with a bemused expression.

“They’re m-models of the d-decorations for the b-banquet hall.”

“Banquet hall?”

Riftan frowned. Maxi’s heart sank.

“Y-You wanted me to r-redecorate the c-castle…”

“I forgot that there was a banquet hall in this castle. Well, we’ll have to hold banquets and balls soon anyway.”

Maxi gulped, her throat constricting at the look of anticipation in Riftan’s eyes. The thought of hosting a ball or banquet was enough to make her head spin.

“I-If you d-don’t want to…”

“I don’t dislike the idea, though I can’t say I’m used to such noisy affairs.”

He 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 a gentle smile on his lips.

“I want to see you dressed up and dancing.”

Maxi had never thought of herself as beautiful, and she had never danced at a ball. The disparity between Riftan’s expectations and her true self unnerved her.

“C-Come to th-think of it, I h-haven’t even thanked you p-properly. Th-Thank you for hiring a t-tailor …”

“No need to be so formal over something so trivial,” Riftan answered impassively, returning the miniature on the table. “I know that life here is nothing compared to your life at Croyso Castle. But bear it for now. With time, I’ll give you everything you want.”

He wound an arm around her shoulders and kissed her earlobe. She shrank in his embrace. She wanted to say that she lacked for nothing and that his kindness was more than she could have hoped for, but the words never left her mouth. She was just happy that he cherished her, though it could all be an illusion.

“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.

◆◆◆

“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.

Chapter 27

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.

◆◆◆

A tremendous rain poured down as if to make up for the previous day’s drizzle. Maxi suspected that a hole had formed in the sky. Not even the knights dared urge their commander to depart, and the journey was delayed once more. Riftan, unable to inspect his land, spent the day idling indoors for the first time since his return.

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.”

The door closed behind him. Maxi stared at the door and blinked, feeling a wave of emptiness sweep through her. She rose from the bed with shaky steps and instructed the maidservant to draw her a bath. She was wide awake.

“My lady, your bath is ready.”

Ludis and three maidservants entered the room with a bathtub filled with steaming water. It was only with their help that Maxi managed to step into the water. Ludis washed her hair and soaped her body with a soft sponge. Though she was mortified, Maxi did not refuse the servants’ help, knowing that she lacked the strength to bathe herself.

“Excuse me for a moment, my lady,” said the maidservant who was drying her hair with a towel. “I will bring you a high-necked dress.”

A deep blush spread across Maxi’s face. Covered in red splotches, her body looked as if it had contracted the pox.

“Th-Thank you.”

When the servants left the room, Maxi stood in front of the mirror and gingerly unwrapped her towel. As she had expected, her neck was covered in red marks. Her pink-tinged bosom also bore dark, rose-colored spots. With trembling hands, she reached for her breasts. They had felt entirely different under Riftan’s touch.

She stared at the bright-eyed, pink-complexioned woman in the mirror. Could she be the same person as the pale, morose girl with slumped shoulders? Her hands traveled down to her curved waist and pale abdomen before reaching the soft region between her thighs. It was moist and warm. She felt as if she were touching a stranger’s body.

“I’ve brought you a dress, my lady.”

At the sound of knocking, Maxi withdrew her hands from her body with a jolt. Her face burning, she stammered a reply.

“C-C-Come in.”

The maidservant entered the room and dressed her with practiced hands. Maxi found herself clothed in a beautiful dress rippled with green and gold, a golden belt fastened around her waist. Before her hair had had a chance to dry, she tied it up with a ribbon and hurriedly left the room.

Sunbeams streamed through the open windows and warmed her face. Maxi skipped down the stairs, breathing in air that still bore the refreshing scent of rain. Riftan had said that he would see her before he left, but she worried that he would forget his promise.

“Good morning, my lady.”

Rodrigo bowed his head when he noticed Maxi. The servants swept the floors and aired out the hall for the first time since the rains had stopped, and Rodrigo supervised them with hawk-like eyes.

“Breakfast is served, my lady. Would you like to have it in the dining hall?”

“N-No, I can e-eat later. I w-wanted to s-see R-Riftan… I mean, L-Lord Calypse…”

“The lord is at the training grounds with the knights.”

She was about to leave the hall when she stopped in her tracks. What would she do once she found him? She would only get in his way. Seeing her hesitate before the door, Rodrigo approached her.

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.

The old man looked visibly relieved that she did not think his request to be impudent.

“Th-Thank you, my lady.”

Overjoyed to be given an excuse to see Riftan, Maxi rushed out without gracing Rodrigo with a proper reply. The gentle autumn breeze felt cool against her tense body. She glanced up at the pale sun before walking past the pavilion and down the stairs.

She bunched up her skirt to avoid the silver puddles scattered across the garden. After crossing the expansive gardens, she arrived at the inner gates. She passed a sentry, who hastily raised his hand in salute, before skipping down eight staircases. The vast training grounds were surrounded by tall, thick walls. There, knights in silver armor stood in orderly lines before Riftan.

Maxi halted in her tracks. They seemed to be in the middle of a serious discussion.

A young knight took a step forward. It was Gabel, who had proven himself to be an eloquent storyteller a few nights prior.

“Commander, if Anatol concerns you so, allow me to stay behind. With a Remdragon knight here, you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

“No. All knights who participated in the Dragon Campaign must attend the celebration. The honor must be shared equally.”

“I have no interest in gold or titles from the king. I’ve already made a name for myself as a knight and received enough praise. I’d rather remain here to train than waste my time at tedious festivities.”

“Do you really mean that?” Hebaron shook his head in disbelief. “All the ladies of the court will be falling at your feet. With that silver tongue of yours, you could seduce even the haughtiest lady! Are you an ascetic, to throw away such a chance?”

“Frivolous fool! Is that giant head of yours filled with nothing but vulgar thoughts?”

“What did you say?!”

Ruth sighed from Riftan’s side as he watched Hebaron and Ricaydo glare at each other.

“My good sirs, are you under a curse that will cause you to die of the plague if you go a day without snarling at each other?”

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and continued.

“Sir Riftan is right. No knight who fought in the campaign should miss the celebration. Sir Obaron, Sir Sebrique, and the sentries will be here to guard Anatol as always. I plan to stay behind as well.”

“What are you talking about? You played a crucial role in the battle as sorcerer. You must go with us!”

“Fame and heroism do not become me. And my presence in the capital will create unnecessary friction with the court sorcerers. Have you forgotten that I am an outcast among my peers for leaving the Mage Tower without permission?”

The sorcerer shrugged as though the incident were trivial, and the knights rolled their eyes.

After listening to the exchange in silence, Riftan said, “It would certainly ease my mind if you stayed.”

“That was always my intention,” replied Ruth with another shrug.

Riftan held his head high and turned toward the knights. “It’s decided, then. We leave as soon as preparations are complete. We’ll take the route that I just explained.”

The knights touched their fists to their chests before lowering them again. The gesture seemed to be the custom salute of their order. 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?”

She wanted to say that others might think of them as shameless and debauched. Tongue-tied, she teared up in embarrassment. They had undeniably spent the previous few days engaged in shameless debauchery. 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.”

Maxi gazed up at him with quivering eyes, suppressing the urge to ask whether he would truly miss her and whether she could accompany him. Had she not been afraid that she would irritate him — and thereby shatter this sweet moment — she would have begged him to bring her with him. Reining back her emotions, she tried to speak with poise.

“We sh-should hurry t-to lunch. You n-need to e-eat…”

“Yes, let’s go.”

He set her down, his excitement seemingly diminished. Repressing the desire to cling to him, Maxi made her way to the dining hall.

◆◆◆

The knights exited the hall after lunch and mounted their horses. Maxi went out to the courtyard to send Riftan off, a retinue of servants trailing closely behind her. Riftan, elegantly balanced atop a black stallion, slowly turned his horse around to look at her.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“P-Please b-be careful.”

Her murmur was almost unintelligible, but he smiled. He leaned so far out of his saddle to stroke her face that she feared he would fall off. Though she could feel the servants’ eyes on them, she did not refuse his touch.

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.

The knights passed through the gates and crossed the moat in single file. As the long train of men passed below, the sentries on the walls blew their kopels. The rich sound of the horns reverberated through the air, forming a discordant ensemble with the clopping of hooves.

Maxi stood rooted to the spot long after the knights and their horses had disappeared over the horizon.

◆◆◆

After Riftan’s departure, Maxi fell ill and was confined to her bed for two days. The fatigue accumulated from the flurry of activity of the previous days washed over her. The maidservants attended to her with herbal soup and cooled her fever with damp towels.

Thanks to their devoted care, her condition had improved by the time she awoke the next day. She asked Ludis to draw her a bath, expecting that she would feel refreshed after washing off her sweat.

“Shouldn’t we call the cleric, my lady?” asked Ludis.

Maxi shook her head as she shed her gown and stepped into the tub.

“I f-feel b-better now.”

“I don’t know if the herbs the sorcerer gave us are enough. We should call a healer and—”

“I-I’m really all r-right. It was j-just a f-fever.”

Maxi forced a smile. She was not yet fully recovered, but the fever had broken. A day of light exercise and consuming nourishing food would surely restore her strength. She put on her newly tailored dress and draped a thick shawl over her shoulders before stepping out into the garden. There, she was surprised by the chill of the wind. The temperature had dropped markedly in just a few days.

Noticing her astonishment, Ludis smiled. “The days grow cold when the autumn rains have passed.”

“It f-feels like it’s almost w-winter…”

“Anatol’s winters are mild compared to other regions, perhaps because we’re close to the southern sea. It rarely snows even in mid-winter, and when it does, we only get flurries.”

Maxi could not hide her slight disappointment. Because her father’s lands were located in the warm southeastern regions, she had never seen a proper snowfall. She had heard that Drachium, the capital of Wedon, habitually saw enough snowfall to cover the entire continent. She wondered whether it would be snowing by the time Riftan reached the capital.

Chapter 29

“Please don’t linger outside too long, my lady. You’ve only just recovered.”

“I j-just want to walk a l-little.”

Maxi smiled and walked on. Ludis had begun to treat her like a younger sister. The maidservant seldom spoke unless necessary, and when she did, it was only out of concern.

This really is my home now…

Maxi took in Calypse Castle with fresh eyes. She thought back to her solitary life at the Croyso castle. Imagining the new experiences that awaited her, she felt her heart contract with hope.

But leaving Croyso Castle had not transformed her into a different person. She still had a stutter, and Riftan would one day realize that she was foolish and useless. Then, everything would change. The thought of losing his affection made her blood freeze. It was possible that he might even turn into someone like her father…

“My lady, are you feeling unwell?”

Ludis seemed to have noticed her agitation. Maxi tried to shake off her doubts.

“I’m f-fine. I’d like t-to have a w-warm cup of t-tea.”

“I’ll prepare it at once, my lady.”

Maxi turned around, trying to collect herself.

I’ll change. I’ll become a proper lady of the castle who Riftan can depend on.

◆◆◆

The next day, Maxi received a visit from the merchant. After a long deliberation, she chose white marble with a jade sheen for the banquet hall floor and masterfully crafted glass for the castle windows. Aderon assured her that workers from his guild would arrive the next day to begin construction.

Maxi headed straight to the library with the receipt from Aderon in hand. There, she attempted to record the transaction in her ledger with the help of accounting books. By the time she had made a list of purchased items and their cost in clumsy imitation of Rodrigo’s records, it was dark outside.

The following days were just as hectic. Many parts of the castle needed repair, and there was no end to the list of required items. Early each morning, Maxi met with Aderon to discuss the refurbishments and purchase additional landscaping tools before proceeding to supervise the workers.

In the afternoons, she met with the landscaper introduced to her by Aderon to review the plans for the gardens, then examined designs for the window frames and railings with the artisans. But her busy day did not end there. Late into the night, she wrestled with the jumble of receipts that she had been issued during the day, always anxious that her calculations were incorrect.

“My lady, you look exhausted. You should rest…”

“I’m f-fine.”

After checking on the progress of the flagstone removal in the banquet hall, Maxi went down to the first floor to examine the goods from the merchant guild. Aderon and his workers arrived precisely at the appointed hour with a large horse-drawn wagon. The servants unloaded the goods before hauling them in.

“These are the marble slabs and tools for the floor, my lady.”

“And the w-windows…?”

“The guild branch at Anatol doesn’t have the required quantity of glass. High-quality glass must be ordered from the capital or from Livadon. For now, I shall send a message to the nearest branch to see if we can purchase glass in bulk.”

He spoke as if he were granting a favor. She almost thanked him, then sighed at her servile attitude. She led him to the drawing room. Before the maid had had a chance to bring them tea, the merchant launched into an explanation of the time and cost required for construction.

Maxi tried to catch every detail, but her head spun when Aderon began to reel off names of foreign currencies. She struggled to keep up with his calculations. One soldem was worth twenty liram, and twenty liram were equal to 240 derham or twelve denar, which meant that thirty denar were worth…

Just when Maxi thought her head might burst, Aderon said, “Oh, dear. It seems that I got ahead of myself in my excitement. Please forgive me.”

She forced a smile. “I-It’s all right.”

“My poor nerves won’t calm down knowing that I am contributing to the refurbishment of the great Lord Calypse’s castle!”

“Th-Thank you for y-your hard w-work.”

Aderon awkwardly rose from his seat, leaving behind a piece of parchment inscribed with explanations. As soon as he 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?”

Maxi stared at him, mouth agape. She did not know whether she should be mortified that someone had watched as she tore at her hair, indignant that the man had not made his presence known, or amazed by his audacity in reproaching her. 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.

“Twenty liram for one marble tile? Surely that’s a mistake! Please tell me that you’ve written down the wrong unit here.”

“I-I was j-just about to c-correct it!” Maxi exclaimed frantically.

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 in the last few days?”

Maxi flinched and peered up at him. Her heart sank when she saw Ruth’s frightfully contorted face. His next words came as a hiss through clenched teeth.

“Just. How. Much?”

“W-Well…”

Cold sweat trickled down her back.

“R-Riftan said… n-not to w-worry about th-the cost…”

“But you should at least be aware of how much you’ve spent.”

His sharp tone made her face burn. She avoided his gaze, feeling as humiliated as she had in the distant past when her tutor had chided her for stuttering.

“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?”

“The ledger is a complete mess. Some items are impossibly cheap, others are ridiculously overpriced, and the calculations are all wrong. And do you see this purchase list? You’ve bought too many unnecessary things! The Dragon Campaign may have brought Sir Riftan a massive fortune, but gold should not be spent like water! We need the gold to pay the knights and guards of Anatol, not to mention the road construction planned for next year that will connect the village to the port! Come winter, tax revenues will fall. We must not waste gold!”

Maxi shrank back like a turtle withdrawing into its shell.

“I-I d-didn’t know… I w-was n-never told… I was t-told to d-do as I wished…”

Ruth’s shoulders slumped, and he sighed audibly as her stammering trailed off.

“I’m not saying that the castle shouldn’t be refurbished. There was too great a focus on the castle’s fortification, and it’s plain to see that the place looks more like a military base than a lord’s residence. But this is excessive. If you continue to spend this lavishly, Sir Riftan will have to battle another dragon within a few years.”

“Th-That’s…”

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…”

Chapter 30

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.

“Twenty liram for a slab of marble one kevette long and wide… You’ve written down the wrong currency. It was twenty derham, and that’s an inexpensive price.”

She sighed in relief, but Ruth was not finished. Tapping the desk with the tips of his fingers, he sighed and continued to explain painstakingly.

“Is it really necessary to change the flooring of both halls to marble? The flagstones are only a few years old. I suppose there’s nothing we can do now since construction has already started. Well, Lord Calypse does deserve some luxury, so we’ll just leave that be.”

“B-But c-construction on the g-great hall hasn’t b-begun yet… There is still t-time to c-cancel…”

“If you please, my lady,” he replied dryly and flipped the page. “Nothing else seems amiss. Banisters, railings for the balcony, window frames, curtains and carpets, tapestries, furniture, chandeliers, sculptures, a fountain… Fountain?!”

His flat voice rose sharply. Maxi flinched as if she had been lashed across the back. He whipped his head around, his eyes narrowed. Maxi could not bring herself to look at him and began stammering excuses in a barely audible voice.

“Th-The merchant s-said it w-would look s-splendid in the g-garden…

“Do you know how much work it takes to maintain a fountain? The plumbing alone requires large-scale construction! And the fountain is to be made of marble and crystal! This accursed merchant is trying to swindle the Calypse estate!”

Maxi shrank back at his cry of outrage. But his admonishment did not end there.

“And whose idea was it to use high-quality glass panes for all the windows? Only Roemian emperors of the bygone era would pay for such extravagance! Have you any idea how expensive glass is?”

“Th-The w-windows of C-Croyso Castle were all g-glass…”

“Your father is easily one of the wealthiest people in the Seven Kingdoms! But it’s not just a question of affordability. Glass windows are impractical because they cannot insulate. It would be no different from keeping the windows wide open.”

Ruth thumped his chest in frustration and continued.

“And remember, my lady, that the training grounds for the knights are in the courtyard. The day will come when those fools misfire their blade aura in a show of strength and shatter the expensive glass. Besides, glass scratches easily, and the servants will have to work twice as hard to keep it polished. We’re short-handed as it is.”

These points had never crossed Maxi’s mind. She remained silent.

Ruth’s face softened only when he had finished examining the receipts.

“I see that not everything listed here has been ordered yet. Let us replace the windows in the great hall, banquet hall, and a few guest rooms with glass. Balt glass or a double covering can be used for remaining rooms. Adding shutters would be practical for the winter so the windows can be opened occasionally for air flow. That should be more than sufficient to show visitors our wealth.”

He pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and drew a blueprint of the castle, indicating the halls and rooms he had mentioned. Maxi stared blankly and nodded.

“I u-understand. I’ll t-tell the m-merchant.”

“And that crystal fountain isn’t even worth discussing,” he said, discarding the piece of parchment in his other hand. He then dipped a quill in ink for her and opened the ledger to a blank page.

“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…”

“How much is sixty liram in soldem?”

“F-Four?”

She blurted out the first answer that came to mind after hurriedly counting with her fingers. Seeing Ruth’s eyes narrow, she inhaled sharply and corrected herself.

“Th-Three!”

“How much is twenty-four denar in soldem, then?”

“Um…”

“How many derham coins would you get for ten liram?”

Ruth continued to scrutinize her. She was on the verge of tears, her face burning with shame.

He’s discovered that I’m incompetent beyond hope. What if he tells Riftan that I’m a stupid, stuttering fool?

As she lowered her head in fear, Ruth clutched his head and groaned.

“Not even Princess Agnes was this ignorant about worldly affairs! Has your life been that sheltered?”

She bit her lips. Ruth, too, was silent. Finally, he broke the stillness with a great sigh and pulled out a small pouch from the inside of his robe.

“Look closely.”

He fished out two silver coins from the pouch. One was a thick coin, its diameter about the length of her middle finger. An image of a bird spreading its wings was impressed into it. The other coin was small and thin, and only two-thirds the length of her little finger in breadth. Ruth tapped the larger coin with the tip of his finger.

“This large silver coin is a liram. The currency was minted during the time of the Roemian Empire and circulated widely throughout the entire continent. And this smaller silver coin here is a derham. Twelve derham make one liram.”

He pointed at the smaller coin before continuing.

“The derham originates from Lakazim in the Southern Continent. Trade with the southern realms has been more active in recent years, so we’re seeing a greater influx of these coins. They may be small, but they are stable and carry much value.”

She examined the small coin. It was the first time that she had seen real money up close. After placing the coin on her palm so she could see its details, Ruth resumed his explanation.

“On a scale, it takes exactly twelve derham to balance the weight of a liram. That’s why twelve derham can be exchanged for a liram.”

The next coins that came out of his pouch were gold. One was the size of a liram, and the other the size of a derham.

“The large coin is called a soldem, and it has been in circulation since the Roemian era. The smaller gold coin is called a denar, and it is from Lakazim, like the smaller silver coin. A soldem weighs as much as twelve denar, the same as the value of liram to derham.

“W-Why do they p-produce such small c-coins in the S-Southern Continent?”

“Trade in the Southern Continent is far more developed than ours. If the coins bore too much value, small-scale trade between individuals wouldn’t be possible.”

He scrunched his nose in annoyance at having to give such detailed explanations. Maxi was not entirely sure she had understood him, but she chose not to inquire further. Ruth set the coins down and continued his lesson.

“Gold is twenty times more valuable than silver. One soldem can be exchanged for twenty liram, and one denar for twenty derham.”

Chapter 31

Maxi asked about the conversion that confused her the most.

“Th-Then this small gold coin… a d-denar, was it? How m-much is one d-denar in liram?”

“There’s no precise conversion, since five liram are worth three denar,” replied Ruth, sliding a gold denar and a silver liram across the table.

She quickly began scribbling notes on parchment. Ruth watched her for a few moments before sighing softly.

“You were likely confused between liram and denar in your dealings with the merchant. The soldem is too valuable and is seldom used, while the derham’s small value makes it unsuitable for large-scale transactions. Trade between noble houses and merchants is usually conducted in liram, the Roemian silver coin, or in the gold denar from Lakazim. Unfortunately, liram and denar do not convert neatly. Breaking the coins into tiny pieces isn’t an option, so traders often convert them into derham to simplify things. If you just do the conversion properly, your calculations should be accurate.”

Maxi nodded, dejected.

“I d-didn’t know th-there were so m-many kinds of coins…”

“You’ve only seen a fraction of them, my lady. Balto in the north and Sykan in the east have their own currencies. Their coins’ purity and weight are identical to that of soldem and liram, but it’s best if you at least take note of their appearance.”

He searched his pockets, then scratched his head.

“I don’t have any samples with me. Next time, perhaps.”

Maxi looked at him with dread. More currencies only meant more confusion.

“If th-they’re worth the s-same as s-soldem and liram, is th-there really a need t-to s-see them?”

“More and more lords have been minting their own coins to show off their wealth and power. But most of these coins are impure alloys that contain lead or copper. These must be rejected in transactions. Coins from Balto or Sykan, on the other hand, are pure and reliable. Come next spring, merchants from these kingdoms will arrive in Anatol, so it’s best if you know what their coins look like.”

“I s-see…”

“The soldem, liram, denar, derham, and copper shekel widely used by commoners are among the most reliable currencies. And then there’s the dant, which is used only by the elite. You’ll probably be fine if you remember those.”

Maxi’s ears pricked up at his mention of the dant. She had only heard the name in passing.

“H-How much is a d-dant w-worth?”

“The dant is the currency with the highest value in the world,” Ruth explained. “It was issued during the golden age of the Roemian Empire. They’re book-sized and resemble metal plates more than coins. Made of orichalcum, they’re exceedingly rare. Only 600 exist across the continent, and 160 of them are in Sir Riftan’s possession.”

Maxi’s eyes went round. Ruth began to boast.

“Sir Riftan found them six years ago in a monster lair in the canyons of Osiriya. At the time, he hunted monsters like a madman and collected all kinds of treasures. The dant coins were among the most valuable of his finds. He originally owned 200 dant, but he spent forty on building the castle walls, paving village roads, and repairing the castle.”

“H-He was able t-to do all that w-with just f-forty coins?”

“Twenty would have sufficed, but Sir Riftan paid the workers several times the usual wage to expedite construction.”

Ruth made no attempt to hide his displeasure.

“Y-You’ve known R-Riftan a long time.”

“Since he was a lowly mercenary. It’s been nearly twelve years.”

Maxi was intrigued. Twelve years ago, Riftan must have been sixteen. Had he become a mercenary at that age? She knew that Riftan had been knighted at the age of eighteen. And to become a knight, it typically took at least three years of training and an additional year of learning swordsmanship under a knight…

“We’ve digressed. Let’s return to the ledger, my lady. We must finish before the merchant arrives.”

Maxi swallowed her questions and buried her nose in the ledger once again.

◆◆◆

Aderon was visibly upset when Maxi canceled some of the orders. His eloquence nearly persuaded her to reconsider, but she stood her ground as she remembered how Ruth had scowled at her immoderate spending. In the end, the merchant drew up a new statement with a sigh of surrender.

Maxi tried to estimate the total cost. When it dawned on her that she would be paying with piles of the gleaming coins that Ruth had shown her, she felt that it was no small sum. She signed the receipt with a renewed sense of responsibility and gathered up the rolls of parchment.

Ruth looked relieved when she told him that everything had gone well.

“May I see the receipt?”

She passed him the piece of parchment.

“The fellow isn’t entirely unprincipled,” he said after a thorough examination.

“He’s rather p-persistent, b-but he’s not a b-bad person…”

“Anyone can pretend to be a paragon of virtue before gold.”

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 burden 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. She hesitated a long while before opening her mouth to speak.

“We d-decided to work on the g-gardens next spring…”

Ruth’s face contorted. Maxi looked at him pleadingly. She had toiled alone for days and did not wish to continue tearing at her hair. Having suffered all manner of humiliation, she no longer had anything to lose.

“And r-repair the a-annex…”

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.

When Maxi told him of her plans for the garden, however, he looked concerned.

“The servants will be troubled if you order the removal of the tree by the pavilion.”

Maxi looked at him questioningly.

“But it’s d-dead. It d-doesn’t even g-grow leaves.”

“Anatolians believe that nymphs inhabit trees. They’re wary of uprooting trees, even dead ones, and logging is sacrilegious. If you were to order that tree’s removal for aesthetic reasons, they’d be horrified.”

“B-But…” she said, baffled. “W-Wouldn’t they understand if w-we told them the t-trees would be used f-for fuel? Look how h-hideous it is…”

“They’d probably accept it,” Ruth mused as he rubbed his chin, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “But that tree is an oak tree.”

“W-What’s s-special about oak trees?”

“Anatolians hold dear the legend of Sir Rosem Wigrew, the first knight to have flown across the sky on a dragon. According to legend, that hill is where Wigrew mounted his dragon before he left.”

Chapter 32

Ruth pointed at the steep hill outside the window. Maxi’s eyes went round. She was naturally familiar with the legend of Wigrew, to whom God had granted a holy sword to end the war against darkness. The hero had united the western realms under the banner of the Roemian Empire before ascending to the heavens. He was a regular feature in every child’s bedtime story, and countless bards and artists had immortalized the scene of Wigrew flying into the sky on a white dragon.

Maxi’s eyes sparkled with wonder at the knowledge that the legendary place was right before her.

“Is the l-legend really t-true?”

“Anatolians believe so, though there’s no historical evidence,” said Ruth.

“B-But what does th-that have to d-do with oak t-trees?”

“The story goes that Wigrew fell in love with the nymph of the oak tree. Anatolians believe that the nymph is still waiting for his return. Every spring festival, all the maidens go to the hills to sing songs of praise for the nymph’s love.”

“S-So that’s why p-people here d-don’t cut down o-oak trees.”

Ruth nodded. Maxi now understood. Still, she could not help thinking that the dead tree marred the appearance of the castle’s main entrance.

“Would the s-servants be d-disgruntled if I h-have the tree r-removed?”

“The people of Anatol revere Wigrew. They will likely resent the decision.”

Maxi frowned as she recalled how Anatolians had cheered “Rosem Wigrew” the day of Riftan’s return. Ruth saw her troubled face and sighed.

“I’ll see if I can bring it back to life.”

“Y-You can r-revive a d-dead tree?”

“Human life and plant life are different. They sometimes appear dead, but they’re just dormant. If we infuse the tree with mana…”

Scratching his head, he trailed off as if he found such explanations tedious.

“I cannot make guarantees, but we could at least spread the word that your ladyship has enlisted the help of a sorcerer to revive the sacred oak tree. Even if the experiment ends in failure, it will be enough to placate the servants.”

His sarcastic tone made her pause.

“A-Are you suggesting I c-care too much about how the s-servants perceive me?”

“That was not my intention. It’s natural for the lady of the castle to try to earn her servants’ respect, particularly when she hasn’t been here long.”

Ruth’s answer was uncharacteristically kind, but Maxi felt more perplexed than relieved. She had grown used to his biting remarks.

Not knowing where to direct her gaze, she said cautiously, “Then I l-leave it t-to you.”

Ruth looked as if he regretted volunteering for such a bothersome task.

“All I want, my lady, is for all this construction to end so I can return to my routine in peace.”

◆◆◆

The refurbishments proceeded smoothly. In place of crude flagstones, gleaming marble tiles covered the floor of the banquet hall, while the creaking windowsills were replaced with smoothly oiled mahogany.

As Ruth had suggested, crystal glass windows were installed only in the banquet hall, great hall, eight largest guest rooms, and Maxi’s bedchamber. The windows in the library, barracks, and dining hall were fitted with balt glass. Greased parchment windows with shutters were installed in the remaining chambers and corridors. These small changes were enough to brighten the gloomy castle, and the servants seemed pleased by the transformation. They worked with cheerful faces, though they had to work twice as hard to clean when the workers kicked up dust clouds with their busy feet.

“Have you seen the new furniture? It’s magnificent!”

“And the curtains are a beauty too! I can’t wait to see the chandelier. We’ll soon have the most splendid banquet hall in all of Wedon.”

“And the great hall now lives up to its name. I heard that when the windows are complete, we’ll have new carpets for the floor!”

Maxi, who had been rushing through the corridor, came to a halt. Three young maidservants carrying baskets full of laundry were chatting animatedly, their cheeks flushed. Maxi recognized them as the new hires who had come at Aderon’s recommendation.

“I bet the lord will be surprised when he returns!”

“He most definitely will! I heard he was furious at the state of the castle when he returned from the campaign.”

The maidservants’ words made Maxi’s heart flutter in anticipation. Would he really be pleased by the changes? Or would he perhaps think them too extravagant? But she instantly cast off her worries. Ruth had said this much was acceptable, after all…

Though he did look a little bothered.

Shaking off her anxiety, she headed downstairs to oversee preparations for the winter. In Riftan’s absence, it fell to her to ensure that there were sufficient reserves of firewood and food in the castle, feed and water for the horses, and warm clothing for the servants and guards.

“My lady, the new wall lamps and braziers have arrived,” Rodrigo informed her as he and the servants carried wooden crates in. “Would you like to see them?”

At Maxi’s bidding, Rodrigo set the crates down and pried one open with a fireplace poker. Inside were nine elegant wall lamps.

“There are fifteen crates in total, my lady.”

“P-Please m-make sure they’re all in g-good condition. I-I want them placed in the great h-hall, the b-banquet hall, and the c-corridors.”

“And the braziers?”

“Please put t-two in the k-kitchen. The r-rest can go in the b-barracks and the g-guardhouse.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

One by one, the servants carried the crates across the hall. Maxi turned around to exit the great hall. With winter approaching, the days were getting colder. Maxi blew into the cold air before heading toward the stables with quick, light steps. She planned to visit the stable, annex, and forge to see whether anything else needed to be purchased. While leafing through old ledgers, she had discovered that her predecessors had made annual inspections of the castle. Her focus on the construction had caused her to neglect other parts of the castle.

Maxi took the path that led around the garden to reach the stables, which were located at the southern end of the castle grounds. The stable workers dropped the fodder that they had been transporting and hurriedly took off their hats, surprised by her presence.

“My lady! What brings you here? Were there no maidservants to accompany you?”

It was Qenal Osban, the stablemaster she had been introduced to on her first day. Maxi took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly.

“They h-had their own d-duties to attend to. I came to s-see if there is anything you n-need for the w-winter. I h-heard merchants t-travel less when it g-gets colder…”

“Oh, thank you, my lady. I was about to go meet Rodrigo for that very purpose.”

Qenal’s face brightened. He swung open the stable door and held up a lamp for her. The stable looked as if it had just been cleaned. Grimacing slightly at the stench, Maxi leaned forward without stepping inside, where twenty warhorses were snorting and chomping on hay. Qenal pointed to the end of the room, where one stall appeared to be collapsing.

“We’ll need new partitions, but our tools are old, and we don’t have enough wood.”

“Is th-there anything else?”

“We’ll also need more hay to last us the winter, my lady.”

“V-Very well, I’ll p-put in an order.”

“Bless you, my lady! Thank you kindly.”

The old man grinned. Maxi smiled in response, letting out a breath of relief inside. Not long ago, the presence of other people had been enough to make her tremble in fear, but she could now look into their eyes and speak with composure.

Though her tongue still refused to move as she willed, her stutter had diminished, as she had far more opportunities to speak here than at Croyso Castle. Proud of her progress, Maxi 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?”

Chapter 33

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, oh…”

Unsure of what to call the young squire, Maxi shifted her eyes uncertainly. The handsome, silver-haired youth quickly introduced himself.

“Please pardon my late introduction, my lady. I am Ulyseon Rovar, and I will be knighted next year.”

The tall youth who had been standing awkwardly next to him followed suit.

“Garrow Livakion, my lady. I am to be knighted on the same day as my friend here.”

“I-I am Maximilian C-Calypse.”

She looked at them awkwardly, feeling silly at having introduced herself when they already knew her. Ulyseon flashed her a reassuring smile.

“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!”

His fervor took Maxi by surprise. As she took a step back, Garrow elbowed him in the ribs.

“Stop exaggerating, Uly.”

“I’m always true to my words!” Ulyseon exclaimed.

But the sound of his own shout seemed to convince him that he was overreacting. 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.

The young squire’s warm attention was refreshing. Though Riftan was caring, his manner was brusque. Ruth was sharp-tongued and never minced his words, while the rest of the knights simply ignored her existence.

They must be fifteen years old, or sixteen at most.

“Do you have some special business in the forge?”

“Nothing in p-particular, b-but I heard that m-merchants visit less d-during w-winter… And I wanted to see i-if they n-needed anything.”

“We were going to the forge because my sword broke during practice,” Ulyseon replied cheerfully, pointing at the sword strapped on his belt. “It’s embarrassing to admit, but this is the second time it’s happened this month. The blacksmith scolds me whenever he sees me.”

He blushed slightly, and Maxi smiled at his candor. His eagerness to please made her a little uncomfortable, but she could see that he was a kind, sincere young man.

“At this rate, I’ll never become a tenth of the knight Sir Riftan is. Not even the tips of his feet.”

“We’ll be Remdragon Knights next year, Uly. Aren’t you setting the bar too low for yourself?”

“Garrow, you don’t understand how incredible Sir Riftan is. Forget one-tenth! Becoming even one-hundredth of the knight he is would be a notable achievable!”

“Is it now?”

Garrow had clearly had enough of his companion’s worship of Riftan. Maxi, however, looked pleased.

“Is R-Riftan really so a-accomplished a knight?”

“Accomplished doesn’t come close to describing him!” Ulyseon looked at her incredulously. “Sir Riftan is truly the greatest among knights. He isn’t called Wigrew’s reincarnation for nothing! Only five knights in the continent have received that honor, and two of them were defeated at his hands. He beat Sir Sejuleu Aren of Livadon during a sword fighting competition six years ago, and Sir Kuahel Leon of Osiriya not long ago!”

Maxi smiled uncertainly. She had heard the name of the Temple Knights commander on several occasions, but she had had little idea of his renown or of Riftan’s for having defeated such a man.

“I decided to become a knight after seeing Sir Riftan’s swordsmanship in a competition. I’ve admired him ever since!”

“I-I see…” whispered Maxi, unsure of how she should react.

Ulyseon frowned at her lukewarm reaction.

“It seems you’re unfamiliar with your husband’s greatness, my lady.”

“I d-do know! He f-felled the d-dragon…”

“He was a great knight even before the Dragon Campaign. Have you ever seen him wield a sword, my lady?”

“O-Of course I have! I s-saw him fighting off m-monsters…”

She trailed off, unsure that she could claim to have seen anything. The first time, she had fainted, and the second time, everything was over before she realized what had transpired. Reluctant to give the impression that she knew nothing about her own husband, she filled the gaps in her memory with embellishments.

“I-I saw Riftan c-cutting a full g-grown giant in half! I s-saw it with m-my own eyes! T-Ten giants attacked us, and he g-got rid of them a-all in the b-blink of an eye!”

In truth, she could not remember how many monsters there had been. But she stubbornly maintained her pretense, certain that there had been no fewer than ten. Two pairs of eyes began to sparkle in awe.

“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 had told.

“W-We were in the c-carriage when we h-heard a f-ferocious roar! It was t-terribly loud, loud enough to t-tear the sky a-asunder! I th-thought the s-sky had c-come crashing down. I stood p-paralyzed, but R-Riftan jumped off the c-carriage, sword ready in hand. H-He moved so f-fast, I didn’t even s-see him d-draw it.”

“No one can beat Sir Riftan at drawing swords!” Ulyseon exclaimed excitedly. “His enemies spurt blood from necks before they’ve even seen his blade flash.”

The nightmare-inducing scene was but a delightful tale to the youths. Maxi found this unsettling, but she carried on.

“Th-There were t-ten giants as big as this castle. All the kn-knights drew their swords, and R-Riftan led the attack. He s-swung his sword at the b-biggest giant, and w-with a f-flash of light…”

She squinted, trying to remember. What was it that Ulyseon had said?

“The m-monster’s head rolled onto the g-ground, and it started spurting b-blood from its n-neck!”

“Of course! Sir Riftan’s blade aura can even cut through Dragon’s Breath!” Ulyseon interjected excitedly. “A mere ogre is nothing!”

With shining eyes, the squires waited for her to continue. They showed no sign of frustration at her stuttering. Their enthusiasm fueled her excitement, and she began to swing an imaginary sword.

“Seeing its k-kin slain, another g-giant let out a d-deafening roar. It swung a c-club as th-thick as this tree at R-Riftan! B-But Riftan jumped high like an eagle taking f-flight and dodged the b-blow!”

She smiled inwardly, commending her own choice of words.

“The giant w-was too s-slow and struck the ground with its c-club. The earth sh-shook with every b-blow!”

She swung her arms and pretended to strike the ground. The squires tensed their shoulders expectantly. Maxi, who had never seen anyone so engrossed by her words, grew even more exhilarated.

“Riftan b-brandished h-his sword again! A sudden f-flash, and the ogre’s arm dropped to the g-ground, s-sliced clean like a s-sausage! And b-blood…”

Having noticed that the youths’ eyes sparkled with renewed excitement at each mention of blood, she raised her arms and began to shout dramatically.

“B-Blood p-poured down like rain when the g-giant shook its s-severed stump! A rain of b-black blood!”

“And it took us half a day to wash that blood off us.”

Maxi stopped flailing her arms and froze.

Chapter 34

Maxi turned around to see Ruth crouching under a tree, scraping moss from between the roots. He stood up with a sack in his hand.

“Everyone’s armor and clothes were all stained black. I half thought we’d have to change the name of our order from the Remdragon Knights[5] to the Black Dragon Knights.”

“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. Their fur carpeted the whole mountain.”

“That many werewolves in Anatolium?” exclaimed Ulyseon.

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.

Ruth shook his head and sighed. “He really does plan not to stay a second longer than necessary.”

“I-Is that a p-problem?”

“It wouldn’t hurt to help King Reuben save face while he’s there.”

Ulyseon quickly came to Riftan’s defense. “With werewolves roaming the borders of Anatol, I’m sure Sir Riftan is only concerned about our security. I can only imagine how worried he must be.”

Wishing to avoid this change in topic, Maxi brought the conversation to an end.

“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 castle, 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.

“The steward has stocked enough oil and candles. We also have spare tableware in storage. And pray tell, my lady, who will be using all this soap and scented oil?”

“The kn-knights seemed t-to enjoy baths and s-saunas…”

“Ha! Can you imagine those men using expensive things? They’ll scowl if you put anything with a floral scent under their noses. You should just order enough for yourself.”

He promptly crossed out the items. He scanned the rest of the list, speaking as if he were doing her a great favor.

“The rest seems fine.”

“Then sh-should I p-put in the o-order?”

“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. It appeared to be a long list of names. The first thing that crossed her mind was that he was writing a list of slave names. She gaped at him.

“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.”

“I’m sure more people will use it in the future,” he said matter-of-factly.

Maxi’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. The majority of the castle’s inhabitants were knights who spent their days training outside, seldom venturing inside except to eat. For all his stern interventions in her purchases, Ruth seemed to have no scruples when it came to buying items that he wanted. 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! E-Even I know th-the names of philosophers l-like G-Gerald or K-Kazaham!”

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. Y-You said there would be road c-construction next year! 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?”

“It’s only natural that a child should be born between a man and his wife. Unless Sir Riftan leaves for yet another campaign, it’ll be a year or two at most before we hear the first cries of a child in this castle.”

“Ch-Child…”

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.

“W-What if Riftan gets m-mad because we b-bought too many b-books?”

“Sir Riftan doesn’t concern himself with such trivial sums.”

Maxi stared at him, at a loss for words. She was not a worldly woman, but she knew that books were extremely expensive, far more expensive than glass. Book production required tremendous effort and time. Each line was written letter by letter, and meticulous needlework was needed to bind the pages to a gilded leather cover. Even her father had kept certain books on a display shelf to keep them in pristine condition.

Academic books were handwritten by a handful of scholars. As such, they were not as easy to acquire as romance novels or epic poems that were based on bards’ songs. Even when they could be found, they were prohibitively expensive.

“You said w-we must c-cut spending…”

“Knowledge is more precious than gold, my lady.”

Chapter 35

“Knowledge is more precious than gold, my lady,” said Ruth.

As Ruth plunked himself down in his usual seat, the impact caused the towers of books around him to collapse. Volumes that purportedly contained invaluable knowledge were scattered across the floor. Maxi scowled, wondering whether she should make a caustic remark, but she decided against it with a heavy sigh. All things considered, Ruth had been of great help, and she could not afford to antagonize him.

“I’ll put in the o-order for the b-books.”

“Thank you,” Ruth said crisply before returning to his book.

Maxi left the library, shaking her head. The hallways were illuminated white by the sunlight pouring in through the newly installed windows. Maxi gazed up at the cloudless blue sky before descending the stairs with light steps.

Elegantly patterned railings lined either side of the stairs, and the steps were covered by a soft carpet. Though she had initially panicked when given the task of redecorating the castle, her heart fluttered when she saw the small changes that had materialized.

She entered the banquet hall, smiling broadly. Rodrigo was busy overseeing the construction, which had entered its final phase.

“Rodrigo, are y-you busy?”

“My lady.”

Rodrigo’s wrinkled face brightened when he saw her. Maxi handed him the list of handwritten orders.

“I w-went around the c-castle to ch-check if there’s anything we need. C-Can I trouble you t-to order these items?”

“Of course, my lady.”

“And p-please ask the m-merchants to find the books listed at the b-bottom.”

“As you command.”

The steward folded the parchment neatly and put it in his inner pocket. Maxi smiled, satisfied to have completed one of her tasks. She turned around to leave, but Rodrigo quickly stopped her.

“The young squires caught four ocrie in the mountain stream at dawn, my lady. They’ll soon be ready if you head down to the kitchen.”

“O-Ocrie…?”

“Ocrie live in fresh mountain streams which gives them their soft, rich texture. There’s nothing as delicious as a freshly caught ocrie grilled over charcoal!”

Maxi felt her mouth water. Though the meals at Calypse Castle were always scrumptious, they were decidedly meat heavy. Despite Anatol’s proximity to the sea, Maxi had never seen seafood on the table. Her stomach growled at the prospect of sinking her teeth into juicy, freshly grilled fish.

“B-But the squires c-caught those fish. It isn’t right for m-me to…”

“They say they caught them for you, my lady. They’ll be thrilled if you join them.”

She nodded, though not without a slight blush. She rushed out of the banquet hall, eager to try the delicacy, and made her way to the kitchen.

When she poked her head into the kitchen, she saw that the two young squires had skewered four fish the length of an adult man’s arm above the drain and were busy filleting the creatures. Next to them, the cook was sweating profusely as he looked on anxiously.

“Y-Young masters! Please allow me! I insist.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” said Ulyseon merrily, his tone entirely at odds with the carnage in his hands. “We need to know what cutting into a live creature is like after all. It’s part of our training!”

Just beside him, Garrow was collecting fish blood in a bucket that had been placed under the creatures’ severed tails.

“Uly, I bled this one out.”

“Give it here. I’ll carve that one, too.”

“I cannot let you do such lowly work!” the cook insisted.

“Quiet. As I said, this is part of our training!”

“That’s right. This fish is going on the lady’s table. Can’t let a servant handle them.”

“But why did we get fish, of all things? A fox or a stag would make for a better gift.”

“Garrow! How could you even think of hurting such magnificent creatures?”

Garrow shook his head. “Are you saying this fish here met an untimely death because it’s ugly?”

“It had the misfortune of being both ugly on the outside and tasty on the inside,” quipped Ulyseon.

Maxi hesitated by the entrance. She had not expected to witness such a scene. Feeling sickened by the sight of the half-sliced fish, she turned quietly to leave. But just at that moment Garrow, who had been stretching his neck left and right, happened to lock eyes with her. She froze in place. He grinned brightly and waved.

“Good morning, Lady Calypse!”

“My lady!”

Ulyseon wagged his hands like a dog’s tail. Maxi waved back feebly.

“G-Good morning.”

“You’re just in time! We caught these to thank you for the exciting tale you told us yesterday. This is the tastiest fish in all of Wedon!”

“We’ll have them on the table in no time,” said Garrow, lopping off a head.

Maxi watched as the head fell onto the floor and rolled away, its tongue peeking out of a half-open mouth and its eyes staring at her in resentment. Maxi had to stop herself from gagging as she nodded. She quickly turned around to leave, but Ulyseon began to address her cheerfully.

“My lady, would you tell us more about the fight against the werewolves while you wait?”

“Uly, she might not like the sight of all this blood…”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Garrow. Her ladyship is brave! She watched a fountain of blood spurt out of a giant ogre! She’s the wife of the most valiant knight of the land!”

Ulyseon looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to back his words. Maxi forced a smile. Thunk. As yet another fish head rolled onto the ground, she tried her best not to look.

“O-Of course. Th-This is n-nothing to me.”

“See? Oi! Bring a chair for our lady!”

She was trapped. She looked on as the servants brought in a chair, dreading the prospect of spinning a gory tale as the squires disemboweled their catch. Holding back tears, she perched herself on the edge of the chair.

Meanwhile, Ulyseon tore off and peeled away the ocrie’s thick skin, revealing ivory flesh. After descaling the back and belly, he placed evenly sliced fillets on a plate. Soon, all that remained of the fish was its skeleton.

“I’ve seen a werewolf before. It had the fearsome head of a wolf, but its body was humanoid. It sprang from tree to tree on its hind legs!”

“And its canines protrude like boar tusks. They say the people of Balto stuff werewolf heads to display as trophies.”

“What for? I’ll never understand Northerners and their aesthetics.”

“Wolves are a symbol of courage for them.”

More pink-tinged fillets were stacked on the plate. As the ocrie began to lose their form, Maxi’s nausea abated. She had taken a deep breath to regain her composure when Ulyseon turned to her, drying his hands on a piece of white cloth.

“It’s laughable that they mount werewolf heads to show off their bravery! The Remdragon Knights slaughtered dozens of those beasts in the blink of an eye!”

“Please tell us about how Sir Riftan fought in that battle, my lady.”

Maxi forced a smile again. She took a deep breath, then began her story with how Riftan had decapitated three werewolves with a deadly flash of his sword. From there, the tale only grew taller; as the knights advanced through the woods, severed heads of werewolves rained down like black hail. The story of blood, bones, and flesh seemed to delight her young audience, and their enthusiasm gradually made her forget her discomfort. She had never imagined herself talking so happily in front of others.

Just as the story was nearing its end, the cook interrupted.

“The marinade is ready, young master.”

“Then start grilling. I’m famished.”

The cook dropped the fillets into a bowl of dark liquid. Next, he heated up an oiled pan and made a salad of lettuce, onions, and herbs. Maxi’s mouth started to water again.

“The ocrie will be ready in just a moment, my lady,” said the cook, placing the marinated fish on the pan. “They taste absolutely amazing when grilled golden and served with salad.”

As the fish began to sizzle, a delectable smell wafted in the air. Garrow insisted on eating the fish straight off the grill instead of waiting for it to be served in the dining hall, and so Maxi and the squires found themselves sitting around a small table in the kitchen corner.

Fresh salad and grilled ocrie were soon set before them. Maxi sliced off a piece of steaming fish and brought it to her lips. The soft flesh, sweet from the marinade, melted in her mouth. Her eyes went round.

“It’s d-delicious!”

“Of course! Nothing can compare to freshly caught ocrie in the fall!”

Though the fish was soft, it managed to retain its texture, and it did not have a hint of fishy odor. In the blink of an eye, she finished two large fillets. Meanwhile, Ulyseon and Garrow were already finishing their third serving. She helped herself to a third slice and ate it with the crunchy salad.

“It’s really d-delicious.”

“We’re pleased to hear that you like it,” said Ulyseon, who had devoured his food with astounding speed. “We’ll catch another good one for you, my lady.”

Maxi smiled back, grateful for his kindness.

“I-I look f-forward to it.”

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.

An enormous golden chandelier illuminated the once gloomy hall. Under it, a striking crimson and gold carpet covered the floor. A soft rug ran up the staircase to the second floor, leading to the lavish banquet hall that would have put even the royal palace to shame.

Maxi stood at the entrance of the spacious banquet hall and looked around in awe. Sleek marble tiles had replaced the stone floors, and three silver chandeliers shimmered below its high arched ceiling. The wall was adorned with a tapestry depicting Wigrew’s ascent to heaven, and deep burgundy curtains were draped over the windows. Chairs covered in silks and furs stood atop the dais, and on the terrace outside the window, a marble unicorn stood frozen mid-leap.

“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. He had been a rather aggressive salesman, but he was also honest. He had procured high-quality goods for her at reasonable prices and supplied her with diligent workers.

To express her gratitude, Maxi instructed the servants to prepare a sumptuous dinner for the merchant. And Aderon, after feasting on wine and the chef’s specialty of roast deer, left the castle content. Maxi saw him off, watching from the entrance as his carriage grew distant.

“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.

“This might be the perfect time,” he muttered, pulling out a small vial from his pocket. “I’ve just finished making the reagent for the tree. Would you like to test it out?”

“Th-That was q-quick!”

“I was so preoccupied with this that I haven’t been able to sleep for days.”

His appearance, however, clearly suggested that he had just rolled out of bed. And having regularly witnessed him sleeping on the library floor, Maxi was stunned by his brazenness. But knowing that he had been of immeasurable help, she simply nodded.

Ruth turned around to go outside. He walked straight to the large tree next to the pavilion and stood under its branches. Maxi watched from his side as he unscrewed the vial and poured its mysterious contents onto the roots of the tree.

“Oh, great merciful god of earth! We beseech you, stretch your healing hands and fill this humble servant with your power!”

Maxi rolled her eyes. Hierarchs had visited her countless times since childhood to heal her whenever she suffered her father’s cruel abuse. She was well aware that mages were able to use magic through simple runes or incantations, and that such lengthy invocations were unnecessary.

But when she noticed the servants looking on in awe, she suddenly understood Ruth’s intentions. He was trying to show that they had done their utmost to save the tree.

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. With the exception of the hierarchs’ visits, she had never witnessed magic from such a close distance. 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?

Ruth shrugged before adding, “It’s just the basic requisite, the way agile people are better suited for swordsmanship. That alone isn’t enough to make someone a sorcerer.”

“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.

Skeptical that a true compliment would sound so sardonic, Maxi began to prod the roots of the tree with her foot.

“A-Anyway, did we s-succeed in reviving th-the tree?”

“I can’t say for sure.”

“H-How can you n-not know?”

What had that grand display been for? Maxi scowled, but Ruth only shrugged.

“All I did was infuse the tree with the earth’s mana. We’ll have to wait for spring to see the results. If it starts to grow leaves again, it means the magic has worked. If not, then it means it’s hopeless and the tree should be cut down.”

Maxi looked up at the thin, densely overlapping branches of the tree and nodded. Surveying the bleak garden, she thought about the plans she had discussed with the gardener. If the tree was still dead come spring, she intended to replace it with bright flowers and a sapling, regardless of anyone’s objection.

◆◆◆

With the renovations complete, winter preparations began in earnest at Calypse Castle. With barely a moment’s rest, servants covered the well with thick wooden planks to prevent the water from freezing, repaired the partitions in the stables, and stocked enough hay and firewood to last the winter.

Meanwhile, the maidservants washed linens and garments until their hands swelled, cleaned every room in the castle, and wove at the loom. They were tasked with finishing winter garments for the guards before the weather turned too cold.

Seeing the strain on everyone, Ludis cautiously suggested, “My lady, I’m not sure that we can prepare all the garments on time. May I suggest purchasing some of the fabric instead of weaving it ourselves?

Maxi readily agreed. She could see that everyone was overworked.

“H-How much sh-should I order?”

“About half the required amount. We’ve already prepared the rest.”

Maxi eyed the pile of fabric in the corner. If she failed to put in a precise order, she was sure to hear an earful from the meddling sorcerer. She grabbed a piece of parchment to calculate the total volume of fabric required for the guards and the quantity of fabric that had already been woven.

“W-Will this suffice?”

“Yes, my lady. And if we could also order more of the leather straps, thread, and needles…”

“M-My lady! I’m sorry to interrupt, but we have an emergency!”

Chapter 37

Maxi, who had been busy jotting down Ludis’s request, looked up in surprise. Rodrigo stood at the door, looking distressed.

“W-What is it?”

“A man by the name of Rob Midahas is at our gates with thirty knights. He claims to be a nobleman from Southern Livadon but has no identification to prove it.”

“R-Rob Midahas?”

Maxi frowned. The name was unfamiliar. Livadon lay to the west and was an ally of Wedon, and as such it was the kingdom that Wedon interacted with the most. But the nobles of Wedon did not necessarily know the names of Livadonian nobles. Maxi, who had led a cloistered life at Croyso Castle, could hardly be expected to know them. She gave Rodrigo an embarrassed look.

“D-Did he say w-why he was h-here?”

“He says he’s come all this way to meet the Lord of Anatol and offer his friendship.”

“Then c-can’t we just l-let him in?”

“My lady, we cannot let armed men into our land without confirming their identity first,” Rodrigo said in an unusually stern tone.

“The area surrounding Anatol is beset with monsters, so merchants and mercenaries who come to Anatol do often carry weapons, but they are only allowed entry if they can provide proper identification or show their family crest. It is a precaution in case anyone attempts to pillage our land while the lord is away.”

The color drained from Maxi’s face. She could feel her attendant holding their breath in fear. She stood frozen, never having faced such a crisis. Soon, however, she managed to will herself to be calm.

“Who would d-dare p-pillage the land under the R-Remdragon Knights’ protection?”

“We can never be sure, my lady,” a voice interjected.

Maxi turned to see who the speaker was. Ruth must have heard the news, for he was speeding toward them with a grim look on his face.

“Everyone in the continent knows that our knights are at the capital attending the victory celebrations. It’s suspicious that they’re visiting us while the lord is away.”

Maxi felt nauseous.

“D-Do you also think th-they’re here to attack us?”

“It’s certainly possible. As the hero of the Dragon Campaign, Sir Riftan received a large portion of the treasure found in the dragon’s lair. Those blinded by greed might try to steal it, even at the risk of making an enemy of the Remdragon Knights.”

“W-Will we have to f-fight them, then?”

“If he continues to be unreasonable. But he has thirty knights with him…”

Ruth frowned before continuing.

“If these men are real knights, they’ll be difficult to deal with. Even a low-ranking knight is worth ten sentries, so if there’s a high-ranking knight among them, there’s going to be trouble.”

Maxi swallowed hard. Ruth seemed to be anticipating a full-blown confrontation.

“Matters get worse if this man really is a Livadonian noble. He might take offense at us refusing him entry and use his political influence to retaliate, or even start an armed conflict. The ceasefire may have stopped the war among the Seven Kingdoms, but we continue to see petty conflicts among the nobility.”

“Th-Then what sh-should we do?”

“What would you like to do, my lady?” Ruth asked back, his gaze firm.

Maxi flinched and hunched her shoulders. As lady of the castle, it was her duty to keep Anatol safe in Riftan’s absence.

“I…”

To her horror, her teeth were chattering. Maxi bit her lips and tried to regain her composure.

“I-I’ll go to th-the gates and try t-talking to him myself. I’ll d-decide what to do a-after I’ve d-determined who th-these people are.”

“Yes, I think that’s a good idea,” Ruth agreed readily. “I’ll accompany you. And in case this escalates, we should bring the castle guards with us. Rodrigo, go inform Sir Obaron and Sir Sebrique of the situation.”

“R-Right away!” Rodrigo said before sprinting away.

“Come with me, my lady.”

Ruth began to walk away. Maxi handed the parchment in her hands to an attendant and rushed after him. When she finally reached the garden, she saw Qenal approaching with two horses. Ruth quickly took the reins from him.

“Do you know how to ride a horse?”

“I-I do.”

Maxi nodded, though she had never ridden a horse so large on her own. With the help of a servant, she clambered onto the lean brown mare. She had to grip the reins and press her thighs against the saddle to keep herself from falling. Satisfied by her performance, Ruth mounted his own horse.

“The guards should be waiting for us at the training grounds. Follow me.”

Ruth galloped out of 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 ruckus 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. She trailed behind them as they crossed the drawbridge, the pounding of hooves making her heart race. Her anxiety only grew stronger as she galloped through the grove that she had visited with Riftan not so long prior. She clenched her teeth to avoid biting her tongue.

Maxi followed the guards down a steep hill and across the bustling town below. She was terrified, never having ridden at such speed before. Her hands shook as she gripped the reins as tightly as she could. After what seemed like eons, the rampart finally came into view, and one of the guards stationed above the gates rushed out to meet them.

“You’re here!”

Ruth and Sir Obaron leaped off their horses. Maxi was able to dismount only with the help of a guard.

“Where is this man who claims to be a Livadonian noble?”

“He’s just outside the gates. This way.”

“This way, my lady.”

Maxi followed the men up the rampart on stiff legs. Once she reached the battlement, she saw thirty young men on horseback. Their faces were tanned, and they were dressed in heavy robes with a long sword at each of their waists. 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.

Maxi peered at the speaker. He had light golden-brown hair and a bulky frame, and he appeared to be in his mid-thirties. 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.

Chapter 38

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. Encouraged, Rob began to speak with more confidence.

“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.”

A chill ran through Maxi’s body, and she wrapped her arms around herself. Riftan’s manner reminded her of the calm before a storm.

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?”

“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.

Chapter 39

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.”

[1]The season of wind, equivalent to autumn.

[2] 360 meters

[3] A river that is said to flow in the underworld.

[4] A type of horn.

[5] “Rem” means white.

Also by Suji Kim

There is a mouse in my house (in Korean)

Crime of Crime (in Korean)

Twilight Poem (in Korean)

A Lukewarm Couple (in Korean)

Bongru (in Korean)

Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Also by Suji Kim