UNDER THE OAK TREE

Season 1 (2)

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 979-11-6882-229-0

Contents

Title Page

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Also by Suji Kim

Chapter 40

Riftan pushed his hand between Maxi’s legs, muttering under his breath. A startled cry escaped her throat, and she was torn between a desire to spread her legs open and the instinct to squeeze them together. But before she could move, Riftan spread her legs wide open and lowered his head between them. Startled, Maxi twisted her body and pulled at the sheets.

But her efforts to escape were futile. Riftan put his mouth on her without a moment of hesitation.

“R-Rif— ah!”

She instinctively squeezed Riftan’s head with her thighs. He seized her ankles to hold her legs open and continued to caress her with his tongue, the obscene act leaving Maxi gasping for air. She writhed and bit down on the sheets.

Though this was not the first time that he had used his tongue, Maxi felt overwhelmed. Panting, she hungrily accepted his tongue as heat coursed through her. She moaned softly at the sensation of his soft hair tickling her thighs and the sound of his uneven breaths. Just as she was about to reach climax, Riftan stopped.

“I’ll be inside you soon enough.”

Maxi began to rock her hips urgently. Seeing her plea, Riftan stroked her gently and swiftly undid the straps of his trousers. As he lowered them, something rigid sprang out from beneath.

But Maxi had little time to feel embarrassment. Unable to contain the heat surging through her body, she pulled Riftan closer. When he brought his hips to hers, she rocked her lower body and rubbed herself against his hardness, frantic with desire.

“Dammit!”

Riftan grabbed her hips to put them in position and plunged into her, making her legs spasm and jerk. His hardness thrust into the deepest part of her before slipping out swiftly. Maxi desperately clung to him.

Riftan let out a low moan before thrusting into her again. After the long break from engaging in such acts, the movement was painful, but Maxi was hungry for more. A little more. And a little more… Crushed by the weight of Riftan’s cold armor, she urged him on by rocking her hips faster.

Riftan devoured her flushed body with flickering eyes, his lips aquiver. But soon, he was the one being devoured as Maxi wrapped her legs around him and tightened herself. She surprised herself with her own hunger. Riftan let out a long exhale.

“I swear… The things you do to me.”

“R-Riftan.”

Maxi looked up in exasperation at Riftan, who appeared to be trying his best to restrain himself. She had wanted him to take her with greater urgency, to crush her like a man blinded by desire as he had done in the past. And so she used her legs to pull him in deeper.

Riftan drew a sharp breath. His restraint snapped, setting his desire loose. And like a horse galloping through the fields, the silver-plated giant began to thrust into her like a madman tearing apart her delicate body. Maxi’s hunger grew. Wanting to feel him deeper and deeper inside her, she stretched out her legs and pushed against the sheets.

Riftan had carried her up the stairs with ease just moments ago, but he was now breathing heavily. Her ears went numb at the sound of their bodies bumping against each other and at the creaking of the bed and his armor.

“Maxi… Maxi…” Riftan panted, his voice breaking.

With his face flushed and his eyes clouded with longing, Riftan looked beautiful. When Maxi caressed his face, he pulled her to him by the waist and crushed her lips against his. Like two animals in heat, their bodies came together, sucking, biting, and licking.

“Ahh…”

Maxi writhed as his cold armor pressed her against the soft sheets. He thrust again and again, trying to bury himself deep inside her. But even that wasn’t enough. She wanted him deeper still, to fill her completely.

“Dammit, I haven’t even taken off my armor.”

His convulsions had stopped. He tried to get up, but Maxi impulsively clung onto him when she felt him slide out of her. Her body still throbbed with need. He gazed down at her feverish face with dazed eyes before slowly pulling out. Maxi shuddered as she felt something lukewarm trickle down between her legs, and Riftan gently rubbed her thigh as if to soothe her.

“Just wait. It’s not over yet.”

“N-No… I-I’m…”

Suddenly overcome with embarrassment, Maxi quickly brought her legs together. Riftan threw off his remaining armor, greedily taking her in with his eyes. After dropping his breastplate, spaulders, and greaves onto the floor, he pulled his tunic over his head.

His broad back glimmered beneath the light streaming in through the windows. Maxi stared transfixed at the bronze muscles covering his body like golden armor.

Male bodies had always frightened her, but Riftan’s imposing body, which had made thirty knights cower in fear, did not alarm her. Instead, the sight filled her with a strong urge to touch it.

“Come here.” Riftan reached toward her.

He was now sitting on the bed stark naked. As Maxi approached hesitantly, he began to stimulate himself with his hand.

“Climb on top of me.”

“R-Riftan, I….”

“I know you weren’t satisfied. Let me fill you again.”

Riftan parted her thighs and sat her on top of his knees. Embarrassed by the position, she tried to get up, but Riftan had a firm grip on her waist.

He took her breast into his mouth, nipping and sucking at it while grinding himself against her. Feeling faint, she held onto his head and rubbed her cheek against his soft hair.

Panting, Riftan plunged into her. Sharp pain and pleasure coursed through her body as their bodies merged, their limbs entangled like snakes.

“Did you miss me terribly?”

She gazed at him through misty eyes. As their bodies began to pound against each other faster and faster, Maxi feared that her heart would burst.

“Tell me that you did.”

“I m-missed you t-terribly,” Maxi stammered in a daze.

Her body writhed in anticipation as his body melted into hers. Riftan clenched his teeth and began to thrust deeper. Maxi clung to him tightly.

His hardness relentlessly chafed against her sensitive flesh, mirroring the friction between their sweat-soaked bodies. Though they were pressed so close together that not a hair could have passed between them, Maxi needed him to be closer still. Whimpering, she pressed her quivering body against his.

More, more. A black snake called desire reared its head inside her stomach. She wanted to swallow him whole, for him to possess her, and for her to possess him.

“Maxi… Maxi…” Riftan whispered, his voice shaking.

Maxi gazed at him with misty eyes, hardly able to believe that such a dazzling man was looking at her with such rapture. Tears welled up in her eyes.

◆◆◆

Maxi was awoken by the sound of firewood being thrown into the fireplace. Outside, it was already dark. She blinked and looked around the room. When she saw Riftan standing in front of the fire, she quickly tried to get up.

But her body went limp when she felt the throbbing between her legs. She groaned quietly at the sharp ache. Hearing her, Riftan swiftly turned his head. He was dressed in a fresh black tunic and looked as if he had just finished bathing.

“You’re a light sleeper,” Riftan said, a faint smile on his lips.

Maxi shook her head. “I d-didn’t even n-notice you g-getting up to wash.”

“I wanted to wait till you were awake so we could bathe together, but I had to go interrogate those damned intruders.”

He walked toward the bed and planted a kiss on her bare shoulder. Blushing, Maxi looked up at him with worry in her eyes.

“Y-You interrogated them?”

“Yes. I even summoned a cleric to confirm their leader’s identity.”

“A-And? W-Were his claims t-true?” Maxi asked cautiously.

Riftan frowned.

Chapter 41

“He is a Livadonian noble.”

Maxi’s head spun. Had she made a mistake? The situation might not have escalated so dangerously had she just allowed the man entry. As if he had read her thoughts, Riftan brushed a lock of hair from her face and kissed her cheek.

“But he lied about his claim to Kaysa. He wasn’t the lord, but one of the lord’s sons. When his half-brother was chosen as heir, he stole his family heirloom and fled to Wedon. I assume he was roaming around with his knights when he heard about the vast collection of treasures I’d gathered from the dragon’s lair.”

“D-Did he c-come here to h-harm you?”

Riftan looked at Maxi with a blank expression before bursting into laughter.

“He’s not that crazy. He just never thought I’d make it from Drachium to Anatol in eight days. He made a grave miscalculation.”

Maxi remembered Ruth telling her that it would take at least ten days for Riftan to arrive in Anatol. Riftan had arrived two days earlier than the sorcerer’s prediction.

“Or rather… I arrived at just the right moment. If I had come a day or two later, things would’ve been much worse. He had three high-ranking knights and a magical device with him. It wouldn’t have taken them long to get past our defenses.”

“M-Magical device?”

“His family heirloom.” Riftan’s face suddenly turned cold. “The device contains powerful fire magic, and that’s what he used to destroy the gate. He probably thought he had a chance since our knights were away. If he had succeeded and managed to flee back to Livadon, it wouldn’t have been easy to track him down.”

Hearing the wrath in Riftan’s voice, Maxi put a hand on his arm. Rob Midahas may have been foolish, but harming a nobleman could easily lead to conflict. Riftan gazed down at her fearful eyes and smiled bitterly.

“I should’ve beheaded him and hung his head outside the castle walls to set an example. But as you said, I’d hate to leave you again for war.”

“Th-Then…”

“I shall send a message to his father as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. I’ll demand compensation and tell him to rein in his son.”

Maxi breathed a sigh of relief. Smiling, Riftan left a trail of kisses from her shoulders to her cheeks. His damp hair emitted a sweet fragrance. Recalling Ruth’s comment about the knights’ strong dislike for floral scents, Maxi stifled a laugh.

“What are you laughing at?” Riftan looked at her questioningly.

“Y-Your hair s-smells like roses.”

Riftan blushed. “I figured you’d like me to smell nice…”

As Riftan began fidgeting with his damp hair, Maxi’s chest tightened. In the early days, his crude language and imposing figure had suggested to her that he might turn out to be as violent as her father. She had not in her wildest dreams expected to find her fearsome husband so endearing one day.

“I suppose it’s not becoming of a man.” Riftan sniffed himself sheepishly.

Maxi gazed at him silently for a moment, then raised her tired body to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. Riftan’s entire body stiffened. Blushing, Maxi planted another kiss on his jaw.

“I-It does smell nice. It’s n-not unbecoming of a m-man.”

“I’ll have to use this soap for the rest of my days, then.”

Riftan pulled her toward him by the waist and kissed her, then gently squeezed her tender breast with his hand. Startled, Maxi pushed him away.

“W-We’ve already…”

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“I-I wasn’t trying to—”

She had kissed him only out of an overwhelming rush of affection. She had had no intention of seducing him so soon after a round of intense lovemaking. But Riftan ignored her and began to strip off his clothes, kissing her more passionately.

“You fanned the flames yourself, Maxi.” Riftan lowered himself onto her.

Her body went weak at the sound of his whisper. He entered her gently, and this time, she felt more pleasure than pain. When it was over, she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

It was well past noon by the time Maxi awoke the next day. With Ludis’s assistance, she bathed and got dressed. Riftan had left at the break of dawn to deal with the intruders, and Maxi worried that he had not had sufficient rest after his long journey.

Noticing her face grow dark, Ludis stopped brushing her hair. “Is something wrong, my lady?”

Maxi shook her head. “N-No, it’s n-nothing.”

“The sorcerer says he will tend to your wounds. Should I call for him now?”

“Th-This is hardly a w-wound.”

Maxi rolled her eyes as she traced the graze running from her knee down to her shin. She had merely scraped her leg when she had fallen. The guards were certain to have much more severe wounds; many had been crushed by the castle gate or slashed by enemy swords. It would not do for her to raise a fuss over something so minor.

“I d-don’t think th-that will be n-necessary.”

“But, my lady, it might leave a scar—”

Ludis stopped mid-protest and pressed her lips together, worried that she had spoken out of turn.

“As you wish, my lady. I’ll ask the sorcerer for some ointment.”

“Thank you, Ludis,” said Maxi, startled at the mention of scarring.

The maidservant promptly left and returned with fresh bandages and a vial of ointment. Maxi applied the ointment and dressed the wound to keep it clean, though she did not think her scratch warranted bandages.

“Th-Thank you.”

“I’ll bring your meal to your room, my lady.”

“Th-That’s all right. I’ll h-have it in th-the dining hall. I should f-finish my work from y-yesterday.”

“The lord has instructed that you stay in bed today.”

Maxi gave Ludis an embarrassed look. It was true that Riftan holding her countless times the night before had exhausted her, but not so much that she needed bed rest, particularly when she had slept until midday while Riftan had gone to work without proper rest. It would not do for her to laze in bed.

“I’m f-fine. I was j-just a little sh-shaken by yesterday’s e-events.”

“But the lord…”

“I-I’ll talk t-to him.”

Ludis nodded silently at Maxi’s stubborn insistence.

Maxi left the room with a warm shawl draped over her shoulders. Crisp air flowed in through the open windows. As she made her way down the corridor, her eyes roved over the clean windowsills and new carpets stretching across the floor.

“D-Did the l-lord say anything about th-the castle?” Maxi asked Ludis, who was walking just behind her.

Ludis looked uncomfortable. “I’m sure he hasn’t had the time to look over the castle properly because of all the commotion yesterday.”

“I-I see.”

Seeing the look of disappointment on Maxi’s face, Ludis flashed one of her rare smiles and quickly added, “But the knights were astonished. When they came into the great hall for dinner last night, they said that the place had grown magnificent beyond measure.”

“R-Really?”

Ludis nodded vigorously, and Maxi made her way downstairs with a spring in her step. The servants stopped polishing the windows to greet her. Maxi nodded at them and headed toward the dining hall.

Ruth and three Remdragon Knights looked up from their lunch when she entered. Maxi froze. Unless there happened to be a special occasion, the knights usually had their breakfast and lunch in their quarters. As such, she had never encountered them in Riftan’s absence, and she found herself standing in place, blinking.

“Are your injuries all right, my lady?” Ruth broke the awkward silence. “Seeing the way Sir Riftan reacted, I thought you’d broken a bone, but you seem all right.”

The sorcerer looked Maxi up and down with bleary eyes, yawning while running his fingers through his perpetually messy hair.

“It w-was just a s-scratch.”

“I figured as much,” Ruth answered flatly, pulling out the chair next to him. “Please have a seat, my lady.”

And before Maxi could protest, Ruth instructed a servant to bring her food. Having lost her chance to leave, she glanced over at the knights’ faces before taking her seat. Silence filled the hall. Maxi anxiously waited for her meal to be served.

When the silence became too much to bear, she asked, “Wh-Where is R-Riftan?”

“He is at the gates, checking on the progress of the repairs,” Ruth grumbled, tearing off a piece of bread with his teeth. “He has summoned blacksmiths and craftsmen to build a steel gate. And not only that, he also wants a defensive magical device installed. He’s always been fixated on the defense of the castle, but that dimwitted noble has made it worse.”

“Th-The safer the b-better,” Maxi said brightly, relieved to have a topic to discuss.

Ruth scowled. “It has fallen on me to create the said device. I’ll be worked to death at this rate.”

Maxi was saved from having to think of a reply when a servant placed a bowl of chicken soup and freshly baked bread in front of her. She put the spoon to her mouth, rolling her eyes as Ruth groaned and tore at his hair. Though she knew nothing about how magical devices were made, she could surmise from his griping that it was an onerous task.

Suddenly, Ruth raised his head with a jerk. “My lady, can you do basic arithmetic?”

Chapter 42

Maxi nearly choked on her soup. Ruth’s usually lethargic gray eyes regarded her with expectation, unnerving her. If she disclosed that arithmetic was not her strong suit, the knights, who already regarded her with little respect, would think even less of her. But if she said that she could perform basic arithmetic, she was sure Ruth would assign her a grueling task. Unable to make up her mind, she avoided Ruth’s eyes by gulping down her soup.

Ruth leaned in to place himself in her line of vision, narrowing his eyes as if he were trying to prick her conscience.

“Is this how you repay kindness, my lady?”

“I-I’m not s-skilled enough to be of h-help to a sorcerer—”

“I know that you’re no mathematician! I ask only because I need all the help that I can get!”

At that, Maxi lost any inclination she had had to help Ruth. Noticing the change in her expression, Ruth began to pout like a hurt child.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten the aid I gave you in your hour of need, my lady.”

“I-I really d-don’t think I’m q-qualified…”

What Maxi most dreaded was the caustic remarks that she would have to endure if she agreed to help; she had never met anyone quite as critical as Ruth. Her determination to avoid his eyes, however, did not seem to deter him.

“You’ll be managing simple records and calculations. I’d say you’re more than qualified for that.”

“Enough of that.” One of the knights who had been pretending not to hear the exchange intervened. “You’re being disrespectful to her ladyship.”

Ruth ignored him and continued to look at her imploringly. Maxi knew that if she refused, the ill-tempered sorcerer would likely accuse her of being an ingrate at every opportunity. With that thought in mind, Maxi reluctantly nodded, and Ruth’s face broke into a grin.

“You have my eternal gratitude.” He passed her a potato from his plate in thanks.

“I see you’ve become quite close,” Sir Hebaron said, scratching the back of his head. The brawny knight had been quietly listening to their conversation.

Maxi hesitated before saying, “R-Ruth provided v-valuable advice on the castle r-refurbishments.”

“I see…” Sir Hebaron said awkwardly, taking a large bite of bread.

Maxi’s heart sank at his disinterest.

“The castle doesn’t look half bad,” he added after a long silence.

“Oh… Th-Thank you.”

Hebaron shifted his gaze uncertainly. He evidently found the conversation just as uncomfortable as she did. Although they had met a long while ago, they had never formally exchanged introductions, and she knew his name only because she had heard snatches of conversation among the knights. Silence fell over the room once more, and Maxi’s eyes shifted restlessly. But a moment later, the knights stood up, nodded their salutations, and left the dining hall. Maxi stared at her soup despondently.

“There isn’t much we can do about their attitude,” said Ruth. “The Remdragon Knights suffered greatly because of Duke Croyso.”

Maxi flinched and turned around. Ruth languidly dipped a piece of bread in the rich stew and brought it to his mouth before continuing.

“The Dragon Campaign brought great fame and honor to the order. But if fortune hadn’t been on our side, or if it hadn’t been for Sir Riftan, we would have lost many lives. The Red Dragon was a formidable foe, and many nearly didn’t make it back alive. Sir Riftan was at the forefront of it all, dancing with death.”

Maxi’s blood ran cold, but Ruth’s voice remained as calm as if he had just been commenting on the weather.

“The duke pushed the campaign onto Sir Riftan despite being fully aware of the dangers. Sir Riftan received a wife in exchange for his troubles, but even she failed to fulfill her duties.”

“B-But I—”

“That is how the knights have seen it till now.” Ruth lowered his spoon with an impassive face.

Maxi’s lips quivered. Until that moment, she had remained convinced that she was the one who had been abandoned. As she saw it, Riftan had been forced to marry her, and he had left her without a word because he had never wanted her. But Maxi knew that this would only sound like an excuse to the knights. The color drained from her face.

“I-I truly d-didn’t know th-that he w-wanted me here.”

“The knights who were sent to escort you were turned away at the gates.”

“I was n-never told a-about it.” Her voice came out as a whisper.

“Did it never occur to you to come to Anatol yourself with your father’s knights?”

Her father would never have allowed it; nor would his knights have agreed to accompany her. In fact, it had never occurred to her that going to her husband’s castle was a possibility. Lost for words, Maxi hung her head. Ruth shrugged and dropped the matter.

“Well, there’s no use bemoaning what has already passed. You are Sir Riftan’s wife, regardless of what the knights think. Pay them no heed unless they insult you.”

Ruth rose from his chair. It was unclear from his nonchalant tone whether he had intended to console her or whether he merely wished to end the conversation, and so Maxi simply gave a weak nod.

“Then I shall look forward to your ladyship’s help in the library in the coming days,” Ruth said lightly, rolling his shoulders left and right before exiting the dining hall.

Left to herself, Maxi felt isolated and anxious. She listlessly stirred her soup, wondering whether everyone else saw her as a shameless woman who had neglected her duties after her husband had left for a deadly campaign. If they did, they most likely resented her charade of acting like the lady of the castle now that he had returned a hero.

As she recalled how Rob Midahas had mocked her openly at the gates, what little confidence she had gained over the past weeks was shaken. How could Anatolians be expected to respect her after the miserable spectacle she had made of herself? Unable to bear these thoughts, she put her spoon down and left the dining hall.

“My lady!”

Maxi turned around when she heard Rodrigo’s polite voice. He had just entered the great hall carrying a large wooden chest.

“The lord has asked for you.”

“I-Isn’t he at the n-northern gates?”

“He has just returned. He’s in the garden—”

Maxi ran outside before the steward could finish his sentence. She passed the pavilion to reach the stairs from where she could see the garden bustling with servants moving chests into the castle. Her eyes widened at the endless stream of chests being unloaded from the enormous horse-drawn wagon standing at the entrance to the garden.

She walked past the servants and cautiously made her way down the stairs. In front of the wagon, Riftan was talking to two merchants dressed in the attire of the Southern Continent. Sensing her presence, he looked over his shoulder.

“Maxi.”

Maxi ran to him like a puppy answering her master’s call. With a faint smile on his lips, Riftan took the reins of a strikingly beautiful mare from the merchant and tugged lightly. The mare obediently trotted forward.

“Here.”

Patting the mare’s long, graceful neck, he handed Maxi the reins. Maxi stood blinking in surprise.

“Do you not like her?”

“S-Sorry?”

Riftan placed the reins in Maxi’s hands. “I said I’d bring gifts, didn’t I?”

Wide-eyed, Maxi looked from Riftan’s impassive face to the mare’s gentle one. Sensing her bewilderment, Riftan pulled her closer and placed her hand on the mare’s muzzle. Maxi stroked its golden mane with shaking hands. In response, the horse gently rubbed its muzzle against her hand.

“My horses are too big and wild for you, but you should be able to handle this one. She’s young but well trained.”

“She’s l-lovely,” Maxi murmured, enthralled.

“She’s yours now.” Riftan’s lips curled up into a smile.

“This is th-the most wonderful g-gift I’ve ever r-received.”

The mare let out a charming snort as it continued to rub its muzzle against Maxi’s palm. Maxi stroked its thick mane while admiring its long, slender legs and brilliant black eyes. Its balanced proportions and glossy mane indicated that it was a fine breed.

“C-Can I really h-have her?”

Riftan frowned slightly. “I told you, she’s yours. No one else here would ride such a dainty horse.”

The mare gave a great snort as if she had understood him. Maxi laughed softly and stroked its ears. Riftan tilted his head, keeping his burning gaze on Maxi.

“Do you like her?”

“I-I do.”

Maxi could not find the words to express how much she adored the mare. She tried to keep her voice from shaking.

“I t-truly do. Th-Thank you, Riftan.”

Chapter 43

“I t-truly do. Th-Thank you, Riftan.”

Riftan lowered his head to kiss Maxi. When she took a step back in surprise, he simply turned to the merchant.

“My wife is pleased, and you arrived two days earlier than expected. For that, I’ll reward you with fifty percent above the price we agreed upon.”

“It is my honor, Lord Calypse! We sped day and night to fulfill your lordship’s request.”

Maxi buried her face in the mare’s mane to hide her flushed cheeks. Mortified that Riftan had put on such a display of affection, she peered around to study people’s reactions.

When he finished talking to the merchant, Riftan put his arm around her shoulders.

“Let’s go up to our room. I have more gifts waiting for you.”

“Th-There’s more?”

Riftan pointed to the chests being unloaded from the wagon. “Every one of those is filled with gifts for you.”

Maxi’s jaw dropped. There were enough chests to fill an entire room.

“I’ve instructed the servants to bring them up to our room. Come.”

Riftan handed the mare’s reins to a servant and began walking toward the great hall. Maxi followed at his side, her steps as light as if she were walking on clouds. Her anxiety had dissipated.

“I th-thought you were b-busy repairing the g-gates.”

“I’ve given them my orders. The knights will take turns standing guard until the new gate is finished. Anatol will be safe from intruders even without me there.”

Maxi had asked not because she was worried about the castle’s security, but because she did not wish to keep Riftan from his duties. But instead of correcting him, she continued to ascend the stairs and entered the wide-open castle gate. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting golden rays on the crimson carpet. Riftan, who had been striding across the great hall, suddenly turned to look back at Maxi.

“I haven’t told you yet how magnificent the castle looks. Rodrigo tells me you worked day and night.”

Maxi blushed at the sudden compliment. “D-Do you like it?”

“Of course. When I went downstairs in the morning, I thought I’d woken up in someone else’s castle.”

Maxi breathed a sigh of relief. “Y-You didn’t say a-anything, s-so I was w-worried…”

“I couldn’t stop in the middle of my outburst to sing the praises of the castle’s splendor now, could I? Besides, I’d just seen you in grave danger! How could I have noticed anything else? You could have gilded these walls with pure gold, and I still wouldn’t have noticed.”

Seeing his eyes glint in anger at the memory, Maxi cast her eyes down. Riftan let out a short sigh and stroked her hair to soothe her.

“But that’s all in the past now. Let’s go see your gifts.”

Maxi nodded and followed him up the stairs to their bedchamber, where servants were busy arranging a pile of wooden chests. Ludis, who had been keeping an eye on the servants to ensure none were in the habit of stealing, bowed in greeting when she saw them.

“My lord, my lady.”

“Is everything here?”

“Yes, my lord. There are thirty-two chests in total. Would you like to check the contents?”

Riftan nodded, and the servants began to pry open the chests. Maxi stared with her mouth agape at the endless stream of gifts that emerged.

Fine silk and exquisitely patterned fabric from the Southern Continent, lustrous fox furs, a belt made of snakeskin, a shawl embroidered with gold, a silver hand mirror, and pearl hairpins…

Maxi couldn’t believe her eyes. Though she was used to seeing Rosetta surrounded by gifts, she had never been the recipient of such treasures.

“I-Is all of this f-for me?”

“Is it not to your liking?”

Maxi quickly shook her head. If she, a duke’s daughter, let on that she found such extravagant gifts overwhelming, Riftan would find it suspicious. Rosetta had never batted an eyelid at chests full of priceless jewels. Remembering her half-sister’s haughty demeanor, Maxi tried her best to stay composed.

“N-No, I l-like them.”

Riftan looked relieved. He instructed the servants to open the remaining chests, and Maxi tried her best to play the part of a noblewoman accustomed to such luxuries. It was impossible, however, to stop her jaw from dropping.

Riftan picked up an emerald hairpin and carefully slid it into her hair, just above her ear. Next, he clasped a sparkling diamond necklace around her neck. Seeing Maxi’s astonishment at the sumptuous jewels, Riftan softly kissed her cheek with a satisfied grin.

“I knew they would suit you perfectly.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Maxi’s cheeks burned, and Riftan’s eyes glowed with pleasure. Brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, he urged her to try on the rest of the jewelry.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Maxi felt both delight and unease. Riftan was treating her like a royal princess, yet she felt closer to a jester performing under an ill-fitting mask.

Riftan frowned at her troubled expression. “What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing.” Maxi quickly put a smile on her face. “These are b-beautiful. Y-You must have been s-so busy in D-Drachium. How d-did you find the t-time…?”

“You had to leave all your belongings behind at Croyso Castle because of me. It’s only right that I make up for it.”

“Th-Thank you…”

Maxi forced another smile, trying to hide her dismay. Her heart felt as if it had been stung. Riftan seemed to relax, and he began instructing the servants to put away the gifts. Maxi looked on from the back of the room, struggling to shake the strange sense of guilt. She told herself that she hadn’t lied, that Riftan had simply assumed she was worthy of such indulgence. But such reasoning did little to ease her mind.

◆◆◆

After confirming that everything had arrived, Riftan left to check on the captives. Meanwhile, Maxi decided to finish writing the fabric order that had been interrupted by the commotion the day before. After discussing the details of the order with the maidservants, she made a thorough list of the necessary items. When she finished, she went to the kitchen to oversee food preservation for the winter.

Late autumn to early winter was the busiest time of year at any castle. When the weather grew colder, fresh vegetables became scarce and the price of meat increased manyfold. Servants tirelessly cured meat, pickled fruit, smoked sausages, and carted copious bags of flour from the mill. If they had any time to spare, it was spent preparing winter fodder for the livestock.

Maxi listened to Ludis’s explanation as she scanned the kitchen, the smell of oil permeating the room.

“It’s difficult to find enough grass to feed all the animals during winter, so we keep a fixed number and slaughter the rest. Butchers prepare the meat and entrails to be sent to the castle, where the meat is smoked and the entrails used for sausages.”

Maxi nodded. The kitchen was always busy, but for the past few days, it had become a battlefield. On one side of the room, four servants were busy stuffing sausages at a long table, washbasins and plates piled high next to them. On the opposite end of the room, other servants were sawing meat, drained of blood, into small pieces.

The smell of smoke pricked Maxi’s nostrils. Wrinkling her nose, she turned to look over her shoulder. Outside the open door, there were four makeshift ovens made of stones. Steel mesh had been placed over the stones, and five to six servants were smoking meat over the mesh. Maxi’s eyes widened at the sheer volume of meat they were handling.

“I-I’ve never s-seen so much m-meat.”

“We’ve prepared enough to last the whole winter. Since smoked meat doesn’t stay good for long, we plan to cure most of the meat. Jerky will serve the knights well when they go on expeditions or monster raids.”

“W-We’re c-curing all this?”

Maxi inspected the hunks of meat hanging from the walls. The records that Ludis had given her had contained detailed accounts of the quantity of food preserved in previous years and the amount planned for preservation that year.

“With the knights’ return, we’ve had to prepare twice as much food as last year. In fact, we should have started the process earlier while it was still warm…”

“D-Does it take a l-long time?”

“It certainly does, my lady. Curing the meat with salt takes several days. After that, the meat must be cut into thin strips before being dried.”

Maxi was dismayed, thinking that the refurbishments had caused delay to the winter preparations.

Seeing her expression, Ludis quickly added, “But with the extra help we have this year, I’m sure everything will be ready before it gets too cold.”

“Th-That’s a relief…”

Maxi glanced at the servants laboring away in the kitchen. As lady of the castle, it was her responsibility to manage every item of housekeeping, and from her observations, the servants never had a moment’s rest. As she listened to Ludis’s explanations on food storage methods, she tried to gauge the amount of work that was still left.

The servants performed backbreaking labor every day. Their duties included cooking for all the castle’s inhabitants and cleaning every nook and cranny, but with winter approaching, they also had to make warm clothing for the knights and store fodder for livestock. Maxi decided to ask Riftan if she could hire more servants.

“I-I’ll ask Aderon if he can f-find us more help f-first thing tomorrow—”

“My lady!”

Chapter 44

A cheerful voice interrupted Maxi before she could finish her sentence. She turned to see who it was, and her eyes widened when she saw six squires standing next to the braziers with sweat running down their foreheads. Ulyseon, who was at the head of the group, quickly made his way toward her.

“I heard what happened, my lady! Is it all right for you to be walking around already? Those damned bastards! How dare they—”

“I-I’m fine.”

Garrow sighed, noticing Maxi’s discomfort at the sudden outpouring of concern. “Calm down, Uly. You’re making her ladyship uncomfortable.”

“I’ve just never been so frustrated about being a squire before. If I were a knight, I could’ve…”

Seeing Ulyseon’s crestfallen face, Maxi stifled a laugh. He reminded her of a large dog with its ears tucked back.

“Th-Thank you for your c-concern. But I-I’m fine, really. S-Some of the guards w-were injured, but Sir R-Riftan arrived j-just in time.”

“Yes, so I heard. And I heard those cowards surrendered immediately when they saw him. Can’t blame them! Those gutless scoundrels don’t stand a chance against Sir Riftan!”

Maxi rolled her eyes. Garrow had already started to shake his head. Once Uly began singing Riftan’s praises, he didn’t know when to stop. With a forced smile, Maxi gently cut him off.

“W-What brings you to the k-kitchen?”

Ulyseon looked at the squires standing around behind him as if he had just remembered where he was.

“The smell of meat was too tempting, so we sneaked out of practice.”

That must be why they look so nervous. Maxi smiled as if to reassure them that their secret was safe.

“W-We were j-just cooking up some s-sausages.” She turned to the cook. “W-Would you s-serve them some?”

The cook, who had been busily stuffing meat into clean entrails, looked up and grinned. “I’ll have a few ready in a jiffy, my lady. You there! Go bring me a plate of sausages!”

The squires eagerly gathered around, and Maxi slipped out of the kitchen to let them enjoy their snack in peace.

In the corridor, servants were lighting candles; with the days getting shorter, darkness could abruptly fall on the castle. The central hall and stairs in particular needed to be lit mid-afternoon for reasons of safety.

With the new sconces mounted on the walls, the castle was twice as bright as it had been. Lighting the extra candles, however, also required twice the labor.

“I-I’ll hire m-more servants first th-thing tomorrow m-morning,” Maxi said as she walked past the servants.

“I don’t think that’s necessary, my lady…”

“W-We need at l-least thirty more servants f-for a c-castle of this s-size. D-Do we have e-enough room to h-house them?”

“Yes, my lady. There’s ample room on the first floor.”

“Th-Then I’ll d-discuss the matter with his l-lordship tonight.”

After making the rounds at the stables, Maxi returned to her room to record a log of the day’s deeds. To manage a castle as large as Calypse Castle, keeping track of every detail was essential.

“My lady, the lord has sent word that he’ll be late and that you should dine without him. Would you like your meal in the dining hall?”

Maxi looked up from her writing when she heard Ludis's voice. She had not noticed the maidservant enter. Wondering how long she had been at her desk, Maxi looked out the window. Darkness had already fallen. Was Riftan still working at that hour? Though he was a strong man, she couldn’t help but worry that he was not getting adequate rest.

“My lady?”

“I-I’ll eat in my r-room.”

Maxi rose from her seat. She absentmindedly poked at the logs in the fireplace and stared into the flames. A day in Calypse Castle felt both infinitely long and incredibly short. Managing the place was exhausting, but she was in much higher spirits than she had ever been at her father’s castle.

Is Riftan happy with me too?

Maxi’s face fell as she remembered Ruth’s words from that morning. It was clear from the way the knights treated her how unjustly they thought Riftan had been treated by her father. She would not have blamed him for resenting her, but he had been unfailingly kind to her.

Maxi could not comprehend his kindness. As far as she could tell, there was nothing the least bit appealing about her. She possessed neither striking beauty nor exceptional talent; nor had she been endowed with sharp wit.

The one thing she had was her standing as a duke’s daughter, but her lineage could not hold a candle to that of a royal princess. It was impossible to know what it was that Riftan saw in her. Whatever the reason, her father had been right when he had said that she was fortunate beyond what she deserved.

Her father’s cruel violence had unexpectedly turned into a blessing. Maxi swore to herself that she would do everything in her power to hold onto her good fortune.

◆◆◆

“Mmm...”

A firm hand gently cupped Maxi’s breast over her dress. She awoke to see the faint light of dawn filtering in through the windows. She had fallen asleep after supper while reading in bed.

She was drawing the blankets over her shoulders to ward off the morning chill when a powerful arm snaked around her waist. Startled, she turned to look behind her. Riftan was fast asleep, his bare chest exposed. Wondering when he had returned, she peered at his face with suspicion. Was he pretending to be asleep again?

Maxi narrowed her eyes, on alert for any sign of movement. But Riftan continued to breathe softly. Convinced that he was genuinely asleep, she gently pushed his arm away. To her surprise, he released her.

Maxi turned toward him as quietly as she could. Though Riftan usually woke at the slightest noise, he remained sound asleep. The sight warmed her heart.

He must be exhausted.

Riftan’s face was bathed in the bluish glow of dawn. Maxi gently traced its outline with her hand. His hair had grown longer and now sat over his fine forehead in a tousled mess, pricking his eyes. Seeing the slight frown on his face, Maxi brushed back the strands, and the frown disappeared. She smiled at the sight of him sleeping sweetly.

Maxi continued to look at him adoringly, though he was at least a kevette[1] taller than her and twice her size. On impulse she crawled into his arms and put her head against his chest. Seeing that he was still deeply asleep, she felt the urge to do something more daring.

She buried her face in his neck and took in his warm masculine scent, which reminded her of sunlight mingled with the fragrance of the soap. As she drank in the inexplicably sensual scent, heat rose inside her belly.

Maxi followed the outline of Riftan’s jaw with her finger. He was truly a stunning man. Even in the dark, his smooth skin gleamed like gold, and with his long lashes lowered, he looked as innocent as a lamb.

Something must be wrong with me.

Just a few months prior, she would never have thought to describe this rugged knight as innocent. But now, she was overcome by a strange desire to embrace him and rub her face against him. She suppressed the urge. She not only lacked the courage, but she was also loath to disturb his much-needed rest.

Maxi slid out of bed and left the room with her robe in hand. The crisp morning air chilled the corridor. She draped the thick robe over her thin woolen dress and made her way to the kitchen. When she arrived, there was a warmth in the air.

Chapter 45

The cook dropped the dough he had been kneading and rushed forward to greet Maxi.

“My lady! What brings you to the kitchen so early in the morning?”

Maxi gave him an awkward smile as she made her way to the fireplace. “I-I woke up early, and I l-left the room so as n-not to disturb the l-lord. Is it a-all right if I s-stay here?”

The cook seemed flustered that the lady of the castle would ask such a thing. He nodded so vigorously that Maxi worried his head might come loose.

“Of course! We’ve just finished baking bread and making rabbit stew. Would you like to have your breakfast now, my lady?”

“Y-Yes, please. I-I’d also like to w-wash my face. C-Could I have a b-basin of water and a t-towel?”

“Right away, my lady.”

The cook promptly poured a mix of hot and cold water into a basin and brought it to her along with a clean linen cloth. Maxi sat at the table next to the fire and washed her face. Next, she dipped her fingers in the water and ran them through her tangled hair.

A few moments later, a maidservant placed a loaf of freshly baked white bread and a bowl of thick stew in front of her. Pushing the basin aside, Maxi broke the warm bread in half. Steam rose from the soft, moist crumb.

Maxi placed a pat of butter on a piece of bread, blew on it a few times, and took a bite. The sweet bread melted in her mouth. After finishing the delectable meal, she washed everything down with a glass of honeyed goat milk. As she sat in front of the warm fire on a full stomach, she felt drowsiness overtake her.

Just as she was thinking about returning to bed, Ruth shuffled into the kitchen.

“Why, you’re up early today, my lady.”

Maxi’s face fell in dismay. Ruth quickly made his way to her as if to stop her from escaping.

“I see you’re enjoying an early breakfast. That must be nice. I, on the other hand, haven’t had a single bite since dinner last night thanks to the special task Sir Riftan assigned to me.”

Maxi gave him a stiff smile. “I-I was b-busy yesterday…”

“Yes, I heard about the veritable mountain of gifts Sir Riftan brought you. Were you busy opening gifts all day?”

“Th-There are m-more matters in the c-castle that require my a-attention that you th-think!”

Maxi had in fact spent much of the previous day opening gifts, but she decided not to disclose the fact. The sorcerer stared down at her with cheerless eyes. She did not wish to be browbeaten before the servants, but Ruth’s domineering attitude had a way of making her feel like an inept student being scolded by her tutor.

“I’m sure you have a lot on your hands,” Ruth added in a softer tone. “But strengthening our defenses is our priority. We need the magical device to stop further attacks. And you, my lady, are the only person who has the arithmetic skills to help me.”

Maxi narrowed her eyes. She would have bet on her own life that Ruth did not think highly of her arithmetic skills.

“I-I understand, b-but making winter p-preparations is also i-important. I-I’ll help you as s-soon as I’m finished.”

“The safety of Anatolians takes precedence over all else for Sir Riftan. If I can complete the device with your help, his worries will be greatly alleviated.”

Maxi’s ears pricked up, and her eyes brightened. “Would it r-really?”

“Certainly, my lady.”

Excited by the chance to prove herself to Riftan, Maxi hardly took notice of the fact that Ruth had artfully chosen just the words that were needed to convince her. She glanced at the servants, who were listening intently to their conversation while pretending to work. Then she let out a long sigh as if she had been given no other choice.

“I-If that’s the case, I’ll h-help you f-first. A-Are you s-satisfied?”

“I’d be happier if you could start right away.” Ruth ran a hand over his haggard face. “I have a heap of equations that needs to be sorted out. Making a magical device usually requires the help of two to three assistants…”

“I-I understand. W-Why don’t you have s-something to eat f-first?”

“This will do.”

Ruth picked up a loaf of freshly baked bread and bit into it. He then took an apple from a sack in the kitchen corner and thrust it inside the pocket of his robe before shuffling toward the door. Maxi followed after instructing Ludis to come find her in the library if anything happened.

◆◆◆

Ruth had not been exaggerating about the volume of work that awaited him. Maxi’s jaw dropped when she saw the mess he had made of the library in just two days. Haphazardly stacked books, pieces of parchment, and other odds and ends cluttered the desk.

Maxi leaned forward to inspect a piece of cloth that lay spread out on the floor. The size of a blanket, it was inscribed with complex, meticulously drawn patterns. She sighed when she saw the empty ink bottles scattered across the floor. Ruth appeared to have used five whole bottles to draw the patterns.

“Why are y-you working h-here instead of your t-tower?”

“There isn’t enough room. And Sir Riftan has made it clear that the tower will no longer be mine if I don’t finish this device within a week.”

Maxi frowned as she thought about the lofty tower located in the back garden. How could Ruth possibly have run out of space? Surely he wasn’t sleeping in the library because he lacked room in the tower? Ruth seemed not to notice her disapproving look as he sat down and placed his half-eaten apple on the edge of the desk. Maxi grudgingly took the seat across from him.

“Your task, my lady, is quite simple. I’d like you to draw copies of these diagrams using these tools. I’ll explain how to use them, of course. They should be easy to use as long as you know basic arithmetic.”

Ruth handed her six flat wooden boards of varying shapes. Gripping the boards in her hands, Maxi looked down at the intricate diagram. Piles of parchment with similar diagrams were stacked on top of the desk.

“W-What are all these?”

“Designs for the magical device.”

“Are m-magical devices enormous?”

“They vary in size, but the one we’re making is about the size of a pumpkin. These are blueprints for magic runes that will be placed inside the device. The runes will be placed in intricate layers inside an object endowed with protective magic.”

“M-Magic runes?”

Maxi studied the diagram with interest. Circles, triangles, squares, and spirals were intricately intertwined on yellow parchment. When Ruth had asked for her assistance, she had guessed that the magical device would require complex calculations, but she now realized that the process was far more complicated than she had thought.

“Magic runes are tools that allow us to amplify the mana in our surroundings tenfold or even a hundredfold. That’s how all magic is created. A mage’s talent is determined by how efficiently they use these runes to create the desired effect.”

Maxi tilted her head. “B-But I’ve seen m-mages use magic without r-runes before. Even y-you recently cast a s-spell without o-one.”

“That’s possible only when we’ve memorized the spell so well that we can draw the runes in our heads. But only basic spells can be used this way. Advanced spells take a great deal of time and effort to prepare.”

“Th-Then what we’re m-making must be extremely a-advanced magic.” Maxi eyed the heap of parchment.

Ruth nodded with a grin. “What we’re making is called a Nome shield. It’s a protective rune that uses earth magic. If someone were to attack the gates using magic, the rune would create a powerful barrier about twenty kevettes[2] in radius as soon as it detected the attack. Once we place the runes inside the magical device and install it at the gates, even a rain of fire won’t be able to destroy it.”

“Th-That’s reassuring.”

Maxi’s interest was piqued. She had rarely had the chance to see magic in use with the exception of the hierarchs’ healing magic and the defensive magic that Ruth had employed at the gates. She had heard tales of great mages and their brilliant exploits, but she knew little about how they wielded such magic.

“D-Does that m-mean you can use m-magic if you know how to d-draw these r-runes?”

“The runes won’t work if you can’t activate them with magic, and for that, you’d have to know how to control mana. Magic isn’t something you can create from nothing, but something you must harness.”

“B-But I’ve seen ordinary p-people use magical d-devices.”

“That’s because they have magic stones.”

Chapter 46

Ruth rummaged through the cluttered desk and pulled out a glimmering red stone the size of Maxi’s palm.

“This stone contains a fixed amount of magic and functions as an energy source for magical devices. By placing one inside a device, ordinary people can use magic.”

Maxi studied the stone. Its surface shimmered mystically like red light reflected on rippling water. Holding the stone in her hands, she felt as if she had been given a glimpse into a strange new world. Her heart began to beat faster.

“Now, if that satisfied your curiosity, shall we get started? If we don’t finish this soon, I shall lose my tower.”

Ruth shoved a pile of books to one side to make room on the desk. Maxi set the stone down and listened attentively as he explained step by step how to make calculations and how to draw the complex designs.

With Ruth’s detailed directions, Maxi quickly grasped the task at hand, methodically adding and subtracting as she redrew the diagrams with a ruler. Though it was a complex task that she could not fully comprehend, she never found the work tiresome.

They worked in silence. After a while, Ruth looked up from writing in the ancient language and raised his eyebrows.

“You’re better at this than I expected, my lady. It’s close to perfect, I’d say.”

Unsure of whether this was a compliment, Maxi narrowed her eyes. “E-Even I can do th-this much.”

“I just meant that you’ve exceeded my expectations.”

Maxi looked at him distrustfully. She knew how little the sorcerer thought of her. Still, she was relieved that he was not berating her as she had feared he would.

“I’m g-glad you f-find me helpful.”

Maxi continued to work on the heap of parchment with a faint smile. Just as her fingers began to ache from gripping the quill, the library door burst open. She turned to see Riftan striding toward them.

Her eyes widened when she saw that he was clad in leather trousers and a black tunic instead of his armor, a sign that he did not intend to leave the castle that day. She had half risen from her seat to joyfully greet him when she heard his icy voice.

“The servants tell me you’ve been here since early this morning. What do you think you’re doing here?”

Riftan ran his eyes over the piles of books and parchment on the desk. The displeasure on his face puzzled Maxi.

“What’s all this about?”

Ruth seemed unfazed. “Isn’t it obvious? Her ladyship and I are making the device you requested.”

“What I want to know is what my wife is doing here.”

“I’ve asked her ladyship for her assistance. If you recall, I informed you countless times that it was nigh impossible to finish the device by myself within a week.”

Riftan leaned over the desk until he was looming over the sorcerer. “Are you trying to get back at me by ordering my wife around?”

“I didn’t ask for her ladyship’s help just to annoy you. She happens to be the only literate person in this castle who can also do arithmetic. It’s not as if I could ask the knights for help now, could I?”

“But you think it’s acceptable to ask my wife?!”

“R-Riftan, I really d-don’t mind,” Maxi quickly cut in.

Riftan gave her a sharp look, making Maxi’s shoulders quiver. But after all that Ruth had done for her, she could not allow him to be berated thus.

Trying to keep her voice even, she continued, “I-It’s not difficult, and more i-importantly, it’s f-for Anatol. I d-don’t want something s-similar to h-happen again.”

“I’ll make sure it never happens again.” Though Riftan’s voice was now softer, he still looked irritated. “But there’s no need for you to put yourself in danger.”

“And what danger could she possibly be in? Are you afraid she’ll die from the prick of a quill?”

“You’re prone to starting fires with the flick of a hand! And why are you here instead of your tower? What if you start a fire?!”

“What I’m making is a protective device. The chances of an explosion or a fire starting are slim to none! The worst that could happen is that the library becomes safer.”

Riftan scowled, irked that he had no further arguments to make. Maxi gently tugged at his tunic. She knew that the best way to stop two hounds from fighting was to separate them.

“P-Please don’t be a-angry. R-Ruth says i-it’s safe.”

“I’m not angry, just worried.” Riftan sighed. “Fine. Help him if you must, but don’t overexert yourself. And Ruth, don’t you even think about involving my wife in dangerous experiments.”

“Just what kind of person do you think I am?”

“A loose cannon.”

With that, Riftan pulled Maxi toward him. In the past, a frown from him had been enough to terrify her, but strangely she now felt no fear at the fact that a large, angry man was pulling at her arm. His displeasure still made her anxious, but she knew that he would not hurt her.

“That’s enough for today,” said Riftan, leading Maxi toward the door. “You can carry on on your own for the rest of the day.”

Ruth quickly rose from his seat. “Where are you going without your armor?”

“Nowhere. Even I need days of rest from time to time.”

Maxi’s eyes went round. Seeing the same surprise on Ruth’s face, she surmised that Riftan rarely took rest.

“But what about the intruders?”

“I’ve sent a messenger to Livadon. They’ll be released once I receive compensation. Until then, keep them alive in the dungeons.”

“What if his father refuses to pay?”

“Then I’ll cut off their—” Seeing the look on Maxi’s face, Riftan stopped and waved his hands at Ruth. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Fair. Enjoy your day off. It’s well deserved.”

“How gracious of you.”

Maxi turned to nod goodbye to Ruth before exiting the library. In the corridor, bright rays of sunlight flooded in through the windows. Riftan looked out the window for a moment before turning to Maxi with bright eyes.

“We’ll need something warmer before we go out. It’s a fine day, but the wind’s chilly.”

“W-Where are we going?”

“You have your own horse now. You should take her out before it gets too cold. I’ll show you a good place to ride.”

Maxi’s lips parted in surprise. She was pleased that he wanted to spend time with her outside the bedchamber.

“B-But you m-must be tired. M-Maybe you should r-rest…”

“I’m not an old man, Maxi. But if you insist on spending time in the bedroom…”

Maxi caught her breath when she saw the desire in his eyes. Her face burning, she cast her eyes down. Riftan laughed softly and pulled her into a firm embrace.

“It’s tempting, but we are going out today. I want to show you my land.”

◆◆◆

After changing into a dress more suited to riding, Maxi followed Riftan to the stables. With the help of the stable boy, she led her beautiful new white mare outside. Riftan followed behind with his mighty war horse, which Maxi immediately recognized as the one that he had ridden on their journey to Anatol.

Riftan gently stroked the horse’s neck. “You remember Talon, don’t you? Aside from his fiery temper, he’s as perfect a horse as you could wish for.”

“D-Do you like h-horses?”

“I’ve dreamt of having one ever since I was a boy of ten. And Talon here is the best among all the horses I’ve had.”

Riftan rubbed his cheek against Talon’s muzzle. The sight suddenly filled Maxi with jealousy. She turned away, mortified that she was jealous of a mere beast. According to the teachings of the church, nothing was more shameful than a woman’s jealousy.

Riftan stepped toward her. “Have you given her a name?”

Maxi shook her head, trying to rein back her emotions.

“N-Not yet.”

“You should choose one soon. She’ll warm up to you faster if you call her by her name.”

“W-What should I n-name her?”

“It’s your horse. You should be the one to decide.”

After mulling it over, Maxi said, “R-Rem…”

Chapter 47

Riftan smiled playfully. “‘Rem’ because she’s white? I see that my wife’s imagination is wanting.”

“I-It has a n-nice ring to it.” Maxi did not mention that the inspiration for the name had come from the order of knights under his command.

Just then, a groom came to saddle the horses, and Riftan helped her onto her horse. Still unused to being on horseback, her body stiffened reflexively. She clutched the reins nervously. Riftan, on the other hand, looked perfectly at ease on Talon.

Riftan stared at her awkward posture. “You’re not used to riding, are you?”

Maxi nodded, embarrassed. “I never l-left Croyso Castle. Th-There wasn’t much ch-chance for me to ride.”

“I know. I heard the rumors. It was said that the Duke of Croyso’s eldest daughter avoided the outside world because of her delicate disposition.”

Something in his voice made Maxi nervous.

“I-I didn’t know th-that was how p-people perceived me.”

“The Duke of Croyso is one of the most powerful men in the Western Continent. It’s only natural for people to take an interest in his daughter. And unlike your sister, you never made any public appearances, which only served to inflate their curiosity. I know of a knight who sneaked into Croyso Castle just to catch a glimpse of you.”

Maxi avoided his gaze. She had been entirely unaware of such curiosity. How had Riftan pictured her after he had heard those rumors? Had he imagined a frail woman, delicate as a flower? She knew that there was nothing elegant about her short, thin frame. Tenderhearted and easily frightened, she also knew that such traits failed to make her endearing.

“H-He m-must have been d-disappointed,” Maxi said brightly, trying to mask her self-doubt.

“How so?” Riftan turned to look at her, frowning.

“He w-went through all that t-trouble just to s-see an ordinary-looking w-woman.”

Maxi tightened her grip on the reins as she tried to feign nonchalance. Calling her looks ordinary was generous, but she did not want to go so far as to admit that to Riftan. Her ears turned red.

Riftan slowed down to ride by her side as they made their way toward the back gate. “I have to disagree. I find you charming.”

Maxi smiled awkwardly, certain that he was only being polite. “Th-Thank you.”

Riftan frowned. “It’s not my habit to say things that I don’t mean. If I didn’t find you alluring, you wouldn’t drive me into a frenzy when we’re alone together. Or had you forgotten because we had one peaceful night yesterday?”

Maxi’s whole body flushed with embarrassment. At a loss for words, she opened and closed her mouth repeatedly. Riftan leaned in closer and cupped her chin with his hand. Her heart began to pound when she saw the desire in his eyes.

“Perhaps riding was a foolish suggestion. Shall we turn back?”

Maxi shook her head, and Riftan straightened his back with an inscrutable expression. She could not tell whether he was smiling or frowning.

“Then let us hurry. We don’t want the sun to set before we’ve even left the castle.”

Maxi trailed after him, trying to calm her racing heart.

◆◆◆

They rode through a narrow forest path that led out of the back gate. The only sounds were the rustling and crunching of leaves and the chirping of the birds in the sky. It seemed as if the whole world were asleep.

Maxi observed Riftan as they rode in peaceful silence. He looked gracefully at ease atop his horse. She, on the other hand, had to bend forward and clumsily grip the reins to keep herself from falling. Riftan looked back at her and smiled wryly.

“I didn’t know my wife was such an unpracticed rider.”

“A-As I m-mentioned… I h-had few opportunities t-to ride.”

“Relax your shoulders. Horses get nervous when they sense their riders are tense.”

Blushing, Maxi took deep breaths and tried to loosen her shoulders. But each time the horse moved, her hips bounced, and she felt her body constrict once more. After observing her for a few moments, Riftan brought his horse closer to hers.

“Relax your upper body. Squeeze your thighs to the rhythm of the horse’s movement for balance. Just like when you were on top of m—”

“R-Riftan! Y-You mustn’t say such th-things out loud!”

“Why? It’s just us here.”

“S-Still! I-It’s improper!”

Riftan burst into laughter. “Heavens. I haven’t the least idea why you’re getting so upset. In bed, you were so—”

“R-Riftan!”

Maxi lost her balance as she attempted to cover his mouth, but Riftan swiftly caught her as if he had anticipated her fall.

“All right, all right. Calm down.”

Maxi glared at Riftan, who looked back at her mischievously before leaning down to kiss her forehead. Maxi lost her balance a second time, prompting Riftan to steady her again.

“Looks like I’ll have to teach you the foundations, starting with how to sit on a horse.” Riftan laughed.

“I-I’d be able to r-ride better if you’d just s-stop distracting me,” Maxi muttered.

Riftan’s grin only grew wider. Maxi tried to maintain her haughty demeanor, but she found it difficult to look indignant when she saw his mischievous charm. Each time he smiled, her cheeks went red, and her heart began to beat faster.

“Is that so? So be it then.”

Riftan galloped ahead, steering the powerful stallion with ease with his long, muscular legs. Before long, Maxi realized that he was riding at a pace slow enough that she could catch up. She knew that he was capable of riding like the wind as he had done on his return from Drachium, so this small gesture made her heart swell. No one in her life had cared for her as he had done; she could almost believe that he really did see her as attractive and a good wife.

“You’re not accustomed to riding, but you like animals, don’t you?”

Maxi blinked. “H-How did you kn-know?”

“I once saw you sitting in the garden of Croyso Castle during one of my visits. You were petting a cat you had on your lap.”

Maxi was startled. It had never occurred to her that someone might have been watching her. She tried to recall if she had ever seen Riftan in the garden.

“He was purring away blissfully. I remember it well because everything was so soft and serene.”

“I-It was p-probably the k-kitchen cat that was k-kept for catching mice. H-He was often s-starved because he wasn’t a g-good hunter, s-so I’d feed him in s-secret.”

“So he was trying to repay the favor.”

Riftan looked deep in thought for a moment. Suddenly, he glanced over his shoulder to look at her.

“What else do you like?” Seeing the puzzled look on her face, he smiled bitterly. “I’ve said it before, but you’re veiled in mystery. It’s rare that you reveal anything about yourself. Why are you so reluctant to show me who you are?”

Maxi felt her heart drop. Did he not know the answer to his question? Was he truly blind to her impediment? The way Riftan treated her was so starkly different from her father’s cruelty that she was no longer sure of how she should perceive herself.

“I-I’ve never been r-reluctant…”

“Then tell me about what you like, what you don’t, and what you think about every day.”

“Why d-don’t you g-go first? Y-You don’t t-talk much about y-yourself either.”

“I’m certain I’ve said more about myself than you have.”

He knitted his brows as if he were combing through his memories, then shrugged.

“Very well. Allow me to show you some chivalry. I like horses, wine, and rich food. As a matter of fact, I like anything that fills the belly and pleases the tongue. Other than that, it’s gold, jewels, honor, and powerful weapons. Nothing that an ordinary man wouldn’t like.”

“W-What do you d-detest?”

Riftan snapped off a branch blocking their path with a dagger. “Liars and incompetent fools. I’ve seen too much pompous scum in this world who flaunt their unmerited stations. They’re outnumbered only by riffraff who deceive others for profit.”

Though she knew his words were not directed at her, Maxi felt a chill run through her body.

Chapter 48

“Now it’s your turn,” said Riftan.

Maxi tried to mask her anxiety. Riftan seemed oblivious to her agitation.

“I-I like what m-most people like, too.”

“That’s not a fair answer. Give me a proper one.”

Maxi thought for a moment before speaking again. “A-As I’ve said before, I like a-animals. Dogs, c-cats, horses… ch-chicks and rabbits too.”

“What else?”

“I l-like to read. At C-Croyso Castle, I spent m-most of my time in the l-library.”

“Rodrigo did mention that you spend a good deal of your time here in the library.”

“Y-Yes. Th-There are so many r-rare books here. Th-Though Ruth tends to use them as his b-blanket…”

“Shall I drive the rascal out of there?”

“I would n-never h-hear the end of it i-if you did.”

A line creased Riftan’s forehead when he saw Maxi’s look of horror. He gave her a cryptic look.

“It seems you two have been getting along well.”

“H-He helped me g-greatly with the r-refurbishments. H-He’s fussy and he nags, b-but he’s a g-good person.”

Her response only seemed to irritate Riftan. He turned to face away from her.

“You’re right. He’s fussy and talks too much, but he’s an upright fellow.”

He rode in silence, lost in thought.

“What do you hate, then? You’ll need to answer that for this to be a fair exchange.”

Lashings, shouting, and beatings were the first things that came to mind, but Maxi could not reveal that. Still, she did not want to lie to a man who had said he most detested liars. She hesitated before blurting out an answer.

“M-Myself.”

Riftan blinked as if he had not understood.

“I-I hate myself the m-most,” Maxi repeated.

Just then, they reached the end of the path, and a vast meadow came into view. Before Riftan could press her further, Maxi spurred her horse into a gallop up the hill.

◆◆◆

To her surprise, Maxi found that she was enjoying herself. Riding through an open field was far easier than navigating a winding mountain path. As she galloped through the golden meadow, illuminated by the winter sun, her posture improved naturally. When she stopped to rest at the top of the hill, she found that she was sitting upright.

“I brought some wine.”

Riftan dismounted next to a large tree at the hilltop. He then wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her off her horse as if she weighed little more than a feather.

“Your body feels hot. And I can feel your heart pounding like a drum.”

Maxi wiped off the beads of sweat on her forehead and tried to catch her breath. Just as Riftan had said, her whole body was pulsating.

“I-It does feel like a t-tiny drum is b-beating inside me.”

“That’s an endearing way to put it.”

He planted a kiss on her flushed cheek before lowering her to the ground. He then walked over to the large tree, spread his cloak under it, and sat down. Maxi went to join him. As the winter breeze cooled her body, she pulled her robe closer to her body. She watched as the wind rippled through the golden fields in the village at the bottom of the hill.

“Th-This place is b-beautiful.”

“It’s even more beautiful in the spring when the wildflowers bloom.”

Maxi felt her heart swell with anticipation. It was a new feeling; she had never thought the day would come when she could dare hope for something. She felt anxious and happy at the same time.

“Come closer. You’ll get cold if your sweat cools.”

Riftan leaned against the tree trunk and wrapped his cloak around her. Maxi drank from the small wine flask he had handed her. Though she was seated on his lap, she did not feel uncomfortable the way she had when he had teased her earlier. In fact, having his powerful arms around her felt natural.

“Let me have a sip.”

Riftan locked an arm around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. Maxi brought the flask to his lips and carefully tilted the container. He took a few gulps before pulling away.

“Why don’t you like yourself?”

It seemed that Riftan did not intend to drop the matter. Maxi shifted her eyes uneasily. Was the reason not obvious to him? She spoke like a complete and utter fool. Still, she found amusement in the fact that he continued to feign ignorance.

“H-Have you n-never disliked yourself?”

“I have, countless times.”

He seemed to relax a little. As he pressed his lips to her forehead, she realized that her words must have troubled him the whole time that they were riding.

“But I’ve never disliked myself so much that it would be the first thing that came to mind.”

“Th-That’s because th-there isn’t much t-to dislike about you.”

Riftan looked amused. “Is that so?”

“I-I’m sure y-you’re well aware of it y-yourself.”

“I can’t say that I am. Do enlighten me.”

Maxi looked up at him, incredulous. “Y-You’re one of the b-best knights in the realm. Y-You’re strong, t-tall, and c-clever…”

“No one’s called me clever before, though I’ve been called a lumbering oaf by many.”

Maxi frowned. It was true that Riftan often lacked courtesy and was unrefined in speech, but he was far from being an oaf. His eyes always had a sharp look about them, and his words revealed keen insight. She sometimes had the feeling that he could see right through her.

“If you r-really were dull-witted, y-you wouldn’t be s-so well respected.”

Riftan’s lips twisted into a cynical smile as if he was not quite ready to agree. He leaned his head back against the tree.

“What else?” he asked coolly.

“Y-You have h-honor, you’re a great l-leader, and y-you’re… h-handsome.”

“You think I’m handsome?”

“Y-You know I d-do.”

“How would I know whether you find me attractive or not?”

Maxi blinked in disbelief. “I-I have an eye for b-beauty, just like e-everyone else.”

“Each time I visited Croyso Castle, you shuddered at the sight of me as if I were an ogre. It certainly wasn’t a look of admiration. Even the wrinkled face of a goblin wouldn’t have elicited such a look of horror.”

“I’ve n-never even seen a g-goblin before.”

“You know that’s not my point.”

Riftan tilted her chin up so that her eyes met his.

“Whenever I came close to you, you looked as if you might faint.”

His accusatory tone unnerved her. She had been oblivious to the fact that he had noticed her before their wedding, and she was surprised to learn that he had observed her reaction.

“I-I was… a-afraid of you. Y-You were intimidatingly b-big, a-and you always had th-this icy air a-about you. It seemed like y-you were a-always angry.”

Riftan remained silent. Maxi shifted uncomfortably in his arms.

“Do you still find me frightening?”

Maxi shook her head slowly. Riftan studied her face for a moment, then slowly lowered his lips to meet hers. The kiss had a different kind of warmth from the playful kisses he had teased her with earlier in the day. When she felt his soft tongue enter her mouth, Maxi let out a low moan.

With one hand cradling her neck, Riftan gently stroked her wind-blown hair as he sucked on her tongue. A tingle ran down Maxi’s spine. She felt her chest tighten. As Riftan cupped her breast with one hand and gently squeezed, heat began to simmer inside her.

“R-Riftan… W-We’re outdoors.”

“It’s all right. It’s just you and me here. If anyone approaches, I’ll be able to tell immediately.”

The warmth emanating from his body made her tremble. She had not noticed his arousal because of his calm expression. When Riftan pulled her closer and lifted up the hem of her dress, Maxi looked up at him, startled. His eyes were burning with desire.

“Don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you.”

Feeling his words echo inside her chest, Maxi held her breath as she gazed up at him. He put his forehead to hers and rubbed her nose with his before moving down to suck on her lips. A long finger slid under her dress and began to gently stroke her between her thighs. Maxi clutched at his soft hair.

He would never hurt me.

“You smell like winter,” he moaned, burying his face in her neck to breathe in her scent.

Maxi thought to herself that Riftan also smelled like the crisp winter breeze. The pungent musk of tree bark and the faint scent of horses filled her lungs.

“Damn it. I want to kiss every part of you, but if I strip you naked out here, you’ll get sick.”

Riftan impatiently stroked her body over her dress. Maxi did not feel cold because of the heat burning inside her, but she did not tell Riftan, unable to muster the nerve to lie nude in an open field. They were already doing something they ought not to be doing. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away from him.

Riftan sucked and nibbled on her neck as he swiftly undid the straps of his trousers. Sitting inside his cloak, Maxi pulled her dress up to her waist. She felt him slowly enter her. When she felt him stretch her to her limit, she let out a cry. Riftan soothed her by gently stroking her hips and kissing her neck.

“I’ll never hurt you again, Maxi. It’s all right.”

Maxi could not recall him ever hurting her or the reason why she had ever been afraid of him. It felt as if Riftan Calypse had always been part of her. Maxi clung to his neck like a drowning woman.

Riftan took hold of her hips and pushed himself in deeper. As their bodies merged, her whole body throbbed, and the sound of wind became more distant. She began to move on top of him, mimicking her movements atop the horse. She took him to the hilt and tightened around him before releasing him reluctantly, repeating the motion again and again. Her heart hammered, and her mind dissolved ecstatically under his shower of kisses.

Chapter 49

Riftan very nearly had to haul Maxi back to the castle on his horse. After carrying her to their bedchamber, he bathed her in warm water, dressed and fed her, and lay her on his chest to lull her to sleep.

This was not the first time that Riftan had cared for her so tenderly. When they were together, he acted little different from a nanny. He constantly tried to feed her, and he was particularly adamant that they bathe together. In the mornings, he liked to snatch the comb from Ludis to comb Maxi’s hair himself.

Such actions baffled her. All her life, she had been told that courtesy, polite disinterest, and duty were all that constituted the relationship between husband and wife. She had never once heard of a man treating his wife with such affection.

Maxi wondered if most husbands were in fact as caring as Riftan. It could be that she had just not been made privy to that fact. After all, she had led a cloistered life within the walls of Croyso Castle. She had been allowed to leave the castle only to visit the church, and even those visits had been forbidden when she had turned fourteen.

Everything she knew about the outside world came from snippets of conversation she had overheard from guests at the castle. The two people who had most greatly shaped her worldview, however, were her father and Rosetta, whose cynicism knew no bounds. Lately, she had been struck by the feeling that her knowledge of the world might not be accurate.

“You’re good with your hands, my lady.”

Ruth’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. He was inspecting her calculations with a satisfied grin.

“And a quick learner, too. I must say, I am surprised.”

Unsure of whether his words were meant as a compliment, Maxi smiled wryly.

“D-Doing the same thing over and over t-tends to make one f-faster.”

“We’re nearly done. At this rate, we’ll be able to finish the device by tomorrow.”

Maxi sighed in relief and rubbed her stiff neck. Her initial enthusiasm had not lasted long. She had wearied of the endless calculations and drawing of diagrams, and the mere sight of a piece of parchment was enough to make her recoil.

“I d-didn’t know p-performing magic required a-all these d-documents. I thought i-it would be more s-spectacular…”

“Magic is one of the highest forms of learning, my lady. It requires meticulous calculation and research. Only during battle do you get to see such spectacles. The sorcerers in the Mage Tower never get to experience such glory. They spend their whole lives making diagrams like these.”

Maxi paused in her work and gave Ruth a quizzical look.

“W-Were you a m-member of the M-Mage Tower?”

“Yes, at one time.”

Maxi’s eyes widened. The Mage Tower, also known as Nornui, was an artificial island in the Isiriyan Ocean that had been built by the mages of antiquity. It was the birthplace of mages and the greatest repository of knowledge, and even Maxi had heard tell of the tower countless times before her marriage. Home to sages who protected the world order, Nornui was a neutral territory that never intervened in the affairs of other states.

Ruth, however, seemed disenchanted. He began to mutter in disgust.

“Sorcerers in the Mage Tower must accept certain restrictions the moment they become a high mage. In exchange for learning the dangerous and classified magic of Nornui, they are placed under constant surveillance to prevent them from disturbing the world order by using magic for personal gain. That’s why I left.”

“I-Is that a-allowed?”

“Certainly not, which is why the mages of Nornui still treat me like a traitor.”

Ruth’s tone was indifferent. Maxi wondered whether all mages were as brazen as he was.

“Th-Then did you meet R-Riftan after you l-left the tower?”

“Indeed. I met him not long after I became a mercenary. By then, he was already a noted figure.”

Maxi’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “W-Why?”

“For obvious reasons. He was incredibly good-looking and extraordinarily well built for a sixteen-year-old, and he had nerves of steel. Everyone thought he was a crackpot back then, too.”

“A c-crackpot?”

Maxi’s eyes widened at the crude choice of word. Ruth slowly shook his head as if to hint that that was the politest expression that he could think of to describe Riftan.

“The lad knew no fear. He would fight ogres armed only with a dagger, or rush into the mouth of a drake to cut open its skull. He did all sorts of loony things without batting an eye… The memories still give me the shivers. I was a bundle of nerves each time I had to complete a mission alongside him.”

Maxi gaped in horror, cold sweat trickling down her back. To think that Riftan had been so reckless at the tender age of sixteen… He had been even younger than Rosetta, who was in full bloom, and the chipper young squire Ulyseon. Maxi licked her dry lips.

In a trembling voice, she asked, “I-Is he still so r-reckless?”

“Even now, he charges forward without regard for his physical safety. But he no longer takes the perilous gambles that he used to. To be precise, he no longer needs to. He’s powerful enough to slay most monsters without endangering himself. The only time I saw him risk his life these past few years was during the Dragon Campaign.”

“W-What happened?” Maxi asked, unable to stop herself.

Ruth let out a deep sigh. “Sir Riftan has the unusual ability to temporarily absorb his enemy’s magic and transfer it to his sword. It wasn’t something he was born with, but a skill he gained after years of battling monsters. I assume being constantly covered in monster bile and blood had something to do with it. So to answer your question, it was that ability that helped Sir Riftan defeat the Red Dragon. He cut through Dragon’s Breath — the most powerful magic that exists in the natural world — and transferred the dragon’s magic to his sword, which he then used to cut off the creature’s head.”

Maxi shuddered, imagining Riftan rushing headlong into the dragon’s flames. Ruth gritted his teeth. The memory alone seemed enough to make his teeth chatter.

“The slightest mistake could have turned him into ashes, though it’s thanks to that bravery that he is now regarded as the most valiant knight in the continent.”

Maxi had heard praise of Riftan’s performance during the campaign, but she had been blithely unaware of how rash his feats had been. Riftan could have died, and she may never have had the chance to get to know him. Their wretched first night together could have remained the only memory she had of him. Her whole body shook.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you, my lady,” Ruth mumbled in surprise when he saw her blanche. “That wasn’t a proper conversation to have with you. Blast! My apologies. Being in the company of rowdy men can make one rather tactless.”

“I-I was the one wh-who asked.”

She doubted that it was his company that made him tactless, but she decided not to voice the thought.

Maxi set about working in silence. Her mind was in turmoil. As a knight, Riftan would have to brave dangers again in the future. Once winter was over, he would have to answer King Reuben’s call and lead his knights in another campaign. That was a knight’s duty. Who knew if he would return from the next battle? Riftan was powerful, but he wasn’t invincible.

The thought was enough to choke the air out of Maxi’s lungs. She had not realized just how fragile her current state of comfort and happiness was.

“I see that you are distracted.” Ruth squinted as he scanned the desk to assess their progress. He lowered his quill. “Why don’t we stop here for the day?”

Maxi rose and left the library to attend to the new servants who would be arriving that day. She had asked Aderon to hire thirty skilled servants after discussing the matter with Riftan.

She greeted the new hires and assigned servants to train them. When that was done, she made her way to the kitchen. She was met with a flurry of activity as usual, but with the winter preparations nearly complete, the place no longer looked like a battlefield. Once the preparations were finished, time would slow down in the castle, and Maxi would no longer have to rush about frantically.

“We’ll see the first frost in a few days, my lady,” Rodrigo said.

The steward shivered and pulled his coat closer to himself. The temperature had dropped noticeably in recent days.

“W-Will we be able t-to finish all the w-winter garments b-by then?”

“I am told that they are almost ready, my lady. With the additional help, they should be finished before the cold snap.”

As her final task for the day, Maxi inspected the rooms in the castle to ensure that they had enough firewood. She was then able to retire to her room to write her daily log.

Chapter 50

With the days growing shorter, darkness fell on the castle long before Maxi finished her work. She lit a candle and walked to the window, her thoughts turning to Riftan.

No one in the castle worked harder than he did. All day long, he inspected the land, trained soldiers, and scoured the area outside the walls to wipe out monsters or plunderers who might be lying in wait. And when that was done, he went to check on the progress of construction in the village, discuss taxes with the tax collectors, and ensure that no one was causing trouble in the estate. Though he worked day and night, he never showed signs of fatigue.

Could it be that Riftan was made of iron? Most people would have been drained by such duties, but Riftan performed them as if they were no more difficult than shelling peas. Maxi focused her thoughts on Riftan’s resilience to forget what Ruth had told her that afternoon. Riftan Calypse was no ordinary human; he was strong enough to overcome any trial, and there was no need for her to fret over something that had yet to pass. Consoling herself with such thoughts, she finished her supper and took rest in her room.

But when Riftan returned late that evening, she learned that he would be leaving for a monster raid in two days’ time, and she found herself overcome with anxiety once again. Riftan, however, seemed oblivious to her distress.

“As soon as the compensation from Livadon arrives tomorrow, I’ll be expelling those prisoners. Ruth tells me the magical device will be ready by then… And with the new gate almost finished, everything should be fine even if I’m away for a short while.”

Maxi licked her chapped lips and tried to speak as calmly as possible.

“W-Where are you g-going?”

“I’ve received reports that a horde of goblins has settled on that mountain.” Riftan pointed to one of the mountain peaks outside the window. “It’ll likely take four to five days to wipe them all out.”

“W-Won’t it be d-dangerous?” Maxi looked at him anxiously.

“Are you worried that a goblin might hurt me?” Riftan snorted and gave her an incredulous look. “Goblins are a nuisance, but they aren’t dangerous. I’d say goblin raids are only a tad more bothersome than hunting rabbits.”

“I-If they aren’t d-dangerous, can’t they j-just be left a-alone?”

Riftan frowned in displeasure. “It is my duty to protect this land. Are you suggesting that I shirk my responsibilities?”

Maxi shrank at his sharp tone.

“Goblins may not be powerful creatures, but they are prolific breeders. If they aren’t wiped out, they will multiply at an alarming rate and attack merchants or destroy our hunting grounds. I must make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“I-I’m sorry. That w-was presumptuous of m-me.”

After studying Maxi’s pained face for a moment, Riftan let out a long sigh. He reached for her, and she promptly fell into his arms. He rubbed his nose against her shoulders, twisting her braid around his hand.

“I’m leaving our bed to sleep on the cold, hard ground not because I want to, but because I have to.”

Maxi remained silent as she stroked his thick, black hair. The thought of him having to sleep outside in freezing conditions made her heart ache. Was it the fate of a knight’s wife to live with such anxiety? Perhaps noble couples kept their spouses at an arm’s length to protect themselves from anguish. She feared that she had become too attached to Riftan.

◆◆◆

The next day, a new steel gate sturdy enough to withstand an ogre’s hammer was installed, and the magical devices Ruth had created were mounted on either side. The devices resembled ivory disks, each roughly the size of a pumpkin.

Maxi followed Riftan to the gate to watch as the fruits of her labor were mounted on the watchtowers. The red magic stone that Ruth had shown her adorned the center of each disk, and the rims were inscribed with ancient script.

“W-What is this m-made of?” Maxi ran a hand over the smooth surface of the device.

“Basilisk bones,” said Ruth.

Maxi drew her hand back in shock. “B-Bones?”

“Creatures of the Ayin Race such as basilisks, wyverns, lizards, and earth dragons possess powerful defensive magic, so most protective devices are made with their bones.”

Maxi studied the smooth, polished disk. Knowing what they were made of caused the hairs on her nape to stand up.

Ruth clicked his tongue. “No need to look so appalled. They’re just bones. This can’t be your first time touching them, seeing as you eat meat.”

“B-But these are m-monster bones!”

Ruth simply let out a snort and turned his attention back to the device. He secured it to a stone pillar using clay, then exited the gates. Maxi was about to follow him out when Riftan, who had been busy giving orders to the guards, stopped her.

“Where do you think you’re going? It’s dangerous out there.”

“B-But Ruth…”

“Ruth’s a high mage. He can protect himself. Now stay put, or I’ll have to send you back to the castle.”

Maxi nodded meekly. Riftan ordered the sentries to protect her, then proceeded up the rampart to give Ruth a signal. A massive flame began to form outside the walls. Suddenly, it came hurtling toward the gate with a roar.

Maxi screamed. The ground shook, and a towering barrier sprang from the ground to block the flying flames. Maxi watched, stunned. The villagers who had come to watch were slumped on the ground.

The knight guarding Maxi let out a whistle. “He’s always loved a good spectacle.”

Seeing that the knights were calm, Maxi realized that such a scene was nothing out of the ordinary for them. They had undoubtedly experienced far more ghastly things.

“Good!” Riftan bellowed. “It’s working. Open the gates!”

At his command, the heavy steel gates swung open. Ruth trudged in, covered in dirt.

“Was that really necessary?” he asked.

“We have to show them that Anatol is impenetrable even while I’m away,” Riftan said, slowly making his way down from the wall. “This ought to dissuade anyone from even thinking about invading us.”

“Well, if rumor spreads that Anatol’s defenses are impenetrable, more peddlers might be inclined to do business here, which isn’t a bad thing.”

Maxi realized then that testing the new magical devices had not been the sole purpose of the demonstration. Riftan had also been trying to reassure the people of Anatol that their home was safe. She saw him exchange a few words with the knights before approaching her.

“It’s time for you to return to the castle.”

“W-What about you?”

“I’m going to transfer the intruders to the envoy from Livadon. Ruth and Hebaron, I want you to escort her ladyship to the castle and start preparing for the goblin raid.”

Before she could say anything, Riftan turned and walked away with the knights, his cape fluttering behind him. She watched his receding figure before mounting Rem. Ruth and the ginger knight followed suit.

“So, we’re off to the mountains again,” Hebaron grumbled as he led the way. “And here I thought I could sleep in the comfort of my own bed for a while.”

Ruth smirked. “Just a while ago, I heard you say your muscles were aching from inaction.”

“Why don’t you try sleeping out in the snow?”

“I must decline respectfully. That’s a death sentence for a delicate sorcerer such as myself.”

Hebaron snorted. “Delicate? I don’t know a single Remdragon Knight who has skin as thick as yours.”

“That, Sir Hebaron, is only your opinion.”

Maxi rolled her eyes, unable to tell whether they were bantering or bickering.

When they reached the town square, Ruth suddenly slowed his horse. “Let us stop by the market.”

Hebaron turned to him, clearly irritated.

“We can’t stop to let you go about your personal business. Come back on your own later. For now…” Hebaron trailed off and threw a furtive glance at Maxi.

Ruth sighed. “Can’t you stop treating her ladyship as if she were a contagious boil?”

“Come now, when did I—”

“You’re treating her as if she’s invisible. Give it a rest.”

A sheepish look spread across Hebaron’s face. Before he could make a retort, Ruth turned his horse around to face Maxi.

“I just have a few more items to buy, and I must get them while the peddlers are still here as they won’t be coming back for some time. And it’s a chance for you to see the market.”

Maxi hesitantly glanced at Hebaron. Looking disgruntled, the knight let out a sigh and turned his horse in the direction of the market. Maxi quickly followed after them.

“W-What are you l-looking for?”

“Herbs and magic stones. I’m almost out, you see.”

Despite the cold weather, the market was bustling. Merchants were selling nearly everything under the sun from the tents they had pitched. Animal hides and bones, coarse fabric, and rustic ornaments lined one side of the market, while the other side was filled with stalls selling meat, bread, potatoes, and sacks of grain and acorns. Startled by the merchants’ booming voices, Maxi pressed herself closer to Ruth.

“Sorcerer! Oi! Slow down! It isn’t easy to escort someone in this crowd.”

But even Hebaron’s thunderous voice was drowned out by the noise of the market. Maxi nervously looked around her.

“Worry not, my lady. The chances of an attack are slim.”

“Th-That’s not very r-reassuring.”

“Anatol is quite secure. Acting so cautious will only attract unwanted attention.”

Maxi flinched and tried to look calm. Seeing this, Ruth shook his head before coming to a stop at a stall.

Chapter 51

Plant roots of unknown use, bottled powders of mysterious origin, and thin twigs were strewn across a wooden board covered in black cloth. Ruth jumped off his horse and began to inspect the items.

“Are these all herbs?” Hebaron asked.

Despite his grumbling, he was craning his neck to peer at the items. Ruth ignored the question and beckoned to the youth handling herbs in the corner.

“I’d like twenty segal[3] of each type. How much will that cost?”

“They’re one derham for ten segal,” the kind-faced youth answered. “These are rare herbs of high quality. For 20 segal of each kind, it’ll be 40 derham.”

“Do you accept payment in liram?”

“Of course. Let me bring the scale.”

Maxi watched as the youth carefully weighed the dry herbs on a brass scale. Ruth placed each bundle inside a small pouch, then took out four silver coins from a purse. The peddler also placed these on the scale.

“W-Why is he w-weighing them?” Maxi asked in a whisper.

“He’s checking to see if they’re real silver. Counterfeit coins have been increasing lately. Some scoundrels have even started shaving coins to make new ones.”

“Th-They shave the c-coins?”

“Yes, the way people shake gold coins in wicker baskets to obtain gold dust. They gather the dust to create new coins, and that leaves the old coins weighing less. But that doesn’t concern us. My coins are as good as new.”

Ruth took out more coins to show Maxi. Their edges were crisp. Satisfied, the peddler slipped the money into his pocket, then placed eight flat derham coins on the scale. After checking their weight just like the peddler had, Ruth took the coins.

“Tight-fisted as always,” Hebaron scoffed.

Ruth remained unfazed. “I’d call it being meticulous.”

He proceeded to the stall on the opposite side, where he began haggling over a stone as large as a fist with a man who appeared to be a mercenary. Claiming that he had nearly died trying to acquire the stone, the man wanted no less than fifteen liram, but Ruth snorted and insisted that it was worth no more than ten. In the end, Ruth was able to purchase five magic stones at the price he wanted.

While he was busy, Maxi perused the other stalls. She saw beaded daggers, wooden animal figurines, embroidered belts, copper brooches, and colorful fabrics that had been braided into tassels.

Maxi pointed at one of the tassels. “W-What is this?”

The question was directed at Ruth, but the sorcerer was already haggling with a merchant several steps away. Embarrassed, Maxi was trying to leave when she heard a brusque voice answer her question.

“These are ornaments that can be attached to sword belts.”

Maxi looked up in surprise to see Hebaron leaning over to examine the tassel.

“Many adventurers believe these will grant them the protection of the nymphs. They tie them here, like this.”

Hebaron pointed to the colorful braided tassel hanging from the leather sword belt around his waist. Maxi’s eyes moved uncertainly from the tassel to the knight’s face.

“I-I’ve never seen one b-before. R-Riftan doesn’t w-wear one…”

“He’s too proud to rely on superstition. It’s all hogwash to him.” There was a hint of fondness in his sarcastic tone.

Maxi relaxed and gave the knight a small smile. “Th-That sounds like him.”

“But he might carry one around if it comes from your ladyship.” Hebaron scratched the back of his head. “Why don’t you pick one out?”

Maxi blinked, both baffled and elated by the show of goodwill.

“Aren’t they e-expensive?”

“This little trinket?”

Maxi blushed, afraid that he might think her a fool. She chose a short tassel made of red, green, and orange fabric.

Without asking the price, Hebaron handed the merchant a coin.

“Keep the change.”

The merchant looked surprised. It seemed that Hebaron had paid far more than the usual price.

“I-I will c-compensate you w-when we’re back a-at the castle.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’m no miser, which is more than I can say for the sorcerer.”

With a shrug, Hebaron began walking toward Ruth. Maxi took the tassel from the merchant and quickly followed. She wanted to thank Hebaron, but he had gone back to ignoring her and was now grumbling at Ruth for dawdling. Ruth stuffed his purchases in a sack and waved his hand dismissively.

“Yes, yes. Let us go.”

Ruth led his horse toward a less crowded area. Once they were out of the market, they mounted their horses and rode back to Calypse Castle. Maxi was able to gallop through the winding, hilly paths with ease. Soon, they reached the moat.

“Who will be participating in the raid this time?” Ruth asked Hebaron

The knight stroked his chin, thinking for a moment.

“Gabel and I will be taking some of the squires. It’s about time they got some real experience.”

“We’re about to enjoy some peace and quiet at the castle, then.”

Hebaron laughed. “I’ll ask the commander to bring you along.”

“I’m sure he would refuse. It’s best that I remain here in case of a crisis.”

Hebaron let out a long sigh. “Aye, you’re right. Enjoy the peace while it lasts. Before you know it, we’ll be back livening things up just outside your tower.”

Hebaron spurred his horse forward and galloped ahead through the gates. Ruth simply shrugged.

Maxi could not help but feel envious of the camaraderie in their banter. Riftan, too, looked most at ease when he was in the company of other knights. Even their quarrels seemed good-humored. Having led a solitary life, she found their bonds captivating.

Ruth turned to her as they entered the castle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my lady, I’ll be off to get some much-needed rest. I’ve been living like a cave bat because of those accursed magical devices. And I thank you again for your assistance. I wouldn’t have been able to finish them so quickly otherwise.”

“I-I am happy t-to be of help.”

Ruth grinned. “I’ll be sure to provide another opportunity soon.”

Maxi tried to frown, but she found her lips curling up into a smile instead. How wonderful it would be to be accepted into their company. What would it be like to feel as if she belonged?

◆◆◆

The next day, Riftan rose before the crack of dawn. Maxi raised her drowsy body, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Seeing this, Riftan chuckled and kissed her cheek.

“Go back to bed. No need for you to wake up too.”

“I-I’ve s-slept enough.”

“I thought I’d kept you up quite late last night…” Riftan trailed off as he gently stroked her breast.

Maxi blushed and quickly pulled the blanket over herself. Riftan chuckled and ran his hand through her tousled hair.

“Don’t be stubborn. Go back to sleep.”

“I-I want t-to get up.”

Maxi wriggled free from the hands pushing her back onto the bed. She rose, the blanket wrapped around her. Riftan shrugged and began to prepare for the raid.

Maxi fed the fire as she watched him pour water into the basin to shave and wash his face. When she blew air onto the fire using a pair of bellows, the flames began to roar, and the room brightened.

After briefly warming herself, she wiped her face and body with a wet towel. She then pulled out undergarments and a chemise from her wardrobe and slid them on. Because Riftan did not care for having servants attend to him, Maxi had also grown accustomed to dressing herself. Next, she pulled on stockings that reached her thighs and put a thick woolen dress over her chemise. When she was fully dressed, she sat down in front of the mirror to comb her hair.

Riftan walked up behind her, dressed in a navy-blue tunic and thick leather trousers.

“Give me the comb.”

Maxi shook her head. “I-I can c-comb my own h-hair.”

“Just humor me. I won’t be able to touch you for a few days.”

Maxi acquiesced, though she could not fathom why he liked touching her unruly hair so much. Holding the tiny comb in his calloused hand, Riftan began to brush her hair. Maxi blushed at the care and caution he was exercising. After gently untangling her hair, he deftly braided it into a four-strand plait.

Riftan looked down proudly at his handiwork. “I’m becoming rather skilled at this, don’t you think?”

Maxi impulsively planted a kiss on his chin. Feeling his whole body stiffen, she wondered why her taking the initiative seemed to bewilder him when he seemed to have no qualms about showering her with kisses whenever he pleased.

“Th-That was a k-kiss of thanks,” she said, trying to hide her bashfulness.

Riftan sighed in disappointment. “I am loath to leave. Don’t make it harder.”

“Th-That wasn’t m-my intention…”

He abruptly pulled her into an embrace, startling her. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his waist. He let out a low groan and buried his face into her neck.

“Stop doing that.”

“W-What do you m-mean?”

“Damn it. If we do it one more time, I won’t have time to wash myself again…”

Riftan looked at the bed longingly.

Chapter 52

Maxi turned beet red and pushed Riftan away. When he reluctantly released her, she strode away from him and wrapped her shawl tightly around herself like a shield.  Riftan watched her uneasily and sighed.

“We’ll pick up where we left off when I get back,” he said.

Shaking his head slowly, he made his way to the armor stand. Maxi watched from a safe distance as he put on his breastplate, dragon engraved spaulders, greaves, and cuisses. He then secured the faulds and tassets in place and encased his gloved hands in silver gauntlets.

Maxi admired the dashing man before her. When he strapped on his leather belt, she suddenly remembered the trinket she had bought at the market the day before. She rummaged through the drawers for the colorful tassel.

“R-Riftan…”

Riftan turned to look at her inquiringly as he fastened his sword to his belt. After a moment of hesitation, Maxi held out the tassel.

“I b-bought this at the m-market yesterday on our w-way back to the castle… Sir Hebaron told me that a-attaching this to a sword belt g-grants the wearer the p-protection of the nymphs.”

Riftan stared blankly at her hand.

“S-Sir Hebaron w-was the one who p-paid for it, b-but I p-picked it out… I-If it’s all right w-with you…”

Her voice faltered when he made no move to take the tassel. Perhaps Sir Hebaron had been right – Riftan really must consider such trinkets useless. Masking her disappointment, she slowly lowered her hand.

“Y-You don’t have to take it i-if it doesn’t p-please you.”

She turned to put the tassel back in the chest, but a hand suddenly grabbed her arm.

“Give it here.”

Maxi turned around in surprise. Riftan snatched the tassel from her hand and fumbled with the strings as he tied it to his belt. The brightly colored ornament clashed absurdly with the coarse leather belt. Maxi blushed, lamenting her unrefined taste.

“Thank you. I will treasure it.”

Riftan planted a kiss on her forehead before turning his back to her again. Her disappointment at his aloofness was fleeting; the feeling dissipated when she noticed his lips curving into a smile.

Riftan draped a cloak over his shoulders, rubbing his chin as if to conceal his smile. But the flush that crept up to the tips of his ears did not escape Maxi’s attention. Her heart swelled with pride when she realized that Riftan was genuinely happy.

Then suddenly, she felt angry at herself. She had only bought the paltry gift at Sir Hebaron’s suggestion. Though she did not have the means to buy anything that could compare to the gifts he had given her, she could have bought him something better. Seeing his delight at a gift she had bought on a whim, she was struck by the urge to slap herself.

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

When he was ready to leave, Riftan pulled Maxi in for a final embrace. She burrowed her face against his chest, holding back tears and resolving to give to him everything she could.

◆◆◆

Riftan left for the raid with three knights, six soldiers, and three squires. Maxi worried that they were too few in number, but Ruth assured her that it was routine for small-scale raids to be carried out by groups of eight to fifteen men.

Maxi watched the men’s figures recede from the ramparts. She then made her way to the weaving room to confirm that her order of fabrics had arrived. In the corner of the spacious room, past the spinning wheels and looms, was a tall pile of high-quality woolen fabric.

Next to the fire, maidservants were busy sewing winter garments. Maxi looked on with interest as they traced patterns on thick fabrics spread across an expansive table before cutting out the pieces, stuffing wool between two layers of fabric, and sewing them closed. With most of the shutters now kept closed for insulation, only slivers of light seeped into the castle, but the maidservants’ hands worked nimbly even in the candlelight. Maxi could not help but admire their dexterity.

“W-When will e-everything be ready?”

Ludis knitted her brows as she inspected the newly arrived fabrics. “Everything should be ready in three to four days’ time, my lady. The completed garments have already been distributed. The men have agreed to share them until the rest are finished.”

Reassured, Maxi left the weaving room. After dark, there was something sinister about Calypse Castle. Perhaps its stillness unsettled her because she had become so accustomed to the castle bustling with activity during the renovations and winter preparations. After inspecting the kitchen, stables, and annex with Ludis, Maxi returned to her room to rest.

As she leafed through a book at her desk, she began to feel melancholic. With the winter preparations almost complete, there was little left for her to do. She stared out the window, wondering whether a day had always been so long. Less than a day had passed since Riftan’s departure, but she already felt lonely. The realization surprised her. She had always been alone in the past...

“You look tired, my lady. Would you care for some tea?”

Ludis’s cautious voice snapped Maxi out of her melancholy. She smiled brightly and nodded. For the lady of the castle to mope in her husband’s absence was undignified.

Just then, a strong gust of wind shook the windows. Maxi’s face clouded over with worry again as she watched branches shake violently outside the window. The cries of migrating birds echoed in the distance.

Winter had arrived in Anatol.

◆◆◆

The first snow came two days later. Maxi peered through her window and down at the garden, which looked as if it had been sprinkled with flour. Her gaze then shifted to the mountains in the distance. With the drastic drop in temperature, she worried for Riftan’s safety.

Ludis, who was sitting on a chair sewing, let out a sigh.

“This year’s winter feels harsher than most other years, my lady. It came earlier than usual, too.”

“I r-remember you telling me that w-winters here never get t-too cold.”

Ludis looked agitated. “Yes, Anatol is in a basin, so winters here are milder than most other places. But this winter seems different. There’s already a thin layer of ice on the surface of the well.”

“I-Is there enough firewood t-to last us the winter?”

“We’ve prepared more than usual.” Ludis beamed reassuringly.

Maxi’s lips curved up into a smile as she sat in front of the fireplace, thawing her icy hands. With the weather growing chillier, a stillness had fallen over Calypse Castle as if everyone had gone into hibernation.

Servants who ordinarily hurried about whiled away their time huddled in front of braziers. With the merchants no longer visiting the castle, the gardens looked like a desolate wasteland. Though Maxi usually preferred peace and quiet, the sudden change in atmosphere had made her melancholic. Noticing her despondence, Ludis addressed her in a bright voice.

“Shall I serve lunch, my lady?”

“W-What’s for lunch?”

“The cook has prepared cream stew with peas, smoked sausages, and pumpkin pie with treacle and cinnamon.”

Maxi’s mouth watered. Seeing the look of anticipation on her face, Ludis carefully folded the garment she was mending and left the room. While she waited, Maxi opened the poetry book she had taken from the library the night before. She had barely read two pages when she heard a loud rapping at the door.

Wondering why Ludis had returned so soon, Maxi called for the person to enter. Rodrigo and Ruth stepped in.

“Please forgive me for interrupting your rest, my lady, but the sorcerer has an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

Maxi rose from her seat. “I-Is something amiss?”

Ruth sighed. “Monsters climbed over the walls in the dead of night. The sentries and knights were able to suppress them, but it seems many were wounded in the process. They have requested assistance. Would you spare a few servants to tend to the wounded?”

The color drained from Maxi’s face. A crisis had arrived just days after Riftan’s departure.

“With winter here, food is harder to come by for the monsters. Their running amok is nothing unusual this time of year, but they’ve never succeeded in infiltrating our walls before. That’s why the sentries were taken by surprise.”

Hearing Ruth’s calm voice, Maxi managed to regain her composure.

“H-How many servants do they n-need?”

“At least a dozen. Please instruct them to bring ample supplies of clean cloths, wooden boards to use as splinters, herbs and a cauldron to brew them in, a pail, brass bowls, thread and needles, and basic provisions. The wounded are at the outskirts of the estate, so it will be difficult for them to procure these items from the market.”

Maxi listened to Ruth’s hurried instructions, then turned to look at Rodrigo. The steward quickly nodded.

“I’ll have everything prepared at once, my lady.”

“And s-send word to the ch-church right away. A-Ask them—”

“There are no clerics in Anatol capable of performing divine magic,” Ruth interjected. “Anatol was isolated for a long time, and it was only when Sir Riftan rose to prominence that clerics were sent here. The central church would never send a hierarch to such a far-flung region.”

Chapter 53

Maxi grew anxious. If there were no clerics capable of performing divine magic in all of Anatol, that meant Ruth was the sole person who could use healing magic. If a bigger crisis were to arise, what then? Seeing the worry on her face, Ruth gently flicked a finger to distract her.

“Now is not the time to worry, my lady. Please summon the servants. I will go get the herbs ready.”

“I-I understand.”

Ruth spun around and left the room. Maxi threw on a thick robe and set about ringing the bell to summon the servants. Since she could not neglect the castle by bringing all of them with her, she chose ten burly young men and five maidservants. After giving them instructions, she proceeded to exit the great hall.

Maxi pulled her hood over her head to block the wind and rushed to the training grounds. There, servants were loading baggage onto three large wagons. She checked to see that they had not missed anything before climbing into a carriage with them.

Moments later, Ruth appeared with a weighty sack of herbs slung over his shoulder and stacked the bag on top of the other luggage. Maxi shifted to the edge of the seat to make room. It was only then that Ruth, who had clambered onto the carriage, noticed her presence. He looked surprised.

“Are you joining us, my lady?”

Maxi’s eyes went round. She had assumed that it was her duty to accompany them.

“W-Would I be g-getting in the way?”

“Not at all. It was just unexpected. Your presence would most certainly be helpful.”

The sorcerer gave her a genial smile and sat down across from her. One by one, the three horse-drawn vehicles passed through the castle gates. When they crossed the drawbridge, the coach suddenly started to shake violently, and Maxi gripped the handle in fear. They were making their way down a steep hill, and the carriage was tipping forward precariously. Maxi feared it would topple over.

“No need to worry, my lady,” Ruth said, slowly shaking his head. “The wheels are equipped with a device that prevents the carriage from flipping over.”

Realizing that she had made her ignorance obvious, Maxi blushed and released the handle. They continued to ride in that precarious state until they were safely down the hill, at which point they turned eastward. Through the window, Maxi could see that they were rolling along a secluded forest path surrounded by naked trees.

Spiderweb-like shadows of thin branches were spread across the ground, which was covered in a thin sheet of ice. Maxi looked away from the bleak landscape. She tried to control her breathing to calm her pounding heart. Eventually, the carriage came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived.”

Ruth jumped out of the carriage the moment a servant opened the door. Maxi climbed out after him, then froze at the sight that met her eyes. Among the tree stumps in a wide-open clearing, there were piles of carcasses of enormous black beasts.

Ruth looked down at a werewolf head on the ground. “So they were werewolves. That explains why the sentries were caught unaware. I’ll have to devise measures to prevent this from happening again.”

Maxi averted her eyes and suppressed the urge to vomit, reluctant to show the others that unseemly sight again.

“Mage Ruth!”

Maxi turned to see where the yell had come from. A group of knights was setting up tents by a few dilapidated shacks nestled in dense forest.  One of the knights strode toward Ruth.

“Sir Ursuline injured his shoulder during the scuffle. Could you tend to him?”

“Sir Ursuline was wounded?” Ruth asked in surprise.

The young knight sighed. “There was heavy fog, so we didn’t see his distress signal right away. He had to hold the beasts at bay on his own before the rest of us arrived.”

“Heavens! Where is he now?”

“This way.” The knight led Ruth away.

Maxi, who had been listening silently, found herself at a loss. After instructing the servants to unload the baggage, she hurried after Ruth.

When she arrived at the dark cottage that she had seen Ruth enter, she found rows of injured men on the floor. As she scanned the dingy room, her eyes landed on the sentry lying closest to her. She gasped when she saw his gruesome injuries.

The man’s arm was at an unnatural angle, his burned face contorted with pain. His tunic was covered in dirt and blood, and his whole body emitted a foul smell.

Maxi recoiled and took a few steps back. She had come along to help, but she knew nothing about how to tend to the wounded. Panicking, she broke into a cold sweat. Then, she heard Ruth’s voice coming from deep inside the cottage.

“My lady! Please tell the servants to start boiling water. We’ll need a lot of it!”

Maxi pulled herself together and hurried back to give instructions to the servants The servants hastened to light a fire in front of the cottage and carry a large cauldron to the spring to collect water. Meanwhile, Ruth finished treating Sir Ursuline and came out to unload the sack of herbs.

“Do you have any experience tending to the wounded?”

Maxi shook her head. She knew better than to lie at a time like this. Ruth nodded as if he had expected as much and pulled out several smaller pouches from the sack.

“These contain coagulants. The powder should stop the bleeding. But first, you must carefully cut off any pieces of clothing covering the injury and wash the wound with clean water. After sprinkling this powder, use a cloth to compress the wound until the bleeding stops.”

“W-Wouldn’t it be f-faster to use magic?”

“My magic won’t be sufficient to heal all these men. I can heal ten of the most critically injured, but the rest will have to be treated without magic.”

“I-I understand.”

Hiding her apprehension, Maxi took the pouches from Ruth. She had no time to hesitate. After repeating his instructions in her head, she opened the pouches with shaking hands to check their contents. Suddenly, Ruth handed her another pouch.

“These dried leaves are detoxicants. If you notice any wounds with purple swelling or patients with fever, have them swallow one of these. If the patient is unconscious, please call me over.”

“I-I understand.”

“You need not be so nervous, my lady. Many of the servants have experience tending to the wounded, and they’ll know what to do once they’re given instructions.”

Ruth took the remaining herbs and returned to the cottage. Maxi said a silent prayer before approaching the servants boiling water by the fire. She delivered Ruth’s instructions with some difficulty. The servants then swiftly divided the herbs among themselves to take along to the cottages with the linens and bowls.

Maxi hesitated before following the maidservants in. The women were already attending to the wounded with practiced hands. Maxi surveyed the injured men. Some had escaped with only light injuries, but most were in serious condition.

She could see seven sentries, and a dozen men who looked to be lumberjacks by the looks of their humble garb. Combined with the men in the other cottages, the casualties must have numbered at least forty in total.

Their sheer number filled her with dread. Repressing the urge to flee, she leaned over the sentry nearest to her. He was barely conscious.

After a brief pause, she peeled off the blanket covering the man’s body. He looked to be one of the older ones. His right thigh was covered in thick, dark blood as if it had been torn apart by a werewolf. Fighting nausea, Maxi used a pair of scissors to cut open his tattered trousers. A faint groan escaped his lips. Afraid that she had caused him greater pain, she quickly withdrew her hands. After calming her nerves, she resumed cutting the sentry’s trousers.

The wound beneath was stomach-churning. Lumps of dark, sticky blood surrounded a gaping wound where his flesh had been torn off. Stifling a scream, Maxi soaked a piece of linen in water and cleaned the gash as Ruth had instructed.

The sentry writhed every time the cloth made contact with his flesh, and it took a long while before Maxi could wipe his wound clean of blood. After tossing the blood-soaked linen aside, she sprinkled powder on him with shaking hands and clumsily wrapped a strip of cloth around the wound. Her shoulders were stiff with tension and her back slick with sweat after treating just one patient.

Is this enough?

Maxi anxiously gazed down at the sentry for several moments before standing up. She comforted herself with the thought that she had followed Ruth’s instructions. The sentry would be all right for now. With faltering steps, she walked over to the next patient, treating one gruesome wound after another.

One man had a bone sticking out of his arm, while another man’s face was covered in blood from a head injury. Maxi went to the latter first and inspected his wound. Her stomach turned when she felt slippery blood on her hands, but she willed herself to endure. She had come to help, not to hinder.

Once again, she cleaned the wound and sprinkled some coagulant before dressing it with shaking hands. The powder soon seemed to stop the bleeding. With a sigh of relief, she turned to see how the servants were faring. They were using the same method to treat the patients. Relaxing slightly, she began to approach the next patient, but a dry hand stopped her from behind.

“It’s best not to touch him, my lady. We’ll have to realign his bones first.”

Chapter 54

Maxi turned to see Ruth standing behind her. She was surprised to see that he looked noticeably paler, perhaps from the strain of trying to heal so many people. With a tired sigh, Ruth crouched down next to the sentry and gingerly raised the man’s broken arm.

“My lady, would you be so kind as to hold down his shoulder?”

Maxi glanced at the unconscious man’s face before pressing her hands down on his shoulder. With Maxi restraining the man, Ruth swiftly pulled on the bent arm to realign the broken bones. As he did so, the sentry’s eyes flew open. His body began to thrash with such force that he almost knocked Maxi over.

“My lady! You must hold him down!”

After struggling to regain her balance, Maxi pushed down on the man’s shoulder once again. When he was finished resetting the bones, Ruth placed his hand over the bleeding wound and shrouded it in white light.

Maxi looked on with a vacant expression. In her memory, healing magic was cold and bitter. Each time a cleric had come to treat her after a lashing from her father, their magic had felt like ice burning her skin.

But the light enveloping the sentry looked like spring sunlight, gentle and warm. Maxi stretched her hand out. Just like the time she had touched the oak tree by the pavilion, she felt a burning sensation at the tip of her hand. The warmth seeping into her hand was intoxicating.

Meanwhile, Ruth examined the sentry’s healed arm before lowering it back to the floor.

“Werewolf claws and teeth contain venom, so please give him the detoxicant once he’s awake. It’s best if you boil the herbs and have him drink the concoction.”

Maxi stood up, shaking off the strange sensation.

“I-I’ll ask the s-servants to boil some i-immediately.”

“Thank you.”

Ruth sat on a straw bed to catch his breath. He looked exhausted. Healing magic, it seemed, consumed a great deal of energy. Leaving him to rest, Maxi left to tell the servants to boil the herbs in a cauldron full of water. She was about to return to the tent with firewood for the brazier when she noticed a group of sentries and knights burning werewolf carcasses in a vacant lot.

Maxi froze at the horrific sight. As the smell of burning flesh reached her nose, the nausea she had been suppressing rose in her throat.

She dropped the firewood on the ground and ran into the woods. Her stomach twisting painfully, she crouched in front of a tree and heaved. Watery bile splattered on the roots, and tears trickled down her cheeks.

She was trying to catch her breath when she heard a low voice address her from behind.

“You there, are you all right?”

Maxi turned her head, startled, and saw a young sandy-haired knight standing a few steps away. His eyes widened when he saw her face.

“What are you doing here, my lady?”

Embarrassed, Maxi quickly wiped her mouth on her sleeves.

“I-I was g-gathering firewood…”

She trailed off. She was unwilling to admit that she had been sick.

“This is no place for you to be, my lady. You should return to the castle. I shall have someone escort you.”

Without waiting for a response, the knight spun around and went to call for a sentry. Flustered, Maxi quickly went after him.

“Th-That won’t be n-necessary. You n-need not mind—”

“How can we not worry when you’re wandering about these dark woods alone? You aren’t needed, so please go back.” The young knight turned toward the sentries standing nearby. “You there! Prepare the carriage. Lady Calypse is returning to the castle!”

Incensed, Maxi strode ahead of him and blocked his path. Startled, the knight paused in his tracks. Though her legs shook with terror, Maxi steadied her nerves and glared at him.

“As the L-Lady of Anatol, it is my d-duty t-to offer my assistance! I-It is not your p-place to t-tell me I am n-not needed here.”

She had wanted to sound dignified, but her voice faltered, and she was stumbling over her words more than usual. Her ears became flushed with unbearable embarrassment. She bit her lips, flickering her eyes nervously before lowering them to look at the ground.

“Y-You need not m-mind me. G-Go back t-to what y-you were doing.”

Before the knight could say anything, Maxi picked up the firewood and hurried back to the tent. Heart racing, she tossed some of the wood into the dying fire and nervously eyed the entrance.

After a moment of worrying that the knight thought her an arrogant, stuttering fool, she decided it did not matter. The knights already despised her; it would make little difference if their dislike deepened a little. With slumped shoulders, she placed the remaining firewood next to the brazier before approaching Ruth.

“A-Are you f-feeling better, Ruth?”

Ruth looked up from treating a lumberjack’s broken ankle and sighed. He looked markedly tired.

“I’ve almost exhausted my magic. I won’t be able to use it for at least half a day. I’ve tended to those in critical condition, but the rest will have to be treated without magic for now.”

“Sh-Should we call f-for a healer f-from the village?”

“There is only one healer in Anatol who is capable of helping us, but it wouldn’t be right to ask him to leave his patients behind. We can send our injured to him instead.”

Ruth stood up and stroked his chin, trying to determine who among the wounded should be sent away.

“The healer can’t take all of these men. We’ll send those who were poisoned by werewolf venom and treat the rest ourselves.”

Maxi swallowed hard. “W-What must I d-do?”

“Nothing too difficult. Compress swollen wounds with warm cloths, splinter broken bones, and stitch up open wounds.”

“S-Stitch…?”

Maxi looked as if she might faint. Ruth sighed.

“I will do the sewing. Your ladyship can assist.”

“A-All right.”

“But first, we must send those with high fevers to the healer.”

Ruth strode out of the tent. After taking a moment to settle her nerves, Maxi followed.

◆◆◆

Following Ruth’s instructions, the servants heaved fifteen fever-stricken men onto the wagons and sent them to the village healer. Those who had been treated by Ruth were given porridge and detoxicants prepared by the maidservants. When they recovered their strength, they set about repairing the cottages.

There were eight cottages in total, all of which housed lumberjacks, and four of them had damaged walls. With a cold snap expected that night, the men would not be able to survive if repairs were not made immediately. Maxi tried to listen to Ruth’s instructions amid the thunderous noise of the men sawing timber and hammering at the walls.

“Soak a clean cloth in strong liquor and use it to dab the wounds. This reduces the chances of the wound festering, though we do not know why.”

“I-Is it b-because of something in the l-liquor?”

“It’s possible. Liquor never goes bad.” Ruth pulled the thread through a tiny sliver of a needle. “It is a method used by the healers in the south. According to them, a wound must be kept clean, bleeding should be avoided at all costs, and patients’ bodies should never be allowed to become too cold or too hot. I thought it was gibberish at first, but their methods proved more effective than using dog urine and leeches or cauterizing the wound with iron. Though inferior to magic, their methods do come in useful in these situations.”

Ruth began to stitch the open wound closed. Maxi flinched as if the needle were pricking her own back.

“Making a knot after each stitch makes it easier to remove the thread once the wound has healed. Would you like to give it a try?”

Maxi shook her head vigorously. She did not want to be seen as a coward, but she couldn’t muster the nerve to pierce someone’s skin with a needle.

“It’s no different from sewing leather shoes.”

A whimper escaped the sentry, who lay face down on a bed of straw. Paying him no heed, Ruth continued stitching the wound. Maxi used a liquor-soaked cloth to wipe the blood oozing from the gash, then used heated scissors to snip the thread after each knot that Ruth made.

“The final step is to apply a salve and dress the wound to help it heal faster.”

Ruth finished the last suture, cut off the thread, and applied a generous drop of sticky salve over the wound. The sentry, who had remained quiet until then, let out a cry of pain.

“M-Mage Ruth, can’t you just heal it with magic? My back is on fire!”

“I’ve exhausted my magic, I’m afraid.”

“Heavens…”

“Bear it just a little longer. I’m almost done.”

Ruth began to wrap a long piece of cloth tightly around the wound.

“Apply the salve and dress the wound every two days. It should be healed in ten days’ time.”

Ruth poured some of the salve into a small vial and gave it to the sentry, who mumbled his thanks.

Maxi picked up the tools and moved to the next patient with Ruth. While he stitched the men’s wounds closed, Maxi helped them take sips of detoxicant, cut up strips of cloth, and soaked the needle and thread in strong liquor for Ruth.

Though it was her first time performing such tasks, she remained collected under Ruth’s calm direction. When he realigned broken bones, she tied a splint to the area with a piece of cloth; when she saw an ankle that had swelled like a pig’s bladder, she compressed it with a cloth soaked with hot water.

By the time the last of the patients had been treated, it was dark outside. Bone-tired, Maxi sank to her knees and warmed her shivering body by the brazier.

Chapter 55

Maxi grew weary at the prospect of spending the night in that bleak place. She was absorbed in thought, wondering whether she would be able to return to the castle that night, when a wooden bowl was suddenly thrust in front of her.

“Please have some, my lady.”

Startled, Maxi looked up. It was the young knight who had tried to send her back to the castle earlier that day. He had a bowl of steaming soup in his hands.

“It’s rabbit stew. It can’t compare to the food in the castle, but it’s edible.”

Maxi blinked in surprise and reluctantly accepted the bowl. She was famished, not having eaten since morning. She eagerly brought a spoonful of warm stew to her mouth.

“Th-Thank you.”

“My pleasure. And about earlier…”

Maxi felt her body stiffen, dreading his next words. To her surprise, however, the knight bowed his head.

“Please forgive me, my lady. It was not my place to say such things.”

Maxi stared at his lowered head, her spoon still in her mouth. She had not expected such a display of deference. She quickly put her bowl down and waved her hands.

“I-It’s all right. I sh-shouldn’t have b-been so short-tempered… I-I apologize.”

“No, my lady. It was I who offended you. There’s no need for you to apologize.”

“Th-Thank you…” Blushing, Maxi relaxed her shoulders.

The knight seemed not to know what to say next, and they remained locked in an uncomfortable silence until Ruth entered the tent. He raised an eyebrow when he noticed the knight.

“Is something the matter, Sir Elliot?”

“No, I was… apologizing to her ladyship for offending her.”

Ruth looked surprised, but he did not press the knight further. Instead, he sighed loudly and began to warm his hands by the brazier.

“The knights who went to patrol the walls have returned. It seems there are no monsters still in hiding. I think it’s time for you to return to the castle, my lady.”

“W-What about you, R-Ruth?”

“I’m afraid I must spend the night here. Some of these men might get a fever at night. And once I’ve recovered my magic, I’ll be able to heal a few more people.”

Maxi hesitated briefly. Thoroughly drained, she longed to lie on her bed, but it did not seem right to return to the comfort of the castle alone.

“P-Perhaps I should s-stay and—"

“You have done enough, I assure you.”

Maxi’s face hardened. She wondered whether Ruth found her presence a nuisance. Sensing her unease, Ruth gave her a soft smile.

“If Sir Riftan finds out that you spent the night in a shack, there will be hell to pay. I’ve asked the knights to escort you back, so please go and get some rest. You need not worry about us. We’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe in the castle.”

“Allow me to escort you, my lady,” the young knight suddenly cut in.

Maxi nodded, unable to protest further. Truth be told, she was glad not to spend the night in this secluded place, surrounded by the stench of burning carcasses.

Feigning reluctance, she climbed into the carriage with two servants. When Sir Elliot came to a stop by the carriage on his horse, the coach began to move. Maxi sat slumped inside the rattling carriage and breathed a sigh of relief. As the tension in her body began to dissipate, fatigue took its place. Hugging her knees, she nodded off like a cat in front of the fireplace. It had been the most exhausting day in her twenty-two years of existence.

◆◆◆

Once she arrived at the castle, Maxi threw off her blood-stained robe, bathed herself, and promptly fell asleep on the bed. When she awoke the next morning, her whole body ached as though she had been battered with a club. She rolled from side to side, whimpering in pain.

Ludis entered with some firewood.

“Are you all right, my lady?” Ludis’s voice was full of concern.

Maxi forced a smile and crawled out of bed. Ludis swiftly summoned the other maidservants to prepare a warm bath. Maxi soaked in the steaming water until the knots in her muscles had loosened, then dressed in a soft cotton chemise and thick woolen dress. Ludis dried her hair thoroughly with a towel before gently combing out the tangles.

“Why don’t you rest in your room today, my lady? It’s a cold wintry day outside.”

“I-I intend t-to spend some t-time in the library. Th-There’s a book I’d l-like to read…”

“Then I’ll see to it that a fire is lit immediately. The sorcerer hasn’t been there since yesterday morning, so it’s quite cold in there.”

Ludis strode out of the room. Maxi ate her fill of the creamy barley porridge brought to her by a maidservant. Then, with a thick robe draped around her shoulders, she made her way to the library. The room was already warm when she arrived.

Maxi drew the curtains to let light in, then began browsing the bookshelves. But finding the book she wanted proved more difficult than she had anticipated. She pulled out book after book to check their contents before returning them to their place.

Should I wait and ask Ruth when he returns?

After spending hours combing through the books, Maxi sank to the ground in disappointment. She was on the verge of giving up when the title of the book she had been searching for caught her eye. It was in a messy pile of books stacked on the edge of the desk. Her face broke into a smile.

Maxi reached for the book, which contained age-old remedies and illustrations of medicinal herbs. With great numbers of monsters inhabiting the land surrounding Anatol, it was likely that the events of the previous day would occur again. For that reason, Maxi had resolved to study the art of healing.

She sat near the window to read by the weak winter light. The book was not easy to comprehend. The illustrations had faded, and remedies such as sprinkling ash on bruises or soaking hair with raw eggs for fevers seemed dubious at best. At length, Maxi sighed and closed the book, discouraged.

I’d feel better if we had just one more person capable of healing magic besides Ruth…

She could ask Riftan to hire another mage or request that the central church send hierarchs to Anatol. Neither option, however, was easily viable. Nobles were always in fierce competition for the best mages, and Ruth had already told her that the central church in Osiriya would never send a hierarch to a hinterland like Anatol. After a moment of deliberation, Maxi decided to search for more books.

But even after scouring the library for an entire afternoon, she was unable to find anything of use, and she left in disappointment. When she returned to her room, Ludis served her crisply grilled goose meat, crepe with crystallized apple, and savory pumpkin soup with a goat milk base. But Maxi barely touched the food as she leafed through the book she had taken from the library. Part of her doubted that her efforts would bear fruit, but she could not stand to do nothing.

Maxi stared into the fire, her eyes quivering. Riftan liked her now, but there was no guarantee that he would continue to like her forever. The moment he realized that she was not the charming noblewoman he had believed her to be, his affections might disappear like a mirage.

Maxi could not shake off her anxiety. She wondered how she could become someone who was needed by others; if she could be useful to Riftan in some small way, it was possible that he would allow her to remain by his side even after he had tired of her. Sighing at her servility, she stopped frantically leafing through her book.

After staring at the cover for a moment, Maxi pressed her face to her knees. In these moments of self-awareness, she could see her distorted thoughts as in a mirror, and her mind entered a state of turmoil. She wished that Riftan were there to hold her in his arms, but the thought only deepened her sense of solitude.

◆◆◆

The next day, Maxi discovered a book on ancient remedies in the corner of the library. She spent the rest of the day reading the faded yellow pages. Though the book was written in the ancient tongue, Maxi was able to read it with ease, having spent most of her life hiding in a library. But as she read on, words she had never encountered before began to appear more frequently, and it soon became difficult to understand the passages.

As she slowly flipped through the pages, she carefully wrote the words down on a piece of parchment. They appeared to be names of body parts or tools used for treatment. Maxi searched for titles on the subjects, and before long, she had gathered an enormous pile of books on the desk.

Quill in hand, Maxi scrunched her nose. She had frantically read anything that seemed useful, but she had understood no more than half of the material. She took a deep breath and sighed, doubtful that she would ever be able to learn anything that way. She was impatiently running a hand through her hair when she heard the door fly open. Her face lit up when she saw Ruth stride in.

“R-Ruth! W-When did you r-return? Did you m-manage to t-treat all the injured?”

“I returned last night. And yes, everyone has been tended to,” Ruth answered flatly.

He trudged over to his usual chair. When he saw the books lying open on the desk, he looked surprised.

“Are you trying to learn medicine, my lady?”

Chapter 56

Ruth picked up the book at the top of the pile and raised an eyebrow.

Looking unsure of herself, Maxi mumbled a reply. “W-What happened a few days ago could h-happen again, so I th-thought I would p-prepare myself…”

Maxi waited for Ruth’s reaction, certain that he would scoff at her. But to her surprise, his face broke into a bright smile.

“A commendable effort.” He sounded as if he were complimenting a small child. “Did you start studying yesterday? Let me take a look.”

He walked over to sit down in the seat across from her, and before she could consent, he gathered the heap of parchment in his hands. Maxi glowered at him. She swore to herself that she would one day chastise him for touching a lady’s possessions without her permission.

“You are literate in the ancient tongue?” Ruth looked surprised.

“I-I learned it w-when I was young.”

In the years before Rosetta grew up to become a flawless young woman, the Duke of Croyso had subjected Maxi to rigorous instruction in a desperate bid to fix her impediment. But Maxi had shown little improvement, and Rosetta’s intelligence had soon become apparent. It was only then that Maxi was freed from the ordeal of reciting poetry in front of her haughty tutor and father once a month.

Maxi memorized these poems by staying up all night, but she had never been allowed to finish reciting any of them. Her father’s rod had always come lashing down before she could even finish the first verse. Blanching at the terrible memory, Maxi quickly looked down to hide her face.

“I-I am not f-fluent, though…”

“From your writing, I’d say that you are quite proficient.”

“I’ve a-always liked to read, s-so I’m a-able to read and wr-write, b-but there are m-many words I am not f-familiar with.”

Ruth remained silent for a long while. Unnerved by the silence, Maxi shifted her eyes nervously.

“Why not learn magic instead?” Ruth asked abruptly after examining the pieces of parchment.

Maxi blinked, not comprehending. Ruth rose from his seat, excited by his own suggestion.

“Why spend time learning medicine when you can learn magic instead? If you were to become capable of healing magic, you would help lessen my burden tremendously!”

Maxi furrowed her brows. He seemed to be making no effort to hide the fact that his suggestion was solely for his benefit.

“D-Didn’t you s-say that magic is the h-highest form of learning, and th-that it requires complex c-calculations? I-I am not suited for it.”

“Advanced magic requires years of research and practice, but basic magic is different. If one has mana affinity, a few years of study should be sufficient to master basic spells.”

“W-What is basic magic?”

“It refers to all non-elemental magic. Simple healing magic, levitation, and other minor spells fall under that category.”

Ruth spoke as if these spells were no more complex than addition and subtraction. Maxi gave him a timid smile.

“I-I would l-like to learn, b-but as you m-mentioned, it t-takes years of work. Wouldn’t s-studying healing arts yield faster—”

“I meant that it takes several years to cultivate mana affinity and to accumulate basic knowledge such as arithmetic and the ancient tongue. You already have mana affinity, though it isn’t strong. And since you’re also proficient in arithmetic and the ancient tongue, you’ve already met the basic conditions for learning magic. With a few months of practice, you should be capable of casting simple spells.”

Hope glimmered in Maxi’s heart. Would she really be able to learn magic? She looked up at Ruth with quivering eyes.

“D-Do you think I-I’ll be able to d-do it?”

“It’s worth a try. You have nothing to lose.”

He was right. Maxi mustered her courage.

“I-If you’re willing t-to teach me, I will do my b-best.”

“Then please come to the library tomorrow afternoon. I shall make the necessary preparations.”

Ruth walked over to a bookcase and removed two weighty tomes.

“These should help your understanding of magic. Please read them whenever you get the chance.”

Maxi hugged the books to her chest as she left the library, her heart racing. For the first time in her life, someone had seen potential in her.

◆◆◆

The uncontrollable pounding of her heart kept Maxi up that night. Instead of trying to sleep, she lit a candle and read the books Ruth had given her until dark circles formed under her eyes. One book expounded the concept of magic, while the other explained its principles.

Hope flickered inside her when she realized that the books were not as difficult to understand as she had anticipated. The idea of becoming a sorceress no longer seemed so impossible.

She imagined herself shooting flames from her hands to vanquish monsters and raising storms to sweep away invaders. Then, she pictured a proud Riftan pulling her into a tight embrace. The thought was enough to put a broad grin on her face.

If she were to become capable of magic, she would be able to join Riftan on his campaigns. Having clean forgotten that she had once fainted at the sight of a monster, Maxi kicked her feet in the air as she lay on the bed, her heart swelling with hope.

Her fantasy, however, was shattered when she met Ruth the next day. The sorcerer had walked into the library looking just as eager as she, but as he began his lengthy lecture, Maxi found herself staring blankly at the intricate runes he had drawn on a large slate. After explaining the concept of magic, Ruth moved on to the principles by which magic runes worked. Maxi felt as if he were speaking a different language.

“Do you understand, my lady?”

When Ruth finally concluded his lecture, Maxi was so disheartened that she almost began to sob. Seeing her close to tears, Ruth creased his brows in confusion.

“Was there anything you didn’t understand?”

“I b-barely understood a-any of it. I-I’m not s-suited to th-this after all…”

“It’s too soon to give up.” Ruth seemed displeased by her lack of resolve. “You must learn to be tenacious. The less you understand, the more you must persist.”

Maxi, who was used to resigning herself to her fate, was bewildered by his counsel. She avoided meeting his eyes for a few moments before nodding tentatively.

“I-I understand.”

Ruth erased the diagram on the slate and drew a simpler one in its place.

“There’s an energy that flows through the natural world, invisible to the naked eye. Mages call this energy mana.”

Maxi promptly picked up her quill to take notes. Ruth waited until she had finished writing before continuing.

“Through training, mages are able to draw mana inside their body, and this concentration of mana is what we call magic.”

“A-Are they not th-the same thing?”

“The words are used interchangeably, but in theory, they are different in nature. If mana is a stable force that exists in equilibrium in the natural world, magic is a force of considerable instability that was forced to accumulate inside the body of a human or a monster. While mana adheres to the rules of nature, magic goes counter to it.”

“I c-can’t say I u-understand.”

“Allow me to demonstrate.” Ruth unfurled his fingers to show his palm. “The mana flowing through this room is currently in a state of perfect equilibrium. But if I do this…”

Ruth flicked his finger, and a fist-sized ball of fire burst into being.

“By using the energy that I accumulated, I broke the equilibrium inside this room. That is what we call magic. In the natural world, this would be considered a very unnatural state. This fire, along with the light and heat it emits, should not be present. So, nature puts up resistance to fight this anomaly. Mages call this resistance ‘negation.’ This energy tries to get rid of the surplus mana created by the mage to restore everything to its natural state. And it’s because of this natural energy that magic disappears after a while.”

As Ruth lowered his hand, the flame fizzled out.

“B-But d-didn’t you say r-runes were required t-to use magic?”

“The flame I just conjured was created through a rune. If mana is the ingredient, runes are the recipe. Runes contain detailed instructions on how much mana must be transfused and where it should be directed to create, let’s say, a flame of a certain size. Mages must maintain a certain amount of mana inside their body at all times and learn to properly manipulate it using runes.”

Maxi’s hands flew across the page as she took notes.

Ruth narrowed his eyes. “Do you understand everything up to this point?”

“Y-Yes, but…”

Maxi looked close to tears as she glanced down at the pile of books he had placed on the desk.

“I s-still cannot s-seem to grasp h-how that happens, o-or the p-principles behind it…”

“Let me explain.”

Scratching his head, Ruth rolled up the diagrams and placed them in his bag along with the books. Next, he took out a translucent stone from a small pouch.

“Take this, my lady. We’ll start by practicing how to accumulate and use mana.”

“W-What is this?”

“A stone used to help grow mana affinity. It absorbs mana from its surroundings and emits heat. If you hold it in your hands and try to discern the subtle flow of mana around it, you’ll be able to strengthen your mana affinity over time and improve your ability to perceive its movement. Please practice with this stone and read these books. Comprehending the principles of magic requires not only knowledge of arithmetic, but also geometry and metrology.”

As Ruth handed her three hefty volumes, Maxi felt the last of her confidence dissipate. She began to thumb through one of the books, but seeing the text-laden pages only caused her doubt to grow.

Maxi tried to recall her fantasies from the previous night for motivation: Riftan beaming at her as she accompanied him on his adventures, dressed in the magnificent garb of a mage. As she pictured herself traversing mountains and fields with Riftan, she gained fresh courage. She took the magic stone from Ruth.

Chapter 57

In the three days that followed, Maxi pored over the books Ruth had given her, taking only occasional breaks to visit the stables to brush Rem’s mane. A week had passed since Riftan’s departure for the goblin raid, and she was growing more anxious by the day.

Though winters in Anatol were known to be mild, a cold snap had swept across the land without warning. To collect water from the well, the servants had to break through a thick sheet of ice.

The sudden drop in temperature only intensified Maxi’s fears. Her heart ached when she pictured Riftan sleeping curled up on the frozen ground, and she felt guilty as she climbed into her warm bed each night. Even when she had her nose buried in a book, she would pause to peer out of the window for signs of Riftan’s return, but all she saw was the harsh wind blowing through the vast garden below.

The raid party returned two days later. It was well past noon, and Maxi was grasping the magic stone in her hands to feel the flow of mana when she heard the loud blast of the kopel. With a jolt, she leaped up from her seat.

When she rushed outside, she saw knights making their way into the garden on horseback. Spotting Riftan at their head, she ran downstairs, burning with excitement as she beheld his dashing figure. When he saw her, Riftan promptly jumped off his warhorse.

Maxi flew to his arms, crying out his name. Riftan let out a surprised laugh as he wrapped his powerful arms tightly around her shoulders. The cold steel of his armor made the hairs on her nape stand up, but she only pressed herself against him more firmly.

She burrowed her face in the dirty robe draped over his shoulders before looking up at him with glowing eyes. Even with his disheveled hair and haggard face, Riftan was astonishingly handsome. She gently stroked his cold cheeks.

“I-I’m so g-glad you’re home. A-Are you—”

The rest of her words were lost as Riftan grasped her neck and pushed his tongue deep inside her mouth. Maxi gasped for air. When his soft tongue hungrily stroked the flesh within, a moan escaped her lips. She clutched his shoulders, feeling her body burn feverishly.

As she nestled against him like a cat, she noticed Hebaron, Gabel, Ulyseon, Garrow, and the rest of the raid party standing behind Riftan. Mortified, she tried to pull away, but the arms coiled around her held her firmly in place. Riftan rubbed his stubbled chin against her neck.

He whispered, “Had I known that I would be getting such a passionate welcome, I would have burned the forest down to return sooner.”

He let out a sigh and planted a kiss on her cheek. Maxi blushed, unable to believe that she had behaved so recklessly in front of so many people. Riftan, however, continued showering kisses on her cheeks and neck.

“R-Riftan… P-People are s-staring.”

“And?”

“R-Riftan…”

With a deep sigh, Riftan scooped her up with one arm, then looked over his shoulder at the knights standing idly behind him.

“Those of you who went on the raid are exempt from duties for the next week. You may return to your quarters. I’ll have the servants attend to you.”

“How kind of you.” Hebaron’s lips curved into a sly smile. “We can take care of ourselves, Commander, so why don’t you go put out that pressing fire first?”

Maxi’s face turned so hot that she thought her head might begin to steam. Paying Hebaron no heed, Riftan hoisted Maxi up and made his way into the castle. She begged him to release her, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. As he strode into the great hall, he nodded at Rodrigo and the servants who had gathered to greet him.

“See that my horse is cared for. Prepare dinner and bathwater for my men.”

“As you wish, my lord. Shall we prepare a bath for you as well?”

Riftan frowned, becoming aware of his filthy state.

“Yes, at once.”

Rodrigo bowed and took a step back. The servants behind him followed suit with impassive faces. Maxi felt grateful that they had betrayed no emotion at seeing their lord carry his wife like a child.

“I will have my meal later. Just bring me a change of clothes.”

With that, Riftan began climbing the stairs that led to their bedchamber. Once the door was shut behind them, he released Maxi and began to cover her in kisses. Maxi clung to his arms, panting. After tasting every corner of her mouth, Riftan threw off his gauntlets and began stroking the back of her neck.

A tingle ran down her spine when she felt his chapped lips quiver on her nape. She buried her cheek in his warm hand. Coiling her disheveled hair around his fingers, Riftan groaned.

“You don’t know how much I longed to do this…”

He lowered his hands and hungrily caressed the soft skin under her dress. Following his lead, Maxi slid her hands inside his robe and explored his armored chest. With ragged breaths, Riftan guided her hands up to rub his neck.

“Y-Your body feels c-cold.”

“That can’t be possible.” His voice was hoarse. “I feel as if I am burning.”

“D-Do you feel u-unwell? A-Are you hurt?”

“I’m in excruciating pain because of you.”

Thinking that she may have aggravated an injury when she had thrown herself at him earlier, she examined his body. Riftan let out a low moan and tore his robes off.

“I’ve never been this hard and throbbing.”

After hastily casting off his breastplate, he scooped her up and pushed her against a pillar. Her eyes went round when she felt his hardness pressing against her abdomen. She had assumed that the barrage of kisses earlier had simply been a show of joyous affection.

Riftan rubbed his feverish body against hers and thirstily sucked at her lips. Maxi let out a soft moan, clinging to his neck. He had been brushing against her like a large dog rubbing itself endearingly against his owner, but his movements now turned wild and urgent. Grabbing her buttocks, Riftan pressed her closer to his body so she could feel the entirety of his arousal. His body burned.

“I can’t hold back any longer.”

Riftan moaned, breathing heavily. Dazed, Maxi looked down at his lips, wet and sticky from the relentless kisses. Seconds later, she felt him yank off the belt from her waist and pull her dress and chemise up in one swift motion.

Riftan grabbed her buttocks, and she wrapped her legs around his waist in response. After quickly unstrapping his trousers, he ripped off her undergarments and thrust into her. She gasped, her legs writhing.

“R-Riftan…”

Riftan slid his hands under her dress to stroke her thighs and waist. Holding him close, Maxi began to move her hips. He flinched as if he had been struck in the gut, then started to move inside her. She felt her head bang against the pillar each time he pulled out of her before thrusting back into her deepest parts. With the nerves in her entire body on edge, she felt a pressing need grow inside her. She moaned as she tore at his clothes, while he pressed his wet lips to her temples.

“Just a little more, Maxi… Just a little more…”

She looked up at his flushed face through the tears in her eyes. Panting, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her greedily once more. As he filled her completely, she moaned like a cat in heat. When she reached the brink of climax, he pumped hard three times before convulsing.

As she reached her own climax, she spread her toes out like fans. He cupped her buttocks in his hands, remaining still until his body cooled. When he stopped quivering at last, he lifted her head from the pillar.

“Damn it… Did I hurt you?”

Maxi looked back at him with dazed eyes.

“I didn’t mean to be so rough…”

He lowered her, studying her face with a concerned look. Though she could barely stand, Maxi struggled to stay on her feet and shook her head.

“I-I’m a-all right...”

“That’s what you always say.”

Seeing her sway, he grabbed her waist to steady her. Still reeling from her climax, she watched as he lowered the hem of her dress again. She had been taught that a man was entitled to take his wife whenever he pleased. She was, in essence, his property, and there was little she could do if he chose to hurt her, yet he was always tender with her. A lump formed in her throat.

“I-I really am a-all right.”

“All right. Then let’s do it properly—”

Just then, they heard a hesitant knock at the door.

Chapter 58

“W-We’ve brought water for your bath, my lord.”

Hearing the embarrassment in the maidservant’s voice, Maxi’s ears turned red. Had she heard everything from the other room? Unfazed, Riftan tied the straps of his trousers and made his way to the door.

Maxi quickly hid behind the bed in shame and pulled the blanket over her head. A moment later, a few maidservants entered with towels and a change of clothes. It was only when they had left after filling the bath with warm water that Maxi dared look up. She saw Riftan strip off his remaining armor and clothes before submerging himself in the tub by the fire. He beckoned to her.

“Come, Maxi.”

She stared, captivated by the sight of water dripping from his dark hair. Resting an arm on the tub, he smiled at her as if he were trying to coax a wary cat.

“I’m too tired to lift a finger. Come help me wash.”

“Y-You‘re lying…”

“I had to sleep out in the snow for ten days. My whole body aches, and I can’t feel my toes. Come help.”

Though it was plain that he was exaggerating, Maxi could not help but feel concerned. She slowly climbed out of bed and approached him. When she got close, Riftan grabbed her hand and began to rub his lips and cheeks against it.

“Take off your clothes and join me.”

Seeing her hesitate, he added impatiently, “I need you. Hurry.”

Looking at him with quivering eyes, she slowly began to undress. It was difficult to refuse him. After slipping out of her dress and chemise, she removed her stockings and draped them over a chair. Riftan’s dark, smoldering eyes bored into her.

When she had removed her tattered undergarments, she stepped into the tub. Riftan pulled her toward him by the waist and pressed his lips to her swollen breast, prompting her to clutch at his wet, glistening hair.

When she felt his feverish lips tremble on her skin, she felt heat rekindle in her belly. Riftan placed her on his lap and began to nibble her collarbone. With a moan, she threw her arms around his head, uncertain of whether she wanted him to stop or continue. Pleasure akin to pain prickled her spine.

Riftan cupped her breast. “You want me too, don’t you?”

Maxi’s face went beet-red, but that was sufficient response for Riftan. She saw contentment, desire, and an intense emotion she could not decipher stir behind his eyes. Sucking her lips, he spread her legs and entered her, and Maxi melted into the arms of this insatiable man once more.

◆◆◆

Maxi had no moment of respite from Riftan’s bid to quench his desire. No part of her could escape his wandering hands; he kissed, nibbled, and stroked her body until her skin was tender. After titillating her to the point where she could no longer bear it, he pushed himself in and had her until she was spent, dazed by the endless series of climaxes.

When Riftan finally slumped onto the bed in contentment, Maxi felt so relieved that she could have thanked the heavens. She rested her head on his shoulder, exhausted.

“A-Aren’t you tired, R-Riftan?”

He sighed, stroking her back with a satisfied expression on his face.

“Imagine that you’ve prepared a feast for a man who’s been starved for days. What do you think he’ll do?”

Maxi blinked at him. Riftan pressed his lips to her shoulder, then continued.

“He would devour the food in front of him, even if he were on the verge of losing consciousness.”

Riftan nibbled the flesh between her neck and shoulder. Maxi squirmed and glowered at him.

“I-I am not your feast...”

“But you are so sumptuous.”

He rubbed his lips on her shoulder, which had turned pink, and stroked the sensitive spot on her nape. Alarmed, she dove under the covers. He chuckled and drew her to him, covers and all. A tingle coursed through her, the sound of his laughter tugging at her heartstrings.

Drowsy and content, Maxi buried her face in his chest, and he stroked her hair with his large hands. To be sharing such an intimate moment with another human felt like a miracle.

“I’ve wiped out all the goblins on the mountain, so there won’t be any more raids until winter is over. Once it gets warmer, we can go riding again, or we can go see the lake to the west of here. It’s beautiful even in winter.”

“I-I would l-love that.”

“Then I’ll take you when it gets warmer.”

Riftan’s voice had become softer, perhaps from fatigue. Maxi waited until she was certain that he was asleep before gingerly hugging his waist. He reciprocated as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and just then, she realized how hungry she had been for affection. It was only when she felt his warmth fill her that she became aware of the vastness of the void that had been inside her.

The realization filled her with both joy and terror. Riftan had irrefutably come to occupy the deepest recesses of her heart. He now had the power to tear her heart out, and to crush her will to live. If he grew tired of her, Maxi would have to live the rest of her days in utter desolation. The thought of that wretched fate alarmed her. She looked up at his sleeping face with fearful eyes. It was a different sort of fear from the kind her father had made her feel. Though she was worn out, sleep did not come easily.

◆◆◆

Riftan rose early the next morning to make his rounds of the castle, while Maxi stayed in bed until noon before washing and getting dressed. With the distribution of the winter garments complete, there was little left for her to do in Calypse Castle.

She walked over to her desk, having decided to spend the day reading the books that Ruth had given her. Ludis soon entered with a breakfast tray, which she placed next to the stack of books.

“I prepared food you can enjoy while reading, my lady.”

Maxi smiled and thanked Ludis for her thoughtfulness. On the tray, there was a delectable meal of crepe with grape jam, walnut oat cake, and warm honeyed milk. She took a bite out of the delicate piece of cake while slowly turning the pages of the tome.

This time, Maxi understood the contents of the book with ease. Perhaps Ruth had chosen the right books for her. She wrote notes on a piece of parchment, etching the doctrines into her mind.

Though she had already wasted several sheaves of parchment since she had first begun her studies, she felt no closer to becoming a mage, and she had started to doubt whether poring over these books would enable her to learn magic. She was staring at the page with narrowed eyes when she heard a knock at the door. She closed the book and looked up.

“Wh-Who is it?”

“It’s me. I’m coming in.”

Maxi hastily put away her books and rolls of parchments as Riftan, dressed in a black knee-length robe, strode in. It was unusual for her to see him during the day even when they were both at the castle, and Maxi was pleased to see him.

“Did you sleep well?” he whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead.

Maxi nodded shyly. “F-Forgive me for waking up s-so late.”

“You should have stayed in bed.”

“B-But how could I have s-stayed in bed when y-you’d already risen?”

“There’s no need for you to keep pace with my schedule.”

Riftan seemed to be drawing a line between them. Stung, Maxi shook her head, consoling herself with the thought that he was being considerate. Riftan wrapped an arm around her shoulders and began to smooth out her dress.

“Isn’t this dress too thin?”

“I-I’m wearing more l-layers underneath.”

“Come here.”

He led her by the hand to a wooden chest. He took out a velvet cloak, which he proceeded to drape around her shoulders. Maxi’s eyes went round.

“W-Where are we g-going?”

“There’s something I want to show you. We won’t be leaving the castle.”

Her hand in his, she followed as he led her out of the room, down the stairs toward the kitchen, and through the side door that led outdoors. Seeing Maxi shiver as the cold air struck her, Riftan threw an arm around her shoulders and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head.

“I know, it’s cold. This won’t take long.”

Maxi looked ahead, perplexed. All she could see were bare trees and a frozen, untended path. Stifling her curiosity, she continued to follow Riftan.

He turned toward a large stable nestled among the trees behind the castle. Feeling the warm air inside greet her, Maxi lowered her hood. Though the stench of horses pervaded the stable, the place was clean and protected from the wind. In fact, it was rather cozy.

“A-Are we here t-to see the h-horses?”

“Shh.” Riftan put a finger to her lips.

She promptly squeezed her lips together and looked around. Riftan gently pulled at her arm to lead her deeper into the stables.

Chapter 59

Her curiosity piqued, Maxi followed Riftan past the stalls. Horses pricked up their ears as they passed. Soon, they reached the innermost stall, which housed Talon. Intimidated by the stallion’s bulk, Maxi stuck close to Riftan. He patted her on the back before approaching Talon. She followed suit.

As she drew closer, her eyes grew wide in surprise. Something was squirming on the pile of hay next to the warhorse.

“I found them when I came to see Talon this morning,” Riftan whispered.

Maxi stared, transfixed. Three kittens the size of her palm lay curled up on the hay, sound asleep. Riftan crouched down in front of them.

“I noticed Talon pacing around and found them after rummaging through the hay. No signs of the mother cat, though.”

“D-Do you think th-they were a-abandoned?”

“It seems like it. The stableboy said he hadn’t seen any cats around. A feral cat must have sneaked in to give birth. Must have been quite a shock for Talon to come home and find these trespassers.”

Riftan gently patted Talon’s back as the stallion scratched at the ground nervously. The great black warhorse looked immensely proud and ferocious, and Maxi was amazed that he had not immediately trampled the kittens. She eyed the horse dubiously, worried that he might change his mind, before crouching down by the kittens.

Each of them had a different coat: white with gray stripes, ink black, and pure white. Holding back the urge to cradle them in her arms, she looked up at Riftan.

“C-Can I t-touch them?”

“You can do as you please.”

Riftan’s lips curved into an easy smile as he leaned back against a column. Maxi reached out to gently stroke one of the young creatures. Feeling its delicate bones beneath the thin layer of skin and downy fur, she frowned. All three kittens looked malnourished.

“Th-They must have s-starved for days.”

“Shall we take them back and feed them milk?”

“C-Can we?”

Maxi looked up with hopeful eyes. Riftan grinned and lowered his head to kiss her cheek.

“You’re free to do as you wish. You don’t need my permission.”

“Th-Then I-I’d like to bring them b-back.”

Maxi’s voice shook as she cautiously picked up a kitten, afraid that the slightest pressure from her hands would crush the tiny creature’s bones. The kitten wriggled helplessly. Maxi carefully placed it inside her cloak, and Riftan picked up its two siblings.

“We’ll need to find a basket for them to sleep in.”

“L-Ludis will f-find us one i-if we ask.”

Maxi clutched the kittens to her chest to shield them from the biting wind as they left the stable. Seeing the kitten breathing softly in her arms, she felt pity grow in her heart.

“I-I’ve n-never had cats b-before.”

“Really?”

“M-My father w-wasn’t f-fond of animals. E-Even his hunting dogs w-weren’t allowed i-inside the castle, so I often s-sneaked out t-to the back garden t-to play with them.”

Riftan glanced at her, but she was too exhilarated to notice the subtle look in his eyes.

“Shall I get you a hunting dog as well?”

Maxi’s eyes widened. She shook her head.

“Th-These kittens are m-more than enough.”

“If there’s anything you want, you can tell me.”

There was an edge to his voice. Maxi studied his face, trying to determine what had displeased him.

Still staring ahead, he grumbled, “I told you I’d ensure that your life is just as lavish— no, more lavish than it was at Croyso Castle. Knowing that you lack anything here enrages me.”

Maxi laughed awkwardly. It seemed that Riftan’s animosity toward her father was greater than she had thought. She felt as if thorns were growing in her throat.

“I t-truly am c-content. If I w-want anything, I-I’ll be sure to t-tell you.”

Riftan raised an eyebrow before letting out a sigh and striding onward. Maxi followed after him, gently stroking the kitten, which had begun to dig its claws into her.

Ludis gasped audibly when she saw the delicate creatures and immediately set about creating a nest for them by lining a reed basket with a piece of cloth.

Maxi set the basket by the fire and placed the kittens inside, then watched as Riftan held a spoonful of warm goat milk to their mouths. The kittens began to frantically lap up the milk. With their stomachs full and their bodies warm, they purred and rubbed their heads against Riftan’s hand. He began to tickle one of the cats’ soft backs, and Maxi watched with envy as it stretched its legs in contentment.

“Have you thought of names for them?”

Maxi looked at him in surprise. “Y-You think I sh-should name them?”

“You’ll be spending more time with them than anyone else, so you should be the one to name them.”

Maxi mulled it over before speaking again.

“I’ll call th-the tabby Ron, th-the white one L-Laura, a-and the black one R-Roy.”

“Ron, Laura, and Roy?”

“Th-They’re the names of three fairy siblings f-from a tale I read as a child. I was s-suddenly reminded of th-the story…”

Riftan picked up Roy by the scruff, a faint smile forming on his lips.

“Aren’t they a little too mangy to be named after fairies?”

The kitten exposed his claws and began to thrash around as if in protest. Riftan laughed at its feeble attempt at an attack.

“This one’s a feisty one.”

“Y-You shouldn’t t-torment such h-helpless creatures.”

“You call this tormenting?”

Riftan lowered the cat, grumbling. Maxi moved the basket to a place that was neither too hot nor too cold, then gave the kittens a small ball of yarn to play with. The kittens tottered about chewing and scratching at the yarn before falling asleep.

Maxi watched the rise and fall of their soft bellies. She gingerly stretched out a hand to stroke one on the chin. The kitten purred and shook its long whiskers. As she was gazing down fondly at the creature, Riftan pulled at her arm, and she spun her head around to look at him. He reclined against a cushion and patted his lap.

“Come sit.”

Maxi blushed and hesitated. She knew only too well what that low voice meant. Though she enjoyed being intimate with him, she wondered whether they had been too indulgent. Seeing her pause, Riftan smirked and raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry. I just want to hold you.”

After another moment of hesitation, she slowly walked over to him. He placed her on his lap and leaned her head against his shoulder. Her toes curled in at the pleasant feeling of their bodies overlapping.

Riftan wrapped one arm around her knees and stroked her back with the other. She smiled, feeling like a chick nestled under the wings of a hen.

“Your laugh tickles.”

His voice sounded content. After gently caressing her back as he had done with the kitten, he brought his hand up and began to lightly rub the back of her neck.

Maxi swallowed a moan as a shiver ran through her body. Riftan put his hands on her cheek and stroked it, then kissed her forehead. An unusual sense of peace and comfort enveloped them by the pleasant warmth of the fire.

Maxi relaxed in his arms as she listened to the steady beat of his heart, the rattling of the windows in the wind, and the crackle of the fire. After starting into the fire in silence for some time, Riftan suddenly asked a question.

“Are you happy in Anatol?”

Hearing the unease in his voice, Maxi was shaken out of her reverie. She looked up at him in surprise. His face remained impassive, but she could see that he was anxious.

“Are you really comfortable here? Is there anything else I can—

Maxi shook her head vigorously.

“There’s n-nothing I lack for, t-truly.”

Her life in Anatol was perfect. She reveled in the knowledge that she had found a place where she could belong. She was not only needed, but also surrounded by kind people who listened to her with patience. Above all, she had a husband who was affectionate with her at every opportunity. There was nothing more she could have wished for.

Maxi curled up in Riftan’s arms like a newborn animal and buried herself in his chest.

“I-I’m h-happy here.”

Riftan drew in his breath, then wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. Though her ribs were being flattened and she could barely breathe, she did not think to complain. She would gladly have let him crush her in his arms. She adored everything about him, from the hand fervently rubbing her back and the pounding of his racing heart to the masculine scent filling her lungs.

Chapter 60

Maxi timidly wound an arm around Riftan’s waist, joy and a dash of guilt growing in her heart. Riftan relentlessly compared his castle to her father’s out of fear that she was not content. Though she could have told him the truth about how her father had treated her, pride kept her lips closed. Instead, she burrowed her face in his chest to reassure him.

“C-Calypse Castle is w-wonderful,” she mumbled.

She felt Riftan let out a strained laugh above her head. It was clear that he did not believe her.

“I-It’s true. With th-the castle walls looking so g-grand and u-unassailable, I f-feel safe… A-And since the c-castle is on a mountainside, I-I can see the wh-whole of Anatol out th-the window. Th-The landscape is beautiful e-everywhere I l-look. Th-The servants are c-courteous and kind—"

Worried that Riftan might think her father’s servants had treated her poorly, she quickly changed the subject.

“B-But more than anything, th-the cook here is f-far better than the one at C-Croyso Castle. E-Everything he makes i-is so d-delicious that—”

She had gained weight since she had arrived in Anatol, but she stopped herself, afraid that Riftan would think she had become overweight.

“S-So delicious th-that…”

Maxi racked her brains before finishing her sentence.

“Th-That I’m a-always looking forward t-to my next meal! His d-desserts are excellent, and h-he makes delicacies that I’ve n-never even seen before.”

“I’m glad the food is to your liking.”

Riftan smiled in relief and began caressing her neck. Her mind eased, Maxi burrowed her face into his shoulder once again.

Riftan stroked her ear with a finger and let out a low groan. The subtle motions sent shivers down her spine. Just then, a gentle knock dispelled the intimate air that had grown between them.

Riftan grumbled to himself before saying gruffly, “What is it?”

“It’s me, Gabel Lachzion. Everyone is waiting for you in the council room, Commander.”

Riftan sighed loudly. “I’ll be right there.”

“Then I shall go wait with the others.”

Riftan waited for the sound of Gabel’s footsteps to grow faint before releasing Maxi from his lap. She sat on a cushion and continued to gaze up at him. The kittens poked their heads out of the basket, awoken by the flurry of activity. Riftan wistfully looked down at Maxi’s face, which was illuminated red by the glow of the fire, before pecking her on the cheek.

“I’ll see you at supper. I’ll have the cook prepare a feast.”

Riftan stood up, threw on a robe, and left the room. The kittens mewled in displeasure at having been disturbed. Maxi cradled them in her lap to feed them more goat milk before tossing them a ball of yarn. Once the kittens had tired of playing, she sat at her desk and opened the book she had been reading that morning.

Time passed quickly. When she next gazed out the window, darkness was descending. She took out the magic stone from the pocket of her robe.

She had started to carry the stone with her at all times since Ruth had told her it would help her cultivate mana affinity. Every now and then, she took it out to toy with it. She could not, however, feel any discernible change. Clasping the stone in both hands, she closed her eyes. The stone felt no different from an ordinary gemstone. She was wondering whether she might need to chant an incantation when she heard a knock, followed by Ludis’s voice.

“I’m here to help you get dressed for the banquet, my lady. Is now a good time?”

“Y-Yes. C-Come in.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Ludis entered, followed by the dressmaker’s wife Linda Selous and two of the new maidservants who had been hired a few weeks prior. Maxi’s eyes grew wide when she saw the pile of dresses in their arms.

Ludis set down a small box of jewelry on the desk. When she saw the kittens tumbling about on the floor, she scooped them up and placed them in the basket, which she moved to a corner. Next, she returned to the desk and adjusted the angle of the mirror while Linda and the maidservants laid out the brilliant dresses on the bed. Maxi gaped in bewilderment.

“These are the dresses you ordered, my lady,” Linda said brightly. “And what better occasion to wear them than a banquet!”

Linda lifted a beautiful navy-blue dress off the bed. Maxi gasped.

The dress gave off an elegant blue glow when illuminated by the firelight. Linda spread out the lustrous skirt for Maxi to see before proceeding to show her a gold-embroidered green dress and an ivory dress that sparkled as if it were studded with jewels.

“Are they to your liking, my lady? My husband and I spared no effort in making these.”

“Th-They’re lovely,” Maxi murmured in a trance.

“My lady! You should try them on!” urged Isinda, the affable maidservant. “Everyone at the banquet will be mesmerized.”

“Which would you like to try on first?”

“I think this green one will complement the color of your hair.”

Before Maxi could respond, Isinda picked up the dress in question and held it out to her. Maxi obligingly put the garment on. True to the maidservant’s words, the dress flattered her auburn hair. The long, flowing skirt was graceful, and the vine embroidery was breathtakingly beautiful.

Maxi twirled around in front of the mirror. After examining her carefully, Linda passed her the next dress. With the maidservants’ assistance, Maxi tried on all her new dresses, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips every time the soft fabric grazed her skin. Each time she changed into a new outfit, the maidservants eagerly chose jewelry and hennins to match.

Linda clasped a gold belt around the white dress Maxi was wearing.

“I think this dress suits you best, my lady,” she said.

Maxi studied herself in the mirror. An elegant noblewoman dressed in a flowing white dress stood modestly before her, her golden chemise peeking out underneath. A web of diamonds adorned her neck, and a topaz ring sparkled on her finger. Her eyes shone with excitement. Even to her own eyes, she looked as regal as any princess.

“I l-like this one t-too.”

“Then please allow me to arrange your hair, my lady,” said Ludis. “I think braiding your hair up would suit the dress better than a coronet. Shall I use a pearl hairnet to hold the braid?”

“I suggest a small braid on each side and adorning her hair with ornaments.”

Following Linda’s suggestion, Ludis combed Maxi’s hair and skillfully braided her hair at each temple. Next, she slid walnut-sized amber pins through her hair just above the ears and let the rest of her voluminous hair cascade down her back. Maxi stared in amazement at how elegant her red locks looked against her white dress. Ludis had worked magic on her unruly curls. The maidservants began to exclaim in admiration.

“You look marvelous, my lady!”

“You look just like the nymphs of the light! His lordship will be astonished.”

“He most certainly will. You look more magnificent than we’ve ever seen you!”

“Th-Thank you.”

“Is there anything you’d like adjusted?”

“N-No, this will d-do nicely.”

Linda nodded with a satisfied look on her face. As the finishing touch, she draped a wine-colored velvet cloak over Maxi’s shoulders. Maxi turned this way and that, inspecting herself. After entrusting the care of the kittens to the maidservants, she left the room.

The night cast long shadows in the corridor. Maxi followed the torches that had been lit by the diligent servants, Ludis trailing behind her. With Riftan’s return, the castle seemed to have regained its vitality. Faint voices could be heard coming from the floor below, and the smell of rich food and the sweet scent of wine permeated the cold winter air.

Maxi made her way past the servants, who were going about their duties with kerosene lamps in their hands. She went down the stairs and into the great hall. When she arrived at the dining hall, she saw that the room was bustling with knights, young attendants, and maidservants.

Maxi stood by the door and looked on blankly as the knights ate, drank, and chattered away by the flicker of candlelight. The table legs seemed to buckle under the hearty servings of food. A young lad who had been slicing off a piece of boar meat waved his hand in greeting when he noticed her.

“My lady!”

Ulyseon, clad in a charming white tunic, rushed toward her with a bright smile on his face. Maxi smiled back awkwardly. Remembering her and Riftan’s brazen display of affection the day before, Maxi could not bring herself to look him in the eyes. Ulyseon, on the other hand, began to babble as if he had clean forgotten about the incident.

“Have you been well, my lady? You must already know, but I went on my first raid with Sir Riftan. It was the most meaningful ten days of my life!”

Ulyseon spoke as if he had just returned from a pleasant excursion rather than a monster raid. Unsure of how she should react, Maxi let out a strained laugh.

“I-I hope you w-weren’t hurt.”

“Just a little bruised is all, my lady.” Ulyseon smiled bashfully and pointed to his knee. “It’s embarrassing to admit, but I tripped over a tree root and took a tumble down a hill. Fortunately, the ointment Mage Ruth gave us proved effective, so I was able to avoid inconveniencing the party, but Sir Hebaron mocked me for being a scatterbrain the rest of the time.”

One of the knights looked over his shoulder, looking as if the squire’s chatter irked him.

“Ulyseon Rovar, escort her ladyship to her seat,” he called loudly. “Plenty of time for your nattering later.”

Ulyseon offered Maxi his arm, scratching his head sheepishly.

“Pardon my manners, my lady. I was just thrilled to see you again. Please allow me to show you where the best food is.”

Maxi placed her hand on Ulyseon’s arm. He promptly led her to a seat at the center of the table and pulled out a seat for her with surprising grace.

“Allow me to take your cloak.”

Maxi gripped the strings of her cloak, hesitating. She felt self-conscious standing in front of so many people.

“My lady?”

Seeing Ulyseon’s questioning look, Maxi clenched her eyes shut. She removed her cloak and handed it to the squire. Silence fell inside the hall. Disconcerted, Maxi drew in her shoulders.

Chapter 61

The knights had been busy drinking and talking boisterously just moments ago, but they now stared at Maxi in wide-eyed surprise. She cast her eyes down, her confidence dissipating. Had it been presumptuous of her to think that such a splendid dress suited her? Were the knights staring at what they perceived as the pathetic attempts of an ugly woman to primp herself? She turned beet red.

Ulyseon’s loud voice broke the silence.

“Heavens, my lady! You look magnificent.”

“I d-do?”

Maxi looked up self-consciously. Ulyseon nodded vigorously, his large purple eyes sparkling. He did not seem to be lying.

“You are the spitting image of the elves of old! White becomes you, my lady. You have always been lovely, but tonight, you are breathtaking!”

His extravagant praise made Maxi blush. But before she could thank him, he continued with even greater fervor.

“You had me spellbound for a moment there! Well, it’s only to be expected from the wife of the greatest knight in the realm. Even the proudest nymph would blush to see your beauty.”

Maxi’s blush crept down to her neck. Though she looked finer than usual, she knew that she was no peerless beauty. Suppressing the urge to clap her hands over Ulyseon’s mouth, she quickly took her seat. But the squire seemed oblivious to her discomfort. He took the seat next to her and continued animatedly.

“It’s a shame, my lady, that we’re the only ones who get to admire your beauty. If this were a royal ball, everyone would have been captivated by you! The royal capital would be fighting over themselves to swear their geas[4] to you!”

“Why, th-thank you…”

Maxi stared fixedly at her plate. She found the knights’ silence unbearable. Imagining that they were inwardly sneering at Ulyseon’s exaggerated praise, she trembled. Meanwhile, Ulyseon began to heap food onto her plate.

“Allow me to serve you. Is there anything that you fancy? All this food is delectable, but the smoked duck is exceptionally good today.”

Maxi was relieved by the change of subject. She glanced around the room.

“Th-Thank you. Do you h-happen to know w-where his lordship is?”

“Sir Riftan is still in the council room discussing recent monster migrations with a few of the knights.”

“M-Monster migrations?”

“Monsters in the west have suddenly started moving south,” said a voice behind her.

Maxi spun around in surprise. Sir Hebaron stood behind her, dressed in casual attire. He looked her over with an odd expression on his face before seating himself next to her.

“There are signs that trolls are migrating to Anatolium. The commander is discussing countermeasures with the sorcerer. It wasn’t clear when the discussions were going to end, so he told the rest of us to dine first.”

Maxi's face fell. Hebaron filled his goblet with wine before continuing.

“That was why the goblin raid lasted longer than expected. We observed changes in the monsters’ habitats, so we combed through the northern mountains.”

“D-Do you mean t-to say that a p-pack of monsters is m-making their way t-to Anatol?”

“It would be more accurate to say that they are moving south. These are still assumptions, but according to the monster hunters we met in the mountains…”

Hebaron trailed off when he noticed Maxi’s face grow dark. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head before trying to reassure her.

“It seems I’ve said too much. You have nothing to fear, my lady. With the Remdragon Knights protecting Anatol, monsters won’t be able to invade.”

Maxi still felt uneasy. She recalled the gruesome sight of the wounded sentries and loggers in the aftermath of the werewolf attack. Such attacks would increase if more monsters came to Anatol. She slipped her hand inside the pocket of her robe and clasped the magic stone, her resolve to learn magic growing stronger. Though she may not become capable of rendering much help, she did not want to be useless.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll study even harder.

She was roused from her thoughts by Ulyseon, who was trying to lighten the mood.

“Don’t look so anxious, my lady. Have a taste of this instead. Roast boar is our cook’s specialty! The skin is crispy, but the meat inside is incredibly tender and juicy! Dip it in cameline sauce and take a big bite. I guarantee you won’t regret it.”

“I-It does look d-delicious.”

“The pigeon with nutmeg and fried cinnamon wafers are exceptional, too.”

Ulyseon filled her plate. Unable to ignore his urging, Maxi took a few small bites. The food truly was delicious. She forgot about her troubles momentarily and began to eat in earnest. Hebaron, who had been observing her as he drank, filled her goblet with wine.

“You must be thirsty, my lady.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Pleased by the rare show of kindness, Maxi gulped down the wine. Hebaron raised an eyebrow before filling her cup again, shifting in his seat.

“You must like your liquor, my lady. Here, allow me to pour you some more.”

Maxi rarely drank more than a goblet or two of wine with her meals, but she did not want to disappoint the knight, who was looking at her expectantly. Maxi clenched her eyes shut and emptied her goblet once more.

Her body grew warm and relaxed. It was not a bad feeling. Each time she drained her goblet, the knight filled it again, and her eyes soon began to shine from the pleasant feeling of inebriation. Amused by the sight, the other knights also began to offer her food and drink.

Maxi took slight offense, for the knights were trying to feed her as they would some fantastic creature, but she did not refuse them.

She soon lost count of how many goblets she had drunk. Her vision blurred, and she felt as if she was floating on air. Hiccupping, she clutched her goblet with both hands and began to sway. She couldn’t be sure why, but she had been struck by the urge to swing her body from side to side.

Her actions must have troubled the knights, for one of them held Hebaron back from pouring her more.

“I think her ladyship has had enough, Sir Hebaron.”

“I-I’m… a-a-all right.”

With her tongue being less cooperative than usual, her words came out as a slur. Though she would normally have clamped her mouth shut in embarrassment, she now felt no shame. Intoxicated by this sudden sense of boldness, She emptied her goblet and held it out to Hebaron.

“I-I would l-like some m-more.”

“Happy to oblige. You know how to hold your liquor.”

Maxi noted with pleasure that Hebaron’s tone had grown amicable, much the way he might speak to a fellow knight. She drained the liquor with even greater enthusiasm. Though her swaying had caused her wine to spill onto her sleeves, she found herself giggling. One of the knights burst into laughter.

“Who knew her ladyship could be so charming? I thought she was just a cheerless, self-absorbed young noblewoman!”

Maxi spun around to glare at the speaker.

“I-I am not s-self-absorbed! Though I c-can’t deny th-that I’m ch-cheerless…”

She gulped down the wine that Hebaron had poured her, then sighed deeply. Her euphoria had dissipated in an instant. She suddenly felt melancholic.

“B-But th-that’s because I-I’m not u-used to i-interacting with all th-these p-people. I-I’m not w-well-spoken… I d-don’t ever know what I sh-should say… A-And all of you are s-so intimidating, e-especially when you l-loom over me. Y-You can’t b-blame me for sh-shying away. I-In fact, you’re the r-reason I’ve been so ch-cheerless! I w-would a-appreciate it i-if you could all s-shrink a little.”

The knights stared at her dumbly. Hebaron broke into uproarious laughter.

“We’re not tall for no reason, my lady. Bulk is always an advantage in combat. I’m afraid your ladyship is the one who is too small. What were you doing while everyone else was growing?”

“Are you drunk, Sir Hebaron?”

Ignoring the question, the giant knight filled Maxi’s cup to the brim.

“It isn’t too late, my lady. If you start drinking and eating as much as I do, you might still get to grow as tall as a pine tree.”

“You r-really think I-I can still g-grow?”

Growing tall might also endow her with courage. Maxi looked up at Hebaron with hopeful eyes.

Hebaron smiled cheekily. “I’ve been drinking liquor since I was a lad of thirteen. That’s how I managed to grow this tall.”

“So that’s your secret, Sir Hebaron!”

Ulyseon finished stuffing his mouth with meat. Next, he filled his cup with ale and guzzled it down. The other knights buried their faces in their hands.

Maxi could not understand why the knights looked so unsettled. She tilted her head this way and that in a daze, wondering what had caused the sudden shift in atmosphere. She soon gave up and raised her goblet to her lips again. Just then, a large hand shot past her shoulder and snatched the cup from her hand.

Startled, she turned around. Riftan towered over her with a grim expression on his face. Narrowing his eyes, he took in her flushed, stupefied face for a moment before hissing through gritted teeth.

“What the devil are you doing?”

“I-I was t-trying to grow t-taller…” Maxi said with a hiccup, her voice shrinking.

Riftan ground his teeth and shifted his gaze to glower at the knights.

“Explain to me why you got my wife so drunk.”

“She seemed to hold her liquor well, so we got a little carried away…” Hebaron answered, scratching the back of his head.

Riftan face grew more forbidding. “So, your idea of entertainment is getting my wife drunk?”

Riftan slammed a goblet on the table. Silence fell over the hall. When he opened his mouth to speak again, his voice was menacingly soft.

“Eat well and rest up. You’ll need the energy for training tomorrow.”

The knights groaned in unison. Ignoring their grumbling, Riftan gathered Maxi up and strode out of the dining hall. Maxi wrapped her arms around his neck. She had been struggling to keep her eyes open and longed to make her way to bed.

Pretending that she had not heard Riftan sigh, she burrowed her face in his neck. She felt him flinch and stiffen, but her state of blissful inebriation made her quite indifferent to his reaction. She took in his distinct scent and impulsively kissed him on the neck, where she could feel his pulse. Riftan stood stiffly rooted to the spot.

“Maxi…”

Maxi thought she had heard the growl of a beast over her head. Smiling, she stroked his hair as though she were trying to pacify a disgruntled animal. Riftan began to briskly climb the stairs, Maxi bouncing lightly in his arms. She felt as if she was being rocked in a cradle. Placing her hands against his chest, she squirmed and closed her eyes.

“Maxi… You’re not sleeping, are you?”

They had reached the door to their bedchamber without Riftan breaking a sweat. He shook her, but she merely murmured in annoyance and curled herself up in his arms. He looked down at her fretfully.

“Just how much did you drink? And damn it, why are you dressed so…”

He lowered her onto the bed, then pushed up the skirt of her bunched-up dress. Disoriented, Maxi raised herself so he could undress her. As soon as Riftan pulled the dress over her head, she slumped onto the pillow and fell asleep. Riftan ground his teeth as he gazed down at her.

“You’d better be prepared tomorrow as well.”

Chapter 62

Maxi was awoken from a deep sleep by the kittens’ cries. As she squinted into the bright light streaming in through the windows, she thought her head might split open. She groaned and gripped her temples.

Something was scraping the insides of her stomach, and her head throbbed as if someone had brought a hammer down on it. She had never felt such discomfort in her life. Overwhelmed, her face crumpled. Suddenly, a cup of water was thrust in front of her face. She slowly turned her head to see Riftan looking down at her, a brooding expression on his face and three lively kittens dangling off his leg.

“Is my carousing lady finally awake?”

Maxi stiffened as memories of the previous night came flooding back. Riftan placed the cup of water in her hand.

“You were quite the sight last night. I didn’t know you loved to drink so much.”

He spoke in a voice so soft that Maxi began to feel uneasy.

“I-I don’t! Y-Yesterday was the first time I-I d-drank that much.”

Her voice faltered. Eyeing her doubtfully, Riftan sat on the edge of the bed and let out a deep sigh. It seemed as though he was trying to contain his temper. Maxi hung her head.

Gripping the cool cup in her hand, she looked at herself in the mirror. The hair that Ludis had arranged so elegantly the night before now looked like a pile of tangled vines, and her dress was nowhere to be seen. Clad only in her chemise, she looked like a vagrant.

She slowly raised the blanket to cover her bloated face. Riftan’s soft voice reached her ears as loud and as clear as a bellow.

“Let this be my only warning. If I ever see you drunk among a group of rowdy men again, I’ll make sure you can’t get out of bed for a while.”

Maxi snapped her head up in surprise. It was not his threat that surprised her, but the fact that she was not afraid. She had absolute trust that he would never hurt her.

“Do you know what I’d do to you?”

When Riftan saw that his threat had failed to scare her, he growled softly. The hairs on her neck stood up. Realizing that his anger was genuine, Maxi quickly shook her head.

“I-It will n-never happen again.”

“If I could have my way, I would…”

He gazed down resentfully at her disheveled appearance, then breathed a sigh of resignation.

“I’ll have the maidservants bring you herbal tea to help with the hangover, so rest here awhile. I’ll save the rest of my words for the evening.”

“W-Where are you g-going?”

“I have business to take care of on the training grounds.”

Riftan jumped out of bed, his voice unnervingly calm. After plucking the kittens off his boots, he set them down on the bed and strode out of the room. Maxi quickly gathered them onto her lap; their indignant mewling had begun to aggravate her piercing headache.

While she was placating the kittens, Ludis entered with a tea tray.

“How are you feeling, my lady?”

She felt terrible, but after the spectacle she had made of herself the night before, she did not want to be seen suffering from a hangover. Trying to look as dignified as possible, she sipped the herbal tea to soothe her stomach. Ludis, however, was quick to notice her condition.

“Let me prepare a bath for you, my lady. A nice warm bath and a bowl of the cook’s special egg gruel should help you feel better.”

Maxi nodded, comforted by the thoughtful suggestion.

“Yes, th-that would be n-nice.”

A short while later, a tub of warm water was brought to the room. Maxi quickly undressed and lowered herself in. She felt refreshed after soaking her body in the steaming water and washing her thick hair with an herbal tonic. She remained until the water grew lukewarm before getting out to put on a crisp new dress.

Ludis returned with a bowl of gruel cooked with barley, potatoes, onions, and eggs over a low fire. After eating her fill, Maxi sat by the fire with a book. She was able to read without difficulty, for the herbal tea had proved effective in relieving her headache.

“Shall I take the kittens away so they don’t disturb you?” Ludis asked.

Maxi shook her head, reluctant to allow the tiny creatures out of the warmth of her room.

“Th-That won’t be n-necessary. Th-They’ve been behaving.”

Ludis smiled. “The black-haired one is very docile, but the other two are mischievous little things. The moment they regained some strength, they started running about the room. They’ll make fine mouse hunters once they’re bigger.”

Maxi breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the tender expression on Ludis’s face. She had worried that Ludis might resent the additional responsibility, but the maidservant seemed besotted with the new members of the household.

“I th-thought of names f-for them yesterday. The black one i-is Roy, the white one i-is Laura, a-and the gray t-tabby is R-Ron.”

Ludis knitted her brows in concentration and mouthed each name, then smiled.

“I shall let the servants know. They’ve all taken a liking to these precious things. The cook’s got high hopes for them. He even prepared treats so they can grow faster and start catching mice in the kitchen.”

Ludis pointed to a flat wooden bowl on the floor. Maxi watched adoringly as the kittens thrust their noses into the milk and fish porridge, then turned her attention back to her book. It was the last of the ones Ruth had given her. Though she had made little progress in cultivating mana affinity, reading had given her a better understanding of the concept and principles of magic.

She took out a fresh piece of parchment from a leather pouch and opened the last chapter of her book. Just as she was about to start reading, Laura, who had fallen asleep after her hearty meal, climbed out of the basket and began clawing at the hem of her dress.

Maxi looked down at the kitten fondly and scratched its back, but the cat’s loud yowling soon distracted her to the point where the words on the page no longer made sense. Agitated, she glanced down at the kitten. Ludis quickly picked Laura up and dropped her in the basket, but the unhappy little thing continued to wail.

“Shall I bring them outside, my lady?”

“N-No, I was just a-about to head to the l-library. C-Could you l-look after them f-for a little while?”

“Leave them to me. They’ll quiet down once they’ve had some milk.”

Ludis stroked the kitten tenderly before heating milk in a pan over the fire. After slipping a robe over her dress, Maxi left the room with her book. She passed through the chilly corridors to arrive at the library. She was greeted by Ruth, who looked up with a smirk from his usual spot.

“Did you grow any taller in your sleep?”

Maxi stared in confusion before blushing at the memory of her drunken behavior.

“Embarrassing a lady b-by bringing up her blunders is a g-great discourtesy.”

“I know of no lady capable of drinking half a barrel by herself.”

Maxi eyed him distrustfully. “Y-You’re lying. I couldn’t have had so much.”

“And that’s only counting the ale. If we were to include the wine… But seeing as you’re perfectly sound this morning, I take it that you’re a natural at this. Sir Hebaron wouldn’t stop singing your praises.”

“I s-suffered a t-terrible headache when I woke up th-this morning.”

“But you seem perfectly fine.”

“Because I-I drank h-herbal tea!”

As a noblewoman, she could not think of anything more mortifying than being branded a drunkard. To her relief, Ruth shrugged and sat down at the desk, ostensibly uninterested in teasing her further.

“We’ll have plenty of opportunities to see just how well you can hold your liquor.”

“H-How dare you! I w-won’t be drinking l-like that from n-now on.”

“If you say so. You’re here to study, no? Please have a seat. How far have you read?”

She shot him a resentful look before sitting down despondently.

“I-I just have th-this book left, though I can’t s-say I understood e-everything I read…”

“You’ve made fast progress. I shall try to explain any parts you found difficult in as simple terms as possible.”

Maxi pulled out rolls of parchment from her pouch and handed them to Ruth, who skimmed over the pages and smiled.

“I see that you’ve been studying hard. I’m glad to see that you’re so determined.”

“I wrote down th-the things I could not u-understand,” Maxi mumbled, embarrassed by the rare compliment.

Ruth cleared his throat and adopted a serious look once again.

“Then allow me to explain. Please focus.”

Maxi hastily took out a quill, an ink bottle, and a piece of parchment from her pouch. Ruth smiled as he waited. Once she was ready, he launched into his explanation. Maxi listened intently, making note of every word. Ruth’s monotonous voice and the scratching of her quill reverberated inside the library for the next few hours.

As their lesson continued well into the afternoon, Maxi requested a light meal from a maidservant. They moved the desk closer to the brazier and continued their lesson as they ate their bread and soup. Maxi took small bites from the piece of bread she held in one hand while her other hand was occupied taking notes.

Every so often, Ruth would begin to ramble excitedly about complex concepts, but he would always explain them to her again in simpler terms when she asked. He was surprisingly patient; even when she failed to grasp concepts right away, he did not grow exasperated or chide her. Encouraged, Maxi asked questions freely.

“This reminds me of my time in the Mage Tower,” Ruth muttered out of the blue, a nostalgic expression on his face.

Chapter 63

Maxi looked up from her page and gave Ruth a quizzical look.

“D-Didn’t you l-leave the tower b-because you h-hated it there?”

“What I disliked was the tower’s rules, not the tower itself. It is, after all, the only place in the world where hundreds of well-educated mages gather to cultivate their skills.”

Hearing the faint longing in Ruth’s voice, Maxi’s curiosity grew. Nornui was a sequestered island that rarely allowed outsiders to enter. Though its port was frequented by merchants from the Southern and Western Continents, only authorized mages were allowed inside the Tower.

Generations of bards had sung of the enigmatic island all across the continent. Having heard these songs, Maxi had developed her own fantasies about the place, and so she was naturally intrigued by Ruth’s words.

“D-Do all m-mages study in the M-Mage Tower?”

“Are you not currently studying magic in Anatol, my lady?” Ruth shook his head, looking exasperated. “Learning elemental magic requires study in the Mage Tower, but learning basic magic doesn’t. Most itinerant mages who work with mercenaries are unaffiliated with the Tower.”

“E-Elemental magic?”

Maxi cocked her head. Ruth scratched the back of his head, surprised that he had not explained the concept yet.

“As you learned in Introduction to Magic, mana is made up of six different elements: wind, water, earth, fire, light, and darkness. Mana is the perfect equilibrium of these elements, while elemental magic involves the extraction and accumulation of a single element inside the body before using that pure energy. On the other hand, basic magic involves the accumulation of all six elements in equal proportions.”

“I-Isn’t it better to u-use all the elements than to use j-just one?”

“No. The more unstable the energy source, the more powerful the magic becomes. Hence, magic concentrated in one element is ten times more powerful than typical magic. Let’s say that we have six bricks. If you placed these bricks in neat rows on the floor, it would be difficult to scatter them. That’s because they’re in a stable state. But if you placed them in a pile, you could easily topple them over. As I mentioned, magic requires us to disrupt nature’s balance through meticulous calculation.”

Maxi nodded, recalling his explanation of the difference between mana and magic. Magic went against the rules of nature, while mana adhered to the natural order.

She began to understand dimly how the accumulation of pure elemental mana amplified the power of magic. Pleased by her progress, Ruth smiled faintly as he rolled up the sleeve of his robe to expose his wrist. A small magic rune was engraved in red ink on his pale, veiny skin.

“To learn elemental magic, you must have a rune like this inscribed on your body at the Mage Tower. Through this rune, I can accumulate pure wind mana in my body.”

“W-Wouldn’t it be e-easier f-for me to learn m-magic if I had something s-similar o-on my body?” Maxi asked, a subtle glint of expectation in her eyes.

“These runes can only be inscribed by the high mages who reside at the top of the Mage Tower. In order to receive one, you must undergo four years of training in the tower. During that time, you’re prohibited from leaving Nornui.”

Seeing Maxi’s shoulders slump in disappointment, Ruth clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

“You’ve only just started learning the foundations of magic. How can you be thinking about elemental magic already? I suggest you focus on learning basic spells first.”

“I-I was j-just asking,” Maxi muttered sheepishly, hiding her face behind a book.

Grinning, Ruth leafed through his book before getting up to light the candles. Though the day was still young, thick clouds were casting shadows in the library.

Using tongs, Ruth picked up an ember from the brazier and held it to the wick of the candles and oil lamps. Maxi rubbed her tired eyes and continued reading, only rising from her seat when it was time for supper. She gathered up her books and rolls of parchment.

“Will you be eating in the dining hall?” Ruth asked.

Maxi shook her head. She could not imagine facing the knights after the drunken spectacle she had made of herself.

“I-I plan to d-dine in my room so I can c-continue reading.”

But Ruth saw through her excuse.

“Haven’t you ever seen a belligerent drunk? If you had, you would know that behaving a little foolishly is nothing to be ashamed of. Why don’t you use this opportunity to get to know the knights better? I think they found you rather amusing.”

“I do not wish t-to be a-amusing…”

Contrary to her words, Maxi was intrigued. Did the knights really look on her favorably? She was turning Ruth’s words over in her mind when she heard the door of the library swing open. Startled, she turned her head to see Riftan, still armed, striding into the library.

“Why are you still here at this hour?”

Maxi flinched at his brusque tone. She studied his face, wondering whether he was still angry with her.

“I would think that what one does in a library is obvious,” Ruth answered flatly.

Riftan glowered at him, then scanned the contents of the desk. Empty plates and trays from lunch lay next to chaotic piles of books. A deep crease appeared on his forehead. He shook his head, dumbfounded.

“The maidservants told me that you’ve been here since noon. Have you been reading all this time?”

“Some people like to spend their days reading, Sir Riftan, the way you like to spend yours swinging your sword.”

A hint of displeasure flashed across Riftan’s face. Alarmed by the tension, Maxi hastily gathered up her books.

“I-I was just a-about t-to leave…”

Riftan swiftly took the books from her.

“Come. I’ve asked the servants to bring our meal to our bedchamber.”

“And not to the dining hall?” Ruth asked.

Riftan glanced over his shoulder at Ruth.

“All the knights are lazing about in their quarters. They were grumbling about how dog-tired they were, so I’ve instructed the servants to bring them their meals there.”

Ruth shuddered. “Those men have an endless reserve of stamina. What have you done to them? All they did was offer her ladyship some wine.”

Maxi looked up at Riftan in surprise. Had he punished the knights for her drunkenness? She hung her head in shame.

Riftan snorted. “I realized just how undisciplined they’d become when I saw them staggering about intoxicated, so I gave them an intensive training session.”

“Of course you did,” Ruth said, sighing loudly.

Pretending not to hear, Riftan grabbed Maxi’s hand and started walking toward the door. Maxi quickly said her farewell and followed him into the chilly corridor. She practically had to run to keep up with him.

“A-Are you…”

Riftan came to an abrupt halt and turned to face her.

“A-Are you still a-angry?”

“……”

“I-I assure you, I w-won’t ever drink s-so much again. I-I didn’t know I’d g-get so d-drunk.”

“I’m not angry anymore.”

Riftan strode forward again. Maxi followed in silence, all the while stealing glances at his face. His lips were pressed together firmly, belying his words.

“Is Ruth always there with you in the library?” Riftan suddenly asked as they reached the stairs.

“P-Pardon?”

Maxi gave him a puzzled look before nodding slowly.

“R-Ruth s-seems to spend m-most of his time i-in the library, s-so he’s almost always there w-when I visit.”

Maxi decided to hide the fact that Ruth had taken up residence in the library. She felt that she at least owed him that much. A faint crease formed on Riftan’s forehead.

“Don’t you find the rascal exasperating? He’s like a wily fox. He’s always roping people into doing things for him or using them for strange experiments…”

“I-I’m the one wh-who’s a-always bothering him. H-He’s got a caustic personality, but he’s t-taught me a lot. And h-he was a big help w-when I first a-arrived at the c-castle.”

Riftan seemed to become even more subdued. The strange tension made Maxi anxious. Did Riftan dislike Ruth? She had seen the two men trade barbs over the most trivial affairs, but she had thought that they shared a bond of trust. Not knowing what to do, she shifted her eyes nervously.

“Do you like intelligent men?” Riftan asked as they neared the door to their room.

Maxi was astonished to realize that her spending time with another man was the reason for Riftan’s discontent. She had never thought of Ruth in that manner, and it had never occurred to her that her husband might find the arrangement displeasing. Blanching at the thought that Riftan might doubt her fidelity, she hastily tried to defend herself.

“N-No, I don’t! I r-respect Ruth, b-but I’ve n-never thought of him that way! H-He’s overly critical and n-nags every chance he g-gets! His e-extensive knowledge has p-proved useful, a-and I am grateful f-for his help, but… He nags m-more than my nursemaid d-did! He’s a-always got an o-opinion about everything! S-So I could n-never… I-It is you I—”

She clamped her mouth shut. Riftan was gazing down at her with a vacant expression on his face. She opened and closed her mouth like a carp before hanging her head. She could tell from the burning in her ears that her face was beet-red. When the long silence became unbearable, she resumed her babbling.

“I-If you’re c-curious about the kind of man I l-like… I like m-m-men who are d-dependable, ch-chivalrous, a-and g-g-good with h-horses.”

“Are you…”

Hearing a loud thud, Maxi looked up in surprise. Riftan had slammed his head against the door. With his forehead still pressed to the wood, he let out a long sigh.

“Haven’t you tempted me enough?”

“T-Tempted you?”

After regarding her with narrowed eyes, Riftan grabbed her hand, opened the door to their bedchamber, and pulled her into the room. When the door closed shut behind them, he scooped her up and pressed her against the wall.

Chapter 64

Maxi gaped at Riftan in surprise. Without missing a beat, Riftan pressed his lips to hers and pushed his tongue into her mouth. Maxi gripped his thick arms. The sensation of his soft tongue stroking and teasing her mouth made the hairs on her nape stand up.

He tasted of something untamed and exhilarating that Maxi could not name. As he pushed his tongue in deeper to taste every corner of her mouth, her chest tingled. She nearly forgot to breathe as she clung to him.

“Ahh…”

His feverish moan sent shivers through her body, the sharp surge of pleasure igniting a fire in her body. Just as she was wrapping her arms around his neck, her eyes landed on the wide-eyed maidservants standing behind Riftan. Her heart stopped.

She stared at them dumbly. The maidservants were evidently in the middle of preparing their meal, for they had frozen mid-action while setting the table and lighting the candles. Stifling a scream, Maxi pounded on Riftan’s back.

“R-R-Riftan!”

Riftan detached his face from her neck and glanced over his shoulder. Still holding her up with one arm, he stepped away from the door calmly.

“You may leave if you are done.”

The maidservants’ eyes oscillated between their mistress’s plum-red face and the impassive face of their lord before coming to their senses with a jolt. Maxi was certain that she would die of embarrassment.

“H-Have a pleasant evening, my lord, my lady.”

After politely making their obeisance, they scurried out of the door, taking the basket of sleeping kittens lest the creatures disturb them. Riftan perfunctorily thanked the maidservants, whose faces had turned as red as Maxi’s. After shutting the door, he resumed lavishing her with kisses. Maxi pushed his face away, her eyes brimming with tears.

“H-How am I to f-face them again?”

“They’re only servants. No need to care what they think.”

Riftan swatted her hand away and began peppering her neck with kisses. Astounded that he would persist after the humiliation she had just experienced, she blocked him with her hand and pulled her head away.

“Y-You’re hardly a-around so you don’t s-see them much, b-but I spend a-all day with them!”

“But you spend most of your time with Ruth.”

Maxi stiffened at his restrained tone. Riftan leaned in so that his face was just inches away, an unnervingly soft smile on his lips. His dark, impassive eyes reminded her of a beast, and the glint in them made her shudder.

“Th-That isn’t t-true. I-I spend far more t-time with the m-maidservants.”

“Is that so?”

“Y-Yes.”

“I am your husband. Shouldn’t I be the one that you spend the most time with?”

“Th-That’s h-hardly my fault.”

It was Riftan, after all, who was always away from the castle. Though Maxi knew that he had many responsibilities as a knight and as the lord of Anatol, she had inadvertently assumed an accusatory tone. She studied his face for signs of displeasure, but he merely sighed. He strode to the table and lowered her.

“I know. What I mean to say is that since we don’t have much time to spend together, I’d like you to focus on me and me alone when I’m here.”

Riftan pulled his seat close to hers, then took her hands and kissed them. Whenever he gazed at her with such intensity, she found it difficult to think.

Rosy-cheeked, she nodded. With his lips still touching her fingers, she could feel them slowly spreading into a smile. She could endure any humiliation if she could see him happy, she thought. She smiled back in spite of herself.

◆◆◆

As the weather grew colder, Riftan spent more time at the castle. He trained the sentries at the training grounds each dawn and made regular rounds of the castle walls with his knights to vanquish monsters, but he always returned at dusk to join Maxi for supper.

Maxi was able to spend far more leisure time with him than she had in the fall. During the day, she read the books that Ruth had given her or practiced cultivating mana with the magic stone. When evening came, she would adorn herself with the help of the maidservants before enjoying a pleasant evening with Riftan at the dining table.

As they spent more time together, Maxi naturally began to learn more about Riftan. One of the first things she observed was that he had no appetite for luxury. When he was not clad in armor, he wore plain, monochromatic clothes, and he never wore jewel-studded belts.

Next, she realized that his aversion to luxury was not merely a consequence of unfamiliarity. He seemed to find tight silk trousers, extravagant floor-length tunics, shoulder pads, pointed shoes, and feathered hats — in other words, attire commonly worn by noblemen — absurd.

Once, Maxi had offered him a feathered hat made by the dressmaker and his wife. His face had hardened, and he had informed her stiffly that he would wear it only for her sake. He had regarded the hat with such disdain that Maxi had secretly hidden it away.

Riftan valued practicality to such a degree that he was averse to embellishments designed only to impress. He favored durable clothes that allowed him to move unencumbered. And though he had a penchant for drinking liquor and eating greasy food, he never demanded rare delicacies or complained about the food like other nobles did. Similarly, he only gave the servants orders that he deemed absolutely necessary. Years of knighthood seemed to have ingrained a love for efficiency in him.

His inclination to lead an austere life stopped at Maxi, however. He liked to see her clad in lavish dresses and adorned with the jewels he had bought for her, and he wished for her to live a life of comfort where servants waited on her hand and foot.

Riftan’s thoughts were more difficult to decipher than she had initially thought. He despised the vanity and empty formalities of the nobility, yet it seemed to be of utmost importance to him that she lead the exquisite life of an aristocrat. She concluded that his contradictory behavior was the result of his desire to prove that he could satisfy the needs of a duke’s daughter.

He seemed to both envy and loathe the nobility. Maxi could not quite understand it, but she tried her best to play the part of a refined noblewoman so she would not disappoint him. It was simply a poor imitation of her sister’s prim, elegant manners, but Riftan did not seem to notice that anything was amiss. Still, it seemed only a matter of time before he discovered the truth.

Maxi frowned as she studied the basics of geometry. Once spring arrived, other nobles would visit Anatol, and Riftan would soon discover the difference between his wife and proper noblewomen.

She tapped the desk anxiously with her fingertips. She had never attended a grand ball, and if she were instructed to host one, she was bound to fail miserably. She wondered whether she should prepare by studying the virtues and etiquette required of a lady.

“Please focus,” Ruth said sternly.

He frowned in irritation at her tapping. Ludis, who had been placing a tea kettle over the brazier, turned around to shoot him a sharp look, but he paid her no attention.

“Once you finish this book, you’ll have learned all the basics, so please try to focus. You must master the basic theories before moving on to runes.”

“I-I’m t-trying my best… I-I was just a-a little t-tired…”

Ludis placed a cup of honey ginger tea in front of her.

“Please have some tea, my lady.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Ludis gave her a soft smile before placing another cup in front of Ruth with a stony expression. Maxi rolled her eyes.

Ever since she had learned that Riftan disliked her spending time alone with Ruth, she had made sure to have Ludis present whenever she was in the library. Ludis, however, clearly disapproved of the sorcerer, frowning at his brash manners as she had done just moments prior. And true to character, Ruth always ignored her.

“How is your mana cultivation going?”

“I-I’m afraid th-there hasn’t been m-much progress.”

Maxi shook her head, clutching her cup with both hands. After blowing on his steaming cup and taking a sip, Ruth knitted his brows in contemplation.

“I am surprised, I must admit. You seem to have an innate ability to absorb mana, so I’d assumed that you’d be able to grasp it quickly.”

“D-Do you mean t-to say that m-my body is r-receptive to m-mana?”

“Do you not recall your hands absorbing my magic? Your body seems to be primed for mana absorption. Usually, building up one’s mana pathway to such a level requires training from a very young age.”

Maxi frowned, trying to remember what she had learned. The mana pathway referred to the narrow passageway in the body that allowed mana to be absorbed.

“H-How do you develop y-your mana p-pathway?

“A high-ranking mage must periodically infuse their apprentice with magic. Being exposed to magic from a young age will naturally help the apprentice develop his or her mana pathway, priming their bodies for better mana absorption.”

Maxi nodded silently. Then, a sudden thought occurred to her, and her face hardened. Could her mana affinity be the product of years of magical healing? She stared at her palms. The thought that her remarkable ability might be the result of her father’s harsh discipline left an unpleasant taste in her mouth.

Seeing her face grow dark, Ruth said, “There’s no rush, my lady. I am sure you will improve with practice.”

Maxi forced a smile. Perhaps it did not matter how she had acquired her ability. The question now was of how she would use it. Pulling herself together, she resumed her study of magical theory for a few more hours until the sound of the library door being flung open made her look up.

Chapter 65

Riftan entered. It had become something of a routine for him to come bursting into the library, looking for Maxi. Ruth let out an exasperated sigh.

“Is the training over already?”

“Training the sentries in this cold will only bring down their morale. I’ll let them take a breather for a day or two.”

Riftan approached Maxi from behind and bent down. Feeling his cold lips on her forehead, she blushed. He began stroking her hair affectionately.

“Have you been cooped up here since morning?” he whispered.

“Y-Yes, I stopped b-by the s-stables then came here…”

A hint of displeasure flashed across Riftan’s face. He frowned.

“You’re spending more time in here than in our bedchamber.”

“Th-That’s not t-true. I’ve spent p-plenty of time there…”

She had started to spend far more time in their room after Riftan’s return. She blushed, thinking about how she had spent every night in his arms. Riftan sighed and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“I’d have to disagree.”

“Please save your displays of affection for when you’re alone,” Ruth said in disgust. “I cannot stomach it any longer.”

“Then look away.”

“Why don’t you return to your room? I’m just asking you to recognize the difference between a library and a bedchamber, if that isn’t too much to ask.”

Maxi buried her burning face in her hands, too ashamed to lift her head. Riftan clicked his tongue and grabbed her arm.

“Very well. We’ll return to our room. Get up, Maxi.”

“R-Riftan…”

Maxi held onto the desk to resist. She was not so shameless that she would follow him to their room so early in the day.

“H-Have you f-finished attending t-to all your d-duties?”

“I’ve asked another knight to take over the rounds. Come, now.”

As Riftan pulled at her arm, she tightened her grip on the desk. She enjoyed spending time with him, but spending the rest of the day together in bed seemed indecent. What would the servants think? As she frantically searched for an excuse, her eyes landed on the pile of books before her.

“I-I haven’t f-finished r-reading…”

“You can read some other time.”

“I-I’d been meaning to f-finish these t-today.”

A deep crease lined Riftan’s forehead.

“Just what is it? What’s so compelling about these books?”

Riftan flipped through the book she had been reading. He stopped at a page that was filled with intricate diagrams and words in the ancient tongue. He ran his eye over its contents and frowned.

“What’s this? Are you trying to learn magic?”

“Didn’t you know? Her ladyship has been under my tutelage for several weeks now.”

Riftan’s head snapped up. “What?”

“Did you not inform him?” Ruth looked at Maxi questioningly before turning back to Riftan. “Her ladyship seems to have the potential for learning magic, so I’ve been instructing her—”

“With whose permission?!”

Riftan slammed the book onto the desk. Maxi flinched. She had not told Riftan because she was not confident that she would be able to perform magic at all. Even so, she had thought the news would make him happy.

Mages were valuable assets; in recent years, there had not been enough of them to meet demand. Maxi had heard that even low-ranking mages were being treated like royalty. Yet Riftan did not seem pleased in the slightest.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Riftan sounded as though he were accusing Ruth of a crime.

“Well, you were away on the goblin raid when the lessons began…”

Ruth trailed off. Maxi had never seen him at a loss for words, but he too looked flustered.

“She won’t be learning anything difficult. Would it not be helpful for Anatol if her ladyship were to become capable of basic defensive and healing spells?”

“Helpful? I don’t need help!”

Riftan glowered at Ruth. Maxi bunched her skirt in her fists. Seeing her face go pale, he swore under his breath and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He began to speak in a softer, more soothing voice.

“I didn’t bring you here because I needed your help. I just… wanted you to live in comfort. Performing magic is draining, more so than you might think…”

“I-I’m not t-trying to do a-anything d-dangerous. I j-just want t-to be helpful—”

“Did you not hear me? I don’t need your help!”

Maxi looked up in shock. Riftan, unsure of what he should do, anxiously caressed her face.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not turning down your offer. I just…”

He trailed off and bit his lips. A heavy silence fell over the library. Riftan glanced back and forth between Maxi’s crestfallen face and Ruth’s sullen one before running a hand through his hair. A cold, bitter look flashed across his face.

“Do as you please.”

With that, he turned around and strode out of the library. All Maxi could do was watch as his figure receded.

◆◆◆

Darkness fell, but Riftan did not return. Maxi paced around her room, repeatedly looking out the window. Rodrigo had informed her that Riftan had ridden out of the castle grounds without even arming himself.

Maxi was at wits’ end. As if they had sensed her distress, the kittens awoke from their peaceful slumber by the fireplace and began to cry by her bed. Maxi placed them on her lap and stroked them for a while before lowering herself onto the bed and slowly closing her eyes.

She could not comprehend what it was that had made Riftan so angry. Had he thought her behavior to be impudent? Or was he disappointed that she had kept her training a secret? Perhaps she ought to have discussed it with him first…

Maxi was lost in thought when she heard the door open. She quickly closed her eyes. She could tell it was him just by the sound of his footsteps.

She turned her back toward him and pretended to be asleep. She did not have the courage to face him. Riftan silently approached the bed, and after gazing down at her for a moment, he gingerly picked up the kittens and placed them inside their basket one by one.

Maxi strained her ears to follow his movements. After setting the basket down by the fireplace, Riftan removed his cloak and hung it on a rack before perching on the edge of the bed to remove his boots. She waited silently for him to lie down next to her.

But Riftan remained where he was. Maxi buried her face into the pillow, feeling a sharp pain in her chest. Did he despise her so much that he no longer wished to even lie with her? She had only wanted to help, and he had been the one who had said that he detested incompetent fools.

Maxi bit her lips. She had been convinced that he needed her, so to hear him say he didn’t felt all the more painful. She curled up into a ball to hide the look of hurt on her face.

Just then, she felt a calloused finger graze her skin. She held her breath. With faltering hands, Riftan caressed the edges of her cheeks and brushed aside the strands of hair tickling her face. Even without opening her eyes, she knew that he was gazing at her with eyes that blazed with the same intensity as the flames in the fireplace. He grazed the fine hairs on her cheeks with the back of his hand, then placed the tip of his finger on her lips. She reflexively shrank back. He must have thought she was spurning him, for she felt his finger twitch before slowly withdrawing. Maxi grabbed his hand.

“R-Riftan…”

Unsure of her next words, Maxi searched his face. Seeing his lack of surprise, she realized that he must have known that she had only been pretending to be asleep. He gazed down at her without a word, his ink-black eyes gleaming softly beneath his disheveled hair. Her heart withered under his impassive gaze. Perhaps she had angered him so much that he had come to hate her. The thought terrified her.

“I-I am s-sorry. P-Please forgive me…”

The words left her mouth before she could determine what she was apologizing for. Riftan inhaled sharply and took her into his arms.

“Don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong. I just…”

His cold hand slid through her hair before coming to a stop at the back of her head. Burying her nose in his chest, Maxi breathed shakily, and her shoulders trembled. Riftan stroked her back with quivering hands and murmured into her ear.

“You can learn magic or anything else you want, so don’t be afraid.”

“I-I am not a-afraid.”

“That’s a lie. I can feel you shaking. Damn it! I’d finally gotten you to smile, but it seems like we’ve gone back to the way things were.”

“I-I’m really not s-scared…”

Maxi bit her trembling lips. His gentle embrace had put her fears to rest, but the anguish she had been suppressing now threatened to sweep over her. She clutched his tunic and pressed her forehead against his chest.

“But you s-said you d-didn’t need me…”

She felt his arms twitch and stiffen around her. Riftan shook his head vigorously.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I-Is my w-wanting to help an i-inconvenience?”

“That isn’t what I said.”

“I-I just wanted t-to do s-something, anything w-within my abilities…”

“You don’t have to do anyth—”

Riftan stopped mid-outburst. Instead, he sighed in frustration and abruptly pressed his lips to hers. When Maxi put her hands around his face, his jaw quivered softly as though it might melt beneath her touch. She felt him swallow hard before he pushed his tongue into her mouth to taste her with a slow intensity.

Chapter 66

Feeling Riftan’s knees push into her skirt, Maxi shuddered lightly.

“You can do as you wish,” he mumbled, gently sucking on her lip. “So please, don’t look at me like that.”

His pleading tone brought a lump to her throat, but she resumed her protest.

“Y-You f-flew into a t-temper.”

“Forgive me. It won’t happen again.”

His large hand continuously stroked her back as if he were trying to pacify a small, fearful creature. She could feel the texture of his rough hand through her thin chemise. Slowly, she felt the tension in her body dissipate. She burrowed her face in his neck and felt a faint shiver run through his body.

“Maxi…”

“Y-Your skin is cold. W-Were you outdoors th-this whole time?”

“I wanted to cool my head...”

As Maxi began to stroke his broad chest, his voice trailed off like a candle sputtering out. Feeling his arousal pressed against her thigh, she blushed. She wondered if she was being too bold, but seeing that he did not object, she pretended not to notice and rubbed her nose against his chest.

“B-Because you were a-angry with me?”

“It wasn’t you I was angry with…”

His voice shook. After hesitating briefly, Maxi reached down to touch him over his trousers. His face grew taut with desire.

Maxi felt the heat rise to her head. She was sure that spending half the day in distress had done something to her, for she was overcome with the desire to see Riftan come undone. She slid her hands inside his tunic and caressed his slim, finely muscled waist. Riftan sucked in his breath as though he had been kicked in the gut.

“Maxi…”

Ignoring the agitation in his voice, Maxi traced the chiseled lines on his abdomen with her fingers. His abdomen grew tense and hard as a rock. Fascinated, she tried pressing on the muscles before moving down to tease the flesh around his navel. A stifled moan escaped his lips.

“Do you know what you’re doing to me right now?”

Maxi looked up. His face was full of longing. A deep line had appeared on his forehead, and his lips were quivering.

She raised her head to peck the corner of his mouth. Riftan stiffened, then began to paw at her hungrily. Maxi moaned as his hands slid through her hair, and she tugged at his tunic pleadingly. He grabbed her fumbling hands and guided them down. When she felt the heat of his bulge, a burning flush crept up to the tips of her ears. Riftan’s breath grew ragged as he impatiently pressed himself into her hands.

“Ah…”

Hearing his shuddering moan, Maxi felt her ears tingle. She cautiously began to move her hand. When she stroked the bulge beneath his trousers with shaking hands, his jaw quivered slightly. She was enraptured by the sight of her burly husband trembling like a wounded beast under her touch.

“A-Are you in p-pain?”

“Yes… It’s killing me.”

Riftan pulled her into his arms and muttered something inaudible. Summoning up her courage, Maxi began to undo the straps of his trousers. She felt ragged breaths above her head. Riftan made no attempts to stop her. After a moment of hesitation, she began to touch him as gently as when he had touched her. He was so surprisingly smooth and warm that she found it hard to believe that this was the part of him that had caused her agony so many times.

“M-Maxi…”

Riftan trembled lightly and grabbed Maxi’s shoulders. Spellbound, she looked up at his face. It was clouded with desire. His body quivered longingly, and his breathing grew hot and labored.

Maxi felt her eyes prickle with the realization that she may have started something she could not contain. Unsure of how to proceed, she sat blinking.

“Don’t stop…. Just a little more, Maxi…”

“W-What should I d-do?”

Riftan pressed the back of his hand to his forehead as though he was lightheaded, then guided her hand down until it was wrapped around him.

“Move your hand up and down… Slowly… Yes, just like that…”

His face was flushed with excitement. Maxi gazed into his feverish eyes and began to stroke him gently, her heart pounding painfully inside her chest. His muscular body quivering beneath his rumpled clothes, his flushed cheeks and uneven breaths… It was all too much to bear.

All thoughts of shame had disappeared. Maxi kissed his Adam’s apple and began moving her hand a little faster. Riftan caught his breath. Having reached the limits of his patience, he quickly removed her hand and positioned himself between her legs.

Maxi readily opened herself to him. In one swift movement, he pushed her chemise up and thrust into her.

“Ah…”

Joined together, their bodies quivered. Maxi gasped; it was difficult to breathe under his weight. Sensing that she was not ready, Riftan slid out of her.

But her relief was short-lived. He soon thrust into her again. Her thighs quivering, she held onto his arms for support. She felt as if she were embracing a ball of flames.

“R-Riftan…”

She saw the muscles around his eyes twitch. Droplets of sweat trickled down his forehead and soaked his long lashes.

Riftan could carry her up multiple flights of stairs or ride for hours at a time without breaking a sweat, yet she had driven him into a frenzy. Greed and wicked, sensual pleasure began to stir within her.

Her eyes wet with tears, she drew him closer. He released a moan, and with his body pressing down on her, he began to move with greater urgency. Soon, all she could feel was pleasure sending shivers down her spine. She moaned softly and dug her nails into his broad, sweat-slicked back. Her sweat-soaked dress clung to her skin, and their bodies, pressed together, pulsated wildly like a pair of drums. Her body burned feverishly.

She rocked her hips, beseeching him to give her a more intense pleasure. Riftan had the look of a half-crazed man. She was ecstatic to see him more frenzied than she was, to see him so urgent with need. She wanted to bind him to her body so he could never again say that he did not need her or turn his back and leave her.

With overwhelming desire surging through her, Maxi clung to his shoulders. She felt his body tremble before he drew her in by the neck to hungrily claim her lips, trying to devour her.

“Maxi…”

He rubbed his tongue against hers and gasped for air, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His look of anguish puzzled her. She was the one who felt tormented by the possibility that he might one day grow tired of her and leave her. Why, then, did he look so pained? Why were his eyes so full of sorrow?

“You’re driving me crazy.”

Mumbling to himself, Riftan thrust more deeply into her. He had already filled her completely, yet he drove himself in deeper as if he were still unsatisfied. Maxi could no longer comprehend his words. The sharp pleasure raking her insides had overwhelmed her senses. Curling her toes, she wound her legs around his waist.

His body trembled as he entwined his wet tongue with hers. There was a faint taste of blood in her mouth, but she simply ignored it and closed her eyes.

◆◆◆

Something cool touched the skin between Maxi’s legs. With a jolt, she opened her eyes and saw the outline of Riftan’s chiseled face. He was wiping the swollen flesh between her legs with a wet cloth. She released her breath and muttered sleepily.

“It’s still dawn. Go back to sleep.”

He gently dried her with a dry cloth before covering her back with a blanket. Only then did Maxi realize that he was already dressed. It was already morning. As she blinked at him in a daze, he swept her hair back from her forehead. She looked up at him, her eyes heavy with sleep. As always, his face betrayed no emotion, as though nothing had happened the night before. It perplexed her that he could look so collected after such an intense encounter. Growing anxious, she hastily got out of bed.

“I-I should g-get up…”

“I told you, you should get more sleep.”

His stern tone made her look up. Was he still angry? Riftan’s lips twisted into a bitter smile as if he had read her thoughts.

“As I said, you can do as you please. So don’t look at me like that.”

“B-But…”

“Though why you’re so bent on learning something so useless is beyond me…”

Maxi’s shoulders slumped. It seemed that Riftan had not taken her seriously when she had told him that she wanted to be of help. He finished tying his boot laces and continued.

“But I suppose it would be useful if you knew a few defensive spells. Of course, I would never allow anything to happen that would require you to use them… But it can’t hurt.”

“I-I…”

Maxi clenched her mouth shut. She was about to tell him that she wanted to learn magic not to protect herself, but to help him.

But she knew that she had done nothing to suggest that she could be depended on or that she could become a capable sorceress. He had, after all, only seen her faint or tremble in fear when faced with danger. Asking for his confidence seemed too much to demand.

Riftan appeared to be pacifying her the way he would a child throwing a tantrum. Trying to hide her disappointment, Maxi nodded. Permission was a start. She was certain that he would think of her differently once she became a skilled sorceress. Before that day came, all she could do was study and train harder.

“Th-Thank you f-for letting me s-study magic.”

Riftan wore an ambiguous expression that was neither a smile nor a frown. He planted a kiss on her forehead, then rose from the bed.

“Tell me immediately if Ruth tries to drag you into strange experiments.”

“Y-You shouldn’t worry a-about that. H-He’s been a g-good teacher.”

She had intended to reassure him, but his face grew dark. Maxi felt her body tense out of fear that she had said something wrong, but Riftan left the room without another word.

Maxi lay in bed and listened to his fading footsteps. The faint light of morning was streaming in through the window. With a sigh, she pulled the sheets over her head.

Everything should be all right now. Shouldn’t it?

She closed her eyes, overcome by fatigue.

Chapter 67

From that day on, Riftan stopped mentioning her studies with Ruth altogether. He even stopped barging into the library. Yet this change only made Maxi more anxious, for it seemed that he was going to unnecessary lengths to disregard the fact that she was learning magic.

Though she couldn’t comprehend why he found the matter so disagreeable, she was optimistic that he would come around once she was able to master a useful spell. No lord would be opposed to having more mages under his command. Even the princess of Wedon had become a sorceress when her talents had become known.

Even if she could not become as skilled as Princess Agnes, it would be of great help to Anatol if she were to master healing magic. And Riftan would surely acknowledge her abilities when that happened.

Maxi leafed through her book impatiently and furrowed her brow. She wanted to learn magic as quickly as possible, and her lack of progress had made her restless. Ruth, who had been scribbling something on a map, looked up from across the table.

“You mustn’t be so hasty. It takes time to learn magic, and you’ve only just finished learning the basics.”

Maxi looked at him sheepishly. Ruth must have had a pair of invisible eyes on top of his head, for he always admonished her as soon as she lost concentration. She tucked her hair behind her ears and began to grumble.

“B-But I s-still don’t know a s-single spell.”

“That’s only to be expected. You cannot perform magic with theoretical knowledge alone. You must absorb an adequate amount of mana in your body.”

Maxi shut her mouth. The truth of his words stung. As he had pointed out, she was incapable of accumulating enough mana, and she was struggling in her practice sessions with the magic stone. She doubted that she would ever be able to use magic. Her shoulders slumped as her confidence dwindled.

“I-I practice w-with the stone e-every day, b-but I don’t s-seem to be i-improving.”

“It could be that you are not compatible with the fire element stone.”

Ruth fiddled with his quill, frowning. He appeared to be deep in thought. Maxi watched him expectantly, hoping that he would come up with a solution. There was a long silence before he spoke again.

“Why don’t we try a change of location? The concentration of mana varies depending on the place, so practicing somewhere else could help.”

Maxi found the suggestion unconvincing. She narrowed her eyes.

“W-Where would you s-suggest?”

“There isn’t a significant difference between places, but the concentration of mana is greater in areas that are abundant in natural matter such as plants, wind, soil, and water.”

Maxi turned her head to look out the rattling window. In the middle of the mahogany frame, she could see the bleak winter sky. The sight alone was enough to make her shiver.

“Y-You expect me t-to go outside i-in this c-cold?”

“You won’t freeze to death from spending a few minutes outside. Think of it as a short stroll through the gardens. You’ve been cooped up in the castle far too long.”

“Y-You’re the l-last person wh-who should accuse m-me of that.”

The only person who spent more time in the library than she did was Ruth. She, at least, inspected the castle once a day to oversee the servants, but the sorcerer never set foot outside the library. He likely took fewer than twenty steps a day.

She stared at his scrawny arms and legs pointedly. Ruth scowled and crossed his arms defensively.

“I can’t leave the library even if I want to. Not only am I investigating the migration of the monsters, I’m also slaving away to design runes for a monster detection device that will be installed on the ramparts. I would gladly split myself in two to do twice the work!”

“Y-You’re w-working on another m-magical device?”

“Indeed. As you may recall, monsters took advantage of the heavy fog to sneak over our walls in the dead of night. To make sure that never happens again, I plan to install the device where monsters frequently appear. But that’s still in the planning stages.”

Ruth rubbed the back of his neck and yawned loudly. It was only then that Maxi noticed the dark shadows under his eyes. She felt apologetic. In her haste to learn magic, she had failed to notice his fatigue.

“W-Would you like help? I could assist you in o-organizing the e-equations…”

“That would be wonderful, but I must refuse. Sir Riftan looks daggers at me every time our paths cross for teaching you magic without his permission. I’d hate to imagine what he’d do if he were to find out that I was making you work as my assistant.”

Ruth shuddered. His exaggerated reaction fueled Maxi’s anxiety. Was it obvious to others as well that Riftan was opposed to her learning magic? Feeling despondent, she cast her eyes down. Ruth continued in a lighter tone.

“It is kind of you to offer, my lady, but I would rather you focus on your studies for the time being. That would be of greater help to me.”

“I-I understand.”

Maxi picked up the book she had been reading and stood up. Ludis, who had been sewing quietly a short distance away, promptly gathered up her things as well. When Maxi reached the door, she turned to look back at Ruth.

“Th-Then I shall leave you t-to your work.”

Ruth waved half-heartedly. “Thank you. Please enjoy the fresh air for both of us.”

“I-I’m only g-going to collect mana,” Maxi grumbled.

As she stepped out of the library, Ludis hastily came after her and draped a cloak over her shoulders.

“Th-Thank you.”

“Would you like to stop by your room for a warmer cloak?”

“N-No, th-this will do. C-Could you bring this b-book to my room? I-I’d like to go s-straight to the g-garden.”

“Allow me to carry it for you, my lady. I cannot leave you unattended.”

“Th-That won’t be n-necessary. I-I’m only going f-for a walk.”

“But…”

“A-And I find that I can c-concentrate better w-when I am a-alone.”

Seeing that Maxi had made up her mind, Ludis dutifully took the book and bowed.

Maxi turned around and made her way down the corridor. The shutters had been opened for the first time in a long while, and bright sunlight was flooding onto the carpeted stairs. She squinted at the window before quickly making her way downstairs. Servants must have aired the castle, for it felt colder than usual indoors.

She turned in the direction of the kitchen, thinking that she would warm herself by the fire first so the cold would feel less biting. She walked briskly across the hall, pulling the cloak closer to her body.

Once she arrived at the kitchen, however, all desire to rest there quickly evaporated. She hovered by the door and observed the servants bustling about. There were more of them than usual preparing ingredients, lighting fires, and moving buckets of water here and there.

“Fools! Are you trying to burn the bread? Take the loaves out of the oven at once!”

“S-Sorry!”

Two young lads grabbed a wooden spatula to remove pumpkin-sized loaves of bread from the oven. Their faces had gone red from the cook’s scolding. While the youths were busy stacking the loaves onto a clean wooden board, eight maidservants seated around a table stuffed half-moon-shaped pies with minced onion, diced sausage, and various spices.

Five cauldrons simmered inside the fireplaces that lined the walls. The kitchen rang with the chatter of the servants, whose hands flitted about grilling meat, mashing turnips for salad, and boiling potatoes and eggs, which they then placed in wooden bowls.

The kitchen was always busy near mealtime, but it seemed abuzz with even more activity than usual. Maxi timidly approached the cook.

“D-Did his lordship r-request something that I-I’m unaware of?”

“My lady! Please forgive me for not noticing your presence.”

The cook bowed hastily. Maxi waved her hand to signal that she was not offended.

“It’s all right. I-It just seems th-the kitchen is b-busier than usual.”

“Yes. His lordship has informed us that he will be holding cavalry training today and has asked us to prepare more food than usual.”

“C-Cavalry training?”

“The knights have mock battles on horseback at the training grounds. It’s quite a spectacular sight.”

The cook beamed at her. Then, realizing that he had forgotten about the oil pot, he gave a cry and rushed to remove the crisply fried pies. After sprinkling cinnamon powder and pouring syrup over them, he gave Maxi an apologetic look.

“My apologies, my lady. They burn so quickly that I was afraid we’d end up wasting perfectly good ingredients.”

“It’s m-my fault for disturbing you. Please c-carry on.”

“Are you not here because you need something, my lady?”

“N-No, I was just p-passing through.”

Not wanting to disrupt their work any longer, Maxi quickly left the kitchen through the back door. Laborers were cutting firewood and loading them onto a cart in the open courtyard. The men removed their hats in greeting. Maxi waved in return before briskly walking along the path that led to the garden.

Everything grew calm once she had walked a short distance away from the great hall. After surveying the area, Maxi threw her head back and took a deep breath. The pale winter sunlight was streaming through the bare branches, which resembled charred bones. The wind was biting, but it was a rare sunny day. After spending several weeks inside the stale, dimly lit library where it smelled of burning wood, she found the crisp winter air invigorating.

Chapter 68

I was reluctant to come out, but I’m glad I did.

Maxi had been so busy poring over her books that she had not even had time to practice riding with Rem. She slowly made her way to the back garden.

It was the time of day when the marching cadence of the squires could usually be heard, but she did not hear a sound. They, too, must have gone to participate in cavalry training. She was relieved that she would be able to train in peace.

Will it be different this time?

She settled at a sunny spot and rummaged through her pocket for the magic stone. The surface looked almost transparent as it glimmered under the bright sun. After turning the stone over in her hand a few times, Maxi gripped it tightly.

She clenched her eyes shut and waited for the surface of the stone to heat up. But as she had feared, nothing happened. After making several more unsuccessful attempts, she looked up at the sky and sighed.

Perhaps I don’t have the talent after all…

Ruth could have been mistaken in his belief that she had the potential to become a mage. Overcome with frustration, she kicked at the dirt. The long hours she had spent burying her nose in those incomprehensible books had come to naught. Despairing at her ineptitude, she raised her hand to hurl the stone to the ground but stopped herself at the last moment. She crouched down, crestfallen.

She could hear the distant sounds of blacksmiths hammering away at their anvils and lumberjacks chopping firewood. She buried her head in her knees, feeling like the only stagnant being in this castle.

Suddenly, a sharp voice came from behind.

“What are you doing here all alone?”

Startled, she turned and saw Riftan standing a few steps behind her. He was still armored; he had likely just finished training. She blinked, wondering how he had crept up on her in full armor. Riftan approached her.

“Do you feel unwell?”

“N-No. I-I was just r-resting.”

Flustered, Maxi hastily got up. Riftan frowned.

“When I went to the great hall, a servant told me that you had gone outside without an attendant. Why are you here without Ludis?”

“I-I wanted to g-get some air…”

It was a half-truth. She was almost certain that his anger would only grow if she told him she was practicing magic. Riftan’s face hardened.

“You may be inside the castle walls, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe.” His voice grew louder. “What if something were to happen in this secluded place—”

He stopped talking when he saw Maxi shrink back. He began to look anxious.

“There are hundreds of people in this castle, and some of them have ill intentions. The lady of the castle shouldn’t be in places like this unattended!”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Maxi could not argue. He was right. Riftan’s lips, which had been forming a stiff line, softened at her apology. He swept her wind-blown hair back, then grabbed her arm.

“You’re making me worry, that’s all.”

With that, he began to walk ahead, and Maxi trailed after him like a dejected puppy. Though he usually tried to match her pace, he was now walking a few steps ahead of her. She was so busy stealing glances at his cold profile to gauge his anger that it took her a few moments to notice he was leading her away from the great hall.

“A-Aren’t we g-going back to the c-castle?”

“You said you came out to get some air,” he said brusquely, leading her toward the stables. “I told you before that I’d take you to the lake when it got warmer. Well, it’s sunny today. Let’s go for a ride.”

Maxi beamed, but her smile faded when her eyes fell on his armor once more.

“I-I heard y-you had an intense t-training session today. Sh-Shouldn’t you rest?”

“You seem not to have realized just how boundless my stamina is. I could march for three days straight without rest and be perfectly fine.”

Riftan shook his head as he entered the stable. Recalling the relentless passion that he had shown deep into the night, Maxi blushed. His stamina was indeed extraordinary. Fanning her face with her hands, Maxi followed Riftan in. Inside, the servants stopped sweeping the floor to greet them.

“My lord, my lady.”

Riftan waved dismissively, then went straight to Talon’s stall to saddle the horse. Maxi walked over to Rem’s stall. The mare had been sticking her head over the stall, and seeing Maxi approach, she began to paw at the ground in excitement. Maxi patted her neck with an apologetic look on her face.

“H-How are you, R-Rem?”

Rem snorted and nuzzled her shoulder. Maxi laughed and gently stroked her thick mane. Qenal, who had just entered with a bundle of fodder on his shoulders, promptly walked over to Maxi when he saw her.

“Good morning, my lady. Will you be riding with his lordship today?”

“W-We plan to go to the l-lake.”

Seeing her nod, the stablemaster adroitly saddled Rem for her. Maxi took the reins from him and led the horse out. Riftan, who had been waiting outside with Talon, hoisted her onto her horse.

“Don’t ride too fast. The wind is cold today.”

With that, he leaped onto Talon and rode toward the back gate. Maxi quickly followed after him, a look of anticipation on her face. Her heart raced when she remembered their ride through the meadows. Feeling her melancholy dissipate, Maxi rode on in high spirits.

“W-Where is the lake?”

“It’s down this path, just a little west of here.”

Riftan pointed to the winding path that led through the forest. Surrounded by bare but densely packed trees, the trail did not look easy to ride on.

After hesitating briefly, Maxi cautiously steered Rem onto the rough, winding track. They were surrounded by entangled branches. Still, she was able to maintain stability atop the horse; her riding practice had proved fruitful. Observing her skill, Riftan smiled faintly.

“You look far more graceful than you did before.”

“I-I practiced w-whenever I could.”

“Well done.”

Maxi blushed, feeling like a child that had just been praised. Riftan looked over his shoulder several times. When he was satisfied that she was keeping up, he accelerated slightly. Maxi tailed him closely as they galloped down the winding path.

The path grew wider as they rode on, and soon, a glistening silver lake came into view. When she looked down toward the foot of the hill, Maxi gasped. The bright blue sky and rust-colored mountain peaks were vividly reflected on the mirror-like surface of the circular lake.

Pine trees lined the edges of the lake like clusters of spears forming a fence, their dense branches thick with lush, dark green needles. Maxi smiled. She had not seen such greenery in a long while. Between the dense trees, she could see winter birds and wild animals drinking lake water.

When Riftan approached the lake on horseback, a stag that had been poking its head out of a bush darted away. Startled by the noise, birds flew away, and for a brief moment, the woods were in upheaval.

“I expected the lake to have frozen over, but it seems I was wrong.”

Riftan tapped Talon lightly with his heel and rode to the edge of the water. Maxi followed.

“C-Can such big lakes f-freeze over?”

“In the north, lakes even bigger than this freeze solid in winter, and people walk over them.”

Maxi’s eyes widened in disbelief. She had only seen thin layers of ice form in buckets of water that had been left outside in winter. That such an immense body of water could freeze over was difficult to imagine. She looked at Riftan dubiously, half-sure that he was poking fun at her naivete.

“H-How can that be p-possible? W-What if the ice c-cracks and you f-fall in?”

“People do drown from time to time.”

He sounded as nonchalant as if he were discussing the weather. Maxi frowned, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Th-Then why would p-people w-walk on the ice?”

“It’s perfectly safe if the ice is thick enough. Winters are harsher in the north, so unless colossal monsters like hydras are hiding in the water below, chances of the ice breaking are slim.”

Maxi’s eyes went round. Riftan spoke as though he had firsthand experience.

“H-Have you w-walked across a lake before?”

“Not a lake, but something similar. When I was a mercenary, I went on a monster raid in Balto and had to make my way across a giant glacier for three days to pass through the Tranoa highlands.”

“G-Glacier?”

“Glaciers are blocks of ice larger than that mountain over there.”

Maxi was awestruck by these revelations. Just how many astonishing things had Riftan experienced in his twenty-eight years of existence? He had not only defeated the Red Dragon — the most powerful and ferocious monster in the continent — but he had even walked across an ice mountain…

She, on the other hand, had never set foot outside her father’s castle or Anatol, and she was overwhelmed by the maintenance of the castle and her study of the most basic magic. Riftan’s feats filled her with wonder. How magnificent and full of life the world must seem to him! He seemed to be an entirely different species from her.

“H-Have you been t-to all seven k-kingdoms?”

“I haven’t been to Arex or Sykan. Not long after I became a mercenary, I went to live in Livadon for about two years. But after joining whatever raids and battles that were commissioned to me, I ended up as far up as Balto… The money was good there, but the place was practically uninhabitable for humans. So I decided to go down to Osiriya. I stayed in the Osiriyan capital for about three months to participate in a sword-fighting tournament held by the central church. That’s when they proposed to me that I join the Remdragon Knights.”

Riftan cocked his head, reminiscing, before continuing.

“After I returned to Wedon and became a knight, I spent most of my time in Anatol and Dristan.”

Chapter 69

“W-Why were you in D-Dristan?”

“Because of the dispute between the Duchy of Croyso and Southern Dristan.”

Located in the southeasternmost part of Wedon, the Duchy of Croyso stretched into Dristan’s territory. As such, the duchy’s eastern region was frequently engaged in armed conflict with Dristan. The King of Wedon and the central church in Osiriya had repeatedly sent knights to mediate, wishing to prevent the conflict from escalating in a way that might undermine the armistice between the Seven Kingdoms. Riftan had been among the mediators.

“So th-that’s why you visited C-Croyso Castle often.”

Maxi tried to piece together the scraps of conversations she had overheard as a child. Feeling Riftan’s cryptic gaze on her, she looked back at him quizzically.

“W-What is it?”

“I was just trying to remember if I’d visited that often.”

“You v-visited at least once or t-twice a month.”

Riftan shifted his piercing gaze. It seemed that he did not remember. Maxi glanced furtively at his face, worried that she may have offended him.

Whenever he was lost in thought, Riftan looked distant, as if he were standing alone in some far-off place. Why wouldn’t he share his thoughts with her? Did he find spending time with her tedious? The simple act of him turning his head away had made her tense with worry. Suddenly, she felt something cold drip onto the bridge of her nose.

Startled, she rubbed her nose. It was a drop of water. Just moments ago, the sun had been shining bright. Frowning, she looked up for signs for rain. When she saw white flakes drifting down from the silvery sky, her eyes grew wide.

“I suggested coming out here because the weather was good, but it looks like it’s going to snow.”

Riftan clicked his tongue. Maxi turned to him with a bewildered look on her face.

“Th-This is snow?”

“Have you never seen snow?”

“I’ve seen s-sleet, but I’ve n-never seen snow so white b-before.”

In a daze, she stared as the snowflakes floated down like petals in a breeze. Then, she stretched her hand out. Riftan frowned.

“Sit up straight. You’ll fall off your horse.”

“I know, d-don’t worry.”

Maxi closed her fingers over the snowflakes that had fallen on her palm. The cold snow melted in the blink of an eye, turning into small droplets as soon as it touched her skin. She marveled at how a substance that resembled dandelion puffs could transform into drops of water. She looked down at her hand in wonder, then lightly tapped Rem into an exhilarating gallop.

Rem dashed forward at a breathtaking pace, releasing pent-up energy from weeks of remaining inside the stable. Maxi grew giddier and giddier as her thighs moved in rhythm with the horse. She laughed into the wind like a child.

The light, feathery snow soon grew heavy and obscured her sight. She fell into a trance; she had never beheld such a beautiful sight before.

She tilted her head back, enjoying the sensation of the cold snow brushing against her face. Sunlight broke through the wispy clouds, causing the snow to glisten silver. The lake, having regained its natural color, rippled peacefully. A couple of birds dove toward its dark surface before taking off into the forest like arrows.

Maxi took in the scene intently, trying to sear the image into her mind. She then turned to look at Riftan. She wanted to thank him for showing her such an exquisite place, but the words failed to leave her lips when she saw the sharp look on his face. A shudder coursed through her.

Riftan’s body was visibly tense. There was a deep crease in his forehead, and his dark eyes flickered violently like an ocean in a storm. Maxi tightened her grip on the reins. She had no inkling as to why he was regarding her that way. Growing anxious, she began to back away. Only then did Riftan open his mouth as if to say something before swiftly closing it shut again.

For a brief moment, Maxi thought she saw a hint of loneliness on his face. But before she could observe him more closely, he returned to being his usual purposeful self.

“We should return to the castle before the snow gets heavier.” He turned his horse around, his face impassive. “The clouds are gathering. Let us hurry. Remaining out in the snow will chill your body quickly.”

He began to slowly make his way up the path they had taken earlier, and Maxi hurriedly followed after him. An uneasy silence fell between them. Maxi wondered what she had just seen on his face. Unnerved, she shifted her gaze from his broad back to the calm surface of the lake.

She could see a faint reflection of Riftan’s face on the deep blue water. The bleak sight chilled her heart.

It can’t be…

He was the strongest and most daring of knights. It was absurd for her to pity him. As she hastily tried to get such thoughts out of her mind, an eastward gust of wind swept his dark hair back, stinging her eyes.

Maxi squinted and turned toward the direction in which the wind had blown. In the distance, snow enveloped the mountains in a white haze. And so Paxias[5] wore on.

◆◆◆

The snow that had begun falling late in the afternoon lasted until night, covering everything in a thick layer of white. Ludis exclaimed that it had been nearly ten years since Anatol had seen such heavy snowfall. Though the sight filled Maxi wonder, Riftan was not overly pleased. Early the following morning, he left the castle with his knights to inspect the land for damage.

The servants worked hard to clear away the snow. They meticulously swept the steps, covered the firewood and horse fodder to keep them dry, and removed the snow from the gardens to prevent the ground from freezing. The sentries, too, busied themselves sweeping their patrol routes all morning.

Maxi went for a stroll in the garden to admire the snow. Noticing that the servants’ faces were red from the cold, she asked Rodrigo to provide them with extra firewood before returning to her room. She considered going to the library, but after her discouraging attempts the previous day, she could not muster the motivation to read.

Instead, she put down a rug in front of the fireplace and played with the kittens. With the devoted care they had received from the servants, the creatures had gained weight and tumbled about energetically.

Maxi picked up the rambunctious kittens one by one and placed them on her lap to tickle their bellies. Laura and Ron whined and quickly escaped, but Roy, the black kitten, purred and wriggled on her lap. Maxi laughed at the delightful sight.

“Shall I warm up some milk, my lady?” asked Ludis, who had been stoking the fire.

Maxi smiled and nodded. Ludis placed a kettle of milk in the fireplace. As the pleasant scent of milk wafted through the room, the kittens slowly approached Maxi and crawled up her skirt. Even Laura, who usually ignored anyone who called to her, stealthily crept toward her. Maxi burst into laughter.

“D-Didn’t they eat just a l-little while ago?”

“They had a bowl of fish porridge, but their appetite knows no limits.”

Ludis shook her head before cooling the goat milk until it was lukewarm and pouring it into the kittens’ bowl. The tiny creatures plunged their noses into the bowl, soaking their whiskers, and began to lap the milk.

Soon, their bowl was empty. Maxi poured them some of her share of milk after making sure it had cooled sufficiently. She looked on fondly as the kittens devoured the milk once more, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere in the room.

A knock came at the door, followed by the voice of a maidservant.

“Forgive me for interrupting, my lady.”

“W-What is it?”

“The mage is here to see you. Shall I let him in?”

Maxi’s face fell. Had Ruth come because she had not gone to the library? Or had there been some sort of accident?

She grew tense as she stood up. When she opened the door, she was met with the sight of Ruth yawning, looking as disheveled as ever. Her shoulders sagged in relief when she saw how relaxed he appeared. A misfortune had not occurred, it seemed.

“W-What is it, R-Ruth?”

“Oh, good morning, my lady.”

It was well past noon, but Maxi did not correct him. Ruth yawned again and performed a good stretch before speaking again.

“I just thought of a good training method. Would you care to come outside with me?”

“A g-good t-training method…?”

Maxi’s eyes grew wide. Ruth nodded vigorously with an innocent, child-like expression on his face. In spite of her disappointment the day before, Maxi felt a glimmer of hope rise in her chest. She hastily threw on a robe.

“T-Tell me about th-this method.”

“I shall accumulate mana for you. You aren’t able to collect it on your own, but you have an impressive ability to absorb it, so I’m nearly certain that this method will work.”

Maxi grew anxious. She could not fathom how he could possibly infuse her with mana. She recalled Riftan’s warning about Ruth dragging others into dangerous experiments. She gave him a dubious look.

“A-And is th-this safe?”

“Of course! It’s completely safe, I assure you.”

Chapter 70

Maxi remained skeptical, but she followed Ruth out of the castle. After surveying the area, Ruth chose a spot that had been cleared of snow. Using a large twig, he drew something on the ground. Maxi hesitantly approached to inspect the drawing. It turned out to be the basic magic rune she had been studying the day before.

“I am going to activate this rune, which I assume you‘ve already memorized.” Ruth retraced the lines of the rune using the twig. “I shall circulate the mana starting here and through this route. Here, I shall divert the flow of mana to your mana pathway. The mana will travel from the palm of your hand to your core, then back out again. It will then return to the rune, completing its circuit. In other words, you’ll become part of the magic rune!”

Maxi rolled her eyes at his strange explanation.

“And that’s s-safe?”

“Your mana pathway should have developed enough to handle it. This is an expedient solution, but I am certain it will prove effective in helping you learn how to manipulate mana.”

Maxi was wary; after all, this was the man who had handed her impossible equations and expected her to solve them without trouble. But she was also tired of practicing with the magic stone in vain. She nodded.

Ruth held out his hands with a self-assured smile, his palms facing up.

“Hold out your hands like this.”

“L-Like this?”

When Maxi hesitantly stretched out her palms, Ruth positioned his hands a span above hers. She blinked her eyes, trying to anticipate his next move. Slowly, she felt heat flow down from his palms. She flinched in surprise.

“You must focus. I’m in the midst of creating an artificial flow of mana. You must remember this feeling.”

“I-I understand.”

Hearing his serious tone, Maxi began to concentrate on the tingling heat streaming down onto her hands.

Her hands felt as though they were immersed in warm, flowing water. She became absorbed in the gentle palpitations. After some time had passed, she felt an invisible thread pierce her skin and enter her body. She shuddered.

“You must stay focused.”

Breaking into a cold sweat, Maxi focused her attention on the flow of the mana. The delicate thread slithered its way up her forearm and passed through her elbow and armpit before shrouding her heart and leaving through her other arm. It then began to trace the complex design of the rune. If mana could be conceived of as finely woven fabric, magic was a loose thread. In short, performing magic was like removing strands of thread from a piece of fabric, winding them around inside one’s body, and weaving them into a new pattern.

Maxi finally understood Ruth’s repeated explanations. She stared at her palms in awe as magic swirled inside her hands at high speed. Soon, the magic began to radiate an intense heat before emitting a thin ray of light.

“They say that the first thing God created was light.” Ruth smiled as he looked at the light, which was fainter than the glow of a firefly. “Remember. This rune is the foundation for all magic runes.”

“My hands f-feel hot, and I feel o-out of breath.”

“We’ve got a problem if that was enough to exhaust you. Mages circulate mana at double this speed when they perform advanced magic.”

Maxi nodded, gasping for air. She had begun to understand why Ruth always looked so weary after using magic.

“Now, I shall slowly remove my hands. Try to keep the mana circulating without losing speed.”

Ruth moved his hands away. Maxi momentarily found herself at a loss for what to do. She tried to steer the mana to follow the lines of the rune.

She was able to sustain the speed for a few moments, but the current soon became erratic. The heat that had collected in her hand began to slip through her fingers like sand. She tried desperately to hold on, but the last few rays of light faded away. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment.

“Don’t be so disheartened. You did well for your first try.”

“R-Really?”

“Have you ever heard me give empty compliments? If you had done poorly, I would have told you as much.”

Maxi did not doubt that he would have. She smiled wryly, amused that she had found solace in his insolence. Ruth smiled back and rolled up his sleeves theatrically.

“Now then, shall we have another go? You’ll begin to grasp the process after repeating it a few times.”

“A-All right.”

Maxi tried her best to harness the mana according to Ruth’s instructions. After seven attempts, she was able to sustain a faint ray of light on her own for about a minute. Elated, she turned to show Ruth. He clapped his hands.

She was somewhat embarrassed to have shown such pride in the presence of a great sorcerer, but she could not suppress her euphoria. Though she the light she had generated was too faint to illuminate even a single room, her heart swelled as if she had managed to recreate the moon.

“Once you’ve grown accustomed to controlling mana, I’ll teach you healing magic. But until then, please keep practicing with this basic rune. It should help you accumulate mana inside your body.”

“I-I don’t think I can d-do it on my own.”

“No harm in trying. I’ll gladly assist if you find that you’re unable to.”

Ruth rubbed his reddened nose. It was only then that Maxi realized they had been outside for quite some time. She had been so engrossed in her task that she hadn’t noticed the cold.

“Let us go inside now. My nose has been running for a while now.”

“Sh-Shall we go to the k-kitchen for a warm bowl of soup?”

“Excellent idea, my lady. I’ve hardly had anything to eat all day. I’m practically dying of hunger.”

Ruth wrapped his robe tightly around his body and strode toward the great hall. Maxi followed, smiling to herself. She was shivering, but her steps felt as light as a feather.

◆◆◆

Following Ruth’s instructions, Maxi diligently practiced magic. He had to guide her two more times in the beginning, but after that, she was able to create light on her own. The more she practiced, the brighter the light grew. Soon, she was producing enough light to rival a candle.

Though she was progressing at a snail’s pace, she was unmistakably improving. In her delight at being able to accumulate mana, she overexerted herself in one of her sessions and collapsed onto the bed before sundown.

The incident exasperated Riftan. The very next day, he threatened to rescind permission for her to study magic if she continued to wear herself out.

After that, Maxi practiced in moderation. She spent her afternoons studying runes in the library, and after a late lunch, she gave instructions to the servants and wrote in her daily log. Then, she practiced magic in her room until Riftan returned in the evening. Though repeating the same busy schedule every day was exhausting, she pressed on.

Riftan was busy preparing weapons and training soldiers to deal with the monsters migrating to Anatolium. Each day, two dozen carrier pigeons carrying news from all across the continent flew in and out of his study, and the knights and sentries trained in freezing conditions until sunset. In such times, Maxi did not want to be the only person living at ease.

Fighting off sleep, she tried to memorize the complex magic rune in the book in front of her. Ruth, who had been quietly observing her, made a suggestion.

“Why don’t we practice what you’ve learned?”

“P-Practice?”

“You have yet to use magic on another person. It’s worth a try now that you’re more or less familiar with the healing rune.”

“B-But my control is s-still unstable. W-What if something g-goes wrong?”

“Even if you fail, you won’t cause any physical harm. Repeated practice is key to developing precision and speed.”

Maxi nodded. As a matter of fact, she had been wanting to try casting a real spell.

“B-But who should I p-practice on?”

“Mentors usually create a small wound on their body for the pupil to heal, but I’m not particularly fond of feeling pain.” Ruth rose from his seat and wrapped his robe around himself tightly. “Fortunately, Calypse Castle is full of men just begging to get hurt. Shall we head outside?”

Realizing that the sorcerer intended to go to the training grounds, Maxi grew tense. Riftan still did not approve of her learning magic, and he remained doubtful as to whether she had any potential. If he were to see her fail, he would only assume that his suspicions had been confirmed. Seeing her face cloud over with worry, Ruth quickly reassured her.

“Sir Riftan is training the squires today. He won’t be at the knights’ training grounds.”

Maxi was taken aback when she realized that he had read her thoughts. When they rose from their seats, Ludis, who had been sewing next to the brazier, promptly picked up her cloak. Maxi dissuaded her from following them, explaining that they were only going to the training grounds, then followed Ruth out of the library and down the stairs.

When she stepped outside the castle, she was momentarily blinded by the sun.

Chapter 71

Maxi squinted down at the stark garden. The snowfall had been intermittent the past couple of days, and the frozen layer of snow that dusted the flowerbeds sparkled like diamonds. Dry tree branches shook forlornly in the wind.

She hurried past the bleak landscape alongside Ruth. Once they were beyond the gate that bordered the garden, they heard the sharp clang of swords, clopping hooves, and bellowing voices.

“It seems we will have to wait a while, my lady,” Ruth muttered, clicking his tongue as he stood at the entrance of the knights’ training grounds.

Maxi peered out from behind Ruth’s lanky frame.

The training grounds were reminiscent of a stadium. Hundreds of knights on horseback faced each other in eight long rows. They were all in full armor and each held a lance taller than the average man.

The palpable tension made Maxi hold her breath. The knight at the center raised a red flag; the others bellowed and charged forward.

Maxi screamed and covered her eyes with both hands. The clanging metal, whinnying horses, and thunderous roars went on for some time. So fierce was the fray that Maxi felt the stones trembling beneath her feet.

“More aggressive than usual today,” Ruth commented, emitting a low whistle.

When it finally went still, Maxi slowly opened her eyes. The knights, having returned to their formation, were dismounting and pulling off their helmets. Ruth took Maxi’s arm and led her down the stairs.

“Come, my lady. I’d wager that there are more than a few bruised men down there.”

Flustered, Maxi lumbered after Ruth in a rather ungainly fashion. One of the knights that had been tending to his lance and helmet looked surprised as they approached.

“Mage Ruth, what brings you to the training grounds?”

“I came to see if anyone was injured during practice.”

“Well, well,” said Hebaron, tossing his helmet unceremoniously to the ground. “What a pleasant surprise. I thought you didn’t want us calling on you for anything less than a crippling wound.”

Perhaps it was because his blood was still pumping from the intensive joust, but the burly knight appeared more grim than usual. He cut an imposing figure, and Maxi felt intimidated. She hid behind Ruth, but the sorcerer, not one to entertain such childish behavior, nudged her toward the knight.

“I would never volunteer to do such a thing, of course. It will be her ladyship who will be doing the healing.”

The knights grew wide-eyed as they realized the hooded figure behind Ruth was the lady of the castle.

Maxi gave the men an awkward smile in answer to their uneasy looks. She had thought she had grown accustomed to facing these men, but standing before them while they were fully armored made her so nervous that her hands shook. Maxi tugged her sleeves to hide her trembling before she managed to start speaking.

“A-although I am not s-skilled… I-I would like to o-offer my help in t-tending to your w-wounds…”

The knights exchanged puzzled looks at the bumbling offer, and an awkward silence ensued. The long pause was finally broken by Elliot Charon, the knight at the front of the group.

“We are grateful for your offer, my lady, but you do not have to trouble yourself. Minor wounds are easy enough to treat ourselves.”

Being so decidedly rejected by a knight — one of the few whom she was familiar with at that — made Maxi lose all her nerve. At the sight of Maxi standing there as if mute, Ruth stepped in.

“Her ladyship is currently learning magic. As we need volunteers to practice her healing magic on, your cooperation would be much appreciated.”

Hebaron, who had been gulping at a waterskin, shot Maxi a surprised look.

“Magic?”

The other knights also turned to her wearing equal looks of shock.

“You know how to use magic, my lady?”

“I-I have just b-begun learning… s-so I cannot s-say that I am a-able…”

Her response appeared to be lacking the appropriate conviction, as the knights glanced away once more.

“Mage,” said Hebaron, scratching at his sweat-slicked curls with a troubled expression. “The intention is a fine one, I grant you that, but if there were to be any lasting effects… Our current training regimen is grueling enough as it is…”

“It’s healing magic. There would be no consequences even if she were to fail. You need not worry about that.”

The group of knights continued to exchange furtive glances with one another. Ruth caught this and crossed his arms, glowering at them.

“I’m sure I do not have to remind you all of the importance of healers. For the sake of Anatol and the Remdragon Knights, I am currently sacrificing all my time, including my sleep, to teach her ladyship magic. Yet you refuse to offer the smallest assistance because you are afraid? And you call yourselves knights!”

“Hell! No need to harp on. Who said we wouldn’t help? I merely do not have a scratch on me to offer. Oi! Anybody hurt?”

“Her ladyship has yet to accumulate enough mana, so she would not be able to heal significant injuries. Somebody with a minor wound would be more helpful.”

“Why, aren’t you hard to please,” grumbled Hebaron.

Then, as if remembering something, he halted and flicked his finger to usher over a knight that was watering his horse some distance away.

“Ricaydo!” bellowed Hebaron. “Did you not scratch your cheek during the joust? Why don’t you volunteer?”

The blond knight frowned and shot them a sharp look. Maxi reflexively hunched her shoulders. Out of everyone here, Hebaron had picked Ursuline Ricaydo, the knight who had been the most hostile toward Maxi.

The knight glanced over Maxi before yelling back, “I would think you would be more fitting. Surely the blow from my lance must have left you a sizeable bruise.”

“Ha! Bruise, you say? Nothing more than a flea bite. I’m afraid I am unscathed.”

“Your bravery is commendable, but I saw you teetering on your horse like a scarecrow.”

“That knave must have hurt his eyes as well! My lady, make sure you treat him thoroughly.”

Maxi looked troubled, and her eyes darted over Ursuline’s cold expression. Evidently tired of the two knights’ bickering, Ruth heaved a deep sigh and stalked over to the blond knight.

“I see that you have a cut on your cheek, Sir Ursuline. The wound is small enough for her ladyship to heal. It will not take long, so please grant your consent.”

“There is no need. Such a small scrape will heal right up on its own.”

“Would you not rather be rid of it quickly? We wouldn’t want it scarring your comely face after all.”

“I would rather it scar than be looked at by an incompetent mage.”

Maxi’s resolve hardened at the harsh words. She did not see why he refused so vehemently when there would be no consequences even if she were to fail.

She swallowed hard and said shakily, “I-I assure you, I-I have had p-practice. I sh-shall not fail, s-so please a-allow me to—”

Her words died off when she saw the look of disgust etched across the knight’s cold features.

Ursuline eyed her with contempt, then spat out, “Are you even capable of reciting the spell?”

Overcome with shame, an intense flush flared through Maxi from head to foot. She was so mortified that she felt her ears burn and her eyes sting. She wanted to respond with a biting retort, but her tongue lay frozen.

She opened and closed her mouth like a fool before hanging her head, unable to bear the humiliation any longer. It was best to appear unfazed if she wanted to preserve what dignity she had left, but she could not bring herself to meet the knight’s icy gaze.

“Th-The spell…”

After barely regaining her composure, Maxi was about to say that she did not have to recite the spell out loud when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Startled, she turned to look behind her.

It was Riftan. She had not even noticed him approaching. He stood behind her, his eyes ablaze as he glared at the blond knight. He gently moved Maxi to the side, then grabbed Ursuline’s collar with one hand.

“You dare to speak to my wife with such impertinence?” Riftan growled through gritted teeth, almost lifting the knight off the ground.

Ursuline tried to break free, but Riftan did not budge.

Strangled by his cape, Ursuline’s face began to turn red. The others hastily tried to intervene.

“Commander! Please, calm down!”

Even the combined strength of two knights was not enough to make a difference. Riftan shook Ursuline before throwing him to the ground. His face beet red, Ursuline started coughing, and the other knights hurriedly helped him to his feet.

Riftan coolly observed the knight before whirling around and pulling a petrified Maxi to him.

“Come, let us return to the castle.”

Maxi trailed nervously behind Riftan as he led her away.

At that moment, Ursuline’s indignant voice rang out from behind them.

“Have you no pride, Commander?”

Riftan froze and turned to face the knight. Ursuline stood rubbing his neck, his expression dark.

“Does it not anger you?” Ursuline continued. “After everything Duke Croyso has put us through… How can you stand by his daughter? She is nothing but—”

Before anyone could stop him, Riftan charged at Ursuline and slammed a fist into his face. The large knight staggered back; Maxi let out a scream. As if dissatisfied with a single punch, Riftan raised his fist again. The other knights grabbed his arm in a panic.

“C-Commander! Please, restrain yourself!”

“Goddammit… Are you itching for a fight, Commander?”

“That’s enough, Sir Ursuline! You are out of line!”

Ursuline wiped his torn lip with the back of his hand. Although he appeared to be meeting Riftan’s glare in kind, a cold sweat began to form on his brow as though his commander’s menacing gaze was boring down on him.

Riftan drew threateningly close and spat the words out, one by one: “If you ever speak about my wife that way again, I will slice you open from mouth to groin.”

Chapter 72

Although the threat was not directed at her, Maxi still felt a shiver run down her spine. Riftan held his glare against Ursuline’s defiant look for a long moment, then shook off the knights that were restraining him. He returned to Maxi and grabbed her arm before striding off.

Still shaken, Maxi glanced back at the knights before scrambling up the stairs to keep up with Riftan. He marched past the gate, not bothering to slow to her pace like he usually did. Maxi almost had to run to match his strides as they hastened through the garden.

“R-Riftan…”

At the sound of Maxi’s trembling, breathless voice, Riftan finally came to a stop.

Maxi did not know what to say; her mouth simply parted, but no words came forth. The shame crept in as the shock wore off. How could she have allowed such a humiliating display in front of him? All she wanted was to remain an elegant and dignified lady in his eyes.

She ducked her head to hide the tears welling up.

Looking down at her, Riftan saw it all.

“So why on earth did you have to go and—”

Maxi shrank back. Riftan’s throat bobbed as if he were swallowing a ball of flames.

He dragged his palms down his face as he said in a strangled voice, “I’m sorry… that you had to be exposed to such slights.”

Taken aback by the unexpected apology, Maxi peered up at him with wet eyes. Riftan swore under his breath and cupped her cheeks in his hands.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.”

He leaned down to rub his forehead against hers. It was a clumsy and pitiful attempt at consolation, one that was more befitting of an animal. The tender gesture sent Maxi over the edge. She emitted a single whimper and clutched at his tunic, choking on a wave of tears. Riftan looked panicked and began wiping at her wet cheeks.

“Don’t cry. I swear to you, I will make sure he never speaks to you like that again.”

The knight had not slighted her through any fault of Riftan’s; the blame was all hers. The man had simply seen her for who she truly was — insecure, stammering, dim-witted, lumbering Maximilian — and had scorned her for it.

Her heart ached. If she had been a worthy lady, then Riftan would not have fought with one of his own. He would have garnered much respect had he married the princess.

She was utterly ashamed. Though she had always hated herself, she had never felt it as sickeningly palpable as this. She buried her face in his chest and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I-I am a-all right now… Y-You should get back t-to your duties.”

“Your eyes are red.”

They were back in their chambers.

“Th-They will be all right o-once I press a cold c-cloth over them. Y-You mustn’t w-worry…”

“How can I not?”

Maxi gave Riftan an apprehensive look when she saw him pause at the door. Back to her senses after sobbing like a babe in his arms, she was too embarrassed to meet his eyes. She felt inordinately grateful when Rodrigo called him away for something.

“I-I was just… a l-little embarrassed. I-I’m a-all right now… T-Truly.”

“I’ll make sure he never disrespects you again,” said Riftan resolutely.

Flustered, Maxi shook her head. “Th-That really isn’t n-necessary. Y-You need not… w-worry about m-my affairs…”

“It is my duty to worry,” Riftan said with an edge to his voice. “You are the one person in this world I must worry about. I know you’re upset, but don’t say such things.”

Maxi studied his stony expression with apprehension. She had only waved him off to prevent another confrontation with his knights, but it seemed he had taken it as a directive not to meddle in her affairs.

Staring into his brooding eyes, Maxi gave a bitter, inward smile. A truly dignified noblewoman would have demanded that her husband make the knight pay for his insults, but Maxi was well aware that she was not worth such efforts.

She offered him a small smile to conceal her dark thoughts and willed herself to sound unfazed.

“I-I’m sorry. I-I won’t d-do it again.”

“Stay here and rest. I’ll be back soon.”

“A-all right.”

As if unconvinced, Riftan studied her pale face for a while before leaving the room. Maxi sat in front of the fireplace and stared numbly into the crackling flames. The kittens that had been playing with the tassels on the rug crept into her lap. They rubbed their heads against her stomach, purring. Maxi distractedly scratched their backs and let out a sigh.

Her past shames clung to her like oil residue, congealing in her heart. Had she really thought playing the grand, noble lady would change her true self?

She was still the useless, stammering Maximilian. Overwhelmed with helplessness, Maxi curled up into a ball. Despondency shifted into anxiety. It felt as though the sandcastle she had so carefully built was crumbling down.

Could it be that Riftan truly was not ashamed of her? Would he remain unswayed by the mutterings of his men? Would he not grow tired of her someday?

Doubting the man who had been nothing but kind to her engulfed Maxi in a greater wave of shame. It was this twisted frame of mind that ashamed her the most. Distressed, Maxi buried her face in her hands until a sudden urge — a last-ditch, grasping at straws feeling — made her leap to her feet.

When she burst out of her room, the servants who had been lighting the corridor bowed their heads. Maxi feebly accepted their greeting and bounded up the stairs, taking two at a time.

Ruth was already back in the library. She had been worried he would not be there, but he was ensconced among the books as if it were unimaginable that he’d be anywhere else.

“I didn’t think you would come to the library again today, my lady. Is something the matter?”

Maxi shook her head, trying to catch her breath. Though she had rushed here to see him, she did not know what to say now that he was in front of her. Seeing her falter, Ruth gave her a rueful smile and pointed to the seat across from him.

“Why don’t you take a seat first, my lady. I was just thinking of calling on you. Though I stopped myself after realizing Sir Riftan would turn me away at the door…” Ruth trailed off before letting out a long sigh. “Has he calmed down?”

“A-A little.”

“That is reassuring.”

“W-Was Sir Ursuline b-badly hurt?”

“Considering who hit him, not really. He could easily have ended up with a broken jaw… but seeing as he’s only badly bruised, Sir Riftan must have held back.”

Silence fell over the room. Maxi looked away and gazed at the crimson sky outside the window. She then glanced back at the sorcerer’s gaunt face before taking in the messy piles of books on the desk.

She wanted to ask him something, but the question felt like a fishbone stuck in her throat. It was Ruth who spoke first.

“I apologize for earlier, my lady. I should never have taken you there without first informing the knights. It was careless of me. The knights have been more accepting of you recently, so I assumed it would be all right.”

“N-No. P-Please do not b-blame yourself, Ruth.”

Maxi waved her hands, flustered by the unexpected apology.

“I-I am all right. I-It is not as if… I w-wasn’t aware of how the knights f-felt about me… E-Even I would have been s-skeptical.”

“That does not change the fact that Sir Ursuline was out of line. The other knights have reprimanded him as well for affronting you so publicly. And I am sure that Sir Ursuline also knows deep down that he took it too far, and regrets his actions.”

Maxi gave him an awkward smile. Recalling the open hostility on the knight’s face, she found Ruth’s last sentence hard to believe. As if reading her mind, Ruth shot her another rueful smile.

“You might find it hard to believe, my lady, but he is not a bad person. He may be demanding, but he’s a steadfast and loyal knight. He has always been staunchly loyal to Sir Riftan. In fact, no other knight follows Sir Riftan with such blind faith. But ever since the incident, he’s been voicing his objections every chance he gets.”

“I-Incident?”

Hesitation flashed across the sorcerer’s face. He remained quiet for a long time before finally saying in a resigned voice, “When Sir Riftan turned down Princess Agnes’s hand in marriage.”

That name, flung out so unexpectedly, made Maxi’s spine stiffen.

Ruth studied her expression for a moment before adding flatly, “Sir Ursuline Ricaydo is from a prominent noble house. Having frequented Drachium Palace from when he was a child, he is well acquainted with the royal family. That’s why Sir Ursuline shows more fealty to them compared to any other knight in the order. So much so that he swore a geas to Princess Agnes the very day he was knighted.”

A geas was the highest pledge of devotion, deference, and adoration that a knight could swear to a person he served, and it could only be sworn once in his lifetime. Maxi’s face fell. If Sir Ursuline had pledged his geas to Princess Agnes, then his enmity toward Maxi was understandable.

“D-Did he wish for R-Riftan to marry P-Princess Agnes?”

“Frankly, yes. If I am to be honest, and I only say this because it’s all in the past now — everyone in the order thought he would marry the princess. Not only were they a great team in combat, but they were widely considered a good match. Everyone thought it an unspoken truth. So you can imagine our surprise when he turned down the marriage offer…”

Ruth trailed off, watching her reaction.

Chapter 73

Maxi wanted to feign indifference, but she could not stop her face from stiffening. Her discomfort must have been obvious, as Ruth quickly cleared his throat.

“My lady, it seems I have said too much. What I meant was… there is a reason for Sir Ursuline’s hostility. The commander to whom he swore fealty not only spurned the person to whom he pledged a geas, but married the daughter of the man he despises the most. Considering that, Sir Ursuline’s displeasure is not so surprising.”

“I-I see…”

Maxi nodded somberly. The thought that Riftan would have been better off with the princess had already been weighing on her mind. Hearing Ruth confirm those fears made her heart sink.

By marrying Maxi, Riftan had not only earned the ire of the royal family, but also the animosity of his men. She felt distraught and had no idea what to do.

She stared at the edge of the desk for a moment before finding the courage to ask, “D-Do you think… th-this could cause a rift among the knights?”

“You have nothing to worry about there, my lady. The bond the Remdragon Knights share is stronger than you think. And with the exception of Sir Ursuline, they don’t seem to hold any ill will against you.”

Maxi felt slightly reassured. Ruth always speaks his mind, so I’m certain that much is true.

“Still, it would be of great help if you could placate Sir Riftan, my lady. This bleak atmosphere is not doing anybody any good.”

“I-I shall try,” Maxi replied, her tone doubtful.

Having witnessed the magnitude of Riftan’s rage, Ruth heaved a sigh as if to suggest he too knew it was an impossible task.

Maxi threw a furtive glance over the sorcerer’s tired face, reminding herself of the reason why she had come running to the library. Her mouth felt dry. She gulped and only just managed to part her lips, which seemed glued shut.

“Um… O-on a-another note…”

Ruth looked at her inquiringly. Maxi avoided his gaze by pretending to rifle through the books on the table. Her heart pounded; she felt as though she was dredging up the most shameful part of herself.

“I-I was j-just c-curious…”

Ruth furrowed his brow, evidently confused by her sudden hesitation. “What is it, my lady?”

Maxi mustered her courage.

“D-Do you think y-you could… f-fix me… w-with your magic?”

“Fix you?”

Ruth blinked, not comprehending. As he watched Maxi’s face flush beet red, something seemed to dawn on the sorcerer, and he let out a small sigh.

“My lady, magic cannot heal inherent disabilities.”

It was a truth Maxi already knew. If her impediment could be cured by magic, her father certainly would have taken care of it long ago. Nevertheless, she had recently learned of a great number of sorcerers who could create new spells. She had not inquired until now for fear of disappointment. The truth was that she had been nursing a secret hope that Ruth would turn out to be such a sorcerer — one that could fix her.

Her cheeks blazed. Clinging to the last shred of hope, Maxi asked, “I-I am a-aware of that… b-but… a-are you not c-capable of c-creating new spells? I-If you could f-find a way…”

“It is true that we may be able to find a solution with enough research. There are many mages currently researching new runes to treat afflictions such as blindness, deafness, and lameness. But none have been proven effective, so even if I were to focus all my efforts on a cure, it would still take decades.”

“I-I see…”

Maxi wanted to conceal her disappointment, but her shoulders slumped of their own accord. Attempting some semblance of composure, she began to arrange her frazzled hair.

“I-I thought as much… I-I was merely a-asking… j-just in case.”

An awkward silence stretched between them once again. After shifting uncomfortably, Maxi slowly rose from her seat.

“W-Well then… I-I shall t-take my leave. R-Riftan said he would be b-back soon.”

“M-My lady, wait—”

Maxi’s eyes widened at the rare sight of the sorcerer looking flustered.

Ruth cleared his throat and murmured in a deflated voice, “Ending our conversation here makes it feel as if I have done you a great wrong.”

“Th-That wasn’t my intention…”

“Please, sit. Why don’t we mull it over together?”

Maxi had been on edge, glancing nervously about the room. At his insistent tone, however, she lowered herself back down in her chair. Ruth seemed at a loss for words; he crossed his arms and stared up at the ceiling in silence.

“Have you tried overcoming your impediment yourself?”

The question that he finally asked after much deliberation was shockingly insensitive. Maxi glared at him, her face flushing red.

“D-Do you think I-I speak like this b-because I wish to?”

She had endured lashings that ended in torn skin, all in the name of correcting an impediment that only seemed to grow worse over the years. Maxi’s face contorted from the shame and humiliation. Ruth held up his hands defensively.

“No offence intended. I only ask because I surmise that articulation and habits of speech can be improved through training.”

“I-I have had s-speech training… E-ever since I was a-a child! B-But it proved f-futile…”

“What kind of training?”

Maxi shivered as she recalled the terrible memory of reading aloud in front of her father. He would whip her across the back with a riding crop every time she stuttered. She pushed the terrifying images to the back of her mind and offered Ruth only slivers of the truth.

“I-I recited poems… o-or read scriptures a-aloud… o-r Roemian literature…”

“Heavens, you practiced with archaic languages whilst struggling with day-to-day conversations?”

Maxi’s face flushed crimson. The flaw she had always turned a blind eye to was now on full display, and it made her want to flee.

She wished she had not brought up the subject at all. Her eyes darted to the door, but Ruth had no intention of letting her leave.

“Would it not be better to practice through daily conversations?”

“I-I have… t-tried that as well! B-But… m-my tongue refuses t-to cooperate.”

“On the contrary, my lady, I think you have improved quite a bit lately.”

Maxi’s eyes widened. Ruth gave her a wry smile.

“Have you not noticed? Apart from when you’re extremely flustered or nervous, you’ve been expressing yourself with relative ease. Why don’t you try speaking slowly and articulating as much as you can? With repeated practice, I’m sure it will greatly improve your speech even if it cannot remedy it completely. I believe that would be faster than relying on magic…”

“P-Please do not speak a-as if it were that s-simple! I-It’s not that I haven’t t-tried… I-I have! B-But nothing I do e-ever helps. Th-That’s why—”

Ruth frowned at her sudden outburst.

He had merely been offering advice. Embarrassed at her heated reaction, Maxi hunched her shoulders.

“I-In any case… I-I appreciate y-your counsel. I-I shall c-consider it.”

Ruth opened his mouth as if to respond but closed it again without a word. Maxi swiftly rose from her seat and hurried out of the library.

Once she was outside, however, she began to feel uncertain. Was it truly hopeless? Had she not had a similar realization lately that her speech was improving? Maxi stalked down the corridor and came to halt at the stairs.

Her father had been greatly averse to her speaking in front of others. It was why Maxi usually had her lessons in a private room with only her tutor.

Even when she had been freed from her strict education, she had only spoken when necessary. She had not wanted to seem a half-wit. It was also a way to avoid the exasperated looks she received every time she spoke.

She remembered the feeling of wanting to drop dead whenever someone, wearing a look of total incomprehension, asked her to repeat herself. One time, she had even gone several months without saying a word.

It was then that it dawned on Maxi: speaking had become less daunting. She even found herself enjoying it. It was a startling change, one that she could hardly believe.

Did the impediment grow worse during the time I refused to speak?

She did not know the answer. Her memory of her past self was so distorted that she could no longer tell if the pathetic and foolish Maximilian was the same person as the woman currently playing the part of Lady Calypse.

Maxi bit her lip. It was possible that living under her father had crushed any potential she may have possessed. After insisting to Ruth that she had tried, she now felt unsure as to whether she truly had. What if all she had ever done was give up?

But… even if that were the case… I’m sure it’s too late for me to fix now…

Maxi wavered, afraid that she was once again clinging to false hope. She suddenly thought of Riftan. Her chest tightened as she recalled his rage on her behalf.

She could not allow him to resort to violence at every slight she encountered. More than that, she did not want him to become the subject of ridicule among the haughty nobles for having a stammering wife.

Maxi stared into the distance below the banister with a faraway look in her eyes, her skirts bunched in her fists.

Chapter 74

The next day, after much deliberation, Maxi headed to the library. She was relieved when Ruth greeted her as if nothing were amiss.

Maxi sat at the desk and opened a book on magic, all the while stealing glances at Ruth. After her angry outburst, she was too embarrassed to bring up yesterday’s topic. She found herself staring at the same page for a long time before finally managing to open her mouth.

“A-About… w-what you said yesterday.”

“Pardon?”

Ruth, who had been concentrating on his work, looked up with a baffled expression. Maxi swallowed hard and continued.

“Y-You said… s-said that… m-my speech could improve i-if I practiced. I-I was wondering if you could e-explain.”

“Oh, that.” Ruth nodded and said flatly, “I could look into efficient training methods if you’d like. For now, I suggest conversing in a comfortable environment as much as possible.”

“C-Converse with p-people?”

“As they say, practice makes perfect. Try to converse as much as possible while maintaining your composure. I have noticed that you tend to speak faster when you’re nervous, and it worsens the stutter.  I think gaining control over your nerves is most vital in your case, my lady.”

Maxi looked down, embarrassed at having her flaw commented on so openly.

“I-I understand. W-What else… sh-shall I do?”

“Hmm, let’s see… I would think that taking your time to articulate will help, even if you end up speaking slowly. The aim is to improve through repetition.”

An intense flush colored Maxi’s face. Her eyes shifted awkwardly before she managed to urge her rigid tongue to move.

“I… understand… Do you mean… like this?”

“Yes, just like that. You always seem to rush yourself needlessly when you speak.”

“Do… I?”

“If these methods prove ineffective, I shall look up other techniques. I’m sure if we try different methods, something is bound to help.”

Maxi’s face fell. She had hoped that Ruth had a special solution for her.

Then again, she had to admit that no matter how intelligent Ruth was, he was not omnipotent. It was unreasonable of her to expect an ultimate answer. Quashing her disappointment, Maxi once again hid her face behind her book.

Ruth stroked his chin as he watched her, musing over something. “That reminds me, you were unable to practice magic yesterday.”

Maxi stiffened at Ruth’s calm observation.

“I… do not w-wish… to cause t-trouble… by going there again…”

“Not the training grounds. If you recall, the knights are not the only inhabitants of this castle. I’m sure we will find a servant or two in the kitchen with some minor ailment.”

“That’s true… but…”

Ruth leaped in as soon as Maxi trailed off.

“Practice is vital to learning magic, my lady. What would be the point of having all the theories and runes in your head if you do not know how to apply them?”

“I-I know that… b-but… I-I do not wish to p-practice on people… who are u-unwilling.”

“I am sure the servants wouldn’t mind. They are too busy to look after minor scrapes, so they might even be grateful if you offered to treat them.”

After a long moment of hesitation, Maxi reluctantly rose from her seat. Ruth was right. She would have to practice on someone if she wanted to learn magic, but the bitter rejection from the previous day made her falter.

They headed to the castle’s kitchen. Like a lamb to the slaughter, Maxi dragged her heels as she trailed behind Ruth. What would happen if she failed in front of the servants? Would she become a laughing stock?

Wallowing in her habitually gloomy thoughts, Maxi shuffled into the kitchen. She did not know whether to be relieved or disappointed when she saw that the usual hustle and bustle was quiet today.

“My lady.”

The cook was whistling as he stirred a cauldron. He directed a cheerful smile at her as she entered.

“May I be of any assistance, my lady?”

“N-No, I’m not here for anything…” Maxi mumbled.

Ruth, stationed behind her like a warden, bumped her with his shoulder. Maxi gave a slight frown at his impertinence before letting out a sigh.

“I-I was… w-wondering if a-anyone was… i-injured.”

The cook looked puzzled and scratched his large head. “Injured, my lady?”

Ruth nudged her back once more. Maxi turned to glare at him before looking back at the cook.

“I-I mean things like cuts… or b-burns… or s-sprains.”

“That, we have an endless supply of, my lady. Especially the likes of Clumsy Crom over there. The lad is all thumbs. There’s barely a day where he doesn’t hurt himself. Why, he burned his hand just now taking the loaves out of the oven.”

Maxi turned to look at the servant whom the cook had dubbed ‘Clumsy Crom.’ The slight young man, his face deeply tanned, appeared to be no older than sixteen. He was currently chopping something with one hand wrapped in cloth.

Taking a deep breath, Maxi said, “C-Could you… c-call him over for me?”

Though the cook seemed surprised, he promptly bellowed for the young man. “Crom! Over here, lad. Her ladyship wishes to see you.”

The boy jolted at the cook’s booming voice as though struck by lightning. He immediately scampered over to Maxi.

“H-How can I help, m’lady?”

His face was white with fear, evidently worried that he had done something wrong. The cook was looking at Maxi, his gaze full of curiosity as to why on earth she was asking after an injured servant.

Maxi cleared her throat and spoke in her most dignified voice. “I-I heard that… you hurt your… hand… Would you mind… if I take a look?”

“M-My hand, m’lady?”

The boy blinked, bewildered, before hurriedly unwinding the cloth covering his hand. The flesh was red and raw. Maxi could tell that it was painful just by looking at it.

Ignoring the boy’s anxiousness, Maxi gingerly placed her fingers on the wound and took a deep breath. Crom’s shoulders jerked in pain. She felt bad for him; as a mere servant, he could not protest and simply had to endure the lady of the castle’s whims.

Knowing that explaining her objective would only add to his fear, she offered no explanation and began to summon her magic. Heat gathered in her palm. Before long, Crom’s wound slowly began to fade.

The young servant’s eyes grew wide when he felt the pain easing. After infusing the wound with sufficient magic, Maxi withdrew her fingers. Crom’s hand was as good as new.

“H-Heavens!”

Exclamations rose from around her, but no one was more astonished than Maxi herself. She had not expected to succeed on her first attempt. After dumbly gazing down at the boy’s hand, Maxi spun toward Ruth and leaped up and down in excitement.

“I-I did it! I r-really did it!”

Ruth beamed proudly and thumped her on the back. “Well done, my lady! An exceptional first effort!”

Bolstered by her triumphant result, Maxi turned to the servants and spoke with more confidence. “I-I’ve been learning healing magic for the past f-few weeks, a-and am in n-need of volunteers to p-practice on. I-Is anyone else i-injured?”

“We would like to volunteer, my lady.”

Maxi whirled around at the unexpected voice. Standing at the entrance were Sir Hebaron, Sir Elliot, and a young knight she had seen only a handful of times. Running into the knights around this time of day was unheard of unless one went to the training grounds. Maxi was so shocked that she looked like she was being ambushed.

“Please forgive us for startling you, my lady,” Elliot said courteously when he saw how flustered she was.

“I-It is all right…”

“To think we were so ungracious to you yesterday when you were this skilled.”

Maxi waved him off. “I-I cannot say that I-I am skilled…”

Hebaron, his giant frame slouched by the entrance, stepped into the kitchen sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

“Could I trouble you… to take a look at this wound from a bout?”

The knight showed Maxi a small cut on the back of his hand. Her eyes darted back and forth between the injury and the knight’s face, unable to comprehend his sudden change of attitude. Hebaron’s expression grew rueful at Maxi’s silence.

“As expected, you must still be upset at yesterday’s events, my lady.”

“N-No! I was… m-merely surprised… P-Please have a seat o-over here. I-I shall tend to your wound i-immediately.”

The servants promptly procured chairs for them. The knights marshaled into a line in front, each attempting to look as pained as possible.

“I sprained my wrist, my lady.”

“It’s my shoulder for me…”

“I-I will… gladly take a look.”

Maxi swallowed hard. She tensed up at the thought that she might fail and make a fool of herself. Noticing her reaction, Ruth chuckled.

“You need not be so nervous, my lady. They’re only here because they feel apologetic about what happened yesterday.”

Hebaron scowled and roared, “What hogwash!” He pointed to his graze that looked insignificant even to Maxi. “Can’t you see that I am bleeding?!”

Ruth clicked his tongue. “One would be lucky to squeeze a drop out of that…”

Seeing the burly knight fuss over such a minuscule scrape made Maxi giggle. She suddenly felt more assured.

Collecting herself, she cast a healing spell over the knight’s hand, and the wound disappeared before their eyes. Hebaron began to heap praises on Maxi as if he had just witnessed a miracle. His flattery was so overblown that Maxi ended up bursting into laughter, eliciting a smile from the knight.

“Please do not take what that scoundrel Ursuline said to heart, my lady. He simply lashes out in spite.”

“I-I did not.”

“Then I am glad.”

Hebaron grinned and rose from his seat. Maxi healed the other two knights after him, then proceeded to heal the servants who presented with injuries.

By the end of the day, with the exception of Crom’s hand, all the wounds Maxi ended up treating were minor. Though they were all so small they hardly required a healer, she still felt physically drained.

Maxi wiped the sweat from her forehead with a content smile. It was not an extraordinary feat by any means, but the fact that she was able to help others filled her with joy. The idea that she was useless had been hammered into her throughout her whole life. Considering that, this was a gigantic step forward. For the first time in her existence, Maxi felt useful. The thought almost made her burst into tears.

“If it suits you, my lady,” said Hebaron, turning back to her as he left with the other knights, “please come to us if you are ever in need of volunteers. I will be sure to let the others know.”

Maxi nodded, giving him a timid smile.

Chapter 75

From that day on, Maxi frequented the kitchen to heal the servants. She also occasionally tended to the knights.

After ensconcing herself in the kitchen and healing five to six people a day, Maxi’s skills gradually improved to the point where she was able to heal severe injuries. Her speech impediment, on the other hand, showed no signs of improvement.

Her daily routine consisted of shutting herself away in her chambers to practice articulating, or attempting to converse with passersby whenever she was stationed before the kitchen brazier. Despite all her efforts, her tongue only seemed to be growing heavier.

Maxi tried her best not to feel discouraged. She practiced relentlessly, reading phonetic symbols or reciting lyrical poetry. Loath to let Riftan or the servants see her in such a pathetic light, she was secretive about her practice sessions. But practicing alone made progress much more difficult.

There was also still the matter of her studies and duties as the lady of the castle, which she could not neglect. Added to that, the work on the gardens would start once Paxias[6] was over. She was already up to her eyeballs in arrangements and budgeting with Rodrigo and Aderon. As the end of winter neared, the list of tasks requiring Maxi’s attention grew to the point where she wished there were more hours in the day.

“You look tired,” Riftan told her.

Freshly bathed and changed, Riftan stroked her cheek as he spoke. Maxi pulled an awkward smile. Unsurprisingly, trying to complete this number of unfamiliar tasks all at once was overwhelming.

For the past few weeks, she had been waking at dawn alongside Riftan and staying up late into the night, waiting for him to come to bed. Forcing her body to match the daily routine of an athletic knight took its toll, and she ended up with dark circles shadowing her eyes.

Riftan furrowed his brow as he brushed his thumb beneath her eye.

“It’s because you’re overexerting yourself with magic, isn’t it? I know you’ve been healing any and every wound. If that’s the reason—”

“I am not… overexerting… I w-wouldn’t be able to improve… if I didn’t practice… I-In fact, I am the one… troubling everyone… The wounds I h-heal… are minor… so… they d-don’t require much… m-magic.”

Maxi responded as steadily as she could while regarding Riftan.

Riftan worked at least three times harder, but his face showed no signs of fatigue. How did he not let slip even a yawn surviving on only a few hours of sleep? She looked up at him with a hint of fascination.

Every day, Riftan met with blacksmiths to discuss and inspect the creation of new weapons, as well as lead the training of sentries and squires. He had also recently begun plans for road construction that would commence on the eve of Aquarias[7].

Yet Riftan was always brimming with energy. Maxi was certain that, if she were to split herself into three, she would not be able to handle even half of his workload. Riftan scooped Maxi up in his warm arms and placed her on his lap, where he began to stroke her nape and the backs of her ears.

“Has anyone else been impertinent?”

“N-No.”

“Is anything troubling you?”

“N-No, nothing is… troubling me.”

A faint line creased Riftan’s forehead. There was an edge to his voice when he spoke. “I know you have always been a woman of few words, but all you seem to tell me recently is that you’re fine.”

“B-But… I-I really am fine… and everyone has been nice…” Maxi trailed off, not knowing what it was he wanted to hear from her.

Riftan leaned back against a cushion and studied Maxi.

“I heard that you’re working on the landscaping of the garden.”

“Y-Yes… I thought it would be b-best… to make it presentable… before guests arrive in the spring.”

“Are you not overworking yourself? Managing the servants alone must be exhausting,” Riftan said, his voice full of worry.

Maxi’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. If anyone was overworking themselves, it was him.

“C-Compared to the things you do… what I do… can hardly be called exhausting.”

“Maxi, that’s not a fair comparison. My body has been conditioned to hard labor my whole life. My stamina is greater than most knights’. But you are frailer than ordinary women.”

“I-I am not frail. I-I would say that I am… on the healthy side.”

Even when her back was gashed and bleeding from her father’s lashings, she had never once fainted. Though she had lost consciousness during the battle with the ogres on their way to Anatol, she considered herself tougher than those noblewomen who screamed and fainted at the sight of mice.  Riftan snorted as if she had said something preposterous.

“So says the woman who has spent all her life inside a castle.”

He grabbed her waist with his tanned hand, and his forehead creased with worry.

“See? Not even a handful. You’re so thin I could fit two of you in my arms.”

“I-It is you who… is too big… I-I am ordinary.”

Riftan gave another snort. “None of the women I know are as skinny as you. I get worried just looking at you.”

Maxi was bewildered. It was true that she was slim and not exactly tall, but she did not think it was to the extent to warrant worry of any kind. Still, the look of concern on his face was genuine.

Had he only known tall and voluptuous women? Princess Agnes had participated in the campaign; she certainly must be tougher and more robust than Maxi.

Maxi imagined the imposing and beautiful princess by Riftan’s side. Seeing him next to a woman more suited for him felt like a knife to the heart.

She could not pinpoint when exactly the change had occurred, but she now realized that the ghost that taunted her was no longer Rosetta — it was Princess Agnes. It was incomprehensible why she was torturing herself with comparisons to a woman she had never met.

“You… exaggerate… I-I am not… that s-scrawny.”

Overcome with emotion, her voice came out steelier than intended. She felt Riftan’s hand, which was stroking her back, flinch.

His lips twisted into a frown, and he spoke in a self-deprecating tone. “But I even worry about the winds blowing at you.”

Tightening his arms around her, he rested his chin on top of her head. Maxi leaned her head against his sturdy chest and listened to the beating of his heart.

Sleet whooshed past like ghosts outside the window. Maxi grew conscious of the strange tension that swelled between them in the silence.

A small rift had formed in their relationship. Though Riftan cared for her to an excessive degree, and made every effort to be kind to her, she was never privy to his innermost thoughts. It sometimes felt as though the only thing he wished to share with her was their bedchamber.

Nevertheless, she could not resent him for something she herself found difficult. Maxi could never be herself in front of Riftan. If she had to show her true, wretched self to anyone, he would be the last.

Maxi was the most nervous in front of him, and it was his disillusionment that she feared the most. It was ironic; the more she cared for him, the greater the wall she had built between them grew. It was precisely this wall that kept their relationship from deepening.

Maxi wanted to believe that she was mistaken. Surely there was no more solid a relationship in the world than theirs? Not only did they share a bed, but Riftan kept her safe and made sure she lacked for nothing. And she, on her part, managed the castle and would one day provide him an heir.

As far as she knew, that was all that was required in a marriage. Moreover, theirs was an arranged union, forced upon them by her father. It was shameless of her to expect anything more. Maxi collected her uneasy thoughts and drove them from her heart.

“Just relax,” said Riftan, rubbing her tense shoulder. “We don’t have to do anything if you’re tired.”

He had misread her anxiousness as reluctance to perform her marital duty. Maxi was about to say that she was fine before stopping herself.

Though she did indeed want to be with him, she truly was exhausted, as well as too embarrassed to insist.

Riftan brushed his lips on her forehead and said gruffly, “You need rest.”

He laid her down on the bed. After blowing out the lamp beside them, he crawled in next to her and maneuvered his arm under her head.

Maxi snuggled up to him. A sweet yet masculine scent rolled off him, and Maxi was just inhaling a lungful when he shifted as if uncomfortable. He sighed and began patting her shoulder.

She savored his gentle touch. Although she could feel his hardness pressed against her thigh, he lay still. Enveloped by the warmth and tranquility of his embrace, Maxi slowly drifted off to sleep.

◆◆◆

The next day began with winter rain. Maxi had been enjoying a late lunch in the dining hall, absorbed in a book on magic, when a drenched group of knights came flooding into the hall. The downpour had cut their training short.

Maxi greeted them. Their interactions had become more frequent recently, and not just because of the occasional healing session. The once brusque knights now initiated conversations with her whenever they crossed paths. Maxi was elated by the change. She launched excitedly into informing them that the soup was exceptionally good today and that the freshly baked bread melted in her mouth.

The knights rubbed their empty bellies and moaned about how famished they were. Maxi was enjoying the banter when she spotted Ulyseon trailing in behind another knight.

She rushed up to him, her eyes wide. The young squire’s face was covered in blood.

“A-Are you all right? H-How did this…”

Chapter 76

In spite of his ghastly condition, Ulyseon greeted her placidly. “Good afternoon, my lady.”

Stunned, Maxi gawked at the squire’s bloodied face before ordering the servants to bring her a clean cloth and hot water. Behind them, Gabel entered the dining hall and sighed when he saw them.

“The training grounds were muddy thanks to the rain, and today just happened to be the day of the squires’ equestrian training. Rovar here fell off his horse during the charge.”

“Not only did he fall, he so efficiently broke rank that he caused other casualties as well,” muttered Sir Elliot, rubbing his face.

Ulyseon scratched his bloody head, embarrassed. “I should have been more careful. My sincerest apologies, Sir Elliot.”

“I’ve only ever been unseated three times, boy,” Elliot grumbled before walking away to dry himself by the brazier.

Maxi frowned, a little indignant that the knights were being so cavalier about the squire’s blood-soaked condition.

“U-Ulyseon, you mustn’t touch your head! Y-You are bleeding. Come… Sit. I-I shall… tend to your wound.”

“You don’t have to trouble yourself, my lady. It’s not as bad as it looks, and the bleeding has sto—”

“S-Stop… being foolish… and come sit down.”

Maxi pulled Ulyseon to a chair near the brazier and forced him into it, ignoring the squire’s look of surprise. Her concern for the boy was genuine; he reminded her of a wounded, stray dog. She bent down to get a better look at his injury.

Gabel handed her a clean towel soaked in hot water. “I think he tore his scalp. His helmet was too big for him. I don’t think he broke any bones… but the wound is deep. Would it not be difficult to heal, my lady?”

“My… magic should be… s-sufficient.”

Maxi gingerly wiped the area and inspected the wound. Beneath the squire’s blood-slicked silver hair was a long gash.

Maxi placed her hand above it and began drawing on her magic. Thanks to her daily sessions accumulating mana, the speed of her healing magic now matched even Ruth’s. Maxi swept back clumps of hair that clung to the squire’s clammy forehead to check that the wound was completely healed.

“Are you… h-hurt… anywhere else?”

“N-No, my lady,” Ulyseon replied, a flush coloring his normally pale, blemish-free face.

Realizing her actions might be considered indecent, Maxi quickly pulled back her hand.

Ulyseon was slight and fair enough to be mistaken for a woman, but he was still a knight-in-training that would one day join the ranks of the Remdragon order. It was certainly inappropriate to treat him like a child.

Maxi smiled awkwardly and handed him a fresh towel. “Y-You should… c-clean off the blood.”

“Oh! Thank you, my lady.”

Ulyseon gave her a wide, youthful grin as he took the towel and began scrubbing at his face.

Elliot left his place near the fire to walk over to Maxi.

“May I trouble you to heal a bump as well, my lady?” he asked, clutching the back of his head.

Maxi promptly got started on casting her healing magic over Sir Elliot’s injury. Meanwhile, the other knights had dried themselves off and were now gorging on the food laid out by the maidservants.

Maxi ended up joining them for the rest of her meal. The knights usually took their lunch in their quarters, which were adjacent to the training grounds, while Maxi normally spent her afternoons cooped up in the library. It was a rare thing to be dining with them around this time of day.

They sat shoulder-to-shoulder, their hulking frames squeezed around the table. Maxi glanced about at them while taking small sips from her now lukewarm soup.

“H-Has… the lord… left the castle?”

“The commander is in the council room in deliberation with Sir Hebaron, Sir Ursuline, Sir Remus, and… the sorcerer.”

“D-Deliberation?”

“They are probably planning the monster raid we will be carrying out when Aquarias comes around.”

Gabel, who had been enjoying his steaming soup across from her, suddenly chimed in. “There is an emphasis on hierarchy within the order, my lady, and those knights of greater competence have more say. This is why the commander frequently convenes with them near the end of winter to discuss future plans. And with the news that a throng of monsters are migrating from the north, I reckon they are discussing countermeasures for that too.”

Ulyseon, who had been wolfing down his lunch, joined the conversation.

“Do you think I will be able to participate in the next raid?” he asked, his eyes bright.

Elliot scoffed. “After the disaster you caused today, we might have to push your knighting ceremony to next year.”

“I have to agree with him,” Gabel teased. “I heard you took quite the stumble during the last goblin raid. How do you expect to pass the initiation ceremony being so careless? I doubt you could catch a fire-lizard, let alone a drake.”

“I shall not repeat my mistakes!” Ulyseon shouted indignantly. “Let me prove it to you! I could catch two— no, three drakes if you let me!”

Their conversation was impossible to keep up with. Maxi found herself simply glancing back and forth between the speakers.

Noticing her curiosity, Elliot, who had been quietly eating his meal next to her, explained in a deferential tone, “The initiation ceremony of the Remdragon Knights requires initiates to hunt and bring back a monster of the dragon race. They must acquire a dragon stone before their knighting ceremony to be accepted. It is a ritual unique to our order.”

“Actually, the type of the monster is irrelevant as long as it carries a magic stone,” a young knight with dark brown hair chipped in enthusiastically. “But drakes are a good choice for beginners. Bringing back a fire-lizard would make them a laughing stock, while wyverns, hydras, and basilisks are too dangerous for fledgling knights to hunt alone.”

“W-What kind of m-monster is… a drake?”

“They are similar in appearance to a dragon, usually 20 to 30 kevette[8] tall. They are scaled and have sharp fangs and claws. But unlike a dragon, they do not have wings, nor can they use Dragon’s Breath.”

“They should not be taken lightly though. They make up for their inability to fly with sheer speed. Once a drake starts chasing you, you could not outrun it even going full speed on horseback. They also have a keen sense of smell, so hiding from one is no small feat either.”

“What’s more, they are highly resistant to magic, so most magical offensives are useless.”

The other knights began chiming in, clearly wanting to scare the squire.

“The most dangerous thing about them is that they move in packs. They’re not so smart on their own, but in a group, they will chase down a quarry relentlessly, sending signals to each other. They are not a monster a greenhorn knight should trifle with.”

“Ah! I can see it now. Fumbling Rovar charging recklessly at a drake and meeting his tragic end by becoming monster lunch!”

“Lunch, you say? More like an appetizer. He’s so puny I’d wager he’d be swallowed whole.”

The only person who looked frightened by their teasing was Maxi. She scanned the squire’s innocent face and willowy frame, her eyes full of worry. It was too harsh a test for a boy of seventeen.

“Y-You… won’t be… d-doing it alone… will you, Ulyseon?”

Garrow Livakion, who had been tucking into his meal quietly in the corner until then, spoke up. “I shall be joining him, my lady. Uly and I are the only squires being knighted this year.”

Maxi was at a loss for words. Garrow was only a year older than Ulyseon. Even though he was taller and broader than his friend, he had yet to shed all of his boyishness. Maxi’s face grew grave.

“J-Just… the two of you? Won’t… that be too dangerous?”

“They do not deserve to join the ranks of the Remdragon Knights if they are incapable of taking on such risks,” Elliot said firmly. “Besides, with their skills, Rovar and Livakion are more than up to the task. That is if they don’t bungle it like today.”

“I suppose I will have to haul the biggest one to restore my honor,” Ulyseon said, lifting his chin. “Just wait and see. I will use its scales to make new boots for you all.”

“Hah! Just try not to become its toothpick.”

The knights snickered and burst into laughter. Maxi was dismayed at how nonchalantly they tossed about such callous jokes. Were they not worried about sending these innocent youths into danger?

Maxi frowned and glared at them. Gabel, who was doubled up with laughter, stopped when he saw her. His smile slowly faded from his lips.

“Oi! Enough of the undignified talk in front of her ladyship.”

Maxi did not point out that ‘Oi!’ was not exactly the height of polite speech either, and instead continued to express her concern for the squires.

“Th-There… will be someone… to watch over them… won’t there? Ulyseon and… G-Garrow are… still so young. Sh-Shouldn’t someone… accompany them… to make s-sure that they don’t…”

“My lady, we are not children who need to be looked after. The initiation ceremony is a rite of passage we must go through to be recognized as a full-fledged knight. We do not require a guardian!”

“He is right. Your words wound our pride, my lady.”

Both Ulyseon and Garrow voiced their objections, their tone bordering on petulance. Maxi stared at them in stunned silence. Were they not scared of dying or getting hurt? The two squires seemed neither frightened nor anxious by the trial that awaited them.

Maxi could not help but be in awe of their undaunted confidence. She had lived four or five years longer than either of them, yet she did not possess even half as much courage.

“I-I did not… mean to offend you. I was… merely worried…”

“You have nothing to worry about, my lady. They might not look it, but those two are exceptional swordsmen.”

Maxi’s head snapped up at the unexpected voice and saw Hebaron and Riftan striding into the dining hall.

Chapter 77

“They merely lack experience,” said Hebaron. “Skill-wise, they are a match for any knight. Especially Rovar over there. The lad has a talent that could rival Sir Riftan’s.”

Ulyseon leaped up from his seat in objection. “Preposterous! A squire such as myself could never hope to hold a candle to Sir Riftan!”

“If he could do something about that quick temper that is.”

Hebaron let out a sigh before directing the servants hovering at the back to bring more food. Riftan ignored the exchange; he walked straight over to where Maxi was and sat down in the chair next to her.

Maxi regarded his stony expression and offered a timid smile. Despite the black tunic and gold belt that made him look as alluring as the devil of the scriptures, Maxi could still sense his air of icy disgruntlement. Ever since the incident at the training grounds, Riftan would tense up whenever he saw her with any of the knights. He was like a warden guarding the gates of hell, on the lookout for anyone who dared repeat Ursuline’s impertinence.

“I hope they didn’t make you uncomfortable while you were having your meal.”

“N-No. Th-They were… telling me… about the initiation ceremony.”

“Rovar and Livakion will complete their initiation before the knighting ceremony,” Gabel said with a laid-back smile, clearly unfazed by Riftan’s chilly demeanor. “What better time than Aquarias, when the drakes wake from their hibernation?”

Riftan stroked his chin, mulling over something.

“You have been training them for monster raids, correct?”

“As often as we can,” said Elliot. “But I think it would be worth them gaining as much field experience as possible before the knighting ceremony. As it stands, I doubt they’d make adequate knights.”

Ulyseon pursed his lips in protest. As soon as Riftan’s gaze fell on him, however, he sat up and swiftly wiped the petulant look from his face. Riftan regarded the two squires with piercing eyes.

“Both of you are to participate in the next reconnaissance. Monster raids are different from regular battles, so it’s always advantageous to gain firsthand experience.”

“Yes, sir!”

A faint smile tugged at Riftan’s lips at their overzealous response. The squires looked at Riftan with awe, respect, and admiration. Riftan seemed to reciprocate their fondness in his own way.

Maxi felt jealous of their tight bond. Although she sat amongst them, she was not part of their world. Ulyseon and Garrow would join the ranks of the Remdragon Knights in a few months, and they would be the ones by Riftan’s side when he faced all kinds of dangers.

The thought that they might be closer to Riftan made her feel alienated.

Riftan furrowed his brow when he noticed that Maxi’s spoon had stilled “What’s wrong? Is the food not to your liking? Should I get the servants to bring you something else?”

Maxi shook her head. “N-No, I have… had my fill.”

“Have some more.”

“I-I really am full…”

She gave him an awkward smile and picked up the book she had set aside.

“I… am a l-little… tired, so… I shall… take my leave now…”

“But you haven’t finished your meal.”

“I-I ate q-quite a lot. Truly.”

Riftan searched her face before releasing a sigh and nodding. Maxi slowly made her way out of the dining hall. Once winter was over, Riftan might have to go on another campaign. She would be left all alone again, anxiously awaiting his return. The thought made her heart ache.

Maxi bit her lip. Would he not take her with him if she was capable of powerful magic? Her hope quickly evaporated when she recalled how adamant he had been and shook her head.

If she was being honest, she was not sure if she had the courage to join him even if he were to allow it. Maxi ran a hand through her messy hair and breathed a sigh.

◆◆◆

The end of the cold snap marked the start of Aquarias. Maxi kept herself busy by practicing defense magic and persisting in her efforts to fix her impediment.

Progress was slow in the beginning. Through repeated practice of remaining calm while speaking, however, Maxi could now read a line of poetry without stuttering. Of course, these were not the archaic poems her father used to make her read but simple verses sung by bards.

Even so, when Maxi had managed to utter a full sentence without stumbling, it had brought tears to her eyes. Ruth had been right; staying calm and speaking slowly had been effective in mending her impediment.

Long sentences or words that were difficult to pronounce were still a struggle, but making a conscious effort to converse as much as possible was paying off. Her stutter was improving.

Recently, Ruth had started writing sentences for her to read aloud to loosen her tongue for better enunciation. The exercise would make her tongue feel stiff and sore afterward as though she had bitten down onto a needle. Perhaps it was because it was not a muscle she used frequently. Still, Maxi practiced every morning without fail. She would gladly have bit onto a knife if that were effective.

“I would like… there to be… a flower garden beneath… the second-floor balcony… How long do you think… it would t-take?”

If there was one downside to her recent improvement, it was that she spoke terribly slowly while trying to articulate her words.

Ruth had assured her that this would improve in time, but Maxi still fretted that those listening might find it frustrating. Maxi lifted her gaze from the landscape plans she had been inspecting to study Aderon’s face. The merchant, being the shrewd man that he was, answered with utmost deference.

“It would be difficult to acquire such large quantities of seedlings right away, my lady. Might I suggest starting with shrubs? I believe my guild would be able to acquire azalea saplings. They look quite impressive when their red flowers are in full bloom.”

“But… I also wish to fill the flower beds.”

Rodrigo, who was in the middle of serving tea, spoke up. “If daffodils please you, my lady, I can procure seedlings without delay. I shall let the gardeners know.”

Maxi tried to picture it in her head. Grasses and shrubs planted in rich soil, and colorful flowers and ornaments would transform the bleak garden. She was certain it would look magnificent.

At the same time, Maxi could not help but worry about the expense. Not only would she need to hire more servants to work on the garden, but all those trees and flowers would cost a fortune. She should have Ruth take a look at the order before she signed it. Sighing, Maxi lowered the parchment onto the table.

“I think… I shall require more time… to think about it.”

“I understand, my lady. In the meantime, I shall try to procure as many flower seedlings as I can.”

“Thank… you.”

Maxi smiled at Aderon and rose from her seat. The market had reopened now that the weather was growing warmer, and merchants were once again coming into Anatol for trade.

The knights had told her that mercenaries would flock to Anatol as well. The drakes that dwelled beyond the northern end of the Anatolium Mountains usually emerged around this time of year. Though monsters of the dragon race were extremely dangerous, their scales, magic stones, and bones commanded high prices due to their use in the creation of magical devices.

True to form, when spring came, fortune-seeking mercenaries and merchant buyers of the monster parts they would haul began arriving in Anatol. Even more people were expected to arrive once Aquarias was in full swing.

I would like to finish the garden before then…

Come spring, Maxi would have to hold banquets and invite traveling bards or theatre troupes to perform. She could not allow people to gossip that the continent’s most renowned knight lived in a dreary castle.

Maxi was walking down the stairs, mulling over the greenery to plant in the garden, when she heard a maidservant calling to her.

“Oh, there you are, my lady.”

When Maxi gave her an inquiring look, the aged maidservant politely added, “His lordship has requested your presence in the council room.”

“Has… something happened?”

“I’m afraid I do not know the details, my lady.”

It was rare for Riftan to be in the council room so early in the day, but it was rarer still for him to request Maxi’s presence. Perplexed, she quickly made her way back up the stairs. The council room was located right across the stairwell on the floor above the library. Maxi strode over the deep brown carpet and stood in front of the large mahogany door. The maidservant who trailed behind her knocked on the door and announced Maxi’s arrival.

“Come in.”

Riftan’s deep voice rang out from the room.

The maidservant creaked open the door, and Maxi tentatively stepped in. The spacious room was overlaid in soft carpet. A fluttering of wings came from somewhere in the room.

Her eyes full of curiosity, Maxi gazed around the brightly lit space. Next to the large window across from the entrance stood a birdcage taller than Maxi herself. It was full of cooing homing pigeons. A massive sword and shield that looked far too heavy for anyone to wield hung on the left wall.

As Maxi lingered by the door, taking it all in, Riftan looked up from the parchment he had been busily scribbling in.

“Why are you there? Come, take a seat.”

Maxi approached Riftan, who was sitting behind his desk. His expression was grave and his black hair was disheveled as if he had run his hand through it several times. Beneath his rolled-up sleeves, his muscles contracted as he wrote. Worry clouded Maxi’s face.

“I-Is something… wrong?”

“I’ve received a message from Drachium Palace. I thought it best to let you know.”

“A m-message?”

Chapter 78

Riftan’s hesitation was uncharacteristic. He let out a sigh.

“Guests will be arriving in a few weeks. There will be twenty to thirty people. I’d like to have the best rooms ready for them, as well as a small welcome feast.”

Maxi’s eyes widened. She had been expecting guests in spring. The news of them arriving so soon caught her off guard.

“May I ask… who… we are expecting?”

“Most likely an inspectorate sent by the king. He also sends the royal knights…” Riftan trailed off, throwing Maxi a furtive glance. His sensual lips briefly twisted as though he was troubled by what he was about to say, but all emotion faded as he added casually, “and Princess Agnes.”

Maxi’s breath hitched. She stared dumbly at Riftan. The princess he had once been connected to in marriage talks was coming to Calypse Castle. Maxi did not know how she was supposed to react to such news.

When she did not answer, Riftan continued with a hint of agitation. “Of course, she is only coming to inspect the land at the king’s behest. I’m sure he appointed her the task because she is the only member of the royal family I am acquainted with, and who is already on friendly terms with the Remdragon Knights.”

“I-I see.”

Maxi swallowed hard. He had used the word ‘acquainted,’ yet it still struck a nerve. They were comrades who had fought alongside each other during the Dragon Campaign; a passing acquaintanceship was improbable. And if Ruth was to be believed, Riftan and the princess’s relationship had seemed close enough for everyone to think they would marry once the campaign was over.

Not wanting to be seen as a woman consumed by jealousy, Maxi swallowed hard despite the knot in her stomach and willed herself to look calm. She smiled.

“I-I will… h-have the servants prepare… the best rooms. I-Is there anything else… I should do?”

Riftan’s gaze bored into her. “You need only to instruct the maidservants to make thorough preparations for the welcome. Don’t trouble yourself any more than that.”

His answer was brusque, and his attention returned to his desk.

Maxi was too caught up in her own emotions to worry about his strangely chilly attitude. She hastily rose from her seat before he could notice her distress.

“Then… I-I shall go inform them r-right now.”

“I’ll leave it to you,” Riftan said without looking up.

Maxi immediately left the room and hurried down the stairs. Her mind was still in a muddle when she sought out Rodrigo to inform him of the news. It was in this state of inner turmoil that Maxi tried to process the princess’s impending visit.

Was it normal for a woman of royal birth to call on the estate of a man who had refused to marry her? What reason would the princess have for visiting him? It was possible that King Reuben had not yet given up on making Riftan his son-in-law. The inspection could merely be an excuse for the princess to come and win Riftan’s heart.

The thought filled Maxi with dread. Riftan may not wish to divorce her right now, but there was no guarantee that that would not change. What was she to do if the princess employed all her charms to beguile him?

“You look quite pale, my lady. Are you feeling unwell?” Rodrigo asked worriedly when he saw the color drain from Maxi’s face.

Maxi shook her head. “I-I am… just… a little tired.”

This was not the time for her mind to be elsewhere. Maxi did her best to push the negative thoughts to the back of her head so she could concentrate on the task at hand. She had to make sure the royal guests did not think the castle was neglected. There would be no time to leisurely go over every aspect with Ruth as she had wanted.

“I think… we will have to ask A-Aderon…. to come to the castle again. Could you tell him… that I wish to start… working on the garden… without delay? A-Ask him to start… with the grounds in front of the great hall i-if… decorating the whole garden proves difficult. I would also like… new trees planted.”

“I shall send word immediately, my lady.”

“A-Also… I want the guest rooms to be decorated with… colorful tapestries and the f-finest linens… p-prepared for the beds. Please tell the servants… that they are to a-attend to the guests… with utmost care… and make sure every part… of the castle is clean.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

Maxi could not think of any more instructions. Her lips parted and closed several times before she finally muttered, “Please inform me if any… p-problems arise.”

After dismissing the steward, Maxi returned to her chambers where she mechanically started reading a book on magic. Her mind did not register any of the words. She thumbed through the pages, chewing her lip.

With no sign of an heir, Maxi and Riftan’s marriage was presently as fragile as a piece of parchment. It could be ripped apart at any moment if Riftan so wished.

Her anxiety doubly swelled when she recalled how distant Riftan had been acting lately. He had assured Maxi that he had no intention of breaking his marriage vows, but how strong was his resolve? Wouldn’t it weaken in the face of a breathtaking beauty trying to seduce him?

She truly could be coming just to inspect the lands, as Riftan said.

Maxi desperately tried to stamp out the gray clouds of anxiety gathering within her. As obstinate as he was, Riftan was a man of integrity. He would not bend like a reed being tossed around by the wind.

No more dark thoughts.

Riftan was a knight who had sworn allegiance to King Reuben; it was inevitable that he would have to interact with the royal family. Drowning herself in self-sabotaging thoughts every time it happened would not do. It took Maxi all her strength to get ahold of herself.

◆◆◆

One good thing about being so preoccupied with preparations was that Maxi had no time to wallow in her thoughts. Putting even her studies on hold, she gathered merchants to the castle to select decorations for the guest rooms and began planning the landscaping of the gardens.

There was not enough time to work on the whole garden, so Maxi had them filled with shrubs and statues. It did not take as long as she had feared, as the frozen grounds had begun to thaw.

The merchant guild sent laborers to dig holes at fixed intervals for the new trees, and the castle servants scattered seeds in the flowerbeds amongst the newly-planted seedlings. It was still early to be sowing seeds, but Maxi hoped that the leaf mold mixed in the soil would allow them to take root as the weather grew warmer. She wanted the stark garden to be presentable by the time the guests arrived.

“The royal kn-knights… shall stay in the annex… while Her Highness, her retinue… and her ladies-in-waiting… shall stay… in the great hall. You must m-make sure… they have… everything they need.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Do not… be light with the spices… and spare no expense for the f-feast preparations… Only use g-gold or silver utensils… and make sure we have enough p-premium wine.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Maxi gave meticulous instructions to the servants and inspected the castle several times a day to make sure the preparations were going smoothly. Maidservants opened the thick shutters and polished the opaque windows until they were sparkling. Servants cleaned out the ash-laden fireplaces until their faces were covered in soot, and even scrubbed the braziers free of scorch marks.

The preparations did not stop there. The servants also spent a whole day drawing water from the well and scrubbing the stains off the dirty carpets, rugs, and curtains. Maxi had her hands full overseeing it all alongside filling out daily order forms. She did it all on her own, for Ruth was too busy working on a magical device.

Maxi knew everyone had more on their plates than she did, so she did not complain. Ruth worked without sleep, while Riftan and the knights were busy from dawn till late into the night planning the road construction that would commence in the spring.

Building a wide road to connect Anatol to the port was an enormous endeavor. Riftan spent his days poring over maps and discussing the fastest and safest routes with the knights, as well as putting considerable effort into securing the manpower and materials needed for the construction.

All this activity meant that the frequency of their coupling dwindled. Riftan only returned to their bedchamber late at night while Maxi, exhausted from her early-morning rounds, fell asleep as soon as it was dusk. Since Riftan returned late and left before dawn, there were even times when Maxi would not catch a glimpse of him for a whole day.

As they spent less and less time together, Maxi grew increasingly frustrated. She wanted Riftan to take her in his arms and kiss her with his warm, soft lips. She wanted to lie on top of him so she could bury her face on his sturdy chest like a kitten, and feel his big hand stroking her hair.

It made Maxi wish the season of repose had never ended. She missed the times when the two of them spent inseparable days within the cold, gloomy castle. It made her wonder if he had finally grown tired of her. Did this distance mean that he no longer felt any passion for her?

Such thoughts simmered in her mind as she lay in bed at night waiting for him, to the point where it felt as if she would go mad. It was easier during the day when she was preoccupied, but lying alone in their vast bed, running her hand over the cold and empty spot next to her, filled her with all sorts of negative notions.

Maxi was overcome with the desire to see her husband’s smiling face, to go riding outside the castle grounds, and to be alone with him.

◆◆◆

The guests arrived as Maxi’s frustrations reached their peak. On a sunny afternoon that announced the coming of spring, Maxi had been overseeing the landscaping of the garden when she got word that knights carrying the royal seal had entered Anatol. She froze at the news. Fortunately, the garden no longer looked like a wasteland thanks to the trees planted throughout the garden.

She hurried to welcome the guests. Though she was not fully satisfied with it, Maxi was grateful that she had at least managed to make it presentable before the arrival of the royal inspectorate.

Gathering the servants, she made sure they were stationed in an orderly fashion at the entrance of the great hall before returning to her chambers. She inspected herself in the mirror; her dress was lavish, but she could not shake the feeling that something was lacking.

She opened the chest where she kept her barely-worn jewelry and adorned herself with a brooch, a necklace, and a ring. She then asked Ludis to rearrange her hair. It would not do to seem inferior next to her husband’s almost-fiancé.

Ludis seemed to read her mistress’s mind and put extra effort into painstakingly braiding her curls and winding them with silk. She finished it off with a stunning jewel-encrusted coronet.

Not long after, Maxi heard the blast of a kopel boom from afar. The guests had arrived.

[1] About 30 centimeters.

[2] Approximately six meters.

[3] Equivalent to 100 grams.

[4] A knight’s oath.

[5] The season of repose, equivalent to winter.

[6] The season of repose, equivalent to winter.

[7] The season of water, equivalent to spring.

[8] Six to nine meters.

Also by Suji Kim

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Crime of Crime (in Korean)

Twilight Poem (in Korean)

A Lukewarm Couple (in Korean)

Bongru (in Korean)

Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Also by Suji Kim