Chapter Twenty-Two #8
Maxi came to the mage’s defense. “R-Ruth was…forced to keep it a secret b-because I implored him not to tell anyone.”
Ursuline’s icy expression did not change. “Even so, he should have prioritized your safety and informed the commander.”
“Had I thought it would be a problem, I would’ve done so,” Ruth interjected. “But her ladyship has been doing well on her own. I figured there was no need to turn it into a bigger problem than it was.”
“It is not your place to make such—”
Ursuline’s rebuke was cut short by Elliot Charon and Ulyseon Rovar bursting into the tent. Seeing the shock on their faces, Maxi flushed and tried to arrange her disheveled hair.
After gawking at her for a moment, Ulyseon’s face lit up with a wide smile as he rushed to her side. “My lady! You really are here! I didn’t believe it at first. Have you been well?”
The tension in Maxi’s shoulders eased at the relief that at least somebody was happy to see her. “I have been…well. How about you, Ulyseon? A-Are you well?”
“Haven’t injured even a pinkie, my lady.
I’m not even allowed to fight on the battlefield!
” Ulyseon exclaimed, clearly discontent.
“While the others fight at the front, all I’ve been doing is transporting weapons, tending to the horses, and cleaning armor.
” He looked her over with bright eyes. “In any case, you really had me shocked, my lady! How did you get here?”
“I-I came with the support unit,” Maxi replied.
Elliot had been staring at her with a vacant expression. He now looked utterly dumbfounded as he muttered, “Now that you mention it…I see you are wearing a cleric’s habit.”
Maxi blushed and tried to smooth her tattered clothes. “I-I have been…treating the wounded w-with the other female clerics.”
“You have been staying with the female clerics all this time?” he echoed, giving her the same stunned look as Ulyseon. Then, as if finally grasping the situation, he grew pale. “You came to this dangerous place without a single guard?”
Maxi flinched. “The basilica’s soldiers…protected us on our way here.”
Elliot’s frown only grew deeper. “My lady! How could you be so reckless? Have you considered what could have happened if there’d been an accident?
” He suddenly clutched his forehead and let out a groan.
“If you came with the support unit, then you must have been at Serbin Castle when I was there. Have you known since then that she was here, Mage Ruth?”
Ruth pursed his lips and looked away. His silence was answer enough.
Elliot glowered at him and barked, “Are you out of your mind?! Why did you not inform me of this right away?”
There was a short, tense silence. “Let’s say I wished to handle this problem as quietly as possible,” Ruth said flatly.
Elliot was momentarily speechless at the sorcerer’s apathetic response. His face grew red as he shook off his disbelief and began to berate Ruth. “Are you saying that you’ve been neglecting her ladyship because you couldn’t be bothered? Sir Riftan will never forgive you if he learns of this!”
“Sir Elliot! P-Please, stop,” Maxi cut in. “I was the one…wh-who asked Ruth not to tell anyone. You mustn’t b-blame him.”
Elliot’s expression immediately softened when he saw Maxi’s face drained of all color. He cleared his throat. “I apologize for raising my voice, my lady, but we cannot simply let this slide—”
“I truly am s-sorry for worrying you, but…I really am getting along just fine,” Maxi insisted. “I-I do not want there to be any trouble…because of me.”
Seeing her imploring gaze, Elliot lowered his head in resignation.
Ruth, who had been watching their exchange like a silent spectator, scratched the back of his head. “What do you intend to do, my lady? Now that Sir Riftan has found out, you will no longer be able to stay with the female clerics.”
Maxi pressed her lips together. Ruth was right.
Riftan would never allow her to remain with the other women.
Even so, she could not leave Idsilla all alone when the girl had unwittingly come to rely on her so much.
Not knowing what to do, Maxi was anxiously rubbing her forehead when her stomach emitted a low growl.
A hot flush lit up her ears. She furtively glanced up to see if anyone had heard and saw the knights, all of whom had keen senses, looking at her with wide eyes.
She mumbled an excuse. “I-I have yet to have dinner….”
“I will get you something to eat at once!” Ulyseon declared.
He ran out of the tent while Elliot swiftly pulled out a chair from the table and motioned for her to sit.
“You must be tired from tending to the injured men all day, my lady. You should rest. Is there anything else we can get you?”
“I-I would like…to wash,” Maxi said tentatively.
Elliot immediately ordered a basin of water to be brought to the tent. The next thing Maxi knew, clean towels, a bar of soap, and a large basin full of cold water were being laid out before her.
It had been quite some time since she had experienced such conscientious service, and she found the sudden attention rather disconcerting. Still, the basin brimming with clean water was too tempting to resist.
When the knights stepped out of the tent to stand guard outside, Maxi ducked behind a partition to undress. It was her first bath in a week, and nothing could hold her back from it. She threw nervous glances at the entrance before she began to wipe herself down with a soaked towel.
Though she was as sparing as possible with the water, the basin was half empty by the time she rinsed her face and body.
The remaining water was for her hair, but it was not enough to thoroughly rinse all the soap from her thick curls.
Although it bothered her slightly, she felt better now that she at least smelled clean.
After rolling her dirty garments into a ball and placing them aside, she found a tunic—likely Riftan’s—and put it on. The tunic would have fallen just above the knees on him. On her, it reached down to her calves. She tied a belt around her waist and tentatively poked her head out of the tent flap.
“I-I am done.”
Elliot had been waiting for her outside the tent. “Your food is ready, my lady. Please let me know if you require more.”
He handed her a tray full of roasted meat, hot stew, bread, and wine. Maxi’s eyes grew wide at the most sumptuous meal she had seen in a long time.
“This is m-more than enough,” she said gratefully. “Um…do you know where Riftan is?”
“The commander is at the ramparts,” Elliot replied. “Do not worry, my lady. He should be back soon.”
Maxi accepted the tray with a sullen expression. Although she was famished, recalling Riftan’s obstinate behavior left an unpleasant taste in her mouth. It felt as though she had swallowed sand.
She sat at the table and crammed the bread into her mouth.
Halfway through the tray of food, fatigue and drowsiness suddenly flooded through her body.
Maxi gulped down the remaining wine and sat on the cot, sleepily staring at the entrance.
However, Riftan did not return even as the night grew deeper.
Was he so angry that he did not wish to see her at all? Her heart stung when she remembered the pain in his eyes. She had been expecting him to be furious, but she had never once thought that she would cause him anguish.
Hunched on the cot, Maxi buried her face in her knees. Should she have waited patiently in Levan? She wished to be by his side no matter the danger. If it meant she could be with him, she would gladly endure the hardships of a campaign.
She decided to tell him as much when he returned—that being with him was what mattered to her the most. That being Maximilian Calypse made her feel more alive than ever.
Her neck became strained as she sat there waiting for him, her gaze fixed on the flaps of the tent. Eventually, tired and sated, she fell asleep.
She groggily awoke to find a sturdy arm wrapped around her waist. Her eyes flew open.
In the dim light of dawn, she could make out Riftan’s sleeping, muscular form.
She gazed up at his calm face in surprise.
He must have lost weight in the past few months, as his face looked a little gaunt.
Faint shadows darkened the skin below his eyes.
Despite his anger, he had quietly lain down next to her so as not to wake her. Her heart constricted with emotion at the thought.
She brushed aside the long strands of hair covering his forehead.
He looked younger with his hair swept up.
She devoured him with her eyes before leaning in to give him a peck on the lips.
When Riftan did not wake up, she grew more daring.
She stroked his stubbled chin and held her lips to his a bit longer.
For someone whose body was as hard as iron, his lips were surprisingly soft. Maxi was gently caressing them when he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
“That tickles.”
Maxi froze as her face flushed crimson. “I-I’m sorry. Did I…wake you?”
“I didn’t get a wink of sleep.” He opened his eyes. They were completely lucid as he gazed at her. “I still can’t believe that you’re here.”
Maxi’s heart sank at his brusque tone. She burrowed deeper into his arms.
“I’m sorry for coming here a-against your wishes,” she whispered. “Please…don’t be angry with me.”
Riftan stiffened, then wordlessly pulled her into a tight embrace.
Relief flooded over her at his comforting warmth.
Maxi pressed her face to his chest and breathed in deeply.
His masculine scent filling her lungs kindled an intense warmth in her heart.
She felt like a wanderer who had returned home after a long journey.
“I really…missed you,” she said softly. “That’s why I came. I truly am h-happy to be here.”
Riftan scoffed. “Don’t think that you can settle this with sweet words.”