Chapter Twenty-Two #11
With a gentle smile, the princess led Maxi out of the tent and showed her around the camp. After noting the location of the mages’ tents, the barracks of the Remdragon Knights, as well as the places she should avoid, Maxi made her way back to the infirmary.
When she reached the tent, however, she suddenly felt self-conscious. She was loitering in front of the entrance when Idsilla spotted her and came running out.
The girl quickly took her behind the infirmary. “Are you all right, Lady Calypse? Was he very angry with you?”
Maxi winced. “I-I am all right, but…I can no longer continue pretending to be a female cleric.”
Idsilla ran her eyes over Maxi’s dress, then let out a sigh of relief. “I thought as much when I saw how Sir Riftan reacted yesterday. He truly is frightening. His eyes were so cold, I was completely petrified.”
“I-It was because…he was shocked to find me here. He usually isn’t…so scary,” Maxi said, apparently forgetting that she, too, had once feared her husband as though he were a demon from hell.
Idsilla regarded Maxi’s defensive response with amusement. “Seeing that he has already forgiven you so soon, he must be more lenient than he appears. The mage was here earlier and explained to us that you’ll be working with us as a healer of Wedon from now on.”
Maxi fidgeted with her skirt. “Were the others…not surprised?”
Idsilla shrugged. “Most were quite shocked, but a few seemed to have guessed.”
When Maxi’s eyes grew wide, Idsilla smiled and added, “Sister Nora and Sister Karen said they knew who you were all along. They apparently saw you at the basilica.”
“Do they also know…who you are?”
Idsilla shook her head. “They seem to suspect something, but I managed to evade their questions.”
Maxi paused. “Why don’t you also reveal y-your identity, Idsilla?” she finally ventured to ask. “I am no longer able to stay…i-in the women’s tent, so if it is all right with you, I-I will ask Riftan to—”
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. I’d prefer it if you would continue to keep my secret,” Idsilla replied.
“After joining the support unit, I have come to realize that I’m not as competent as I thought.
And how sheltered my privileged life has been.
” Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I don’t want to use my status as a noblewoman to receive preferential treatment.
I intend to remain a female cleric until the end.
That is the only thing I am capable of doing. ”
“B-But…it makes me uneasy…to leave you here all alone,” Maxi said with a frown.
“Do not worry about me. I’ll have Selina with me. Could I ask you to inquire about my brother instead?” Idsilla’s expression suddenly grew dark. “Except for the fact that he is at the front, I have yet to learn anything else.”
“I-I understand. I will…try to find out what I can,” Maxi promised. She felt slightly guilty that she had been the only one reunited with her loved one.
Idsilla nodded gratefully. “We should get back to work now. Yesterday’s arrivals are in terrible condition.”
As if trying to lighten the mood, she cheerfully led Maxi into the tent. The others were awkward at first, but before long they began treating her as they always had. All of them were too busy to fuss over someone’s identity.
Needless to say, Maxi had no trouble looking after the wounded among the clerics. She even healed some of them with magic.
Princess Agnes had been right: War had no need for a noblewoman. What mattered the most was one’s ability to fight or to work, and nothing else. Maxi was capable of working, so everything else about her was secondary.
Maxi was busy mixing emergency herbal remedies when Ulyseon entered the infirmary tent.
“My lady, it is time for you to return now,” he said.
Maxi looked up at him in surprise.
The squire glanced around at the injured men lying in the cots with an uncomfortable look on his face, then spoke more urgently. “Sir Riftan has made it clear that I am to escort you back to your tent before it gets dark.”
Maxi hesitated. “B-But I still have—”
“I’ll finish mixing the herbs.” It was Selina, who had been preparing her own batch of herbs nearby. “You should go. Leave the rest to us.”
With that, Maxi was practically pushed out of the infirmary.
Walking beside her, Ulyseon puffed up with pride. “Sir Riftan has once again entrusted me with your safety, my lady. From now on, I shall be by your side at all times.”
“I-I apologize for troubling you,” Maxi murmured.
“Not at all, my lady.” Ulyseon pounded his fist on his chest and gave her a bright smile. “There is no greater joy for a knight than to serve a noble lady. I cannot express how honored I am that Sir Riftan has entrusted me with this duty. I will risk my life to keep you safe.”
Maxi looked up at Ulyseon, who was now a head taller than her. In the past few months, he had surprisingly become more like a grown man. Maxi smiled. In her eyes, the plucky young squire was still like an adorable child.
“Thank you…f-for saying that,” she said.
“I mean every word, my lady.” Ulyseon sounded slightly upset when he saw the smile on her face.
“My knighting ceremony will be held once this war is over, and as soon as I am knighted, I intend to challenge Sir Hebaron and replace him as Sir Riftan’s right hand.
Please do not take my determination lightly. ”
Maxi’s face flushed. “I…I apologize.”
After regarding her with narrowed eyes as if to ascertain her sincerity, his face regained its boyish guilelessness. “I will let this trespass go. But only because it is you, my lady.”
Maxi had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing at the youth’s solemn bearing and manner of speech. Like a true knight, he escorted her to Riftan’s tent with utmost decorum, then quickly brought her a tray of sumptuous food for dinner.
After washing her hands, Maxi sat at the table and asked, “D-Do you know when Riftan will be returning?”
Ulyseon gave her an apologetic look. “Sir Riftan is currently in a strategy meeting, my lady, and it will likely go on until late into the night.”
Maxi felt despondent at Ulyseon’s words. Could it be that Riftan was using the meeting as an excuse to avoid her? After all, he had always been adept at evading her whenever he was angry. She anxiously picked at her food and tried in vain to rest.
When Riftan did not return even into the late hours of the night, Maxi surmised that her suspicions had been correct. She lay waiting on the cot until fatigue finally dragged her into sleep.
Unsurprisingly, she awoke to an empty bed. She hurriedly got ready for the day. Just as she was about to rush outside, Ulyseon entered the tent.
“Good morning, my lady!” The young knight gave her a bright smile and placed her breakfast on the table.
Maxi tried to conceal her anxiety as she asked, “Riftan…did not return last night. D-Did the meeting last all night?”
“The meeting ended in the early hours of the morning, my lady. I was standing guard in front of the tent and only went back to the barracks after Sir Riftan’s return.” Ulyseon cocked his head. “He probably did not wake you since he thought you might be tired.”
Maxi was willing to wager the entirety of her accumulated mana that Riftan had noiselessly entered and left the tent to avoid her.
Her brow furrowed in irritation. “Can you tell me…where he is now?”
Ulyseon pondered. “He should be outside the gates inspecting our defenses. Do you have an urgent matter to discuss with him, my lady?”
Opening and closing her mouth, Maxi weakly shook her head. The truth was, she did not know what else to say to him. Everything that needed to be said had been already. All she could do now was to wait for his anger to abate, as the princess had advised. Maxi heaved a resigned sigh.
Four days later, with still no glimpse of Riftan, her anger slowly grew. Like a coward, he would sneak in and out of the tent while she slept. It was infuriating.
Although she tried to stay awake each night, her exhaustion always won. On the other hand, Riftan was a man who did not know what it meant to be tired. He could no doubt wait all night for her to fall asleep.
Irritably brushing away the strands of hair sticking to her face, Maxi ripped up the herb in her hands and dropped it into the boiling cauldron. She was glaring into the bubbling mixture, seething, when Idsilla returned with an armful of firewood.
Idsilla cocked her head at Maxi. “What is it? Is something wrong with the remedy?”
Maxi hastily tried to lighten her expression. “N-No. I was just…thinking about something.”
“Your husband will be going to the battlefront again. You must be worried,” Idsilla said sympathetically.
Maxi did not confirm or deny the girl’s assumption and merely gave her an ambiguous look. Idsilla regarded Maxi knowingly, as though she understood everything.
“They say that there won’t be an all-out battle anytime soon, so don’t worry too much,” she said, her tone consoling.
“I’m sorry,” Maxi replied after a pause. “You must be…more anxious than I am….”
“We are both worried for our families. It wouldn’t be right to say that one is more anxious than the other. For now, it is enough that I know he’s well,” Idsilla said, her tone optimistic.
Maxi had found out from Elliot that Idsilla’s brother, Elbarto Calima, was safe. The girl’s face had visibly brightened when Maxi had told her the news.
“The division…g-guarding the front should be returning soon,” Maxi said. “I am sure you will see your brother then.”
“I don’t want him to know that I’m here.
” Idsilla adamantly shook her head as she shoved dry twigs into the fire.
“Elba might be an outstanding knight, but he is not invincible like your husband. I have no doubt that he is already pushing himself too hard because of his bad arm. I don’t want to add to his worries. I will see him once the war is over.”