Chapter Twenty-Six #2
“Are you asking me to repay you by rescinding my declaration of war?” said Riftan, his voice growing dangerously low.
Despite the intimidating aura rolling off him, the attendant refused to back down. She scoffed and looked toward Maxi. “What else do you have to offer me?”
Maxi’s eyes widened as she met Rosetta’s turquoise gaze. So her ears had not deceived her—her sister was really here, arrogantly bargaining with Riftan. She could not process what was happening.
With her lips curled in a condescending smile, Rosetta said, “Of course, you may ignore my request if you do not agree that you are indebted to me. If you consider my help inconsequential, by all means, pay me no mind and invade my home. How could I protest if you regard executing your will as more important than the debt you owe?”
Riftan followed Rosetta’s gaze and locked on Maxi, his face hardening. Maxi took a step back. A suffocating silence fell over the room. Rosetta seemed to be testing Riftan as she fixed her eyes on him, while Princess Agnes maintained the silent pressure.
Riftan had his jaws clenched throughout this exchange. After a while, he swore under his breath and glared at Rosetta.
“The debt I owe is great…” he said through gritted teeth. “Fine. I will withdraw Anatol’s declaration of war.”
Relieved sighs burst forth all around the room. They were cut short as Riftan promptly added, “But it will be a different story if the duke refuses to let go. I will only back down this once. If the duke strikes first, I will retaliate.”
“You needn’t worry about that,” said the princess. “His Majesty will not tolerate anyone disrupting the current order, and that applies to the Duke of Croyso, too. The king does not want his vassals sowing further discord. We have made this clear to the duke as well.”
For a fleeting moment, a feral smile crossed Riftan’s face. “And was he willing to obey?”
Princess Agnes nodded solemnly. “The duke does not wish to sour his relationship with the royal family. If Anatol pulls back, we will intervene if he tries to cause another dispute.”
Riftan looked far from reassured. His lips twisted in a regretful expression, and he shot to his feet. He strode over to Maxi, who had been frozen in place by the mind-boggling exchange, and pulled her arm as he addressed the princess.
“Seeing as you’ve achieved what you wanted, I see no reason for you to remain here any longer. You may leave now.” It was a blatant dismissal of the king’s envoys.
Maxi looked up at Riftan with a flustered expression. “R-Riftan…”
The princess’s reply was tinged with bitterness. “We will leave as soon as our horses are rested enough for the return journey. I hope you won’t mind us intruding on your hospitality a little longer.”
Riftan shot her a glare before turning and marching down the corridor. Maxi did not get the chance to get in a word as Riftan led her up the stairs. Just then, she heard Rosetta call out behind them.
“Wait.”
Riftan paused before the stairs.
Rosetta glided over to them. “I wish to speak with my sister before I leave.”
Maxi’s face grew still. What did they have to talk about? Rosetta approached at her usual languid pace, but it felt as threatening as though she were charging at Maxi with a dagger.
Sensing Maxi’s uneasiness, Riftan blocked Rosetta’s path. “And what exactly do you have to discuss with her?”
“It’s just a sisterly chat.” Rosetta raised her chin tauntingly. “Are you worried that I might harm her? You don’t need to be. I wish to leave this castle unscathed.”
Heat rose in Maxi’s cheeks at Rosetta’s mocking tone. The embarrassment of hiding behind Riftan out of fear of her younger sister pricked at her. She tugged on his sleeve to dissuade him and took a tentative step forward.
“I-I…wish to speak with her, too,” she managed to say.
Riftan’s lips thinned in discontent.
Maxi hastily added, “D-Don’t worry. Rosetta…”
No words came to mind as she went to reassure him. Maxi looked at her sister as though she were seeing her for the first time. Aside from Rosetta’s conceited way of talking, what else did she know about her sister?
At Maxi’s hesitation, Rosetta said primly, “Won’t you show me your garden? I find it rather stifling in here.” Her eyes scanned the hallway.
Though Maxi felt offended, she forced a smile on her lips and nodded. Riftan opened his mouth to say something, but he stopped himself and reluctantly let go of her hand.
“Don’t stay out too long. The wind is cold,” he mumbled gloomily.
The icy look he directed at Rosetta seemed to warn her of the consequences that awaited if she were to do anything foolish. Rosetta, however, remained unperturbed. Maxi gave Riftan a reassuring smile and descended the stairs with her sister.
Outside, the harsh autumn sunlight stung her eyes. Rosetta’s light brown hair shimmered faintly silver in Maxi’s blurred vision. Even in her modest attire, Rosetta was as beautiful as an angel. Maxi was unconsciously intimidated by her sister’s beauty.
Throwing a glance at the knights behind them, Rosetta whispered to Maxi, “I want to talk to you privately.”
Maxi regarded her sister warily before turning to address Sir Elliot. “S-Sir Elliot…I need a moment with my sister.”
The knight looked wary as he glanced at Rosetta. “We will wait for you up here, my lady,” he said, nodding. “Please call us if you need anything.”
When the knights backed away, the two women climbed down the steps to the garden, awash with golden hues. Rosetta remained quiet for a long time even as the knights grew distant. What was it about this mysterious topic that made her hold back? Maxi grew tense.
It was only as they reached a corner of the garden that Rosetta finally spoke. “The Croyso knights found our father immediately after you left,” she said. “He was treated before it was too late, and I’m told he will be just fine.”
Maxi’s whole body grew rigid as Rosetta’s lips curled into a wicked smile.
“But I think they may have set his broken jawbone incorrectly, as he has trouble articulating his words now,” she snickered. “The damage might be permanent.”
Seeing the evident pleasure on Rosetta’s face sent Maxi’s head reeling in confusion. Backing away, she regarded her sister as though she were a stranger.
“I-I…don’t know…what you’re getting at.”
Rosetta narrowed her eyes. “But of course. You’ve never really tried to get to know me, after all.”
Maxi recoiled at Rosetta’s biting tone.
All traces of a smile vanishing from her face, Rosetta said flatly, “Don’t take it the wrong way. I don’t resent you for never showing any interest in me. I didn’t ask for your time to whine about something so childish.”
Maxi stared at her. “Th-Then why…?”
Rosetta remained silent for a moment before saying calmly, “I think Father is secretly communicating with the other nobles. He undoubtedly has no intention of overlooking this matter.”
Maxi felt the blood drain from her face. A gust of arid wind swept past. She hugged her forearms as they broke out in goosebumps.
“Wh-Why? What on earth i-is he…?”
Rosetta shrugged. “I don’t know the details.
The beating must have been quite a shock.
He confined himself in his room for a while, but then he began calling for his vassals to take letters all over Wedon.
He might be pretending to obey the royal commands, but I think he’s secretly planning something.
I’m sure he intends to carry it out once I’m married into the royal family.
” Her lips twisted in irritation, but her face quickly regained its usual indifference as though none of this really mattered to her.
“I’m simply letting you know. When the time is right, you should warn your husband to be prepared. ”
Maxi blanched. “Wh-Why…didn’t you speak of this b-before? If you had—”
“Your husband would not have acquiesced. After all, it would be more expedient for him to deal with our father with force at the outset,” Rosetta replied coldly. “But I don’t want a war to send our kingdom into turmoil. Even I have a person or two I wish to protect.”
“I-I also don’t want a war…but…” Maxi forced a gulp. Although it was the truth, she hated the thought of Riftan being caught in a difficult situation even more.
Rosetta watched Maxi’s ashen face with a bemused expression. “Do you love him?”
Her uncharacteristic sentiment momentarily stupefied Maxi. She could not fathom Rosetta’s intentions in asking such a question.
When she remained silent, Rosetta gave her a spiteful smile. “It won’t work out. It’s beyond your capabilities.”
The certainty in her sister’s remark made something lurch in Maxi’s chest. It was no mystery that Rosetta thought little of her, but her blatant expression of it made Maxi’s blood boil.
Her face flushing in anger, Maxi raised her voice and said, “R-Riftan…ch-cherishes me. For a long time now, h-he has—”
“I didn’t say he was the problem. You are. You will never be able to love another person.”
Rosetta’s retort was cruelly calm. As though pricked by a thorn, Maxi’s hand flinched.
She shook her head to say that she found the accusation absurd. “A-And what makes you think…you know me well enough to say those things? You know…nothing about me. You said that I n-never bothered to get to know you, but the same g-goes for y—”
“But I do know you.”
Rosetta’s conviction temporarily left Maxi speechless. They had never been close. She could not fathom the reason behind her sister’s certainty.
Regardless, Rosetta continued in her detached manner, “I am probably the only person in the world who understands you, even if just a little bit.”
Maxi bristled at her sister’s arrogance. “S-Stop this nonsense.” Her face crumpled in anger. “Y-You? U-Understand me? How c-could you…when you’ve been showered with…p-praise and affection…all your life? No, you know nothing—”
“Affection?” Rosetta’s face twisted coldly. “Do you truly think that Father is capable of loving another soul?”
“H-He has always been p-proud—”
“Father considered me useful. He did not love me.”
“Y-You, at least—”