Chapter Twenty-Seven #6
From the corner of the room, Ruth let out a snort. “And how exactly are you going to do that? The tower strictly maintains its neutrality. It is their rule not to interfere with the internal affairs of the Seven Kingdoms, no matter the situation.”
The princess gave Ruth a disparaging glare as if to tell him that he had no right to make such comments. She sighed and said, “There is one thing that would prompt them to step in.”
“What are you—”
Ruth stopped mid-scoff and gaped as realization dawned on him.
“No…you’re not planning on recruiting her ladyship to the Mage Tower, are you?”
This time, even the knights grew wide-eyed. Maxi was about to chide Ruth for his nonsensical comment when the princess nodded.
“If Maximilian were to become a pupil of the tower, we can charge the duke with mage persecution. Nornui takes protecting its mages very seriously. If there is a trial, they will send a representative to investigate. The moment the claims of physical harm are corroborated, not a single mage will remain in the duke’s service. ”
“B-But…But…” Maxi stammered, unable to follow the rapid developments. “I-I don’t understand…. Even if…I was to register with the tower now…the incident…has already occurred. C-Can we still accuse the duke of mage persecution…wh-when the assault happened earlier?”
The princess shook her head. “No, but I intend to falsify the record to show that you registered last spring. The story will be that the last time I visited Anatol, I urged you to register as a mage of the tower, and you agreed.”
“B-But…”
At a loss for words, Maxi turned to Ruth with a disconcerted look. She still remembered what he had told her about the Mage Tower’s training regimen.
“I-I heard that one is required…to study at N-Nornui for four years…to become a mage. My father is aware th-that I’ve never been there. I’ve only spent a year in Anatol…and before then, I’d n-never left Croyso Castle.”
Simon broke his silence as Maxi finished her point.
“A number of people register first before entering Nornui to begin their studies.” Without bothering to ask permission, he took the seat next to the princess and continued calmly.
“It won’t be difficult coming up with a reason to explain your late entry.
We can say that you registered last spring at Princess Agnes’s recommendation.
Although you intended to depart immediately, the monster army invaded, so you decided to delay your studies to offer what assistance you could. ”
“Can she still receive the tower’s protection without formal training?” Ursuline asked.
The princess nodded. “One receives Nornui’s protection the moment they register. They have assured me that they will turn a blind eye to the falsified date.”
The conversation seemed to be spiraling out of control. Maxi almost felt steam shooting from her ears as she tried to keep up. She looked over the participants’ faces one by one—the princess’s determination, Simon’s calmness, and Ruth’s stoniness.
“Th-Then…does that…?”
Her throat felt gritty as if she had swallowed sand. She willed the words out of her mouth.
“Does that mean…I will have to go to Nornui?”
The princess’s face fell slightly. She stroked the edges of her lip before giving a reluctant nod. “Yes, for at least three to four years…. As a rule, one is expected to begin training as soon as possible after registering.”
Noticing Maxi standing frozen in place, Elliot spoke up. “Could we not just leave it at registering her ladyship’s name? The commander would never agree to Lady Calypse being away from Anatol for that long.”
The princess shook her head. “The Mage Tower has its own rules, and those who register must abide by them. There are no exceptions.”
Ruth winced and backed away. After shooting him a pointed glare, Princess Agnes rubbed her forehead. She sounded deflated as she continued speaking.
“Moreover, it would fail to convince the duke. That man will no doubt start another case the moment he learns he’s been duped. By then, he might also include a charge of deceiving a high-ranking noble.”
Feeling trapped, Maxi gnawed her parched lips. The thought of leaving Riftan’s side made her stomach twist into knots. As she struggled to answer, Ruth snapped out of his silent deliberation.
“Your Highness, we understand where you’re coming from, but this is all quite sudden,” the mage said gravely.
“Once her ladyship becomes a mage of the tower, she must spend years at Nornui without contact with the outside world. It’s a matter that requires much consideration.
Please, give her some time to think it over. ”
Princess Agnes sighed. “I would if that were possible, but who knows when the duke might take off for the duchy? That man was forced to come here at the king’s behest. He likely intends to leave as soon as protocol permits.”
Not knowing what else to do, Maxi cast her eyes to the floor. Although she had told the princess that she would do anything for Riftan, she found it difficult to agree to this suggestion so readily. Seeing her hesitate, Ruth scowled at the princess.
“I’m sure you can keep him here for at least a few days! This is not something you can coerce someone into. It’s not only Sir Riftan’s future that’s at stake, but her ladyship’s as well.”
The princess furrowed her brow as if offended.
“I understand,” she said, nodding. Then she sighed again. “Please consider it during the mediation.”
Princess Agnes and Simon rose from their seats. Maxi found herself unable to utter a single word until they were out of the room. It felt as though she were on a tightrope, fighting to keep her balance.
Ursuline studied Maxi’s blanched face as he spoke. “You are free to refuse, my lady.”
When Maxi’s eyes widened, the knight added somberly, “The commander will probably be against it. The truth is…he is already preparing to leave Wedon.”
Maxi’s jaw fell open. “D-Does he…plan on defecting?”
Ursuline nodded slowly. “The commander has no intention of ever standing trial. If the arbitration fails, he plans to set off to Livadon with you immediately.”
“Th-Then…what about Anatol a-and the Remdragon Knights?”
“Many of the knights intend to follow. Frankly, everyone wants to defect with him, but some are in circumstances that won’t allow them to leave. The order will likely split into two.”
Maxi flinched and glanced at Ruth, Elliot, and the knights silently standing guard by the door. They all appeared completely calm, as though they were already aware of the plans. Riftan had likely informed them in advance. Maxi was so stunned that she sank into the chair.
“I am not telling you this to burden you,” Ursuline quickly added. “We still don’t know how this mediation will end. We merely planned for the worst.”
“Th-Then, if the talks fail…” Maxi reeled in a daze. “Riftan…will lose Anatol and his knights…. He would lose everything.”
The knights’ mouths set into grim lines, and the air in the room turned gloomy.
Out of nowhere, Ruth gripped Maxi’s shoulders.
“My lady, I know my saying this is useless…but you should try to get some sleep for now. This is not a decision you should make in haste. Entering the Mage Tower means that you will have to live as a mage for the rest of your life. You must be certain that you want to take this on, so you ought to mull it over with a clear head before making any decisions.”
Maxi looked up at him through eyes clouded with tears before silently bobbing her head. Ursuline gently helped her up and led her out of the room.
As she followed him down the dark corridor, Maxi struggled to organize her muddled thoughts.
The story she recalled from a bard’s song refused to leave her mind.
It spoke of mages of antiquity who created an island in the middle of the sea to escape the heathen hunters. There they built a colossal tower.
Coming face-to-face with the story of legend filled her with a nebulous dread. Even back in her room, Maxi could not rest, and she spent the night wrestling with the situation in anguish.
It was daybreak when Riftan finally returned to their room. Maxi lay with her back to him, her eyes squeezed shut, pretending to be asleep. She heard rustling fabric before she felt his large frame climb into bed next to her.
She let out a shaky breath. His muscled arm coiled around her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace. Tears burned her eyes at the comforting warmth on her back. She tried to blink them away in the dark.
For the sole reason of being her husband, Riftan currently faced a dilemma that could cost him everything.
The person hounding him was her father; did Riftan not resent her for that?
If he had divorced her and married the princess after the Dragon Campaign, he would not be in this miserable situation.
And I’m not even worth it…. How foolish.
Maxi closed her eyes, her heart breaking. If she were to leave for the Mage Tower, she would not be able to sleep enveloped in these arms for the next few years. Would she be able to endure four years separated from him when just a few months apart had been unbearable?
Riftan’s voice resonated behind her. “Don’t worry. Everything will work out.”
As if knowing she had been awake all along, he turned her around and held her to his chest. He pressed his cheek against the top of her head.
Maxi burrowed herself deeper into his embrace.
She wanted to run away with him to some distant land.
Would it be so wrong for her to go along with his plans?
She could let him give up his knightly status, Anatol, and the order, and whisk her someplace far away.
She shoved down the heart-wrenching sobs that rose in her throat.
Being swayed by such temptations was unforgivable.