Chapter Twenty-Seven #7
She could not cling to him forever like a stubborn child. It was her weakness that had caused all this. Her inability to trust, her relentless self-hatred—that was why they were in this situation. If she were to feign ignorance and do nothing, she would despise herself for the rest of her life.
The next morning, as soon as Riftan left for the assembly room, Maxi went straight to the princess’s quarters in the annex.
The knights escorted her there. Though Ruth had tried to persuade her to deliberate longer, she was afraid that her resolve would crumble if she did not give her answer right away.
Maxi squeezed her eyes shut and knocked on the door. When it swung open, the first thing she saw was Princess Agnes’s surprised face.
The princess ushered her into the room. “Have you come to a decision already?” she asked cautiously.
Lowering herself into a velvet-upholstered chair, Maxi took a deep breath and nodded. “I have decided…to accept. I-I will become a mage of the tower.”
Contrary to Maxi’s expectations, the princess looked conflicted rather than pleased.
“I know how laughable this may sound after the way I tried to press you yesterday…but are you sure? Once you enter, you won’t be able to leave the island until you’ve concluded your training. Communication with the outside world will also be greatly restricted.”
When Maxi slowly nodded, Princess Agnes narrowed her eyes as if to gauge her resolve. Finally, she gave a weak smile.
“I know that you have no choice, Maximilian. You may think that I’m being a hypocrite, but I wouldn’t have suggested this if I didn’t think it would be of some benefit to you as well.”
“B-Benefit…me?”
Maxi stared at the princess in disbelief. How on earth would being forced to spend four years apart from her husband benefit her?
Princess Agnes responded to Maxi’s glower with a bitter smile.
“You have a gift, Maximilian. The quick judgment and improvisation you’ve shown during crises…
It’s not something you find often, even among well-trained mages.
With the right training, I am sure you will become an outstanding mage in a few years.
I think it would be a pity to waste your potential solely because you’re married. ”
Maxi pursed her lips. “Y-You needn’t say such things…. I have already made up my mind.”
“I’m not trying to flatter you,” said the princess, frowning. “Joining the Mage Tower is a great honor. I would not have suggested it if I didn’t think you were qualified to do so.”
The princess haughtily raised her chin. When she noticed Maxi’s sunken eyes, she added in a milder voice, “I know how fond you and Riftan are of each other. I understand that it’s heartbreaking for you to be separated from him, but this is an opportunity to stand on your own two feet.
I don’t want you thinking that you’re going solely for Riftan’s sake. ”
Maxi blinked at the princess’s conviction.
“I’m sure this affair has enlightened you to how society treats women,” continued Princess Agnes, sighing at Maxi’s uneasy reaction.
“I am no exception. If I had not become a mage, I would’ve been forced into a political marriage with a feudal lord to solidify Wedon’s unity.
” Her sapphire eyes grew cold. “Once you join the Mage Tower, neither the duke nor Riftan will be able to force you to do anything against your wishes. You will gain the power to protect yourself.”
The princess’s emphatic words seemed to reverberate throughout the room. If it were not for Maxi’s all-consuming grief, the speech would have won her over. There had been a time when she had wanted nothing more than to become a confident mage worthy of admiration like the princess.
Right now, however, she was too miserable to feel any excitement. She felt as dazed as if she had been hit over the head with an iron mace. Another part of her felt like she was being coerced. Maxi helplessly shook her head.
“P-Preventing the trial…is the only thing I can think about right now. My mind s-sadly has no room for anything else.”
“I understand,” the princess replied, nodding readily. “For now, let’s focus on getting the duke to surrender. We can think about the rest in time.”
They rose from their seats after coordinating their story. Outside, Ursuline and Elliot eyed Maxi with concern. After giving them the most reassuring smile she could muster, she made her way to the main building with the princess.
The third session of the mediation was under way in the same room. They strained their ears in front of the arched doorway in the hope of discerning how it was progressing. The duke’s voice blared from the other side.
“If Your Majesty looks past such an unprecedented act of impudence…every noble in the kingdom will rise in protest! Do you intend on betraying your vassals who have been nothing but loyal? All for a lowborn scoundrel of a knight?”
It was a blatant threat. Maxi’s face grew red with anger at her father’s jab at Riftan. The princess stared up at the ceiling as if to summon her self-control, then addressed the attendant at the door with imperious authority.
“I have something to report to His Majesty. Please inform him that I seek his permission to enter the assembly room.”
The young attendant bowed his head. “Right away, Your Highness. One moment.”
He cautiously opened the door and disappeared into the room. A moment later, he returned and motioned for them to enter.
Maxi tentatively followed Princess Agnes and Simon. Riftan was seated at the table, and his look of irritation turned to surprise when he saw Maxi. She avoided his gaze and stuck close to the princess.
Princess Agnes slowly approached the king and addressed him formally. “Please forgive me for interrupting the mediation, Your Majesty.”
The king waved his hand. “No need to apologize. It was becoming quite tedious listening to the same thing over and over.”
The duke’s face contorted at the king’s blasé comment.
King Reuben yawned indifferently and added, “We were told that you have something to report. You have permission to speak freely.”
Princess Agnes cleared her throat. “There is a matter about which you are not yet aware, Your Majesty. I did not bring it to your attention earlier as it was not something I could choose to reveal on my own.” She stole a careful glance at Maxi.
“Thankfully, Lady Calypse has come to a decision. She can no longer stand by and allow this to continue. It’s why we sought an audience with you in all haste. ”
The princess paused for a moment to look at the steely-faced Riftan and the fuming duke in turn. King Reuben raised a bushy brow and rested his chin in his hand.
“Get to the point. I detest long preambles.”
The princess straightened and turned an icy gaze on the duke.
“Then I shall cut to the chase, Your Majesty. The duke claims that his actions were mild corporal punishment, but Lady Calypse does not agree. She has informed me that, if the duke insists on going ahead with the trial, she will lodge a complaint of physical violence with the Mage Tower.”
The duke, who had been listening with a vacant expression, abruptly shot to his feet. “That is absurd! What does the Mage Tower have to do with this?”
Simon answered on behalf of the princess. “Why wouldn’t they have anything to do with this? Protecting its mages is Nornui’s greatest concern. If you recall, the foremost reason behind its establishment was to protect mages from persecution.”
Both the duke and Riftan looked stupefied. Paying no attention to their reactions, Simon turned to the king and calmly continued.
“Maximilian Calypse registered with Nornui last spring, and as such, any violence against her is considered persecution of a mage. The moment she requests the tower’s protection, Nornui will immediately launch an investigation into the matter.
The duke will be made to answer for his crimes if the claims are proven true. ”
“What nonsense!” The duke slammed the table in exasperation and glared murderously at both Maxi and the princess. “A mage? Ha! To think you’d concoct such an outlandish lie…to protect this ruffian! I fear that you are not in your right mind, Your Highness!”
Even the ever-languid King Reuben grew stony at the duke’s flagrant disrespect of the princess. A dangerous glint shone in his golden-brown eyes as he looked down at his vassal.
“It seems you hold me in the lowest possible regard, Lord Croyso.” The king sat upright in his chair, an intimidating smirk stretching across his face.
“Have you forgotten that the person you insult is my daughter? I came here with an open mind, intending to listen to all of your complaints…but my patience wears thin.”
The duke immediately collected himself, though his eyes still burned with animosity.
“It seems I misspoke in anger, Your Majesty,” he mumbled.
“Nevertheless…I find the princess’s claim hard to believe.
Everyone knows that she shares a close friendship with this scoundrel.
I cannot help but suspect that she is lying to protect him. ”
Acid dripped from the duke’s words. He turned his contemptuous gaze on Maxi.
“Though it pains me to say this about my own child…my daughter is feeble-minded. How could she have become a mage of the Mage Tower just six seasons after leaving Croyso Castle? A donkey would have a greater chance of becoming a warhorse!”
Riftan’s face twisted viciously as he leaped to his feet. The duke recoiled, seemingly fearful of being attacked on the spot. Ignoring the two royal knights who stepped in to restrain him, Riftan kept a murderous glare fixed squarely on the duke.