Chapter 4
Together, Maxi and Riftan crossed the gardens and climbed the stairs to the battlements. In the distance, hills thick with verdant trees sloped into rocky mountains and steep cliffs.
“Thirty to thirty-five sentries patrol the ramparts every day, keeping watch for monsters,” explained Riftan. “If they spot any, they sound the kopel horn, which signals our forces to ready themselves for battle.”
Maxi looked over the fortress, its simple structure steadfast against the howling winds.
It was surrounded by high walls, with the knights’ quarters and training grounds in front of the outer gates.
Within the inner gate were the main keep and the annex.
Altogether, the rustic castle resembled a kneeling giant.
Behind the castle was a spacious garden, and in the center of that garden was a tall, slender tower like an iron spike.
Noticing Maxi’s inquiring look, Riftan said, “Ruth lives in that tower. It’s near the mountains, so it makes it easier for him to use long-distance magic, should the need arise.
” He furrowed his brows in annoyance. “But don’t get too close.
He cast strange magic runes all over the tower in the name of research, and they can be a real pain to deal with. ”
“M-Magic runes…?” Maxi glanced up at him, her curiosity piqued.
But Riftan seemed to be uninterested in explaining further, and instead led her along the patrol route toward the castle’s rear.
“What you see over there is the stable. That’s the barn, and that structure there is the granary.
We always keep the granary stocked in case we come under siege.
” Riftan’s monotonous voice faltered as he considered her expression.
“I must be boring you. I’m not much of a storyteller. Especially around women…”
“N-No, I’m not b-bored.” She gave him a small, reassuring smile.
It was difficult to picture Riftan bantering or engaging ladies in conversation.
It was harder still to believe that he was uninitiated in the art of courtship.
Unless he had only recently transformed into a good-looking man, Riftan had lived twenty-eight years with an incredibly handsome face.
It was implausible that women left him in peace.
The knights who regularly visited Croyso Castle were masters of courtship.
Time and again, Maxi had overheard the maidservants giggling among themselves as they whispered about the knights’ seductive charm.
Riftan must have bedded a pretty maidservant at some point—or perhaps even a beautiful noblewoman.
When Maxi recalled him mentioning the northern custom of the host’s wife attending to guests while they bathed, her spirits plummeted.
His past deeds were not her business, yet she felt a pang in her heart.
“What’s wrong?” Riftan asked. “You’re frowning.”
Maxi quickly thought of an excuse. “Oh, th-the wind. The wind is j-just a little c-cold.”
Riftan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I should’ve told them to prepare warmer clothes.”
His closeness enveloped her with an overwhelmingly masculine scent, and Maxi held her breath against it. “It’s…It’s all right. It’s s-sunny. If th-the wind w-weren’t blowing, it w-would be w-warm….”
“Do you like the dress?”
She glanced down. He would surely find it strange if she told him that she had never worn anything so beautiful.
“Y-Yes, I do.”
“I’ll call the dressmaker to the castle so you can order anything you want. You can have dozens of dresses. Hundreds, even.”
Riftan raised her chin and his penetrating gaze seemed to strip her bare. Blood rushed to her face. Was this really the act of a man who did not know the first thing about courtship?
Maxi averted her eyes. “Is th-that a h-habit of yours?”
“What do you mean?”
“Always t-telling me you’ll g-get me anything I w-want.”
He frowned at her candor. “I mean it. I told you I wouldn’t give you any less than what you had at Croyso Castle.”
Maxi swallowed nervously. She had neither lived in luxury nor received the things she had wanted. Would Riftan still show her such kindness if he discovered she was not the noble lady he imagined? Just how long would she deceive him?
“I’d l-l…l-like to g-go back…inside and r-rest now,” she mumbled, trying to avoid his eyes.
“Are you tired?”
When she nodded, Riftan stepped forward, leading the way. A fierce wind whipped through the dense forest on the mountain, and the trees themselves seemed to howl. Maxi stopped in her tracks. The wind brought with it an inexplicable scent of loneliness.
Will I be living with this for all the years to come?
Her eyes briefly rested on the bleak landscape before she turned to follow Riftan.
—
Maxi returned to her room alone while Riftan resumed his supervision of the squires’ training. As she sat beside the fireplace, Ludis brought a tray of honey ginger tea and biscuits flecked with dried fruit.
“Lord Calypse will hold a feast with the knights this evening,” said Ludis, pouring her another cup of tea. “Would you like to freshen up for the occasion, my lady?”
Maxi gave her a puzzled look. “F-Freshen up?”
“Yes, my lady. This is your first appearance as Lord Calypse’s wife. I thought it might serve you well to have you styled for the occasion….” Ludis trailed off and bowed her head suddenly. “I…I spoke out of turn, my lady. Please forgive me.”
“N-No, it’s all right.”
Maxi glanced toward the mirror that stood against the wall. The elegant bun that Ludis so carefully styled had become disheveled in the wind. She brushed back the loose strands and nodded.
“Then p-please…”
Ludis rose and left the room with the teapot in her hand.
She returned with a small box containing a comb, scented water, and jewelry.
Maxi sat in front of the mirror as Ludis swiftly undid her hair, combing it until it gleamed under the light.
Maxi was accustomed to her nursemaid combing with so much force that it threatened to tear off her scalp.
In contrast, Ludis’s hands were miraculously gentle and skilled.
“Would you like a hairpin, my lady? Or a circlet, perhaps?”
Ludis opened the box of jewelry. On the red satin lay brooches adorned with precious stones, pearl necklaces, gold rings, and silver hairpins.
Maxi’s eyes went wide with wonder. As far as she knew, Riftan had no mother, sisters, or any other family members. Why, then, did he have all this jewelry? It was also strange that such an extravagant dress was prepared within a day of her arrival. Could it all belong to a former lover?
“My lady, are these not to your liking?”
“N-No, they’re lovely…” Maxi focused her attention on the ornaments, and tried to ignore the strange, sharp feeling in her heart. She pointed to an exquisite hairpin that sparkled with flower-shaped jewels. “P-Please use th-this one.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Ludis braided Maxi’s hair and rolled it into a thick bun, fixing it with the glittering hairpin.
Next, she hung a string of pearls around Maxi’s neck and slid a crystal ring on her finger.
When Maxi beheld the final results, she saw a richly dressed stranger.
Flushed cheeks, wavering eyes, and an uncertain expression—she looked like a clumsy child who had stolen her mother’s jewels.
Ludis studied Maxi’s expression while she straightened out the creases on her mistress’s skirt. “Shall I bring other jewels, if these are not to your liking?” she asked cautiously.
Maxi shook her head. “I-It’s all right. Th-These are g-good enough.”
Ludis rose from straightening Maxi’s dress, visibly relieved. Maxi wrapped a thin shawl around her shoulders and left the room.
Outside, the sun was already setting. As she strolled down the hall, Maxi watched through the windows as it sank toward the horizon.
“It seems you are ready, my lady,” a bright voice called from behind her. “I was just on my way to escort you to the dining hall.”
She spun around to see Rodrigo, smartly dressed, walking briskly on his spindly legs.
“The knights have arrived,” he said when he reached her side. “Let us hurry, my lady. Lord Calypse is waiting.”
Maxi nodded and followed him downstairs.
When they reached the entrance to the dining hall, boisterous voices clamored from within, and she hovered on the threshold to peer inside.
Under the twinkling lights, fifty men sat crammed on either side of a long dining table laden with delectable roasts, loaves of bread, goblets of wine, and ripe fruit.
Flames blazed warm and inviting in the fireplace.
Unsure that her presence was appropriate at a knights’ banquet, Maxi hesitated.
“Is something wrong, my lady?” Rodrigo asked hesitantly.
Maxi shook her head and mustered up the courage to enter. Silence fell upon the room as all eyes swiveled toward her.
Riftan beckoned. “Come here, Maxi.”
Her legs nearly froze in place, but she managed to walk over to the seat next to him. Maidservants promptly placed small portions of food on her plate.
“Some of you haven’t been introduced yet,” Riftan said as Maxi settled into her seat. “This is my wife, Lady Maximilian Calypse.”
Maxi looked up from her plate and anxiously watched the knights’ faces. Their expressions were ambiguous, neither friendly nor hostile.
“I trust you’ll treat her with the respect she deserves,” Riftan continued, a hint of warning in his tone. Only then did the men begin to extend half-hearted greetings.
Maxi mumbled her thanks, and the knights quickly resumed their meal.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Riftan asked as he poured her a half-full glass of wine. “Is the food not to your tastes?”
“N-No, it’s d-delicious.”
“Then eat.” Riftan picked up a drumstick with his bare hands and sank his teeth into it, his manner no different than when he had been eating fireside on the journey from Croyso Castle. He devoured the meat from the bone before reaching for another.