Chapter 4 #5
Maxi had never seen a sword-fighting competition before, though Rosetta had attended several with their father, beloved as she was by many of the competing knights. But Rosetta had always returned from the events in a sour mood, grumbling about how they were filthy and barbaric.
“D-Did you w-win?”
“Of course.”
“Th-They say that the ch-champions receive a k-k-kiss from the h-highest-ranking l-lady in attendance,” Maxi blurted as she watched Riftan sheath his sword. Immediately ashamed of her meaningless words, she lowered her eyes.
When she dared to glance back at him, Riftan gave her a puzzled look, and she scrambled to explain herself.
“I once r-read a b-book about a kn-knight and a p-princess. When the kn-knight won a j-joust, the p-princess kissed him on the l-lips. I th-thought it was a r-romantic s-scene….” Maxi trailed off, certain she was making a fool of herself.
You never know when to keep your mouth shut! Her father’s favorite rebuke rang in her ears.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Riftan said, remaining composed. “But I’ve never been the romantic hero. I never wanted a kiss from a woman I didn’t even know.”
“I-I see. I thought a l-lady’s k-kiss was the g-greatest h-honor a knight could r-receive.”
“I used to be a lowly mercenary, so I did everything possible to be seen as honorable. What honor is there in kissing women who would scowl at my approach?”
His words seemed sincere. Unsure of what to say next, Maxi eyes flitted across the room. Riftan leaned his sword against the wall and lay down on the bed, his limbs splayed wide beside her. When she flinched, he rolled onto his side and smiled bitterly.
“I won’t disturb you tonight, so lie down and rest. You said you were sore.”
She nodded, a flush creeping down her neck. As she lay down next to him, Riftan extinguished the bedside lamp with the lid. Darkness fell.
Listening to his steady heartbeat, Maxi began to relax. Another day at Calypse Castle had come to an end.
—
The rain lasted several days. During that time, Riftan inspected the village, the mines, and the farmlands.
Meanwhile, Maxi took advantage of her library privileges and spent much of her time there.
She was surprised to find that the books were made of paper, and the collections seemed to date back to the days of the Roemian knight who had first ruled Anatol.
Maxi resisted the temptation to delve into Roemian poetry and literature. Instead, she spent her time struggling through inventories and arithmetic books. She did not have grand ambitions—her goal was simply to study the basics. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she made no progress.
“My lady,” Rodrigo announced. “The regional head of the merchant guild has arrived.”
Maxi closed her books and emerged from the library. She followed Rodrigo into the drawing room, where a clean-cut man in his midthirties awaited her. He stood up when they entered and bowed respectfully.
“An honor to make your acquaintance, Lady Calypse,” he said. “I am Aderon Suner, at your service.”
Maxi forced a smile. With the rain abating, she had been informed in advance that the merchant was expected today, but seeing him in person petrified her. Her mouth went dry.
“Thank you for c-coming despite this r-rain,” she managed to say.
“No, my lady. It is my regret that I could not visit sooner.”
Maxi sat at the table, opposite Aderon, and the merchant smiled politely.
He appeared to be a good-natured man. Her reunion with Riftan had placed her in many situations in which she was expected to speak.
With practice, she had learned to talk without getting nervous to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat, but she was still anxious.
Sensing that Maxi was not going to initiate the discussion, Aderon spoke first. “I was told that you plan to refurbish the castle. May I ask where you wished to start?”
A maidservant arrived and served tea for them. Maxi stared at her cup, considering her answer before speaking.
“F-First, I’d l-like to r-replace the windows,” she said. “The c-corridors and h-halls are too d-dark. M-Many of the windows in the r-rooms are b-broken.”
“Replacing all of the windows in the castle will be quite costly, my lady. Were you considering balt glass?”
Maxi thought of the gleaming windows at Croyso Castle. Were there different kinds of glass?
“The price varies enormously depending on the transparency of the glass,” Aderon continued.
“For example, balt glass is rather inexpensive, but the crystal glass of the Southern Continent will part you from quite a bit of gold. I can provide whichever kind you prefer. Would you like me to prepare some samples for my next visit?”
“Y-Yes…I-I’d like that.”
“Is there anything else I can offer, my lady?”
“C-Curtains for the w-windows and…a ch-chandelier for the b-banquet hall, as well as c-carpets and t-tapestries for the walls.”
The merchant’s face lit up at the prospect of such a lucrative transaction, while Maxi felt her throat constrict with worry.
Riftan said he would provide her with all the gold she needed, but was there truly no limit?
Uncertain if what she requested was too lavish or not, Maxi’s hands twisted nervously in her lap as Aderon uttered a torrent of words.
“We’ll need some time to procure all the goods, of course. I shall return at the earliest possible day with samples. May I see the rooms you wish to redecorate?”
Maxi glanced at Rodrigo for approval, then nodded. A merchant would know better than she would which items were needed to properly renovate the castle.
As they exited the drawing room and headed to the largest banquet hall, Rodrigo followed them with an old maidservant and two guards. Aderon briskly appraised the empty hall and proceeded to deliver a lengthy speech on his recommended decor. Maxi did her best to memorize his words.
“In my humble opinion,” Aderon said, “the stone floor should be replaced with marble. What do you say, my lady?”
“I th-think we should f-focus on w-what we r-really need.”
“But imagine how splendid this hall would look with smooth marble floors and murals on whitewashed walls! If you wish, I shall send the best artisans among our guild’s ranks.”
Maxi smiled awkwardly. “I’ll th-think about it.”
“Of course, of course. But this is the castle of the greatest knight on the continent! Its grandeur should match the prestige of its owner.”
After reassuring Maxi to take her time and mull things over, Aderon left the banquet hall to inspect the bleak corridors and empty rooms. He returned with a list of items he deemed to be essential.
Some of his suggestions were extravagant, but Maxi agreed to replacing the damaged stair railings and rattling window frames.
When the merchant left, Maxi returned to her room to examine the ledger.
The budget that Riftan had allocated for the castle’s refurbishment was recorded in its pages, but she still could not figure out how much the different currencies were worth.
Though she had been raised with the care that one might bestow upon vermin, Maxi was still a duke’s daughter.
As often happened with the daughters of nobility, she had never held an actual coin in her hand.
I should ask for help….
But whose help could she seek? Riftan’s?
If he discovered her incompetence, he would surely regret not divorcing her.
The servants? They would begin to whisper about their uneducated mistress and mock her stuttering.
Paranoia filled her thoughts, so she gravitated toward the most convenient solution.
Perhaps I should go along with Aderon’s suggestions.
The merchant had traveled to countless castles to sell his wares, so he must have a discerning eye. Maxi was sure that the castle would undergo a splendid transformation with his help, even if he did overcharge her.
Riftan said that the cost wouldn’t be a problem.
Decision made, Maxi’s mind calmed. She closed the ledger and walked out of the room on lighter steps. Outside, the heavy rain had slowed to a drizzle, and she longed to breathe fresh air after days spent inside the castle.
Stepping out onto the terrace that led to the garden, Maxi observed gray skies and waterlogged grass.
Beside the pavilion, the leafless tree’s branches were drenched a ghastly black from the rains.
The flower bed, thick with weeds, gave off the pungent stench of wet foliage.
Maxi extended a hand past the eaves and a few cold raindrops landed on her arm.
Though the rain looked light, her sleeve was soaked within moments.
“Why are you out here?” Riftan appeared in the rain, crossing the damp garden on long strides. When he reached Maxi’s side, he touched the fabric of her sleeve. “And wearing such a thin dress too.”
“I-I wanted s-some fresh a-air….”
His eyes narrowed under his low-hanging hood. With a chilled hand, he brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes, and Maxi wondered if she should comb back his dark fringe in return. Though it seemed natural for him to touch her, something about her touching him seemed improper.
“Put on a cloak if you’re going to take a walk. What if you catch a cold?”
“I’m s-sorry…”
He raised an arm to hold her close before realizing that he was soaked. He lowered it again. “We should go back in.”
Maxi nodded and followed him into the castle. With each step, Riftan left muddy footprints on the flagstones, and Maxi made a mental note to place rugs at the castle entrances. When she spotted a bouquet of wildflowers in Riftan’s hand, he hurriedly hid it under his cloak.
“It’s nothing,” he said, looking away.
An awkward silence fell between them, the only audible sound the plodding of their footsteps. Eventually, Riftan muttered a curse and held up the flowers.
“I saw these in the fields and brought some back.”