Chapter 5
Unfortunately, the rain began to subside in the evening, and by dawn, it had ceased.
Maxi squinted at the bright morning sun and tried to rise, but her limbs gave way as if her bones had evaporated within them.
When she groaned quietly at the dull aching, a large hand stroked the length of her back.
“Go back to sleep,” Riftan said softly.
The glare of the morning sun cast stark shadows over his sculpted face. He was already dressed and fully armored.
Maxi gazed up at him, transfixed even as her heart sank. “A-Are you leaving al-already?”
Riftan nodded. “We leave at noon, but first we must prepare weapons and rations for the journey.”
He lifted her chin and tenderly kissed her swollen lips, then stepped back from the bed and pulled on a pair of silvery-white steel gauntlets and forearm guards before picking up his sword.
“I’ll come and see you before I leave, so go back to sleep.” He picked up his sword on the way out the door.
Maxi stared as the door closed behind him, a wave of emptiness sweeping through her. She rose from the bed with shaky steps and asked Ludis to draw her a bath.
Sometime later, Ludis and three maidservants entered the room, carrying a bathtub filled with steaming water.
It was only with their help that Maxi managed to step in and lower herself into the water.
Ludis washed her hair and lathered her body with a soft, soapy sponge.
Though she was mortified, Maxi did not refuse her help, knowing that she lacked the strength to bathe herself.
As one of the other maidservants dried her hair with a towel, she stopped suddenly. “Excuse me for a moment, my lady,” she said. “I will bring you a high-necked dress.”
A deep blush spread across Maxi’s face. Red splotches dotted her body where Riftan’s mouth had been particularly attentive, making her look like she had contracted the pox.
“Th-Thank you.”
When the servants left the room, Maxi stood in front of the mirror and gingerly unwrapped her towel. Her neck was covered in red marks, and her breasts also bore dark rose-colored spots. With trembling hands, she reached for her breasts. They had felt entirely different under Riftan’s touch.
She stared at the bright-eyed, flushed woman in the mirror.
Was this truly the same pale, morose girl with slumped shoulders?
Her hands traveled down to the curve of her waist and her smooth abdomen before reaching the soft region between her thighs.
It was moist and warm there, but she felt as if she were touching a stranger’s body.
“I’ve brought you a dress, my lady.”
Startled by the voice at the door, Maxi hastily withdrew her hands from her body. Her face burned as she stammered a reply.
“C-C-Come in.”
A maidservant entered the room and, with practiced hands, helped Maxi into a beautiful green dress that rippled with gold.
A golden belt was fastened around her waist and her damp hair was tied up with a silken green ribbon.
Before the servant could adorn her with jewels, Maxi thanked her and hurriedly left the room.
Riftan said that he would see her before he left, but she was worried that he might forget his promise.
Sunbeams streamed through the open windows and warmed Maxi’s face as she skipped down the stairs. The air smelled pleasantly of rain.
“Good morning, my lady,” Rodrigo greeted her with a bow when she reached the bottom of the stairs.
Behind him, servants swept the floors and aired out the hall now that the rain had stopped. Rodrigo supervised them with hawk-like eyes while he spoke with Maxi.
“Breakfast is served, my lady,” he said. “Would you like to have it in the dining hall?”
“N-No, I can e-eat later. I w-wanted to see R-Riftan—I mean, L-Lord Calypse.”
“The lord is at the training grounds with the knights.”
Maxi nodded and was about to leave the hall when a worrisome thought occurred to her. What would she do once she found Riftan? She would only get in his way. Rodrigo noticed her hesitating at the door and approached her.
“My lady, if I may…” Rodrigo cleared his throat before continuing. “Could I trouble you to inform the lord that lunch is ready? The kitchen has been busy since dawn, preparing a proper feast for the knights before they embark on their journey.”
“C-Certainly!” Maxi exclaimed.
The old steward was visibly relieved that Maxi did not find his request impudent. “Thank you, my lady.”
Overjoyed to have an excuse to see Riftan, Maxi rushed out without another word. The gentle autumn breeze was cool against her skin, and she paused to glance up at the pale sun before walking past the pavilion and down the stairs.
She bunched up her skirt to avoid the silvery puddles scattered across the garden, and soon arrived at the inner gates.
A sentry hastily raised his hand in salute as Maxi passed by and skipped down another set of stairs.
The vast training grounds were surrounded by tall, thick walls, and inside knights clad in shining armor stood in orderly lines before Riftan.
Maxi halted in her tracks. They seemed to be in the middle of a serious discussion. She recognized Gabel, the young knight with a gift for storytelling, as he stepped forward and spoke to Riftan.
“Commander, if it is the safety of Anatol that concerns you, allow me to stay behind. With a Remdragon knight here, you’ll have nothing to worry about.”
“No,” Riftan said. “All knights who participated in the Dragon Campaign must attend the celebration. The honor must be equally shared.”
“I have no interest in wealth or titles,” Gabel said. “I’ve already made a name for myself as a knight, and I’ve received more than enough praise for my achievements. I’d rather remain here, protecting Anatol, than waste my time at tedious festivities.”
“Do you really mean that?” Hebaron shook his head in disbelief. “All the ladies of the court will be falling at your feet. With that silver tongue of yours, you could make even the proudest lady swoon! Only an ascetic would throw away such a chance.”
“You’re a frivolous fool, as always,” Ricaydo said, his voice sharp with disapproval. “Is there a brain in that giant head of yours, or is it filled with only vulgar thoughts?”
“What did you say?!”
As Hebaron and Ricaydo glared at each other, Ruth sighed at Riftan’s side.
“Are the two of you cursed to die of plague if you go a single day without bickering?” Ruth clicked his tongue in annoyance and continued.
“Sir Riftan is right. No knight who fought in the campaign should miss the celebration. Sir Obaron, Sir Sebrique, and the sentries will be here to guard Anatol. And I plan to stay behind as well.”
“What are you talking about?” Ricaydo turned from scowling at Hebaron to face Ruth. “As Anatol’s sorcerer, you played a crucial role in the battle. You must go with us!”
“Fame and heroism do not become me,” Ruth said with a shrug. “Besides, my presence in the capital will cause conflict among the court sorcerers. I’m an outcast among my peers, or have you forgotten that I left the Mage Tower without permission?”
The knights rolled their eyes, as if this was something Ruth brought up frequently—so how could they have forgotten?
After listening to the exchange in silence, Riftan finally spoke. “It would certainly ease my mind if you stayed, Ruth.”
“That was always my intention,” the sorcerer said with another shrug.
Riftan straightened and turned to address the gathered knights. “It’s decided, then. We leave as soon as the preparations are complete. We’ll take the route we discussed earlier.”
The knights touched their fists to their chests, then lowered them back to their sides.
The gesture seemed to be the customary salute of their order.
As the conversation came to a close, Maxi quietly approached Riftan, pretending not to notice the knights stealing glances at her as she stepped up to his side.
When Riftan noticed her, his brows came together. “I told you to rest this morning. Is something wrong?”
“N-No, it was t-time for me to r-rise.” She felt suddenly shy, her chest constricting as she considered her next words. “R-Rodrigo said that l-lunch is ready, s-so I c-came to t-tell you….”
The worry melted from Riftan’s face and he looked toward the sky, gauging the time by the angle of the sun. “We’ll eat first,” he called to the knights, who quickly dispersed at the mention of food.
Riftan wrapped an arm around Maxi’s shoulders, and they began to walk back together.
She peeked up at his handsome face. He stood tall under the bright sun, a dashing figure in silver armor and a navy-blue tunic, as if he had strolled out of a temple mural depicting a magnificent hero.
It was no wonder that his subjects called him the incarnation of Wigrew, the legendary knight who had ascended to the heavens.
“Are you all right?” Riftan asked.
“I-I’m fine.” Maxi hastily fixed her eyes on the ground ahead of them.
“You looked like you were in pain the last time we made love.”
Her face burned, as if it had suddenly caught fire. “I-I feel f-fine.”
“I wish you would say that in bed as well,” he said, frowning. “Tell me it’s fine when I ask for more.”
“R-Riftan!”
Maxi looked around, afraid that someone might overhear them. The knights, however, were all far ahead of them. With effort, she regained her composure and gave Riftan a stern look.
“Y-You shouldn’t say s-such things out here. W-What if someone hears?”
“So what if someone hears?”
She wanted to say that people would think they were shameless and debauched, but her tongue tied itself into a knot. Instead, she teared up in embarrassment. It was undeniable, after all, that they had spent the last few days engaged in endless and indecent lovemaking.
Riftan burst into laughter and drew her in close. “Oh, my sweet, innocent lady,” he said, brushing his lips against hers.