Chapter 7 #2
Maxi was spared the impossible task of appeasing Ruth by the servant arriving with her food.
A bowl of chicken soup, a salad, and freshly baked bread were placed in front of her, and Maxi put her spoon to her mouth to hide her amusement as Ruth groaned and tore at his hair.
Though she knew nothing about the workings of magical devices, she could guess from the sorcerer’s gripe that creating one was quite an onerous task.
Suddenly, Ruth raised his head, sitting up a little straighter. “My lady. Can you do basic arithmetic?”
Maxi nearly choked on her soup. Ruth’s usually lethargic gray eyes regarded her expectantly, and it unnerved her.
She could not say that she was not good at arithmetic.
The knights already had little respect for her, and they would think even less of her if she did.
But if she said that she could perform basic arithmetic, she was sure Ruth would assign her an unpleasant task.
To avoid answering, she gulped down her soup.
Ruth leaned forward so that she had no choice but to look at him. “Is this how you repay my kindness, my lady?” he asked, eyes narrowed.
“I’m n-not skilled enough to be of h-help to a s-sorcerer—”
“I know you’re no mathematician! But I need all the help I can get.”
Any inclination Maxi might have had to help him evaporated into thin air. Noticing the unfavorable change in her expression, Ruth pouted like a hurt child.
“I hope you haven’t forgotten the aid I gave you in your hour of need, my lady.”
“I-I really d-don’t think I’m q-qualified….”
What Maxi dreaded most was the caustic remarks she would be forced to endure if she agreed to help. Ruth was one of the most critical people she had ever met.
“You’ll be managing simple records and calculations,” Ruth pressed, even though Maxi refused to meet his eyes. “You’re more than qualified for that.”
“Enough.” One of the knights finally intervened. “You’re being disrespectful to her ladyship.”
Ruth ignored him and continued to look at Maxi imploringly. If she refused, the ill-tempered sorcerer would probably accuse her of being ungrateful at every opportunity, so she eventually gave in and nodded.
Ruth grinned. “You have my eternal gratitude.” He passed her a potato from his plate as a token of his thanks.
“I see you two have become quite close,” said Sir Hebaron, scratching the back of his head a little awkwardly. The brawny knight had been quietly listening to their conversation.
Maxi hesitated. “R-Ruth…provided v-valuable advice on the castle re-refurbishments.”
“I see,” said Sir Hebaron as he took a large bite of bread.
Maxi’s heart sank at his apparent lack of interest.
“The castle doesn’t look half bad,” he added after a few thoughtful chews.
“Oh…Th-Thank you.”
Hebaron shifted his gaze. It appeared he found the conversation just as uncomfortable as she did.
Though some time had passed since their first meeting, they had never really exchanged introductions.
Unsure how to proceed, Maxi resorted to stirring her soup.
Moments later, all the knights stood, nodded to her respectfully, and filed out of the dining hall.
Maxi watched them leave, her chest hollow.
Ruth sighed. “There isn’t much we can do about their attitude,” he said. “The Remdragon Knights suffered greatly because of Duke Croyso’s actions.”
Maxi flinched at the reminder of how Riftan ended up married to her, and turned back to Ruth.
He languidly dipped a piece of bread in his stew and brought it to his mouth before continuing.
“The Dragon Campaign brought great fame and honor to the order. But if fortune hadn’t been on our side, or if Sir Riftan wasn’t as strong as he is, most of us would be dead today.
The Red Dragon was a formidable foe, and that any of us survived the assault still seems impossible.
Sir Riftan was at the forefront of it all, dancing with death. ”
Maxi’s blood chilled in her veins, but Ruth continued speaking calmly, as if commenting on the weather.
“Serving in the campaign was Duke Croyso’s duty, but he pushed it onto Sir Riftan because he knew how dangerous it would be. In exchange, Sir Riftan received a highborn wife, but she failed to leave her father’s grand estate, let alone look after Calypse Castle in the lord’s absence.”
“B-But I—”
“That is how the knights see it.” Ruth lowered his spoon, his face impassive.
Maxi’s lip quivered and the color drained from her face.
She had stayed at Croyso Castle only because she was convinced that Riftan did not want her, that he had abandoned her.
Riftan had been forced to marry her, forced to go to war, so of course he had left her without a word.
But Maxi knew this would sound like a pitiful excuse if she tried to explain it to the knights.
“I-I truly d-didn’t know th-that Riftan w-wanted me here.”
“He sent knights to escort you to Anatol,” Ruth said. “They were turned away at the gates.”
“I was n-never told a-about that,” she whispered, surprised to find out that Riftan had tried to bring her home.
“Did it never occur to you to come to Anatol yourself, escorted by your father’s knights?”
Maxi was silent. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him that her father would not have allowed it, that she was so afraid of Duke Croyso that traveling to her husband’s castle was never an option, let alone something she would have dared to suggest. Lost for words and embarrassed by her own weakness, Maxi hung her head.
Ruth let out a small sigh and rose from his chair. “Well, there’s no use bemoaning the past. You are Sir Riftan’s wife, regardless of what the knights think. Pay them no mind unless they insult you.”
It was unclear if he meant to console her or simply end the conversation, so Maxi gave him a weak, noncommittal nod.
“Well, my lady,” Ruth said lightly, rolling his shoulders. “In the coming days, I shall be eagerly awaiting your help in the library.” With that, he left the dining hall.
Alone, Maxi pondered Ruth’s words, listlessly stirring her soup and wondering if everyone saw her as a shameless woman—a wife who neglected her duties after her husband left for a deadly campaign.
They must resent her for acting like the lady of the castle now, only after Riftan had returned a hero.
In their eyes, she must seem so insincere.
She recalled how Rob Midahas had openly mocked her at the gates, and the small confidence she had gained over the past weeks shriveled into familiar uncertainty.
How could she expect the Anatolians to respect her after the miserable impression she had made when their lord went to war?
Unable to bear her own thoughts, Maxi put down her spoon and left the dining hall.
“My lady!” Rodrigo called to her as she entered the great hall. In his arms, he carried a large wooden chest. “The lord has asked for you.”
“I-Isn’t he at the n-northern gates?”
“He has just returned. He’s in the garden—”
Maxi dashed outside before the steward could finish his sentence. She passed the pavilion and reached the stairs, and there, she paused. The garden was bustling with activity as servants unloaded chest after chest from an enormous horse-drawn wagon at the entrance.
Cautiously, Maxi made her way down the stairs and passed the servants. Riftan stood at the front of the wagon, speaking with two merchants. By the style of their clothing, Maxi guessed they must be from the Southern Continent.
“Maxi,” Riftan said, noticing her and motioning for her to come to his side.
She ran to him like a puppy answering her master’s call. Riftan took the reins of a strikingly beautiful white mare from the merchant and tugged lightly. The horse obediently trotted forward.
“Here.” Riftan patted the mare’s long, graceful neck, then offered Maxi the reins.
Maxi blinked, looked to the horse and then back to Riftan.
“Do you not like her?”
“W-What?”
Riftan pressed the reins into Maxi’s hands. “I said I’d bring gifts, didn’t I?”
Bewildered, Maxi looked from Riftan’s impassive face and back to the mare. Riftan pulled her closer and gently took her hand, placing it on the mare’s muzzle. His closeness made her brave, so Maxi reached farther and stroked the horse’s golden mane, earning an appreciative nudge from its muzzle.
“My horses are too big and wild for you,” Riftan said. “But you should be able to handle this one. She’s young, but she’s well trained.”
“She’s l-lovely,” Maxi murmured, enthralled.
Riftan’s lips curled up into a smile. “She’s yours now.”
“This is the m-most wonderful g-gift I’ve ever r-received.”
The mare let out a soft, charming snort as she rubbed her muzzle against Maxi’s palm. Maxi stroked the horse’s thick mane while admiring her brilliant black eyes. She was clearly a fine breed, with balanced proportions, straight and slender legs, and a glossy coat.
“C-Can I really h-have her?”
Riftan frowned. “I told you, she’s yours. None of the knights would ride such a dainty horse.”
The mare gave a great snort, as if she understood his words, and Maxi laughed.
Riftan tilted his head, watching Maxi closely. “Do you like her?”
“I-I do.” Maxi struggled to express just how much she adored the mare. She tried to keep her voice from shaking as she spoke. “I t-truly do. Th-Thank you, Riftan.”
Riftan lowered his head and kissed Maxi. When she took a step back in surprise, he smiled and turned to the merchant.
“My wife is pleased, and you arrived two days earlier than expected. For that, I’ll pay you fifty percent above the price we agreed on.”
“It is my honor, Lord Calypse!” the merchant said, eyes wide with excitement. “We worked day and night to fulfill your lordship’s request on schedule.”
Maxi buried her face in the mare’s mane to hide her flushed cheeks, mortified that Riftan had kissed her in front of strangers.