Chapter Thirteen
The next day, Maxi once again woke up alone in the sunlit bedchamber. Her eyes still heavy with sleep, she gazed at the empty side of the bed and sighed. Her husband’s diligence was astonishing.
She rose and dressed herself. Despite her low spirits, she intended to tackle the tasks she had been unable to do due to her excursion with the princess, including checking on the gardens and their guests’ needs.
It would be a busy day, but she tried to focus on the memory of Riftan’s warm arms holding her all night.
There was a measure of reassurance in knowing that, at least for now, his passion for her had not waned.
When she stepped out of her chambers, the maidservants who had been cleaning the windows bowed and greeted her with bright smiles.
“Good morning, my lady.”
“Did you sleep well, my lady?”
“Yes,” she said brightly. “Did the guests…have a pleasant night?”
“Yes, my lady. They all said that they slept well. Everyone except the princess is currently resting in their rooms.”
“Where…is the princess?”
“Her Highness went to the training grounds with his lordship early this morning.”
“With…his lordship?”
At Maxi’s crestfallen expression, one maidservant quickly added, “The royal knights joined them, my lady. I heard that they planned to observe the sentries’ training session.”
“I-I see.”
Embarrassed that the maidservant had read her displeasure so plainly, Maxi swiftly returned to her errands.
Riftan had made it clear last night that he felt nothing for the princess.
So why did it still perturb her when the former comrades spent time together?
Had she always been such a jealous woman?
As much as she tried to shake it, her unease lingered all through the morning.
Even after she had dismissed Rodrigo from their inspection of the garden, she found herself pacing, unable to stop her thoughts from racing.
Riftan and Agnes’s relationship was one of duty, not some secret tryst. So why did Maxi feel like she was being driven into a corner?
Finally, needing to calm her nerves, she made her way to the training grounds.
Any awkwardness her presence might instigate would be worth regaining her peace of mind by seeing her husband in the flesh.
Holding the thought of him in her mind, she walked briskly through the gate to the training grounds.
She stopped short, however, at a sudden cry from the pitch. Her attention was immediately drawn toward the spectacle below.
There were more than the usual number gathered on the grounds. Maxi spotted Princess Agnes and her attendants off to one side and even the squires on the opposite end. Everyone’s attention seemed to be on the two helmeted knights making their way to the center of the pitch.
Maxi’s eyes widened. Helmet or no, she would recognize her husband anywhere. From the armor, it was apparent that Riftan’s opponent was one of the princess’s royal knights.
Why would Riftan fight one of our guests? Has something happened?
The two knights drew their swords. Suddenly, the royal knight charged at Riftan with such speed that it was hard to believe he was wearing armor, like a weighted ball shooting through the air. Maxi shrieked and staggered back, but her voice was drowned out by the thunderous clashing of weapons.
Riftan deflected the blow so quickly it could have been a flash of light.
The royal knight wasted no time in swinging his sword again.
For the next few minutes, their blades clashed rapidly, their movements swift as hummingbird wings, and the metallic crack of their swords reverberated across the grounds.
Maxi watched in stunned silence. The two knights lashed out at each other with such force that their feet dug tracks into the ground, scattering dust around them like fog. The duel was so intense that it was surprising neither had sliced the other in half yet.
Unable to watch the frightening sight any longer, Maxi turned only to see Sir Elliot approaching her with a look of concern on his face. “Are you all right, my lady?”
“S-Sir Elliot…” Maxi instinctively clutched at his cape. “Wh-What is happening? Wh-Why is Riftan…”
“Rest assured, my lady, they are merely sparring with one another.”
She looked at him in disbelief. “S-Sparring?” She could still hear the thunderous clashing of their swords behind her. “H-How can this be considered sparring?! Wh-What if they get hurt?”
“I assure you, my lady, the Commander is merely humoring the competition.”
The swords met again, and Maxi’s heart pounded. How could everyone else look on with such seeming indifference to the violent display in front of them?
“If you do not feel well, my lady, please allow me to escort you back,” said Sir Elliot, regarding her ashen face with worry.
Maxi unwittingly leaned against him for support.
At that moment, one final sharp clang rang out, followed by silence.
Beside herself with worry, Maxi looked back to make sure Riftan had not been hurt.
Much to her relief, he was standing as steady as a statue, the tip of his sword held to his opponent’s neck.
After a long silence, the royal knight slowly raised his arms in a sign of defeat.
Maxi closed her eyes in relief. Neither warrior seemed injured.
She took a moment to release the tension from her shoulders, but suddenly felt a familiar hot gaze on her.
When she returned her eyes to the pitch, Riftan, having cast off his helmet, was staring at her with thunder in his eyes.
Sheathing his sword, he strode up the embankment and pulled her away from Elliot.
“Explain to me what you are doing with my wife.”
Elliot took a step back, clearly flustered. “Just offering her ladyship assistance. She was shaken by the sparring.”
Riftan glared at him before turning his gaze to Maxi. “You should not be here. It’s no place for someone as faint-hearted as you.” With that, he grabbed her arm and turned her in the direction she had come from.
Maxi whimpered when his gauntlet dug into her skin, and he immediately released her as if he had been burned. Rubbing the pinched skin of her forearm, she looked up at him in confusion. She had been prepared for awkwardness, but she could not understand such displeasure at her presence.
“I-I am all right. I was…merely surprised…because I’ve never seen…knights sparring like that before.”
“Have you never attended a tournament, Maximilian?”
Startled by the new voice, Maxi almost flinched. It was Princess Agnes.
Not wanting to offend the princess, Maxi tried to slow her words and stay calm. “N-No…Your Highness.”
“Now that I think about it, you’ve never visited Drachium Palace, have you? I remember your sister visiting, but never you…. Do you not like the capital, Maximilian?”
Unsettled by the direction of the conversation, Maxi broke out in a cold sweat. “I-I was not…fond of traveling….”
“Even so, you must come visit the capital with Sir Riftan someday,” Agnes said with her typical unreadable brightness. “If you do, I would be glad to show you around.”
Before Maxi could say anything, Riftan brusquely cut in. “We thank you for the invitation, Your Highness, but my wife is not strong enough to handle such a long journey.”
With that, he once again ushered Maxi toward the garden. Flustered, Maxi looked over her shoulder and saw the princess shrugging with an ambiguous smile on her lips. She did not seem offended, nor did she seem pleased.
Impossible to read, as usual.
Maxi scampered to keep up with Riftan’s guiding arm. Mustering her courage, she addressed her husband. “You mustn’t…b-be so rude to Her Highness…Y-You must afford her every courtesy….”
“There is no need for you to mind the princess. That woman only wants to get a rise out of me.” Riftan spat, his voice full of acrimony.
“I will show her the rest of our lands, so do not concern yourself with her anymore. I told you, that woman manipulates people because she can. Nothing good will come from you associating with her.”
“B-But…are you not busy with the road construction?”
Riftan frowned, and Maxi thought he was displeased with her again. But then he flexed his jaw and muttered, “As it happens, the princess will be helping us with the construction.”
Maxi paused a moment to make sure she’d heard right. “H-How?”
Riftan sighed. “Before we can build the road to the ports, we have to eradicate the monsters dwelling in the southern parts of the Anatolium Mountains. Having a high mage like Princess Agnes assisting us will be invaluable. If I can play host at the same time, all the better. Two birds, one stone.”
Maxi was speechless for a moment. “B-But…Princess Agnes is our guest sent b-by the king. H-How could we…ask such a service from our guest?”
“Her knights have already carped at me for the same reasons.” He licked his lips, a tell of annoyance. “Which is preposterous given that it was the princess’s idea.”
Ah. So that was what had prompted the royal knight to challenge Riftan to a duel.
Riftan grinned impishly at her concerned expression and brushed her hair with his ungloved hand.
“You do not have to be so worried. They weren’t truly against it.
They were merely eager for an excuse to challenge me to a duel.
Not only is the princess capable of protecting herself, but I am not so deranged as to put our royal guests in any true danger. ”
Maxi pursed her lips. He seemed so unconcerned she could think of no reason to rebuke him. It was not as if she could object simply because she did not like the idea.
“So don’t worry yourself needlessly,” he continued. “Just rest. I know making all these preparations was not easy for you.”
“I-Is there…a-anything I could do…to help?”
Riftan narrowed his eyes as if she had said something outrageous. “You?”
Willing herself not to be discouraged, Maxi stammered, “I am also c-capable of healing magic…s-so I’m sure I would be of some help.”