Chapter Fifteen
Early the next day, the princess and her royal retinue began preparations for their return to Drachium.
Maxi pored over the ledger for hours with Rodrigo to ensure that the delegation had all the necessary supplies for the trip.
She also supervised the servants as they packed the baggage.
Although it was customary to prepare parting gifts for the royal family, she and Riftan had agreed to stop at four tapestries and six ruby-embellished gold goblets.
The princess already had a hefty load of wyvern bones and hides to take back.
“H-Have you finished…inspecting the wagons?”
“Yes, my lady. The wheels have been replaced, and the horses have been fed well to last the journey. The blacksmith has checked the horseshoes as well.” As she listened to the steward’s report, Maxi went over the ledger twice more to check that everything was in order.
Rodrigo, who had been watching her, continued warily, “My lady, are you not overexerting yourself when you have only recently recovered? You can leave such tasks to us….”
Maxi’s lips twisted into a bitter smile.
Riftan’s overprotectiveness had apparently spread to the servants.
Everyone now showed concern whenever they saw her doing literally anything.
She looked down at her slender frame draped in a light green dress and wondered if she really was that frail.
She was well aware that she did not look strong, but neither was she scrawny enough to warrant all this fear of her snapping in half at any moment.
Maxi raised her chin in a dignified tilt. “I am…not ill. I have had plenty of rest…so I am p-perfectly fine now.”
“I am happy to hear that, my lady, but…please do not tax yourself.”
“I shall keep that in mind,” Maxi said halfheartedly. She spun around, striding across the hall with wider steps than usual. If the servants saw her moving about the castle with renewed energy, then it might alleviate their worries. She did not wish to be treated like an infirm old lady forever.
Outside the great hall, the princess and her knights were carefully inspecting their weapons, magical devices, and other travel equipment.
They had to be fully prepared for battle, as traveling through the Anatolium Mountains was dangerous.
They had strapped armor on their horses and mounted sharp blades atop the wagons to prevent monsters from climbing on top of them.
Even the princess’s personal retinue carried short swords and light shields.
They looked more like a party heading off to war than people traveling back home.
“Maximilian!” Agnes waved happily at Maxi when she saw her coming out of the great hall. “Thank you for helping us pack.”
“It was my p-pleasure. Is there…anything else I can offer you?”
“We only need enough food and water to last us until we reach the Barony of Louvain. Bringing any more than that would slow us down.” Agnes skimmed through the ledger that Maxi handed to her and nodded, looking satisfied. “This should be just right.”
“H-How many…herbs shall I prepare?”
“Thirty shekels of detoxicants and twenty shekels of restorative herbs should be more than enough.”
After jotting down the princess’s request, Maxi instructed a nearby servant to deliver the message to Rodrigo.
Agnes gave her a rueful smile. “I apologize for keeping you so busy this early in the morning. I originally intended to stay a few more days so that we wouldn’t have to rush our departure, but I received an urgent message from the royal court… .”
The princess sighed and pointed to a small hawk perched atop one of the wagons. It appeared to be a messenger bird.
Maxi’s eyes widened. “Has…something happened in the capital?”
“I’m afraid it’s another trivial land dispute, as usual,” Agnes said, rubbing her temples. “The fools always act out when Aquarias arrives. I can never sleep in peace this time of year. Monsters and humans alike tend to run amok like bears that just woke up from hibernation.”
Maxi’s heart sank. It was customary for knights to spend most of their lives engaged in war. The knights of Croyso had also headed into battle around this time under her father’s orders.
Maxi deliberately tried to sound indifferent to hide her agitation. “Then I suppose Riftan…will be c-called to action soon.”
“If a dispute big enough to warrant the Remdragon Knights’ intervention arises, then yes, he probably will be,” Agnes answered cheerfully, checking the luggage tied to her horse’s saddle.
Maxi pretended to go through the ledger again to hide her ashen face. Distress clouded her thoughts, and her eyes glazed over, failing to register any of the numbers. A sharp sense of loss wormed its way into her heart.
The princess’s calm voice cut through her anxiety. “Perhaps you might accompany him if that were to happen.”
Her head snapped up. “M-Me?”
“Aren’t you a mage, Maximilian?” Agnes cocked her head as if she did not understand why Maxi was so surprised.
“If there were a situation that required Riftan to step in, don’t you think we would need healers as well?
There is an abundance of problems in this world but not enough mages to solve them.
We would likely require your assistance, too. ”
“Th-That is impossible, Princess Agnes. I h-have only recently started…to learn magic…and my m-mana is so meager…that I f-fainted after healing a few people.”
“Your reserves will grow if you continue to use magic.” Agnes furrowed her brow, clearly displeased with Maxi’s timid answer. “The knights tell me that you have only recently learned healing magic. I am certain that you have great potential.”
“Y-You think too highly of me, Your Highness. Healing…is the only magic I can cast properly. Ruth has taught me o-other spells…but I have f-failed to make any progress.”
“There are mages who show an affinity for only one specific type of magic. You might simply be strongly suited for healing. If you are able to treat that many people in a real battle after just a month or two of learning, imagine what wonders you could work with a few years of practice.” Agnes was so confident that Maxi wondered for the first time if she really might be that exceptional.
“God gave you this gift. Do not waste it.”
Lost for words, Maxi stared into the princess’s blue eyes.
She had lived as a stammering fool for twenty-two years.
Despite all her best efforts, she had lost count of how many times she had fallen short in everything that she did.
And yet, here was this great sorceress who had traveled the continent telling her that she had talent.
Maxi searched the princess’s eyes for any signs of pity but found none. Agnes’s expression was gentle, and her eyes shone with sincerity. Maxi barely managed to muster her voice. “I shall…do my best, Your Highness.”
“I’m sure you can do it, Maximilian.”
With a smile, Agnes patted Maxi on the shoulder before walking away to check on the rest of the preparations. Maxi discreetly touched her shoulder where the princess’s firm hand had been.
You can do it.
That simple sentiment caused a ripple in her heart.
—
When all the preparations were finished, they held a small farewell banquet in the dining hall.
The food was too modest for it to be considered a true banquet, but the guests enjoyed the humble fare without complaint.
Riftan and the Remdragon Knights attended to wish them a safe trip, and once the short meal was over, the guests immediately went outside.
They mounted their horses without further delay, as it would not do to spend the night in the mountains.
“I thank you for your hospitality!” Agnes called from atop her chestnut stallion.
Maxi smiled up at the princess. “I am…ashamed that I have not been…the best of hosts.”
“Spare me such rigid formalities, Maximilian.” Agnes grinned before wheeling her horse around to check if everything was ready for their departure.
Three wagons laden with luggage were lined up before the wide-open gates, flanked by knights waiting for the princess’s order.
Members of the Remdragon Knights were among them, as Riftan had asked six of his knights to accompany the caravan to provide safe passage through the Anatolium Mountains.
After surveying the procession, the princess turned her head once more to look at the people who had come to see them off.
“Well then, I suppose we should really get going now.”
Scratching his head, Hebaron let out a hearty laugh. “You came in like a hurricane, and now you depart like lightning. Are you not happy unless you leave those around you winded?”
“You know how much I loathe tarrying.”
“It certainly is difficult to find people more impatient than you,” muttered Riftan, who stood at the front with his arms crossed.
Agnes snorted. “You are the last person in the world who can call me impatient, Sir Riftan. Compared to you, I have the patience of a saint.”
Riftan scowled, not backing down. “Let me remind you that I have patiently suffered through your persistent propositions and threats for the past few weeks without even raising my voice.”
“Without raising your voice, you say?” the princess retorted, her voice playfully incredulous.
Maxi was flustered. Her gaze swiveled back and forth between Riftan and Agnes, and even the knights surrounding them shook their heads in exasperation.
“M-Must you fight till the end? Can we not p-part on good terms?”
“He was the one who provoked me this time!”
“Are you waiting for sundown to depart?”
Agnes’s inhaled deeply, ready with a quick retort, but the sigh that eventually escaped her lips was one of resignation. “Fine,” she said. “This unwanted guest shall take her leave.”
“You have my gratitude, Your Highness.”
“R-Riftan!” Maxi tugged at the hem of his tunic, worried he had finally gone too far. He glanced down at her, then looked back to Agnes with a forced smile.