“Your skin feels so good. It’s always so soft.”
“I think the f-freckles…are unsightly.”
“It’s like you are sprinkled with sugar. Quite delectable.”
As if to prove his point, Riftan ran the flat of his tongue over the faint brown freckles on her shoulder. Maxi hunched like a turtle retreating into its shell, a deep flush coloring herface. He chuckled and pecked her cheek.
“I also love how quickly you turn red, like a perfectly ripe peach.”
Maxi rolled her eyes, though listening to him made her wonder if she was as lovely as he claimed. She shook her head at that thought, certain that Riftan’s idea of beauty was not normal.
“How are you feeling?”
“Perfectly fine. I told you I would be.” He brushed away the strands of hair covering her face to study her expression. Seeing his concern, Maxi sighed. “I t-truly am all right. I collapsed last time because I had to heal people…with severe w-wounds, one after the other. I will be fine…as long as I don’t get carried away.”
Riftan looked deep in thought. “I heard that you tended to the scout so well that Ruth did not need to do anything else for him. That fledgling knight wanted me to tell you how grateful he is, and that he is indebted to you.”
This was the first time Riftan spoke of her magical abilities with approval. Maxi looked up at him, her eyes brimming with joy.
“I-I am glad…that I was of help.”
“Yes,” he said tentatively. “You were a big help.”
Although his words were positive, his voice was full of mixed emotions. Maxi’s elation dissolved when she realized that he was not entirely pleased.
Should she tell him that she had decided to continue learning magic from Ruth?
Maxi pressed her lips together, deciding not to tell him yet. She did not wish to shatter the intimacy between them.
In all honesty, she feared that he would forbid her fromlearning any more magic. Maxi convinced herself that everything would be fine so long as she did not do anything reckless. The guilt pricked at her conscience, but she pushed it to the back of her mind.
All she wanted was to savor this moment.
Chapter Sixteen
The next day, Maxirushed to the library as soon as she was dressed. She found Ruth asleep on the ground next to the brazier, sprawled out like a corpse.
She frowned as she looked him over. It was both sad and pathetic that he would choose to spend the night on the hard stone floor because he was too lazy to descend three flights of stairs to a proper bed.
After glancing around the room, Maxi picked up a stick from the kindling near the fireplace and poked Ruth in the back.
“Ruth, it is morning…. Wake up.”
“Mmm…”
Looking annoyed, he flipped over and pulled his cloak over his head. Maxi continued to jab his back like a child tormenting a squirming caterpillar.
“W-Wake up…. If I recall, you were the one who told me to come…as soon as I opened my eyes.”
“Ugh…I had hoped that you would come an hourlater….” He squinted up at her, then suddenly glowered. “Were you stabbing me with kindling? Do I look like a fire to you?”
Maxi swiftly hid the stick behind her back.
Now completely awake, Ruth sat upright, his frown deepening. “I have been thinking this for a while now, but do you not think you are terribly unkind to me?”
“W-Well, you cannot expect me to touch a s-sleeping man who is not my husband.”
“I am sure there are more courteous ways to do so!” Ruth said before heaving a resigned sigh. “Never mind. Let us get ready for your lesson.”
