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…PrincessAgnes 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.”
“I appreciate your offer, but no. There are currently plenty of mages in Anatol. If I need help, I will employ their services. There is no need for you to worry about such things.”
The refusal was so resolute that Maxi clenched her mouth shut, unable to say anything more.
Although he had said only last night that she was the only family he had, it was clear to Maxi now that he did not, and would never, consider her a true comrade. The only roles Riftan saw her in were those of the lady of the castle and the wife of his bed. He would not confide his innermost troubles with someone as, in his words, feeble-hearted as her.
Hiding her disappointment, Maxi trailed behind Riftan all the way back to the castle.
—
True to Riftan’s words,Maxi no longer had to attend to the princess after that day. Princess Agnes spent most of her time with Riftan. They would ride out early in the morning to inspect the southern parts of the Anatolium Mountains, and on days they did not, they would discuss matters at the training grounds or tour the lands.
Of course, they were never alone with each other. Whenever they ventured outside Anatol, the Remdragon Knights and the royal knights would accompany them. When they toured within the borders, the princess’s attendants followed close behind.
Still, Maxi felt anxious and discontented. Seeing a woman as dazzling as the sun itself standing beside Riftan made her heart ache. Princess Agnes was everything Maxi felt she could never be. She was beautiful and full of confidence, a true force to be reckoned with. Maxi worried that by spending too much time with the princess, Riftan would soon recognize his wife’s inadequacies. He would finally see just how pathetic and miserable she was.
A chill ran down her spine whenever such thoughts invaded her mind. Her whole life, Maxi had been compared toher sister, Rosetta. The thought that even her own husband might start comparing her to another woman filled her with dread. So ingrained was her sense of inferiority that she could not rid herself of it completely, no matter how hard she tried.
Chewing on her lip, she let out a forlorn sigh and gazed out the window into the garden below. It was beginning to show more signs of life.
“What has caught your attention so, my lady?”
The voice snapped Maxi out of her thoughts, and she turned her head to look at the speaker. Ruth stood at the entrance of the library, munching on an apple.
