“Y-You think…too highly of me. I was not the only one…there helping. I…merely did my duty…as the lady of the castle.” Maxi looked down bitterly. “Th-Though I do not think…Riftan sees it that way.”
“Oh, is that ever an understatement. The man was nearly driven mad when he found you unconscious. Heavens, I never imagined I’d see our fearless Mago so sick with worry!”
The princess’s obvious amusement at Riftan’s expense made Maxi bristle. Perhaps Riftan had been right in saying the princess only wanted to get a rise out of him.
“Riftan…was simply concerned for my well-being,” Maxi muttered, indignant. “H-He is a kind man…so naturally he worries for me…since I have always been so frail.”
For some reason, Agnes burst into laughter. “Right.” She gasped for air, wiping tears from her eyes. “Riftan. Kind.”
The bafflement etched on Maxi’s face quickly devolved into anger when she felt she was being insulted.
Realizing how her reaction was being interpreted, Agnes’s smile dissolved. “What I wished to say was…what you did was commendable, Maximilian. Pay no heed to Riftan’s behavior. I’m sure the man will be proud to have such a brave and reliable wife once he returns to his senses.”
Considering his outburst earlier, Maxi remained unconvinced, but she chose not to refute the princess’s words. “Thank you…for saying so, Your Highness.”
“I mean it. I heard that you began learning healing magic so you could help in situations exactly like yesterday. You are of a rare quality.”
An intense flush crept over Maxi’s cheeks as guilt churned within her. Her reason for learning magic was not as noble as the princess proclaimed. She had simply wanted to proveherself useful to Riftan, useful enough that he would not abandon her.
“I have only been learning since last winter…s-so my skills…are quite inadequate,” Maxi replied, avoiding the princess’s eyes.
“You healed seven severely injured men yesterday. That is an amazing feat for a novice,” the princess remarked with a shrug. “You might just possess a great talent for healing magic.”
—
“Though I do notthink draining yourself of mana entirely was particularly commendable.”
“Th-That was my first time healing such a severe wound. I did not know it would use up so much. I was also unaware of how…dangerous mana depletion could be.”
“Unsurprising, considering you learned from the personification of irresponsibility himself,” said Agnes, her tone suddenly sour. “I cannot believe that he failed to teach you the most important thing to keep in mind when using magic. I would advise you to find a more reliable mentor as soon as possible.”
“Ruth…is a good mentor. He did his best to instruct me despite how busy he was.”
“But it was not enough.”
Maxi wanted to defend Ruth, but she pressed her lips together at Agnes’s cold expression. It seemed the princess was more antagonistic toward Ruth than Maxi had thought.
Taking Maxi’s silence as agreement, Agnes said, “How about this? Why don’t you come to the capital with Riftan? I will arrange for you to learn magic from an exceptionalroyal sorcerer. If you truly wish to learn magic properly, it is important for you to have the right guidance.”
“I-I am…happy with Ruth, and…I doubt Riftan would want to leave Anatol.”
“I am sure he will change his mind if you tell him you wish to stay in the capital. Please consider it. You would enjoy a far more opulent lifestyle in Drachium. The palace holds grand banquets every day, and there are so many things to see around the city. You would also be able to socialize with the other noblewomen.”
Maxi looked up at Agnes’s captivating face. The capital would have no shortage of similarly beautiful women. Surrounded by such company, Riftan would surely grow sick of his wife in no time.
Maxi felt no desire for the kind of lifestyle the capital had to offer.
“I th-thank you for the invitation, Your Highness…but I am happy with my life here,” said Maxi as resolutely as she could.
The princess’s lips parted as though she were about to disagree, but she let out a sigh instead. She eventually replied, “Both of you are as stubborn as mules.”
“Do you…wish to take Riftan back with you to the capital, Your Highness?”
“His Majesty wishes to keep Riftan close to him. He wants to quell any division in the kingdom by displaying Riftan’s fealty to the crown before all the noble families. Having a powerful knight like Riftan Calypse on his side would certainly strengthen the loyalty of the other nobles.”
The princess’s lips suddenly twisted into a bitter smile.
“That is also the reason why His Majesty attempted tohave us wed. He was worried Riftan might desert Wedon and defect to Livadon or Osiriya. Every ruler in this world would want the greatest knight in their service, after all.”
