“I shall close this now, my lady. You do not look well.”
A flurry of thoughts went through Maxi’s head as Ludis ushered her to the bed. It would not be in Riftan’s interest to start a war without just cause. King Reuben would never tolerate anything that could disrupt the current order in the kingdom. On the other hand, the Duke of Croyso was not one to let a transgression pass.
Gnawing her lip, Maxi bolted to her feet and threw on her robe.
Ludis looked startled, pausing in her pouring of the tonic. “My lady, you must not go out—”
“I-I am not trying…to go outside. I just…want to see our guests. Do you know where they were escorted to?” Maxi held the door handle as she waited for a reply.
Ludis hesitated, a troubled expression on her face. “Hislordship ordered that the guests be served food upon their arrival,” she said reluctantly. “They will likely be in the dining hall.”
As soon as she heard the answer, Maxi swung open the door and stepped out. Though she was aware of Ludis’s quick steps behind her, she ignored her and hurried down the stairs.
Servers bustled about bearing trays laden with wine and food. Ignoring their surprised faces, Maxi cautiously approached the dining hall. She ducked into the corridor just outside, where the sonorous voices of the knights filtered through. The men spoke in a mixture of southern and western languages, and the only thing she could discern was that they were talking about stallions and weapons. It was difficult to pick out further details.
Maxi’s brows furrowed at the banal nature of the conversation. Judging by the boisterous chatter, it did not seem like they were gathered to discuss any matters of importance.
Have they really been hired just to bolster Anatol’s defenses?
Maxi considered peeping through the gap in the door but decided against it. At this angle, the knights could easily spot her. She was straining to hear the conversation when someone tapped her shoulder. Maxi jumped and turned to find Ruth frowning at her.
“Might I ask what you’re doing out here, my lady?”
Embarrassed at having been caught eavesdropping, Maxi felt her cheeks grow hot. She hastily straightened her back. “W-Well…”
Ruth’s eyes narrowed as he watched her absently fiddle with her hair. Maxi looked down. They had not had the opportunity to speak properly after the events at CroysoCastle, and she did not know what expression to put on in front of him.
Flustered, Maxi barely managed to continue speaking. “I-I heard that…we had guests….”
“You must have seen the mercenaries from Lakazim.” Ruth glanced toward the dining hall and clicked his tongue as if to say it was an easy guess. “Is that why you raced down here to eavesdrop?”
“E-Eavesdrop? Y-You offend me.” At his accusation, Maxi forgot her earlier discomfort and glowered at him.
Ruth stared at her for a moment before turning away with a snicker. “Sir Riftan will give you an earful if he catches you loitering like this. Come with me.”
Without waiting for an answer, he started up the narrow servants’ stairwell. Ludis had followed Maxi and now hovered behind her like a shadow. Maxi looked at the maidservant, then to the dining hall where the voices of the knights leaked through. She turned and reluctantly went after Ruth.
Upon entering the drawing room on the second floor, Ruth threw open the curtains and lit a brazier with magic. He pulled a chair close to the fire and sat down.
“Are you well now, my lady?” he asked.
Maxi nodded, remaining awkwardly in the doorway. “I-I have…gotten much better.”
“I wished to check on you personally, but his lordship simply would not allow it,” he muttered bitterly, then motioned with his head for her to join him.
Ludis had trailed after Maxi to the drawing room. After asking the maidservant to bring them something to drink, Maxi cautiously sat across from Ruth.
A moment of silence passed before he spoke. “I’mrelieved to see you looking well. Are you taking your tonics on time?”
“Y-Yes. Thank you…for your concern.”
After fidgeting with her skirt, Maxi plucked up the courage to look up at him. She saw that there were no traces of pity or discomfort in the sorcerer’s eyes.
Watching him poke at the fire with his typical bored, indifferent expression drained the tension from her shoulders. She exhaled in relief at his unchanged manner and asked her most pressing question.
“Wh-Why…are those men here? Why are we h-hiring mercenaries from the Southern Continent?”
“Has Sir Riftan not told you anything?” Ruth asked in lieu of an answer.
