“It’ll be fine if you’re with me. We can go to the village as well if you’d like.”
If the suggestion had been a ploy to take her mind off herfather’s schemes, it had succeeded. Maxi shuffled around and returned his embrace.
Although the first snow did not fall for long, the frigid weather preserved the white frost that covered the landscape long after sunrise. Maxi was infinitely glad that winter had come earlier than usual. Her father would have to delay his wicked plans for a while.
She had stopped trying to pry for information. Riftan had a point: It was not as if she could come up with a countermeasure even if she knew what her father was plotting. It would undoubtedly only make her feel gloomier to dwell onit.
After forcing the worries from her mind, Maxi decided that she would simply enjoy the time she got to spend with Riftan, who was still refusing to leave her side. He took her to the winter lake as promised, and when the coldness had somewhat abated, they left the castle grounds to visit the village.
Maxi toured the newly built, four-story merchant guild with awe. After that, they browsed the market, now made up of closely packed stone buildings. The square was full of merchants from the south selling a variety of rare goods, and the streets bustled with people despite the cold weather. Maxi perused everything until she was completely satisfied. Belts made of southern silks and snakeskin, animal figures carved from ivory, extravagant furs, an array of spices and rare herbs—Riftan bought everything Maxi showed an interest in. On their way back, he promised to take her to the port as soon as the weather was warmer.
Maxi tried to imagine them strolling the coast and enjoying the spring breeze. It was such a sweet image that shedesperately wanted his reassurance to be true. If only nothing bad would happen ever again.
Indeed, what could her father possibly do now? Going public with the assault would only disgrace him and the Croyso name. Her proud father would never risk such public shame to exact revenge. He would likely give up once his efforts to isolate Anatol failed. Maxi resolved to be optimistic.
As she had hoped, time passed peacefully. Thanks to the knights scouring Anatolium, Anatol suffered no further monster attacks. Neither did the Duke of Croyso end up besieging them in a fit of anger.
Maxi and Riftan whiled away the time like a pair of hibernating bears in a cave. All day long, they would roll around in bed, eat, sleep, and make love with no regard for the time. As the idyllic days continued, Maxi completely forgot her worries.
Unfortunately, the peace did not last long. On a blustery day with gray clouds streaking across the sky, a messenger arrived at Calypse Castle. Though Riftan promptly led the visitor to the council room, Maxi recognized the envoy right away. It was the same knight who had been sent to them by the Earl of Loverne last spring.
Levia. I think that was his name.
Maxi’s face fell when she recalled that they had agreed to an alliance with the earl last year. To think that he would send someone to them at such a time…Were there monsters about again? The earl might have sent his men to seek the Remdragon Knights’ assistance.
Maxi paced around her bedchamber, nibbling her nails. Her heart clenched at the possibility that Riftan would have to lead his knights to battle in the middle of winter. Was itsimply her deep-rooted anxiety acting up again? Maxi sighed as she fidgeted with her long braid.
It was possible that being a knight’s wife meant a life of constant unease. Would she have tried to stop herself from falling for Riftan if she had known? Regardless of the answer, she could no longer imagine being indifferent to him now.
Maxi sank onto the bed and hugged her knees. Why was life not like a rainbow chasing away dark clouds with its brilliant colors? Why could it not be a paradise of verdant fields? She was sick and tired of the constant adversity hanging over their heads.
These useless thoughts swirled in her mind until she heard a knock at the door. She leaped out of bed. It could be Riftan sending someone to summon her. Without asking who it was, she swung open the door and found herself staring into a brawny chest that nearly blocked the whole doorway.
Maxi flinched and backed away. She jerked her head up and met Hebaron’s grim face.
“Wh-What brings you here?”
The knight awkwardly scratched behind his ear. “If you could spare the time, my lady, there is something I wish to discuss with you,” he muttered.
Without hesitation, Maxi grabbed her robe and stepped out. Hebaron immediately started down the corridor. What did the knight want to discuss with her? It did not seem like it was Riftan who had sent him. She glanced over Hebaron’s tense back. He must have felt her gaze, as he gave her a reassuring smile over his shoulder.
“I apologize for surprising you, but this is an urgent matter…. I was actually waiting for you to come to theinfirmary, but you haven’t been gracing us with your presence of late.”
Maxi blushed and mumbled an excuse. “W-With Ruth…and Melric in the castle…I didn’t think the infirmary n-needed my help….”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it as a reproach. We are well aware that the commander’s ailment is growing worse.”
Maxi froze in her tracks. “A-Ailment?”
“His overprotectiveness where you are concerned, my lady.” Hebaron chuckled, then added, “It seems that it’s closer to obsession now. The others and I were beginning to fear that he was confining you to your chambers.”
“P-Please don’t exaggerate. Riftan is simply…w-worried for me.”
“Hmm. That’s too mild a word for it.” The knight hesitated for a moment. “I’m not sure if I should be telling you this, but the commander hasn’t been himself lately. He gets agitated when he’s away from you for too long, and it’s been a while since he stepped foot in the training grounds.”
Maxi stiffened when she saw the concern in Hebaron’s eyes. Though she had been aware of the amount of time Riftan had been spending with her, she had never once thought it a serious problem.
Hebaron’s brow furrowed slightly. “The commander would likely demand my head if he found out I came to see you, but I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing….”
