Maxi quickly added, “Even if you go ahead with the trial…th-there is nothing to gain. Rather…you have much to lose. It will strain your relationship…with the royal family and earn you the scorn of the nobles. And…if you insist on putting my husband on trial…I-I will testify in his defense. I will…expose all the cruelty I suffered at your hands…a-and have you charged!”
Her father’s eyes burned with an all-consuming rage. Maxi willed her trembling legs to stay still. She could not believe that she was standing up to him, right to his face. The fear that his cane might come flying at her made her back prickle with cold sweat. Despite this, she mustered all the courage she could and stared directly into his ruthless eyes.
There was a moment of suffocating silence. Finally, her father spoke.
“Do as you wish.”
Maxi flinched at his surprising calmness. The duke’s lips twisted into a mocking smile.
“Do you truly think…anyone would bother listening towhat you have to say? Cruelty? Ha! And how do you intend to prove it? The world will only see you as the daughter who framed her own father to defend her husband.”
Maxi’s eyes darted to the Croyso knights surrounding them. The sight of their unfeeling expressions plunged her into despair. As vassals of the House of Croyso, these men would never defy her father to take her side. She doubted even her nursemaid would be willing.
The duke gave a derisive click of his tongue. “Let’s suppose the impossible and say that they did believe you. Do you really think…it would affect the trial? All I did was discipline my child properly. Only God knows the effort I put in to fix that atrocious impediment of yours.”
Maxi was left speechless by her father’s shamelessness. She simply could not believe her ears.
She stared at him, appalled. “Are you saying…that everything you did was for my sake?”
The duke arrogantly raised his chin. “Why would I have bothered to have you treated each time…if my intention was abuse? I always made sure that you were left with no scars. All of that was for but one reason: to mend you.”
Maxi opened her mouth to argue, but she was so stunned that she could not think of anything to say. A hollow laugh was all she could manage.
How could he claim that everything had been for her sake when he had ravaged her life with such anguish and pain? The duke watched her lips tremble with a look of contempt before he landed his next blow like a hammer on a nail.
“I bent over backward trying to make you normal. A parent raising a hand against their child in the name of discipline…could never be considered a criminal.”
Maxi could no longer contain the anger surging inside her. “W-Would that still apply after I married Riftan?” she screeched. “Y-You had no right…to put your hands on me, even if you are my father!”
The duke scowled and shook his head as if he found her laughable. “Do you truly think kicking up a fuss will make a difference? If charges are laid, I would only be slapped with a fine. Your husband, however…would have to pay more than that for his transgressions.”
Evidently at the end of his tether, Elliot grabbed the hilt of his sword and stepped forward. Although Maxi was just as incensed, she hastily moved to stop him. There would be no turning back if blades were drawn. She gathered the last of her composure and glared at her father.
“E-Even if you were to be spared just punishment…it wouldn’t matter. I will still expose all of your d-disgraceful actions. I’m certain that many will d-denounce your hypocrisy and pretense. A-And even that lofty reputation of your house you care so much about…will be muddied. Are you sure…you will be able to bear the disgrace? Is your revenge…really worth the sacrifice?”
Maxi could almost hear her father grinding his teeth. He gripped his cane as if steeling himself to strike. The knights at Maxi’s side stepped forward protectively.
The duke glowered at them in disdain and hissed, “By all means, let’s see what you can do! Tarnish your father’s reputation…make a mockery of yourself! It would certainly be a spectacle worth watching.”
The duke spun and entered the waiting room. Unable to face Elliot and Ursuline, Maxi squeezed her eyes shut. She was ashamed of her abhorrent father, of her powerlessness,and, above all, of dragging Riftan into this ditch with her. She hung her head and trudged down the dark corridor.
The king spoke privately to the Duke of Croyso after his audience with Riftan. Then, with both of them present, the mediation carried on late into the night.
Maxi paced around the waiting room and fervently prayed for a miracle. Judging by the occasional shouts that filtered all the way down the corridor, it did not seem her prayers would be answered. Anxiously gnawing her lip, she imagined countless ways her father might use absurd sophistry to frame Riftan. It set her nerves on edge just thinking aboutit.
She cracked the door open and peeked down the dark corridor. They were in the farthest room from the assembly room where the mediation was being held. Since King Reuben had prohibited third parties from participating in the mediation, there was no way of knowing how it was progressing. Maxi was still stewing in anxiety and pacing the length of the room when Ursuline spoke. Until then, the knight had been quietly leaning against the wall.
“I don’t think they will be calling you for further testimony, my lady,” he murmured. “Why don’t you return to your chambers to rest?”
Ruth jerked his head up from where he had been dozing before the fireplace. “Yes. Let us return to our rooms. Sitting here won’t help anyone.”
Ursuline shot him a disapproving frown. “At least a shred of concern from you would be nice….” He heaved a sigh. “But the sorcerer has a point. The talks won’t end anytime soon, so I suggest you get some sleep, my lady. They might go on through the night at this rate.”
“D-Do you mean all night long?”
When Maxi’s eyes grew wide in surprise, the knight gave her a bitter smile.
“It is a tactic the king frequently uses to bring unruly subjects to heel. His Majesty is as robust as any knight. He is able to tire most opponents into submission.”
