Maxi nodded meekly. After dispensing more instructions, the mage left the room. Finally, when the princess and the healers left as well, Maxi was able to rest.
Even after arriving in Drachium Palace, all Maxi did was eat and sleep. From time to time, she would drink the tonic brewed for her by the healers, or allow a cleric to infuse her with restorative magic. Although it appeared that the main palace hosted banquets to honor the return party every night, Maxi never stepped outside the princess’s residence. Not only was she always tired, but she was not in the mood for noisy gatherings.
Even though she was now free from the arduous life in a war camp, she still felt utterly dispirited. Riftan’s pained expression tormented her, and she was sometimes gripped by the fear that he might have lost all affection for her.
Whenever such thoughts hounded her, Maxi soughtsolace in sleep. Her body was simply too drained for her to torture herself with self-deprecating thoughts. She watched the hours go by like a goldfish floating in a fishbowl.
Approximately two weeks later, news of victory arrived from Livadon. The coalition army had advanced to the Pamela Plateau and completely annihilated the monster army’s main camp. Loud celebrations erupted in Drachium Palace and across the capital. Maxi had been idly occupied with embroidery when the deafening cheers outside startled her.
A long trumpet blast announced the victory. The sound seemed to infuse her with new vigor, and she felt like a bear rising from its winter hibernation. The great forces of evil that had plagued her life with pain and adversity from late spring until now had finally raised a white flag.
Maxi cracked open the window. She gazed out over the forest of elm trees, which now wore the brilliant colors of autumn, and put on her slippers. A healer entered her room bearing a tray just as she was wrapping a shawl around her shoulders.
The healer looked surprised. “Do you require anything, my lady? I will bring it to you at once if you let me know what it is.”
“I-I wish…to go to the main castle,” Maxi said. “I want to hear news about the campaign party….”
The healer paused. “I will order a maidservant to bring back the news for you. You must not leave your room yet.”
“But I feel fine. I’m no longer so drowsy,” Maxi insisted. “I will only…t-talk to the knights. I’m sure they’ve received detailed reports f-from Livadon.”
“But I’ve just brought you your meal and tonic….” Thehealer looked troubled as she set the tray on the table.
Maxi had been drinking the bitter tonic every day, morning and night. She wrinkled her nose. “That tonic…m-makes me feel sluggish. I’ll have it when I get back.”
The healer looked unsure for a moment but resignedly called for maidservants to accompany her. Maxi made her way down the quiet corridor with two maidservants trailing behind her. Since the princess’s residence was located in the most isolated place within Drachium Palace, it was peaceful during the day.
The sunlit corridor led onto a marble staircase. Afraid that Maxi might tumble down, the maidservants supported her by the elbows as she slowly descended. It made her feel like a ninety-year-old crone, but she kept her complaints to herself. In truth, her legs felt weak from the long bed rest, and even just walking was enough to make her feel dizzy.
Considering my current state, I can hardly complain about the healers making a fuss.
With a sigh, she descended the last step. It was then that she heard Princess Agnes’s voice. Maxi cocked her head. The princess usually spent her day in the training grounds or at the main palace and only returned around sunset. It was rare for her to be in her residence at this time.
Worried that something might have happened, Maxi started down the corridor. When she peered through a half-open door, she saw Princess Agnes and Simon sitting in the middle of a spacious room lined with bookshelves.
The princess was scrawling something on a piece of parchment. She leaped up from her desk when she spotted Maxi.
“Maximilian. Should you be out of bed?”
Maxi’s face flushed. “I-I thought a brief walk…would be all right.”
Without sparing Maxi a glance, the mage prodded the princess. “Your Highness, your hand has stopped moving.”
“Goodness, I’m sick of your nagging. Are all wind magic users taught how to harp on and on as part of their training?” The princess irritably jabbed the quill into the ink bottle. “Next time I’m going to ask them to only send me water mages!”
Simon snorted. “If you fail to adequately explain the situation to the coming inspectorate, you’ll have to wait at least a decade for new mages to be assigned to you.” He motioned for Maxi to come in. “What are you standing there for? Come in and take a seat.”
“I-I’d rather not disturb you…when you are so busy,” Maxi murmured. “If you’ll excuse—”
“And where are you going?” asked Agnes, looking concerned.
Maxi gave her a bitter smile. “I-I was…thinking of going to see Sir Elliot t-to ask him news of the Remdragon Knights.”
“Why go to the trouble when you can just ask me?” Fiddling with the quill, the princess smiled. “Everyone is well. If you consider the time it takes for the messenger pigeon to reach Drachium, they should have reached Levan already. They may even be aboard a ship by now.”
Hearing the good news, Maxi darted toward the desk. “R-Riftan…sent a message?”
“Yes, it arrived this morning. Would you like to read it? It shouldn’t take more than three to four weeks for them to get here.”
