Maxi began to shake, and his breathing came in gasps as if he were drowning.
Riftan's hand slid down her waist until he reached her breast, where his thumb caressed her taut nipple.
She was on the edge of a dam about to collapse.
Her passion swallowed her like a tidal wave, sweeping away all her thoughts.
“R-Rif-“
When he finally managed to pull away for a gulp of air, his mouth was on hers again.
She tried to pat his back to bring some sense of rationality to him, but to no avail.
His hand slid under her nightgown as he greedily sucked her tongue.
She had to cling to his neck to stay standing.
When his long, hard finger stroked the sensitive bud inside her wet flower, it was as if lightning struck her, and her body spasmed.
My God.
He brought her to climax too quickly.
She reflexively squeezed her thighs, then lifted her hips to guide his finger even deeper.
Soon, an unbearable feeling began to spread from his lower abdomen.
Although he tried to maintain control, his efforts were in vain.
Before long, she was begging against his lips, "P-Please, Riftan.
Please."
She heard him swear softly, followed by the sound of tearing fabric.
Maxi's eyes widened.
Riftan threw her torn nightgown onto the floor and picked her up in his arms.
“You don't have to ask,” he murmured huskily before rubbing his lips against her neck.
"I'm the one who should be begging.
For God's sake, do you have any idea how much I“"
He couldn't finish as she held his face so she could stick her tongue in his mouth like he had done before.
A muffled groan escaped him.
Maxi eagerly inhaled his air as she stroked the back of his neck, damp with sweat.
Trembling, Riftan lowered her onto the shelf next to the tub and pressed himself between her legs.
The exciting sensation made Maxi squint his eyes.
She was close to losing her mind.
The heat of his cock pressed against your wet underwear.
Tugging at his tunic, she undulated her hips against him.
“D-Strip.”
Riftan shivered as he watched her.
“A-Now!” she said feverishly.
She didn't hear what he muttered next, but he took off his tunic.
His chest tightened.
Even though he had lost weight in the harsh campaign, he was still extraordinarily handsome.
She caressed his muscular chest with trembling fingers before covering his broad golden shoulder with kisses.
A sharp moan escaped Riftan's lips.
He had been impatiently tugging at the straps of her pants, but stopped to pull her up and smother her with his mouth once more.
The lightest touch of her fingers, a brush of her lips, seemed to be all he needed to inflame him with desire.
His responsiveness made her shiver as she buried her fingers in his silky black hair.
It was impossible to say how long they spent engrossed in each other's bodies before an impatient knock on the door woke them up.
"Outside!" Riftan growled.
He tried to resume their kiss, but the unwanted visitor would not be persuaded.
Riftan's face contorted into a fierce scowl as the beat became louder.
He shot a murderous look in their direction and straightened up.
Picking up the fallen blanket, he wrapped it around her before heading for the door.
“What half-insane bastard dares to“”
Riftan opened the door, then froze.
Curious, Maxi cautiously approached him from behind.
A slender man stood defiantly in the hall.
“S-Sir Ursuline?”
The knight lifted his gaze from Riftan to look at her, and a flash of relief passed across his cold features.
“It’s been a while, my lady,” he said dryly before turning his gaze to Riftan.
“It makes me happy to see you both safe and well.”
Riftan moved subtly to shield Maxi from view and growled, "I thought I left you in charge of Anatol.
What are you doing here?"
“Is that all you have to say to a helper you haven’t seen in half a year?” Ursuline snapped, her voice rising in exasperation.
He warmed up as he added, "Did you think a single message would be enough to keep me in Anatol like a retired soldier in his eighties, praying for your safe return?
I left the tiresome task of looking after Anatol to Sir Obaron and Sir Sebrique, so you don't need to worry about that!"“It seems you came all this way to express your dissatisfaction,” Riftan replied.
He took a deep breath as if gathering all his patience before saying measuredly, “I will listen to you tomorrow, so go away.”
He grabbed the door handle, but Ursuline was ahead of him.
The knight placed his foot between the door and the frame, then used his shoulder to force himself inside.
“You can't be serious,” Ursuline protested, veins bulging in her neck.
He grew fervent as he added, “I waited a month in this damned castle for your return!”
“Would it kill you to wait another day?” Riftan growled, coldly pushing the knight back out the door.
Ursuline refused to yield, standing rigid like a man who had reached the end of his patience.
His words poured out quickly in heated succession, "Damn it!
Stop this nonsense!
I have a lot to report!
Have you forgotten the task you gave me?"
Riftan's arms froze at his words.
Maxi looked at him perplexed.
What had he personally entrusted to Ursuline?
She was about to ask when Riftan, who was glaring furiously at his subordinate, let go of the door handle with a long sigh.
"Okay.
I'll join you soon, so wait outside."
Maxi stiffened.
She hadn't thought for a moment that he would choose to follow Ursuline.
There was no telling whether or not he was aware of her bewilderment as he calmly tugged at his tunic.
“You heard that, didn’t you?” he said, picking up his sword from the table.
“I need to hear what he has to say, so rest here.”
He left the room without waiting for her response.
Maxi stared vacantly at the door as it closed with a click.
Suddenly, she felt cold as if she was doused with ice-cold water.
She pulled the blanket closer, biting her lip.
Although part of her was worried that something serious must have happened for Ursuline to be so resolute, she couldn't help but feel resentful that he had refused to wait even a day longer.
And here I thought we would finally be able to close the distance between us.
After rubbing her irritable forehead, Maxi composed herself and walked to the shower.
She wouldn't be the only one tormented by unsatisfied desires.
He would certainly end the conversation as soon as he could and get back to her.
Determined to look good when he returned, Maxi dove into the hot, steamy water.
He used a rough towel to scrub himself clean and applied fragrant oil meticulously to his rough skin.
When he finished, he put on the clothes prepared by the servants and examined himself carefully in the mirror.
Although she couldn't describe herself as stunningly beautiful, her rosy skin and damp, straight, frizz-free hair were certainly attractive.
She looked into his gray eyes, shining with determination, and pinched her cheeks to add more color.
They knocked on the door.
“I have your dinner, Lady Calypse.”
“G-Come in.”
A maid entered the room with a large tray in her hands.
"You must be hungry, my lady.
The cook has been working since dawn upon receiving the news that the army would arrive today.
I hope the food is to your taste."
The maid chattered happily as she placed plate after plate of sumptuous food on the table.
Maxi looked with delight at the crispy roast ham, the soup below, a slice of golden pie, and preserved fruit with pea puree.
His expression suddenly changed to confusion.
Although it was more than enough for one person, it would barely be enough to fill a burly knight's stomach.
"N-There's no more?
My husband will be joining me soon."
"Sir Riftan informed us that he will be dining with the knights.
He instructed us to bring his dinner as he will be returning late..." The cheerful maid fell silent upon noticing Maxi's hardened face.
Maxi quickly adjusted his expression.
“Y-Yes, it seems like there are a lot of reports for him to hear… since he’s been gone for so long.”
Reassured, the maid's joy returned and she began to chatter again.
"Many things have happened here too, my lady.
Reinforcements from the White Dragons and troops from Osiriya and Balto arrived a month ago.
I heard from the soldiers that they were ready to leave for the Pamela Plateau if they heard nothing more from the coalition army.
Everyone was terribly anxious for news."
“I-I understand.”Had Ursuline arrived as part of the reinforcements?
It was certainly no surprise.
The Pope, along with the monarchs who had financed this war, would suffer substantial financial losses if a large-scale campaign ended in failure.
For the Council of the Seven Kingdoms, waiting patiently for the army to return was simply not an option.
"Oh, look at me.
I've been babbling again," the maid said apologetically as she saw Maxi's face darken.
"I must leave now.
Please ring the bell if you need anything."
When the maid left the room with the empty tray, Maxi sat down at the table and began to eat.
Although she was hungry, she had so many things on her mind that she could barely register the clanking of cutlery.
After snacking on pieces of bread dipped in the soup, Maxi soon lost his appetite and got up.
She couldn't just sit and wait.
It would be better to go look for Riftan herself.
Still, she hesitated as she thought he wouldn't be satisfied.
After hovering near the door for some time, he eventually decided to remain in his quarters.
She took out some of the records she had found inside the city of monsters, intending to spend her time studying, but she realized that the accumulated fatigue and a full stomach made her sluggish.
The complex codes and ancient texts became confusion in his mind.
Sleep overcame her as she continued to look at the text piled up on the parchment, and she fell into a deep sleep.