"I-I'm sure you know more than that.
Even with me, you..."
“Even with me, what?” Riftan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Maxi bit her lip, then blurted out something she normally would never have had the courage to say out loud.
"Before I m-married you...
I-I didn't know...
n-anything about...
my own body, but you...
j-already knew.
It was you...
t-who t-taught me...
h-how it was done," she said, stumbling over her words.
Was she accusing him of using the skills he had learned from other women on her?
Could there be anything more absurd?
Not even she could understand why she was arguing about such a topic.
Riftan looked perplexed, as if he couldn't understand the intention behind his question.
“Ninety percent of the words said by mercenaries are obscenities,” he said, looking exceptionally disconcerted.
"Whenever they open their mouths, all they talk about is where and how to touch a woman to make them frenzy, like it's something to brag about.
I've had to listen to that kind of talk since I was twelve.
All I know are vulgarities, and as it turns out, half of them weren't even true..."
He stared at her before looking away.
He cleared his throat and changed the subject, apparently trying to get rid of the awkward topic.
"Anyway, I'm glad you're not hurt.
Does it hurt?"
“I have a slight stomach ache… and I feel low on energy… but it’s bearable.”
“You look pale.”
He caressed your cheek before heading to the shower with a sigh.
"I'm going to take a shower alone.
You should lie down and rest."
Maxi did as he was told and got under the sheets.
She heard the bathwater splashing behind her.
As Riftan bathed, she lay curled up on the bed fighting the throbbing pain.
A while later, Riftan finished his bath and changed into a pair of cotton pants.
He lay down behind her and pulled her close, gently massaging her lower abdomen with his warm hand.
Maxi moaned in relief.
With the heat of his freshly bathed body pressed against her back, she felt her tense muscles relaxing.
He slid his other arm under her head and pressed his lips against her shoulder and cheek.
"It bothers me that you have to go through this.
How often does it happen?"
“I-It tends to happen intermittently,” Maxi replied vaguely.
She prayed he didn't realize her cycle was different from the average woman's.
His ignorance was bliss in a way.
Feeling relieved and hating herself for it, she snuggled closer into his arms.
The sweet, refreshing scent that was uniquely his touched all of his senses.
He buried his face in her hair and breathed deeply as if he wanted to inhale all of her.
A low sigh escaped his lips.
“I hope it ends soon.”
It was obvious that his desire for her was distressing him.
Maxi could tell the feeling wasn't because of his unmet need, but because he didn't want to see her in pain.
Riftan continued to caress her taut stomach and caress the contour of her cheek.
Her touch was light, as if she were a delicate button that could be crushed by the slightest force.
Maxi traced the prominent veins on his arms as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
The rain continued intermittently over the next few days.
It was drizzling like mist, soaking the green leaves.
The golden sun occasionally filtered through the pale clouds and hung over the damp garden.
The invigorating beauty of the view lifted Maxi's spirits.
For the first few days, Maxi sat by the window overlooking the gardens and studied the symbols Ruth had prepared for her.
When the pain in her stomach subsided, she went down to gather herbs and passed by Ruth's tower to read a new book or mix healing medicines.
Learning new things in itself was not an easy task.
It was exhausting to read scrolls full of text until her eyes were red, and practicing spells without the guidance of a wizard was proving more difficult than she imagined.
She barely understood what she was doing, but she pressed forward desperately with the tasks Ruth had left for her.
Although the days so far had been peaceful, there was no guarantee that it would last.Anatol was a land preparing for turbulent changes.
New things happened every day, and its rapid growth meant that problems arose all the time.
Maxi had experienced more during his six months on Anatol than during his entire previous life combined.
These incidents made her realize the importance of being prepared.
It wouldn't be good for her to waste time.
His days started early so he could study runes or herbs.
From time to time, he also treated the wounded in Ruth's place.
Currently, even the soldiers who were initially suspicious of her had gradually become accustomed to her presence.
His visits to the ward became daily sessions where he treated five to ten people a day.
Over time, she even began treating minor problems like colds, headaches, and insomnia with various herbal remedies.
This became a large-scale commitment, to the point where it was impossible for Riftan not to notice.
Maxi was in the infirmary at her usual time when she felt a shiver run through her body.
She turned to find Riftan blocking the entrance, staring silently at her.
Seeing his serious expression, Maxi swallowed hard.
Behind him, Hebaron shook his head as if the moment of truth had arrived.
Gabel seemed to feel guilty about keeping his visits secret; he had his mouth closed and his shoulders hunched.
Riftan approached her like a tiger on the prowl.
“Do you want to explain what you are doing here?”
“I-I was informed that someone was injured… so I was in the middle of treating him.”
Maxi looked around nervously before adopting an air of innocence and treating his current patient's sprained ankle.
Riftan's eyes narrowed even more.
Maxi offered a tight smile as he stood up.
"I think...
my work here is done.
Well then...
please continue."
With that, she tried to leave, but Riftan was not someone who gave up easily.
He held her arm.
“I was told that you have been coming to the infirmary as a healer for some time… why wasn’t I informed of this before?”
"Y-You've been busy.
I didn't mean to...
t-bother you...
with such trivial matters."
His face hardened.
"Stop being ridiculous.
You hid this from me on purpose!"
"I-I didn't hide it from you.
I just… didn't mention it."
"That's your justification?
Damn it.
I was the only person in this castle who had no idea what my wife was doing all day.
I feel like a fool!
How could you do this behind my back when you know damn well how much I care about you?"
Maxi's back broke out in cold sweat as he muttered his apologies before suddenly frowning at Riftan's reprimand.
What had she done to deserve such criticism?
Anger burned inside her as she recalled all the efforts she had made so far.
She looked defiantly at Riftan.
“W-What…exactly did I do wrong?”
There was a brief silence.
"What?"
"All I did...
was treat the injured.
I-Is that such a bad thing?
Is helping the injured...
something to be criticized?"
"By God, don't change the subject!
You promised me last time, remember?
You promised you wouldn't overwhelm yourself“"
"I-And I didn't!
During the last two weeks, I didn't run out of mana n-nor did I feel dizzy."
When Maxi refused to back down, a look of bewilderment crossed Riftan's face.
Maxi continued, "I-I didn't do anything dangerous either.
I just...t-took care of the injured in the s-safety of these walls."
"By God, you are the lady of this castle!
Why on earth do you also need to take on the role of healer?"
“B-Because I can do it!” Maxi exclaimed, surprising even herself.
All her life, she was dominated by the belief that she was incapable of doing anything.
Yet here she was, asserting her wretched capacity and defying the will of her husband whom she was obliged to obey.
Had I gone crazy?
Maxi managed to swallow the lump in his throat.
She continued in a more respectful tone, "I am...
currently the only person in this castle who is capable of healing magic.
I won't...
overexert myself like last time.
My mana...
has increased...
so you don't have to worry about me fainting again."
Changing his tactics as well, Riftan tried to persuade her.
"I will hire a healer as soon as possible.
I don't like you doing this.
Why do you insist on worrying when you don't have to?""W-Why...
c-can't I worry?
You do this...
R-Ruth does this...
and knights subject themselves to all kinds of danger...
so why am I the only one who c-can't do this?"
"By God!
You're not like us.
You're a duke's daughter!"
Maxi's face turned red.
For the first time in her life, she was suddenly overcome by the desire to hit someone.
"W-What does t-this have to do with it?
A-Even Princess Agnes… does all sorts of arduous and risky tasks!
So… w-why can't a duke's daughter do the same?"
Unable to think of a response, Riftan just licked his lips.
Hebaron, who was watching everything from afar with his arms crossed, whistled softly.
“The commander is losing.”
Riftan gave him a withering look and looked back at Maxi.
"The princess is a great sorceress with a lifetime of experience!
How can you compare to her?"(MDS)
A collective sigh sounded in the room.
Hebaron, who was watching the argument with a smirk, covered his forehead with his hand.
Maxi's face paled as he looked up before lowering his head.
To his shame, his eyes burned with tears.
Even if that was true, did he need to say it in front of everyone?
Anguish rose within her.
"Damn.
What I meant was..."
Maxi coldly pushed his hand away from her shoulder, and Riftan's lips went rigid with shock.
She glared at him before walking out the door.
“I don’t… w-want to talk to you for a while!”