Finally, the rain stopped at dawn.
The knights were already out of their tents before the first ray of light and were busy preparing breakfast.
Neither of them had managed to eat a decent meal the night before, so they intended to prepare something more substantial before they left.
Nothing mattered more during a brutal march than sufficient rest and food.
Maxi ate the bowl of potato stew that Riftan brought him and got dressed.
As the light grew brighter, the knights prepared to leave.
Maxi was about to mount Rem when Riftan appeared at his side.
He held her arm.
"Come with me."
Maxi's eyes widened.
“Go for this one today,” he said, pointing to the car now free of the tar cloth.
Realizing he was worried that she might still be feeling the effects of the previous night's exertions, Maxi blushed.
"I-I'm fine.
I can...
ride my horse."
"Half of our supplies are gone, so you won't be an extra burden.
You should try to conserve your energy as we travel across the plains."
"Do as the commander says, my lady.
You must regain as much energy as you can."
The knights fully supported Riftan's suggestion.
Although Maxi was mortified that they thought they might be doing this because they realized what happened last night, she feigned ignorance and nodded.
As she climbed into the car and sat down, the riders quickly lined up and began to lead their horses through the lush forest.
Maxi watched Rem to make sure she was obediently following Ulyseon, then placed a pile of hay to use as a cushion.
The bumping car was still more comfortable than being on a horse.
Leaning back, Maxi began to doze off in earnest.
They passed through the rest of Kardikil Forest safely without monster attacks.
Having rested well in the stroller for half a day, Maxi's physical condition greatly improved by sunset.
Determined to contribute this time, Maxi rolled up her sleeves and went to help the knights prepare the meal.
Riftan frowned disapprovingly but said nothing while she busied herself.
Maxi helped the junior knights boil broad beans in a large cauldron and speared four rabbits over the fire.
When the food was ready, the knights gathered in a circle and enjoyed the simple but satisfying meal.
Perhaps due to having a relaxed day, the next day's journey was significantly quicker.
They galloped across the field like the wind and quickly crossed the small hill filled with wildflowers.
Finally, the harbor came into view.
Maxi's eyes widened at the magnificent view across the hills.
The setting sun in the west made the dark blue waters shine as if they were flecked with gold.
The edge of the cape jutted into the sea like a crescent moon, and was surrounded by a dock packed with ships.
Maxi looked at the sea in amazement, then turned his gaze to the city surrounded by a high wall.
Judging by the multi-story buildings crammed between intricate roads, the city was easily two to three times more populated than Anatol.
Hebaron let out an excited cry as he looked at the city.
"We can finally rest.
I, for one, am desperate for beer."
Riftan said nothing and led the group down the hill in an instant.
After passing a simple check at the gate to confirm their identities, they entered the city.
Maxi's eyes scanned the torch-lit street.
Taverns lined the main street, and through their wide-open doors, Maxi could see drunken sailors and red-nosed mercenaries among women displaying their pale, bare breasts.
Some of the women stuck their heads out of the window and whistled loudly at the riders.
Surprised by their drunken cackling, Maxi shrugged.
Gabel approached her and warned her: "There are many unpleasant people near the ports, my lady.
Try not to look around, or you might see something unpleasant."
Maxi turned his head forward.Riftan rode across the square toward the docks with the confidence of someone who had been to the city before.
She followed him down the wide street, and soon large ships came into view.
The campaign group stopped in front of a building opposite a pier.
“Evan, let them know we are here, and bring the servants.”
Sir Evan Crude promptly dismounted his horse and entered the building.
Shortly afterwards, servants carrying lamps ran outside to welcome them.
As she dismounted, Maxi looked curiously at the three-story building.
Riftan, who had approached her without her noticing, placed his arm around her shoulder protectively and headed towards the entrance.
“Let’s sleep here today.”
Entering the building, Maxi observed the smooth stone floor, the carpeted stairs and the well-plastered walls one by one.
Compared to the dirty inns she had seen so far, this place was luxurious.
“Wh-what… is this place?”
“It’s an inn belonging to the Verden Merchants Guild,” Riftan explained as he walked up the stairs.
"It's a prominent guild that manages several of the crown's trading ships.
The guild's head, Lord Verden, is King Reuben's cousin on his mother's side, so he often offers funds for large campaigns like this.
We'll also depend on the guild to lend us a ship tomorrow."
As the servants led the knights to their respective rooms, Maxi and Riftan entered a luxurious suite furnished with a large bed.
Inside, Riftan took off his heavy armor piece by piece and let it fall to the floor.
Maxi went straight to the open window and watched the sea as it swallowed up the sun.
The salty smell entered her nose, and she heard the sound of crashing waves.
A strange sense of wonder filled her heart as she gazed at the seemingly endless horizon.
The sea was much more beautiful than any description she had read in stories.
"I asked them to draw a bath.
Do you have anything to change?"
Turning to him, Maxi shook her head.
Having shed his heavy armor, Riftan walked towards her with light steps and brushed aside a strand of hair stuck to her face.
“Then I guess you’ll have to sleep with nothing tonight.”
The anticipation in his eyes made Maxi's cheeks flush.
He cupped her face in his calloused hands and gently planted a kiss on her lips.
“Are you tired?”
“I-I’m fine.”
In truth, she was exhausted, but she knew he would leave the room and only return late if she said so.
Maxi wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his robust chest.
Riftan blinked, surprised by her boldness, before a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
He lifted her to the window sill and carefully loosened her tight braids.
Maxi enjoyed the feeling of his long fingers carefully untangling her tangled strands.
Riftan combed her hair for a long time, then massaged her stiff shoulders with great care.
When his touch began to become gentle caresses, the servants entered the room with towels and water for the bath.
Riftan and Maxi managed to squeeze themselves into the cramped bathtub and began washing each other.
She soaped his hair, while he gently wiped her back and shoulders with a towel.
Once they were clean, they dried themselves off and lay side by side on the bed, their lips locked in a long kiss.
Perhaps it was because his march had ended safely, but Riftan was more relaxed and gentler than ever.
He took time to caress her before carefully entering her and starting to move slowly like a gentle wave.
Maxi got lost in his embrace.
Touch after touch only intensified her pleasure.
She enjoyed the feeling of his weight pressing down on her, the feeling of his warm lips on her skin and his burning length trembling inside her as he stretched her to the maximum.
They made love until they were exhausted.
Then, lying on their stomachs, they devoured the food that a servant had left for them outside the door.
After their stomachs were full of fresh fruits and richly seasoned dishes, they, for the first time in a long time, began to feel sleepy.
They fell asleep with their limbs intertwined like vines, as if they were one body.
It was the first sweet, languid moment they'd shared in weeks.The next day, the tranquility ended as soon as the sun rose.
Riftan's grave expression returned as he donned his armor, and it was as if the tension on his face had never eased.
Maxi put on the clothes the servants had washed for her the night before and packed her things.
The real journey was just beginning.
It would take them seven to ten days to reach Levan, the capital of Livadon, by ship.
After that, a long battle with the troll army awaited them.
Maxi's face darkened as he remembered the party that had left before them.
It wasn't time for her to feel relieved when they had just arrived at the port.
She was certain that much more arduous journeys lay ahead.
After breakfast on the first floor, Maxi and the knights set out for the pier where large ships were moored in an orderly row.
Tanned sailors tirelessly carried cargo to ships.
Maxi also noticed some of them hanging precariously from the masts, checking the condition of the ropes and sails.
Unable to keep her head still, Maxi watched the busy port carefully.
Riftan spoke to the captain of a ship anchored at the end of the pier.
Hebaron had explained to her that nothing mattered more on a sea voyage than a competent captain.
This was why they had to ensure that whoever was in command of the ship was trustworthy.
The man Riftan was talking to calmly responded to the deluge of questions without any sign of displeasure.
"We finished all preparations a few days ago.
Before leaving for Livadon, Her Royal Highness Princess Agnes specifically instructed that we must be ready to leave as soon as you arrive."
Maxi was shocked at the mention of the princess.
Had Princess Agnes also left for Livadon?
However, unlike Maxi, Riftan didn't seem surprised.
“When did the royal knights leave?”
“They arrived four days ago and left immediately for Livadon.”
“Are there any new reports from Livadon?”
The captain shook his head, looking serious.
"The coalition army seems to be struggling after the fall of Louivell Castle.
I heard that they are fighting to reclaim the lands taken by the monsters, but I don't know the exact situation."
Riftan's face hardened, as did the faces of the knights who were silently listening to the conversation.
The captain began to sweat as the air around them grew gloomy.
"If you wish, we can leave immediately.
We already have enough provisions and hay on board."
“Is there enough room for the horses?”
"Of course.
I have prepared a stable."
After inspecting the ship with several of his knights, Riftan decided to leave immediately.
The knights promptly led their horses from the inn and boarded the ship.
Since there was a chance that Rem would be scared when boarding a ship, Maxi handed her over to a sailor and boarded the ship first.
Standing on the deck, her heart began to pound with fear and a strange excitement.
Maxi watched the calm sea sparkling in the sun.
She took a deep breath.
The salinity of the sea filled his lungs, and his heavy heart felt a little lighter.
“Maxi, don’t get too close to the railing.” Riftan had been watching the horses board the ship, and now he called to her.
Embarrassed for acting like an excited child when they were on their way to battle, Maxi quickly walked over to him.