When Maxi tried to argue, Riftan quickly turned away as if he didn't want to hear any of it.
"If I don't knock his teeth out now, he will do the same to me.
I will never allow myself to be so helpless again."
He was talking about mediation at the Earl of Loverne's estate.
Maxi pressed his lips together.
In fact, even if Riftan gave up his revenge, his father would never leave them alone.
She was sure that the Duke of Croyso continued to plot against her husband during his time away.
Maxi bit her lip, feeling guilty.
She couldn't look at Riftan, so embarrassed was she by the countless challenges he had faced because of her.
Her father had made most of her life a nightmare, but that meant little to her now.
Yet if he dared to stain Riftan's life with anguish as well, she would never be able to forgive him“or herself.
After silently staring at Riftan's broad back, Maxi exploded, "Have you ever thought...
y-if you suffered because you married me?"
Riftan stopped throwing his leather vest onto a chair and slowly turned his head towards her.
Unable to meet his gaze, Maxi looked down.
She didn't know why she had asked this question.
After all the affection he had shown her, it was disconcerting that he still harbored such doubts and insecurities.
Blushing, she continued, "If you think about it...
it is customary for nobles to forge a powerful alliance...
or strengthen their influence through marriage.
But by marrying me, not only did you have to face countless tests...
but you also gained an adversary for life."
A lump in her throat made her stop.
She swallowed hard and continued shyly, “I-It would be understandable if you wondered what it would have been like… if you had married someone more suitable.”
“What do you mean by ‘adequate’?”
Maxi shivered at the coldness in his voice.
She looked up and saw the discontent on his face.
Riftan took off his woolen tunic, revealing a thin shirt, and threw it on the table.
“I would really like to know,” he said, walking slowly toward her, “what you consider a suitable bride.”
Although his harsh tone made her flinch, Maxi forced herself to respond calmly, "W-Well, since you are often called up for war...
a woman from a family that could support you militarily would have been a suitable match.
And it would be better if the family headquarters were close to Anatol.
And...
given that you are investing quite a bit in commerce...
it would be perfect if they could help you in that aspect as well.
Furthermore..."
“Além do quê?” he asked, with a caustic tone, crossing his arms over his chest.
Maxi knew it would be prudent to stop there, but an incomprehensible impulse made her continue.
"Since you are exceptionally tall...
someone taller would have been suitable.
Someone taller and prettier...
more confident, and..."
The more she talked, the more it seemed like she was hurting herself.
After nervously shifting her eyes, she awkwardly concluded, “Someone without scars… would have been better.”
A terrible silence filled the room.
Maxi fixed his eyes on the ground and held his breath.
His face burned as if he had revealed something shameful.
She had shown him the depth of her insecurity.
As the silence dragged on, she anxiously chewed her lip, then raised her head to take back her words.
Riftan gently cupped her chin, as if he were handling fragile glass.
“You are someone who strives to protect others despite all your scars… and you have no idea how endearing that is to me.”
Maxi looked up in surprise and met his dark, pained gaze.
He lowered his long eyelashes as if to hide his emotions.
With a gentle touch, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear.
"That part of you fills me with awe, but that's precisely what has drawn me to you for so long.
From the moment I realized you were looking for someone to hold and protect, I longed to be that person."
“What do you mean…?” Maxi screamed as Riftan lifted her up.
Holding her in his arms, he carried her behind a partition.In the warmth of the steamy air, Maxi's eyes widened as she came across the hot tub.
The maid must have filled it while they were eating downstairs.
Gently placing her on a stand, Riftan deftly removed her coat, letting it fall to the floor.
"What else did you say?
A more confident woman, was that it?" His lips curved into a crooked smile.
"You'd have to dig into the graves of ancient warrior queens to find a woman more bossy and dignified than my wife tonight.
But I have no interest in a pile of bones."
Maxi blushed.
Riftan pulled her tunic over her head, leaving her in just a thin nightgown.
He looked at her silently for a moment before saying in a husky voice, “And no other woman in this world surpasses your beauty.”
“I-I'm afraid there must be something wrong with your eyes,” Maxi murmured, trying to contain the overwhelming joy that hummed in her chest.
How could he utter such a statement when he personally knew Rosetta and Princess Agnes, two women hailed as the epitome of beauty in Wedon?
Noticing his disbelief, Riftan frowned and adopted a more serious tone.
“You really are adorable.”
With that, he slowly pulled down the tight stockings that wrapped around her legs.
Maxi shivered as a draft of cold air brushed her calves.
Undoing her braid, Riftan gently ran his fingers through her hair, his gaze burning with desire.
Whenever he looked at her like that, she felt like the most exquisite woman there was.
Grasping a strand of her hair, he held it up to the flickering light of the fire before bringing it to his lips.
When Maxi reached out to him with both arms, he put them around her neck and began to kiss her tenderly.
Maxi moaned as his soft, wet tongue caressed the walls of her mouth.
His fingers felt the gold chain of the medal around his neck.
Wrapping the chain around her finger, she pulled it gently before stroking his hair and ears.
Soon, a feverish groan gushed from Riftan as well.
As if to calm his growing desire, he broke the kiss and rested his cheek against hers.
"Forget everything that man told you.
You are the bravest, noblest and most beautiful person I know.
You believe me, don't you?"
Maxi nodded, and he tilted his head to kiss her eyelid.
“Whenever you start to doubt yourself again, ask me to tell you what kind of person you are,” he whispered.
“I will say it as many times as necessary.”
Maxi looked at him through wet lashes.
Once again, she realized that she trusted his every word and action to the core.
After staring at him with feverish eyes, she urgently tugged at his shirt.
Riftan complied immediately, throwing away his clothes.
The gold coin dangling from his neck swung like a pendulum before landing on his tanned chest.
Maxi watched her husband with a satisfied expression.
He was truly beautiful in the dim firelight.
“Now you,” he prompted, tugging on your hand.
Stepping down from the stand, Maxi took off her nightgown.
She stood naked under his intense gaze.
As she entered the warm tub, Riftan stepped out of his pants and slid into the water behind her.
Muscular legs stood on either side of hers, and his chiseled abs and robust chest formed a solid wall behind her.
A contented sigh escaped her.
Riftan gently cupped and squeezed her breast with one large, sinuous hand before sliding it between her legs.
He let out a breathy sigh as he felt her wetness.
With a low groan, he lifted her buttocks and slowly slid into her.
Maxi's head tilted back as he began to move at a slow pace, his body shaking.
His mind was clear of all thoughts as the sweet, tingly sensations took over.
Both her anger against her father and her anxiety about the war were forgotten as she gave in to her pleasure.
The next day, the coalition army promptly left, resuming its march east.
Fortunately, they did not encounter the same hostile reception at every stop within the duchy.
Most of the locals warmly welcomed the knights who came to rescue them from the monsters, and the innkeepers were happy to have their rooms occupied by guests.On the other hand, the duchy's knights mirrored Hedna Borman's behavior.
Although it was frustrating, the army found itself constrained.
They could not oppose the Council's decision and backtrack, nor could they penalize the Duke's vassals for their insolence.
Maxi had to contain his boiling anger as he rode.
His hatred for his father deepened with every step through the duchy and towards the Lexos Mountains.