“But I can’t bear the thought of you being in a place like that!” Riftan pushed her away from him and sat down.
The bluish dawn illuminated his broad shoulders.
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes dark, before rubbing his face roughly.
“This was not what I wanted for you when I brought you to Anatol.”
"R-Riftan, I...
I'm really happy here.
I'm your w-wife.
I also...
want to be useful.
I-I might not be able to do much...
but I'm a healer, and I've mastered some spells.
I've also improved my health.
I've managed to get this far, haven't I?
I'm not t-that weak."
Despite his intense argument, Riftan still seemed unconvinced.
Maxi was about to hug him again when she stopped, the fear that he might push her away made her hesitate.
Seeing this, Riftan sighed and hugged her tightly.
Maxi moaned when she felt his thick tongue invade her mouth.
His hard chest crushed her breasts, and his muscular arms squeezed her like the roots of a tree.
Maxi panted like a fish caught in a net.
He explored her with such passion that his prominent nose pressed against hers, and his unshaven chin irritated her smooth skin.
Maxi shivered as his warm, wet tongue greedily tasted the roof of her mouth and inner cheeks.
It was a feverish kiss, one that made Maxi feel like he was trying to devour her.
“Maxi…” Riftan murmured, his voice thick with desire.
He laid her down on the bed, and Maxi moved back and grabbed his forearm when she felt his warm fingers slide between her thighs.
The fire in his eyes was so intense that Maxi wondered if what heated them was desire or hatred.
He caressed her until he couldn't bear it anymore and crushed her beneath him.
An electrifying heat coursed through her as his weight pressed down.
This almost drove her crazy.
Responding to his urgency, Maxi eagerly explored Riftan's smooth, muscular body.
Droplets of sweat began to form on his skin, and his racing pulse extended to his fingertips.
He felt as if his blood was boiling with desire.
She stroked his back repeatedly, and Riftan's seductive moans filled his ears.
Maxi thought she wouldn't mind dying like this, crushed beneath him.
Urgent footsteps outside the tent shattered their moment of passion.
"Commander!
We have to gather," a voice shouted.
Riftan hit his head on the bed and cursed in frustration.
“Damn, right now…” he closed his eyes tightly and growled irritably, “I’m coming.”
Maxi pulled his bunched tunic down.
Riftan watched her with flaming eyes before slowly standing up.
She saw that the muscles in his back were tense with unsatisfied desire.
After running a hand through his messy hair, Riftan grabbed a clean robe and put it on.
Then he washed his face and donned his armor with surprising speed.
With the blanket wrapped around him, Maxi watched as Riftan flawlessly transformed into a knight in the blink of an eye.
Lastly, he fastened his sword belt around his waist.
He turned to look at her with menacing eyes.
“I’ll be back soon, so don’t even think about leaving this tent.”
“B-But I also have“”
Maxi quickly closed his mouth.
His voice came out in a wild dog's growl as he warned, "I will not allow you to wander through a camp full of animals alone.
You must not take a step outside this tent."
Before leaving, he gave her a threatening look, as if warning her that he would no longer tolerate disobedience.
Maxi quickly got dressed and tried to follow him, but the soldier guarding the entrance blocked his way.
“Forgive me, my lady, but Sir Riftan ordered us to keep you inside.”
Maxi looked impatiently at the soldier.
Idsilla would be worried about her, and if she didn't return soon, the other clerics might misinterpret the situation.
Maxi felt uneasy as she looked up at the brightening sky.
“I-I won’t be long… I’ll just visit the infirmary.”
“I’m sorry, my lady, but Sir Riftan’s orders come first.”
The soldier refused to yield.
Maxi bit her lip and glared at him, but ended up retreating into the tent.
Although she was angered by Riftan's unfair treatment, she couldn't blame him for trying to protect her.
She threw herself on the bed and waited for him to return.
However, she soon became restless, her body had gotten used to working all day.Maxi wandered around the tent, inspecting the items he found.
Although Riftan's tent was spacious and comfortable, it was humbly furnished.
Layer upon layer of sheets covered the bed, and next to it lay his armor and sword rack, along with his spear and shield.
Dozens of chairs surrounded a large table that could seat at least thirty people.
A round hole in the diamond-shaped ceiling seemed to serve as a window.
A flap designed to cover the hole was attached to a rope that extended to the ground.
Like a curious cat, Maxi tugged at her.
She looked distractedly around the tent when she noticed that the noise outside was getting louder.
Maxi jumped to his feet and threw back the fabric covering the entrance.
Not far from the tent, Riftan was arguing with a woman.
Maxi's eyes widened when he saw the woman's face.
“P-Princess Agnes?”
They somehow heard her murmur and turned to her in unison.
“Maximilian!” The princess pushed Riftan aside and ran to Maxi.
"I thought the knights were mistaken when I heard them talking, but it was true!
It's been a while, hasn't it?
Have you been okay?"
Maxi's eyes widened at the unexpected warm welcome.
Ignoring Maxi's perplexed reaction, the princess shook both her hands and continued excitedly.
"You must have had a difficult journey here.
I hear these arrogant men have been busy babbling instead of welcoming you."
Princess Agnes turned her head towards Riftan with a disapproving look.
Riftan grimaced and gritted his teeth.
“I don’t want you to give my wife false hope.”
"False hope?
Do you need to talk like that?" The princess grumbled.
"I have offered you a sensible solution.
And it is Maximilian's opinion that matters, not yours, sir."
Unable to follow their conversation, Maxi started to back away when Ruth appeared out of nowhere and tried to interrupt their argument.
"Both of you, please calm down.
Can't you see that Lady Calypse is uncomfortable?"
Riftan gave Ruth an icy glare before turning to Maxi.
Seeing her anxious expression, Riftan rubbed his face, then reluctantly turned away from the entrance.
"Alright.
Let's discuss this inside."
“Oh, how kind,” Agnes quipped as she entered the tent.
Perplexed, Maxi followed them.
Seeing her confused expression, Agnes gave Maxi a calm smile.
"I apologize if we scared you.
I'm afraid we lost our temper while discussing where you should be accommodated.
You know how obstinate this man can be."
“My…accommodation?” Maxi asked, nervously looking back and forth between Agnes and Riftan.
"It is my prerogative to decide where my wife will stay, Your Highness.
You have no say in the matter."
"I am the commander of Wedon's coalition forces.
And since Lady Calypse is also a subject of Wedon, I do have a say in this matter!"
“She is not a mage sent by the kingdom!”
“That’s why I’m offering her the position!”
“W-Wait a moment!” Maxi shouted, putting an abrupt end to the heated argument.
“Could someone please… explain to me what’s going on?”
Ruth had her back to Maxi throughout the exchange.
Evidently deciding that none of the commanders would be able to give Maxi a clear explanation, he sighed and said, "It's simple, my lady.
You joined the support unit undercover as one of Livadon's female clerics, but you can no longer go on like that.
Hence the idea of you being formally introduced as one of Wedon's mages."
“An… official mage?”
“You don’t need to feel intimidated, Maximilian,” the princess added when she saw Maxi’s frightened expression.
"It will be a nominal position only.
Your duties at camp will remain largely the same."
Maxi gave him a dubious look.
"I-If nothing's going to change...
is this complicated formality really necessary?
I don't mind staying with the female clerics“"
“And you think I would allow such a thing?” Riftan growled through clenched teeth.
"Damn!
The fact that you were forced to stay in a place like that is enough to make my blood boil.
Are you provoking me?"
“That's why it's no longer an option for you to hook up with female clerics,” Ruth muttered dryly.
His shoulders slumped as if exhausted, and Maxi assumed Riftan must have scolded him.“Right now, his position within the camp is ambiguous at best,” Ruth continued.
“As you can no longer claim to be a female cleric, Sir Riftan and Princess Agnes are discussing the suggestion of conferring on you a position as one of Wedon’s mages.”
"Of course, your tasks will be mostly the same.
The only thing that will change is that you will now tend to the wounded as a healer of Wedon and not as a female cleric of the basilica," Agnes explained in a soft voice.
"You may think it unnecessary, but affiliation is of great importance in a military camp.
Soldiers from Livadon, Wedon, Osiriya, and Balto are currently gathered here in Eth Lene.
The men are disoriented because the lines of command are a mess.
If a problem arises without us making your affiliation clear, none of the kingdoms will be able to offer you protection.
You have received the protection of the basilica's soldiers until now, haven't you?"
Maxi nodded.
“Now, you must allow Wedon to protect you.”
“I will protect my wife!” Riftan spat as if he had lost his temper.
“I don’t need you to meddle in my affairs.”
“Do you intend to stay by her side all day, Sir Riftan?” Agnes retorted cynically, crossing her arms.
"And when you need to be on the battlefield?
What will you do then?
Are you going to confine her to your tent?
Stop being so stubborn!
This is a war, and a war has no place for a noblewoman.
If Maximilian remains in this camp as your wife and not as a mage, you will both become a laughing stock."
"Let them say what they want.
I will do my part in this war, but that doesn't mean my wife has to do the same!"
“But I… want to c-share your burden,” Maxi interjected.
"I-I don't want to be a hindrance.
I wish to...
accept Your Highness's offer."
Riftan pursed his lips.
She had just managed to appease him, and now she could see that he was growing cold again.
But he couldn't back down.
"If you remember...
I also served as a healer at Castle Calypse.
I don't see h-how this is different.
I won't overwhelm myself...
so please stop opposing the idea without giving me a chance.
I know I can do well."
Riftan's lips became a thin line as his eyes bore into Maxi's face.
She saw his eyes darken.
"Fine.
Do as you wish," he replied coldly.
“You’re going to do whatever you want regardless of my objections anyway, so I’d rather have someone watching you from the start than be fooled again.”
Maxi shrugged at his disapproving tone.
He stared at her for a moment, then turned his back to her.
"I will assign men to escort you immediately.
You cannot refuse me that."
With that, Riftan left the tent.
Maxi was about to follow him, but Princess Agnes was quick to stop her.
"Give him some time.
People may think he's grumpy, but deep down, he's a sensible man.
Once he's had a chance to cool down, he'll see that this is the best option we have."
“B-But…”
"Sir Riftan seems to be irrationally protective of you.
Some would say as if he were protecting a six-year-old child," said the princess disapprovingly.
"Of course, this wouldn't be a problem if you had no objection.
But if that's not the case, you need to make him see that you have a mind of your own."