Maxi turned around in surprise to see Riftan looking at her.
Just a moment ago, he was standing some distance away.
How did he get close to her without her noticing?
“Would you leave without saying a word?”
“I d-didn’t mean t-to bother you…”
“You are not bothering us at all.”
He grabbed his arm and turned to look at the squires.
The young men, drenched in sweat and red from exertion, looked at them curiously.
"Let's take a coffee break!" Riftan shouted.
"We'll be back in an hour.
Go rest in the annex."
Then he led Maxi away by the hand.
Confused, she turned to look at Rodrigo, but the butler had his hands politely clasped, making it clear that he had no intention of following them.
Riftan didn't look back as he led her down the path.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“I… a-ate in the d-dining room… the m-butler was g-giving me a t-tour of the c-castle…” She stuttered without meeting his eyes.
Remembering how she had fallen asleep while taking a shower with him, she felt her cheeks heat up.
“I-Forgive me for t-bothering you l-last night.”
"To disturb?" he asked, slowing down so he could look at her.
“I-I j-ended up d-sleeping f-first…”
"It's okay.
You're not used to long trips" he replied brusquely before resuming his pace.
Maxi studied his expression.
Despite his words, he looked displeased.
“S-Still, you must have been f-tired too… but you had to t-take care of m-me…”
“I wasn't tired” Riftan replied coldly.
“Quite the opposite.”
“P-Excuse me?”
Her question drew a sharp look from him, making her shudder.
Riftan let out a sigh.
"Never mind.
You said you were taking a look at the castle?
I'll guide you."
“O-Alright…”
Although she wanted to ask if she had done something wrong, she decided it was best to keep quiet.
They crossed the gardens and climbed the stairs to the walls.
At the top of the wall, Maxi could see rocky mountains and steep cliffs in the distance.
The sloping hills were densely covered with lush green trees.
“Thirty to thirty-five sentries patrol the walls every day, keeping watch for monsters,” Riftan explained.
“If they see enemies, they play the kopel.
1
The sound of the horn is a signal for the knights to lead our forces into battle.”
Maxi contemplated the fortress that resisted the fierce winds.
The structure of the castle was simple.
It was surrounded by high and sturdy walls, and in front of the outer gates were the knights' quarters and training grounds.
The main tower and annex could be found inside the inner gates.
Overall, the rustic castle resembled a kneeling giant.
Behind him was a spacious garden, and in the center of that garden was a tall, slender tower that looked like an iron spike.
Noticing Maxi's inquisitive look, Riftan explained, "Ruth lives in that tower.
It's close to the mountains, so it's easier for him to use magic from a distance if necessary."
Riftan frowned in irritation.
“But don’t get too close” he continued.
“He has inscribed strange magical runes all over the tower in the name of his research, and they can be a real nuisance to deal with.”
“R-Magic runes…?”
She looked at him, her curiosity piqued.
It seemed he had little desire to explain further, leading her along the patrol route towards the rear of the castle.
"What you see over there is the stable.
That's the carriage house, and that structure over there is the barn.
We always keep the barn stocked in case we get surrounded."
Riftan's monotone voice wavered as he took in her expression.
"I must be boring you.
I'm not very good at telling stories.
Especially with women..."
“N-No, I’m n-not bored.”
She gave him a half smile.
It was difficult to imagine Riftan joking around or talking to women.
Still, it was difficult to believe that he was inexperienced in the art of conquest.
Unless he had recently transformed into a handsome man, Riftan had lived twenty-eight years as a handsome young man.
It was unlikely the women would have left him alone.Every knight who regularly visited Croyso Castle was a master in the art of conquest.
Several times, Maxi had heard the maids laugh as they whispered excitedly about the knights' seductive skills.
At some point, Riftan must have won over a young maid, or perhaps even a beautiful noblewoman.
Maxi remembered his mention of the northern custom of the host's wife attending to guests while they bathed.
How else would he have learned such practices?
Maxi's spirits plummeted.
His past deeds were not in her interest.
"What's wrong?
You're frowning."
Maxi quickly thought of an excuse.
“Oh, the g-wind is a-bit c-cold.”
Riftan wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
She held her breath at the overwhelming masculine scent emanating from his body.
“I should have t-made warmer clothes ready.”
"It's o-okay.
I-It's s-sun.
If the wind w-wasn't blowing, it would be h-hot…"
“Do you like the dress?”
She looked at her clothes.
He would think it strange if she told him that she had never worn something so beautiful.
“Y-Yes, I like it.”
"I'll call the seamstress to come to the castle so you can order whatever you want.
You could have dozens of dresses, even hundreds."
Riftan lifted her chin and looked at her with a penetrating gaze.
The blood rushed to her face.
Was this the act of a man who knew nothing about conquest?
She looked away.
“Is t-that a h-habit of yours?”
"What do you mean?"
“Always t-telling me that y-you’re going to g-give me anything I w-want.”
He frowned at her bluntness.
"I'm serious.
I said I wouldn't give you anything less than what you had at Croyso Castle."
Maxi swallowed.
She had not lived in luxury nor received the things she wanted.
Would he still be so kind to her if he found out she wasn't the noblewoman he imagined?
She felt like she had tricked him.
“I...
I'd like to g-go back inside and t-rest now” she mumbled, trying to avoid his eyes.
“Are you tired?”
Seeing her nod, Riftan took a step forward.
A strong wind was blowing through the dense forest on the mountain.
The trees seemed to howl, making Maxi stop in his tracks.
The wind carried with it an inexplicable aroma of loneliness.
Will I live with this scent for the rest of my years?
Her eyes rested briefly on the shadowy landscape before she turned to follow Riftan.
Maxi returned to her room alone, as Riftan had returned outside to oversee the squires' training.
As she sat by the fire, Ludis brought her a tray of ginger tea and cookies sprinkled with dried fruit.
“Lord Calypse will hold a banquet with the knights tonight,” said Ludis, serving him another cup of tea.
“Would you like a new outfit for the occasion, my lady?”
Maxi looked at her confused.
“N-New costume?”
"Yes.
This is your first appearance as Lord Calypse's wife.
I thought it might be helpful for you to dress appropriately for the occasion, my lady..."
Ludis trailed off, her face tightening.
She lowered her head and continued.
"I...
I spoke out of turn, my lady.
Please forgive me."
“N-No, it’s okay.”
Maxi looked at the mirror that was against the wall.
The elegant bun that Ludis had done so carefully had become disarranged in the wind.
She fixed the loose strands and nodded.
“So, p-please…”
Ludis got up and left the room with the kettle in her hand.
She returned with a small box containing a comb, scented water and jewelry.
Maxi sat in front of the mirror while Ludis quickly undone her hair and combed it until it shined in the light.
Maxi was used to her mistress combing her hair with a force that threatened to tear her scalp off.
In contrast, Ludis's hands seemed miraculously skilled.
"Would you like a hair clip, my lady?
Or a tiara, perhaps?"
Ludis opened the jewelry box.
On the red satin were brooches adorned with precious stones, pearl necklaces, gold rings and silver hairpins.
Maxi's eyes widened in wonder.
As far as Maxi knew, Riftan had no mother, sisters, or other family members.
So why did he have all this jewelry?
It was strange too, in fact, that he had prepared such an extravagant dress the day after his arrival.
Could it have belonged to a former lover?“My lady, are these not to your liking?”
“N-No, they are beautiful…”
Maxi focused his attention on the ornaments, trying to ignore the strange feeling.
“P-Please use t-this hairpin…”
“Yes, my lady.”
Ludis braided Maxi's hair and twisted it into a thick bun, securing it with a sparkling hair clip studded with flower-shaped jewels.
Then she hung a pearl necklace around Maxi's neck and slipped a crystal ring on her finger.
Maxi looked at herself richly dressed as if she were a stranger.
With flushed cheeks, wavering eyes, and uncertain expression, she looked like a clumsy child who had stolen her mother's jewelry.
“Should I bring other jewelry if these are not to your liking?” Ludis asked cautiously.
She studied Maxi's expression as she smoothed out the pleats in her mistress's skirt.
Maxi shook his head.
"Th-these are g-great.
T-They're enough."
Ludis got up from her chair, visibly relieved.
Maxi wrapped a thin shawl around her shoulders and left the room.
Outside, the sun was already setting.
A type of horn, to be more exact, a horn
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