Ruth pointed to the steep hill outside the window.
Maxi's eyes widened.
She was naturally familiar with the legend of Wigrew, to whom God had granted a sacred sword to end the war against darkness.
The hero had united the western kingdoms under the banner of the Roemian Empire before ascending to the heavens.
He was a frequent figure in all children's bedtime stories, and countless bards and artists had immortalized the scene of Wigrew soaring into the sky on a white dragon.
Maxi's eyes sparkled with wonder as she knew the legendary place was right in front of her.
“Is the l-legend r-real?” Maxi asked.
“The Anatolians believe so, although there is no historical evidence” said Ruth.
“B-But what does this h-have to do with oak trees?”
"The story goes that Wigrew fell in love with the nymph of the oak tree.
The Anatolians believe that the nymph is still waiting for his return.
Every spring festival, all the maidens go to the hills to sing songs of praise for the nymph's love."
“S-So that’s why people here d-don’t cut down oak trees.”
Ruth nodded.
Now Maxi understood.
Still, he couldn't help but think that the dead tree spoiled the appearance of the castle's main entrance.
“Would the servants be unhappy if I-I order the tree to be r-removed?”
"The people of Anatol revere Wigrew.
They will probably resent the decision."
Maxi frowned as he remembered how the Anatolians had shouted “Rosem Wigrew” on the day of Riftan's return.
Ruth saw his worried face and sighed.
“I’ll see if I can bring her back to life.”
“C-Can you r-revive a d-dead tree?”
"Human life and plant life are different.
Sometimes they appear dead, but they are just dormant.
If we infuse the tree with mana..."
Scratching his head, he stopped as if he found such explanations tedious.
"I can't guarantee anything, but we could at least spread the word that Your Lordship has requested the help of a sorcerer to revive the sacred oak tree.
Even if the experiment fails, it will be enough to calm the servants."
His sarcastic tone made Maxi hesitate.
“A-Are you suggesting t-that I care t-too much about how the s-servants j-judge me?”
"That was not my intention.
It is natural for the lady of the castle to try to gain the respect of her servants, especially when she has not been here long."
Ruth's response was exceptionally kind, but Maxi felt more perplexed than relieved.
She was used to his scathing comments.
Not knowing where to direct her gaze, she said cautiously, “Then I l-leave it to you.”
Ruth seemed to regret volunteering for such an uncomfortable task.
“All I want, my lady, is for all this construction to be over so I can go back to my routine in peace.”
The renovations proceeded smoothly.
In place of coarse stone, gleaming marble tiles covered the floor of the banquet hall, while the creaky window sills were replaced with carefully varnished mahogany.
As Ruth had suggested, crystal glass windows were only installed in the banquet hall, grand hall, eight of the largest guest rooms, and Maxi's room.
Windows in the library, barracks and mess hall were fitted with Balt glass.
Greased parchment windows with shutters were installed in the remaining rooms and hallways.
These small changes were enough to brighten the gloomy castle, and the servants seemed pleased with the transformation.
They worked with happy faces, even though they had to work twice as hard to clean when the workers kicked up clouds of dust with their busy feet.
"Have you seen the new furniture?
It's magnificent!"
"And the curtains are a beauty too!
I can't wait to see the chandelier.
Soon we will have the most splendid banqueting hall in all of Wedon."
"And the great hall now lives up to its name.
I hear that when the windows are finished, we'll have new carpets for the floor!"
Maxi, who was running down the hall, stopped.
Three young maids carrying baskets full of clothes were chatting excitedly, their cheeks flushed.
Maxi recognized them as the new hires who came on Aderon's recommendation.
“I bet you will be surprised when you return!”"He certainly will be!
I heard he was furious about the state of the castle when he returned from campaigning."
The maids' words made Maxi's heart flutter with anticipation.
Would he really be satisfied with the changes?
Or perhaps you found them too extravagant?
But she instantly brushed aside his worries.
Ruth had said that this was all acceptable after all…
Although he seemed a little uncomfortable.
Shaking off her anxiety, she went downstairs to oversee winter preparations.
In Riftan's absence, it was her responsibility to ensure that there were sufficient reserves of firewood and food in the castle, food and water for the horses, and warm clothing for the servants and guards.
“My lady, the new wall lamps and braziers have arrived,” Rodrigo informed as he and the servants carried wooden boxes.
“Would you like to see them?”
At Maxi's request, Rodrigo placed the boxes on the floor and opened one with a fireplace iron.
Inside were nine elegant wall lamps.
“There are fifteen boxes in total, my lady.”
"P-Please make sure they're all in g-good condition.
I-I want them to be placed in the great hall, the banquet hall, and the c-hallways."
“And the braziers?”
"P-Please put t-two in the c-kitchen.
The r-remainder can go to the q-barracks and the g-guardhouse."
“As you wish, my lady.”
One by one, the servants carried the boxes across the hall.
Maxi turned to leave the large hall.
With the arrival of winter, the days were getting colder.
Maxi breathed in the cold air before quickly heading towards the stables with quick, light steps.
She planned to visit the stables, outbuilding, and forge to see if anything else needed to be purchased.
While leafing through the old records, she discovered that her predecessors carried out annual inspections of the castle.
Her concentration on construction caused her to neglect other parts of the castle.
Maxi followed the path that led around the garden to reach the stables, which were at the southern end of the castle grounds.
The stable workers left the fodder they were carrying and hurriedly took off their hats, surprised by her presence.
"My lady!
What brings you here?
Were there no maids to accompany you?"
It was Qenal Osban, the stable master she had been introduced to on her first day.
Maxi took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly.
"T-they t-had their own d-duties to attend to.
I c-came t-to see if there is t-anything you p-need for winter.
I heard that c-merchants travel less when it gets c-colder..."
"Oh, thank you, my lady.
I was about to go find Rodrigo for this very reason."
Qenal's face lit up.
He opened the stable door and held out a lamp for her.
The stable looked like it had just been cleaned.
Grimacing slightly at the smell, Maxi leaned forward without entering, where twenty warhorses were snorting and munching hay.
Qenal pointed to the end of the room, where one of the compartments appeared to be collapsing.
“We will need new partitions, but our tools are old, and we don’t have enough wood.”
“I-is there anything else?”
“We will also need more hay to last us through the winter, my lady.”
“F-Very well, I’ll f-make a wish.”
"God bless you, my lady!
Thank you very much."
The old man smiled.
Maxi smiled in response, letting out a sigh of relief inside.
Not long ago, the presence of other people was enough to make her tremble with fear, but now she was able to look them in the eye and speak with composure.
Although her tongue still refused to move as she wanted, her stutter had lessened, as she had many more opportunities to speak here than at Croyso Castle.
Proud of her progress, Maxi left the stables and entered the spacious garden.
The high walls cast cold shadows.
She wrapped the shawl around her shoulders more tightly.
The breeze carried the smell of grass.
Loose strands of her hair danced in the wind, tickling her.
Absently, she brushed them away, but stopped when she remembered Riftan comparing her voluminous hair to cotton clouds.When she looked up, she saw the mountains that Riftan had probably crossed to get to the capital.
He should have arrived in Drachium by now.
She imagined the royal capital alive with festivities, and Riftan clad in silver armor, standing tall and gallant before the nobles like a hero from a legend.
No one else would dare belittle his humble origins.
Even the noblewomen who had once rejected him would fall in love with him…
Maxi felt his mood drop.
His stomach turned as he imagined Riftan surrounded by refined, brilliantly dressed noble ladies in the ballroom of the royal palace.
And enjoying her admiring looks, Riftan would begin to regret having married her.
He would realize his mistake in not divorcing her…
“What are you doing here alone, my lady?”