Maxi jumped to his feet at the sound of Riftan's fierce roar.
For a moment, the blond man at the door seemed surprised by the intensity of Riftan's anger, but then he growled back in kind.
"How was I supposed to know you'd be this busy in the living room, Commander?
I assumed you'd hear me approaching immediately as usual.
I just didn't see the need to knock."
"Skirt!"
Riftan's scream made Maxi's face pale as a sheet.
She feared what would happen after the man left the room.
She cast a pleading look at the man at the door, but he just muttered curses through clenched teeth and turned away.
"A carriage is waiting for you outside, Commander.
You said you didn't want to stay another moment at Croyso Castle."
“Keep her waiting, then.”
Being speechless, the man frowned before letting out an exasperated sigh.
“Please be quick, Commander.”
The man gave Maxi a displeased look before leaving the room, the door slamming behind him.
Maxi studied Riftan's face for signs of anger.
He scratched the back of his head and then gave her a glare.
She would wither under his intense gaze, and he mocked the sad figure.
"I'm not going to jump on you again, so there's no need to shake like that.
Hell, I didn't even plan on catching you here."
She didn't dare lift her head.
Instead, she looked at her clasped hands as if she were trying to look through them.
Riftan got up from the couch and straightened his disheveled clothes.
"You heard him, didn't you?
A carriage is waiting.
It's leaving soon."
Maxi felt the blood drain from his body.
He had tried to take her just moments ago, and now he was talking about leaving.
She still hadn't managed to convey a single coherent thought to him, much less persuade him.
“B-But…”
In her panic, she desperately grabbed his tunic without noticing the rumpled state of her own clothes.
“C-can we c-talk f-for a m-moment…”
"There is no time to waste.
Ask the servant to pack your bags.
We will talk in the carriage."
Maxi had trembled with fear, but now a confused expression appeared on his face.
She repeated her words hesitantly.
“M-My c-stuff?”
"Yes.
Your things.
Don't you have things to bring with you?"
She blinked, still not understanding.
A large sigh escaped Riftan, who deftly adjusted his clothes into some semblance of decency.
He lifted it and called the maid who was waiting outside the door to pack his bags.
Even after hearing his order, Maxi couldn't believe he actually intended to take her with him.
"Pack only what you need.
We can't take too long."
"T-there's m-not much to take.
J-just a-a-few..."
"Good.
We'll leave now, then.
If you need anything, you can find it on my property."
Riftan dismissed the maid and led Maxi out of the living room.
She almost had to run to keep up with his giant strides.
Everything was happening so fast that she had no idea what was happening.
“Y-Y-Your p-property…?”
"Why?
Does it surprise you that a simple knight owns your lands?"
He looked at her over his shoulder, his voice thick with sarcasm.
“King Reuben granted me an estate when I became a knight, along with a castle that was to have become his home after our marriage.”
Maxi only became more confused.
A castle that should have been your home?
But Riftan seemed uninterested in explaining further.
He was already descending the staircase that led to a spacious garden.
Next to the colossal fountain stood an extravagant carriage pulled by four horses.
A retinue of around fifteen knights was guarding the carriage.
Their excited voices quieted as Riftan and Maxi approached.
A few men stole glances at Maxi, who stood awkwardly behind Riftan.
She felt her cheeks burn under their curious gazes.
"What are you waiting for?
Get into the carriage."
"B-But… F-Father is m-waiting for me.
B-P-I need d-his p-permission…"
Riftan's face hardened at the mention of the Duke.
Holding tight to her arm, he dragged her towards the carriage.
"You are my wife.
Why should I ask permission to take you with me?
Your father has no right to interfere."With that, he lifted her and placed her in the carriage, where she remained in mute astonishment.
My wife…
Did that mean he didn't intend to divorce her?
She couldn't untangle the jumbled thoughts in her head.
“Go!” Riftan shouted through the window, sitting across from Maxi.
The carriage began to shake.
Still in disbelief, Maxi watched Croyso Castle recede into the distance.
She had imagined dozens of scenarios in her head when imagining their meeting, but none of them had prepared her for this.
Why are you taking me with him?
She looked perplexed at her husband, who watched the landscape pass by with an arm resting on the window.
He looked calm and composed.
Could this be the same man who had made acidic comments and kisses before leaving the castle, dragging her with him?
She recalled her father's words.
King Reuben offered the princess's hand in marriage to him.
He won't let this opportunity slip away!
Duke Croyso had hammered those words into his head.
But he wasn't the only one who had assumed that Riftan would marry the princess.
A renowned sorceress, Princess Agnes had fought alongside Riftan in the campaign against the Red Dragon.
Two warriors falling in love after sharing the excitement of the battlefield was an irresistible inspiration for the bards, who wasted no time in composing and performing the romantic tale around the city.
Everyone who heard about the victorious return of the princess and the knight was anticipating a royal wedding.
Maxi herself thought that divorce was inevitable.
Even the clergyman who had officiated at their wedding would not have disagreed.
Everyone knew that Duke Croyso had pressured Riftan to get married, and Riftan had every right to demand a divorce.
So why…?
Maxi stole a glance at Riftan's finely chiseled features.
His disheveled hair sat splendidly across his chiseled forehead, waving in the gentle breeze that came through the window.
Her shiny golden-brown skin gave her an exotic appearance.
The arduous campaign had accentuated the contours of his naturally stony face, giving him an imposing appearance.
Maxi had never seen Princess Agnes in person.
The princess was said to be a remarkable beauty, with shining golden hair and deep blue eyes.
Maxi imagined that, next to her, Riftan and the princess would look like a work of art.
His attention turned to his own reflection in the carriage window.
A wide, rounded forehead and a small, low-bridged nose dotted with brown freckles.
Big, round eyes that seemed to unbalance his features.
Wavy hair twisted into a single braid, loose strands sticking out like straws.
She could only think of the worst.
It was impossible that Riftan really wanted her as his wife.
There must be a catch.
A secret plan, perhaps.
What did he plan to do with her?
As if sensing her apprehensions, Riftan sharply turned his head to look at her.
Shrinking under his piercing gaze, Maxi looked away.
She must have done something to displease him, because he started swearing.
"Do you find me so repulsive?
At least try to hide it!
I have no intention of jumping out of the carriage to spare you the inconvenience of my company!"
"Y-Y-You're n-not r-repulsive.
I n-never t-told you…"
“Then do something with that terrible expression on your face!”
Maxi's hands flew to cover his face.
It was true that she felt uncomfortable and afraid in his presence, but she hadn't realized that her expression betrayed her feelings so clearly.
Knowing that her face had irritated him, she didn't know what kind of expression she should use.
Riftan sighed.
“You must realize that we are not like other married couples.”
Maxi felt cold sweat break out on his forehead.
“I don't know much about you,” he continued.
"And you don't know much about me.
But you are my wife, and that means I must spend the rest of my days with you.
How can I treat you as my wife if my mere presence is enough to make you shake like a leaf?"
“The r-rest d-d-of y-your d-days… c-eat-i-i-go?”
Seeing his surprise, his features contorted into a frown.
"We got married three years ago.
We're husband and wife.
Aren't couples supposed to live together for the rest of their lives?"She looked at him as if he had suddenly grown another head.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Did he genuinely want her to be his wife?
Or was he lying for some ulterior motive?
Perhaps he was mocking her, thinking that she hadn't yet discovered her engagement to the princess.
Increasingly distressing thoughts took over his mind.