Maxi shyly wrapped an arm around Riftan's waist, feeling joy and a hint of guilt rising in his heart.
Riftan incessantly compared her castle to her father's for fear that she would not be happy.
Although she could have told the truth about how her father treated her, pride kept her lips sealed.
Instead, she buried her face in his chest to reassure him.
“C-Calypse Castle is w-wonderful,” she murmured.
She felt Riftan let out a strained laugh above her head.
It was clear he didn't believe her.
"T-That's true.
With the castle walls looking so g-big and i-impassable, I m-feel safe...
and j-since the castle is on a m-mountain, c-I can see t-all of Anatol through the window.
The p-landscape is beautiful t-everywhere I look.
The s-servants are c-courteous and kind“"
Worried that Riftan might think her father's servants had treated her badly, she quickly changed the subject.
"B-But more than anything, the c-cook here is m-much better than the one at C-Croyso Castle.
T-Everything he makes is s-so d-delicious that“"
She had gained weight since arriving in Anatol, but stopped herself, afraid that Riftan would think she was overweight.
“S-So delicious that…”
Maxi racked his brains before finishing his sentence.
"W-That I'm s-always looking forward to the next meal!
His sweets are excellent, and h-he makes delicacies that I've never seen before."
“I’m glad the food is to your liking.”
Riftan smiled in relief and began to caress his neck.
With a relieved mind, Maxi buried her face in his shoulder again.
Riftan caressed her ear with a finger and let out a low moan.
The subtle movements sent shivers down her spine.
At this moment, a soft knock dispelled the intimate air that had formed between them.
Riftan mumbled to himself before saying sharply, “What is it?”
"It's me, Gabel Lachzion.
Everyone is waiting for you in the council room, Commander."
Riftan sighed loudly.
“Coming.”
“Then I will wait with the others.”
Riftan waited for the sound of Gabel's footsteps to move away before releasing Maxi from his lap.
She sat on a cushion and continued to look up at him.
The kittens looked up from the basket, awakened by the commotion.
Riftan looked longingly at Maxi's face, which was lit red by the fire's glow, before kissing her on the cheek.
"See you at dinner.
I'll ask the cook to prepare a feast."
Riftan got up, put on a robe and left the room.
The kittens meowed displeased at being disturbed.
Maxi welcomed them into his lap to feed them more goat's milk before throwing them a ball of wool.
When the kittens got tired of playing, she sat down at her desk and opened the book she was reading that morning.
Time passed quickly.
When she looked out the window again, darkness was descending.
She took the magic stone out of her robe pocket.
She started carrying the stone with her all the time since Ruth told her that it would help cultivate mana affinity.
Every now and then, she would take it out and play with it.
However, she could not feel any discernible changes.
Holding the stone with both hands, she closed her eyes.
The stone looked no different from an ordinary gemstone.
She was wondering if perhaps she needed to chant an invocation when she heard a knock, followed by Ludis's voice.
"I'm here to help you dress for the banquet, my lady.
Is this a good time?"
"Y-Yes.
I-Come in."
“Okay, my lady.”
Ludis entered, followed by the seamstress's wife, Linda Selous, and two of the new maids who had been hired a few weeks earlier.
Maxi's eyes widened when she saw the pile of dresses in her arms.
Ludis placed a small jewelry box on the table.
When she saw the kittens playing on the floor, she picked them up and placed them in the basket, which she moved to a corner.
Then she returned to the table and adjusted the angle of the mirror while Linda and the maids laid out the sparkling dresses on the bed.
Maxi looked perplexed.
“These are the dresses you ordered, my lady,” Linda said happily.
“And what better occasion to use them than a banquet!”
Linda lifted a beautiful navy blue dress from the bed.
Maxi gave a startled sigh.The dress radiated an elegant blue glow when illuminated by the firelight.
Linda spread out the glossy skirt for Maxi to see before proceeding to show him a green dress embroidered with gold and an ivory dress that sparkled as if it was studded with jewels.
"Are they to your liking, my lady?
My husband and I spared no effort in making these dresses."
“T-They’re beautiful”, Maxi murmured in a daze.
"My lady!
You should try them!", insisted Isinda, the affable maid.
“Everyone at the banquet will be mesmerized.”
“Which one would you like to try first?”
“I think this green will match your hair color.”
Before Maxi could respond, Isinda picked up the dress in question and held it out to her.
Maxi, obediently, put on the piece.
True to the maid's words, the dress flattered her red hair.
The long, flowing skirt was graceful, and the vine embroidery was breathtaking.
Maxi spun around in front of the mirror.
After examining herself carefully, Linda handed her the next dress.
With the help of the maids, Maxi tried on all of her new dresses, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips every time the soft fabric brushed against her skin.
Every time she changed her clothes, the maids eagerly chose jewelry and headdresses to match.
Linda tied a gold belt around the white dress Maxi was wearing.
“I think this dress suits you better, my lady,” she said.
Maxi studied herself in the mirror.
An elegant noblewoman dressed in a flowing white dress stood modestly before her, her golden kimono peeking out from beneath.
A web of diamonds adorned her neck, and a topaz ring glittered on her finger.
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
Even in her own eyes, she looked as majestic as a princess.
“I l-like this t-too.”
“Then please allow me to do your hair, my lady,” said Ludis.
"I think braiding your hair would look better than a tiara.
Should I use a pearl hairnet to secure the braid?"
“I suggest a small braid on each side and adorning your hair with ornaments.”
Following Linda's suggestion, Ludis combed Maxi's hair and expertly braided it at each temple.
Then she slid walnut-sized amber pins through her hair above her ears and let the rest of her voluminous hair fall down her back.
Maxi stared in amazement at how elegant her red curls looked against her white dress.
Ludis had worked magic with her unruly curls.
The maids began to exclaim in admiration.
“You look wonderful, my lady!”
"You look like a light nymph!
His lordship will be surprised."
"It sure will be.
You look more magnificent than we've ever seen!"
“T-thank you.”
“Is there anything you would like to adjust?”
“N-No, this will f-be fine.”
Linda nodded with a satisfied expression on her face.
As a final touch, she draped a burgundy velvet cape over Maxi's shoulders.
Maxi turned this way and that, inspecting himself.
After entrusting the care of the kittens to the maids, she left the room.
The night cast long shadows in the hallway.
Maxi followed the torches lit by the diligent servants, Ludis following behind her.
With Riftan's return, the castle seemed to have regained its vitality.
Distant voices could be heard coming from the floor below, and the smell of rich food and the sweet scent of wine permeated the cold winter air.
Maxi made his way among the servants, who were busy with kerosene lamps in hand.
She went down the stairs and entered the large hall.
When he arrived at the dining hall, he saw that the place was bustling with knights, young attendants and maids.
Maxi stood by the door and watched in bewilderment as the knights ate, drank, and talked by candlelight.
The table legs seemed to give way under the generous portions of food.
A young man who was slicing a piece of wild boar meat waved at her when he saw her.
“My lady!”
Ulyseon, dressed in a charming white robe, ran towards him with a bright smile on his face.
Maxi smiled back embarrassed.
Remembering her and Riftan's bold display of affection the day before, Maxi couldn't look him in the eye.
Ulyseon, on the other hand, started babbling as if he had completely forgotten the incident."Have you been well, my lady?
You may already know, but I went on my first foray with Sir Riftan.
It was the most meaningful ten days of my life!"
Ulyseon spoke as if he had just returned from a pleasant excursion rather than a raid against monsters.
Unsure of how she should react, Maxi let out a forced laugh.
“I hope you weren’t hurt.”
“Just a little bruised, my lady.” Ulyseon smiled shyly and pointed to his knee.
“It's embarrassing to admit, but I tripped over a tree root and fell upside down on a hill.”
“Fortunately, the ointment that wizard Ruth gave us proved to be effective, so I was able to avoid inconveniencing the group, but Sir Hebaron mocked me for being distracted the rest of the time.”
One of the knights looked over his shoulder, seeming bothered by the squire's chatter.
“Ulyseon Rovar, escort the noble lady to her seat,” he called loudly.
“There will be plenty of time for your conversations later.”
Ulyseon offered his arm to Maxi, scratching his head in embarrassment.
"Forgive me for my rudeness, my lady.
I was just thrilled to see you again.
Please let me show you where the best foods are."
Maxi placed his hand on Ulyseon's arm.
He promptly led her to a seat in the center of the table and pulled out a chair for her with surprising grace.
“Allow me to take off your cloak.”
Maxi held the strings of his cloak hesitantly.
She felt self-conscious standing in front of so many people.
“My lady?”
Seeing Ulyseon's questioning look, Maxi closed her eyes tightly.
She took off her cloak and handed it to the squire.
Silence fell within the hall.
Disconcerted, Maxi shrugged.