Riftan pursed his lips cynically in response to Maxi's question.
"As I have told you many times, you are my wife.
We have been together, although it was three years ago.
What are you so ashamed of?"
An intense blush colored Maxi's body from head to toe.
Sensing his discomfort, Riftan's face darkened.
"All I did was change your clothes, and you look at me like I raped you!
You shouldn't have passed out if you didn't want me to touch you!"
Maxi stepped back as he launched into a speech about fragile nobles fainting at the slightest sign.
Her eyes glistening with tears, she whispered a weak apology.
“I-I’m s-sorry.”
He pursed his lips and left the room.
Maxi lowered his head.
It had barely been a day since his return, and she had already irritated him countless times.
Would it be wise to accompany him to his property?
She bit her lip anxiously.
He now considered her his wife, but he could change his mind at any moment - it was only a matter of time.
Even now, it was clear he didn't like her, and would certainly become more cruel when he realized how useless she was.
As a distinguished knight whose name was known throughout the continent, Riftan would be invited to countless parties and banquets.
Maxi knew better than anyone that he was not someone he could proudly display at such events.
He would realize this soon and start mistreating her.
Would it be better for her to return to Croyso Castle sooner rather than later and beg for her father's mercy?
She imagined Riftan standing straight, with a sword in his hand.
A single blow was enough to tear a monster three times his size in half.
A punishment at his hands would cause her unimaginable harm.
But so far, he hasn't hit me even once.
She frowned at this sudden thought.
He hadn't raised his hands against her even when he was consumed with anger.
Maybe he wasn't as cruel as his father.
But she stifled his hopes before they could blossom.
They had just gotten together“there was no telling what their relationship would be like.
She was still lost in thought when the door creaked.
Riftan entered the room, a tray of steaming soup and bread in his hands.
"Vegetable soup and barley bread.
Eat some before bed.
Tomorrow, we leave at sunrise."
He placed the tray on the shelf next to the bed.
Maxi blinked in confusion.
He had stormed off just moments ago, but now here he was, bringing her food as if nothing had happened.
He was truly unpredictable.
He placed a wooden spoon and the bowl of soup in her hands.
"What are you waiting for?
Eat it while it's hot."
“T-Thank you…”
She stirred the soup, blowing on it before bringing a spoonful to her lips.
It was hot, but not hot enough to burn your tongue.
Although he had no appetite, a few sips of the tasty soup helped calm his stomach.
She stole a glance at Riftan as she stirred the contents of the bowl.
He had pulled up a chair next to the bed and was polishing his sword.
Without his armor and with his long legs resting languidly, he looked two or three years younger than his age.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
Maxi blushed, embarrassed at being caught staring.
“I-I just… I-I wanted to w-ask…”
Stammering, she half-heartedly stirred the soup with the spoon.
He turned to look at her.
“I-I d-don’t t-have r-clothes to c-change…”
“It’s late now, so I’ll buy you new clothes tomorrow.”
“A-and my r-clothes…”
“I asked the maids at the inn to wash them.”
Riftan studied his reflection in the blade of his sword.
She hesitated for a long time before opening her mouth again.
“I-I can t-have m-my r-underwear back, at least…”
Unexpectedly, a deep blush spread across Riftan's face.
He rubbed his face with a jerky movement before resuming an indifferent attitude.
"They tore.
I had to throw them away."
“P-P-pardon…?”
“They tore when I was taking them off, so I threw them away.”
She recoiled at his blunt tone, but continued to press him.
“W-why w-did y-you t-take off m-my r-underwear…?”
The question seemed to take him by surprise.
He began to mumble a response, avoiding your eyes.Suddenly, he faced Maxi, who was still holding the blanket like a shield.
"I had no choice!
You could barely breathe, and your face was turning blue.
Those terrible underwear of yours were almost suffocating you, so I tried to undo the straps!
All I did was pull at the knot...
heavens, how was I supposed to know the skirt was sewn to the bodice?"
His cheeks burned, and his scalp felt like it could release steam.
Knowing he had seen her underwear, she wanted to sink to the floor.
It was her wet nurse who had forced her to wear them, convinced that it would help her win her husband's affection.
She had worn the terrible thing at her wet nurse's obstinate insistence, but never imagined that Riftan would see it.
She buried her face in her hands, swallowing the urge to jump out the window.
Riftan sighed.
"Don't make that face.
I'm going to buy you new underwear tomorrow.
Would you like to borrow mine for now?"
"N-No!
T-There is n-need..."
She shook her head.
She had no desire to wear underwear that belonged to someone else, much less his.
At the same time, she felt insecure wearing nothing but a loose-fitting robe.
She fiddled with the spoon again, trying to read his face.
But that only made him look back in frustration.
"Are you going to be stirring your soup all night?
Eat it.
You haven't even touched the bread."
She quickly shoved a few spoonfuls of soup into her mouth.
But it was his habit to eat like a bird, and there was still a slight discomfort in his stomach.
Unsure if she could handle the crusty bread, she took a few sips of the soup before setting her bowl down.
“You didn’t even eat half of it.”
“I-I d-don’t h-have an appetite…”
"Don't be picky.
You won't be able to have anything extravagant until we reach my estate.
Eat, even if the taste doesn't please you.
How will you endure the journey otherwise?"
He scolded her as if she were a rude child, making her blush.
“Do you plan to bother us by starving and passing out the entire trip?”
“I-I’m g-gonna c-eat…”
She shoved a few more spoonfuls down her throat, but had to stop when her stomach dropped.
Seeing her put down the spoon so quickly, Riftan frowned, but didn't insist further.
He took the tray from her with a sigh.
“I can already see that it’s going to be a headache trying to satisfy the noble lady’s taste buds.”
He walked away, clicking his tongue.
She shrugged her shoulders to make herself as small as possible.
Her moods changed like the wind“he had kindly brought her dinner, only to explode into another rage“and she could never adapt quickly enough.
1
Thoughts came one after another.
Am I that much of a nuisance to him?
He must secretly regret bringing me.
Why did he make me come with him…?
Maxi was treading cautiously, but he could no longer suppress his curiosity.
“W-Why are you t-taking m-me t-with you?”
"What?"
Riftan stopped midway.
He was heading towards the door with the tray in his hands, but now he turned to look at her.
"What do you mean?"
“I s-k-know that y-you didn’t s-s-get married b-because you w-wanted to… so I d-don’t know why y-you’re t-taking me t-with you…”
His face hardened.
She held her breath, unsure if it was her stutter or her question that made him frown.
She continued hesitantly.
“W-we...
I-I want to t-say t-that we don't even c-know each other well enough to b-be a m-husband and m-wife… a h-man like you d-doesn't c-need to accept me… you c-can have any w-woman…”
“Shut up!”
Riftan stomped back to her bed and slammed the tray down, glaring at her.
“If you don’t want to come with me, just say so!”
“N-No, n-it’s not t-that I…!”
"Don't try to fool me!
My castle may not be as big as Croyso Castle, but it's more than enough to house a fragile woman like you!
I have gold if gold is what you want, damn it!
You'll continue to live in luxury, so enough of your nonsense!"
She cowered like a frightened turtle.
Why did he think luxury was his biggest concern?
Gesturing wildly with her hands, she tried to argue.
"T-That's n-not what w-concerns me!
I-I was just w-wondering w-why y-you're b-bringing me...""You are my wife!
Our marriage is recognized by the church!
Why would I need a reason to take you home?
You were the one who remained in your father's castle even after the wedding!"
“I-If y-you w-want a d-divorce…”
“What?”
He held her shoulders tightly.
Hearing his voice full of anger, Maxi felt numb, feeling like a mouse facing a hissing snake.
Maybe he would actually hit her this time.
She closed her eyes in terror, bracing herself for the blow that never came.
Maxi opened his eyes to see a pair of black pupils glowing with cold anger.
The hands on his shoulders shook as if they could barely contain their anger.
"Divorce?
Are you saying you want a divorce?"
the guy is bipolar
[
↩
]