Riftan studied her face as if seeking confirmation.
“But that doesn’t mean you want to sleep with him, does it?” he said abruptly.
“O-Of course not!”
The fact that Riftan even brought up the idea offended her.
Maxi frowned.
Was he still bothered by the time she spent with Ruth?
With her anger rising, Maxi said, "I-I...
swear to you, I...
never had...
such immoral thoughts!
And...
Ruth would never betray your trust“"
"I know.
I'm just trying to explain what it's like between me and the princess.
I don't dislike her...
in fact, I would even say that I regard her positively.
But I've never felt like kissing her."
Riftan murmured lowly, gently sucking her lip.
The feeling of his beard brushing your face felt good.
“It’s different from how I feel about you.”
“What… do you feel… about me?”
With nervous eyes, Maxi looked at his masculine face.
The only thing they shared was their bed, and that small portion was the only part of their life she could claim as her own.
Riftan looked at her before pulling her to his chest.
She heard his voice above her head.
“You’re the only family I have,” he said with a sigh.
She didn't expect that.
Maxi felt his heart ache.
Holding her breath, she silently repeated her words.
Family.
She had never thought of Riftan as her family, but he was right“they were family.
He was her husband, and she was his wife.
Maxi felt a lump in his throat.
Riftan seemed disturbed by her silence and placed his hand on her stomach.
“Although there would be three of us if you gave me a child,” he said humorously, stroking her stomach.
“D-Do you… want a child?”
"It would be nice.
A little puppy with red hair and big gray eyes.
What's not to love?"
“I-I… wish our son… had… black hair,” Maxi murmured, her throat tight with emotion.
Just imagining a baby that looked like Riftan filled her with joy.
Our son.
Since arriving in Anatol, she had been too busy to even consider having children.
But thinking about it now, it was about time to have one.
Maxi's sleepy eyes shone.
She imagined holding a soft baby in her arms and smelling milk as she ran her fingers through his thick, black hair.
What would it feel like to have a baby sucking on your plump, pink lips?
And the joy of seeing him run into her arms calling her mother?
The anticipation made Maxi's heart beat faster.
Then a sudden thought interrupted his pleasant reverie.
It had been almost half a year since he had arrived in Anatol.
Wasn't it strange that she wasn't pregnant yet?
Her nurse had told her that her bleeding would stop when she became pregnant.
If that were the case, shouldn't I have stopped now?
Although Riftan had been absent a few times, they had not neglected their marital duties.
Remembering how her own mother struggled to conceive her, Maxi became anxious.
“Let’s go to sleep.”
Riftan reached out to turn off the lamp before covering Maxi up to his chin with the blanket.
She snuggled into his warm embrace and shook off the terrible premonition.
It was still too early for such concerns.
There were couples who tried for years before finally conceiving a child.
She was sure that if she waited… she would be able to tell him the good news.
The next day, Maxi once again woke up and found herself alone in the sunlit room.
With her eyes still heavy with sleep, she looked at the empty seat next to her and sighed as she sat down.
Riftan's diligence was surprising.
With low spirits, Maxi got out of bed and got dressed.
She intended to address the tasks she was unable to do due to the excursion with the princess.
This included checking the progress of the landscaping and making sure guests had everything they needed.
It was another normal and busy day, but Maxi felt his spirits renewed.
She smiled as she remembered Riftan's warm arms that had held her throughout the night.
It was comforting to know that his passion for her had not diminished.
When Maxi came out of her quarters, the maids who were cleaning the windows bowed and greeted her with bright smiles.
“Good morning, my lady.”
“Did you sleep well, my lady?”
"Yes.
Did the guests… have a pleasant evening?"
"Yes, my lady.
Everyone said they slept well.
Everyone except the princess is currently resting in their rooms."
“And Your Highness?”“Your Highness went to the knight training camp with His Ladyship early in the morning.”
“With… Your Ladyship?”
Seeing her countenance fall, a perceptive maid quickly added, "The royal knights were also with them, my lady.
I heard that they will be observing the sentries' training."
“I-Got it.”
Embarrassed that the maid had noticed her displeasure, Maxi quickly walked away.
Riftan made it clear last night that he had no feelings for the princess.
Still, it disturbed Maxi to hear that he was currently with Princess Agnes.
Had she always been such a jealous woman?
Maxi came down the stairs rubbing her flushed face.
However, his uneasiness persisted as he inspected the gardens with Rodrigo.
It wasn't like her husband had gone on a secret date with another woman.
So why did she feel so pressured?
Maxi found himself pacing back and forth in the garden.
Finally, unable to bear the anxiety any longer, she headed towards the training ground.
It might be awkward with her there, but she didn't think she could regain her peace of mind unless she was with them.
With that thought in mind, she quickly walked beyond the gate.
That's when he heard a loud scream and looked down the entrance.
The knights must have been undergoing special training as there were more than the usual number gathered on the field.
Princess Agnes and her companions were on one side, and Maxi spotted the squires among the group on the opposite side.
Everyone's attention was on the two knights heading towards the field.
Maxi's eyes widened.
Both knights wore helmets, but she immediately recognized Riftan.
Will Riftan fight the knight?
But why?
The two knights drew their swords.
From the armor, it was evident that Riftan's opponent was one of the princess's royal knights.
Did any conflict arise between Riftan and the guests?
The royal knight suddenly charged at Riftan with such speed that it was hard to believe he was wearing armor.
The knight was like a weighted ball shooting through the air.
Maxi screamed and retreated, but his voice was drowned out by the thunderous clash of swords.
Riftan deflected his opponent's sword like a flash of light.
The royal knight immediately wielded his sword again.
Their metal blades began to clash faster than a hummingbird flapping its wings, and the deafening noise echoed across the field.
Maxi watched in stunned silence.
The two knights hit each other so hard that their feet sank into the ground, scattering dust around them like mist.
The duel was so intense that it was surprising that one hadn't already sliced the other in half.
Unable to watch the frightening scene any longer, Maxi looked away and saw Sir Elliot.
He approached her with a worried expression.
“Is everything okay, my lady?”
“S-Sir Elliot…”
Maxi instinctively grabbed his cape.
"W-What the hell is going on?
W-Why is Riftan…"
“Rest assured, my lady, they are just training each other.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“T-Training?”
She could still hear the thundering sound of their swords behind her.
"H-How can this be considered training?
What if they get hurt?"
“I don’t know about the royal knight, but the Commander is just having fun with his opponent.”
Elliot tried to reassure Maxi, but his heart pounded every time their swords met.
She was outraged that the knights watched with their arms crossed, without caring in the slightest.
“If you are not feeling well, my lady, please allow me to escort you back,” said Elliot, looking worriedly at her pale face.
Maxi unconsciously leaned on the knight as he supported her.
At that moment, a sharp sound resounded, and silence fell over the field.
In desperation, Maxi looked back to make sure Riftan wasn't hurt.
To her great relief, he was as steady as a stone statue.
He pointed the tip of his sword at his opponent's neck.
After a long silence, the royal knight slowly raised his arms, admitting defeat.
The tension eased, and Maxi let out a sigh of relief.
Neither of them appeared to be injured.
As she loosened her tense shoulders, she felt a warm gaze land on her.Maxi reluctantly looked down.
Riftan, after taking off his helmet, was staring at her with a dark look.
Sheathing his sword, he walked over to where she was and pulled her away from Elliot.
“Explain to me what you are doing to my wife.”
Elliot took a step back.
"I was trying to support her ladyship.
She was shaken by the training," he said, clearly disconcerted.
Riftan glared at him before turning his gaze to Maxi.
"You shouldn't be here.
It's no place for someone as sensitive as you."
With that, he grabbed her arm and turned towards the gate.
Maxi let out a moan as his glove pressed against her skin, and Riftan immediately let go as if he had been burned.
Rubbing her sore forearm, she looked at him in confusion.
She couldn't understand his sudden displeasure.
"I-I'm fine.
I just… I was surprised… because I've never seen… knights training like this before."
“Have you never watched a jousting or longsword tournament, Maximilian?”
It was Princess Agnes.