Max watched Riftan and Agnes argue. It was embarrassing to see them fight in public, but the knights around them seemed used to it, and shook their heads, bored.
“Christ, say your goodbyes and leave already”, Riftan said.
“You started the argument first!”
“Do you plan on leaving after the sun sets?”, he added.
Agnes’ shoulders briefly trembled as if she was trying to hold back a retort, then she sighed. “Yes, unwanted guests should leave.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“R-Riftan!” Max pulled on the hem of his shirt.
Riftan looked down at her before forcing himself to give a fake smile to Agnes. “Please have safe travels.”
“Thank you”, Agnes said dryly, but smiled when she turned to Max. “Maximillian, thank you also for your hospitality.”
“Pl-please stay safe and good luck”.
“I wish you the same”, the princess said before alerting her men.
Her knights yelled in approval before following Agnes across the drawbridge, kicking up dust beneath them. Max waved her hand until she had disappeared from her sight. She had felt uncomfortable having Riftan and Agnes spend time together, but now, a mysterious hollow feeling seemed to replace our anxiety.
“Let’s go back to our room”, Riftan told her.
He hugged her firmly while looking at the castle. Max turned in his embrace to watch him: his arms felt thick and strong like a tree trunk.
***
Max soon completed her tasks of renovating the gardens and castle. The gardens were now green and lush, depicting full bloom flowers. The sky over the garden became noisy as hawkers trained their birds. In the castle, old furniture was replaced, and every corner was either decorated or clean.
Meanwhile, Riftan was still busy coordinating the road construction. The knights toiled from dawn until dusk around him, keeping the monsters away.
Max soon fell into a monotonous routine. The servants were diligent and competent, needing little supervision. Before, she had studied magic in her free time but was now hesitant to start again. Her apathy towards the subject affected her ability, in fact it took her longer to memorize complex formulae without her past enthusiasm.
In the comfort of her bedroom, she sighed as she touched the book spines lined up in rows on the bookshelf. Agnes had said she had a talent for healing magic, but Max still wasn’t quite sure. Should she continue to learn magic, even if Riftan was against it? Her husband had made it clear that he never wanted her help, and Max was too discouraged to follow up after his initial rejection.
White rays of sunlight poured over her through the window and she kept getting distracted by the view outside instead of reading, and she had lost interest in the speech practice worksheet that Ruth had made for her. What was the point in continuing? She laid her head against the windowsill and sighed again.
“What are you doing? Are you sick?”, Riftan said.
Max turned quickly and walked up to him. “W-Why are you here at this time?”
Riftan had left before dawn to supervise the road construction. Max looked at him with worry, wondering if there had been issues. However, he was unhurt and stood tall as always, displaying a confident presence. His hair was shining like a black onyx with strands outstretched here and there at odd angles.
He looked at her methodically, checking for any signs of weakness. After taking off his leather gloves, he rested his hand against her forehead.
“I had to come back to see the blacksmith and stopped by to see you. Do you have a fever?”
“Oh, no. I w-was only looking outside.”
“You were sighing. Are you bored here?” he said, troubled. “Would you like to invite some of the neighboring nobles and hold a banquet?”
Max widened her eyes and drew back in surprise. Although Riftan had the funds to hold a banquet now, the knights didn’t have the time to leisurely enjoy their food, drink, and entertain guests. His offer was ridiculous, just like the time he had offered to hold a festival every day of the year. Yet his face showed that he was making a genuine offer, so she shook her head quickly. Riftan frowned and bent until they were at eye level. His gaze was serious, as if wanting to know what she was thinking about.
“You’ve been making faces since the guests left. If you’re bored from the country life—”
Max cut him off. “No! I-It’s only because the weather has been warm. I w-was drowsy. I d-don’t want to hold a banquet or feast. I do-don’t enjoy those things.”
“At Croix Castle, you didn’t stay at the banquet for long either”, he said thoughtfully. “You only revealed yourself and left after a short while.”
His tone sounded disapproving to Max. Did he want a more social wife?
“I w-want to be a good host and m-make sure our guests feel w-welcome”, she said resolutely. “Bu-but I generally do not enjoy loud events. Even as a child, I’ve never liked them.”
“It didn’t seem that way at the festival. I just want to see you enjoy—”, Riftan winced, noticing that he was raising his voice. His shoulders stiffened. “Then, would you like to take a walk with me now, instead?” he added more softly.
“You d-don’t have to. You’re busy”.
“I’m not busy enough to stop breathing”, Riftan said, annoyed. He picked up Max’s cloak hanging off the wall. “Do you want to avoid spending time with me?”
“No, I don’t d-dislike your idea. B-but Riftan, you’re always working. You don’t have t-time to sleep properly. Instead of a walk, y-you should rest even for a little bit. I-it will be better for you.”
“Taking a nap in bed together sounds nice”, Riftan glanced at the bed before grimacing. “But I’m not confident enough that I can just lay down with you and sleep quietly.”
Max blushed and he laid a hand on her shoulder before fastening the clasp on her cloak around her neck.
“Let’s take a walk. I haven’t seen the gardens you’ve decorated up close”. A fresh breeze entered through the open window and Riftan sniffed, then made a strange face. “The whole castle smells like flowers”.
“Do you dislike it?”
“No, it’s something different”, he said dryly. “I’m used to the smell of dirt, horses, sweat, blood…”
Max felt that perhaps Riftan had more in common with the flowers than she did. He was full of life just like their garden, was familiar with living every day, through hardship or training. He was strong and brave enough to overcome his trials, while she was just empty.
“Let’s grab some refreshments first”, Riftan said lightly, trying to improve her mood.
Max smiled, trying to hide her worries. “A few days ago, I b-bought a lot of fresh fruit. T-there were quality spices on sale. We w-will have a lot to choose from.”
“Good, it’s been some time since I’ve had fresh fruit. Not dried or pickled”.
Riftan looked straight ahead and went out with Max. After stopping momentarily in the kitchens, they left to go outside with a basket of raspberries, mulled wine, freshly baked apples, and bread.
Max squinted when bright sunlight shone over her, making the dew on the flower buds shine like jewels. Compared to the stone floor the servants cleaned and polished every day, the grass felt like a soft carpet that emitted a soft, bluish hue.
“Are you cold?”
“No, I’m v-very warm”. She took his hand and walked slowly. The Uigru tree was now sprouting buds. Max smiled and laughed quietly while she admired the foliage. Ruth’s magic had worked, the tree had finally come back to life.
“What are you smiling and laughing about?”
“The tree here. Do you see? The f-flowers have blossomed”.
“I thought this tree was dead”.
“Ruth said the t-tree may seem dead but t-there was a high chance it was still alive. I-in autumn, he applied his magic”, Max stopped as she saw Riftan become impassive. “Is something wrong?”
“No”, he said bluntly and tugged on her arm. “I don’t see what’s interesting about an ugly tree having leaves. We should look at something else. Let’s go to the garden you’re always looking at from our room.”
“The merchant gave me some recommendations. I p-planted a medley of flowers. I hope you e-enjoy them”.
They walked down a path past the training area gates at a relaxed pace. Max smiled in delight as she saw the sun filter through the foliage and light up her husband’s face.
She loved looking at him and yet feared to disappoint him at the same time. His naturally cruel and sharp eyes, his large and overbearing body that moved lithely, even when he was at ease… She admired all of him and was no longer scared of his appearance.
She didn’t understand why such a handsome man felt so passionate about a woman like her. Regardless, her heart seemed to fill with him more and more as the days went by.
“The garden view is even more wonderful up close”.
They finally arrived. A medley of colorful flowers were in full bloom and Riftan began to speak.
Note – LN: Lol, Riftan shot down the Uigru Tree legend in three sentences.
Nymeria: Guys, Riftan’s reaction to the oak tree… Riftan sus.
