Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 350 Chapter 111

Wearing a black wyvern-hide vest and light armor beneath a navy robe, his longsword at his waist, Riftan looked more like a rogue mercenary than a knight. Maxi noted his trimmed hair, as the locks that he usually kept swept back now sat neatly over his comely forehead. The hair on his nape fell much shorter as well. Were it not for his wooden expression and somber eyes, he could easily be mistaken for a young man in his mid-twenties.

Gazing down at Maxi, he handed his reins to Elliot. "You're dressed lightly." 

The elation on her face quickly turned into a frown. Was that all he had to say? His unapologetic curtness quashed all her resolve to have a calm conversation. 

Hands leaping to her waist, Maxi glared up at him. "W-Why did you not return last night? Where on earth-" 

Riftan grabbed her arm and called to the knights behind him, "Take Talon back to the stable. Wait for me at the knights' quarters."

Then, before she could say anything else, he began striding toward the main castle. Maxi could not believe it. 

Does this man think he can do as he pleases?! 

"W-Where are we going?" Maxi demanded while being dragged along like a tethered goat. 

"I would rather not provide everyone with another spectacle. We will talk in our chamber," Riftan said brusquely, stepping into the spacious hall bustling with people. 

Maxi shot her husband a sullen glare before glancing over her shoulder. The knights looked on in worry, and Sidina's eyes were wide as she watched them leave. 

Maxi forced a reassuring smile on her face and followed Riftan across the great hall, then up the marble stairs leading to the guest rooms.

"I-I heard you left the castle early in the morning," Maxi burst out as soon as they entered their bedchamber. "What on earth happened? What news did Sir Ursuline bring?"

"There were some problems in Anatol requiring my urgent attention. I spent the night sending messages, searching for merchants to help me," Riftan explained as he took off his coat and tossed it over a chair. 

Maxi's eyes clouded with concern. "W-What sort of problems?"

After a moment of silence, Riftan wearily rubbed the back of his neck. "To supply the coalition army, the Council of the Seven Kingdoms purchased large amounts of food from the merchants of Lakazim. The merchant guild of Anatol served as the broker, and there appears to have been a few disputes during the transaction."

Maxi furrowed her brow. Since Anatol had developed into a large commercial hub, the taxes paid by merchants no doubt made up much of the estate's income. Even so, she still found it strange that the lord of the estate, who had just fought in a major campaign, would be required to settle a trade dispute with such urgency. She gave him a dubious look. 

"What exactly is the problem? How serious could it be "

"Anatolian merchant vessels were illegally seized when they entered a port in eastern Balto," Riftan replied stiffly before Maxi could even finish speaking. "Aderon Suner, the representative of the merchant guild, requested the aid of the Remdragon Knights. Ricaydo did his best to resolve the matter, but there was a limit to what he could do as my proxy. That is why I personally had to send an official complaint to Balto and search for merchants willing to deliver my bribes there. It is my duty to get my business partners out of Balto's prison as soon as possible." 

It was a serious matter indeed. Maxi could not do much else except press her lips together. Still, no matter how valid the excuse, her disappointment remained. 

She sullenly eyed the patterns on the carpet as she spoke, her voice full of resentment. "You could have at least told me about it. I was in the dark... waiting for you to return." 

Her words sounded petulant even to her ears. She flushed, throwing him a furtive glance to gauge his reaction. The air between them seemed to hang heavy as he gazed down at her with glum eyes. Maxi took a step back. 

Seeing this, Riftan asked in a strangely subdued tone, "What was this talk about returning to the Mage Tower?" 

Maxi blinked, then sighed in relief. He must have misconstrued the situation after overhearing Sidina's whining.

"I-It was nothing," she said, putting on a bright tone to reassure him. "Sidina intends to return to Nornui, and since we've grown close during my time at the Tower... she was pressing me to return with her." 

His face hardened ever so slightly, and she quickly added, "Of course, I made it clear that I have no intention of returning. Master Calto asked if I wanted to be elevated to senior mage, but I refused right away." 

She slipped in the last part to show that the Tower acknowledged her as a mage in her own right, but Riftan did not seem impressed. Perturbed by his stillness, Maxi nervously opened her mouth.

"A-After all, the only reason I volunteered for the expedition to the Plateau was so I could leave the island sooner. I intend to return to Anatol-"

"Go back to the Tower." 

Maxi stiffened, her face clouding with confusion. "What... do you mean?" 

Walking over to the rack, Riftan grabbed a pitcher and replied flatly, "Just that. There is no need to give up your desires for my sake. If you wish it, go ahead and train for a few more years in Nornui." (22 Her face flushed with anger. For a moment, all she could do was open and close her mouth before she found her words. "I-I do not wish to return to the Tower. Were you not listening yesterday? I want to stay by your side. I-I want to return to Anatol with you!" 9 Riftan seemed unaffected by her outburst. He picked up the kettle with an eerie calmness and poured himself water. After quenching his thirst, he turned to look at her, his eyes blank.

"Why?" 

"W-Why?"

"Why do you want to return to Anatol with me? You've only spent a year there. If you think about it, you have lived at the Tower longer." 

Backing away, Maxi gazed up at Riftan as though she were looking at a stranger. Her mind could not grasp what he was saying. 

What happened to the man who had lavished her with kisses last night? Who was this person spouting nonsense before her? She shook her head in bewilderment. 

"W-Why would that matter? I am... your wife. Anatol is... m-my home. You said so yourself... th-that I am your only family." "I did." 

He lowered his cup onto the rack. Fear stirred in Maxi's chest at the calm way he moved.

"I took you to Anatol," he continued, "and you only became my wife because the Duke of Croyso ordered it."

"Why... would you say that? What is the point of m-mentioning that now?"

"I am merely telling you that you needn't honor something you did not choose for yourself." 

Riftan shifted slightly, his back to the window. The light streaming in from behind cast his face in shadow, and she could no longer see his expression. 

Turning toward the window, he continued, "Looking back, it occurred to me that becoming a mage was the only decision you've ever made for yourself. Nothing I said could dissuade you, and you refused to give up the path despite nearly losing your life several times. That's how important being a mage is to you." 

"Th-That is..."

"You don't have to give that up for a duty that was forced on you." 

Shock wound through Maxi, the color draining from her face. A duty? Did he think her resolve to live the rest of her life with him was out of obligation?

Her voice quivering, she barely managed to ask, "Do you not... want me to return?" 

"When did my desires ever matter?" 

Maxi hunched her shoulders at his barbed remark.

Riftan said nothing for a while as if to contain his stirring emotions, then intoned, "My needs do not matter. What matters is what you truly want."

"I-I already told you... what I want!"

"I trust actions more than words," he spat coldly, his eyes as dark as an abyss. His voice sank lower. "Your life was hell before I took you out of Croyso Castle, so you might have compelled yourself to adhere to my wishes. You should take some time to think over what matters to you most." 

Maxi's lips parted and closed. Having said his piece, Riftan grabbed his robe from the chair and turned toward the door."

Something snapped inside her. She latched onto his clothes and yanked with all her strength. 

When he looked down at her in surprise, she lashed out, "D-Do you think you know w-what I want better than I do?" 

His eyes widened slightly before narrowing, but before he could say anything, a torrent of words burst out of her.

"Well, you're wrong! You know nothing! I chose to become a mage... because I wanted to help. I chose to learn magic so I could be u- useful to you in any way I could! I went to the Mage Tower... because I thought that was what was best for us. Do you know h-h- how painful it was to make that decision? The anguish I felt?!"

Riftan said nothing, looking down at her like a statue. She could no longer bear his calmness. Losing all self-restraint, she began pounding her fists against his chest. 

"Y-You think y-you are the only one who suffered, don't you? You never considered my pain for a moment! You act as though you do all this for my sake, but you are really only thinking about yourself. You are simply protecting yourself from getting hurt!" 

Riftan had been frozen in place until then. As soon as she yelled the final word, he took her roughly by the arms.