Under the Oak Tree

392 Chapter 153

Maxi furrowed her brow. She had been asking after his love life just a moment ago. How had she become the one under scrutiny?

Suspecting Riftan was artfully steering the conversation away, Maxi retorted, "I kept...mostly to myself. After coming of age, I spent most of my time in the annex... and on the rare occasions I was required to make an appearance...I would take my leave as quickly as possible. How could I have...taken a liking to anyone... w-when I never even had the chance to converse with a man my age?"

"One can fall in love without ever engaging in a proper conversation," Riftan shot back. He turned back to the brazier as he meticulously peeled the charred skin off another chestnut. "Sometimes a distant glance is all it takes to capture a heart."

Maxi shot daggers at the back of his head. "A-Are you... speaking from experience?"

To her astonishment, she noticed his nape and earlobes flush with color. A wave of jealousy washed over her. She knew that young knights often idolized high-born women. Could Riftan have gone through such a phase himself? Her eyes moistened at the thought of an eighteen-year-old Riftan, newly knighted and enamored with a sophisticated, alluring noblewoman.

Overwhelmed by jealousy, she burst out, "I-I am sorry to say I am not so loose that I would fall for a stranger. H-How could someone be attracted to a person they do not even-"

Maxi stopped short. Something had just dawned on her, and a deep flush bloomed over her face as she noticed Riftan's wooden expression.

She was the woman who had captured his heart. He had even told her as much himself.

A cold sweat broke out on her back, and she quickly adjusted her tone. "H-However...I did find you quite dashing...w-when you first arrived at Croyso Castle."

With a derisive snort, Riftan tossed the chestnut skins into the fire. "Really?"

"I-It is the truth! Yes, your aloofness was intimidating.. b-but I thought you were undeniably handsome."

"Do you always run like the plague from people you think are handsome?"

"W-Well..."

Maxi's eyes darted around, searching for an excuse, before she let out a resigned sign. The truth was, she had not found him entirely appealing during their first encounter. His confidence, which had bordered on arrogance, had poked at her insecurities, and his excessively good looks had strangely put her off. It had also annoyed her that all the women in the castle seemed infatuated with him.

Yet, despite her initial fears and reluctance, she had found herself stealing glances at the dashing knight. Perhaps it was his unattainability that had made her put up an emotional wall.

Twining her arms around his neck, she admitted, "I avoided you... because being near you made me feel insignificant."

"I find that difficult to believe." Riften turned to look at her with a frown. "Insignificant? I worshipped the very ground you walked on. A mere smile from you, and I would have been on my knees. Do you have any idea of the absurd things I did just to catch your eye?"

"H-How could I when you looked as though you were plotting murder half the time?"

Caught off guard, Riftan fell silent.

Maxi studented him, her eyes alight with curiosity. "Did you really...desire my attention?

"Enough. Eat."

He affected a look of indifference as he pushed a peeled chestnut into her mouth.

Undeterred, she continued to press him as she chewed. "Since when? Tell me."

Riftan shot her an irritated look, but his flushed cheeks made him appear more like an adorably petulant child than the intimidating man he was aiming for.

"I would like to know. Can't you just tell me?" Maxi pleaded.

Finally, Riftan confessed with a sign, "From the moment I laid eyes on you."

Shock wound through her. "But you were scowling the first time we met!"

"When did I-?" he began angrily, then stopped himself. He groaned as if defeated. "I have no defense for these accursed facial muscles of mine."

With that, he resumed the task of peeling chestnuts as if to put an end to their argument. Maxi watched him with an odd expression. What about her had drawn him with such force?

While she had overcome her initial insecurities and learned to appreciate her charming qualities, she knew hers was not the sort of beauty to ensnare every man's heart. Yet, Riftan seemed to regard her as the epitome of allure.

A pleased smile crossed her lips as she began to twirl strands of his hair around her finger. "Are you partial to redheads?"

"So it seems." Riftan grumbled, abruptly pushing another chestnut into her mouth.

His endearing shyness made Maxi burst into laughter. Lying on her stomach, she allowed him to feed her while she continued her flirtatious line of questioning.

"Then...had I been fair-haired, I suppose you would not have spared me a glance."

"Perhaps."

When Maxi slapped his shoulder, Riftan chuckled as if pleased by his petty revenge for her embarrassing questions.

He kissed her bulging cheek and whispered tenderly, "Even if your hair turned white, I would still find you captivating."

Though he had spoken the words playfully, Maxi felt her throat constrict. The image of them together, old and gray and still in love, filled her with joy.

"You really do have a way with words, you rake."

Shaking his head at her persistent teasing, Riftan could not help but smile. Giggling, Maxi nuzzled her cheek against his neck before popping another piece of chesnut into her mouth, savouring it with a bite of bread. After enjoying a few more hours of respite, she changed into fresh clothes and ventured outside to check on the wounded.

The streets, once marred by ashes and corpses, were now blanketed in snow that had fallen overnight.

"Don't push yourself," Riftan cautioned, draping a coat over her shoulders with a look of concern.

Maxi gave him a bright smile. "Don't worry."

Just as he opened his mouth to respond, they heard Ursuline call for Riftan. He glanced toward the sound, and Maxi, realizing he had been neglecting his responsibilities to be with her, gently nudged him on the back.

"Go on. I will be fine."

"See you this evening, then," he said with a sigh.

He strode away to where the knights were gathered. After watching him disappear, Maxi turned and entered a crumbling chapel that now served as a makeshift infirmary.

Packed inside were hundreds of wounded soldiers. After ensuring that no one's condition had deteriorated overnight, Maxi moved to the back of the chapel where Ruth attended to one of the men.

"I apologize for my lateness, Ruth. I will take over now..so you should get some rest."

"There is no need to apologize, my lady. I've had ample time to rest," Ruth replied, stretching his stiff neck. "Honestly, there isn't much to do right now. You could rest more, especially since we might not get another chance once we leave Midna."

"A-Are we leaving so soon?"

"As soon as our supplies arrive. We cannot afford to waste time."

Maxi looked around the infirmary, worry etched on her face. "What about all these men?"

"A portion of the duchy's army has agreed to stay behind to care for them."

"Does that mean...the duchy will not join the coalition?"

"We cannot leave Midna unprotected," Ruth replied indifferently.

Maxi's brow furrowed. While most of the injured were Croyso men, some were from the coalition. She tried to estimate the number of soldiers that remained.

"D-Do you think we have enough men to get to Dristan and reclaim Vesmore Castle safely?" she asked.

"Princess Agnes's unit will join us once we cross into Dristan. Our numbers are not the concern - the supplies are," Ruth said with a weary sigh. "We have enough food for the soldiers, but we're low on feed for the horses. The snow has made grazing impossible, so the supplies must arrive within the week."

The color drained from Maxi's face as she stared at Ruth. "Do you think...there is a high chance my father will not send it?"