Riftan washed his face and dried himself with the towel. While nervously studying his expression, Maxi ran out of patience.
“H-Have you discovered…what my father is plotting?”
A light crease formed on Riftan’s forehead. He seemed to debate silently for a moment before shaking his head. “The only thing we’ve managed to find out is that your father is in frequent contact with his vassals.”
Maxi narrowed her eyes. The men would not have deliberated for so long if that was the sole piece of information they had received. She was certain that they must have discovered something serious for Hebaron to come searching for Riftan in such a hurry. She pressed her lips together in dissatisfaction.
Sensing her suspicion, Riftan heaved a sigh. “No matterwhat Croyso is up to, it’s for me to deal with. You don’t have to concern yourself with that man any longer.”
Maxi frowned. “H-How can I not? He is…my father. And all of this is my fault….”
Riftan threw the towel onto the rack and growled, “A bastard who whips his own child is no father.”
Maxi recoiled at the intensity of his disdain.
“What I meant…was that I am also responsible…f-for our current situation. I have the right to know…wh-what is happen—”
“How many times have I said this? None of this is your fault,” Riftan snapped. “I beat the man, and now he’s throwing a fit. That’s it. This is between him and me.”
“I-I am…the reason you beat him!” Maxi yelled, riled by his stubbornness. “How can you…s-say that I have…nothing to do w-with this? I was there when it h-happened! If it weren’t for me, y-you wouldn’t have done such a thing…a-and my father would not be putting p-pressure on—”
“Fine.” Riftan strode over and glared down at her. “Let’s say all of this is your fault. What do you intend to do, then?”
Maxi’s face flushed. He was right, of course. There was nothing she could do. Not wanting to admit it, she replied through clenched teeth, “Wh-Who knows? There might be s-something I could…”
“There is nothing. And even if there was, I would never ask for your help.”
The color drained from Maxi’s face at his cold words. She stared at him in shock before backing away. She was about to race out of the room when Riftan caught her arm and picked herup.
Maxi struggled against his embrace, slamming her fists onhis shoulders. Without batting an eye, Riftan grabbed the back of her head and ravaged her lips.
Clenching her jaw against his kisses, Maxi yanked at his hair to pry him off. He frowned and lightly bit her lip. When her lips parted from the stinging pain, his soft, hot tongue pushed into her mouth.
Maxi hated how easily she melted in his arms. He entwined her tongue with his own, sucking lightly. When he explored the roof of her mouth and the insides of her cheeks, a titillating shudder ran down from behind her ears. Her limbs went limp.
Her chest heaving, Maxi glowered at him. “Y-You can be…rather spiteful…at times.”
“Don’t say that,” he muttered gruffly, then kissed her cheek and wet eyes. “I never rely on anyone, and I especially refuse to rely on you.”
His words drove daggers into her heart. Maxi glared at him, her face etched with hurt.
“Then…I-I also refuse to rely on you. I forbid you f-from taking any interest in my affairs!”
Riftan’s face turned steely at her threat. “Stop talking nonsense. You are my wife. It’s my duty to protect you!”
“Are you saying…you are free to meddle in my affairs…wh-while I am not?”
“That’s right.”
His immediate reply left Maxi speechless. Looking her dead in the eyes, Riftan spoke slowly and clearly.
“I will solve all your problems as well as my own. I will not let you take anything upon yourself ever again.”
“Th-That’s—”
He stopped her rebuttal with another kiss. Maxi placedher hands on his shoulders to push him away, but when she finally came to her senses, she found herself frantically pulling him closer.
Her head spun every time his soft tongue entered and retreated from her mouth. An exhilarating heat rose from the pit of her stomach as he ran his hands up and down her body.
