“Th-That is not important. We should discuss what we are going to—”
“I don’t need your help!” Riftan bellowed. “I beg you, just let me handle it!”
“H-How can I?!”
Drowning in despair, Maxi’s chest heaved as she fought for breath.
“How can I…simply feign ignorance? You stubbornly refuse to admit that i-it is my fault…but it is! If you were to lose your knighthood…it would be because of m-me!” She pounded her fists against his chest in anger. “Do you…w-want me to carry that guilt for the r-rest of my life? Is that…what you want?”
Riftan seized her wrists. “Nothing you say will change anything,” he snapped. “If you thought I’d let you stand in court, then you do not know me at all. I can deal with this without you getting involved!”
Tears welled in her eyes. Trying desperately to contain them, Maxi furrowed her brows and glared at him through her misty vision.
“S-Stop being so stubborn! My father…will also present a witness. You need s-someone to defend you.”
“But that will never be you,” Riftan hissed through clenched teeth. “If worse comes to worst, I’ll have Ursuline or Elliot testify, so stay out of this.”
“I-It won’t be as effective as having me! I am the duke’s d-daughter…and the cause of all this. My testimony…w-will have more credibility!”
“How many times must I tell you no?!” Riftan’s face twisted viciously. “You want me to make you do that…to protect myself? To put you in front of those abhorrent people and force you to reveal everything you so desperately tried to keep hidden? I’d rather be stripped of my knighthood!”
Maxi desperately wished she were strong enough to grab and shake him until he came to his senses. How could her dignity be more important than his honor? Compared with his rank, estate, and reputation, her dignity was nothing.
“I-I…do not mind,” Maxi pleaded. “I would…only be testifying about wh-what happened that day. I-It would not be difficult.”
“That’s enough. I don’t want to discuss this any longer.”
Pushing her hands away, he turned around and headed for the door. Maxi felt a blaze of anger surge in her chest at the sight of him walking away. She immediately went after him and yanked his tunic.
As soon as Riftan turned in surprise, she yelled, “Don’t even th-think about leaving! I am going to testify…no matter what you say! If you won’t take me…th-then I will make my own way there!”
Riftan’s eyes grew cold.
“Do you want me to lock you up?” he snarled with a fury equal to hers.
Maxi gazed back in shock before her expression turned steely. “A-Are you saying you will do as my father did?”
The blood drained from Riftan’s face. Driving a knife into his heart would not have elicited the same expression as what Maxi saw now. The bleakness in his eyes instantly dissolved all the fight in her. With a gasp, she pulled his rigid body into her arms.
“I-I’m sorry. I should not have s-said such a thing! You are nothing like my father. I know you’re only t-trying to protect me.”
Riftan drew a ragged breath and gazed down at her. She had never seen him look more vulnerable. Cupping his face, Maxi kissed the tip of his chin.
“P-Please, try to understand. As much as you w-want to protect me…I also want to do everything I can for you. It pains me…t-to do nothing…when you are in trouble. Please…don’t force such torment on me.”
“I…” His voice came out strangled. He extricated himself from her grip. “I need time to think about it.”
“R-Riftan…”
Maxi reached out to stop him, but decided against it and lowered her hands. She did not want to push him any further. The mediation was still a while away, and she would take her time convincing him. She looked on despondently as he strode out of the room as though he were fleeing from disaster.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Being compared to the Dukeof Croyso must have come as a grave shock to Riftan. Ever since their argument, he no longer raised his voice or threatened her. She took full advantage of his moment of weakness and was persistent in her efforts to convince him.
A few days away from their departure to Loverne, Riftan finally raised the white flag. The moment of surrender was when Maxi threatened to secretly ride out to Loverne on her own if he refused to take her with him. It also helped that the mediation was only a small gathering of the duke, the king, and a few witnesses—a better proposition than having her testify in court.
“I have learned that it’s better to keep you in my sight so I can stop you from doing the next reckless thing,” Riftan mumbled.
