For the first time, the palpable silence felt like torture. The only sounds were the crackling fireplace, rattlingwindow, and clinking of armor. After a few tense moments, Maxi’s anxiety got the better of her.
“I-I know that you’re angry, but…there was no other way…t-to force my father to back down. I c-couldn’t let you face a trial.”
Riftan’s hand froze as he was placing his sword belt on the stand. His fierce eyes flew to her.
“No other way?”
Maxi flinched back as he marched over. When she instinctively began backing away, he caught her and leaned threateningly close.
“Don’t make me laugh,” he hissed. “You could have just trusted me and let me handle it!”
“A-And your solution…was to leave Wedon?” Maxi bit her lip and glared back. “Do you really think…th-that abandoning everything—Anatol, the Remdragon Knights—is…asolution?”
Riftan’s jaw tightened, and he swore under his breath. He grabbed her shoulders.
“It’s decided, and I’ve already told the knights. I will have to give up the assets I’ve acquired as Anatol’s liege so it can fund the running of the estate. I will still be able to take any personal assets from my mercenary days. You wouldn’t have to worry about starving. Be it in Livadon, Osiriya, Balto, or Dristan…there are countless feudal lords who want me in their service. I can ask them for another piece of land and start over.”
Maxi stared at him with wide eyes, unable to believe her ears.
“H-How can you…s-say something so irresponsible?Y-You are the lord of Anatol…and the commander of the Remdragon Knights. Th-The people in this castle…the residents of this land…all worship you. The knights would g-give up their lives for you! And yet…you’re going to abandon them?”
Riftan’s eyes wavered ever so slightly. He clenched his fists as if to double down on his resolve. “If I leave, Hebaron or Ursuline would rule over Anatol. And the order has many outstanding knights. They will be fine!”
“But they don’t…w-want you to leave,” Maxi protested. “And…I know you don’t, either. Don’t even th-think about lying!”
She jerked away from him and took a step back. The sight of him looking so helpless tore her heart to pieces.
“I have…w-witnessed firsthand how much you ch-cherish this land. Didn’t you…work day and night so Anatol could flourish? Why would you abandon it now…when you’re f-finally seeing the fruits of your labor?” Maxi emphatically spread her arms wide. “A-Are you going to…throw away everything you’ve built for the past decade…just for me?”
Her voice rose with the flood of emotions cascading through her soul. How could he decide to turn his back on the castle she had worked so hard to refurbish, the defenses he had built around it, and the city that had just begun to thrive?
“A-Are you in your right mind?” Maxi yelled. “O-Or have you gone completely insane?!”
“That’s right!” He grabbed her as she went to move farther away and forced her to look at him. “Nothing elsematters more than having you by my side. I can build walls and amass riches as many times as necessary. Tell me to do it a thousand times, and I will!”
Maxi clenched her jaw to suppress the sobs that threatened to burst from her throat. His blind obsession with her was incomprehensible. What on earth was it that bound this man so steadfastly to her? Her eyes prickled with tears as they roamed over his desperate expression.
She did not want to leave his side, either, not even for a moment. Nevertheless, a part of her was aware that this was not right. They could not turn their backs on the world and live only for themselves. There were countless other things requiring his attention besides her.
“I-I…” Maxi croaked as though trying to dislodge a bone in her throat. “I want to go to Nornui.”
Riftan stared back in disbelief.
“B-Becoming a mage…would solve everything,” she desperately continued. “Y-You won’t have to lose your lands…or leave the Remdragon Knights. You…o-only have to wait four…no, three years. I promise I will return without—”
“Ha…” Riftan’s hollow laugh cut her off. He dropped his dejected gaze to the floor and mumbled, “You want me to go through that hell again?”
He had his hands over his face, and Maxi could see his fingers trembling faintly. Her torn heart felt like it was bleeding.
When he raised his head once more, all signs of vulnerability were gone, replaced by a blank mask.
“That time might not mean anything to you, but I already endured three years to be with you. Only God knowshow miserable and lonely they were.” His lips twisted into a wooden smile. “You don’t know what it’s like for a day to feel like a year, and a year like an eternity. Nor what it’s like to count the seconds, yearning for that person…Only someone who has no idea would ask that of me.”
“Th-That’s not true. I-It was a difficult decision. It’s going to be…hard for me, too.”
“Then…” Riftan paused as though stopping to quash some emotion. “Come with me.”
Tears welled in Maxi’s eyes. Unable to stop them from falling, Maxi covered her face with her hands. Riftan clutched her waist and desperately tried to persuade her.
