“My lady, it is time for you to return now,” he said.
Maxi looked up at him in surprise.
The squire glanced around at the injured men lying in the cots with an uncomfortable look on his face, then spoke more urgently. “Sir Riftan has made it clear that I am to escort you back to your tent before it gets dark.”
Maxi hesitated. “B-But I still have—”
“I’ll finish mixing the herbs.” It was Selina, who had been preparing her own batch of herbs nearby. “You should go. Leave the rest to us.”
With that, Maxi was practically pushed out of the infirmary.
Walking beside her, Ulyseon puffed up with pride. “Sir Riftan has once again entrusted me with your safety, my lady. From now on, I shall be by your side at all times.”
“I-I apologize for troubling you,” Maxi murmured.
“Not at all, my lady.” Ulyseon pounded his fist on his chest and gave her a bright smile. “There is no greater joy for a knight than to serve a noble lady. I cannot express how honored I am that Sir Riftan has entrusted me with this duty. I will risk my life to keep you safe.”
Maxi looked up at Ulyseon, who was now a head taller than her. In the past few months, he had surprisingly become more like a grown man. Maxi smiled. In her eyes, the plucky young squire was still like an adorable child.
“Thank you…f-for saying that,” she said.
“I mean every word, my lady.” Ulyseon sounded slightly upset when he saw the smile on her face. “My knightingceremony will be held once this war is over, and as soon as I am knighted, I intend to challenge Sir Hebaron and replace him as Sir Riftan’s right hand. Please do not take my determination lightly.”
Maxi’s face flushed. “I…I apologize.”
After regarding her with narrowed eyes as if to ascertain her sincerity, his face regained its boyish guilelessness. “I will let this trespass go. But only because it is you, my lady.”
Maxi had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing at the youth’s solemn bearing and manner of speech. Like a true knight, he escorted her to Riftan’s tent with utmost decorum, then quickly brought her a tray of sumptuous food for dinner.
After washing her hands, Maxi sat at the table and asked, “D-Do you know when Riftan will be returning?”
Ulyseon gave her an apologetic look. “Sir Riftan is currently in a strategy meeting, my lady, and it will likely go on until late into the night.”
Maxi felt despondent at Ulyseon’s words. Could it be that Riftan was using the meeting as an excuse to avoid her? After all, he had always been adept at evading her whenever he was angry. She anxiously picked at her food and tried in vain to rest.
When Riftan did not return even into the late hours of the night, Maxi surmised that her suspicions had been correct. She lay waiting on the cot until fatigue finally dragged her into sleep.
Unsurprisingly, she awoke to an empty bed. She hurriedly got ready for the day. Just as she was about to rush outside, Ulyseon entered the tent.
“Good morning, my lady!” The young knight gave her a bright smile and placed her breakfast on the table.
Maxi tried to conceal her anxiety as she asked, “Riftan…did not return last night. D-Did the meeting last all night?”
“The meeting ended in the early hours of the morning, my lady. I was standing guard in front of the tent and only went back to the barracks after Sir Riftan’s return.” Ulyseon cocked his head. “He probably did not wake you since he thought you might be tired.”
Maxi was willing to wager the entirety of her accumulated mana that Riftan had noiselessly entered and left the tent to avoid her.
Her brow furrowed in irritation. “Can you tell me…where he is now?”
Ulyseon pondered. “He should be outside the gates inspecting our defenses. Do you have an urgent matter to discuss with him, my lady?”
Opening and closing her mouth, Maxi weakly shook her head. The truth was, she did not know what else to say to him. Everything that needed to be said had been already. All she could do now was to wait for his anger to abate, as the princess had advised. Maxi heaved a resigned sigh.
Four days later, with still no glimpse of Riftan, her anger slowly grew. Like a coward, he would sneak in and out of the tent while she slept. It was infuriating.
Although she tried to stay awake each night, her exhaustion always won. On the other hand, Riftan was a man who did not know what it meant to be tired. He could no doubt wait all night for her to fall asleep.
Irritably brushing away the strands of hair sticking to her face, Maxi ripped up the herb in her hands and dropped itinto the boiling cauldron. She was glaring into the bubbling mixture, seething, when Idsilla returned with an armful of firewood.
