“P-Please, put me down,” she squeaked. “I can…walk o-on my own.”
“Be still,” he said tersely.
With that, he strode through the crowd.
Ulyseon trailed after them. “Please forgive me for failing to protect her ladyship, Sir Riftan.”
Riftan simply quickened his pace, not even sparing the squire a glance. Ulyseon’s shoulders sagged like a puppy that had been kicked by its master.
Maxi looked at Riftan reprovingly. “Y-You mustn’t blame Ulyseon. Those men…came out of nowhere….”
“Don’t—” Riftan’s throat bobbed as though he were swallowing a large lump. “Don’t say anything right now.”
Sensing the tense fury radiating from him, Maxi pressedher lips into a tight line. The spectators parted to make way for them as if they, too, perceived his murderous aura.
Riftan took Maxi straight back to his tent. She had to blink several times for her eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. After placing her on the cot, Riftan lit the lamp with a flint.
Maxi gulped as she gazed at the outline of his clenched jaw illuminated in the lamplight. To her horror, her eyes burned with tears once her racing heart began to calm down. She wished he would yell and become angry like he usually did. Seeing him so still, immersed in his thoughts, twisted her stomach in knots.
A stammering fool.She wondered if Riftan was brooding over those words.
Maxi bit her lip. It was a rebuke she had heard countless times from her father. It would be laughable for her to feel upset as if it were something new. But even so, the fact that her flaw had been used to mock her husband shattered her heart into pieces.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Maxi ventured to say, “I-I’m sorry. You were sh-shamed because of me….”
His head swiveled to her, a look of incredulity flashing across his features. He strode over and knelt before her on one knee.
“Why are you apologizing?” he said gruffly. “That scum only said those things to provoke me. If it weren’t for me, you would not have had to suffer such humiliation from a low-life son of a bitch like him….”
Riftan gripped her wrist. It was still throbbing from earlier, and Maxi flinched at his touch. His shoulders stiffened. He rolled up her sleeve, taking in a sharp breath when herwrist was revealed. The dark purple bruise was clearly visible even in the dim light.
“I swear I will kill that man.” His voice came out in the low growl of an enraged beast. “I am going to formally challenge him to a duel the moment this war is over. I’ll show him the fate of anyone who dares to harm you.”
Maxi’s skin prickled at the sight of Riftan’s fiery gaze. He did not seem to care about the insults that had been aimed at him at all. Her humiliation was the sole reason for his rage, and for once, he seemed at a loss for what todo.
She felt an odd mixture of happiness and sadness at his reaction. If he had divorced her and married Princess Agnes as everyone had expected, he would not have had to suffer such public ridicule. The princess would have been like a sparkling gemstone he could take pride in. Such thoughts sprang up like poisonous mushrooms and refused to leave her head.
Agonized, Maxi squeezed her eyes shut. She would rather die than hear someone mock Riftan again for having a stuttering wife.
He bolted to his feet. “We should treat this at once. I’ll call Ruth for you.” He apparently thought that her pained expression was because of her wrist.
Maxi hastily stopped him. “Th-That won’t be necessary. Applying a salve…should be sufficient.”
Riftan scowled. “Not only did you follow me to such a wretched place, but you are looking after thousands of injured men. You should tend to your own injuries with the same care!”
“I-It really isn’t that serious,” Maxi protested feebly. “I’ll have it treated p-properly later, I promise. R-Right now…I just want you to stay with me.”
Anxiousness filled his eyes. He reluctantly sank back down in front of her. Seeing him agitated like a creature caught in a snare, Maxi dolefully lowered her gaze.
“Do…Do you not want to st-stay with me anymore? Do you h-hate me now…for f-following you here against your wishes?”
“Stop talking nonsense!” he shouted, sounding incredulous. “Do you think it’s possible for me to hate you? I simply hate the fact that you’re here in such a godforsaken place! Seeing you labor away like this—”
Riftan abruptly stopped his outburst. He clenched his jaw as his gaze slowly swept over her disheveled hair, sunburned face, simple woolen dress, and blistered hands. It was as if the mere sight of her caused him pain.
“I want to drape you in silks,” he professed in a choked voice, “and have you in dresses made only of satin, fur, the most expensive fabrics…. I want to adorn each of your fingers with colorful gems, your head with a golden tiara, and your neck with the most exquisite pearls. I want you to live in a magnificent castle with servants tending to your every need. That’s the reason I’ve been…”
His voice cracked and trailed off.
