Pressing her lips together, Maxi slipped her hand into her pocket and fiddled with the copper coin. She had immediately retrieved it from the corner the moment Riftan had left the tent. Her heart constricted as she recalled how he had thrown an item he had carried with him for more than a decade with such apathy.
Seeing Maxi’s dark expression, Princess Agnes attempted to lighten the mood.
“For now, you should stop thinking about the war and focus on getting better,” she said cheerfully. “You’ve done more than enough, Maximilian. You should allow yourself torest.”
Maxi managed a feeble smile. “Thank you…for everything, Your Highness.”
“There’s no need for you to say that.”
With a kind smile, the princess pulled the blanket up to Maxi’s chin. Maxi blushed. It embarrassed her that everyone was treating her like a mortally wounded patient. After all, untold numbers of soldiers had suffered far greater injuries than hers. Compared with those who had lost limbs, a dislocated shoulder and fractured ribs could hardly be considered dire.
However, she had to admit that her body had been extremely slow in regaining energy. Although she had been infused with restorative magic several times, she always felt tired. Perhaps it was a side effect of mana depletion. Maxi rubbed her throbbing forehead.
Moments later, she heard a loud cry from outside the carriage.
“We’re all set to depart!”
Princess Agnes climbed out to inspect the return party one last time. Soon a trumpet blast signaled their departure.
When the princess returned to the carriage, she obliged Maxi’s request to be propped up with a cushion. Maxi looked out the window in search of Riftan, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Was he going to let her go without a farewell? She gnawed her lip as dread and disappointment filled her heart.
His anger was understandable. Her current state was thanks to her reckless actions, in direct defiance of his pleas and the promise she had made to him to stay out of danger. Even so, if she had not done what she had, Eth Lene Castlewould have fallen to the monsters. And she had survived, had she not?
Wounds can be healed with magic. Getting a little hurt is nothing to worry about….
Maxi’s face crumpled. Remembering the pain in Riftan’s eyes, she felt guilty for having such thoughts. Her shoulders sagged as confusion and sorrow engulfed her.
Just then, she saw someone running up to the carriage. Maxi’s eyes grew wide with surprise.
Jogging alongside the slow-moving coach, Ulyseon peered through the window. “My lady, I wanted to ask for your forgiveness before you left. Please forgive me for failing to protect you.”
Maxi stared at the squire in shock before waving her hands. “Th-That is not true. I am here now…because of your protection, and Garrow’s. I would have suffered a worse fate if not for you two.”
“My lady…” Ulyseon bit his lip, his brow furrowing. His expressive purple eyes glistened with tears.
Flustered, Maxi forced a bright smile on her face. “Don’t give me that look. I will be…b-back to full health before you know it. So…you must also return in good health, Ulyseon.”
Ulyseon’s mouth flapped open and closed as if he intended to say something, but he eventually hung his head. Maxi grew troubled when she saw how guilt-ridden he looked.
The young man was only seventeen. Even if he was a genius swordsman, he was still a mere boy. And yet he had so gallantly protected her. She was about to tell him this when the carriage abruptly picked up speed.
Maxi swayed on her makeshift bed. Ulyseon tried to keepup with them before stopping dead in his tracks. Maxi stared at his forlorn figure until he disappeared behind the crowd.
Princess Agnes shuffled over to her side of the carriage and pointed out the window. “People over there have come to see you off as well.”
Maxi looked over and saw the female clerics gathered on a hill. Idsilla stood waving both arms at the front of the group, a handkerchief fluttering like a flag in one hand. Maxi’s lips curled into a small smile.
The girl had turned down Maxi’s offer of leaving with them, saying that she would return with her brother. Saddened by the fact that this could be the last time they saw each other, Maxi waved back until the female clerics disappeared into the landscape.
When they finally passed through the city gates, Princess Agnes made Maxi lie down again.
“Since the southern route was completely cut off, we’ll ride through the northern valley, then travel around the rock face,” she explained. “The Remdragon Knights have agreed to guard us until then. The chances of a monster attack are as slim as the sky splitting in half, so rest assured and try to sleep.”
Maxi closed her eyes, relaxing when she heard that Riftan was accompanying them.
She did not know how long she slept, but she was awakened by someone shaking her shoulder. Princess Agnes helped her sit up and pointed out the window.
