Riftan’s pained expression suddenly flashed before her eyes, and Maxi quickly drove it out of her mind. She did not want to think about anything at the moment. She was simply too tired. It was as though she had aged decades in the past few days.
Maxi made a concerted effort to focus on the distant sound of the waves before drifting off to sleep once more.
—
Drachium was located at thenorthern end of Wedon. For convenience, the party switched to a small ship at the port and sailed northeast along the canal for several weeks. This allowed them to reach the capital just five days after transferring back to travel by carriage.
The capital seemed to be transitioning to autumn. Maxi took in the magnificent sight of the city bursting with the warm colors of autumn and thought to herself that it was indeed a place worthy of Rosetta’s love. Her sister had always appreciated grandeur.
They passed through the imposing gates onto a road wide enough for eight carriages to ride abreast. Sophisticated stone buildings lined the road on either side.
Princess Agnes began giving her an introduction to the city as Maxi absentmindedly watched the scene roll by. There was a theater, an armory, a horse-racing stadium, and so on,but Maxi merely nodded along to the princess’s narration. Though all the structures were striking, she found herself strangely unimpressed.
“You must be tired,” Agnes remarked with a grin when she noticed Maxi’s lukewarm reaction.
Maxi flushed. “N-No. In fact, I feel sorry…that I was able to travel in c-comfort while everyone else could not.”
“Nonsense. Have you forgotten that you’re a patient? Traveling by carriage for so long is no easy task, either.” Leaning an elbow on the windowsill, the princess let out a small sigh. “I considered staying near the ports until you fully recovered, but I thought it best to have the royal healer take a look at you as soon as possible….” She trailed off, her long fingers tapping the sill.
Maxi frowned when she saw the princess’s dark expression. Maxi had received the utmost care throughout their journey from Eth Lene Castle to Drachium. Two maidservants and a healer had been with her at all times on the ship, and she had done nothing but sleep in comfort on a lavish cot prepared inside the carriage. In truth, Maxi found it all rather excessive. She felt uncomfortable whenever the princess treated her like a gravely ill patient.
“I am just…feeling a l-little listless,” Maxi said awkwardly. “I have rested well for weeks…and I have been taking my curatives on time. I-I really am all right now.”
Agnes was clearly not convinced. “Even so, I still want a skilled healer to take a look at you. Drachium Palace has a high mage from the Mage Tower who is learned in the healing arts of the Southern Continent. I’m sure he will be an asset to your recovery.”
Maxi was about to speak again but gave up when she sawthe princess’s determined expression. There was no reason for her to refuse. Though she was wary of the princess’s scrupulous care, Maxi meekly bobbed her head.
The princess straightened in her seat. “Oh, you can see the palace now.”
Agnes pointed out the window at a magnificent, light gray palace built entirely in the ancient Roemian style. Maxi stared at the distant spire that rose like a giant’s spear above the pointed, tiled roofs made of red bricks. Though Drachium Palace was not as opulent as her father’s castle, Maxi could tell at first glance that it was bigger.
The carriage rolled past the crowd who had gathered to watch the procession. When they entered a large, circular courtyard, the soaring bell tower of a church and the arched palace entrance came into view. The soldiers atop the walls turned the pulley to raise the iron bars over the entryway. Maxi peered out the window at the royal knights on their warhorses filing through the gate.
A vast garden lined with shrubs greeted them as the carriage finally entered the palace grounds. Maxi’s eyes grew wide. The palace itself was far bigger than she had imagined. Despite having spent twenty years in Croyso Castle, considered one of the most opulent structures in the west, she could not help but be astonished by the grandeur of Drachium.
When they finally reached the palace, the princess leaped out of the carriage before the servants could even get to the door. “First, we must present ourselves to the king, then I’ll take you to my palace.”
Maxi regarded the princess’s outstretched hand with a troubled expression. “Y-Your palace?”
“My residence is a detached palace behind the main one.The use of magic is prohibited inside the palace walls, so His Majesty had my residence built a fair distance away. It was his gift to me on my thirteenth birthday,” Agnes explained. “Now then, shall we get going?”
At the princess’s urging, Maxi reluctantly took her hand and stepped out of the carriage. Ursuline and Elliot let out a sigh at the sight.
“Your Highness, please allow us to escort Lady Calypse,” Ursuline said, his voice tinged with discontent.
Agnes cheerfully tugged Maxi along. “Maximilian is my guest. It is only right that I tend to her.”
Ignoring the troubled knights, the princess led Maxi toward a flight of stairs. Bewildered, Maxi followed. They stopped before a pair of imposing doors inlaid with hundreds of glass windows.
A row of royal knights clad in steel-plate armor stood guard in front of the oval entrance. Inside, servants dressed in expensive silks greeted them. The royal guards and mages in the princess’s entourage followed her as she strode through.
Maxi glanced around the strangely quiet hall. Beautiful statues stood between stone pillars, and golden chandeliers on the arched ceiling illuminated everything below. They passed through the lavish foyer and stopped in front of the audience chamber.
“Her Royal Highness, Princess Agnes Drachina Reuben, has returned with her royal guards!” announced the servant standing at the entrance.
The arched mahogany doors swung open to reveal a lush red carpet leading up to the King of Wedon seated on his throne. He was dressed in intricately embroidered silk, with an impressive cape made of leopard fur draped over hisshoulders. His expression was one of utter boredom, and he slouched crookedly on the throne. For a man hailed as a wise leader, King Reuben III looked excessively cold and uncaring.
His demeanor was nothing like what Maxi had expected. He had a regal yet enigmatic air about him. A lion’s mane of dirty-blond hair stuck out beneath his crown, and his golden beard was unkempt. His skin appeared astonishingly smooth and firm for his age. Something about him reminded Maxi of a lazy cat.
