Under the Oak Tree

400 Chapter 161

"Then, I shall stick to Sir Riftan. you may kiss my hand."

Maxi scowled at the woman's brazenness. She wondered how this Dristanian noblewoman knew him.

"I am honored, but..." He glanced at the knights surrounding the noblewoman. "I shall have to respectfully decline. King Thorben would be furious if he were to learn my humble lips had touched the hand of his dearest sister."

Maxi's eyes widened. The haughty woman was royalty? After carefully assessing the princess's slim face, she shifted her gaze to the other knights. Seeing that most of them were as surprised as she was, Maxi surmised that Riftan was the only one acquainted with the princess.

The woman primly lowered her hand, looking annoyed. "I see your impertinence is unchanged." When Riftan offered no reply, she continued, "Why don't we head to the castle? I'm sure you are all in need of rest."

As soon as she finished speaking, a young male servant stepped forward with a gray stallion. The princess nimbly mounted the horse on her own. She then skillfully steered it around and led the way to the grand castle on the other side of the square. Riftan and the coalition army followed.

Maxi fought the urge to trot up to Riftan and demand to know how he knew the woman. She did not want him to see her as a jealous wife trying to keep her husband all to herself. Gripping her reins, she slowly led Rem through the cheering crowd.

Soon, they stood before a magnificent, arched gate. As they crossed the drawbridge, Maxi slowly took in the expansive courtyard, the assortment of buildings emitting gray smoke from square chimneys, and the imposing yet crude sand-colored castle.

Dozens of servants waited for them in the garden. The space was meticulously swept of snow, and soldiers bearing the flag of Dristan stood at attention along the castle walls and within the watchtowers. Maxi was scanning their faces when she heard the princess's silvery voice call from the front.

"I'm afraid the guest chambers in the castle can only accommodate thirty. The rest of the knights may stay in the annex and the guards' quarters."

Riftan, who was peering up at the castle, turned his head to the princess. "How many can the castle accommodate in total?"

"Up to nine hundred. Arrangements have been made for the rest to lodge in the almshouse run by the church. There are also two fairly large inns on the outskirts of the city. The army may lodge there as well."

The accommodations were promptly organized soon after. Riftan ordered Ursuline to rent the two establishments, instructing him to assign the rooms according to rank.

As for the guest rooms in the main castle, they were taken by the high-ranking knights of Wedon and Balto, the high priests, and the Temple Knights. Their subordinates took the annex and the guards' quarters, while the rest of the army were set to lodge in the almshouse and the inns. Unit leaders drew lots to determine where their men would sleep for the night.

With the room decided, the army dispersed in perfect order like a colony of ants. Maxi watched the proceedings for a while before she went to Riftan's side. He was still dispensing instructions to his knights, but he turned his head to look at her.

"You look tired," he remarked, his brow furrowing.

Cupping her face, he stroked her cheek with concern. He then turned and began striding up the steps to the great hall. The princess followed.

"Could you have a servant show us to our room?" Riftan politely asked the princess. "My wife requires rest."

The princess stopped giving orders to the maidservants and turned around in surprise. "Your wife?"

She looked Maxi up and down.

Trying not to show her indignation, Maxi gave the woman the most charming smile she could muster. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your HIghness. I am Maximillan Calypse."

Raising her chin, the princess replied, "I am Lienna Moor Thorben. I suppose that makes you the Duke of Croyso's eldest daughter."

The animosity in the princess's eyes made Maxi subtly hunch her shoulders. Princess Lienna twisted her lips and added mockingly, "You are quite different from the rumors."

"What do you-?"

Before Maxi could finish her heated response, the princess whirled around and loudly called her a maidservant. "Doria! Kindly show our guest to the room on the second floor."

Maxi glowered at the princess in disbelief, but she paid her no mind.

Having palmed off Maxi to the maidservant, Princess Lienna gave Riftan a suggestive smile. "You, sir, must stay. We have matters to discuss."

"I think that can wait. I would also like to rest," Riftan replied indifferently, wrapping an arm around Maxi.

Maxi's relief was short-lived when the princess retorted sharply, "I do not see how offending me will do you any good."

Riftan coldly glared at the woman for her blatant threat. Maxi bit her lip when she realized that Princess Lienna was deliberately trying to keep Riftan there to rile her. It was obvious that the princess's hostility toward her stemmed from Dristan's long dispute with the Duchy of Croyso.

Maxi did her best to maintain a blank expression despite the woman's provoking glances. "I will be fine on my own so do what you must."

Riftan looked displeased. He had probably wanted her to insist that he come with her. Nevertheless, he must have conceded that it would be unwise to offend the mistress of the castle when the coalition army was reliant on the city to supply it with provisions.

"Very well," he said, releasing her. "Go and rest."

He gave her a peck on the forehead before walking up to the princess, who was watching their interaction with a haughty expression.

Maxi felt a scowl coming on, and she whirled around to hide it. She followed the plump maidservant who had come to usher them to their room.

"If you will wait a moment," the maidservant said as they entered the guest chamber, "I shall draw you a bath and bring a change of clothes."

There was already a crackling fire warming the opulent room, and Maxi crouched in front of it while she waited. Before long, servants hauled in a tub of steaming water, towels, and a clean linen dress.

Though she was close to fainting from exhaustion, Maxi meticulously washed herself in the fragrantly scented bath and changed into fresh clothes. She might not have been able to adorn herself with jewels, but she refused to look haggard in front of that infuriatingly arrogant woman. Her eyes flickered to the door while she tried to tame her tangled hair.

After what seemed like forever, she heard someone in the corridor. She swung the door open before the knock even came and found Elliot on the other side, his fist raised in the air.

Taking a step back, the knight gave her an awkward smile. "I am glad to find you awake, my lady."

"I-Is something the matter?"

"Not at all. It's just...the mistress of the castle has prepared a banquet. I am here to escort you to the dining hall.."

Elliot trailed off when he saw her stiffen.

Hiding her displeasure, Maxi asked as placidly as possible, "And where is Riftan?"

"The commander is in the dining hall negotiating the purchase of supplies."

Maxi narrowed her eyes at his careful answer. No doubt this negotiation was with that galling woman. After staring sullenly at the floor, she grabbed her robe hanging on the wall. Despite knowing that the proceedings would go more smoothly without her, she did not want to be the only one absent from the banquet.

She stepped out of the room and followed Elliot to the dining hall.

"Do you happen to know..how Riftan is acquainted with a Dristan royal?" she cautiously asked as they walked.

"The commander worked as a spy in Dristan right after his knighting ceremony. He likely met the princess then."

Maxi looked at Elliot in surprise. "A-A a spy? While he was a knight?"

"It is not uncommon for a liege to entrust undesirable tasks to low-ranking knights," Elliot replied with a shrug.

Maxi furrowed her brow, Riftan was only eighteen when he was knighted. Had he met the princess then?

She tried to picture Riftan in his youth. He had likely been beautiful even then. The image of a young Riftan trying to seduce Dristan's princess came to mind before she shook her head, banishing the unpleasant scene. She had no desire to find out the full extent of their relationship.

Maxi descended the stairs with a stony expression and entered the dining hall on the first floor. The place was already packed with knights, from high-ranking members of Wedon and Balto - including, of course, Richard Breston - to Kuahel Leon and the Temple Knights. They were all seated around a large brazier.

Riftan and the Princess of Dristan, however, were in the seats of honor facing the entrance. Even from where she stood, Maxi could sense the strange tension between them.