Under the Oak Tree

401 Chapter 162

Maxi stopped on the steps and carefully studied their faces. While Riftan looked thoroughly irritated, the princess had a pleased smile on her lips like a cat that had just feasted on cream. It was impossible to hear what they were saying, but whatever it was, Riftan did not have the upper hand.

"This way, my lady," Elliot said.

Maxi tentatively made her way to the seats of honor. All eyes in the room turned to her.

Fighting the urge to retreat, Maxi stood tall, her head tilted at a proud angle. She waited for Elliot to pull the chair beside Riftan for her and gracefully lowered herself into it.

Turning to her husband, she said with deliberate concern, "I was waiting for you in our room. I worry you haven't had time to rest after our tiring journey."

As if sensing the subtle criticism, a derisive smile curled the princess's lips as she lazily swirled the golden goblet in her hand. "Fret not. Sir Riftan and I enjoyed a pleasant time together, did we not?"

"I am glad to hear you had a pleasant time, Your Highness," Riftan replied, anger bubbling beneath his words.

The princess seemed not to care. "I was under the impression we both got what we wanted from each other. Was there a part in our exchange you were unhappy with?"

Though rage simmered in her chest, Maxi forced a placide smile. It was galling that the princess would dare suggest that something illicit had occurred between her and Riftan. As her expression slipped, Maxi had to raise the goblet to her lips to hide it.

"This is too strong," Riftan said, swiping the goblet off her. He placed a plate of roasted ham and pickled cabbage in front of her. "You should eat first. I know you haven't had anything today besides bread and jerky."

His natural attentiveness calmed some of Maxi's outrage. When she gave the princess a smug look, a faint crease formed on the woman's smooth brow.

The princess regarded her like a cat mulling over how to torment its prey before she turned back to Riftan.

Leaning close, Princess Lienna said softly, "I see you still have that habit of looking after others. I remember how you attended to me with similar care when you were in my employ. I do miss those days. You truly were an exceptional guard."

A cold silence fell over the hall. Maxi felt her lips twitch as she shot daggers at the princess. Despite her attempts to remind herself that the woman was deliberately trying to rile her for being the Duke of Croyso's daughter, she could not shake the suspicion of an ulterior motive. Could they have been lovers in the past? Had Riftan's mission been to purposely seduce the princess to extract information?

Feeling a fire burning in her throat, Maxi grabbed her stolen goblet and gulped down the contents. Riftan raised his hand to stop her but lowered it again with a stiff expression.

"It has been so long that I'm afraid I no longer recall," he said.

"Well, I remember it quite vividly," the princess shot back. "I was on my way back to the capital for the first time in four years. This was after my husband's death. You saved me and my entourage from a monster attack, and I decided there and then to have you serve as my guard."

A nostalgic fondness rose on the princess's face as she added, "And you were a great comfort to me in my time of grief."

Maxi plunged her knife into the thick ham on her plate. Riftan glared at the princess in exasperation before nervously glancing back at Maxi.

She gave him a smile to show that she did not mind. "The meat..is rather difficult to slice."

"Here, let me."

Maxi slapped his hand away and said in the gentlest tone she could muster, "Oh, don't let me interrupt your conversation. Since the two of you have not seen each other in so long..I'm sure you have much to talk about."

"My, what an understanding wife you have, Sir Riftan," said the princess.

Maxi started hacking at the ham without sparing the woman a glance. She was aware that Riftan was not the only one walking on eggshells. Elliot and Ursuline, sitting beside and across from her, were shooting her nervous looks as well. Even so, Maxi did not let that stop her from slicing her meat into pieces and mechanically shoving them into her mouth.

Though this was her first rich meal in only God knew how long, she barely tasted anything.

As if concerned by the sight, Elliot cautiously offered her a goblet. "Try this as well, my lady. It is not as potent."

Maxi mumbled a word of thanks and brought the warmed wine to her lips.

Just then, Breston turned away from conversing with his men to address the princess. "I have a question for Her Royal Highness if she would allow it."

Lienna raised one elegant brow, arched like the wing of a seagull, and nodded her consent.

Leaning over the table, Breston said slowly, "What is the King of Dristan's only sister doing in such a place? As I recall, this land should belong to Lord Bernard."

Picking up a honeyed red date, Lienna placed it in her mouth before replying dryly, "The earl passed away a month ago, and the land is currently under my care. Though the arrangement is only temporary until the next earl is chosen."

"What I fail to understand is why a royal princess would be sent to such a dangerous location, even for a short time. I'm sure Dristan has other nobles for the job."

"I do not see any reason to explain Dristan's internal affairs to you," the princess replied frostily.

But if anyone could match the princess's audacity, it was Richard Breston.

"Ah, then it must be for reasons you cannot share," he replied, smirking. "Were you perhaps banished from court after a scandal?"

"I advise you to watch your tongue," the princess said, glaring at the northerner. "And your manners if you wish to remain as guests in this castle."

Breston shrugged as if passing off his insult as a light jest. For the first time, Max was grateful for the man's unpleasantness. Of course, she did her best not to show it.

The meal continued in this frosty atmosphere for some time until the Temple Knights, gathered at the end of the long table, rose from their seats.

"We shall take our leave first," Kuahel Leon announced in a subdued voice.

He then walked out of the dining hall without waiting for a response. Maxi took advantage of the opportunity to rise as well. She would not subject herself to such unpleasantries any longer.

Without looking at Riftan, she said to the princess, "My apologies, but I would like to retire as well."

"But of course."

Maxi gave Lienna a curt nod, spun around, and walked out of the hall. As she was stomping up the stairs, Riftan caught her hand.

She shot him an angry glare. "What?"

"I...wanted to join you."

"That won't be necessary. You and the princess seem to know each other quite well, so don't let me get in the way of your reunion. I assure you, I do not mind at all."

Wrenching her hand free, Maxi continued marching up the stairs.

Riftan chased after her, a nervous explanation spilling out. "Don't get the wrong idea. I never had a personal relationship with the princess. I only served as her guard for three months., and that was over a decade ago. That was all."

Maxi snorted as she hurried to their room, but Riftan kept pace with her.

Blocking the door, he whispered angrily, "It's the truth! I won't deny that the princess made her interest known to me, but I firmly refused her. She only said those things just now out of resentment."

Maxi looked up at him. She knew he would rather choose silence than make up lies. If he said that nothing had happened, then that was likely the truth.

And yet, the fact that another woman had tried to seduce him still upset her.

"Be that as it may...it is still true that the princess took a fancy to you."

Riftan blinked, then shook his head incredulously. "I was no more than an amusement to her. And it greatly hurt her ego to be rejected by a lowly nobody. Of course she would be resentful."

"Y-You know nothing about women," Maxi said, glowering at him in frustration. "If she still feels that strongly about something that happened over a decade ago, as you say-"

She stopped just short of blurting out that the princess must have held genuine feelings for him. There was no point in revealing another woman's attraction to her own husband.

Staring at the floor with a sullen expression, she mumbled, "You...foolish man."

A great sigh came from overhead. Jerking her head up, she gaped in disbelief when she saw the ear-splitting smile on Riftan's face. Rage instantly rolled inside her.

"W-What's so funny?!" she fummed, pounding her fists on his chest.

Riftan wrapped an arm around her flailing limbs. "There's no need for all this jealousy. I only have eyes for you."

Maxi's face burned crimson. She found his tone - that of a man trying to appease his surly lover - endlessly grating. It frustrated her whenever he failed to notice her burning jealousy, but his brazen remarks about it vexed her just as much.

He was pecking at her cheek now, but she coldly pushed him away. Without another word she strode into the room. Riftan continued to gloat as he followed her in.