Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 178

The knights frequently discussed the monster’s movement in every spare time. There were countless speculations flying around the castle, starting from why Balto and Livadon were, until now, ignorant of the formation of a troll army so large it could crowd the highlands, and even theories that there was a greater evil pulling the strings.

Max listened to their discussions with a mix of terror and anxiety. As her visit to the infirmary became a regular occurrence, the knights, who were wary of their conversations around her at first, began to discuss more openly. According to recent news, there was a high possibility of both Osiria and Whedon sending additional reinforcements.

“During the Red Dragon expedition, Livadon sent troops to help. If Whedon does not reciprocate, the other six kingdoms will not follow suit, no matter what happens to Livadon in the future.”

“But… Whedon has already s-sent sufficient reinforcements.”

“If it were enough, then the situation should have been improved by now. Yet the innocent citizens of Livadon continue to suffer and tremble in fear. This is a matter of exercising chivalry for us knights! Don’t you think the six countries should be more active in suppressing the situation?”

Max immediately realized that the knights were eager to leave Anatol and join the brutal war in Livadon. The younger knights seemed to burn with passion to jump into danger. She couldn’t agree or refute their argument, so she only smiled vaguely. She thought that maybe Riftan also yearned to leave like them, but at the thought of him leaving her, she felt as if the ground beneath her was melting away.

Max looked out the windows of the training ground’s infirmary: the sun was setting, dyeing the surroundings with a hazy red, and the great protective wall around them cast a dark shadow. A flock of black birds soared into the sky, crying mournfully. The knights undergoing harsh training under the reddish sky had a different wretched look to their faces.

Looking up at the sky, Max wondered if any of those flying birds were messengers. Since the reinforcements left for the expedition, never did any of the messengers have brought good news. Or would good news regarding the situation improving be brought this time? She thought as she followed the flap of the birds’ wings, her anxiety and expectations colliding.

“Madam, kindly return to the great hall. The Lord will not be pleased to find out that you stayed here ‘til evening.”

Medrick spoke as he transferred a pot of boiled ointment into a small jar. The two young knights who were sitting next to her quickly smeared the ointments on their bruises and rose from their seats.

“Please allow us to escort you.”

“T-there’s no need to, it’s fine.”

“No matter how tight the security check is for visitors, an occasional thief can get through. We won’t be able to rest easily unless we see the Lady safely return.”

Max couldn’t help but smile at their enthusiasm. The knights no longer treated her like a guest who would one day leave. Some even actively expressed their favor towards her. Seeing this change warmed her heart. She felt as if she had finally been accepted into the tightly knit relationship that Riftan had with the knights. Max shyly accepted their offer.

“Then…p-please do.”

They smiled brightly and carried her heavy books in their arms. Before she left the infirmary, Max reminded Medrick not to work until late. The old wizard moved to the bedroom located next to the infirmary. Due to his weak knees, it was difficult for him to climb the steep stairs every day, and not long after, he arranged a sturdy cabinet and a huge bookcase into his room. Max wanted to make sure that the new member would adjust well to the castle. Upon arriving at the great hall, she immediately instructed a maid to bring a nourishing dinner to Medrick’s room and make sure he didn’t sleep too late. Medrick was a motivated and diligent worker, but he wasn’t in his top health, so she was concerned that he could collapse one day from exhaustion.

“Is that wizard doing his job properly?”

Riftan asked as soon as he got back to the bedroom, late as usual and stripped off his armor. Max took his coat and hung it on the rack, her eyes opening wide at his question.

“O-of course. He’s working hard… you don’t have to w-worry.”

“Then why do you spend more time in the infirmary than before? When I asked Rodrigo, he said that you are there from morning ‘til night…”

“Because… I’m learning a lot about h-herbs and magic from Medrick. H-he does most of the work. There’s nothing… that Medrick doesn’t know when it comes to medicine and healing techniques.”

Riftan looked at her thoughtfully. “How is his health? Is he fit to travel?”

“T-travel?”

Max looked confused. Was Riftan planning to send him back to Count Robern? Her heart felt heavy at the thought of the enthusiastic old man pouring out his heart at his work. From what she had gathered, Count Robern was not a good master; he sent off an old man on a dangerous journey to Anatol, visibly tired and exhausted. Max quickly shook her head and tried to look steady.

“He… has bad knees. It’s hard for him to climb up and down the stairs. But he’s really working hard! Even though Medrick isn’t young… he’s very knowledgeable… you-you can’t send him back.”

“Calm down. I have no intention of sending off that wizard. I was just asking how he’s doing.”

Riftan sighed and waved a hand and Max studied his dark face with curiosity. It seemed like there was something he was contemplating on.

“Is… there something worrying you?”

“It doesn’t concern you.”

Max closed her mouth at his cold words that immediately silenced her. She knew that this was his method of drawing the line, and that she should never cross it. Feeling her heart ache and a little bitter, she stormed away. Riftan looked at her and arched an eyebrow as he wiped his sweaty body with a wet towel.

“Why is my lady sulking again?”

“I’m not s…sulking.”

“Your lips are pouting.”

He smiled mischievously, then pressed his hands to her cheeks and playfully rubbed her protruding lips. Max glared at him with a flushed face. Riftan trailed kisses from her earlobes to the bottom of her neck and wrapped her in his arms, gently caressing her. Her heart, which felt heavy with unease, melted helplessly. It was alarming how easily he could control her emotions.

“Get d-dressed. You will catch…a cold.”

Riftan frowned and muttered as he held her face closer with one hand. “I’m not wearing clothes, and so should you.”

His long fingers deftly unwrapped the laces that held her dress. His hands slipped through the opening in the hem and gripped the sensitive tip of her chests. Wasting no more time, he quickly undressed her and laid her on the bed. His copper-colored torso completely overshadowed her nudity. Her breath hitched as she felt his blood pound through their pressed bodies, rapidly increasing the heat between them. Riftan erotically stroked her inner thigh and murmured in a low, husky voice.

“Nothing good happened today. Let me at least end the day on a pleasant note.”

His eyes were wrapped in a dark shadow. Max wondered if there was any bad news that had arrived, and her chest suddenly became tight. She wanted to know what he was thinking, but she couldn’t reprimand him for not divulging everything to her. Even she couldn’t tell him everything about herself and true feelings.

“Don’t think about anything else. Just focus on me.”

Riftan’s dissatisfied voice pierced like a needle through her thoughts that were tangled as a thread. He stared down at her, devouring her body with his eyes like a starved beast and swooped down to overlap their lips. Their hot, humid breaths mingled as they shared each other’s taste, and all thoughts dissolved like sand in the wind. Max sighed exhilaratingly and wrapped his sturdy marble-like shoulders.

***

A week later in the afternoon, Max finally found out what was causing Riftan’s concern. On an exceptionally hot day, three men, a messenger, and two escort knights, arrived at the castle. Max was grinding herbs in the infirmary when she heard murmurs from outside and went out to see what the commotion was about. One of the messengers sat on his giant stallion holding a banner with the emblem of the royal family yelled.

“In the name of King Ruben, I have brought a royal decree for Riftan Calypse, Lord of Anatol!”

Max’s heart sank. For a message to be delivered at that time, it surely spelled bad news. While she stood not knowing what to do, Sir Obaron, who was supervising the training of the knights on behalf of Riftan, stepped forward and greeted the messenger.

“The Lord left for duties outside of the castle. Please allow me, Dominique Obaron, to receive the royal decree on behalf of our Lord.”

The messenger narrowed his eyes and carefully scanned Sir Obaron, then took out a scroll hidden in his robe.

“Defeat falls upon the battle in Livadon. The knights gathered by alliance were shattered.”

A chilling silence fell over the usual noisy field at once. Sir Obaron asked with a serious and hardened face. “Were they slaughtered?”

The messenger shook his head. “Half of them were forced to scatter as they continue to battle against the monsters; the other half are trapped in Louiebell Castle. We are not certain of the current situation as the monsters have set up a siege around the castle walls but if the troops are not rescued as soon as possible, they will all be slaughtered.”

“Do you know what happened to the Remdragon Knights sent from Anatol?”

“Since the Remdragon Knights were placed in the front lines, they are probably all trapped inside Louiebell castle.”

Max felt weak and stumbled backward. If not for Medrick, who caught her shoulders, she would have collapsed on the ground. The faces of Ruth, Sir Elliot Karon, Lombardo, Uslin Rikaido, and all the other knights and soldiers flashed before her eyes. If she was feeling so shocked by the news, she couldn’t even imagine how the other knights felt. Max looked around and saw the knights’ expressions turn cold and stern. Despite the heavy atmosphere, the messenger continued to deliver the imperial order with a solemn face.

“In accordance with the Treaty of Peace between the Seven Kingdoms, requests for additional reinforcements are to be sent from each kingdom. As Whedon’s most powerful knight, Lord Riftan Calypse, shall obey the king’s command and lead his Knights to Livadon!”

“Go and bring back the Lord this instance!” Sir Obaron commanded the surrounding men and looked at the messenger with the dignity of a knight. “We need to know more about the situation. Please come inside the castle.”

The messenger and the escorts dismounted from their horses and rushed towards the conference room located in the knights’ quarters. Max paced around like a lost child. She also wanted to know the details, but it was obvious that it’s not her place to intervene. She wandered aimlessly through the infirmary before finally giving up and returning to the room at Medrick’s insistence.

After a while, Riftan returned to the castle and immediately entered the conference room with the other knights. It was painful to not know what was going on. Max bit her lip and promised herself that no matter what happens, she would get a detailed answer from Riftan.

No one else probably knew but Ruth was a very dear person to her. He was her teacher and her first friend. Tears welled up around her eyes when she remembered how he got mad at her, saying goodbye as it felt like an ominous greeting. The critical situation of the knights sent for the expedition gave her a nerve-racking anxiety, but more than anything else the thought of Riftan having to leave for such a dangerous place seemed to break her heart into pieces

For how long will we not see each other this time? A few months, or even half a year? There was also the possibility of never seeing each other again.

The situation didn’t offer a certain outcome, even the knights they sent for reinforcements did not foresee its gravity. That only meant even Riftan himself would not be safe from such danger. Max stared out the window desperately. She couldn’t resist her worries and bolted out of the great hall.

Note – LF: Oh my goodness ☹

Nymeria: Hello dear readers, please read! We just want to say that our schedule is Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We’re trying to keep the rhythm of three chapters per week, but when personal problems won’t allow it we’ll notify the delay in the comment section of the last chapter posted. Posting on Saturday or Sunday is supposed to be a plus, when we can do it we will, but if we can’t we won’t notify you, since it’s not a scheduled update. Thanks for understanding ?