Suddenly, Princess Agnes’ tone became bitter.

  Max was trying to defend Ruth but soon bit her lip shut due to the princess’ coldness. It appeared that Agnes’ hostility against Ruth was worse than she thought. Max closed her mouth because she didn’t want to have a pointless argument with Agnes, but assuming the silence was an affirmation, the princess spoke in a subtle tone.

  Max looked up at her charming face with gloominess. The capital had to be overflowing with ladies who were as beautiful and vivacious as the princess. Her husband might soon find her a bore if they lived amongst gorgeous people, standing out like peacocks. But even without such worries, Max wasn’t even remotely interested to the life in the capital, so she spoke with utmost resolution.

  As if trying to persuade Max, the princess smacked her lips and sighed deeply.

  The princess suddenly casted a bitter smile.

  Max urgently spoke, surprised that the royal family had such deep suspicions about Riftan’s loyalty. The princess shrugged lightly, and gently agreed.

  Max carefully looked at Agnes’ face, then spoke.

  Instead of answering, the princess smiled vaguely, but that alone was enough to answer Max’s question.

  She got up from her chair and smiled softly.

  For the first time, Agnes’ cold blue eyes sparkled with compassion. The princess momentarily gazed gently at her and then turned around to leave the room. Max lied down on the bed, exhausted.

  ***

  It seemed that Max had forgotten how to sleep. She barely opened her eyes and looked around, the sun was going down and a dim shade hovered over the room. Max rubbed her stiff eyes and sat up. Although she slept for a long time, her head was hazy and she felt lethargic.

  Suddenly, a voice spoke from a distance; Max turned her head, startled. Riftan was seating in front of the fireplace with his long legs stretched out.

  He muttered darkly in the dark and gently touched the cat’s back sitting on his lap.

  Max rolled her eyes at Riftan’s blunt response. For how long had he looked at her? Riftan definitely needed a break just as much as her. She looked at his face worried as he walked in front of the fireplace and placed the cats clinging onto him into the basket.

  Riftan grabbed the ladle and stirred the soup inside the pot, took a scoop and poured it into a wooden bowl.

  Max took the bowl and mixed the clear soup with a spoon. It was a thin soup made with finely chopped herbs, barley and eggs. She blew the misty steam coming from it, scooped it with a wooden spoon and placed it in her mouth. As the hot, adequately salted soup dripped down her throat, her stomach rumbled, as if eager for that moment. Only then she felt how extremely starved she was and pushed the food into her mouth. Riftan, who was sitting on the bed looking at her, sighed with relief.

  He replied coldly, walking back to the fireplace and hanging a small kettle over the fire. Max held her spoon and glanced at him cautiously. Was he relieved? He looked calmer than when he left the room, but he still looked nervous. Riftan, who was staring at the flame with thoughtful eyes, suddenly opened his mouth.

  Max said that their conversation was nothing important, wondering if she could tell him that Agnes had suggested going to the capital and that she refused. He looked at her with a puzzled face.

  After that, an unfamiliar silence clouded them. Max became restless and looked at Riftan’s eyes. She couldn’t figure out what to do with her husband who was obviously mad at her.

  Usually, when her father was in a bad mood, she used to hold her breath and keep out of his sight as much as possible. She was aware that if she had said anything, it would only fuel his anger.

  However, her husband silence made her feel worse as it went on. Riftan, staring at the fireplace with a hardened face, spat out in a subdued tone.

  At his low-pitched voice, her shoulder shrunk. She didn’t need to ask him for clarification to understand what he meant with “such thing”. As Riftan poked the firewood with a rod, he slowly turned his head and looked at her intensely.

  She stiffly nodded. For a moment, there was a strange hesitation that lingered in Riftan’s eyes, but he spoke sharply, as if shaking it off.

  Max’s stomach turned cold, and the hair at the back of her neck stood. If Yulysion didn’t immediately push her out of the way when the monster flew, she could have been fatally injured. When she couldn’t deny the fact of Riftan’s words, he spoke a in a tone that was slightly harsher.

  Riftan declared icily.

  Max looked up at him with confusion.

  As if Riftan had lost all his patience, he stepped over to the bedside and fiercely cried out.

  Riftan shook her body and clasped her face with his hands.

  Max wanted so bad to violently oppose, but she couldn’t find the words to say, she only trembled pathetically. She did those things because she wanted to help Riftan, she wanted to be someone useful, so she put all her strength into improving herself. However, he didn’t need any help from her, and it was difficult for her to accept that fact. As she kept her mouth shut, Riftan turned her face to him and muttered, begging.

  Max was crying, devastated. How could she reply? To the man who lost his sanity worrying for her, she couldn’t stand being stubborn and nodded weakly. Riftan pulled her and tightly embraced her. She leaned on his shoulder and her voice came out from her throat that felt rigidly locked.

  A moist, hot sigh flowed down her neck. She slowly closed her eyes as she felt Riftan’s large hand cradle her head. She didn’t know why, but the warm, strong arms that once provided her exceeding comfort, now felt suffocating.

  Note –

  It’s because Riftan has made her world so small in the effort of protecting her T.T I know Riftan loved Maxi to death, only if Maxi knew. But still, she has been living in a small world ever since, she needs to have her own will.

  : Ugh my heart is crying, I understand why he feels so anxious about her being in danger, but as LF said she now needs more freedom!