Riftan asked while lightly clasping the outstretched hand of the Archduke.

  Archduke Aren’s smile faded from his lips and he nodded calmly.

  The Archduke replied in a concise tone, then continued.

  The Archduke turned his horse and rode alongside Riftan.

  Riftan shook his head.

  The Grand Duke sighed.

  He motioned for the Royal Knights of Livadon to follow him and the men drove their horses to follow his direction, then began to traverse the main road. The crowd paved the way for them, immediately splitting left and right to clear the road. Max and the Remdragon Knights rode their horses in an organized line. The streets were lined with rows of green fresh laurels, and crude stone buildings lined either side of the wide road made of flat stones in perfect symmetry.

  They marched for quite some time before a large, open courtyard with a fountain appeared; in the middle, there was a wide stone staircase that led to the Central Temple. The Grand Duke stopped in front of the stairs and began to give a brief explanation.

  Max stared in amazement at the splendor before her. The temple exuded a certain sense of calm with its rustic yet elegant appearance. Six ivory-colored pillars stood tall to support a huge circular turquoise ceiling carved in marble. Roem’s first emperor, Darian, could be seen along Uigru, the first twelve knights and the celestial dragon, defending the men. While looking at the surprisingly detailed and delicate image, Yulyson gently approached her.

  Max hurriedly lowered her gaze. Soon, Riftan and the Remdragon Knights got off their horses and headed towards the stairs. She also swiftly came down from Rem with the help of Yulysion. As she followed the men who were heading to the stairs, priests in monastic robes appeared out of the temple. The knights then entrusted their horses to them and went inside the temple. Max stroked Rem to calm the horse, who was unfamiliar with the surroundings then handed the reins to one of the priests. Afterwards, she walked into the temple’s entrance.

  Livadon’s temple exuded a sensual atmosphere, so unlike the church buildings in Whedon. The temple’s arched ceilings were covered in ancient paintings and colorful rays poured out of the stained glasses that filled the huge windows. The priests’ robes were also far from pretentious, they were made of stiff dark brown cloth that reached their toes with a twisted rope as a belt.

  An elderly man, who seemed to have the highest authority among the priests, stepped towards Riftan and Archduke Aren.

  As the Archduke spoke, the elderly priest’s pale blue eyes flew towards Riftan and the Remdragon knights.

  The old priest, who was looking into Riftan’s eyes, nodded slowly and whispered an instruction to the priest standing on his right. The priest who received the instructions immediately left the line to do the tasks.

  Archduke Aren declared and pointed to the line of knights who stood outside of the temple.

  As soon as they finished exchanging words, the priests split into two groups to guide the knights. They passed through the arched doors, then through a cast garden doused in sunlight and through an orchard densely populated with pomegranate trees. A grayish white building, surrounded by beautiful cypress trees, soon appeared before the stone paths. The knights followed the priest and entered the building that had a cozy atmosphere. Before them appeared a large two-story hall that could accommodate at least 800 people.

  When the priests left, the knights let out a long sigh as they slumped on the thick padded chairs or opened the even partitions and laid out cots. The apprentices ran hurriedly towards them to help them remove their armor, all while looking curiously around the room. Max also wandered her eyes, looking at the paintings on the wall and the intricate carvings on the pillars. She was only pulled out from her daze when Riftan called out to her. He was sitting across the Archduke on a long table, waving his hand at her.

  He beckoned her.

  She hesitated for a moment then walked towards him. The Archduke’s curious brown eyes flew to her. Riftan placed his large hand on her small back, as if claiming her as his own, and spoke.

  The man exclaimed as he gawked at her to the point that it embarrassed Max. She struggled not to hunch her shoulders, then the man stoked his neatly arranged beard and tilted his head to the side in disbelief.

  Hebaron, who was hunched over in his chair at the end of the table sipping wine, chimed in.

  The Grand Duke’s face softened as he looked at her.

  Riftan immediately corrected him.

  Riftan’s statement could be interpreted as rude, especially when the person he was addressing was an Archduke, but all Max could do was stiffen at the impudence of her husband’s attitude and stare at the man; however, he simply burst out laughing, not in the least offended.

  The Archduke sighed, and his short, dark brown mustache fluttered slightly.

  Max straightened her sitting posture, holding Riftan’s hand under the table, while her fate was being decided upon. Feeling her touch, he gazed down at her anxious face and clasped her hand tightly. The Archduke quickly briefed them on the situation in Louiebell before leaving them to supervise the preparations.

  After a while, the priests entered with baskets filled with all kinds of food, wine and fresh fruits. Max sat with a grim expression as she ate her last meal together with the knights. Even the men around her were more tense than usual as they calmly discussed the itinerary for the next few days.

  She longed for some time to spend with Riftan and to bid farewell properly, but he was also busy discussing with the knights, so she didn’t dare bother. Then, the knights of Livadon came to inform them that the preparations for the battle had now finished.

  Riftan and the knights immediately wore their armors back on. Every move they made felt like a shovel digging into her heart. She knew it would be painful to let him go, but the reality was much more difficult than she had imagined. Unable to say goodbye to the knights, much less Riftan, Max stood there like a honey-fed mule and watched them leave the temple. Riftan stood in the doorway, speaking to Archduke Aren, then turned to her.

  Max followed him out and, after crossing the garden and into the main temple again, she saw a middle-aged priest with curly grayish blonde hair waiting for them. He bent his knees stiffly in a curtsy to show proper due respect.

  Riftan bowed his head politely toward the priest.

  Max’s heart felt like freezing to the corner of her chest. Are we saying goodbye here?

  Then, he straightened up and turned to her.

  Max couldn’t answer, she pursed her trembling lips. Riftan looked down at her silently, his face remained impassive and cold, like steel armor, devoid of any emotion.

  Note –

  : What?! That’s it?? Dude, you won’t see her for god knows how long, say goodbye properly!! I hope next chapter he will :C