Under the Oak Tree - Riftan's POV - Multiverse

Chapter 24: Kuahel Arrives

Riftan managed to shake his head while maintaining his composure. Maximilian step forward. Only then the girl who was constantly looking at the floor, raised her head. Riftan felt a strange quiver run down his spine. Although she had a face similar to the girl in his illusions, she had grown differently. Traces of childhood were evident on her round forehead, cheeks, and narrow chin but brown freckles that he had never seen before sprinkled the lower-half region of her nose bridge and cheekbones, just like golden dust. Her eyes were still big and gray like a winter's lake but now it had an unfamiliar sadness in them.

He frowned, curious to why she was wearing such an expression. And then, the moment she laid her eyes on him, a clear look of fear tinted her eyes, together with a half-lost expression on her face. Riftan's whole body stiffened in shock.

He never anticipated that she would be afraid of him. After all, she was a girl who fearlessly charged towards a monster her size. However, she was eyeing him with fright, like she was looking at a hideous monster. The look in her eyes struck his heart like a dagger. However, Prince Agnes was right there. Riftan swallow his hound hearth and stand stiffly. Then he managed to say "...It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Riftan Calipse"

Her gaze turned downwards. Riftan was drowning in an unimaginable despondency: the fantasies he dearly cherished for nearly a decade crumbled like a sandcastle before his eyes. He had depended on those memories of her, using it as a will to live, yet she couldn't even look him in the eyes. He felt like the world's biggest idiot. "It would have been better if we didn't meet again." Riftan thought to himself. Illusions should have been left as illusion and memories should be nothing more than just memories.

"P...p-pleasure to meet you. Sir Calipse"

She murmured in a trembling voice. Her voice was so soft that it would have been difficult to understand her words without paying it full attention... But she said his name.... and suddenly his hearth skips a beat and melt at the same time. And then, lighting stroke Riftan... If Maxi was there talking so familiar with Princess Agnes, this could just mean that Maxi was the one to be betrothed by the prince.

Princes Agnes look at him and with a surprise voice exclaimed "I can't believe you are actually staying for a whole month. You are finally taking a break. How come you never stay that long in Dristan?" Riftan try to answer in a calm voice and while trying to not stare at Maxi anymore. He looked at Princes Agnes "I never feel conformable in Dristan, and I believe you already know it your highness. Also, Croix Castle is not so far from Anatol, and I believe is time for me to actually have a break" in the most plain polite voice that he could manage to say.

Looking at Princes Agnes and no being able to hold his words any longer he finally said "I have been told that you have been here for a whole week already, and that you are also staying the whole month of celebration as well. I am amazed that you are staying here for so long. We are blessed to have you here, but if you don't mind asking you... Is there a specific reason you are staying in the Croix Castle this long?"

Princess Agnes bright face become ever brighter as she said "I came to spend more time with my future sister-in-law" as she hugged Maxi very tight close to her. Riftan's hearth sank as his world started to crumble. He tried to keep his composure as much as he could while Princess Ages kept taking how wonderful will be having Maximillian join the Royal Family. Maxi face turned red at Princes Agnes' words, and look at her with a blush expression "Princess Agnes, I will appreciate if you keep yourself for making such a comments. What will Rosetta think if she heard you saying that" Riftan felt like his hearth started to beat again at the remarks of Maxi's words. She was not the bride after all, but her younger sister. Princess Agnes looked at her "You would be a better match for my brother! You are exactly what he needs! A warm-kind hearth wife" Maxi's face was as red as her hair at this point, and Riftan could not think of anything else, but how mesmerizing this tiny woman looks with a blush face! He thought he could die happily now after seeing this. If he could just touch her... Just one... Just the hemp of dress... Maxi keep begging Princess Agnes to stop talking about her and the princess.

As Riftan was about to say something to Agnes to change to route of the conversation. The room became quite and started at the entrance as the Holy Knights were coming inside of the Croix Castle. Every single eye was starting at them, specially Princess Agnes. Seeing Kuahel Leon entering the castle made Princess Agnes displease and she did not try to hide it. Sir Leon seemed to have noticed her look since he looked back at her where Princes Agnes and Maximillian were standing, but his eyes did not stop at Princess Agnes, but Maximillian. When Maximillian notices Sir Leon was looking at his direction, she could not avoid blushing every more. Riftan looked at her with a question face, but before he could say anything Princess Agnes looked at Maximillian and said, "You see, it would be better for you to marry my brother and Kuahel!" Riftan hearth stop beating again.... Could be possible that Maxi and Kuahel being engaged? Most of the Holy Knights were priest, but he knew many of them were not and have wives in Osiriya. He has so many question... Maxi finally open her mouth and said "It is better if not rumors are spread about me getting married. After all, father has no intention of married me off yet." Riftan felt as his hearth was beating again and he thought that he would die there before this conversation was finish since he was not sure how much more his hearth would be able to hold after hearing all this information.

Princes Agnes looked at Maxi and said "You know once the Duke of Croix openly say that he will be open to offers of marriage, Kuahel will be the first in line to make a proposition... and he may kill anyone who try to line behind him" Agnes expression became dark as she keep talking "How can you become a wizard if you become the wife of the commander of the Holy Knights? That will be impossible! I won't allow that to happened! Before that happened, you are better off marrying my brother" Riftan emotions were all over the place. He didn't if he would thank Princess Agnes for her words or be mad at her. Riftan only knew that there was already too much competition for him to be even considerer being a contestant. As he looked at Maximillian anxious face, he could not hold himself any longer and decided to leave.

"If you ladies excuse me, it has been a long trip here. I will go and rest. I will see you both in the banquet." Maximillian nod at him while Princess Agnes waved her hand him as she kept spiting profanities about Maximillian and Kuahel will never to get together.  

Writer Note:

Thank you so much for reading!!! I will try to write one episode per week! This one is a couple days later, but I will try to keep my writing consist! Thank you again!