Under the Oak Tree - Riftan's POV - Multiverse

Chapter 28 - My Stepfather

"Thank you, my lady."

Maximillian walked away from the Ball while her nanny was holding her hand. Riftan stood there until he was not able to longer see her. Riftan was just flowing away in a happiness that he never thought it was possible. He did not bother to look at Leon at any moment while he was returning to his table. He just excused himself for the rest of the night and walk straight to his room. He was intoxicated with Maximillian already. Her smell, her skin... the way her dress was drawing her tiny waist. Riftan who never dreamt of thinking of ever touching Maximillian dress had just held her hand... He, whose life was like an eternal rush... had just realize that he was madly in-love! But just for tonight he wouldn't care if this feeling was just coming from him, and she just barely knew that he existed... He wanted to enjoy it, and dream.... Just for tonight!

Riftan woke up the next morning well rested and trying to no be overthinking about the night before. He knew deep down that he was just a night. He wants to become Maximillian's life, but that was out of the questions, so he wants to keep dreaming for a couple days before going back to his reality. That really that it was just not lonely, but also cold.

To keep his mind occupied Riftan decided to just take a walk and try to keep his mind from
Maximillian. As he left the castle and crossed the wide hills, a rundown hut caught his eyes. He was stopped in his steps and his throat felt like there was a thorn stuck in it. The hut was relatively clean and maintained, proving wrong his expectations that it would have been long abandoned. Riftan searched its surroundings and peeked into the dark hut through the open window. There was a small vegetable garden in the backyard and around three or four chickens roamed inside the small fence.

He wondered if his stepfather still lived there.

No, maybe someone else started living here after my stepfather left.

Either way, he couldn't verify for himself right away. He looked around again at the empty cabin and hesitantly turned around. At that moment, something suddenly flew towards his face. Riftan blocked and grabbed it. A skinny boy holding a plow used for the fields stared at him with a fierce look.

"What are you snooping around for, trying to steal?!"

Riftan looked down at the boy who came out of nowhere. The boy's face was red as he huffed, not appearing to be afraid of him.

"You were planning to steal all of my father's chickens, aren't you? I knew it!"

"...do you live here?"

The boy tried to pull the plow back from Riftan's grip and whined, raising his little chin.

"Yes, this is our house! So, you can't take anything from here without my permission!"

"I didn't come here to steal."

Riftan replied in a low, calm voice and bent his knees to observe the child's scruffy face. His beaked brown eyes looked familiar.

"What is your father's name?"

"Why should you have to know that?"

The boy exclaimed vigorously and arched an eyebrow. The child suddenly felt threatened by his close proximity and stepped back, whimpering. Riftan spoke in the most subdued voice he had.

"I owe the man who lived here. I came here today to settle that debt."

"This is our house. It is ours even before I was born."