“Don’t take too long.” Hebaron shrugged his bulky shoulders, turned around and went back.
After finishing feeding Talon an apple, Riftan went to the front of the water trough and brusquely washed his hands.
“You should return to the room first.”
He wiped the water from his hands and picked up the robe that he had casually hung on the fence of the stables. Max stroked Rem’s neck and shot Riftan an anxious look.
“Is there… some problem that came up?”
“The informant who was sent to verify the duke’s movements has just returned.” Riftan looked at her darkened face, sighed a little, and draped a cloak over her shoulder. “It’s not a big deal, so don’t worry, just rest in the room. Don’t wander off anywhere else.”
Then, he ruffled Max’s bangs and kissed her forehead. She tried to smile for him. After confirming that she had entered the castle, Riftan headed straight for the training grounds. Max returned to the room and looked out the window incessantly.
Under the gray hazy sky, the bare trees shook their bare branches like blackened bones. The silver sun occasionally cast pale rays of light behind the hazy clouds, but it wasn’t enough to bring life to the desolate garden where the chilly breeze blew. She wondered if her overt anxiety made her feel like the cold landscape was hinting at future ordeals. Max sighed, dragged a chair in front of the fireplace, and sat down. Roy, who was following her, climbed nimbly over her knees and purred alluringly. She was slightly relieved by his relaxed and calm appearance, stroking his soft back to ease her nervousness.
Riftan returned to the room when the night had fallen. Max took his cape and looked at him, waiting for him to tell her what went on in the conference room. However, Riftan walked in front of the fire without saying anything, took off his boots, and washed his hands with lukewarm water. When she grabbed a towel and handed it to him, he barely turned his head towards her.
“Did you have dinner?”
“A l-little while ago. How about you, Riftan…? Do you want me to tell them to prepare something to eat?”
“No, I also had dinner in the conference room.”
He washed his face and rubbed his face with a towel. Max looked him in the eye and asked, unable to overcome her impatience.
“A-about my father… have you discovered what he is scheming?”
Riftan’s eyebrows slightly pulled together. Then, he shook his head after a bit of pause.
“The only thing I have discovered is that your father is in frequent contact with his vassals.”
Max narrowed her eyes. They couldn’t have discussed this for so long with so little information. If Hebaron had searched for him in a hurry, they must have found something important. She put on a disappointed expression, but kept her mouth shut tight. Riftan sighed as if he had noticed that she was suspicious.
“Whatever Duke Croix does, it’s my job to handle it. You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“Ho-how could I do that? That person… is my father. What happened is because of me…”
