Under the Oak Tree - Riftan's POV - Multiverse

Chapter 31 - The Smile

Riftan felt like a happy idiot, fixing himself in front of a mirror for an hour just to end up the same way. Back when he was young, he never thought of her as someone he would desperately covet. When he had thoughts of her, he felt a gentle affection. Whenever he saw her smile, his heart would feel warm. But what he felt now was incomparable to then, his feelings were intense and passionate to the point of being painful and hard to control them. When he thought of her, he didn't feel comfort like he did before. Instead, his heart felt half-crippled and a strange yearning rose within him. Once, he dressed up as dashing as he could, his intentions of talking to her were clear. He wanted her to notice him.

As soon as he entered the Banquet Hall his eye followed the direction where she was sitting. It was not the same that the night before. She was still sitting next to the right of the duke, but next to her it was not Princess Agnes, but Leon. Riftan felt as his blood start to boil. He was there sitting right next to her. He simple fact she was sitting right next to the same man that she was running from this same afternoon make him consume in jealousy. Riftan did not know what happened, but Princess Agnes absent and Leon siting right next Maximillian did not sit well with him. A murderous aura started to form around Riftan. His only desire was to grab Leon by the neck until this stop breathing. Hebaron who notice Riftan stare to the Duke's table started talking

"Vice-Commander, you also notice Princess Agnes absence. They said that The Duke and the princess had a not very friendly conversation this afternoon, Princess Agnes excuse herself from today banquet"

"How do you know these details" Uslin asked

"I happened to spend a very lovely afternoon with one of Princess Agnes Princess ladies-in-waiting. The poor soul was very offended at Duke Croix rude behavior"

"What do you mean?"

"I believe is public knowledge that the Croix family and the Royal family are about to enter in marriage. The only real question is which daughter will be marrying the prince."

Riftan annoyance shoot to the roof with this one sentence. Maximillian was not going to marry the princess, and it was only Princess Agnes delusional idea.

"They already decided that it will be Duke second daughter the only marrying the Royal family" Riftan commented with annoyance like to let everyone knows about this.

Hebaron looked at Riftan in disbelieve that the vice-commander had decided to join such a trivial conversation.

"Apparently Princess Agnes is under the impression that it is not the case and Lady Maximilian is still being consider marrying the prince. This afternoon Princess Agnes tried to dissuade Duke Croix again about his decision, and the Duke took offense in Princess Agnes statement. I really don't understand why... Both of them are the Duke's Daughters. Some people said that the Duke is overprotective of Lady Maximilian and he can not allow her to marry yet. On the other hand,...." Hebaron eye trace back to Leon sitting next to Maximillian

"Leon there is getting to close to Lady Maximillian, and Princess Agnes is not fond of this to happened. According to Princess Agnes Lady Maximilian have a great gift to become a mage which the Duke find it ridiculous... But it seems like Lady Maximilian may like Leon company."

Riftan stopped breathing at Hebaron last words, and thankfully the cup of ale in his hand was made of a thick metal, and no glass, otherwise it would have shatter in his hand. Trying to control the tone of his voice he managed to say "Why you said that?"

"Said that Lady Croix may enjoy Leon company? They supposedly spent the afternoon together. Lady Croix was missing for hours, and so was Leon. When they found Lady Croix this afternoon, the smile in her face was easy to read. I saw it too. She was walking in a cloud"

Riftan easy his grip in the cup and suddenly understood that he was the one who has spent most of that time with her. That it was him who had dropped her off to the castle, and maybe... there was a remote possibility that it was him who has put that smile in Maximilian face. His heart felt like it was about to explode in joy. Riftan tried to keep his same demeanor to avoid any confusion, but he did not want the rest of the people there talking about Maximilian and Leon spending the afternoon together.

"They were not together" Riftan said in calm tone

"How do you know this?"

"I saw Leon looking for someone in the outside of the castle. They were not together, and I saw him returning to the castle by himself. While keep walking around the castle I notice Lady Maximillian hiding by herself. It was until she notices Leon going back to the castle that she came out and when back to the castle by herself. I can assure you that Leon look upset when he was going back to the castle, and Lady Croix seemed relief that she was not found"

Hebaron opened and closed his mount several times like a fish in the water no knowing how to take this information. Riftan was far from liking gossip and have never put an input or showed interest in any topic that refer to any women. Hebaron who has notice Riftan annoyance and constant glare to Leon and Maximillian who know were having a half conversation decided to push his luck just a little more.

"I am wondering if they are having a nice conversation now. If Lady Croix did not spend the afternoon with Leon, why are they sitting together."

Riftan just let a small groan scape while trying to cover his annoyance. While staring back at the table where both were sitting Maximilian was just finished to eat and it seem like she was trying to excuse herself for the way that she kept looking for her nanny. Riftan did not how to avoid this. The Duke was no longer sitting in the table, but at the other side of the ballroom talking to other nobles. He felt stupid for thinking that he was going to be able to talk to her tonight. So much time spent in front of the mirror just to see her talking the whole time with Leon. He had lost the count of how many ales he had drank, but his head was already feeling funny. Suddenly her eyes look for him, and a huge smile came to her face. Hebaron rapidly stood up and look at Riftan.

"That was the smile that she was caring this afternoon. It seems like Lady Maximilian want to dance"

Saying this he started to walk in her direction. 

Writer Notes:

Hopefully work will let me write more often! Thank you for keep reading :)