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Riftan’s face hardened at the insulting treatment. Even the Duke had no right to disrespect the king’s vassals that way. Riftan silently turned around despite the humiliation he had just received, not wanting to create a scene expressing his displeasure.

The Duke of Croix continued to reject his requests and delayed meeting the messengers, reasoning that he was too busy overseeing the estate. It was only after the third day after arriving at the castle that they were able to properly discuss with him face-to-face.

The messengers naturally took on an overbearing attitude and expressed their displeasure. Their anger only aroused further as the Duke also claimed that Dristan’s demands violated his authority as a Lord. He provoked them more when he announced that he intended to collect compensations for the damages of the conflict. As a result, the Driftan’s messengers felt outraged and the negotiations got on the verge of a downward spiral towards catastrophe.

Riftan recorded all the happenings and sent a telegram to their commander. Contrary to their expectations that the negotiations would conclude within three or four days, it dragged on for longer than a week. He was sick and tired of waking up to the bluish dawn of the west, yet the Duke Croix appeared to be unwilling to yield to Dristan’s demands. In the worst-case scenario, things could blow up to an all-out-war.

Riftan pictured in his mind the fierce battle ahead. If the Royal Army of Dristan intervened, Whedon would surely retaliate and send additional reinforcements. At that point, he wouldn’t be able to return to Anatol for at least a year’s time.

No, maybe I will never be able to return again…

Riftan’s lips twisted cynically as he approached the castle walls. The war ahead could decapitate anyone’s head at one mistake: he had witnessed countless men die insignificantly and he was not conceited enough to think that no one else in the world was stronger than him. Having taken countless lives himself, he was clearly aware of the fact that his life could end just as such.

Just in case, Riftan decided to send a telegram to Anatol and quickly crossed the forests where the light of dawn was still dim. Suddenly, he saw someone running from a distance and stopped on his tracks. The person didn’t appear to be a maid, she was wearing a dress so long that it dragged against the ground.

What the hell is a noble woman doing this early in the day?

Riftan narrowed his eyes as he thought suspiciously, watching the woman. Then, his whole body hardened. He caught a clear glimpse of red hair flowing through her black robes as the girl turned around. He was convinced that there was only one person in the world who had that kind of hair, and it was Maximillian Croix. The girl’s hair was different from other red hairs. Her voluminous, wavy hair had a reddish-brown color, had an almost purple tint to it in the dark, and a few strands glimmered gold under the bright sun.

All of a sudden, his heart pounded fast and strong against his ribs. It was his first time seeing her since he returned to the Croix Castle. Riftan was torn between yearning to meet her and the urge to ignore her, but his conflict didn’t last long. Standing stiffly on the spot, Riftan let out a low moan and chased after her trail. Even if it was only around the castle grounds, he couldn’t let her wander alone through the dark forest, not when she had already been seriously injured before. A slight anger arose within him as he recalled her cold body that was bitten with a venomous monster’s fangs.

Did she not learn her lesson even after that happened?

He quickened his strides, his jaw tight as he planned to give her a firm warning. The girl suddenly stopped and looked around and Riftan narrowed his eyes. It didn’t seem like Maximillian saw him standing under a tree’s shade. Then, she began to fumble, pulling out a piece of parchment out of her arms and started to utter something in a small voice.

What the hell are you doing?

Riftan frowned as he listened to her wistful, trembling voice. Her voice intermittently blended into the chirping of the birds, and the rustling of the branches and leaves against the dry blowing wind. The girl’s voice was so quiet that he could barely understand her words, but it seemed like she was reciting poetry. Riftan, who was able to comprehend the situation in a daze, wore a curious expression. Maximillian was reading the same phrase over and over again with a quivering voice.

He felt the frustration that started to build up in her tone and suddenly realized that he was witnessing a very private moment: she had difficulties speaking. His trembling hand grazed his lips. He had heard her stutter several times before, but he thought that it was just because she felt tense, nervous, or disconsolate.

He paced on his feet anxiously, like a stranded beast. He was thinking that it was best for him to leave quietly, but at the same time he couldn’t leave her alone in a place like that. Not knowing what to do, Riftan’s body froze as he stepped on a branch that had fallen on the ground. Maximillian, who was repeating the same word as if her tongue was paralyzed, turned to his direction and her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing him.

Riftan’s face was clouded with embarrassment. Although she was a distance away from him, he could clearly distinguish her face turning pale then switching to a deep red from shame. Her narrow shoulders stiffened in humiliation and her eyes shook insecurely as if her pride had been shattered. He urgently opened his lips but he had no idea what to say, so Riftan just took a step back as his lips closed and opened.

“I… I’m…”

Maximillian, who was at her wits end after revealing her secret weakness, quickly turned around and ran towards the castle. Riftan unconsciously tried to chase after her, but stopped on his tracks.He wanted to grab her by the arm that instant and impart his excuses that he was only there by accident, but he thought that it would only make her feel more embarrassed. He fully grasped how shameful it felt to have one’s weakness revealed to others.

Riftan stared idly at the forest path she had fled from and turned around, muttering harsh curses at himself. The opportunity to formally apologize for his actions would come sooner or later. For now, it was best to let her pull her thoughts together first. He trudged helplessly back to his room.

However, as the end of the negotiations reached, he couldn’t even see her shadows. He wandered around the annex whenever he had time, hoping to meet her by chance, but eventually he had to go back to the borders, not being able to apologize for what happened that day. He felt utterly miserable. The negotiations did not yield any significant outcomes and he even left the worst impressions of him to Maximillian Croix. Riftan greeted winter with the most terrible feeling of misery.

Despite the tensions heightening from the ensuing war, the girl’s eyes that reflected hurting did not leave his mind. He wondered why her pain vividly touched him when there were more miseries and painful things that existed in the world. Nevertheless, he felt a strong will to comfort her. He wanted to approach her and comfort her as he caressed her narrow back. He wanted to tell her that her stutter was nothing but an insignificant flaw. He would pay amounts of gold just to hear her speak.

Riftan smirked at his foolish thoughts. Behind her delicate appearance, she had a strong sense of pride, he was able to recognize that just by seeing her face being distorted with shame. She may even feel insulted by the fact that he dared to comfort a noble lady. Riftan desperately tried to pry the girl out of his head by ridiculing himself as such. Whether those kinds of thoughts paid off, his teenage boy fantasies gradually faded away as the cold winter hit and large battles began with huge troops of armed bandits crossing the borders.Such meaningless thoughts automatically disappeared as the fierce battles continued.

He focused on leading the knights and subjugating the bandits, however the enemy cleverly continued to attack despite losing, dwindling their resources and manpower from the continued surprise attacks. Despite wanting to hunt down the enemies to end and wipe them down, he couldn’t cross the borders as that would provoke Dristan’s royal family.

Sensing a crisis, the Royal Knights of Whedon eventually sent another message to persuade the Duke of Croix. Riftan returned to Croix after two and a half months. This time, he wasn’t there only to escort the messengers, but to convey King Ruben’s will as well. His eyebrows furrowed as he recalled being burdened with the royal command stating to persuade the Duke of Croix to end the dispute as soon as possible. His Majesty had an extraordinary knack for putting such tedious tasks on his shoulders.

This would end way faster if His Majesty did it himself.

Riftan breathed out a dissatisfied sigh as he passed through the gates. The Croix Castle had a much different impression during the winter. The large estate, where gardens usually bloomed, was now barren and dry winds blew, making it looking somewhat gloomy. The dense fir forest surrounding the castle also emitted a damp chill. He looked around observing as he crossed what used to be the garden and reached the front of the great hall. His face was grim and stiff as he strode into the castle, leaving the horses to the servants.

He was also fed up with the dispute. This time, he was determined to reach a sound negotiation with the Duke of Croix. Dozens of his men’s lives were lost because of the man’s insufferable pride, he wanted to put a stop to any meaningless battles in the future.

“I came bearing the king’s message to the Duke.”

He declared chillingly to the butler who had rushed out to welcome them. The butler, who flinched from his overbearing attitude, bowed politely, and led them to the reception. Riftan strode up the stairs, leading his knights. There, standing with the maids at one side of the hallway, was Maximillian and his eyes widened. Meeting her unexpectedly in his shambled state made him feel dizzy, like he had been attacked out of nowhere.

“What a great beauty you are.”

His head immediately turned to the sound that came from beside him. It was Gabel Laxion’s voice, who was looking at her with pure admiration. Riftan looked at him with a sharp glare, feeling all the nerves in his body on edge, but he continued to speak in a daze as if he did not feel Riftan’s displeasure.

“I have only heard stories about how outstandingly beautiful the Duke’s second-born daughter is… I was taken by surprise. In just a few years, won’t she grow into the most beautiful woman on the western continent?”

Riftan blinked his eyes and looked at the direction where Gabel was looking again. It was only then that he realized that it was not Maximillian Croix who captured his admiration, but the girl with flaxen hair standing by her side. He frowned at the girl with a cold atmosphere that seemed to be carved out of ice. He could not bring himself to comprehend how someone could look at another woman when Maximillian Croix was around.

Note – LF: I could not express how *kilig* I felt when Riftan could not find another woman more attractive than Maxi T^T I would sell my soul to have a Riftan who loves me like he loves Maxi

Nymeria: Ikr? This novel is making me question my relationship lmao. Anyway, 14 chapters to the end guys! We’re close