Chapter 253

Chapter 253

Max licked her parched lips, it felt like she was pushed to a corner. The thought of leaving Riftan’s side made her stomach twist. As she hesitated and couldn’t give an answer easily, Ruth, who was deep in thought, began to speak.

“I understand the intention of the princess. But it is a very sudden suggestion. If the lady becomes a World Tower wizard, the lady will have to live in Nornui for the next three or four years. Now is not the time to make such a decision. Give her time to think about it, please.”

“If it were possible, I also would like to have time. However, we do not know when the Duke of Croix will return to the duchy. The man was forced to come to this place because he could not overcome my father’s coercion. He must be thinking of leaving at the very least, after the negotiation is over.”

The princess tried to persuade her with an impatient attitude. Max didn’t know what to do and lowered her eyes. She said she would do anything for Riftan, and yet she couldn’t give an answer as to what she was willing to do. While she continued to hesitate, Ruth glared furiously at the princess.

“Can’t it wait for at least three or four days?! The answer shouldn’t be forced to be made now. Not only Sir Calypse’s future is at stake, but also of his wife’s.”

The princess whose eyebrows were furrowed in displeasure, nodded in disgust with a long sigh. “I understand. Think about this solution while the talks are going on.”

The princess rose from her seat along with Simon. Max couldn’t say a word until the princess left the room. She felt like she was balancing on one wooden leg. Uslin, looking at her pale face in fear, suddenly opened his mouth.

“You may refuse that option.” Max was surprised and her eyes widened, but he continued seriously. “The commander will probably protest against it. To tell you the truth... he’s already preparing to leave Whedon.”

“You mean he’s thinking of...going into e-exile?” She asked in perplexion.

Uslin nodded slowly. “From the beginning, the commander had no intention of going into trial. If these mediation talks fail, he plans to take the lady and go to Livadon immediately.”

“But t-then... Anatol, and the Re-Remdragon Knights...”

“Many of the members plan on following the commander. In fact, everyone wants to follow him in exile, but there are those who have to remain in Whedon due to some circumstances. Perhaps the Knights may be divided.”

Max sighed and looked anxiously at the faces of Ruth, Elliott, and the knights who were silently guarding the door. They had a calm face, as if it was a fact that everyone already knew: it was clear that Riftan had spoken to them beforehand. She could not bear the shock of it and sank into the chair.

Uslin added hastily. “I’m not trying to put a burden on the lady. It is not yet known how the mediation talks will conclude. We just assumed the worst that could happen and discussed it just in case.”

“If this mediation fails... Riftan... Anatol and the Remdragon Knights... he will lose everything.”

When she murmured vaguely, the man closed his mouth as if he didn’t know what to say. A heavy atmosphere surrounded them. At that moment, Ruth spoke seriously, grasping her shoulders with both hands.

“M’lady, it would be useless to think about this right now... better go and get some rest first. It is not something to decide just on impulse. Entering the World Tower means living as a wizard all your life. Whether or not you are prepared to do so, you should think carefully and with a clear mind before making any decisions.”

Max looked at him in the face with hazy vision, then nodded. Uslin quickly supported her and led her out of the waiting room. She followed him and walked down the dark corridor, struggling to clear her complex mind. The stories she had heard from the bard lingered in her head. Ancient wizards who built an island in the middle of the sea to escape the heretic hunters, in the center of which stood a huge tower... When the story of the legend came to her head, an unfamiliar fear flooded her. When she got back to her room, she couldn’t sleep a second and tossed and turned all night.

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Riftan didn’t return to the room until the sun had risen from the horizon. Max turned her back, pretending to be asleep and squeezed her eyes shut. She heard sounds like he was taking off his clothes, then his heavy body slumped into the spot next to her. She let out a shaky breath. Riftan’s thick forearms embraced her waist tightly. The warmth of his body she felt radiating against her back made her eyes water. She blinked in the dark. Just because he married her, he was dragged into a situation where he could lose everything. Wasn’t he resentful of her, even though it was her father who was making him go through such torment? If he had divorced and married the princess when he returned from the expedition... he would never have ended up in this situation.

Max shook her head weakly. “Right now... my head is too o-occupied with the thoughts of stopping the trial. I can’t afford to think of anything else...”

“Of course it is in that state.” The princess nodded meekly. “For now, we should focus on defeating the Duke of Croix. And then, you will have time to think about the next steps.”

They specified some more details and got up from their seats. As she walked out of the door to head to the meeting room, Uslin and Elliot were waiting by the door, looking at her with worry. Max flashed them a determined smile and headed to the main building along with the princess. The third meeting of mediation would be held in the same place as yesterday. They all stood in front of the large arched door to gauge the situation inside for a moment. The Duke’s sharp, loud voice could be heard through the door.

“If Your Majesty just lets an act as terrible as this pass, the nobles will all pretest against it at once! Does His Majesty intend to turn his back on the vassals who swore allegiance to him for the sake of a mere knight of some humble town?”

It was a despicable threat. Max’s face was seething with anger at the insulting words towards her husband. The princess looked at the ceiling as if to gather all her patience, then she announced herself with dignity and approached the attendant who was on duty at the door.

“I have an urgent report for His Majesty. Ask permission for us to enter the conference room.”

“Wait a moment please.”

The young attendant carefully opened the door and stepped inside. After a while, he came back to open it wide and stepped aside to invite them inside. Max carefully entered the conference room with the princess and Simon. Riftan, who was sitting in the front of the table looking annoyed, looked at her, and his eyes widened. She was close to the princess, avoiding his questioning gaze. Princess Agnes walked slowly in front of the king and bowed politely in accordance with palace etiquette.

“I apologize for interrupting the meeting, Your Majesty.”

“No matter. I was bored of hearing the same words over and over again anyway.” King Ruben’s sullen words distorted the Duke of Croix’s face. The king yawned naturally and spoke slowly. “What is there to report? Don’t beat around the bush and let me hear it.”

“There is something His Majesty has yet to know about this matter. I was hesitant to make a decision on my own, Lady Calypse decided that we shall not stand still so we came in a rush like this to explain to His Majesty.”

She paused for a moment and looked alternately at the rigid faces of Riftan and the Duke of Croix. King Ruben raised a thick eyebrow and touched his chin with his hand.

“I said to stop beating around the bush and tell me the whole story.I don’t like long talks.”

The princess straightened her posture and shot an icy look at the Duke of Croix. “Then I’ll get straight to the point, Your Majesty. The Duke of Croix claimed that his actions were a light corporal punishment, but for Lady Calypse, it was different. If the Duke decides to take this matter to trial, Lady Calypse will charge him with ill-treatment before the wizards of the World Tower.”

The princess’s voice echoed loudly throughout the room. The Duke’s expression was livid with anger and he rose from his seat and screamed. “Nonsense! What does the World Tower have to do with all this!”

“It has a lot to do with it! Protecting the World Tower wizards is Nornui’s greatest concern. The main purpose of The World Tower is to protect wizards from hunters and pursuers of heretics.”

Simon spoke on behalf of the princess. Then, both the Duke of Croix and Riftan made a confused expression, as if they were listening to a calf speaking. Regardless of their reaction, the wizard continued to speak calmly to the king.

“Maximillian Calypse was named a member of Nornui last spring. She is a wizard of the World Tower and given that, any cruelty inflicted on her constitutes a persecution of a wizard. As soon as she asks for protection, the World Tower will launch an investigation, and as soon as the facts are confirmed, the duke will be held accountable for it.”

“I can’t bear to listen to any of this nonsense!” The duke slammed his fists on the table with full anger and looked at Max and the princess as if he wanted to murder them. “Wizard you say? Ha! To cover up this bastard, they are telling such an absurd lie! Her majesty’s intentions are suspicious!”

Note – LF: Don’t come for me but I honestly think Max is too dependent on Riftan and being in Nornui will help her build herself too. BUT YES IT WILL BE SAD AF.

Nymeria: Completely agree ^