Chapter 354 - 115

Chapter 354

Riftan’s hand tightened around Richard Breston’s skull, pressing it against the cold stone wall. “Are you acting on Heimdall’s orders?” he hissed.

Breston smirked as his red eyes met Riftan’s, goading him. “What do you think?”

Riftan yanked the man’s head back by the hair and shoved it against the stone again. Gently, he said, “You are testing my patience!”

“You bloody bastard-“

“Don’t forget, the bloody bastard is the one holding a knife to your neck,” Riftan said evenly, tracing the tip of his dagger beneath the bulge of the man’s throat and drawing a thin, crimson line.

Rage flared in Breston’s eyes, giving him the impression of a feral beast. Though the northerner seemed to have an unusually tight hold on his anger at the moment, Riftan knew the man would try to reverse the situation the moment the opportunity presented itself.

He sensed Breston shift under his grip, struggling against his restraints like an unruly warhorse.

Applying more pressure, Riftan pinned him against the wall. “Does Heimdall want to thrust Balto into the fires of war?” he said, his voice dropping to a growl. “Surely you cannot think that the other monarchs will stand for such treachery.”

“How naive you are, Calypse,” Breston sneered, lips twisting into a vicious crocodile smile. “Even if your accusations are true, do you truly think the other monarchs would agree to try the King of the North? Heimdall Rune Valdemar is a seated member of the Council. No one can level an accusation against him without evidence.”

When Riftan did not respond, Breston continued, “And if the others already had this evidence, you wouldn’t be threatening me right now, would you?”

Riftan stared down at the man’s smug face. Though every fiber of his being longed to hurt the bastard simply to see him scared, reason kept him in check. He narrowed his eyes. Ending this traitor’s life right now would certainly provide momentary pleasure, but it would also disrupt the long-awaited gathering of the Council of the Seven Kingdoms - talks that had been three years in the making.

Heimdall VI would use the murder of his vassal in the heart of the basilica to pressure the pope. No doubt he would also plant spies throughout the Seven Kingdoms under the guise of hunting down the killer. And in response, the Basilica of Osiriya would be forced to take a firm stance.

Riftan gritted his teeth. He would not jeopardize the already precarious armistice over this fool’s antics.

As if reading his thoughts, Breston’s smile turned smug. “Now that you know your threats are in vain, why not put that dagger away?”

Suppressing his boiling rage, Riftan released his grip on the man. Breston swiftly distanced himself and glared back with unbridled hatred. Readying to block an attack, Riftan shifted his grip on his weapon. Yet, to his surprise, the northerner remained motionless.

Breston eventually gave a low chuckle. “I intend to challenge you to a duel soon enough, so I shall bide my time until then. You’d be surprised by how patient I can be.”

The splitting of war spoils was a far more tedious and messy affair than anticipated. Attending the negotiation were the five rulers of the coalition, including the pope. The commanding officers, high- ranking knights, and any nobles with the right to vote also gathered in the council chamber.

It took hours just for each party to say their piece. Maxi was exhausted as she sat staring at her knees, waiting for her turn to speak. When it finally did come, she was given no more than five minutes to explain the contributions of the mages in the rear support unit. No one truly paid attention to her. They were all too busy inflating their own achievements. Even the Arexian forces, with their insubordination during the final clash, were no exception.

Maxi was sick of it. After the first negotiation, she was required to attend two more. When the other sessions ended with no decisions made, she announced she would stop attending them altogether. If she were being honest, it was not the squabbles of the nobles that she found hard to endure - it was being forced to watch Riftan next to Princess Agnes.

Rubbing her sore eyes, Maxi gazed at the purple sky through the window. Simply seeing Riftan’s expressionless face from afar made her heart ache with anguish. Sometimes, it was anger. She desperately wanted to ask him how he could remain so detached.

The unfortunate reality was that her hope for their relationship was slowly fading.

“Will you really not consider returning to the Tower with us?”

Roused from her depressing thoughts, Maxi swiveled her head.

Anette, who had been jotting something onto parchment at a desk, was looking at her with a serious expression. “Armin and I will depart for the Tower in a few days with Master Celric. Would it not be best for you to come with us?”

Maxi went blank for a moment, not knowing how to respond. “B- But the negotiations have yet to end.”

“Master Calto and the other senior mages will remain. It was decided that some of us should return quietly to share our findings.”

After making sure the ink was dry, Anette rolled up the parchment and sealed it with wax. Sighing, she placed the scroll on top of an existing pile on the desk.

“Do give it serious thought. I’d hate to see you lose the opportunity to hone your talents because you’re busy pining over a man who cares little for you.”

Maxi angrily opened her mouth to argue, but no words came. She flushed. Did the others also consider her so pitifully? After biting her lip, she managed to stammer out, “Y-You don’t know... how passionate and devoted a husband Riftan used to be. I am certain... th-there is a reason for his behavior.”

“And what would that be?” Anette asked, exasperated.

Anger rose in Maxi’s chest. “H-He has not given me a clear explanation, but I’m certain it’s for my-”

“Max! Come look at this!”

Her attempt at an excuse was cut short by Sidina bursting into the room. Maxi stared at the girl in surprise, then at the bundle of magnificent gowns in her arms.

Sidina’s eyes glinted with excitement as she laid them on the bed one by one.

“You will be attending the banquet with me tonight.”