Under the Oak Tree - Chapter 179

Chapter 179

Max passed the gates leading to the training grounds like a ghost carrying a lamp and the soldiers standing guard were taken aback at her arrival, but Max headed straight for the conference room without even looking in their direction. The moment she reached the front of the faintly lighted building, loud voices arguing pierced her eardrums.

Max froze on the spot and felt her heart sinking, in fear that Riftan would agree with Hebaron. The terrifying illustrations and descriptions of monsters that she read flashed through her mind. Monsters with poisons powerful enough to melt bones in an instant, sub-racial monster species with strength six times that of humans, and dragon subspecies with powerful magical attributes… No matter how strong the Remdragon knights were, they would not be able to survive the long journey unscathed. Max held her breath as she waited for Riftan’s decision.

She didn’t have to wait long before hearing his low baritone voice.

Hebaron, who had been shouting violently, suddenly became quiet.

Should I keep eavesdropping like this?

Max restlessly stood and leaned against the door, unaware that the voices had suddenly stopped. At that moment, the door swung open and Hebaron’s huge figure protruded out.

the knight muttered menacingly, but his eyes widened to find Max in front of him.

Max, who stiffened in surprise, took a step back. The other knights poked their heads out from behind Hebaron, looking at her curiously. Max blushed, feeling embarrassed to be caught red-handed.

She muttered in a slurred voice.

Riftan passed Hebaron and came out of the door. Max’s shoulders sagged in fear of Riftan’s chillingly hardened expression. Was he angry that she was wandering around the castle alone so late at night? He continued to glare, staring at her with anger evident in his eyes, and yelled an order over his shoulder.

It was obvious that the order was addressed to dismiss her. Max’s lips trembled.

Riftan cut her off bitterly and Max looked at him with a broken expression, hesitating to speak.

Riftan yelled fiercely, purposely interrupting her.

Max pursed her lips as she realized that the knights behind him were uncomfortable with the situation. Hesitating, Gabel left the conference room and approached her. Riftan grabbed the doorknob and said in a chilling voice directed at her.

Then he closed the door, preventing her from speaking any more. Max reluctantly turned around. Gabel, who stood, took the lamp from her hand.

Max grinned at Gabel to ease his mood but it came out forced and rigid.

He raised the lamp so they could see the steps in front of them and looked up at her with a softened expression.

They climbed the stairs in silence for a while. Max had too much on her mind. Riftan’s intimidating attitude and his arguments in the conference room were constantly replaying in her head. It was only when they crossed the garden, that she carefully opened her mouth to ask.

Gabel paused for a moment and let out an awkward smile.

Max barely squeezed the courage out when they reached the top of the stairs.

She could feel the scrutinizing gaze of the knight, even in the total darkness of the night. She wanted to look confident, but couldn’t hide her trembling hands. Finally, Gabel responded after a while.

Max shut her mouth at the obvious fact, but after retiring in the bedroom, the idea did not leave her mind. She snuggled into the bed, pondering ways to persuade Riftan. She noticed the looks on the faces of the knights. They also considered it a possibility, but no one dared to speak her name out.

Her heart pounded anxiously. There was no way Riftan could go to a place full of monsters undefended. She couldn’t allow them to go without a healer to take care of them; even if they had the most perfect defense, even if they were the best knights in the world. She bit her lip as she waited for Riftan to open the door. No matter how angry he got, she vowed not to back down. She would not tolerate her husband being sent to the battlefield defenseless.

Max waited all night, but Riftan never came back even as the dawn broke. She fell asleep for a moment, and was woken up with the sound of Rudis opening the door. When she saw her milady lying uncomfortably at the foot of the bed, still wearing yesterday’s clothes, her eyes widened. Max immediately jumped out of bed and ran over to her.

Max quickly rubbed the sleep from her eyes, which she closed for barely three hours, and quickly brushed her messy hair with her fingers and ran outside. As she descended the stairs, she saw Riftan and the merchant Aderon, sitting face to face in an antique, well-decorated drawing room. Max paused four steps from the bottom of the stairs. Their calm voices conversing echoed quietly in the hall.

Riftan trailed off when he noticed her. Max unconsciously backed away, but quickly regained her resolve and entered the room. There appeared a sharp tension on his face.

Riftan’s voice became low and grim. Max looked at him and then turned to Aderon.

The merchant’s eyes darted from Riftan’s rigid face to Max’s wretched one, with a bewildered expression, and responded as calmly as possible.

Riftan’s patience completely exploded as he yelled furiously.

Max hesitated at his commanding attitude, but she looked him squarely in the eye without meaning to back away.

She felt as if her heart was being stabbed by a thousand needles. Max felt like a child rejected by her parents and clenched her hands into a fist.

His roar was similar to that of a fierce beast, and Max’s entire body froze in an instant. There were several times that she experienced his anger, but this was the first time that he looked at her with such threatening and vicious eyes. Riftan looked coldly at Max, who flinched in fear, then turned to Aderon.

The merchant blurred his words, as if there was no need to explain the consequences, but Riftan threw a heavy leather bag at him, which landed with a heavy thud.

The merchant took the heavy pouch and put it in his hand, then nodded with a sigh.

Riftan’s tone was as sharp as a knife. He rose from his seat and Aderon followed suit, shoving the leather pouch into his arms.

The merchant bowed his head to both of them and left the drawing room. Max stood still and weighed the expression on Riftan’s face. He picked up his cloak without meeting her eyes and went out. Max rushed after him, but Riftan’s steps only became faster. She almost had to run to catch up with him.

Note – : Riftan’s too harsh on this chapter even though he’s just trying to protect Maxi ☹

Riftan has to calm the f down or I’m ready to throw hands! I take back what I said in the POV note😂Jk, we know he’s only concerned about her safety, but that’s too much