Under the Oak Tree - Chapter 243

Chapter 243

After the bitter conversation they shared, they then returned to the great hall. At the time they were back, the delegation was already preparing to leave. It felt suffocating for Max to send their visitors off without taking a proper rest when they had come from a long journey. She ignored Riftan’s words not to say goodbye and led her servants to the front of the door to say farewell to the delegation. The princess who threatened Riftan did not appear pleased, but she was still a royal and she shouldn’t be sent off so coldly like this.

The princess looked at Max who was standing uncomfortably and flashed a hazy smile on her mouth.

Max muttered stiffly, lowering her eyes. The clerical attitude of the princess towards the matter was disappointing, but it was her own fault that things got to that point. If she had not followed the Duke of Croix that day, the princess would not have had to intervene in this way, running around Weddon.

Max couldn’t raise her head due to the guilt that’s eating her.

The princess suddenly blurred the end of her words. She spoke in an awkward way, not very likely of her, who was always imposing.

While waving her hand with a bewildered face, she shook her head firmly.

Max’s face hardened when she realized that the princess was talking about the rumors on her fertility. Agnes then added hastily.

Max looked at the serious face of the princess then glanced behind her and looked at Rosetta, who was turning her back on them as if she wasn’t interested in the conversation. She wondered if she could tell Agnes what her sister told her on the duke’s advances. Max, who was worried for a moment, opened her mouth.

As if thinking that she would not openly side with Riftan, the princess, who seemed a bit surprised, soon nodded firmly.

At the princess’s words, Max’s face became clouded.

Princess Agnes, who had hesitated, soon admitted.

Max hardened her face at the excessively cold words. But before she could retort, Princess Agnes quickly continued.

The princess smiled bitterly at Max’s thorny reply.

Max sighed. It was useless to expect more from Princess Agnes. The princess will always be a member of the royal family. If Riftan tried to harm royal interests, she could turn to an enemy any time. She felt overwhelmed by a strange disappointment as she watched the delegation leave. She was relieved to say they weren’t going to war, but she couldn’t be happy when she thought about the future.

She trudged back to the Great Hall. Rodrigo came down the stairs with a coat in both hands, and approached as soon as he saw her.

Max couldn’t beat the butler’s guidance, so she walked towards the stairs and looked around.

She looked out the window with an anxious gaze. Even if the declaration of war was withdrawn, there will be one or two things to resolve in the future. Max returned to the room and anxiously awaited his return. She thought about the words Rosetta had said as she wandered around the room. Perhaps what her sister said was what she was saying to herself. Did she fail and get frustrated even though she wanted to trust someone? Thinking about that made her anxious. Even her beautiful and bright younger sister has failed.

‘Can I really change?’

Max walked over to the mirror and looked into her eyes like a skeptical cat. Standing before her was an anxious woman, who did not appear to be sure in her eyes. She lightly squeezed her cheeks, then lost energy and laid down on the bed. Time had passed so much that she seemed to have fallen into a nap. When she woke up, the surroundings were already dark.

Max rubbed her eyes and looked to the side of the bed. She couldn’t find any trace of Riftan visiting. She frowned. Since returning to Calypse Castle, has he ever left her alone for so long? Max bit her lip anxiously, then got out of bed and draped a shawl over her shoulder. When she opened the door and stepped out, she saw the servants lighting up the lamps on the walls. She advanced towards them and asked at once.

The servants bowed their heads politely and responded.

Max looked from side to side. Even in the midst of being busy preparing for war, he returned straight to his room at night. Was it so difficult to withdraw the declaration of war? She smiled at the servants who were looking at her and turned around, but she didn’t want to go back to the room and spend the night alone. She hesitated, but eventually went up the dark stairs. As she climbed the two flights of stairs, she saw light coming from the end of the hall. After a moment of hovering in front of the door, Max carefully opened it, entered, and saw Riftan sitting on the bed while sipping his drink and then spoke, looking at her with penetrating eyes.

Max felt slightly uncomfortable upon his sharp gaze and whispered her reply. Riftan sipped his wine, not saying a word. She closed the door quietly behind her and stood in front of him.

He answered bluntly as he refilled his glass.

Max responded obediently and approached the spot close to his knees. Then there was a noticeable tension in Riftan’s body. He held his glass so tight that Max was afraid it would break as he spoke to her.

Max looked around the bed. She couldn’t find a piece of parchment. She clumsily touched the hem of her dress and then asked lightly, as if making a joke.

He put the glass on the table with a loud bang. Max flinched and was taken aback. Wine spilled over, creating an unsightly stain on the carpet. Riftan looked at her, rubbed his forehead, and regretted his harsh words.

Max stiffened and then slowly leaned in front of him. Riftan opened his mouth as if he was going to scream at her, then fell silent again. Max asked carefully as she looked at his cold, hard face.

Riftan’s shoulders shook and he gritted his teeth. His eyes went black. Max froze at his fierce expression. Riftan, who was panting sharply as if something had caught in his throat, spat out breathlessly.

When Max saw blood seep from his tightly clenched fist, she wrapped her hands around his hand in fear. Riftan sharpened his teeth quickly and screamed fiercely.

She shook her head, struggling to open his fist. Riftan screamed wildly, as if scratching his vocal cords with sandpaper.

Max wrapped both hands around his face and managed to make eye contact with him.

Riftan, roaring like a trapped beast, suddenly stopped breathing. She lowered her head and placed her lips lightly on his. The hot breath tickled her lips gently. Max touched his cheek and whispered in a trembling voice.

As she tried to smile, a clear pain emerged above Riftan’s eyes. She stroked his messy hair and pressed her lips to his forehead as well.

He distorted his face as if he was being tortured. Max hugged his rigid body like a tight rope about to break, reassuring him. His big, hard body leaned over her like a helpless child. Her heart ached. If she had been a little stronger, he would not have suffered so much. She wanted to change for this man. She really wanted to change. She wanted to be tougher and stronger than anyone else.

She bent her head and kissed his warm neck. As their chests pressed together, she felt his heart beating as if it was about to explode.

Note – : ☹

: Literally crying right now, I have nothing more to say