Under the Oak Tree (Web Novel KR) Chapter 136

Even if it wasn't for her, Max shook her back as it was frightening. After staring at Uslin's face for some time, Riftan shook off the hands of the knights holding him and grabbed her arm again and began to walk.

Max glanced embarrassingly at the people left behind and hurried up the stairs following him. Riftan who walks so fast compared to her, quickly passed through the gate. Max had to almost run to chase him across the garden.

“Ri-Riftan….”

When she called him with a trembling voice, breathing heavily to her chin, Riftan barely stopped walking.

Max didn't know what to say, her surprised heart calmed down a little, she felt ashamed and embarrassed. Of all things, at least for Riftan… Max wanted to show him a noble and dignified appearance of her.

Tears welled up all of a sudden, and she lowered her head hurriedly. Riftan was looking down at the scene of Max bursting into tears.

“So why would you say and do something unnecessary…!”

Max shrugged her shoulders. As if swallowing a ball of fire, as Riftan's throat rang loudly. Sweeping his face roughly with his palm, Riftan uttered in a tight voice.

“I'm sorry…you had to hear that.”

On an unexpected apology, Max looked up at him with wet eyes. Riftan murmured a small swear word and held her cheek.

“I'm sorry. So, don't cry.”

Then Riftan lowered his head and rubbed his forehead against hers. Max gulped down her tears and grabbed his clothes tightly. Riftan wiped her tears, wondering what to do.

“I won't let them talk like that again. So, don't cry.”

It was not Riftan's fault that the knight spoke that way. It was her fault, Max just despised herself for what she was, who's always hesitating, stuttering, and had no ability. (TL – you're more than what you think max T.T)

Her heart throbbed. If she were a respectable lady, he would not have fought with his knight. If Riftan had only married Princess Agnes, he would have received more respect than now. (TL- Oh, Jesus maxi, don't say that.)

Max felt so embarrassed. She always hated herself, but she has never felt as terrible as she does now. Max buried her forehead in his chest and closed her eyes tightly.

“Well, I-I'm fine now… Ri-Riftan, you can go back to work.”

“Your eyes are red and bloodshot.”

“I-I can wipe it… y-you don't have to worry about it, I-I'm okay…”

“How can I not worry?”

Max gave Riftan a perplexing look, unable to step away from the door. Long after returning to the room and being in his arms, she was embarrassed to face him because Riftan has to see her sniffle like a child. She was relieved by the butler's call to find Riftan.

“I-it's just…a l-little embarrassing b-but nu-now I'm really okay.”

“I'll be very careful not to let you take that attitude again.”

Riftan spoke again in a strong tone. Max shook her head with a perplexing look.

“Well, you don't have to c-care about it… b-because it's part of m-my job.”

“Of course I will.”

He spoke in a rather nervous voice.

“You're the one I care most in the world. I know you're offended, but don't talk like that.”

Max looked at his stiff face with a perplexing look. It was not her intention for Riftan to argue with his knights, but Riftan seemed to feel offended and want her to take a rest from her work.

Looking into his shady eyes, Max smiled bitterly inside. Clearly, any proud noblewoman might have been whining to make any man pay for insulting a Lady. But Max knew well that she wasn't worth it. She tried to speak calmly with a faint smile. (TL – you're worth it!)

“I-I'm sorry… I-I won't.”

“…I'll be right back, take a rest.”

“Oh, I-I got it.”

Riftan looked at her pale face for a long time to see if she was relieved, and barely opened the door and went outside.

Max sat in front of the fireplace and stared blankly at the scene of the sparks popping up. The cats, who were playing with the seam of the rug, crept up on her lap and pressed their heads into her stomach. She gave a deep sigh, stroking the cat's back.

The shame stuck to her heart like oil scraps and made her heart stifling. Leaving Croix Castle and pretending to be a well lady did not change her fundamentals. She was still a stuttering Maximilian. Embarrassed by helplessness, she crouched her back. She was depressed and sad, the next moment, she was very anxious. There was a strong impatience, as if the sand castle that had been piled up would collapse right away.

Doesn't Riftan really feel ashamed? Wouldn't he be really shaken by his subordinates' humiliation? Won't he get sick of it someday? Max thought

She was deeply ashamed of herself because she hated herself for having such doubts about the person that had given for her so much. The judgment in her was more embarrassing than anything else.

When she went outside, the servants who were lighting the hallway quickly bowed to her. Max jumped up two floors of stairs in a heartbeat, receiving their greetings. Ruth is in the library, who she thought was still at the training grounds. She ran in front of him quickly. Ruth looked surprised at the sight.

“Today, I didn't expect you to come back. Is there a problem?”

Max shook her head and took a breath. It was good to have run in high spirits, but when she is in front of him, she didn't know what to say. Seeing the sloppy figure, Ruth smiled bitterly and pointed to the opposite seat.

“Sit down for now. I was hesitating to go after you. Lord Calypse sure he'd be at the door, but….”

He blurted out the end of his speech and gave a long sigh.

“Lady Calypse, are you relieved?”

“A l-little…”

Ruth smiled bitterly at Max's insecure reply.

“That's understandable.”

“Is t-the knight b-badly hurt?”

“He's good. If it was me, my jawbone would have been crushed. I think they controlled it in their own way, considering that it was just a bloody bruise.”

A strange silence fell at the end of the remark. Max turned her eyes and looked at the sky, which was turning red, and moved her eyes one after another to the wizard's thin face and the desk where the books were piled up dizzy.

What Max wanted to ask him didn't come out of her throat like a thorn. Finally, Ruth opened her mouth first.

“First, I'm sorry to make you hear something bad. It came to my mind that I should have explained to the Knights in advance and asked for their cooperation, rather than taking Lord's Wife with me so impulsively. I think it was too simple for me to think that the attitude of the knights towards Lord's wife has softened a lot recently.”

“Oh, no. I-It's not your fault.”

Max was embarrassed and waved at the unexpected apology.

“Well, I-I'm fine. I-I've known all along… that the knights d-doesn't like me… and I-I don't also think I am trustworthy…”

“Even so, Lord Ricardo's attitude was rude. He was criticized by the other knights for publicly insulting the Lord's wife. Lord Ricardo will regret that he has gone too far.”

Max smiled awkwardly. Ruth's last words did not sound credible at all, considering the attitude of the knights, staring at her with a face full of hostility. Ruth had a bitter smile on his mind, perhaps he knew she was bitter.

“You may not believe it, but Uslin not a tough guy. He's a picky person, but he's a consistent and faithful knight. His loyalty to Lord Calypse is so great that he has never fought like that before. Rather, he followed Lord Calypse more blindly than anyone else. But after that, he's been trying to protest everything….”

“p-protest?”

When she asked back with a curious face, Ruth's face briefly reminded her of hesitation. The wizard hesitated for a long time and then sighed.

“Lord Calypse refused to marry Princess Agnes.”

Max hardened her spine after the unfamiliar name. Ruth looked at her expression for a moment and continued to speak in a grave tone.

“Sir Uslin Ricardo is a child of a noble family. He has been in and out of the Dracium Palace since he was a child, building friendships with the royal family. Therefore, Lord Ricardo is the most loyal member of the Order of Remdragon. On the day of the knight's appointment, he immediately offered a Land to Princess Agnes.”

Land was a sign of the best reverence, respect, and admiration that a knight could offer once in a lifetime. Max had a confused face. If Uslin had given the Royal Princess a Land, it would be unreasonable to be so hostile to her.

“I-Is w-why they wanted Princess Agnes and R-Riftan to get married?”

“To be honest, yes. In fact, now that I'm telling you, all the Knights of Remdragon thought that would happen. Those two had great chemistry in combat and they looked great on the outside. But Lord Riftan doesn't speak his mind very well… Everyone talked about whether there would be good news after the punishment. Everyone thought it was almost a given, so they were surprised when Lord Calypse refused to the princess.”

Ruth said so far, glanced at her.

Chapter end