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Riftan’S POV - Under The Oak Tree - Chapter 26
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And from the next day, he did not even attend the banquet hall.
From morning to night, the leader watched him swing his sword on the training ground, and sighed resignedly.
“Yes, I thought you’ve been strangely quiet for the last few weeks. Have you had enough?”
“We’re almost off to Draquin soon. I need to shape up.” Riftan said bluntly and slid his sword into the air.
Triden, looking at the figure with his arms crossed, walked down the stairs and drew the sword he wore at his waist.
“Good. I was getting bored too. Shall we train?”
Riftan looked at him sighing and lowering the weapon. His whole body was sweaty because he trained with his sword without rest for five hours. He wiped his damp forehead and picked up the coat he had taken off.
“I’m going to refuse. I don’t want to hurt your arm anymore.”
“Hey, I’m afraid my lieutenant will cause a great disappointment.”
The commander looked towards the top of the training station and pointed. Riftan, who followed him with his gaze, raised his head and frowned at the noblewomen sitting by the window.
During the days when there was no banquet, it seemed that their daily life was to watch the training of the knights like that, to take a walk or to enjoy tea time. It was a sight that seemed mysterious to Riftan, who had never been lazy in his life.
“The true duty of a gentleman is to serve the ladies. I’m going to put on an amusing show for the pretty girls.”
“You say this sort of thing too…”
Riftan, who shook his head, suddenly stiffened. The image of Maximilian Croix sitting by the fifth-floor window caught his attention. Even in the distance, he could clearly feel his curious gaze. Suddenly his mouth went dry.
“… Good. We trained for a while to pass the time. “
“I love your arrogance and impudence.”
Triden took off his coat and donned light armour, looked straight ahead and felt gladly.
“It’s worth giving you a smack.”
Riftan laughed and raised his sword again. Triden swung his sword with one hand and ran towards him at lightning speed.
Soon after, the metallic clang of swords began to echo.
Riftan struck in a fierce swift attack, as he suppressed the urge to see if she was still watching. He could fight all day if he could leave a small, strong impression on that little head. His opponent felt the nagging anxiety.
“Why aren’t you concentrating?”
Triden noticing his scattered attention threw a sharp jab. His nerves shot up at the threatening attack. Riftan who had narrowly blocked it, swung his sword in a violent counterattack. Then Triden’s mouth tightened, and his arm movement was noticeably unsteady.
Riftan regained his senses and quickly stepped back. “Damn it, I didn’t mean to hurt your arm.”
As he hurriedly lowered his sword and looked at his forearm with an anxious expression, Triden looked dissatisfied.
“Are you thinking of surrendering at will? I can still continue.”
“What idiot wants to continue training when his arm is barely recovering. “
Riftan shouted in annoyance. If he hurt his boss while trying to show off his strength in front of a woman, he couldn’t forgive himself.
During the long expedition, due to fighting and overexertion, the commander’s arm was much weaker than before. Riftan looked at his wrist with a serious look and then approached.
“I’d better go to the mage and ask him to cast a healing spell.”
“You… you are increasingly treating me like an old man.” Triden grunted and sheathed his sword back at his waist. “I am a knight. Stop treating me like a feeble old man.”
“It is the lieutenant’s duty to check on the overseer’s condition. I’d rather he recovered quickly.” Riftan forced the stubborn Triden to be dragged in front of the mage to receive healing magic.
But even as he watched his swollen wrist heal completely, he didn’t feel any better. His usual self-control felt irritated, as he repeatedly did things without thinking them through properly.
“Don’t make that face.” Triden tapped his shoulder and sighed.
“No, am I the one who asked for training this time? If you fought sparingly, you would have offended me.”
“… training is mainly carried out with light pressure.” Riftan rebutted , patting him on the shoulder.
Triden shrugged and picked up his cloak. “You haven’t been off the battlefield that long since you became a knight. Something made you anxious.”
Riftan felt his cheeks flush. The commander seemed to realise he was uneasy and said, looking at him with a keen eye. “For tonight, let your face shine in the banquet hall, this is the last banquet. Since he has been hosting us so far, shouldn’t we thank the duke?”
“…Have the damage compensation negotiations been completed?”
Triden nodded. “Now, when I return to the palace and report the situation to His Majesty, it would be over and you will be free for the time being.”
He thought he would feel relief at the news, however, only feelings of emptiness and loss surfaced.
Riftan spat in a daze trying to let go of that feeling. “Good to know.”
The leader repeatedly asked to attend the banquet and then left the infirmary.
That night, Riftan entered the banquet hall with a tense face. Even if it weren’t for his superior’s request, it would have been hard to resist the temptation to see her today.
This would be the last time he would see her. Tonight would be the last time to put an end to this confusion. He committed himself deeply and looked out over the large banquet hall. As it was the last day, the hall was more lavishly decorated than ever.
A loud melody flowed in the spacious hall surrounded by golden lights, and on the other side was a long row of tables filled with fragrant wines, fatty foods and fresh fruits, and all the nobles seated in front of them were also dressed in luxurious attire.
Riftan sat at the table where the knights were seated, ignoring the stares of the nobles who watched him as the black sheep of the flock.
At the top of the long table sat the Duke de Croix, dressed in silk and fur, and Maximilian Croix in a velvet gown.
Riftan tried hard not to look at her for too long and asked the servant to give him a drink. The commander seated across the table looked at him and smiled happily.
“You look very nice while you’re upset.”
“This is something I don’t like too much, but didn’t I smash the leader’s face during the day? So I decided to increase my prestige for the time being.”
“…I’ll put you in your place with this damn arm as soon as possible.” Triden growled. “I’ll kick your *** sooner or later, so be on your guard.”
Riftan hid his grin with his glass. Triden’s modest attitude seemed to make him feel a little better. Riftan relaxed, ate, drank alcohol and occasionally chatted with the gentlemen. However, after 30 minutes, his attention was drawn back to the girl sitting next to noble.
She stayed in the banquet hall longer than usual, but spoke to no one. Sitting silently with an expressionless face she looked so cold, he doubted she was the same person as the delicate girl playing with the cat.
Riftan sipped wine and looked at her carefully.
Where does it hurt? Still, her pale face was dull as a blank piece of paper, and her eyes darkened as if all emotions were hidden.
This may be the last time he sees her. At least once, Riftan, who wanted to see her smiling face, felt disappointed and worried, so he shook in the seat.
“I guess the banquet is boring. Sir Calypse.”
Riftan turned to the unexpected voice. A beautiful, seductive woman in a rose-coloured dress was smiling at him. Riftan frowned. The woman, however, flirted without a sign of fear and boldly extended a hand towards him.
“I was getting bored with the conversation. I want to change my mood, but I don’t have a good partner. Would you be my dancing partner?”
It was unusual for a woman to take the initiative and ask a man to be her dance partner. Surprised by her audacity, the commander kicked her shin under the table. Throwing him a warning glance so as not to embarrass the lady, Riftan reluctantly rose from his seat.
A satisfied smile crept across the young lady’s face.
“I hear you were very active in this conflict. His Majesty will be very proud.”
The woman whispered softly as she took his hand and walked awkwardly towards the middle of the hall. Riftan frowned and tried to remember her name. Although he had been introduced to her the other day, he couldn’t remember anything except that she was the sister of a certain knight. Riftan answered bluntly.
“Is His Majesty a strict man?”
“He has high expectations for his subjects.”
“I have heard rumours that His Majesty has a special fondness for you.”
“The man was alone. Clinging to his useful tools.” He thought sarcastically. However, since there was no reason to speak of such a situation, he remained silent.
Despite her bad manners, she chatted constantly and enjoyed dancing to the fullest. Riftan spun the woman around and around and looked at Maximilian Croix.
He was surprised when she averted her gaze in astonishment. Was she watching him? He was sick of such expectations.
As soon as the music changed, he turned away from the woman like a beast escaping from a trap. But the woman was quicker. The stranger leaned on her arm staggering.
“I’m a little dizzy. I think I’ve had too much to drink. I want to go back to my room and rest… Could you come with me?”
He let out a sigh at the brazen invitation. There were two types of reactions women had towards him. As a pest, which they wanted to avoid, or to use him as a pet to play with in bed. This woman seemed to be the latter.
“Today is the last banquet, and I want to have a special moment.” She watched him with a seductive look, clinging to his body tightly.
Riftan was trying to get rid of her, but he didn’t want to cause a scandal, so he escorted her out of the banquet hall.
The woman pounced on him as soon as they entered a dark hallway. Riftan felt like someone being eaten by a monster.
The woman wrapped her slender arms around his neck like vines and pressed her lips voraciously. Riftan was surprised and pushed her away.
“You seem to be full of energy. You can go back to the room alone.”
“Wasn’t that funny?” She pouted her lips and looked at him provocatively. “Don’t be so difficult. It’s just a little joke.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in this kind of banter. Try looking for someone else.”
“I’m not interested in others.” Best smiled languidly, then nudged him provocatively, touching his cheek. “I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you. You’re like a god worshipped by evil pagans. Is it true that you know 180 ways to get pleasure?”
Goosebumps rose on his skin at the woman’s intoxicated eyes. He shuddered at her exorbitant expectations and roughly removed her hand.
“You? You’re an apostate?”
“I just…”
He tried to be as polite as possible in the face of her insinuations, did he know that just saying that to me could make her pay for insulting him.
The woman’s face distorted.
“You’re just talking rubbish.” She watched him with an arrogant look, then turned away. “Fine, I’ll find someone else.”
Then she walked briskly away. Riftan touched his wet mouth, when the woman pounced on him and made a mess of his clothes.
He didn’t feel like going back to the banquet hall again, but if he didn’t, those who saw him leaving the banquet would think he was enjoying a secret rendezvous with her.
Perhaps Maximilian thought so too.