Under the Oak Tree: Volume 2 (The Novel)

Chapter Twelve

The end of the cold snap marked the start of Aquarias. Maxi kept herself busy by practicing defensive magic and persisting in her efforts to fix her speech impediment. Progress was slow in the beginning. However, through repeated practice of remaining calm while speaking, Maxi could now read a line of poetry without stuttering. Of course, these were not the archaic poems her father used to make her read but simple verses of the bards.

Even so, when Maxi first managed to utter a full sentence without stumbling, it had brought tears to her eyes. Ruth had been right; staying calm and speaking slowly had shown steady results. Long sentences or words that were difficult to pronounce were still a struggle, but Maxi made a conscious effort to converse as much as possible, and it was paying off. Her stutter was improving day by day.

Recently, Ruth had started writing sentences for her to read aloud to loosen her tongue and improve her enunciation. The exercises would make her tongue feel stiff and sore afterward, as though she had eaten a mouthful of needles. Perhaps staying quiet for so long had made her muscles weak. Still, Maxi practiced every morning without fail. She would gladly have bitten a knife if it helped her speak her mind.

“I would like . . . there to be . . . a flower garden beneath . . . the second-floor balcony. . . . How long do you think . . . it would t-take?”

If there was one downside to her recent improvement, it was that she spoke terribly slowly while trying to articulate her words. Ruth had assured her that this would improve in time, but Maxi still fretted that those listening might find it frustrating.

Maxi lifted her gaze from the landscape plans she had been inspecting to study Aderon’s face. The merchant, being the shrewd man that he was, answered with utmost deference.

“It would be difficult to acquire such large quantities of seedlings right away, my lady. Might I suggest starting with shrubs? I believe my guild would be able to acquire azalea saplings. They look quite impressive when their red flowers are in full bloom.”

“But . . . I also wish to fill the flower beds.”

Rodrigo, who was in the middle of serving tea, spoke up. “If daffodils please you, my lady, I can procure bulbs without delay. I shall let the gardeners know.”

Maxi tried to picture it in her head. Grasses and shrubs planted in rich soil. Colorful flowers and ornaments transforming Castle Calypse’s bleak gardens. She was certain it would look magnificent.

At the same time, she could not help but worry about the expense. Not only would she need to hire more gardeners, but the trees and flowers themselves would cost a fortune. She should have had Ruth there to review the order before she signed it. Sighing, Maxi lowered the parchment onto the table.

“I think . . . I shall require more time . . . to think about it.”

“I understand, my lady,” said Aderon. “In the meantime, I shall try to procure as many seedlings as I can.”

“Thank . . . you.” Maxi smiled at Aderon and rose from her seat.

The market had reopened now that the weather grew warmer, and merchants once again came into Anatol for trade. The knights spoke of how mercenaries would be next, flocking to Anatol for work. The drakes that dwelled beyond the northern end of the Anatolium Mountains usually emerged around this time of year. Though monsters of the dragon race were extremely dangerous, their scales, magic stones, and bones commanded high prices as power sources for magical devices.

Just as the knights had predicted, when spring came, fortune-seeking mercenaries and merchants began arriving in Anatol, with even more expected once Aquarias was in full swing.

I would like to finish the garden before then. . . .

With spring came duties for the Lady of Calypse Castle. Maxi would have to hold banquets, invite traveling bards, and host theater troupes to perform. She could not allow people to gossip that the continent’s most renowned knight lived in a dreary castle run by an unsociable wife.

Maxi walked down the stairs, still mulling over the greenery to plant in the garden, when she heard a maidservant calling to her.

“Oh, there you are, my lady.”

When Maxi gave her an inquiring look, the aged maidservant politely added, “His lordship has requested your presence in the council room.”

“Has . . . something happened?”

“I’m afraid I do not know the details, my lady.”

It was rare for Riftan to be in the council room so early in the day, but it was rarer still for him to request Maxi’s presence. Perplexed, she quickly made her way back up the stairs. The council room was located directly across from the stairwell, one floor above the library. Maxi strode over the deep brown carpet and came to a stop in front of the large mahogany door. The maidservant, still trailing behind her, stepped forward to knock and announce Maxi’s arrival.

“Come in.” Riftan’s deep voice rumbled through the wood.

The maidservant creaked open the door, and Maxi tentatively stepped in. The spacious room was overlaid in soft carpet. A fluttering of wings came from somewhere in the room.

Eyes full of curiosity, Maxi gazed around the brightly lit space. Next to the large window opposite the entrance stood a birdcage taller than Maxi full of cooing messenger pigeons. A massive sword and shield hung on the left wall. To Maxi’s eyes, they looked far too heavy for any knight to actually wield.

As Maxi lingered by the door, taking it all in, Riftan looked up from behind his desk, where he’d been writing on a piece of parchment.

“Well? Come in. Take a seat.”

Maxi approached. Riftan’s expression was grave, his black hair disheveled as if he had been running his hand through it. The muscles of his forearms, visible with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, contracted as he went back to writing.

Worry clouded Maxi’s face. “I-Is something . . . wrong?”

“I’ve received a message from Drachium Palace. I thought it best to let you know.”

“A m-message?”

Riftan hesitated, which was uncharacteristic. He let out a sigh. “Guests will be arriving in a few weeks. There will be twenty, maybe thirty people. I’d like to have the best rooms ready, as well as a small welcome feast.”

Maxi’s eyes widened. She had been expecting guests, yes, but not this early in the season. “May I ask . . . who . . . we are expecting?”

“A royal inspectorate, a dispatch of the king’s knights . . .” Riftan trailed off, throwing Maxi a furtive glance. His sensual lips twisted into a troubled expression, but in the next moment, all emotion faded as he continued casually, “. . . and Princess Agnes.”

Maxi’s breath hitched. She stared dumbly at Riftan.

The princess.

The princess everyone assumed Riftan would marry once the campaign was over.

That princess was coming to Calypse Castle.

Maxi had no idea how to react. When she remained silent, Riftan’s tone took on a hint of agitation. “She is only coming to inspect the land at the king’s behest. He likely appointed her as she is the only member of the royal family I am acquainted with, not to mention she is already on friendly terms with the Remdragon Knights.”

“I-I see.” Maxi swallowed hard. He had used such a distant word. Acquainted. Yet it still struck a nerve. The two were comrades who had fought alongside each other during the Dragon Campaign. How could they be mere acquaintances? And if Ruth was to be believed, Riftan and the princess’s relationship had seemed close enough to fuel gossip.

Not wanting to be seen as the jealous wife, Maxi swallowed past the lump in her throat and willed herself to smile. “I-I will . . . h-have the servants prepare . . . the best rooms. I-Is there anything else . . . I should do?”

Riftan’s gaze bored into her. “You need only to instruct the maidservants to make thorough preparations for the welcome. Don’t trouble yourself beyond that.” As brusque as ever, he turned his attention back to his desk.

Maxi was too caught up in her own emotions to worry about his strangely chilly attitude. She hastily rose from her seat before he could notice her distress.

“Then . . . I-I shall go inf-form them r-right now.”

“I’ll leave it to you,” Riftan said without looking up.

Maxi hurried from the room to seek out Rodrigo and inform him of their impending guests, her mind a muddle of inner turmoil as she tried to process the news herself.

Was it normal for a woman of royal birth to call on the estate of a man who had refused to marry her? What reason would the princess have for visiting Riftan? It was possible that King Reuben had not yet given up on making Riftan his son-in-law. The inspection could simply be an excuse to send his daughter to try and win Riftan’s heart for good.

The thought filled Maxi with dread. Riftan had ordered her to put any thoughts of divorce out of her mind, but there was no guarantee that his feelings would not change. What could she do if the princess decided to use every one of her charms to beguile him?

“You look quite pale, my lady. Are you feeling unwell?” Rodrigo asked worriedly when Maxi found him in the castle.

She shook her head. “I-I am . . . just . . . a bit tired.”