Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 311: Chapter 72

Maxi froze. There was a moment of awkward silence. Then she coughed and strapped a belt to her waist, saying, “The servants here have no idea that I’m his wife. They… must have assumed I would be staying with the other mages.” “Then you should’ve told them you wished to share a room with your husband!”

“I-It felt rather inappropriate! And… I’m here not as Lady Calypse but as a mage of the Tower… I thought it proper that I stay with you.”

When Sidina only gave a bleary-eyed look in response, Maxi stammered, “Besides… i-it would’ve been unseemly to suggest such a thing… when Riftan himself didn’t seem to mind the arrangement.”

‘What sort of bollocks is that?” Sidina shook her head incredulously as she lowered herself into the water. “You are husband and wife. It’s only natural that you two share a room. I didn’t mention it before, but I always thought it odd that you slept in separate tents throughout the expedition.”

Not noticing Maxi’s flushed face, Sidina kept going, splashing bathwater as she talked.

‘You really are an odd couple. You care about each other so fervently, yet you keep your interactions as dry as sawdust. I have to say, your quarrels are quite heated, but then you go right back to tip-toeing around each other.”

“W -We’ve been apart for three years. We simply need time to readjust,” Maxi mumbled, looking embarrassed. “And it’s more that our reunion occurred under… unusual circumstances.”

There was more splashing as Sidina was preoccupied with her bath. When the girl said nothing for a while, Maxi began to open up.

“To tell you the truth… Riftan was against my going to the Mage Tower. We had a huge argument over it, and… now we’re lost on how to act around each other.’

“I’d guessed as much,” said Sidina. She pushed the partition aside and added, “But you want to reconcile, don’t you?’

“0-0f course.”

“Then all the more reason for you to share a room! You’re headed nowhere if you keep this up. Be it to talk with words or with your bodies, what you two need is some private time together.”

Sidina waggled her finger as she talked. Maxi blushed at her friend’s lewdness before the absurdity of taking marital advice from an unmarried young lady set in. She eyed Sidina skeptically.

“W -We would only start yelling at each other again… if we’re alone,” Maxi said, her tone sullen.

Of course, arguing was not the only thing they did when they found themselves alone, but she had no intention of sharing such intimate details. She sat curled on the chair before the fireplace and pressed her face to her knees.

Sidina heaved a sigh as she worked her hair into a soapy lather. “Then try talking with your bodies first. There’s no better balm for relationship troubles between a man and a woman.’ “And… how exactly do you know that, Sidina?”

“It’s what the books all say! ‘

Maxi looked skeptical. “From my experience… i-intimacy doesn’t solve every problem.”

‘Well, it would still be better than staying as you are now.”

When Maxi did not reply, Sidina frowned in exasperation. “What are you going to do if Sir Riftan’s eyes were to roam? It’s not uncommon for noblemen to have secret mistresses and children out of wedlock.”

Maxi grew rigid. For a moment, her mind went blank as though she had been struck by an iron mace. Her face paled as she stared at her friend.

“R-Riftan would n-never do something so reprehensible!” Maxi said, springing to her feet.

“He might not have the intention, but I doubt that would stop other women from fawning over him. And anyway, the two of you have been separated for three years. I’m sure he would’ve been tempted on more than one occasion. Do you really think his fidelity has never faltered? He is a man, after all. ‘

Maxi’s mouth sprung open, ready to shoot back, but the words shriveled away. Memories of women openly flirting with Riftan during the festival flooded back. Another memory, this time of maidservants giggling as they snuck glances while he doused himself by the well, followed soon after.

There had been other such moments even before they were wed. His visits to Croyso Castle always sparked fierce bickering among the maidservants, each vying for the chance to bring him his bathwater or change of clothes. Still, had Riftan ever spared any of these women a glance? Even famed beauties like Rosetta and Princess Agnes had never shaken his resolve. Such a man would never have succumbed to temptation.

Despite her confidence, Maxi suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Just imagining another woman touching him tore at her heart.

As Sidina washed off the lather, she said placidly, “My father was a pleasant man, but he had a wandering eye. It caused my mother much heartache. Of course, I don’t think Sir Riftan is the same sort of man my father was, but it never hurts to be cautious. Even the most faithful can stray at times.”

After rinsing herself with clean water from the kettle, Sidina stepped out of the bath and slipped into her clothes.

“R-Riftan… would never,” Maxi said in a choked voice.

Despite her words, her head kept reminding her of how strong Riftan’s urges were. An intense anxiety gripped her. Not wanting to show it, she tried to sound as calm as possible.

“B-But… I agree that it is odd for a married couple to sleep in separate quarters.

I’ll have a servant take me to his room.”

Sidina clapped her hands, looking immensely pleased.

“There’s your answer!”

She rushed over to Maxi and grabbed her hands, her eyes shining.

“Do you remember what we learned during our reading sessions? You must try them all tonight. Turn Sir Riftan into a slave for pleasure so the thought of another woman doesn’t ever enter his head!”

“Y-You have to stop reading those lurid stories!” Maxi shrieked, jerking her hands free. She felt her cheeks burning.

Sidina had a knowing smile plastered on her face. Shooting daggers at her friend, Maxi grabbed her robe and left the room.

Riftan leaned back in the bath and rubbed his face with a wet towel. The steamy air seemed to blanket his skin. Feeling his muscles loosen in the hot water, he reached over for his wine goblet.

The bath he was soaking in was one of many interconnected wooden tubs. A tray table sat where the tubs met in the center, laid out in an assortment of dried and honey-preserved fruit. Goblets of wine rimmed the table. Such opulent baths were common in the castles of the Livadonian nobility, as was the custom of providing guests with lavish hospitality.

“I’m amazed you managed to build such a grand bath,” Hebaron muttered with a languid sigh. “Eth Lene Castle was all but ruins when we left.”

Sejuleu, who was lounging in the tub opposite, grinned. “I paid the greatest attention here when we started restorations. You’ve no idea how much the parish cleric lambasted me for choosing to build a sauna before the chapel.”

Ulyseon was next to him, happily stuffing his mouth with food. He paused to ask, “Speaking of, where are all the paladins?”

Sejuleu shrugged. “They’ve gone to see the parish cleric. Those fellows wouldn’t know what rest was if it hit them in the face.

Riftan removed the towel he had placed over his eyes to glance at Sejuleu.

“Do you think they plan to contact Osiriya straight away?”

“The Temple Knights who arrived first have already sent word to Balbourne, so they’ve probably gone to hear more about the papal conclave. ‘

After staring pensively at the water droplets on the ceiling, Riftan bent forward to rest his elbow on his knee. He scooped water with his other hand to scrub his neck and shoulder, feeling the accumulated fatigue dragging down his limbs.

Wiping the water from his eyes, he asked in a slightly hoarse voice, “Have you learned anything about the undead?’

“I looked into the matter as soon as I got your message, and I think you were right. Someone is intentionally creating those ghastly creatures. I’ve yet to identify the culprit, though. Whoever it is managed to leave no trace.”

Sejuleu’s expression took on a grim edge as he continued, “l think it’s safe to say that my theory about the remnants of the monster army running amok over the continent was wrong. I’m certain that it’s only a small number that are secretly creating these undead.”

“Could a small monster unit raze a whole village?” Ulyseon countered.

Sejuleu’s brow crinkled slightly as he rubbed his temple. “The villages that were attacked were small, with no defenses to speak of. Not to mention, this mysterious foe is also capable of magic. They did not stand a chance.”

Riftan furrowed his brow. If the Livadonian commander was right, that meant the dark mages were roaming the Western Continent, leaving nightmarish undead creatures in their wake. Their capacity to mingle with humans without raising suspicion would explain how the monster army knew each kingdom’s internal affairs. They could have easily collected information disguised as servants or merchants delivering goods.

It was clear now. There was nothing the Seven Kingdoms could do to keep the formation of the human coalition army a secret.

“I wonder how far they are,” Riftan muttered.

Sejuleu looked at him quizzically. ‘What do you mean?”

“The bastards roaming the continent creating more undead. I wonder how far they are from the monster base. We have a greater chance of victory if we strike before they return to the Pamela Plateau with news of our invasion.” “To be sure,” Sejuleu replied, nodding in understanding. “I’ve been keeping a record of the places where the undead have spawned. We should be able to narrow down their location with that information.’

‘What good will that do when it will take weeks for the Council of the Seven Kingdoms to convene?” Hebaron said dryly, picking up his goblet of ale. “No beings are slower to take action than royalty, as you well know. I can already see them procrastinating until Aquarias.”

Sejuleu gave him a wry smile. “Have you already forgotten about our new pope? The rulers of each kingdom are already assembled in Osiriya to celebrate his appointment. They will no doubt convene as soon as they get the news.”

Riftan frowned. Something told him that all of this was part of a carefully calculated plan..

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