Under the Oak Tree



Chapter 57: Chapter 57

In the three days that followed, Maxi pored over the books Ruth had given her, taking only occasional breaks to visit the stables to brush Rem’s mane. A week had passed since Riftan’s departure for the goblin raid, and she was growing more anxious by the day.

Though winters in Anatol were known to be mild, a cold snap had swept across the land without warning. To collect water from the well, the servants had to break through a thick sheet of ice.

The sudden drop in temperature only intensified Maxi’s fears. Her heart ached when she pictured Riftan sleeping curled up on the frozen ground, and she felt guilty as she climbed into her warm bed each night. Even when she had her nose buried in a book, she would pause to peer out of the window for signs of Riftan’s return, but all she saw was the harsh wind blowing through the vast garden below.

The raid party returned two days later. It was well past noon, and Maxi was grasping the magic stone in her hands to feel the flow of mana when she heard the loud blast of the kopel. With a jolt, she leaped up from her seat.

When she rushed outside, she saw knights making their way into the garden on horseback. Spotting Riftan at their head, she ran downstairs, burning with excitement as she beheld his dashing figure. When he saw her, Riftan promptly jumped off his warhorse.

Maxi flew to his arms, crying out his name. Riftan let out a surprised laugh as he wrapped his powerful arms tightly around her shoulders. The cold steel of his armor made the hairs on her nape stand up, but she only pressed herself against him more firmly.

She burrowed her face in the dirty robe draped over his shoulders before looking up at him with glowing eyes. Even with his disheveled hair and haggard face, Riftan was astonishingly handsome. She gently stroked his cold cheeks.

“I-I’m so g-glad you’re home. A-Are you-”

The rest of her words were lost as Riftan grasped her neck and pushed his tongue deep inside her mouth. Maxi gasped for air. When his soft tongue hungrily stroked the flesh within, a moan escaped her lips. She clutched his shoulders, feeling her body burn feverishly.

As she nestled against him like a cat, she noticed Hebaron, Gabel, Ulyseon, Garrow, and the rest of the raid party standing behind Riftan. Mortified, she tried to pull away, but the arms coiled around her held her firmly in place. Riftan rubbed his stubbled chin against her neck.

He whispered, “Had I known that I would be getting such a passionate welcome, I would have burned the forest down to return sooner.”

He let out a sigh and planted a kiss on her cheek. Maxi blushed, unable to believe that she had behaved so recklessly in front of so many people. Riftan, however, continued showering kisses on her cheeks and neck.

“R-Riftan… P-People are s-staring.”

“And?”

“R-Riftan…”

With a deep sigh, Riftan scooped her up with one arm, then looked over his shoulder at the knights standing idly behind him.

“Those of you who went on the raid are exempt from duties for the next week. You may return to your quarters. I’ll have the servants attend to you.”

“How kind of you.” Hebaron’s lips curved into a sly smile. “We can take care of ourselves, Commander, so why don’t you go put out that pressing fire first?”

Maxi’s face turned so hot that she thought her head might begin to steam. Paying Hebaron no heed, Riftan hoisted Maxi up and made his way into the castle. She begged him to release her, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. As he strode into the great hall, he nodded at Rodrigo and the servants who had gathered to greet him.

“See that my horse is cared for. Prepare dinner and bathwater for my men.”

“As you wish, my lord. Shall we prepare a bath for you as well?”

Riftan frowned, becoming aware of his filthy state.

“Yes, at once.”

Rodrigo bowed and took a step back. The servants behind him followed suit with impassive faces. Maxi felt grateful that they had betrayed no emotion at seeing their lord carry his wife like a child.

“I will have my meal later. Just bring me a change of clothes.”

With that, Riftan began climbing the stairs that led to their bedchamber. Once the door was shut behind them, he released Maxi and began to cover her in kisses. Maxi clung to his arms, panting. After tasting every corner of her mouth, Riftan threw off his gauntlets and began stroking the back of her neck.

A tingle ran down her spine when she felt his chapped lips quiver on her nape. She buried her cheek in his warm hand. Coiling her disheveled hair around his fingers, Riftan groaned.

“You don’t know how much I longed to do this…”

He lowered his hands and hungrily caressed the soft skin under her dress. Following his lead, Maxi slid her hands inside his robe and explored his armored chest. With ragged breaths, Riftan guided her hands up to rub his neck.

“Y-Your body feels c-cold.”

“That can’t be possible.” His voice was hoarse. “I feel as if I am burning.”

“D-Do you feel u-unwell? A-Are you hurt?”

“I’m in excruciating pain because of you.”

Thinking that she may have aggravated an injury when she had thrown herself at him earlier, she examined his body. Riftan let out a low moan and tore his robes off.

“I’ve never been this hard and throbbing.”

After hastily casting off his breastplate, he scooped her up and pushed her against a pillar. Her eyes went round when she felt his hardness pressing against her abdomen. She had assumed that the barrage of kisses earlier had simply been a show of joyous affection.

Riftan rubbed his feverish body against hers and thirstily sucked at her lips. Maxi let out a soft moan, clinging to his neck. He had been brushing against her like a large dog rubbing itself endearingly against his owner, but his movements now turned wild and urgent. Grabbing her buttocks, Riftan pressed her closer to his body so she could feel the entirety of his arousal. His body burned.

“I can’t hold back any longer.”

Riftan moaned, breathing heavily. Dazed, Maxi looked down at his lips, wet and sticky from the relentless kisses. Seconds later, she felt him yank off the belt from her waist and pull her dress and chemise up in one swift motion.

Riftan grabbed her buttocks, and she wrapped her legs around his waist in response. After quickly unstrapping his trousers, he ripped off her undergarments and thrust into her. She gasped, her legs writhing.

“R-Riftan…”

Riftan slid his hands under her dress to stroke her thighs and waist. Holding him close, Maxi began to move her hips. He flinched as if he had been struck in the gut, then started to move inside her. She felt her head bang against the pillar each time he pulled out of her before thrusting back into her deepest parts. With the nerves in her entire body on edge, she felt a pressing need grow inside her. She moaned as she tore at his clothes, while he pressed his wet lips to her temples.

“Just a little more, Maxi… Just a little more…”

She looked up at his flushed face through the tears in her eyes. Panting, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her greedily once more. As he filled her completely, she moaned like a cat in heat. When she reached the brink of climax, he pumped hard three times before convulsing.

As she reached her own climax, she spread her toes out like fans. He cupped her buttocks in his hands, remaining still until his body cooled. When he stopped quivering at last, he lifted her head from the pillar.

“Damn it… Did I hurt you?”

Maxi looked back at him with dazed eyes.

“I didn’t mean to be so rough…”

He lowered her, studying her face with a concerned look. Though she could barely stand, Maxi struggled to stay on her feet and shook her head.

“I-I’m a-all right…”

“That’s what you always say.”

Seeing her sway, he grabbed her waist to steady her. Still reeling from her climax, she watched as he lowered the hem of her dress again. She had been taught that a man was entitled to take his wife whenever he pleased. She was, in essence, his property, and there was little she could do if he chose to hurt her, yet he was always tender with her. A lump formed in her throat.

“I-I really am a-all right.”

“All right. Then let’s do it properly-”

Just then, they heard a hesitant knock at the door.