Hebaron looked into the air and stroked his chin as if weighing the possibility of this and that.

  Max spoke earnestly like she was hoping to believe as such.

  Hebaron sighed and scratched the back of his head.

  Hearing his words, Max was terrified.

  She expected him to smile and tell her not to worry, but Hebaron hesitated and responded with a grim look.

  Max gripped the hem of her dress tightly, then bit her dry lips.

  He looked up at the sky as if trying to count the days for when the talks would happen and spoke slowly.

  When he paused, he let out a long, deep breath.

  Max touched her temple. Even though this was happening, he was stubborn enough of a person to keep his mouth shut about it: she was better off talking to a wall. The thought of arguing with him already made her feel depressed and exhausted. Max hugged her cold forearm and spoke in a deeply sunken tone.

  Hebaron had a guilty look on his face and Max shook her head.

  Max ended her conversation with Hebaron and immediately returned straight to the room to wait for Riftan. Her head felt like it was going to explode as she thought of how she would start their conversation. She contemplated on whether she should approach him and be angry that he didn’t tell her a word about what was happening or beg for him to let her intervene. As she wandered in front of the fireplace, she felt a terrible headache and flopped down on the bed. She was staring at the canopy blankly, but her eyes suddenly turned hot. She couldn’t even understand why she was crying.

  From the beginning she knew that her father did not even have very little affection for her, she was not disappointed by that matter. However, it was heartbreaking that Riftan had to pay that price as well. Max closed her eyes tightly. It was unacceptable that he would be reprimanded in front of arrogant nobles and forced to defend himself. She couldn’t bear to see Riftan put himself in a disgraceful position because of her. When the tears ceased, her determination became firm. The insults and embarrassment she would receive would all be fine to her. If necessary, she would even disclose all the mistreatments her father had done to her in all the years. It didn’t matter to her whether she became the topic of gossip or not. However, it was heartbreaking to think that even Riftan would be dragged and become the target of ridicule and pity by the nobles.

  ‘Would he be ridiculed for marrying a woman like me?’ Max held her face at the possibility and was overwhelmed with guilt and worry.

  If possible, the Duke of Croix should cancel the indictment before a formal trial took place. If he found out that she was going to testify, her father, who valued his image so much, could change his mind. While she was in the middle of that thought, there was a rattle of the door opening. Max jumped to her feet and stood. When Riftan saw her uneasy appearance, she widened her eyes and put a smile around her mouth.

  He closed the door and walked towards the bed, combing her messy hair with his hands.

  Max stared at him, smiling pretentiously with blurry eyes as if there were no problems. She wondered if he could explain to her about what brought the messenger today, and her expectations fell. He would not say anything to her.

  Max bit her lip and struggled to open her mouth to speak.

  His smile faded slightly.

  Max looked at him hopefully.

  Riftan spoke in a sullen tone and avoided her gaze.

  Max’s face hardened.

  A deep tension appeared in Riftan’s eyes and he jumped up from the bed.

  Riftan’s eyes narrowed. He shook his head and smiled coldly as if rejecting her words.

  Max got out of bed and stood in front of him. She wanted to appear confident, but the difference in their physique was so noticeable that she felt smaller and weaker. She glared at him and gathered all the courage she had in her weak heart.

  Max took a deep breath, trying to speak as calmly as possible.

  He growled fiercely.

  Riftan yelled like he was fed up with it.

  Max’s shoulders shook in frustration.

  Riftan grabbed her by the wrist as she pounded his chest with her fists in resentment.

  Her dried tears began welling up again. Max glared fiercely at him with her reddened eyes.

  He said harshly through his teeth.

  His face twisted fiercely like a cornered man.

  Max thought that it would be great if she was strong enough to grab him and shake him until he was brought back to his senses. Her prestige could not be more valuable than his honor. Compared to his title, heritage, and fame, her pride was nothing.

  Max spoke fervently as if to plead.

  He removed her hands from him and turned to leave the room. A fire burned inside of her. Max went straight after him and tugged at his clothes violently. She then yelled angrily at Riftan, who was looking down at her with astonished eyes.

  His eyes then turned cold. Riftan growled back, just as angry as she was.

  Max looked at him with shocked eyes and her face hardened.

  At the end of that sentence, the blood on Riftan’s face drained. Even if he had a knife to his chest, it was unlikely that he would have such an expression. His horrible gaze instantly broke Max. She groaned, hurried to him, and embraced his stiff body tightly.

  He took a deep breath and looked at her with a helpless expression. Max cupped his stricken face with one hand, kissed the tip of his chin, and pleaded out breathlessly.

  He murmured through a tight throat, took her hand, and pushed her away from him.

  Max tried to reach out to him, but her hand lowered weakly. She didn’t want to push him anymore, there was still time until the meeting, so she could take the time to persuade him. She stared with grim eyes at his back as he walked out the door like he was fleeing.

  It seemed like her comparison of Riftan to the Duke of Croix had changed his demeanor, he no longer raised his voice at her or acted overbearing around her. And Max used that weakness to persuade him relentlessly. When the day to finally leave for Count Robern’s territory came, Riftan relented and succumbed to her threats that if he did not take her with him, she would secretly ride on horseback and follow him. It also helped that the talks would be held in a small conference room where only the Duke of Croix, King Reuben, and a few witnesses were present, rather than the court in Drachium Palace.

  Note –

  : I’m giving out tissues. Here, grab some boxes. There’s enough for everyone in the comments.