The Princess of the Knights

Maximilian Calypse nervously paced the gallery.

She was so nervous she didn't realize she was biting her nails until the Duke of Cross walked in. Max quickly hid his hands behind his back when he heard his cane hitting the floor.

“How many times have I told you about that dirty habit?”

“ I'm sorry, sorry very much ….”

Max lowered his head at her father's cold voice. The duke clicked his tongue and looked around the room.

“Don't embarrass me. You're luckier than you deserve. I won't forgive you if you cause trouble for your family because of your dirty manners."

Her back broke out in cold sweat. She stiffened with fear, opening her mouth with difficulty:

“Father, I will do everything you say. I will... him, as soon as he comes….”

She could read her father's expression without looking up. When she spoke, he always looked straight at her with distasteful eyes.

Max tried to speak as calmly as possible:

“Dad, I'll try, I'll try. This, this marriage, this…”

“Stop.”

The duke slammed his cane on the floor.

“Even today… but no. Can't you stay calm for a few hours? Who would want to marry a stammer like a horse!"

“I-I…”

“Riftan Calypse is no longer a lowly knight! He is now one of the continent's sword masters, and a "strong warrior" who defeated the Red Dragon! If he wants to, the Church will also approve his divorce from you.”

It isn't enjoyable just imagining it, and he sighed wearily. His forehead wrinkled.

“For the sake of the Cross family, you should not divorce a knight from heaven! It's impossible for a stupid girl in the family to make the whole family the laughing stock of the world."

She bit her lip. She wanted to say it wasn't her fault, but she kept getting stuck in her throat. She'd never wanted to marry Riftan Calypse, and she knew he didn't. Wasn't it the duke who pushed for this unwanted marriage?

Whether he could read her rebellious thoughts or not, her father still had a cold face.

“If only you were half as pretty as Rosetta… No, at least half as normal as her, I wouldn't have to find this way to please him.”

When she remembered her half-sister, whose beauty was like a rose, her arguments gradually melted into sand. Looking at her pale, lifeless face, the Duke of Cross said mercilessly.

“Even King Ruben wants him to be his son-in-law, even if the other side refuses, it could happen! All because you couldn't keep his heart."

“B-but… you-you, after the wedding, t-you left the next day…”

She was about to argue that she could hold onto his heart if she had the chance to speak. But before she could talk, the stick fell on Max, and she fell to her knees in shock. The pain was so intense that she couldn't scream.

“Don't even think about arguing with me. Just thinking about your disgusting habits makes me mad.”

She nodded quickly, afraid of being beaten again. The duke, biting his lips as if he wanted to scoff again, suddenly heard a knock on the door. A soft voice came from the servant.

“My lord, the Knights of Remdragon have arrived.”

"Take him to the gallery."

Max looked at her father in horror. He angrily gritted his teeth and threatened:

"Make it clear to Calypse that you can't get a divorce! Again, if you humiliate the whole family, you will pay dearly!”

Then the duke left the room, leaving Max alone. She stood up with difficulty, leaning against the window, holding her breath, waiting for the pain to subside.

The autumn rays of the sun shone down on her sorrowful eyes. She was still trying to hold back her tears. Crying won't save the situation. But sometimes, it just makes her more pitiful.

Max clenched his trembling hand. She must hold her head high. For a woman in this society, divorce is like a death sentence. Not only ridiculed, but also an indelible stain on the whole family.

To erase the disgrace, a clan man would have to sword fight with Riftan Calypse. And her father had no son, and none of his relatives or knights could compare to him.

Who can defeat the dragon slayer swordsman? In the end, it only tarnished the family's reputation, and her father would never forgive her. Maybe she even has to face death before the official divorce. It was her father…

“So how…”

"But will he listen to me?"

She bit her lip, her emotions now hanging on a cliff. They married only to the Duke of the Cross and the knights.

Three years ago, word spread across the continent that the Red Dragon of Aranthal had awakened. King Elnuma Ruben III had ordered the vassals to the soldiers to act immediately.

Naturally, the Duke of the Cross and his knights also had to participate in this war. But her father denied responsibility by marrying her to Riftan Calypse.

She shivered as she remembered the derogatory whispers from the guests at the wedding reception. The humble knight, Riftan, was dragged out of the ceremony simply because he couldn't disobey the Duke. The anger and humiliation he endured were unimaginable. His restrained expression was also terrifying.

“If only I were half as beautiful as Rosetta… Maybe he would feel better and not think about divorce.”

Thoughts of self-mockery crossed her mind. Despite his low status, Riftan Calypse was also a man of attractive appearance. Even Rosetta, who always mocked his background, blushed at the sight of the knight.

Riftan may have had many romances with other beautiful ladies. A man like that wouldn't care about a jerk like his wife. Moreover, no one can influence his status now.

“If you marry the king's daughter… I won't be able to please him no matter how much I beg.”

They only had one night together. The next day, Riftan and his army left without saying goodbye. He didn't even send her a letter. She doubts whether he considers her his wife.

As she was clutching her sullen face, a gloomy voice came.

“What a sight to behold.”

Max suddenly looked up. Since when had a burly man stood at the door staring at her?

“My wife is trembling, waiting for her husband to return from the dead.”

The man strolled, uttering mocking words. She looked up, forgetting to breathe. Riftan Calypse, wearing a blue tunic and silver armor, looked like a monk, taller and more authoritative than she remembered.

"I didn't expect a warm welcome, but there's no reason why you should look at me like the plague."

Each cold word made Max sober. Her face was cut without blood at the thought that she had offended him only minutes after they met again.

“Y-you go, safe, back safely…”

“What can I say? I don't know what to call him."

Riftan? That's so intimate. Mr. Calypse? She will be ridiculed. She mumbled to herself when suddenly she felt an intense gaze that made her step back.

She didn't understand why he was looking at her like that. As if things weren't worse enough, the man's face, for some reason, turned acrid. He pulled her hand and spoke harshly.

“At least show me your welcome.”

She froze as their bodies stood together, the smell of leather, horses, and sweat hitting her nose. His masculine scent flashed through his mind, bringing back memories buried deep three years ago.

His gaze was hard and hot. He looked down at her as if he were looking at fresh prey, like a hound preparing to enjoy his meal.

She hastily lowered her eyes, her face hot as if it had been burned in the sun.

Her heart beat faster with each beat as the memories of their marriage slowly returned. Her husband finally returned. How does she know how to face him?

"Undress."