Chapter Text
When the last leather tie loosens, freeing the heavy breastplate from his torso, Riftan couldn’t help the sigh that escapes from his lips. Though his armour had long become a second skin to him, after a long day, it was still a relief to be free from the burden.
Carelessly, he lets the heavy piece of metal fall to join the rest of the pile he already shed. He stretches his arms up, tilting his neck to one shoulder then the other to loosen the tense muscles.
Straightening the thin tunic, Riftan scans the room with a sullen look, once again noting its vacant state. He is disappointed to note that his wife was yet again still out this late in the day.
Probably caught up in some more studies with that damn wizard, or at the infirmary or something. That woman needs to rest, damnit. He works his ass off so that she didn't have to, but... that wasn't what Maxi wanted. And it took him years to loosen his grip a little and respect her idea of a good life.
He sighs.
The master suite looks a far cry from when he first inherited the castle and thus this room. It felt too big back then, empty and desolate, his steps echoed around the rich furniture. Like he was dressing up with props to be someone he wasn't. Like he borrowed someone else's room.
The mornings were chilled, and waking up in this room was lonely.
Now, it looked lived in, like a home. Their home. He was surprised to discover that Maxi also prefers less servants around. He thought it would be the opposite given how exorbitant Croix Castle is. But so it is that unless specifically arranged for a recurring task, the servants know to give the Lord and Lady their space.
He notes the three bundles of fur curled around each other in their large basket. That corner is always littered with an assortment of cat toys for their enjoyment. Next to that is Maxi's desk, looking like a battlefield with stacks of precariously balanced books, and sheets of paper with various scribbles scattered about. Apparently Nornui instilled this chaotic habit of study in all their wizards.
Riftan offered to furnish another room as her study— he would gladly give her as many rooms as she wanted, her own library even—but for reasons that eludes him, Maxi refused with a smile.
Everywhere, there are signs of her. Like her endearing habit of leaving discarded shawls draped on one of the backs of the tall armchairs by the fire. Once a week, the servants comes in to tidy but like clockwork the pile will reappear by the following week.
Riftan walks over to the fireplace, picks up the poker and adjusts the low-burning fire. Adding a bit more fuel to it, he prods it some more to get it going. Maxi gets cold easily and he wants the room to warm up for when she returns.
That one small woman makes him soft so easily, and he delights in it
Straightening up, something catches his eye. How has he not noticed it before?
There, tucked far back on the mantle against the wall, as if the intention was to not be seen, was a neat line of rocks.
He lets out a chuckle.
Riftan picks up the first rock in the collection and inspects it. It is rough and uneven with specks of ruddy gold embedded in the rust-brown. To his uncultured eye, the next one looks pretty much the same.
Upon laying eyes on the third, he freezes.
It is perfectly round and near immaculate white. And instantaneously the memory resurfaces of a tiny girl, with short reddish curls bouncing against her face. Another pebble almost exactly like the one before him, clutched in her pudgy hands and that treasured smile of his dreams brightening her little face.
His fingers shakes imperceptibly as he goes to pick up the white pebble, feeling its cool surface against his skin. It is every bit as real as that little girl, now grown up, and against all odds, his wife.
Riftan exhales roughly, setting the stone back down in its place. They are married for years now, yet it still overwhelms him at times that the once impossible fantasy became his reality. Maxi is his and he is hers.
He shakes his head, and pulls the entire line of stones forward on the mantle so that they could be seen from further away. It is the proud collection of his resident earth-affinity wizard and should be displayed as such. Funny how signs of that inclination was already apparent when Maxi was so young.
-
The following evening Riftan strides into their room, but this time, feeling uncharacteristically relieved his wife had not yet returned. He wastes no time in walking straight to the fireplace.
Fishing about an inner pocket for a moment, he scoops out a gleaming obsidian shard and places it in line with the other rocks on display.
A small smile softens his features.
Each and every time that surprised delight brightens in her eyes, it thrilled him endlessly that he was the cause of it.
How long would it take for Maxi to notice the new addition?
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