Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 32: Chapter

Ruth pointed at the steep hill outside the window. Maxi’s eyes went round. She was naturally familiar with the legend of Wigrew, to whom God had granted a holy sword to end the war against darkness. The hero had united the western realms under the banner of the Roemian Empire before ascending to the heavens. He was a regular feature in every child’s bedtime story, and countless bards and artists had immortalized the scene of Wigrew flying into the sky on a white dragon.

Maxi’s eyes sparkled with wonder at the knowledge that the legendary place was right before her.

“Is the l-legend really t-true?”

“Anatolians believe so, though there’s no historical evidence,” said Ruth.

“B-But what does th-that have to d-do with oak t-trees?”

“The story goes that Wigrew fell in love with the nymph of the oak tree. Anatolians believe that the nymph is still waiting for his return. Every spring festival, all the maidens go to the hills to sing songs of praise for the nymph’s love.”

“S-So that’s why p-people here d-don’t cut down o-oak trees.”

Ruth nodded. Maxi now understood. Still, she could not help thinking that the dead tree marred the appearance of the castle’s main entrance.

“Would the s-servants be d-disgruntled if I h-have the tree r-removed?”

“The people of Anatol revere Wigrew. They will likely resent the decision.”

Maxi frowned as she recalled how Anatolians had cheered “Rosem Wigrew” the day of Riftan’s return. Ruth saw her troubled face and sighed.

“I’ll see if I can bring it back to life.”

“Y-You can r-revive a d-dead tree?”

“Human life and plant life are different. They sometimes appear dead, but they’re just dormant. If we infuse the tree with mana...”

Scratching his head, he trailed off as if he found such explanations tedious.

“I cannot make guarantees, but we could at least spread the word that your ladyship has enlisted the help of a sorcerer to revive the sacred oak tree. Even if the experiment ends in failure, it will be enough to placate the servants.”

His sarcastic tone made her pause.

“A-Are you suggesting I c-care too much about how the s-servants perceive me?”

“That was not my intention. It’s natural for the lady of the castle to try to earn her servants’ respect, particularly when she hasn’t been here long.”

Ruth’s answer was uncharacteristically kind, but Maxi felt more perplexed than relieved. She had grown used to his biting remarks.

Not knowing where to direct her gaze, she said cautiously, “Then I l-leave it t-to you.”

Ruth looked as if he regretted volunteering for such a bothersome task.

“All I want, my lady, is for all this construction to end so I can return to my routine in peace.”

***

The refurbishments proceeded smoothly. In place of crude flagstones, gleaming marble tiles covered the floor of the banquet hall, while the creaking windowsills were replaced with smoothly oiled mahogany.

As Ruth had suggested, crystal glass windows were installed only in the banquet hall, great hall, eight largest guest rooms, and Maxi’s bedchamber. The windows in the library, barracks, and dining hall were fitted with balt glass. Greased parchment windows with shutters were installed in the remaining chambers and corridors. These small changes were enough to brighten the gloomy castle, and the servants seemed pleased by the transformation. They worked with cheerful faces, though they had to work twice as hard to clean when the workers kicked up dust clouds with their busy feet.

“Have you seen the new furniture? It’s magnificent!”

“And the curtains are a beauty too! I can’t wait to see the chandelier. We’ll soon have the most splendid banquet hall in all of Wedon.”

“And the great hall now lives up to its name. I heard that when the windows are complete, we’ll have new carpets for the floor!”

Maxi, who had been rushing through the corridor, came to a halt. Three young maidservants carrying baskets full of laundry were chatting animatedly, their cheeks flushed. Maxi recognized them as the new hires who had come at Aderon’s recommendation.

“I bet the lord will be surprised when he returns!”

“He most definitely will! I heard he was furious at the state of the castle when he returned from the campaign.”

The maidservants’ words made Maxi’s heart flutter in anticipation. Would he really be pleased by the changes? Or would he perhaps think them too extravagant? But she instantly cast off her worries. Ruth had said this much was acceptable, after all...

Though he did look a little bothered.

Shaking off her anxiety, she headed downstairs to oversee preparations for the winter. In Riftan’s absence, it fell to her to ensure that there were sufficient reserves of firewood and food in the castle, feed and water for the horses, and warm clothing for the servants and guards.

“My lady, the new wall lamps and braziers have arrived,” Rodrigo informed her as he and the servants carried wooden crates in. “Would you like to see them?”

At Maxi’s bidding, Rodrigo set the crates down and pried one open with a fireplace poker. Inside were nine elegant wall lamps.

“There are fifteen crates in total, my lady.”

“P-Please m-make sure they’re all in g-good condition. I-I want them placed in the great h-hall, the b-banquet hall, and the c-corridors.”

“And the braziers?”

“Please put t-two in the k-kitchen. The r-rest can go in the b-barracks and the g-guardhouse.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

One by one, the servants carried the crates across the hall. Maxi turned around to exit the great hall. With winter approaching, the days were getting colder. Maxi blew into the cold air before heading toward the stables with quick, light steps. She planned to visit the stable, annex, and forge to see whether anything else needed to be purchased. While leafing through old ledgers, she had discovered that her predecessors had made annual inspections of the castle. Her focus on the construction had caused her to neglect other parts of the castle.

Maxi took the path that led around the garden to reach the stables, which were located at the southern end of the castle grounds. The stable workers dropped the fodder that they had been transporting and hurriedly took off their hats, surprised by her presence.

“My lady! What brings you here? Were there no maidservants to accompany you?”

It was Qenal Osban, the stablemaster she had been introduced to on her first day. Maxi took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly.

“They h-had their own d-duties to attend to. I came to s-see if there is anything you n-need for the w-winter. I h-heard merchants t-travel less when it g-gets colder...”

“Oh, thank you, my lady. I was about to go meet Rodrigo for that very purpose.”

Qenal’s face brightened. He swung open the stable door and held up a lamp for her. The stable looked as if it had just been cleaned. Grimacing slightly at the stench, Maxi leaned forward without stepping inside, where twenty warhorses were snorting and chomping on hay. Qenal pointed to the end of the room, where one stall appeared to be collapsing.

“We’ll need new partitions, but our tools are old, and we don’t have enough wood.”

“Is th-there anything else?”

“We’ll also need more hay to last us the winter, my lady.”

“V-Very well, I’ll p-put in an order.”

...

“Bless you, my lady! Thank you kindly.”

The old man grinned. Maxi smiled in response, letting out a breath of relief inside. Not long ago, the presence of other people had been enough to make her tremble in fear, but she could now look into their eyes and speak with composure.

Though her tongue still refused to move as she willed, her stutter had diminished, as she had far more opportunities to speak here than at Croyso Castle. Proud of her progress, Maxi left the stables and walked into the spacious garden. The high walls cast chilly shadows. She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders more tightly.

The breeze carried the scent of grass. Loose strands of her hair danced in the wind, tickling her. She absentmindedly brushed them away but stopped when she recalled Riftan likening her voluminous hair to cotton clouds.

When she looked up, she saw the mountains that Riftan had likely traversed to reach the capital. He should have arrived in Drachium by now. She pictured the royal capital alive with festivities, and Riftan dressed in silver armor, standing tall and gallant before the nobles like a hero out of a legend. No one would dare look down on his humble background anymore. Even the noblewomen who had once shunned him would fall for him...

Maxi felt her mood plummet. Her stomach turned as she imagined Riftan surrounded by refined, brilliantly dressed noble ladies in the ballroom of the royal palace. And basking in their admiring gaze, Riftan would begin to regret marrying her. He would realize his mistake in not divorcing her... 𝐟𝘳𝑒𝗲𝘸e𝒃𝘯𝒐𝐯e𝚕.c𝒐𝒎

“What are you doing here all alone, my lady?”