Chapter 41
Riftan woke up to the sound of rain echoing in his ears. It took a while for him to come back to his senses. It was his first time feeling so distant and languid. He gazed at the dimly lit ceiling for a moment, then, he heard soft sounds of breathing and turned his head startledly to its direction. Tousled red hair spread wide like a cloud against the pillow.
He took a deep breath upon seeing the woman who had fallen asleep in his arms. Her moist, slightly sweaty skin clung to him and the scent of her body intertwined with the smell of intercourse made his mind swirl. Riftan blinked his eyes in a daze like a drunken man, then soon realized that he was embracing her too tight to let her properly breathe and hurriedly pulled his arms. However, as he felt the cold chill creeping, he captured her back into his arms. He could feel every inch of her narrow bones beyond her smooth and mellow skin.
He cautiously swiped the hair away from her face and clasped her cheeks with trembling hands. Her reddish-brown eyelashes, which were slightly darker than the color of her hair, dropped like rain-soaked feathers and the pinkish corners of her eyes slightly wrinkled. His heart ached as if it was squeezed.
Riftan traced his fingertips on her round forehead down to the bridge of her tiny nose and swiped his thumb over her plump lips. Her sweet breath tickled his fingertips and her presence pierced through his bones.
Even if he just gazed at her from afar, she had been the woman who held him captive, never being able to escape from her hold. Now, she had become someone he could never get out of his mind until the day he died. His face contorted as he slowly pulled his body away from her. It felt more painful than having his own flesh torn.
Riftan brought the blanket up to her neck and sat idly on the bed, staring at the dimming fire in the furnace for a long time. He knew it was time to leave, but his body that felt heavy like a soaked cotton refused to move. He rubbed his face harshly and then struggled to stand up. He wanted to see her eyes which looked like a winter lake one more time, but he thought that she wouldn't like to see him. It would be better if she woke up without him by her side.
He wiped his body roughly with a wet towel and picked up his clothing then put it on. He was afraid that if he took even a moment of delay, he would never be able to leave. As Riftan picked up his sword, he forced himself to fight the urge of staying by her side. Then, before he walked out of the door, he took one last look at the woman who came to be his wife.
A bitter sadness surged within him. Riftan shut his eyes, opened the door, and headed outside. Then, the maid and the priest who stood guard in front of the room, entered the chambers, and confirmed that the marriage was successfully fulfilled.
"With this, the deal is sealed." The butler held out a scroll of parchment to him. "This is a letter the duke has written which states the appointment of duty for the dragon campaign."
Riftan looked down and snatched it. The butler then nodded to the soldiers waiting by the hallway.
"Guide Sir Calypse towards the dungeons."
He was about to tell them to take good care of his wife, but he bit his lip. Did he really deserve to persistently say those words for her?
Riftan swallowed his self-scorning thoughts and followed the men with heavy steps. As he descended from the stairs, he saw the faces of his subordinates as they stood guard by the empty venue. They appeared as if they were about to say something, but kept their mouths shut. He passed by his men and hurriedly crossed the garden that was lit dimly by the bluish dawn. The sky was hazy as if it was filled with clouds that showered icy winter rain over their heads and shoulders.
