Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 221

Max felt her skin run shivers, seeing Riftan’s eyes filled with rage and fury. He didn’t seem to give a damn about the insults thrown at him. He was furious only at the humiliation that Max had suffered from and that made her at loss. Seeing him angry to the top of his head because of what happened to her, she felt a strange mix of sorrow and joy. If only he had divorced her and married Princess Agnes as everyone expected him to do, then he would not have to suffer the public ridicule he went through today. Princess Agnes would have been like a sparkling jewel, someone whom he would be proud of to call his wife. That cynical thought grew in her mind like poisonous mushrooms, sprouting rapidly and fatally, impossible to pull out of her mind.

Max squeezed her eyes shut, suffering from her painful thoughts. If someone were to ever mock Riftan again for having a stuttering wife, she would rather choose to die.

“You should be treated right away. I’ll go summon Ruth.”

Mistaking the expression on Max’s face as pain from physical suffering, he immediately stood up from his seat. Just as he was about to exit the tent, she hurried to prevent him from leaving.

“The... There’s no need. This much... would only need some ointment and it would go away quickly.”

“You came all the way here, taking care of all those who are wounded. The least you should do is get treated for your injuries too!”

“I re-really am fine. I’ll make sure to get myself treated later. For no... now, please just stay by my side.”

Riftan met her desperate, pleading eyes and reluctantly sat in front of her again. He appeared so much like a piqued beast who was trapped in a cage that Max couldn’t help her head and eyes to drop in sadness.

“Do you... hate being with me? I did the opposite of what Riftan asked me to do and came here... do you hate me n-now?”

“Do not be ridiculous!” He screamed, his face filled with anguish, unable to believe what he was hearing. “Do you really think that I could hate you? The only thing I hate is that you are here in this damned place! Whenever I see you struggling because of this sh*tty place...!”

Riftan, who was shouting in anger, suddenly clenched his jaw and gazed at her. His eyes trailed her messy hair, her woolly, borrowed dress, her sunburnt face, and now calloused palms. It was as if looking at her state caused him a great amount of pain.

“I wanted to wrap you in silk.” He spoke in a voice as if there was a thorn stuck in his throat. “I wanted you to wear clothes made only with the best, most expensive silk and furs. I wanted to put a ring of various gems on each of your ten fingers, put a gold crown on your head and a necklace of the most precious pearls to adorn your neck. Live in a beautiful castle, with servants attending to your every need, have the most comfortable life... I wanted only those for you, and yet now...”

His quiet voice that sounded rough as sand suddenly came to a dwindling stop. Max was at loss of what to do, she reached out and held his hands in hers.

“You don’t have to do t-that. Really... it’s alright even if you don’t do that for me. Just being together with you like this... is more than e-enough.”

Riftan, who had been staring at her with trembling eyes, embraced her suddenly and tightly, as if she would be pried away. Then, as if to take her breath away, he kissed her intensely. She was stunned for a moment at the sudden action, but she responded to him, flinging her arms around his neck. The sadness and anxiety that welled up in her heart melted like snow in the summer sun. She couldn’t count how long it has been since she felt this ecstatic feeling of being pressed against his wide chest.

She gazed up at him with her watery eyes and ran her fingers across his firm, sharp-lined jaw. His deep black hair glistened like satin from the faint glow emitted by the lamp, and the shadows that outlined his chiseled, masculine face made him look terribly seductive. Not wanting Riftan to pull away for even a moment, she clutched his robe so tightly as if she was at the edge of tearing it. She hated that he would always pull back in restraint. She wanted him to shake all of his restraints to the ground, so she initiated the kiss this time. And then, Riftan responded passionately, embracing her in his arms and gently laying her down on the bed.

His hot tongue entered her lips, exploring every sensitive part of her mouth. Then, large palms wrapped around her breasts, eliciting a moan from Max, who wrapped her arms around his thick neck when his thumb brushed against her stiff peaks. His moist lips were like a summer rain shower that poured on her eyelids, cheeks, temple, and neck. His large palms caressed her incessantly, massaging from her breast, running over her waist, and stroking her inner thighs.

“Your arm...”

Riftan, who had been completely absorbed with her, suddenly lifted his head. Just as he was about to pull away, Max quickly grabbed him closer to her.

“It’s a-alright. It doesn’t... hurt.”

Riftan’s eyes were filled with burning passionate lust as he swiftly pulled her skirt up. As his fingers stroked and dug in her sensitive parts, Max’s body twitched as if she was drowning. His every stroke made her insides flutter and her body burn hot as if she was on fire.

“Lift your hips up a bit.” Riftan muttered, his voice hoarse. Max obeyed and lifted her hips. The cumbersome skirt that crumpled around her waist was hastily pulled over her head. Riftan also did quick work on his own, tossing his clothes aside. Nothing came between them as their hot skins brushed and smoldered one another. His body was hard and smooth, like iron.

Max squirmed under his weight with excitement when she felt his stiff, angry member pressed against her stomach. He wrapped his fingers around her peaks, gently massaging them as his hot, iron body grinded above her in an eccentric way. Sweat formed on the skin of her entire body from the erotic act. His manhood was so erect, standing tall and hard. His long, sturdy legs were tight like a stallion and his marble-like shoulders were so wide and thick that her arms couldn’t wrap his whole frame. It was astonishing, he was so elegant and graceful despite his big, ripped stature. She clutched his tight waist lined with ab muscles and pulled him eagerly.

“Ri-Riftan... faster.”

Fire flared in Riftan’s eyes. He bent down to give her a hot, passionate kiss and sheathed his manhood inside her. Max felt her sensitive part stretching to its limit and took a sharp breath in. Her entrance was fully prepared and yet she felt a strange pain.

“W-Wait... something... is strange. It feels different from before...”

“...it’s been a while since the last time so it’s tighter. Relax it a bit.” Riftan explained through his teeth, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. “Take a deep breath. Yes... like that... I’ll go inside slowly...”

Max’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe that he wasn’t fully inside her just yet. He pushed himself in a little more and the overwhelming, heavy pressure she felt between her legs made her a bit anxious. Then, as if to appease her, Riftan stroked the sides of her body and massaged her breasts with his mouth incessantly. She slowly relaxed, giving in to his desperate, passionate caress and wrapped her legs around his waist.

He pulled out all of his manhood very slowly and went back in again, repeating the same process over and over. Eventually, the pain subsided at the familiar rhythm, replaced by sweet pleasure that began to boil up inside her like a hot bubbling water. Max bit down her lips in an effort to contain the moans that would escape her mouth. But then, Riftan inserted his fingers into her lips.

“...don’t bite your lips.”

She tried to shake his fingers off her lips but when he inserted himself inside her again, she lost control of her thoughts. Max gasped for breath, and bit tightly on his fingers. She couldn’t help herself: he was too big and she was too tight; he was hard, and she was soft. And oddly enough, the contrast in their sizes incredibly inflated the pleasurable and sensual feeling of their intercourse. He restrained himself, moving in and out until she reached full orgasm. Finally, when her body stiffened and paralyzed from reaching climax, he suddenly pulled his manhood out.

Max gazed up at him, dismayed. Still in shock and her body in a daze from the climax, she collapsed on the bed, but he flipped her over and pushed himself in again from behind. She buried her face against the pillow and held onto the seams of the tapestry. He was not satisfied from the heights they had reached and pushed her further, bringing her to a higher level of pleasure. Max stared into the dark corner of the tent with hazy eyes. With every breath she took, the scent of earth, faint musk, and burning wood that characterized the tent filled her lungs. And every time her body moved back and forth her stiff, sensitive nipples grinded over the rough tapestry.

Riftan placed a hand beneath her stomach and lifted her hips. Then, he sheathed himself even deeper, pumping in and out, fully inserting his manhood to the hilt. Max, who was already drowning in pleasure and with her whole body still sensitive from her first climax, reached another climax. She sobbed and moaned as her whole body shook uncontrollably. Her waist bent like a taut bow and her toes curled up from sweet pleasure. Riftan marked her arched back with his mouth, trailing kisses as she shuddered.

Then, he continued to move, moving at his own unbridled pace. It was only on her third climax that Riftan’s seeds exploded inside of her. Hot liquid gushed into her sensitive part and his body stretched gracefully, like a predator lion. Max melted in pure ecstasy with his whole body pressed against hers.

“F*ck... I kept avoiding you ‘cause I was afraid this would happen...”

After their intense climax that elicited hoarse moans and soft mewls that sounded too erotic for anyone to hear, Riftan slowly pulled himself out. Max breathed laboriously and turned her head to look at him. He returned her gaze, seeing her exhausted and weak, his eyes became filled with regret. Then, he got up from the bed and returned with a towel and basin. Max wanted to stand up but her legs were sore and her limbs were so heavy that she couldn’t bring herself to move.

“Did I hurt you?”

“N-No... Just a little... sore.”

He muttered curses under his breath and proceeded to wipe the sweat and fluids from between her legs with a cold towel. She felt a little embarrassed being cared for like this, but she didn’t have the strength to lift a finger, so she quietly accepted his gesture. After tending to her, Riftan concentrated on cleaning himself before laying down on her side again. A quiet moment of silence surrounded them before Riftan spoke again, staring up at the ceiling filled with faint light and shadows.

“Starting tomorrow, Garrow will protect you as well aside from Yulysion. Those two are as skilled as regular knights. If those two are around you, an incident such as today won’t happen.”

“Y-you don’t have to do that...”

Max started, but quickly shut her mouth when she felt him squeeze her hand in warning. Even in the dark, she could feel his stare grow fiercer.

“Honestly, I want to send you back to Anatol right now. However, that will be more dangerous, so I have no choice.”

Sensing the burden she was placing, Max spoke, her voice trailing off.

“But... because of me... they will be b-burdened...”

“I brought Yulysion and Garrow to give them a chance to gain practical experience before they are formally knighted. Since they will not be placed in the front lines, this is perfect for them, so don’t worry.”

Hearing his firm tone, Max could no longer oppose him. Riftan looked like he wanted to say more, but seeing as she was quiet, he didn’t want to risk starting another argument. She buried her face against his shoulder. As she laid down beside him, their naked bodies entwined with each other under the thin blanket, she felt her body and his get aroused again. However, Riftan lay motionless except for his hand that caressed her back to bring her to sleep. Beneath his caress, Max couldn’t fight the impending dream looming over her.

All the tensions, anxieties, and fears that she had on her journey going here dissolved away simply by being by his side. Embraced in his arms, she could forget all the troubles in the world.

***

Max woke up with a horrendous roar, similar to that of a monster growling. Darkness surrounded the barracks, without a single flame to illuminate the space. Suddenly, a flash of bright lightning shone, casting shadows everywhere. Scared, Max screamed and buried herself in Riftan’s side. Loud thunder echoed in the distance and soon, the heavy hit of the rain started to pour. Her husband sighed and stood up from the bed when the sound of rain hitting the tent grew heavier.

“It looks like a thunderstorm.”

Max followed him and got up from the bed, quickly putting on clothes. As soon as she walked to the tent’s entrance and pulled up the curtain, rainwater poured heavily, the drops looked like long arrows and were accompanied by a strong wind. She looked up at the sky and thunderbolts flashed. She wiped the rain drops that fell on her face while the heavy rain poured mercilessly from the sky that was covered in thick black clouds.

Note – LF: I am pretty sure by now that Riftan has a fetish for Max biting him lol. Anyway, thank you author for the good snu details. She even thought of Max being tight since it has been a long time ????

Nymeria: We already know that Riftan’s love language is not sweet words, but when he said “I wanted to wrap you in silk” I MELTED, it really gives the idea how much he loves and cares for her <3