Chapter 72

Maxi froze. There was a moment of awkward silence. Then she coughed and strapped a belt to her waist, saying, "The servants here have no idea that I'm his wife. They… must have assumed I would be staying with the other mages."

"Then you should've told them you wished to share a room with your husband!"

"I-It felt rather inappropriate! And… I'm here not as Lady Calypse but as a mage of the Tower… I thought it proper that I stay with you."

When Sidina only gave a bleary-eyed look in response, Maxi stammered, "Besides… i-it would've been unseemly to suggest such a thing… when Riftan himself didn't seem to mind the arrangement."

"What sort of bollocks is that?" Sidina shook her head incredulously as she lowered herself into the water. "You are husband and wife. It's only natural that you two share a room. I didn't mention it before, but I always thought it odd that you slept in separate tents throughout the expedition."