Maxi had never imagined the princess would be favorably disposed toward her, so she was utterly confused by her friendly advances. Had the princess not wanted to marry Riftan?
"I suppose Riftan is in the annex with the knights?" Princess Agnes asked as they left the great hall.
Maxi's face hardened slightly at the way her husband's name came so naturally to the princess.
"H-He may be… Your Highness."
"Then I suppose I'll have to wait to ask him for a tour of the training grounds. Can we go up the walls? I would like to see the castle surroundings."
Maxi hesitated for a moment before nodding and ushering the princess to a narrow forest path on their right. It was a route normally tread by the sentries. After following it for a time, they arrived at a stone stairway leading up to the outer wall. The patrolling sentries spotted them and immediately bowed in greeting.