"Are you saying you are not from an affluent family?" Maxim looked at Emmelyn intently while he turned his meat over to get it evenly roasted. "That sounds weird. You speak really well, you can read, and you know so much. You also had a teacher with you."

"Can't girls from the lower class speak really well, have the ability to read, and know so much?" Emmelyn challenged the man.

She was saying that because she was annoyed he could guess her affluent background easily. She wanted to mingle with many people who were mostly from the lower class, but it looked like she failed in her mission.

Maxim rubbed his chin and then shook his head. "I doubt it. Even in the high-class families who could afford whatever they want, girls are not prioritized to get educations, let alone girls from the lower class. At least not in my country.

Emmelyn pursed her lips when she heard him. He hit right on the nail. The difference in treatment between sons and daughters apparently didn't only happen in her country. Most parents prefer to have sons than daughters in other countries too."

She asked him, "What country are you from?"

"I'm from Summeria," Maxim said. "You?"

"I am from Wintermere. It's a small country by the sea, across the ocean."

"I've never heard of it." Maxim shrugged. "I'm quite knowledgeable and I have visited many countries."

"Yeah.... it's very, very small," Emmelyn admitted. "But I've heard about your country many times. It's the biggest country on this continent. How could you say it's boring? It has the oldest and biggest library in the world, and it is also famous for being the center of arts and culture. I actually want to go to Summeria someday."

"Really?" Now Maxim looked interested. "Well, I found it boring, but if you want to go to Summeria, I'll be happy to take you there and show you my humble home."

"I would love that someday," said Emmelyn. "But now I want to explore more countries around here. We can travel in the direction of Summeria, so eventually, we will get there."

"Okay, if you want it." Maxim took a bite of his second meat. His mouth was full when he continued his words, so his voice sounded like he was mumbling. "But I should warn you, Summeria is pretty bo—"

"Boring. Yeah, I know," Emmelyn interrupted Maxim and laughed. "I know you too well now."

"Ahahaha.. yes, you do," Maxim nodded vigorously. His silver eyes looked extremely happy as he watched Emmelyn eat her meat. A faint smile was carved on his devilishly handsome face.

Maxim had traveled for years away from home and had met so many people on his journey. There was never anyone as beautiful and interesting as this woman sitting next to him now.

He suspected Emmelyn was a noblewoman from Terra who was educated well by her family. To see an aristocratic lady going on an adventure like this was a rarity.

Maxim was surrounded by so many noble ladies and princesses throughout his life and they were all weak, boring, and mindless women.

To see one looking so energetic and smart like this woman was a breath of fresh air. He liked her a lot.

Maxim was tempted to tell her who he really was, but he was worried Emmelyn would treat him differently once she knew. So, in the meantime, he would just shut up and let her think however she wanted about him.

Maybe, later, after they really reached Summeria, he could tell her the truth. 

However, the opportunity never came. Suddenly Emmelyn disappeared without a trace.

***

"What are you thinking?"  Emmelyn nudged Maxim's shoulder and moved the man from his reverie. "You seem to be deep in thoughts."

They had been traveling together for six months and were getting closer to Summeria. Maxim enjoyed every second of his time with Emmelyn. They had gone through so much and experienced many adventures together.

Now that they were so close to home, Maxim was tempted to take Emmelyn to his mother and showed her the woman he liked.

This was the type of woman that made his heart flutter, not some weak and mindless princess, the type of damsel in distress that his mother told him to marry.

"Oh, I was just thinking about some mindless creatures," Maxim replied. "Nothing special."

"What mindless creatures?" Emmelyn asked with interest. 

Maxim shrugged. "You don't want to know."

"Are the mindless creatures in your country?" Emmelyn asked again. "We are already close to Summeria. I am excited about visiting your home country."

"What makes you excited?" Maxim smiled when he heard her. "Do you want to see my family?"

"Yes, of course. If you don't mind. Your parents sound hilarious, so I want to see them, also to say thank you for raising such a good son who has been helping me a lot."

"I don't mind you to see them," said Maxim with a broad smile.

No, he didn't mind. In fact, he was actually looking forward to bring Emmelyn home.

He was betrothed to a woman he didn't like.  That was one of the reasons he left home many years ago, to protest the engagement between him and one of those mindless women he was referring to Emmelyn today.

Maxim thought, if he brought home the woman he liked, his mother would understand why he was against his betrothal to her mother's friend's daughter.

If she saw what a great woman Emmelyn was, she would understand and let Maxim choose his wife by himself. She would let Maxim break off the engagement so he could live a free life with the woman he liked.

Yeah.. that sounded like a good plan.

"That's great! I will bring a gift for your mother. What does she like?" Emmelyn asked Maxim. "I will get something from the market."

Maxim almost spouted his tea when he heard Emmelyn's honest question. Well... his mother had everything the world had to offer. She lacked nothing.

What could his mother possibly want that Emmelyn could give?

"My mother likes me," he replied nonchalantly. "If you come and bring me as a gift, she will thank you profusely."

"Hahaha.. you are funny," Emmelyn laughed out loud when she heard him. "Fine. I will get her something she really likes. You wait here. I will come back in an hour."

Emmelyn thought it would be funny if she bought ribbons to wrap Maxim as a gift to his mother when they reach Maxim's home in Summeria.  So, she decided to buy the ribbons from the market.

That was the last time Maxim ever saw her. 

She left the man without saying a word. Back then, Emmelyn was in a hurry to go home because she suddenly heard about the attack on Wintermere while she was shopping in the market.

The information shocked her to the core and she was in a panic. Emmelyn immediately went back to Wintermere to find news about her surviving family members. She didn't have time to find Maxim.

Emmelyn was too distraught to think straight and say goodbye properly. Now, she really regretted what happened and felt guilty for ghosting him. 

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