Chapter 21
Maya Pendragon felt like a stranger.
At the castle, she had seemed like someone who needed to lean on others. But now, it felt more like he was the one who needed to lean on her.
‘But that’s not all.’
Tristan sensed that Maya was hiding something.
He had assumed she would be clueless on her first trip, bound to get lost.
But she had navigated a mountain range that even the Northern Knights struggled with—perfectly.
‘How?’
When he’d looked into Maya Pendragon, there had been no connection to the North.
There were rumors that the Imperial Knights kept an eye on the Pendragon bloodline, but that was it.
‘Where did that knowledge come from?’
She knew everything—from which monsters roamed nearby, to exactly what she needed to do in this mountain for her awakening.
His assumption that she would stumble had been completely wrong.
‘There’s something going on.’
Having lived as a Grand Duke all his life, it was his first time following someone else’s lead.
Still, he could do it—because he trusted Maya Pendragon.
At least the Maya he knew would have been honest if she didn’t know something.
“By the way, are you sure the wyvern is really here?”
Wyverns were monsters of the sky. No one would expect one to be hiding near a lake.
“It’s accurate. I overheard the Imperial Knights talking in the capital.”
Maya casually diverted her gaze to the rope as she brushed off the question about how she knew.
“That doesn’t sound like something you’d just happen to hear.”
“I get around more than I look. Oh, the rope’s too short.”
“I see.”
She was clearly dodging the question.
He didn’t press her—because he still believed they were on the same side.
They had a contract. She was doing everything in her power to help him awaken.
If she didn’t want to talk about it, should he just let it go?
‘How far is too far?’
Deep in thought, Tristan bit his lip.
Maya glanced over at him.
More precisely, she looked at the brooch pinned to his chest.
‘It suits him better than I expected.’
She didn’t know who gave it to him, but she found it very satisfying.
“Maya.”
His boyish face was unexpectedly cute, and she smiled inwardly.
He was tall, but under the curse, Tristan Beiadon’s appearance was still that of a young boy.
Traveling together made her realize all over again how different his body and face were between his boyish form and his adult one—especially the shape of his bones.
‘Quite a difference.’
Thankfully, Tristan’s physical strength far surpassed that of an ordinary person, so even in his youthful form, he was able to keep up with her.
The grueling pace since they left the castle yesterday would have made an average person collapse, coughing up blood.
Granted, Maya had intentionally led them through areas filled with monsters.
But that was all for his awakening, so Maya had no regrets.
“Let’s get some sleep.”
Tristan looked around the cave and began setting up their sleeping area.
‘Not that we’ll sleep more than a couple of hours.’
Still, even a bit of rest would help them recover physically.
But Maya, after half-heartedly securing the rope, stood up.
“I’m heading out to hunt some monsters.”
“We’ve already caught quite a few—”
“The more the better, right?”
Before he could stop her, Maya shot out of the cave.
She wore only her cloak and carried a single sword.
Thankfully, Tristan hadn’t noticed her condition.
She didn’t show it, but her body was definitely deteriorating.
Maya felt relieved.
‘It’s starting to feel like the first time I awakened.’
It was intentional.
Though she had told Tristan that he could use his powers on her if she fell ill, unless it was a life-threatening situation, she had no intention of showing weakness.
If he healed her, the conditions would differ from the past.
And no matter how painful that past had been, she was determined to relive it if it meant she could awaken again.
***
Exactly two hours later, Maya opened her eyes just as the sun rose.
She immediately pulled the rope she’d buried in the snow and tied it around her waist.
Her bag, she left behind—it was too cumbersome in a fight. The less baggage, the better.
‘How long has it been since I’ve fought properly?’
Strictly speaking, this wasn’t fighting—just capturing.
Still, the closer she got to seeing Whitey, the more excited she became.
It was the only creature she could actually hold a conversation with.
“All right, food first.”
She reignited the embers in the campfire and began roasting some meat.
“A full stomach helps you fight better.”
“I’ll help.”
Tristan, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, sat beside her.
“Great. Here’s your portion.”
Maya handed him some meat and then stared at him for a moment.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No, it’s just… I’ve been thinking while looking at your boyish face.”
As Maya hesitated, Tristan—oddly for him—felt nervous.
He wasn’t used to being out in public in this form. Maybe he was missing something?
“I wonder if you could’ve just stayed like this.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, I know what the real Tristan looks like, so you look different to me—but others don’t know what the Grand Duke is supposed to look like.”
Maya’s suggestion made Tristan laugh softly.
“Thanks, but… it wouldn’t work—not at this time.”
The Emperor was always watching the Beiadon family like a hawk.
If Tristan had begun social activities without breaking his curse, the Emperor would’ve assigned someone to monitor his every move—looking for something to use against him.
And eventually, they would’ve figured out the truth about the curse.
That wouldn’t be the end of it. Tristan, who had killed his own brother and usurped the throne, would’ve become a prime target.
The Emperor, still insecure in his position, was desperately trying to stabilize his rule.
Unless a miraculous prodigy emerged to capture the people’s hearts, nothing would change.
He’d continue looking for scapegoats—and Tristan would be next.
So it was better to act first.
“I do have to make a social debut, don’t I.”
As Maya’s expression darkened, Tristan thought of her dysfunctional family.
“Is it your family that’s holding you back?”
“No. I’m already disowned.”
“Then what is it?”
“There’s someone I don’t want to run into at those parties.”
Maya’s eyes lost focus. A shadow that wasn’t usually there flickered deep within them.
It was probably tied to a secret she hadn’t revealed yet.
‘I want to ask.’
Who did Maya not want to see?
He hadn’t even fully understood the nature of her relationship with Kendrick.
Maybe there had been others Maya was involved with.
‘A man?’
Could it be someone he didn’t know—not Kendrick?
Whoever it was, they had left a deep enough scar on her to bring sorrow to her normally unbothered face.
Who was this person?
‘Who the hell is…’
Tristan barely managed to swallow the question that had risen to his throat.
‘It’s not like we’re dating.’
They were in a contractual relationship, formed with mutual agreement.
He had no right. And yet he wanted to know. He wanted to ask.
He wanted to—
“I really should eat up and keep my strength up.”
Her bright smile snapped him out of his spiral.
‘How did she go from “don’t want to see someone” to “better eat well” so casually?’
Tristan stifled a laugh.
“Here, have this too.”
He handed her the meat he had cooked.
“Thanks!”
Maya accepted it without hesitation.
But the moment their hands touched, her skin was warmer than he expected.
He instinctively tried to hold her hand—but she slipped away like a fish.
‘Was I imagining that?’
He’d told her to speak up if she was sick.
Tristan narrowed his eyes.
‘She might be lying.’
She seemed used to self-neglect. Not taking care of her body might just be part of it.
‘She talks about pain so casually too.’
Why was she so numb to her own well-being?
“Maya—”
But she suddenly stood up.
“Well, I’m going to go take a walk and digest!”
Tristan silently watched her wrap her cloak tightly and dash out of the cave.
She was telling him with her entire body—don’t follow me.
‘Looks like she wants to move past it.’
If a truly dangerous moment came, there’d be a limit to how long she could keep quiet.
He needed to stay alert.
Tristan gripped the hilt of his sword.
Then, slowly, he stood and took a steady step forward.
