Chapter 30
“You sent someone without asking me.”
Tristan sat on the sofa, keeping Alec standing before him as if making him stand at attention for discipline.
Cold sweat slid down Alec’s back. Even when Tristan was angry, he normally maintained his courtesy.
His face was expressionless—but the merciless look in his eyes was proof enough that he was truly furious.
“I thought you might need support,” Alec admitted haltingly.
“And I wanted to keep you away from that woman.”
“On your own?”
Tristan already knew Alec didn’t like the closeness between him and Maya.
But from what he had seen, Kendrick wasn’t the sort to follow anyone’s orders.
“The mage wanted that as well.”
As expected.
“Alec, Maya took down that monster on her own—without my help or Kendrick’s—using nothing but her own strength.”
“Really?”
“Maya has fully awakened the power of Pendragon. Right now, there is no one in the Empire stronger than her.”
Alec had already known Maya’s swordsmanship surpassed his own. He’d simply assumed it was natural, given her Pendragon bloodline.
In truth, he’d even felt a certain resistance toward that talent.
Just because she was born lucky.
He’d thought she probably had never gone through real hardship.
But the moment he saw the white serpent she had slain up close, he realized how arrogant he had been.
That level of skill can’t come from talent alone.
Even with Tristan’s and Kendrick’s help, it would have been an impressive feat—but she’d done it alone?
Is such a thing even possible for a human?
A Pendragon’s bloodline didn’t make everything possible.
A truly great swordsman.
All his hostility toward Maya vanished, leaving only awe.
For the first time, Alec began to see Maya as separate from the rest of House Pendragon.
The stubborn pride and narrow-mindedness in his knightly bones had finally been broken.
“Alec, while Maya remains here, you’ll leave the castle and reflect on your behavior.”
“Understood, Tristan. But from now on, I’ll wholeheartedly support you and Lady Maya.”
The honorific came naturally.
Such a swordswoman, paired with Tristan—it was something to celebrate.
In fact, it seemed almost a shame that they were bound by nothing more than a contract.
If only Tristan could fall for Lady Maya.
If their relationship could deepen—
And someday, if he could spar with her again!
Or perhaps slay a monster together, or even just discuss swordsmanship—it would be more than enough for him.
What’s going on with me?
Tristan, of course, couldn’t guess Alec’s thoughts.
He wondered if Alec’s words were just an attempt to smooth over the situation, but the man’s expression was completely serious.
“I’ll apologize to Lady Maya in person. I’ll ask if she was hurt by my actions and admit how wrong I was.”
“Are you sincere?”
“Tristan, I deeply regret my misjudgment about her—down to my very bones.”
Tristan met Alec’s gaze. There was no wavering in those eyes; he was speaking the truth.
“Very well, do so.”
With the tension between Alec and Maya resolved, Tristan felt as though one worry had been lifted from his shoulders.
If only everything could be solved this easily.
He felt noticeably lighter.
“Oh, by the way, Tristan—while you were away, people from the Imperial Court came looking for you.”
But this afterthought from Alec made his mood plummet.
When Alec explained further, Tristan’s brow furrowed.
“Is that true?”
“They said no additional forces would be sent for the monster subjugation. If the Northern Knights can’t handle a monster of this level, they’ll consider it dereliction of duty—and even treason.”
“…Good thing we already dealt with it.”
If they hadn’t taken down the white serpent, he couldn’t imagine the hell that would have awaited them.
I’ll have to make sure Maya’s credit is written prominently in my report.
Still, there was plenty to do: the report to write, the restoration of the castle wall destroyed by the serpent’s corpse, and the issue of the wyvern’s nest waiting outside.
But the biggest threat is gone—thank goodness for that.
Drawing in a silent breath, Tristan made his way to the dining room, thinking to ease his mind by sharing a meal with Maya.
That was the plan, until—
“Tristan, I’m going to give all the credit to Kendrick.”
Maya, denying her own achievements outright?
The dining room was set with a lavish meal prepared in her honor.
I haven’t even washed properly yet.
She worried someone might frown at her disheveled appearance, but the concern was needless.
“Lady Maya, you’re incredible!”
“How did you manage to slay that monster? You’re a true hero!”
The servers and attendants alike were full of praise for her.
“You must be starving—please, eat.”
No one cared what she looked like. All that mattered was the feat she had accomplished.
“Maya!”
Kendrick, who had arrived before Tristan, was no different.
“Maya, I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Kendrick.”
She felt a swell of pride. Never in her life had she received so much praise.
Until now, people had been quick to dismiss her accomplishments, saying they were nothing more than what a Pendragon should naturally be able to do.
“Amazing. I’ve already disassembled the body and set the fur aside—you can have it made into a scarf or fur cloak.”
“That’s great!”
“Oh, and I’d like to take a few parts for research, if that’s all right. It’s the first time such a massive monster has appeared.”
“Of course.”
Truthfully, she was curious what Kendrick might discover.
Seeing her pleased expression, Kendrick smiled warmly.
“With your skill, you could be Captain of the Imperial Knights. Should I put in a word for you?”
“No! No, I don’t want to join the Imperial Court.”
Maya refused outright. The very thought was horrific.
“Please keep it a secret that I killed the monster.”
For her, the recognition she had already received from those around her was enough.
Kendrick was taken aback—he knew how much she’d wanted her swordsmanship to be acknowledged.
“I respect your wishes. But it won’t be easy.”
He knew all too well how the Mage Tower and the Imperial Court tried to keep the North in check.
They had withheld reinforcements precisely in the hope the North would suffer heavy losses.
And now? The North had completely defeated the monster without any outside help.
That would certainly rankle them.
“They’ll likely send more people to the North now—ostensibly to help, but really to find fault.”
Maya nodded in agreement.
Back when Alec had died and the captaincy had changed hands, the Imperial Knights and the Northern Knights had clashed at every meeting.
Most of the time, it was the Imperial side picking fights to tarnish the North’s reputation.
It went on like that until I left for the capital.
Saving Alec wouldn’t erase that hostility entirely.
In fact, the fact that a monster had been defeated in the North, and not in the capital, might make them even angrier.
She needed a convincing reason to stay out of sight.
But I can’t reveal myself yet.
The Emperor loved exploiting famous figures for his own purposes.
If word got out that she had awakened Pendragon’s power, he would pressure—or outright threaten—Tristan and others close to her to make her his.
He might issue absurd orders just to use her abilities.
In her previous life, he had done exactly that, over and over.
She still shuddered at the memory of his greed.
I need time.
At least until Tristan’s curse was lifted.
If not that, then until she could save Kendrick, she needed to remain nothing more than the disgraced Pendragon daughter, ruined by gambling debts.
Kendrick.
She had saved Alec’s life and slain the white serpent.
Her path was already diverging from before.
She would never let Kendrick simply die.
“Maya.”
“Yes?”
“Shall we say I was the one who killed the monster?”
“That’s a great idea.”
If Maya didn’t want to reveal herself, it was right to wait until she was ready.
But covering up such an event required a solid explanation.
Kendrick was willing to make himself the shield.
The Mage Tower already knew he often acted on his own. They tolerated it only because of his talent.
If this incident was attributed to him, it could be brushed aside.
Besides, the Tower and the Court were practically in league—they would gladly accept the glory for one of their own.
“I’ll go to the capital and report to the Tower myself.”
“Thank you, Kendrick.”
Maya smiled radiantly.
“But Maya—whether now or later, your power will be revealed eventually.”
You can’t make the sun disappear by covering it with your hand.
“You need to be ready.”
Maya nodded.
“I will.”
To save you, she thought silently, looking at Kendrick.
