Chapter 43
It seemed like Maya had caught Serren off guard.
“Just because I’ve become the Grand Duchess doesn’t mean my past has vanished. But that doesn’t mean I’m ashamed of it, either.”
Tristan had also questioned her before—why she spoke so harshly about herself.
But that was how Maya truly felt.
She believed it was more important to be someone who could accept and acknowledge her imperfect life as it was.
Still, she could sense that Serren’s mood had noticeably softened since earlier.
Right. It wasn’t as if she had ever been a noble who fit in with the capital’s high society.
Thinking she could carry on the conversation now, Maya took the plunge and continued.
“Lady Serren, I’m not well-versed in noble speech. So please don’t misunderstand my words and hear me out.”
Maya took a deep breath and looked straight at Serren. In the glow of the evening sky, Serren’s golden hair sparkled dazzlingly.
Standing before her was the very image of the perfect noblewoman Maya had once admired as a child.
“I came here because I wanted to be friends.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something.
‘I really did want to be friends with Serren.’
She hadn’t seen her often, but she had always wanted to know more about the beautiful and confident Serren Baker.
Serren had been openly hostile at first, and Maya hadn’t even dared to approach her after that.
Serren silently stared at Maya, her gaze unreadable. Not wanting to be misunderstood, Maya quickly added:
“Of course, I know I may not be to your liking, but I really do like you.”
“You seem quite accustomed to putting yourself down, Your Grace. There’s no need to do so when speaking with me.”
Serren replied with a composed face.
“I’m honored that you wish to build a friendship. But may I ask—why do you like me?”
In that moment, Maya saw loneliness in Serren’s eyes.
‘Why would she… the great Serren Baker… show such emotion?’
Maya didn’t quite understand.
She thought carefully about what it was she liked about Serren.
In the past, and even now, Maya felt the same whenever she saw her.
“I like the way you speak with such elegance, and how you’re able to assert yourself even knowing I’m the Grand Duchess.”
After Maya had become an aide to the Emperor, people had been too scared to speak casually to her.
So many had trembled in fear, terrified that a single slip of the tongue would cost them their heads.
But Serren had always stood firm.
Just like now.
“Haha…”
Serren widened her eyes before eventually bursting into laughter.
“My apologies. Your compliment pleased me so much that I forgot my manners.”
She quickly stopped laughing and bowed politely to Maya.
Her eyes now sparkled with youthful energy as she raised her head again.
“Your Grace, I don’t know what gave you the wrong idea, but I’d like to correct it.”
For the first time, Serren spoke at length.
“I hold no ill feelings toward you.”
A firm start.
“I was merely reacting to someone entering this terrace even though everyone knows it’s my private spot. I wasn’t upset because you were the one who entered.”
Only then did Maya realize:
…The nobles hadn’t gasped because she had stacked her plate with mountains of macarons.
They had been shocked because she had barged into Serren’s private space without invitation.
“And as for how I feel now—I would say I rather like you. Since you appreciate honesty, I thought I’d speak plainly as well.”
…That was not the response Maya had expected.
In her past life, Serren had disliked her because of her bloodline. But now her attitude was completely different.
It didn’t seem to be just because Maya was the Grand Duchess.
If that were the case, she would’ve been kind from the beginning.
“You seem curious.”
“Yes. May I ask?”
“Of course. I told you because I hoped you would ask.”
…What does she mean?
“I was deeply moved by the way you so firmly severed ties with the Pendragon family earlier.”
Moved? Not repulsed?
‘Is she sugarcoating her words?’
But hadn’t she just said she admired Maya’s honesty and would return the same?
‘Wasn’t Count Baker close with her? How could she admire someone who turned their back on family?’
Maya had never seen Serren and the Count interact warmly.
It wasn’t like she could know the intricacies of a distant noble family anyway.
But that’s what made it all the more confusing.
‘Count Baker wept so bitterly when she died.’
She remembered him sobbing uncontrollably at Serren’s coffin.
Of course, even that could have been an act.
But the Count had eventually betrayed the Emperor he had served loyally.
He was caught trying to stage a rebellion and died for it. His love for his daughter seemed real.
“Your Grace, could you help me?”
Serren Baker—that Serren—was asking Maya, whom she barely knew, for help?
“If you’re asking for the support of House Pendragon, I can’t answer immediately.”
“Of course. The decision is yours, and I respect that. I only wished to ask.”
Serren accepted her answer with grace.
“…If it’s something I can help with personally, I will gladly do so.”
Maya instinctively felt that Serren’s newfound fondness and this request were deeply connected.
“I want to escape my father’s shadow.”
Serren Baker—Count Baker’s precious daughter.
“I want to cut ties with my bloodline, just like you.”
Yet she hated her father.
Maya saw the same loathing in Serren’s red eyes—a familiar feeling.
It mirrored Maya’s hatred toward Pendragon.
But… why?
She wanted to know more about who Serren Baker really was.
“May I ask why?”
Did he gamble?
Did he raise an illegitimate child and compare them?
Maya could only imagine scenarios similar to her own.
“He’s someone who tries to control my entire life.”
Serren’s short answer held immense weight.
Despite their different standings and lives, Maya felt a strange duality of emotion—that even someone as poised as Serren could feel the same pain.
A sense of comfort that she wasn’t alone in her suffering…
And self-loathing for having judged Serren’s circumstances at face value.
“How—”
Just as Maya was about to ask how she could help, a thunderous sound came from the royal garden connected to the terrace.
BOOM! The sound repeated, confirming it hadn’t been her imagination.
“What was that…?”
Serren also looked out at the garden, startled.
Screams! The voices of nobles enjoying the garden rang out in panic.
And then—
A massive shadow suddenly rose from the garden.
‘A monster.’
Maya wasn’t the only one who thought so.
“Let’s go!”
A familiar voice called excitedly.
“Quick! People could die!”
It was the white dragon, popping up next to her.
Maya hesitated.
‘If I fight here, I’ll reveal my Pendragon powers.’
If she wasn’t careful, even the Emperor might find out she had lied.
‘…’
But the hesitation didn’t last long.
“We’ll have to continue this conversation later.”
Maya set down the dessert she hadn’t even touched on the terrace railing.
“…Shouldn’t we call the knights?”
Serren, it seemed, also recognized the seriousness of the situation.
“Yes. Would you please go and fetch the knight commander?”
“You speak as though you don’t intend to evacuate with me.”
Serren was sharp.
“Of course not.”
Maya replied shamelessly. She didn’t say she’d stay—so how could Serren know?
“Let’s go in together.”
The problem was, Serren wasn’t so easily fooled.
“I’m fine. You know I’m part of the Pendragon family.”
“No matter how skilled you are, you’re no match for the knight commander. You don’t want to die out of pride, do you?”
…She had long since surpassed that knight commander.
“I am a match.”
Maya couldn’t let that one slide.
And just then, while speaking with Serren, she felt a murderous intent.
“Excuse me.”
Maya suddenly scooped Serren into her arms.
CRASH!
The terrace split apart with an explosive crack.
“W-What is this?!”
Serren shrieked, her voice high-pitched for the first time.
“So you’re the one who killed the White Snake.”
A massive wolf grinned, baring its teeth at Maya.
