Chapter 68
Once he decided to side with the duke, countless worries crowded his mind.
“Even just coming down here—I can’t predict how the emperor will react.”
Recerfield was a persistent and cruel man.
That was precisely why the duke had hidden his weakness until now.
“It was a wise choice… but it’s one mountain after another.”
What troubled Hayden was the fact that Tristan could not always be the one to step forward.
The duchess certainly had the power to captivate people, but compared to Tristan Bayarden, her social standing and prestige were much lower.
“Should I make her wear a helm to hide her face, and put the duke in front instead…?”
Revolutions required heroes suited to them.
Even dull-witted Maya could tell this time that Hayden was looking down on her.
“I know it isn’t meant in a bad way.”
It came from his desire to see things done perfectly, unconscious rather than intentional.
It was different from those who consciously rejected her.
But even knowing that, Maya could not help but be angry.
The resentment she had long swallowed under the excuse of “of course” ran deep.
She wanted to break that.
“Since the marquis is on our side, Maya may now do as she pleases.”
Tristan spoke as though waiting for the moment, smiling.
“We’ve left a contract and evidence, after all.”
At Tristan’s sudden change in words and attitude, Hayden felt something odd.
“…What is this?”
The duke still seemed unhurried, but when it came to the duchess, his atmosphere clearly shifted.
He trusted her wholly.
The duchess rose from her seat.
“…Have I been deceived? Has age dulled my senses?” Hayden lamented inwardly.
From Maya’s hand, a pure-white sword blossomed into existence.
Appearing suddenly from thin air, its beauty and delicacy made it hard to believe it was crafted by human hands.
“Surely not….”
Hayden covered his mouth in shock.
“I haven’t revealed it publicly yet, but I’m an Awakener of House Pendragon.”
The duchess herself was an Awakener of Pendragon—she had come to meet him in person.
Hayden immediately bowed his head deeply.
Maya dispelled the White Dragon and waved her hand.
“That was thoughtless of me. I’m sorry.”
“N-no… it’s fine.”
“No, it isn’t. I’d forgotten the danger of judging by appearances or surface knowledge.”
Still, Hayden kept his head bowed so deeply that Maya worried he might snap his own neck.
She had expected surprise, but not to this extent.
“Please, lift your head.”
At Maya’s pleading, Hayden hesitantly raised his face.
“If you truly don’t mind… may I be granted the honor of seeing that sword once more?”
Maya too had been deceived by appearances.
At first glance, Hayden seemed like a scholar with little connection to Pendragon’s martial legacy.
But as a lover of founding legends, he was especially devoted to the tales of the White Dragon of Pendragon.
In short—he was a fervent admirer of Pendragon.
And the reason he had once been disappointed in Maya was because of this very devotion.
A truth only Maya had been unaware of.
***
Hayden proved to be a follower who knew how to play his part.
Though he regretted being unable to keep speaking with Maya, he continued discussions with Seren instead.
Because work had to be done.
And only then could he spend the rest of his time digging more fervently into the lore of Pendragon.
After a short exchange, Hayden agreed to assist Seren.
Now that he had concluded matters with House Bayarden, he wanted to strengthen this side’s forces by making Seren an earl.
“If the western merchant guilds cut off funds to House Baker, it will put pressure on them.”
Though he had been able to do so earlier, Hayden had left them breathing room—because after all, they were the ones his younger brother had chosen.
And outwardly, Hayden had raised Seren Baker with extreme care and affection.
But now the situation had changed.
Just as Maya was about to head out to inspect the West, Hayden stopped her.
“Since you’ve come, you must at least join us for a meal.”
Hayden began speaking of the western delicacies with pride.
The western plains, rich and fertile, yielded abundant crops.
Their bread made from wheat and butter was particularly renowned.
“You may depart tomorrow. I’ll have everything prepared.”
Hayden asked earnestly, making it hard to simply refuse.
Especially because he so clearly liked her.
And so Maya reluctantly joined the evening meal, still weighed down by worry.
“Does it suit your taste?”
Yet the food was indeed delicious.
And Hayden’s wife, Kleine Rebour, was kind and gentle.
It was a new connection Maya had never seen in her previous life.
On the journey to find Kendrick, Seren was left behind.
With the support of House Bayarden and Marquis Rebour, and with knowledge of his father’s corruption, Seren Baker’s promotion to earl was now a foregone conclusion.
“If we reconnect with the western nobles, none of my retainers will object.”
Their chances of victory were already far greater.
Maya, Tristan, and Alec set out to visit the first place where the swarm of insects had been sighted.
One westerner was to accompany them as guide.
Preparations were complete.
The sweet wine, the full dinner—her unease seemed to dissolve away.
After a warm bath and a few sips of leftover wine, even her fatigue vanished.
“I can do this.”
She clenched her fist in resolve.
She had come to the West, and she knew of a place where the Butterfly might be waiting.
Everything seemed likely to go well.
And it wasn’t only the wine.
“When I see Tristan’s face, it feels that way.”
Today, he had led where she could not.
And how dazzling he had seemed….
Maya’s face flushed as she realized how brightly she thought of Tristan, and she fanned herself.
“Is it because I drank?”
Emotions she could usually hide welled up.
Hoping Tristan wouldn’t notice her blush, she stepped out to the balcony to cool her face and catch some air.
As she gazed at the Rebour gardens, Maya murmured—
“It’s strange.”
“What is?”
Tristan followed her, smiling as he asked.
The wine had left Maya’s face rosy-red.
Her crimson eyes and blushing cheeks were like flower petals.
He wondered if this was the face she would make when she truly liked someone.
“…That the people we met this time admit their mistakes so readily.”
The phrase “this time” slipped out unconsciously, as though there had been a “last time” too.
“Normally, people don’t apologize so easily.”
That must have been what Maya’s “normal” looked like.
Tristan thought back to Hayden, who had trusted him the moment he saw his name and title.
But he knew—Maya was far greater than himself.
Yet people always looked at her through tinted lenses.
Even at the banquet, though unspoken, it must have been the same.
“We’ll make it so it no longer seems strange.”
Tristan clasped Maya’s hand, speaking with resolve.
Maya’s eyes went wide—then she broke into a radiant smile.
Brighter than the moon overhead, her smile held Tristan’s gaze.
Her softly curved eyes, the lips smiling at him—they were so lovely that he longed to kiss her.
…
But he held back.
Tristan realized once more how particular he was.
Because it was his first love.
Because it would be his first kiss.
Dealing with people, and dealing with Maya, were two entirely different things.
“I don’t want it to happen just because she’s drunk.”
At the very least, he wanted Maya to want it too, consciously and clearly.
…But the heat in his body needed to be dealt with somehow.
Tristan hurried back into the bath.
He didn’t want Maya to notice his state.
***
The next morning, Maya and Tristan stood ready to set out again.
Before them, the guide who would accompany them appeared.
“…Huh?”
But the guide was someone they never expected.
Why on earth was Hayden here?
Clad in armor, he looked like an entirely different man.
He coughed awkwardly before speaking.
“As a boy, I dreamed of joining the Imperial Knights.”
In truth, he also wanted to see Maya’s skills firsthand.
Despite his scholarly appearance, Hayden had long been fascinated by legends and swordsmanship.
It was a yearning for what he himself could not do.
And when he realized Maya was a descendant of the awakened Pendragon, the legend itself had come alive before his eyes.
“I couldn’t let such a golden opportunity pass.”
Maya was startled to see the marquis gazing at her with shining eyes.
“He looks at me like that?”
She was used to eyes that regarded her as an enemy.
Indeed, human bonds were truly unpredictable.
