DCHWT 83

Chapter 83

The road back to the capital was quite different from when they had first come down.

Riding in the carriage provided by the Marquis of Rebour, their return was more like a triumphal march.

“On the way back, clear out the western swarm of insects.”

It was an order from Riserfield.

Even before appointing Maya as the commander of the knight order, he intended to spread her name far and wide.

He wants to use me, just like in the previous life.

She didn’t even need to say it aloud—it was obvious.

To secure his precarious position, Riserfield planned to put Maya at the forefront. Once they returned, he would hold a grand investiture ceremony and spread the word that Maya had awakened the power of Pendragon.

…Of course, anything about the curse will be hidden.

What Riserfield sought was legitimacy.

The heir of Pendragon had awakened, and the hero served the emperor—therefore, the true emperor had ascended and the power of Pendragon had returned.

There was no picture more perfect for him.

Either way, Maya had already planned to exterminate the swarm, so she killed two birds with one stone: she earned Riserfield’s trust and rid the land of lingering monsters.

Along the way, she also wiped out the bandits that troubled Hayden.

Slaying the White Dragon and the Butterfly alongside her companions had strengthened not only her reputation but their bonds as well. For Maya, it was as natural as breathing.

Riserfield was an emperor, skilled at manipulating people.

This time, he chose the classic tactic: ensnaring the young knight in love with Maya.

A very old trick.

“Waaah! Thank you!”

“Her Grace has slain them all…”

“They say she awakened the power of Pendragon!”

“She’s to become the commander of the knight order…”

Although Maya was simply carrying out Riserfield’s orders, the cheers that poured over her felt foreign.

In her previous life, when she followed his commands, all she saw on people’s faces was fear.

This time is different…

When she thought about it, she had never really been recognized for her achievements in defeating great monsters.

She had slain the White Serpent with Tristan alone, the wolf with Seren, and the Butterfly in a ghost town with no one around.

“You’re incredible!”

Perhaps that was why.

Being acknowledged and praised by strangers for her own ability felt strange.

Yes, Alec and Hayden hadn’t known her well either, but they were nobles—they at least knew of her.

But this… felt good.

It made her think maybe she wasn’t so bad a person after all.

…That maybe, in this life, she was using her strength properly.

“Maya.”

Tristan, who had stood by her side as she cut down the swarm, smiled.

“Well done. Everyone is alive thanks to you.”

“Alive? I only lent a little help.”

“To them, it was vital. Without you, they wouldn’t even have food left for tomorrow.”

His words tickled her heart like drifting dandelion seeds. She always felt that way when Tristan praised her.

The more time she spent with him, the more her feelings grew.

Hoping her ears weren’t too red, Maya replied:

“…You worked hard too, Tristan.”

“What could I have done?”

“I heard the House of Beiyaden will provide additional rations. You thought of something I never would have. Thank you.”

Maya was strong in combat but weak in noticing or tending to people’s living conditions.

In that sense, Tristan was remarkable.

People treasured the moment their lives were saved, but Maya knew survival afterward mattered just as much.

Just being alive wasn’t enough—how you lived was important.

Tristan blinked.

Didn’t expect her to say that.

He looked a little flustered, maybe even surprised.

Seeing him like that was more fun than she thought. Yes, she was always the one receiving praise, but maybe it was her turn to try.

…With a bit of personal feeling mixed in.

He’s still my husband, after all.

That much should be fine.

“I think your words are amazing too. When you speak, it makes me feel better.”

She once thought her own strength was all that mattered. Even when she was given another chance at life, she thought the same.

But being with Tristan changed her mind.

Words hold power too.

The ability to lift someone’s heart or shape their memories was as great as Pendragon’s power.

Perhaps it looked greater because it was something Maya herself couldn’t do.

Was my praise too clumsy?

Compared to Tristan’s eloquence, her words felt lacking. She glanced at him—then spotted the tips of his ears turning red.

“…Thank you, for seeing me that way.”

After a pause, his voice trembled slightly.

…Is he embarrassed?

Over just a little praise?

He looked fine even when we were touching each other.

She had no way of knowing that whenever they touched, Tristan was always exerting all his willpower to endure it.

The feeling was strange. After all, they were a couple who held hands, embraced, even shared a bed.

“…It’s only natural for me, as your husband.”

…Husband. Maya ducked her head, her face heating like a bonfire.

She couldn’t scold Tristan—her own face was just as red.

Riserfield followed behind Maya at his own leisure.

After Maya’s carriage went on ahead to deal with problems in the towns, he would arrive later to observe the crowds praising emperor and knight alike.

There were two reasons he watched public sentiment so carefully:

First, to raise his own support and secure his reign.

Second, to exploit the people to their very bones.

For those who don’t yet see me as the perfect emperor, she’s the best shield I can present.

And indeed, the people’s voices flowed exactly as he wished.

Today, he ordered Maya’s group to wait up ahead. As they neared the capital, he needed to prepare safeguards.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here?”

Riserfield rose from his seat.

His first insurance had arrived.

“Ah, I heard much about you. I wished to meet in person.”

He had already completed the background check on this man, Arthur.

He even had a knight investigate him thoroughly. (Of course, Hayden and Tristan had tampered with those records.)

The result showed nothing remarkable: a country-born man who became a knight seeking only honor and wealth.

Exactly the type Riserfield knew best.

The only annoyance was that the man’s frail health made arranging meetings difficult.

Riserfield hated weaklings coughing before him, and he disliked the risk of contagion, so he had kept his distance—until now.

“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty.”

At least Arthur was properly courteous. Riserfield lifted his lips in a half-smile.

“You went north to seek advancement, I hear. How does it feel to trail after the commander of the imperial knights?”

“It is only thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

“You’ve never wanted to rise higher?”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

His reactions were the same as the others Riserfield had ensnared. Always that innocent look, as if they couldn’t guess why he had called them—until he named their weakness and laid out conditions. Then they changed at once.

“You’ve made it obvious you care for the Grand Duchess.”

A crack appeared in the otherwise calm expression. There it was—the weakness.

Inwardly smirking, Riserfield pressed the bait.

“Loving a married woman isn’t a crime. But without standing equal to a grand duke, what chance could you have?”

Arthur’s gaze toward Maya was too heavy to dismiss. With words like these, he wouldn’t be able to reject so easily.

“For instance, the post of vice commander of the imperial knights.”

People always yielded to fortune they could never attain on their own.

“…Could I truly rise to such a post?”

As expected, he showed eagerness the moment bait was dangled.

“That depends on what you do.”

“What must I do?”

Yes—before desire, men became faithful dogs.