Chapter 85
Tristan thought this time was for Maya.
But instead, it was he who was comforted by her words.
As Tristan got to know Maya, Maya was also getting to know him.
‘How could I not love someone like you?’
Tristan pulled Maya tightly into his arms.
“…Tristan?”
Maya tapped his back with a puzzled voice, but he buried his face against her shoulder.
“It should have been you who felt moved.”
“I was moved too.”
Maya’s lips curved into a smile as she wrapped her arms around his back.
She was glad her words seemed to give him strength.
“When we return, I’ll begin preparing for the wedding.”
“…Then, how about holding it before going down to the East?”
Since they were going to have one anyway, why not at the most convenient time? When Maya suggested it, Tristan readily nodded.
“Yes.”
“…Can we invite just a few people? We can make it small.”
Where did the person who said it didn’t matter go? Tristan laughed inwardly.
“Who do you want to invite?”
Even though it was a contract marriage, since they were holding a ceremony, she wanted to at least receive congratulations.
“…Kendrick would be enough.”
After all, the only one who knew about the contract was Kendrick.
“…”
Tristan fell silent for a moment.
“I’ll be the one to tell him.”
“You, Tristan?”
“Yes.”
Were they that close already? It didn’t matter as long as Kendrick came anyway.
“Alright.”
Maybe this would even be a chance for them to get closer? She should think of it positively.
Her mood lifted.
Now she had something to look forward to as soon as they returned to the capital.
‘I think I’m looking forward to it even more than the investiture ceremony.’
Every day with Tristan seemed to give her something new to anticipate.
Being with him was more enjoyable than the thought of the investiture itself.
‘I should ask Ophraze.’
Thinking back to the last dress she had worn, Maya smiled.
The fact that she was preparing for a wedding, thinking about dresses…
It made her feel like she was simply Maya the woman, not Maya of the Pendragon family.
And that felt good.
Kendrick came to Maya’s room and told her that Litherfield had tried to recruit him as well.
“He brought up your name.”
As expected, Maya was also Kendrick’s weakness.
“I pretended to consider it and said I’d think about it.”
With the polished acting skills he had honed while feigning innocence in front of Maya, fooling Litherfield was as easy as eating cake.
“I’ll handle passing information as needed.”
In the end, Litherfield failed to win anyone over.
After that, events flowed smoothly.
Leaving word that Maya’s investiture would be held a week after she reached the capital, Litherfield departed first.
“Don’t you think he left a bit too quickly?”
For someone supposedly trying to win Maya over, it was suspiciously abrupt, leaving Tristan and Kendrick uneasy.
But Maya wasn’t surprised.
“He’s gone to prepare for the investiture. He’ll be sure to praise my abilities to the skies that day.”
Litherfield was a master at reading people.
He must have realized that Maya wasn’t swayed by his flattery.
That left only honor and wealth—so naturally, he’d prepare to use those to entice her.
The knighting ceremony was the perfect opportunity to flaunt such things, so of course he went ahead to make arrangements.
He would likely oust Graham and decorate the palace extravagantly.
Whenever Litherfield wanted something, he became a perfectionist.
Of course, Maya had no intention of letting the ceremony go entirely his way.
“On the day of the ceremony, all eyes will be on me. So…”
Maya turned her head toward Seren, who stood beside Alec.
“…I was thinking of using that moment to publicly announce my support for Seren of House Baker.”
It was customary for a newly appointed commander to give a speech.
Maya intended to make clever use of that time.
“What do you mean?”
Even Tristan and Kendrick hadn’t heard this plan before.
“I don’t think we should give Count Baker any time.”
In the past, even after the Emperor discovered him, Count Baker had enough influence and power to plot treason.
If he realized Seren’s intentions, he might strike immediately.
“…I agree with that.”
Seren, who had already been worrying about whether she’d have to face her father upon returning to the capital, added her voice.
“I’m sure he’ll try to confine me the moment I return home.”
Even though Hayden LeBreux had promised help, Seren couldn’t shake the dread of confronting her father right away.
He’ll probably explode in anger the instant we meet.
And he’d definitely interrogate her about what she had discussed with Hayden LeBreux.
Not even Maya could completely avoid detection under such heavy scrutiny.
“Then Seren, you should remain in your residence.”
“But His Majesty will expect me to return to House Baker…”
Seren herself wanted to stay at the Beaarden residence.
But publicly, it was Litherfield who had personally gone to the West to fetch her.
“That’s fine. Litherfield… will follow my lead, one way or another.”
Maya smiled softly.
“Because I plan to use what he does best.”
The fact that he had reached for both Tristan and Kendrick made it clear to Maya that Litherfield was desperate.
Openly scheming without even bothering to conceal it—he was both brazen and frantic.
Which only meant she ought to exploit him just as thoroughly.
“Doesn’t Litherfield want me to shine in the East and become a hero?”
He hadn’t yet revealed his tyrannical tendencies.
Only if Maya achieved great feats would his position solidify.
“But becoming commander and going East doesn’t guarantee I’ll become a hero.”
…She had once thought killing him would be the best revenge. She had wanted to slit his throat the moment she saw him.
But now it felt different.
Watching him fall for their every word was amusing. The very fact that he was preparing a ceremony just to win her heart was laughable.
‘I’ll return everything you did to me.’
She would use him to the bone, wearing the same benevolent smile that promised to listen to anything.
“He’ll allow almost anything.”
Once the ceremony was over, like it or not, Maya would officially be commander.
A public declaration couldn’t be reversed just hours later.
For Litherfield, it was too important a day—he’d have to swallow whatever she did.
And until she truly rose to fame, it would remain that way.
Later, he may want my head…
But by then, wouldn’t Tristan already be emperor?
“…But what if helping Seren inherit the countship is seen as the start of treason?”
Alec cautiously raised the concern.
“That won’t happen.”
Maya’s answer was firm.
“Why not?”
Kendrick, too, was curious.
After all, helping Seren gain her title could easily be viewed as building a new power base.
“That’s our perspective.”
But Litherfield’s intentions were obvious.
“He doesn’t believe the weak have that kind of strength.”
And indeed—
That was why he thought Tristan could be won over easily. Why Kendrick, as a concubine’s son, would obey. Why Seren Baker, being a woman, could be dismissed.
Because he saw them not as equals, but as people who had no choice but to follow his lead.
The weight of Maya’s words sank into everyone.
Her analysis of Litherfield was flawless.
“Then let’s do it that day.”
The day of succession was just around the corner.
Though Seren had only the Marchioness of LeBreux’s support and some planning conversations, she put her faith completely in Maya and Tristan.
Her task was not to doubt but to prepare meticulously.
“I’ll be dressed perfectly and await the day, Duchess.”
Seren’s eyes gleamed as she nodded.
Maya thought she could already guess where Seren wanted to go.
“Then let’s visit Ophraze together.”
After all, Maya also needed to ask about ordering a dress for her wedding.
At the mention of Ophraze’s name, Seren shrugged her shoulders.
“You caught me.”
Recalling their very first conversation at the banquet, Seren and Maya burst out laughing.
It felt like only yesterday they had been on guard against each other—how unpredictable people’s relationships could be.
When they arrived at the Beaarden residence, Maya said goodbye to Kendrick.
“See you later, Kendrick.”
“Yeah, Maya. Next time we meet…”
Kendrick’s expression turned meaningful.
“…let it be at a higher place.”
“…A higher place?”
“You’ll know when you come visit the Mage Tower someday.”
“Can’t you tell me now?”
“Nope. If you’re curious, you’ll think about me more.”
In the end, Maya couldn’t solve the mystery.
“I’ll go now. Next time we meet, I’ll bring a new cloak.”
Kendrick fiddled with the hem of her cloak, reluctant to part.
“…Then I’ll see her out to the front.”
At Tristan’s unexpected offer, Kendrick’s mood sank like a stone.
