Chapter 93
Riserfield lifted the corners of his lips.
‘I need to sway public opinion.’
Since Maya would be away from the capital for a while, it was the perfect opportunity.
The Grand Duke’s mansion would also be empty, which made things even better.
‘I should send someone.’
They would search the estate and see if any ledgers were hidden there.
Lastly, placing that young knight into the Imperial Knights wouldn’t be a bad move either.
The boy seemed talented enough.
Since he had already fallen so easily for his coaxing, drawing him in completely would be simple.
Riserfield smiled in satisfaction and turned his attention back to the duel.
Clang!
The clashing of swords rang out again.
Just as Maya split Tristan’s sword clean in two, Arthur suddenly dropped to his knees in a panic.
‘It didn’t look like that serious of a wound, though.’
Riserfield frowned.
“Uh… is he injured?”
The bewildered host didn’t know what to do as he watched Arthur wave his hands in denial.
In the end, Maya approached. From the lack of sound, it seemed she was checking his condition quietly.
Fortunately, it turned out to be only a temporary issue—Arthur soon stood back up, and the duel resumed.
But before long, his movements were noticeably slower.
‘So that’s the limit of his youthful strength.’
Though Riserfield regretted the duel couldn’t last longer, he smirked at the thought that the North was nothing special after all.
Eventually, Arthur collapsed, unconscious from Maya’s sword.
“The victory goes to Commander of the Imperial Knights, Lady Maya!”
“Woooaaaah!”
It was the perfect ending Riserfield had wanted. The excitement swelled to its peak.
…Yet something gnawed at him.
His instincts whispered: he should tail Arthur as he left.
But why?
Riserfield’s frown deepened.
“The final duel will be against the Northern Knights’ Commander, Sir Alec!”
The last opponent stepped forth, helmet still on.
Alec was stunned by the heat of the moment.
It was probably the first time such a fervor had swept through the capital, yet the flushed faces of the crowd weren’t shivering from cold—they were shouting encouragement with fiery passion.
For the first time, this foreign capital felt oddly familiar.
‘To duel Lady Maya here, of all places…’
Though Alec thought he had been through many battles, he never imagined standing before a crowd like this would make him tremble.
The Grand Duke’s family had always worked for the safety of their people and the prosperity of their lands, but rarely did they stand on such public stages.
Naturally, the knights as well spent their days fighting monsters or training recruits—direct contact with ordinary people was uncommon.
“L-Lady Maya… I think I need to take a deep breath first.”
It seemed Alec simply wasn’t built for the big stage.
“Ah, very well.”
Maya, lost in thought, only nodded absently.
Even such a half-hearted reply seemed magnificent to the crowd. Truly, fame meant that even going to the bathroom could be glorified.
‘I wonder if Tristan is alright…’
A shadow crossed Maya’s face.
The sudden end to the previous match had been because Tristan—disguised as Arthur—complained of something wrong with his body.
Maya hadn’t even struck him when he suddenly dropped to his knees.
And sure enough, Tristan had whispered:
“Maya, I think I’m about to transform.”
…Good heavens!
For Tristan to transform here, in the middle of this place, would be a disaster.
Too many eyes were still fixed on him as “Arthur.”
‘I need to end this duel naturally and give him the chance to slip away.’
Maya racked her brain for a solution, and finally reached one.
“Tristan, if I knock you out, how long will it take you to wake?”
If she knocked him unconscious, surely someone would move him somewhere safe.
Tristan understood immediately.
“If you just hit me in the solar plexus, probably a minute.”
“Then let’s end it that way.”
Though it sounded absurd—a wife knocking out her husband—both were deadly serious.
After exchanging a look, Maya struck his solar plexus swiftly and precisely.
Without a sound, Tristan collapsed.
‘This isn’t how I wanted the duel to end…’
But it was more important that Tristan left unnoticed to deal with this.
‘Why did he even come here!’
Maya felt a wave of frustration. She just wanted to hurry through Alec’s duel and wrap up the investiture ceremony.
“Are you ready?”
Her firm question caught Alec trembling.
‘…He’s nervous?’
A knight commander, nervous in a duel?
Well, the size of today’s crowd was overwhelming, even for him.
“Relax.”
“…That’s easier said than done.”
Alec flushed red in embarrassment, thankful Maya didn’t notice.
So that’s how it was. Maya only shrugged.
After all, not everything in life went smoothly.
‘How can I help him focus?’
Then it hit her.
“I’ll make sure you can only concentrate on the duel. So much that you forget the crowd exists.”
Since she already planned to end things quickly, that worked perfectly.
Seeing the glint in her eye, Alec realized he was doomed.
He remembered their first duel, and later, when he was pummeled in front of Kendrick…
All nervousness instantly vanished.
“No, I think I’m fine no—”
Whoosh!
The slash of her sword sounded like death itself rushing for his throat.
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you keep your life.”
“…That’s even scarier!”
Maya’s strikes were merciless, a tyrant’s blade.
Every opening he had, she exploited.
Even when he barely managed to block, she immediately found another weakness.
His breathing grew ragged, all nerves consumed by defending against her sword.
‘I want to last longer this time.’
As a knight, his pride demanded it.
Clenching his teeth, Alec focused with all his might.
The spectators, too, fell silent, watching him desperately block her onslaught.
Though his skill was inferior to the previous opponents, none dared belittle him.
The blood trickling from his bitten lips proved his resolve.
Before overwhelming strength, Alec did not yield. He did not collapse easily.
Like a tree rooted against a storm, he fought to stand his ground.
That sight comforted the people.
Even when faced with insurmountable might, he did not falter. That courage gave them hope.
“Alec! Alec!”
One voice began, and soon the entire crowd chanted.
“Alec! You can do it!”
Until then, the capital only knew his name, not his deeds. But in that moment, Alec became engraved in their memory.
At last, drained of all strength, Alec sank to his knees.
Only then did he notice the crowd chanting his name.
Joy filled him—his sincerity had reached them. He beamed.
He would no longer tremble before people.
Where he lived didn’t matter anymore.
“You did better than last time.”
Maya, too, was impressed by his improvement.
Extending a hand, she helped Alec back up.
“Well fought.”
“It was an honor.”
They bowed respectfully to each other.
“The victor is the proud Commander of the Imperial Knights, Lady Maya Bearden!”
“Maya! Maya!”
The crowd roared her name.
How proud they were that Maya stood with them.
All rumors of conspiracy had long been swept away.
Maya had proven herself with skill.
“Maya! Maya!”
Though Riserfield had staged the event, Maya felt an odd emotion as she heard the people cheer for her.
Once, Maya had craved recognition—
As a swordswoman, as a commander, and as a person.
Tristan respected her as both a swordswoman and as a person.
But he could never satisfy the hidden hunger for honor deep within her.
‘…And now, it feels like that longing is finally fulfilled.’
The people welcomed her as Commander of the Imperial Knights. They were glad.
She wanted to repay that faith.
‘I can’t let helping Tristan with the Demon Lord distract me from my duties.’
She had to give her all in everything.
Maya clenched her fist tightly.
The ceremony then concluded with the pledge of loyalty to the empire and the presentation of a sword to Maya.
Though she had her white dragon and would never use it, the sword looked expensive and well-maintained.
‘Maybe I’ll sell it later.’
She longed to go to Tristan, but the order of events was dragging on.
Finally, the time came for her to give her speech as the new commander.
“Now then, let us conclude the investiture with a few words from our newly appointed Commander of the Imperial Knights.”
It was time to throw a wrench into Riserfield’s carefully planned day.
‘Keep it brief.’
There wasn’t much time.
Maya opened her mouth to speak.
