Chapter 94
After all, since she was appearing in public as the commander of the knights, she wanted to maintain proper decorum.
She wanted to leave a good first impression on those who were cheering for her.
Well, as time went on and people continued to see her in action and hear her speak, they would naturally come to know what kind of person Maya was—but keeping up appearances for a single day wasn’t too much to ask.
“I’m not used to this, but….”
Maya thought of Tristan.
What would Tristan have said if he had been standing here in her place?
“I would like to express my gratitude to His Majesty for allowing me this position.”
It was a satisfying start.
“Now I should mention Seren.”
With just one statement, all her desires were fulfilled.
“And I wish to share this honor with Seren Baker, who became my very first friend here in the capital.”
“Woooaaah!”
The crowd erupted into cheers. Maya turned her head toward Seren, pointing her out.
“To the lady who will soon rise to the rank of countess.”
Seated among the knights and common folk to avoid her father, Count Baker, Seren threw back her cloak and revealed herself. Her dazzling golden hair caught the sunlight and gleamed brilliantly.
Her resolute gaze and the silver gown she had dressed in for this day made her look as though she were clad in a knight’s armor, ready for battle.
Seeing Seren so dignified and majestic, the people readily accepted her as worthy of inheriting the countship.
Her presence, her bearing, her elegance—nothing was lacking.
“…But wait, the count never said anything about retiring, did he?”
At first, they had simply cheered, but eventually the nobles began to frown in puzzlement.
Count Baker might be older, yes, but he was still healthy and active. He had never once declared that he would step down.
Still, since Seren Baker had openly gone around saying she would naturally be the next countess, people considered it at least plausible.
This was the very gap Maya and Seren had exploited.
They knew Count Baker, who valued reputation above all, would not be able to throw a public tantrum in such a setting.
As expected, the count merely trembled violently, unable to speak.
“What is the meaning of this!”
His face, which just moments ago had been delighting in Graham being humiliated by Maya, twisted hideously.
“What nonsense has she filled Seren’s head with?”
He had heard Seren was staying with the Pendragon household, but assumed it was merely another rebellious phase.
She had always been an obedient child, so he decided to wait it out. The longer she delayed, the harsher the punishment she would receive—that much she surely knew.
“…But what did she just say?”
Countess? He had no intention of abdicating yet.
Count Baker turned toward Riserfield, seeking his support.
But Riserfield too looked displeased.
“What kind of nonsense is this.”
The benevolent mask he usually wore cracked slightly at the absurdity of it all.
“From here on, I ask for your guidance, Your Majesty.”
Ignoring the hot stares burning into the back of her head, Maya approached Riserfield and bowed.
“…It feels like just yesterday I placed Graham in that seat. Time does fly. I look forward to working with you as well.”
His words carried an implicit threat—reminding her that she too could be replaced at any time. Then, stepping closer, he growled in a low voice:
“…What game are you playing?”
“I merely made good use of the speaking opportunity His Majesty granted me.”
Maya answered brazenly.
“Because between Count Baker and Seren, I must choose Seren.”
There was no need to hide her intent from him—Riserfield already knew full well she was helping Seren.
“To air such personal opinions so openly in public—what is that, if not treason?”
“…I only wished to share my thoughts with Your Majesty. To bring them up privately felt… disrespectful.”
This was a line she could say only because she knew Riserfield.
Maya herself was astonished at how smoothly the lie rolled off her tongue.
“Perhaps a bit of that silver tongue I once had, when I was absorbed into Riserfield, still lingers.”
Of course, standing before her archenemy had her nerves stretched taut as well.
“Why would it be disrespectful?”
His voice had already softened, proving to Maya that her gamble had worked.
“Because I am still lacking… and I don’t understand why Your Majesty values me so highly.”
Maya spoke, recalling her former self.
Back when she first met Riserfield—Maya Pendragon, weighed down by low self-esteem and an aching desire for recognition.
At that time, she had been the perfect prey for Riserfield.
Indeed, in the beginning, when Maya had shown such traits, he had been kind and supportive, building trust with her.
That had been the very reason Maya had once believed him to be a good person.
“How could you not know?”
His voice had already grown slack.
“Because no one has ever taught me how to earn recognition.”
That part wasn’t a lie.
Tristan hadn’t taught her how to be recognized—he had simply accepted her as she was.
“…Would you not show me, Your Majesty, what it means to be acknowledged?”
In reality, it was a statement made from a position of power: I don’t trust you, so prove it to me.
Riserfield studied her with an inscrutable look.
“You seem quite different from the wary young woman you’ve been until now.”
So you did notice, huh. Maya thought to herself, though outwardly she kept her composure.
“Riserfield clearly underestimates me. That means this is the right approach.”
“That was merely my defense mechanism.”
She had vowed to be honest—but before this man, she would gladly play Pinocchio with a nose longer than the empire itself.
“I would like His Majesty to show me that I can trust him… that he truly cherishes me. This time, I want to understand.”
She was tired of circling endlessly around the same point.
It was time to close the deal and go find Tristan.
“Please help Seren Baker inherit the countship.”
“So it isn’t for yourself, Commander.”
“When Your Majesty grants me favors or support, I cannot help but wonder if it is only because I am commander of the imperial knights.”
Even Maya herself was surprised at how smoothly the words flowed.
Riserfield was unsettled.
On the surface, Maya seemed to be pleading—but in truth, she was shaking him by the collar.
Does she know what she’s doing, or not?
Her words and demeanor were that of the insecure second daughter of the Pendragon family.
And yet… his instincts whispered something was off.
Have I lost my touch?
If Count Baker learned the account books had vanished, his loyalty might waver.
She really has grown, hasn’t she.
If Riserfield helped Seren rise to countess, she might prove more profitable than a grasping count kept in line with a single piece of blackmail.
…Perhaps Seren Baker could be useful.
Of course, Maya ultimately needed to be isolated, which meant she would have to be separated from Seren as well.
And if she felt betrayed, all the better.
“Yes… I should summon Seren.”
Granting her the countship in exchange for approaching the duke with seduction…
She was beautiful enough to dominate high society, so why not try?
Even if the seduction failed, the mere fact that an unmarried young lady visited a duke alone would create a scandalous weakness.
“Your Majesty.”
Maya pressed him softly, her urgency making her appear all the more desperate.
Yes—there was no way such an innocent face was plotting to trick and use him.
His arrogance and misjudgment would turn their relationship, in this life, into the exact opposite of what it had once been.
“So be it. But I will not tolerate such impulsive acts again. As commander of the imperial knights, you must also perform your duties flawlessly.”
Riserfield smiled brilliantly.
“Recognition comes with its own responsibilities and burdens, after all.”
Maya bowed her head.
“I will do my utmost to meet your expectations.”
“No. One’s utmost isn’t enough. You must be perfect.”
“…I said ‘utmost’ because when I give my all, the result is perfection.”
Her true self slipped out, bristling at the demand. Riserfield raised an eyebrow.
“I spoke rashly, relieved that the conversation was over. Forgive me.”
Maya hastily corrected herself, inwardly groaning.
“…Very well. You may go.”
The moment his words left his lips, Maya turned on her heel, eager to get away.
If my real self slips out again, I’ll be in serious trouble.
The safest course was to retreat quickly.
And find Tristan.
She thought she had seen him taken in that direction earlier….
Maya began scanning the exits between the rows of seats—only to blanch when a throng of people swarmed toward her.
“It has been so long, Your Grace!”
“No, wait—since you are now also the commander of the imperial knights, what title should we use?”
Nobles crowded in from every side, desperate to establish connections with Maya, who had appeared in an official setting for the first time in ages.
Where’s Riserfield?
She couldn’t simply slip away immediately—that would look suspicious. She needed to locate him first.
…What?
But Riserfield was nowhere to be seen.
