Chapter 50
Risefield calmly pieced the situation together.
“By the time I reached the terrace, the intruder had already appeared.”
Judging from the timeline, it was impossible that Maya Pendragon had gone to the secret archive.
However, that brilliant white light—it didn’t seem like something an ordinary person could produce.
Even the strongest swordsmen couldn’t emit aura that blinding.
“And the monster that was defeated… it was unlike the ones that usually appear.”
Though such monsters were rare even in the capital, he had enough knowledge.
Its size and the damage it caused were overwhelming.
Even if Graham himself had been there from the beginning, it’s doubtful he could have taken it down.
There weren’t many people who could defeat a monster of that level without taking a single hit.
Someone capable of fighting such a beast would likely have dragon blood running through their veins.
And white light—that brought to mind the Pendragons first and foremost. But Maya had denied it was her.
She might be lying, of course, but all possibilities had to be considered.
“If she’s not lying…”
Then only one possibility remained.
A member of House Bayarden.
Specifically, Duke Tristan Bayarden, who had been missing from the public eye for a long time.
Everything lined up too well.
Even the disappearance of the ledger was suspiciously timed.
That ledger contained details about the deaths of the previous Duke and Duchess of Bayarden.
“It would’ve been a useful way to hold Count Baker in check.”
Tsk. Risefield clicked his tongue, displeased with how things were unfolding.
The thief who stole the ledger could very well have helped the Duchess on their way out.
“Whether it’s true or not, I’ll have to confirm it myself.”
Of course, he wasn’t placing full trust in Serren Baker’s words.
If the intruder and the person who killed the wolf monster were not the same, then that meant Maya Pendragon had awakened her powers—there would be no other explanation.
And if he could bring a Pendragon into his camp, he would gain massive public support.
His determination to win Maya over to his side only grew stronger.
“Reminds me of when I plotted to kill my older brother.”
He had acted uninterested in the throne for so long, all to break down the suspicions and vigilance of Crown Prince Gellion.
“Compared to that, this is nothing.”
A slow smirk spread across Risefield’s face.
His glimmering green eyes brimmed with twisted ambition.
“First, I’ll have to confirm whether the intruder really was a Bayarden.”
To think someone dared step foot into his private space.
Thankfully, the secret archive had a magical device installed that recorded the appearance of anyone who entered.
Though he’d have to submit a request to the Magic Tower, it was best to take precautions just in case.
“Did you call for me?”
Right on cue, the Tower Master entered the office.
“What’s this?”
Risefield frowned as he spotted the unfamiliar face standing behind the Tower Master.
He disliked subordinates who acted beyond their orders.
His word was law.
“This is Kendrick. He dealt with the white-furred monster last time and brought back materials for research. I thought he might be helpful again.”
“I, Kendrick Akisia, greet His Imperial Majesty.”
Whatever his reputation may be, Kendrick still had to bow before the man who ruled the empire.
Even if it was temporary—until he became Tower Master himself.
There weren’t many days left before that day came.
Suppressing his irritation, Kendrick smiled brightly.
“I’m in the capital. I should go see Maya.”
Even as he bowed, his thoughts wandered—his expression a perfect angelic smile.
Doshen returned at dawn.
Although the banquet had long ended, she had stayed at the palace to ensure no other monsters had infiltrated besides the wolf. That had prolonged her stay.
Maya’s disappearance, overshadowed by the terror-stricken nobles, was conveniently swept under the rug.
However, Doshen still had to deliver a letter from the Emperor himself.
It held Maya accountable for vanishing during an official imperial banquet.
That was the public stance, at least.
“You were reckless. How could you leave your seat like that? What does that make me look like?”
Doshen scolded.
So she hadn’t just gone out to the terrace. She had vanished entirely from the banquet.
“I have something else to discuss with you.”
Tristan smoothly changed the subject.
“You’re saying there’s something more important than the Duchess’s reputation or the Emperor’s letter right now, Duke?”
Doshen scowled.
Tristan, having brought a bag into the study, opened a ledger and handed it to her.
“If you think changing the subject will make me—”
She froze.
“W-what is this, Duke?”
It was a ledger she had never seen before, yet it clearly stated the cause of her husband’s death.
Her hands trembled.
She snatched the ledger and read it again.
“Count Baker… killed him?”
Her husband, Eaton Doshen, had died in a cliffside accident. It was deemed a tragic but accidental death.
The investigation had concluded with no signs of foul play.
With no other evidence to dispute it, Doshen had accepted it.
She had even changed her name from Lady Doshen to simply Doshen, dedicating her life to honoring him.
“What is this?”
This—this should not exist. A ledger that claimed her husband was murdered.
“I found it in a hidden section of Risefield’s imperial library.”
“You went there?”
Doshen was aghast.
Had he forgotten he was under a curse?
“I was searching for books on curses… and I found something far worse.”
Tristan, seeing she was focused solely on Eaton’s entry, pointed to another part—his own parents.
“Doshen, you can call me foolish. You can even say I’m selfish.”
His blue eyes met hers—burning not with rage, but a quiet, steadfast fury.
The time for enduring the North in the name of his parents’ will and his family’s honor was over.
It was time to move forward.
Under his own choices.
“…You’re not going to break the curse?”
Doshen asked in a fearful voice.
“I will. But who said a person can’t have more than one purpose in life?”
Tristan smiled.
Yes. He wouldn’t give up anything.
“I will avenge my parents’ unjust deaths.”
He would use the truth he uncovered himself as the cornerstone of a new life.
“One where I remain at Maya’s side.”
In all those futures, Maya was always there.
The Tower Master left Kendrick in charge of disposing of the monster’s body and sorting through the useful remains.
No matter how prickly he was with everyone else, Kendrick was like a lamb in front of the Tower Master.
He had only bowed his head for the sake of gaining power—but the old wolf clinging to the Emperor didn’t have the senses to notice such things.
The Tower Master also gave Kendrick one more task.
“Try to deduce who killed this monster.”
The intruder was said to have defeated the monster, then vanished.
The Emperor, in his benevolence, had decided to reward the one who had slain a beast within the palace.
Before issuing a formal announcement, they wanted to prepare a description or sketch—just in case—so Kendrick had been sent.
The monster’s corpse, a giant wolf, now lay sprawled across the training ground, reeking of rot.
Its sheer size inspired awe.
One look at the wounds was enough for Kendrick to identify the attacker.
“It was Maya.”
The clean and elegant traces of swordsmanship left on the body were hers.
Others wouldn’t recognize it, but Kendrick, who had watched Maya’s swordsmanship his whole life and witnessed it again in the North, knew it unmistakably.
“She’s been trying to hide her skills. I should help her keep them hidden.”
He would vaguely report that the attacker seemed to be a man. That way, Maya wouldn’t even be suspected.
Kendrick was glad he had come in person.
At the same time, he felt impatient.
Maya kept proving her strength—yet he was never given the chance.
“I can do it too.”
He hated that Maya was the only one constantly fighting.
He wanted to stand beside her—no, to be someone she could lean on.
“I’ll defeat the next monster for sure.”
Saying it out loud eased the tight knot in his chest.
Kendrick exhaled deeply and reached out to touch the wolf’s fur.
But just before his hand made contact, the body dissolved into black dust and scattered in the wind.
