Chapter 56
At first, she thought she had misheard.
“Who?”
The word came out in informal speech before she realized it.
“Serren Baker.”
Tristan was so caught off guard by Maya’s blunt remark that he was at a loss for words.
It would have been surprising enough to hear Maya’s name—so why that woman?
Did I do something that could’ve caused a misunderstanding?
Tristan began combing through every memory he had of Serren from their first meeting to now.
Was I too on point with my actions?
The longer the silence stretched, the more Maya’s suspicions deepened.
“I was troubled by the difference in how you treat Serren Baker and how you treat me. I figured it was better to ask directly rather than make assumptions.”
“No.”
He could no longer sit back and let the misunderstanding grow. Tristan firmly cut her off.
“Maya, the only reason I looked after Serren Baker was because she was your guest.”
Since they had broached the topic, Tristan figured it was a good time to explain Serren’s role in what was to come.
“I decided to help her because she could become a cornerstone of the work I’ll be doing.”
And he was determined to clear up any potential misunderstandings.
“In any case, I don’t like Serren Baker. Can you tell me what behavior of mine led to such a misunderstanding?”
He had no intention of being linked to anyone other than Maya. He would fix whatever led to the confusion.
“You acted differently around her. Cold, stiff, like you were nervous. It felt unlike the Tristan I know.”
That’s where she got it wrong.
The way he acted with Serren Baker was closer to his default self. How he behaved around Maya Pendragon—that was the exception.
Was being polite from the start a mistake?
Because Serren was from another dragon family like himself, he had treated her with courtesy. But from the moment he met Maya, he had felt the urge to do more for her.
She had captured his interest from the very beginning.
Without even realizing it, he had liked Maya Pendragon.
And because he treated people he didn’t see as romantic interests with a wall, while he was kinder to someone he did like… it had all backfired.
Waiting isn’t always wise.
“Maya, have you ever actually seen how I interact with people who aren’t you?”
“Just the attendants and servants at the Beiadon estate…”
She responded with an awkward expression.
He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
But he did want her to slowly begin noticing his feelings.
So he had to show her.
“Alec will be coming up soon. And Robert will also be away from the North.”
Alec and Robert were key people within House Beiadon, currently managing the North.
“…May I ask why?”
“To depose the emperor.”
It was a dangerous topic, but Tristan’s answer was straightforward.
He expected Maya to be shocked.
But she merely nodded calmly.
“I see.”
“You’re not surprised?”
“No. If it’s you, Tristan… I thought this might happen.”
Her composed reaction almost made it seem like she had foreseen this.
This isn’t the first time.
He felt a strange sense of déjà vu—like when they had fought monsters together in the North.
Tristan gently held Maya’s hand and spoke in a quiet voice.
“Maya, when they arrive, watch how I interact with others compared to how I treat you.”
That was the first thing she needed to see.
“Then you’ll understand why I treat you differently.”
He hoped Maya would come to understand, on her own, the meaning behind his unusual courtesy and respect.
He wanted her to come to love him—by watching, by noticing.
“If you observe with the mindset you have now, I believe you’ll find the answer.”
Tristan believed Maya could do it.
She might seem slow, but she was a deeply perceptive person.
Even if she doesn’t figure it out right away, that’s okay.
If that happened, Tristan would guide her toward the answer himself.
Until she got there.
“It’s not because of differences in status.”
He added that it wasn’t about rank or class.
Now all that was left was for her to reach the conclusion herself.
“Understood.”
Moved by Tristan’s earnest tone, Maya nodded firmly.
Her heart pounded at the depth of his voice. Not wanting him to notice, she subtly dipped her head.
“Should we go to sleep now?”
Just as Maya tried to get up, Tristan tightened his grip on her hand.
He wasn’t done talking yet.
Maya’s ears flushed red.
It was a simple touch—but there was something heavier in his hold tonight, something different.
And the mood was different too.
The weight of the atmosphere made her body tingle.
“If, once you find the answer… you can give me the same answer in return…”
Fortunately, Tristan was too focused on what he wanted to say to notice her flustered state.
“I want to hear your story.”
He wanted to know her better.
Maya hesitated at Tristan’s words.
She had expected he would ask, eventually. And she had wanted to tell him someday.
She just hadn’t expected him to give her the chance like this.
“I’ll do that.”
She nodded with sincerity.
“Then shall we sleep now?”
The two of them lay down on the bed.
As she recalled her conversation with Tristan, Maya’s determination grew.
I have to watch him closely.
The guilt she carried about hiding her past still lingered faintly.
Because the Tristan of this life only knew this version of Maya—one without sin.
She held the hand of the man who already seemed fast asleep.
Her heart began to race again.
Every moment with Tristan felt precious.
I like that you trust me.
With the memory of their conversation as comfort, Maya felt she could endure seeing Lisefield tomorrow.
So… the rebellion is finally beginning.
She hadn’t expected the move to dethrone the emperor would come so soon. Or maybe Maya’s presence had accelerated it.
Either way, it was a relief to see that Tristan’s ascension to the throne seemed inevitable—just like in the past.
Because no one fits the role of ruler better than him.
Oh—next time, she should casually ask if she can be the one to slice off Lisefield’s head.
She wasn’t looking for some grand revenge.
Lisefield wasn’t worth that much of her time.
But she did want to write his final chapter.
So he would hate her, even in death.
***
The summons to the palace came quickly, and everyone—from attendants to maids—treated her with the utmost respect as she made her way to the parlor to meet Lisefield.
Just as they had before she pledged full allegiance to him… and before he trusted that vow.
“You’re here.”
Lisefield welcomed Maya with a radiant smile.
But it was fake, of course.
He was the kind of man who could appear charming when he wanted something.
Maya maintained a blank expression. Her usually expressive face betrayed nothing today.
Because the man before her was her life’s greatest enemy.
“I heard you suddenly disappeared from the banquet. Did you catch the one you were chasing?”
“My apologies, Your Majesty. The individual was beyond my ability to apprehend.”
“Ah, so there was someone. It wasn’t you, was it?”
“How could it be? I’m not nearly that skilled.”
“Hmm… in that case, I have a task for you. I value your bloodline from House Pendragon very highly, you see.”
Of course, Lisefield wasn’t about to let her off easily.
From their last conversation at the banquet, he had realized that Maya Pendragon took pride in her skills.
“You should have a spar with the commander of the Imperial Knights.”
It wasn’t a request—it was a command.
Words could lie. But a sword?
Could a swordsman truly lose to someone weaker?
Especially someone of Pendragon blood?
“I haven’t asked about your disappearance, so this is a small price to pay.”
If she won, he’d offer her an honorary knighthood as a reward.
If she lost, he’d simply recommend further training and summon her to the palace regularly.
Either way, Lisefield lost nothing.
And Maya had no choice.
She calmly drank the tea in front of her.
Even in Lisefield’s presence, the tea was good.
Thinking of Tristan, Maya nodded.
“As you wish.”
