Chapter 75
A trembling white light flowed from Maya’s hands.
The light that came from her hands was absorbed into Kendrick’s body.
Kendrick’s body flinched.
Kendrick Aksia’s life had been miserable.
His mother, Andrea, was famous for her beauty and served as a maid in the Aksia Marquisate.
The Marquis, who had always coveted her, soon took Andrea as his concubine.
Andrea feared the jealousy of Narion, the legitimate Marchioness.
She knew very well how proud and arrogant Narion was as a noble.
But surprisingly, Narion never laid a hand on Andrea or Kendrick.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly for a while.
The Marquis frequently visited the Pendragon family, though Kendrick never really knew why.
However, Kendrick was a convenient pawn during those visits. After all, it was common for young children of noble houses to interact.
But when Kendrick visited other noble houses, he was never treated well.
Narion was portrayed as an angel, while Andrea, who had ensnared the Marquis, was painted as a power-hungry villain.
And Andrea was a commoner by birth, unlike Narion, who had been a noble from the start.
Kendrick grew tired of meeting people.
Everyone treated him with the same cold indifference.
“Hi!”
Maya greeted Kendrick with a cheerful face, so different from the others who barely acknowledged him because he was a concubine’s son.
“I’m Maya Pendragon.”
Even back then, Maya wasn’t treated well in the Pendragon household.
Their attention was much more focused on her brother than on a daughter who showed talent in swordsmanship.
Seeing Maya being ignored by her family reminded Kendrick of himself.
“Well, it can’t be helped! I’ll just try harder!”
But unlike Kendrick, who had grown bitter and resentful, Maya remained optimistic.
Her positive outlook, despite being in a similar situation, amazed Kendrick.
She was a completely different person from him.
And that was why Kendrick liked Maya.
Her smiling face was so beautiful. Unlike him, her brightness drew Kendrick in.
As a child, he didn’t fully understand what this feeling was.
Kendrick spent time studying Maya.
Curious about her family, he even gathered information about House Pendragon.
Maya herself didn’t seem to know much, but House Pendragon was a family of great honor.
Explaining this to her filled Kendrick with pride—he felt like he was the only one who realized how precious Maya truly was.
But along with that came anxiety.
Maya is so amazing, and I’m nothing.
He knew her family neglected her.
But they were fools who didn’t realize how extraordinary and lovable she was.
Kendrick had a feeling that Maya would succeed one day.
I want to support her from behind.
It became the purpose of his life.
The Maya and Tristan he had met as a child grew into a young woman and a young man.
Narion, who had long been childless, finally became pregnant.
Late-born Levin came into the world.
From that moment, Andrea and Kendrick became invisible in the Marquisate.
Andrea slowly fell ill and eventually passed away.
Only one person attended his mother’s humble funeral—Maya.
“Kendrick, are you okay?”
No one had ever asked him that before. Looking at Maya, Kendrick realized that what he felt for her had always been love.
But because they had spent so long as friends, Maya could only see him as that—a friend.
He needed to confess. But he didn’t want to do so empty-handed, with nothing to offer but his feelings.
So he decided to prepare.
Kendrick left the Marquisate that never once cared for him.
He honed his awakened magic and eventually succeeded in entering the Mage Tower.
He had talent for magic, and through sheer effort, he made it possible.
…Even when his world nearly collapsed upon hearing that Maya had suddenly gotten married, he endured.
After all, Maya and the Grand Duke didn’t truly love each other—it was just a contract.
Or so he thought.
“I’ve fallen in love with Grand Duke Tristan, Kendrick.”
But then Maya told him something else.
“This feeling… it’s the first time I’ve ever felt this way.”
Her trembling voice, her expression—one she had never shown before—destroyed Kendrick’s world.
A world that existed only for Maya.
If it’s not you, then I have no reason to live in this world.
Maya had been the only reason he could endure life—his salvation.
The thought of Maya drifting away was something he never anticipated.
Kendrick was strong, but weak—especially when it came to Maya Pendragon.
She was too precious, and that made him vulnerable.
Gurgle.
He wanted to turn away from everything.
Slowly, he sank deeper below the surface.
Kendrick closed his eyes. If he could just sleep forever, he wouldn’t have to face any of it.
No more pain.
“Kendrick.”
Someone called his name.
He wanted to sleep, yet someone was bothering him. Kendrick frowned.
“Kendrick, please…”
The voice, laced with tears, pierced his heart. He didn’t know who it was, but somehow he felt he had to know.
“You’re coming back, right?”
The voice grew clearer. Kendrick’s mind sharpened.
White light spread around him as he rose above the water’s surface.
It felt just like the first time he met Maya.
But Maya said she loved the Grand Duke…
Did she?
Kendrick’s eyes shot open. Clenching his fists, he focused his mind.
No—she never confessed to loving the Grand Duke.
To think he almost let himself fall asleep forever because of a reality that hadn’t even happened!
Where do you think you’re going, leaving Maya behind?
God, how foolish could a man be?
Maya was crying for him right now.
At the very least, he had to wipe away those tears. Kendrick grit his teeth.
That damn butterfly monster…
It must have been its doing.
It was the first time he had encountered a monster that used illusions, and its power had been stronger than expected—strong enough to fool him all this time.
If not for Maya, he might have been devoured while trapped in that illusion.
Kendrick slowly opened his eyes.
“Kendrick?”
The first thing he saw was Maya.
His body screamed in pain. He could tell how roughly the monster had handled him.
That bastard…
Cursing the monster inwardly, Kendrick stared at Maya.
Her face was flushed red, and she was crying.
It was the first time he had seen Maya so shaken.
She was always the one who endured, no matter what happened. Always standing firm like a tree in a storm.
But now, Maya was crying.
“I really… thought you were going to die!”
She thought he would die…
“I’m sorry, Maya.”
That was all he could say.
“It’s my fault.”
Kendrick felt himself growing weak again in front of Maya.
“Thank you for saving me.”
From the very first time they met, Maya had pulled Kendrick’s life out of the pit.
And now, once again—
“Of course.”
—she had saved him.
“I’m your friend, after all.”
Kendrick smiled.
“…Yeah, a friend.”
They were still just friends. He had no idea who Maya would end up loving.
But it felt good that she cried for him.
So good that being called a friend didn’t hurt as much this time.
At the very least, this illusion had taught him something.
I can’t wait any longer.
If he kept waiting for the perfect moment, time would just slip away.
He didn’t want to end up regretting and despairing like he had in that illusion—without ever telling Maya how he felt.
Once he recovered, Kendrick decided, he would call Maya.
For the most important confession of his life.
While listening to Count Baker’s report, Litherfield’s eyes widened.
He was already irritated, thinking the man had come to spout more nonsense—but the story turned out to be rather interesting.
“So she suddenly went down to the west? To chase after your daughter, no less.”
It was difficult for him to publicly announce that his daughter had run away—why ruin the image of a loving father?
If he went himself, attention would surely follow, so he had been planning to ask the Emperor for help.
“Yes, but it doesn’t make sense. That Grand Duchess must have somehow lured my daughter away.”
Knowing that Litherfield had an interest in the Grand Duchess, the Count thought perhaps he might be willing to help.
“Surely His Majesty will assist us?”
Litherfield pondered.
Did she really go after her?
Something didn’t feel right.
