Chapter 5
I need to move quickly.
She had to take advantage of the current situation.
What if he only chose me on a whim?
Just like how she once swore loyalty to the Emperor before her regression.
She didn’t know exactly what curse was on Grand Duke Tristan, so she had to be careful.
There were clearly flaws in her plan. It was even reckless.
But the North was attractive enough to accept even that uncertainty.
It was a place where few eyes reached, and where monsters appeared—perfect conditions for secretly growing stronger as a Swordmaster.
Not only that, rare ores dropped from monsters could also help her prepare for the future financially.
There were quite a lot of monsters in the North.
It was perfect for building wealth without catching the Emperor’s attention.
…If I build trust, it might help when the disaster comes.
Tristan would later become one of the key figures in the rebellion that brought down the Emperor.
If she built trust with him early, she might be able to help when that future event arrived.
…I won’t go back to being a Knight Commander.
That part was a little disappointing.
The Emperor had been trash, but Maya had liked being Knight Commander.
She liked the clean uniform, and she was proud of her status as a recognized swordswoman.
That’s all in the past now.
After having blood on her hands, she wasn’t shameless enough to want that position again.
Still, the unpleasant feeling couldn’t be helped.
Maya bit her lip and headed toward the guild building where the magical communication orb for letters was kept.
With this, she could send a letter instantly.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I need to be careful.
She had to confirm whether the curse was real, and whether the Grand Duke truly needed her.
Only a mutually beneficial deal would be safe.
She wrote a short message.
[To Grand Duke Tristan.]
I am Maya Pendragon—well, I have lost my title and only my name remains. I would like to speak with you. Could you send someone to escort me?]
It was absurd to ask someone to send an escort just for a conversation.
But Maya shamelessly demanded it anyway.
I want to see how desperate you are, enough to tolerate this kind of rudeness.
Because she herself was that desperate for this second life.
She emptied even the few coins in her pocket to send the message to the Grand Duke’s estate.
The next day, a guild member came to her inn with a reply.
It was anything but ordinary.
[We have received your letter.]
A polite opening.
[Maya Pendragon. I would like to marry you.]
Straight to the point.
[I am an unmarried man, currently 25 years old. It feels odd to say this myself, but I am not unattractive.
Not only that,
the North is rich in resources, so you would be able to live comfortably as the lady of the house.
In short, there would be no shortage in living together.]
It was an extremely strange letter.
Even though it was a marriage proposal, it felt like she was reading about workplace benefits.
[We do not need to maintain a long marriage. Please live as a married couple for six months.
During that time, I will do everything I can to fulfill your wishes. If you wish to leave afterward, that is fine.]
The gold coins sent with the letter were too many to refuse.
Not only that, he had specified a six-month term.
Perfect manners. Flawless conditions.
To Maya, Tristan’s proposal was too perfect.
She thought carefully about him.
He wouldn’t lie about his age in a marriage proposal.
Two things became clear.
First: despite the rude letter, Tristan needed Maya enough to propose marriage anyway.
Though I’m not sure why it has to be marriage.
As long as boundaries were maintained, it might be fine.
Second: Grand Duke Tristan was under a curse.
A curse on a ducal house was a serious disgrace. It could even become a political weakness the Emperor could exploit.
That was likely why he never appeared publicly.
From the situation, it was probably related to his “age.”
Whether the “25 years old” written in the letter was true, or whether the youthful figure she remembered from her past life was real, she couldn’t be sure.
I’ll decide my conditions after meeting him.
He would likely not refuse requests such as helping her hunt monsters in the North or acting as her contract partner.
While fulfilling his conditions, she could also achieve her own goals. It would be mutually beneficial.
If I remember correctly, Tristan also led the rebellion about six months after this.
Helping him with monster subjugation would not be a loss for him either.
[I have read your proposal. I believe it would be best to discuss the detailed conditions in person. I will follow the escort you send.]
Before leaving, Maya sent a message to the Mage Tower via messenger bird.
It was partly to check on Kendrick Aksia and partly to explain her situation.
He was the only person who had stayed by her side in her previous life—the only friend she had ever had.
She couldn’t ask Kendrick to become her contract partner because he would soon enter the Mage Tower, isolated from the world.
A contract partner could not be separated from her beyond a certain distance for a set time.
She could not ask him to give up the Mage Tower.
It was the place where he could grow stronger as a mage.
For the future, she needed to ensure Kendrick could become as powerful as possible.
…Kendrick.
Maya’s expression darkened at the thought of him.
I won’t let you die in this life.
Kendrick Aksia.
In her past life, he had been killed by a phantom-type monster, and even his body was never recovered.
While she was carrying out missions under the Emperor’s orders, her only friend had died.
How much regret she had felt afterward.
I will never let that happen again.
She would not allow herself to create regrets this time.
Maya clenched her fist firmly.
“Foreigners find the North harsh. Please wear this.”
A servant following behind her offered a bear-fur coat.
It looked warm and thick.
Maya reached for it, then paused.
…Foreigner.
The word stuck with her.
She would be staying in the North for six months.
That meant it would be better to earn favor not only with the Grand Duke but also with his people.
How cold was it again?
She thought back.
She remembered the cold being tolerable during monster hunts.
“I’m fine.”
Maya pushed the fur coat back toward the servant.
“…Pardon?”
The servant looked confused.
Maya smiled.
“I’m no longer an outsider. I’m on the inside now. This level of cold is nothing.”
If the Grand Duke had sent this servant, it was likely to observe her behavior.
Her words were essentially directed at Tristan himself.
“…The North can be extremely cold, though.”
“I’m fine.”
Maya answered confidently.
And immediately regretted it.
I should’ve just taken it.
As the servant had said, the North was far colder than she remembered—cold enough to freeze into her bones.
“This is one of the coldest winters in Northern history.”
It was the kind of year recorded as one of the coldest in the North’s history.
A lesson learned too late.
Arriving at the castle while shivering, Maya was greeted not by Tristan, but by the head butler, Robert.
Robert, with his elegant gray hair, bowed repeatedly after seeing her.
“I’m terribly sorry, but the Grand Duke is currently out on urgent business. He will only be able to meet you after dinner.”
Officially, that was the reason—but Maya easily guessed the truth.
He can’t show himself yet because of the curse.
Just as she had tested him with a rude letter, Tristan was likely testing her as well.
I need to show I’m trustworthy.
Maya accepted the excuse calmly.
“That’s fine.”
“You will also be dining alone. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course.”
Even better.
She headed to the dining room without needing to maintain etiquette.
The meal was excellent.
Another point in Tristan’s favor was added in her mind.
His taste is perfect too.
It reminded her how terrible the food at House Pendragon had been.
He really seems like a good person.
Her internal approval increased.
Everything went smoothly.
Until evening.
After finishing a very satisfying dinner—including dessert—Maya followed Robert to the Grand Duke’s study.
So he really intends to meet me himself.
The interior decorations, filled with black dragon motifs and Northern art, made it clear she was truly in the North.
“The Grand Duke is waiting inside.”
Robert opened the door respectfully.
A faint light illuminated the dark room.
Maya walked forward following the light.
The study was as large as three Pendragon rooms combined, filled wall-to-wall with books.
Deeper inside, a large window dominated one wall.
A man stood in front of it, his face hidden in shadow.
The dim light and cloud-covered moon made his features impossible to see.
Maya took a breath and spoke firmly.
“Grand Duke. Maya Pendragon greets you.”
The man slowly stepped out of the shadow.
At that moment, the moon slipped from behind the clouds, and blue light revealed his face clearly.
“…Huh?”
Maya bit her lip and stared blankly.
Her mind went completely blank.
“Welcome, Maya Pendragon.”
The man who called himself the Grand Duke said—
“I am Tristan Beyaden.”
He was a perfectly formed adult, as if sculpted by the gods.
Not the boy from her memory anymore.
