Chapter 13
Maya quickly took a seat on the sofa the Grand Duke pointed to.
“Good idea.”
Indeed, there was no need to stand for a long conversation. Her legs were fine, but the sofa was more comfortable. No need to go against the conveniences of civilization.
The sofa was twice as soft as any bed at the Pendragon household.
‘I’m even looking forward to the bed tonight.’
She wondered how soft the bed might be, already anticipating it.
“Are you aware of the power someone inheriting the Pendragon family’s strength possesses?”
The Grand Duke initiated the conversation with a question Maya knew the answer to.
“If awakened, one becomes a swordmaster, surpassing human strength, inheriting the power of the White Dragon,” she answered.
“You know it well.”
His surprise was apparent.
“Then… have you heard of the curse of the Black Dragon Bayarden, who fought alongside the White Dragon Pendragon against the Demon King?”
A curse? She only knew about the prophecy involving the Demon King.
“No, I haven’t.”
“It’s an ancient prophecy passed down through the head of the house. I assumed the current Pendragon household might not be aware.”
His roundabout way of speaking essentially meant,
“Because the current household is in shambles to care about such things.”
“Pfft.”
She hit the nail on the head with her blunt summary, making the Grand Duke chuckle.
The Grand Duke then shared a forgotten legend. The White Dragon Pendragon and the Black Dragon Bayarden descended to defeat the Demon King on what’s now the Empire’s territory. Losing its stronghold, the Demon King cursed them in rage:
[I will set you against each other, leading to your mutual destruction. Only ruin shall remain in the end.]
“The Demon King’s curse is said to return with the Demon King. Both dragons must prepare their successors to awaken alongside the curse.”
This new information was astonishing.
Tristan Bayarden revealed his vulnerability to Maya without reserve.
“Maya Pendragon. I need the awakened heir of the Pendragon family to break the curse placed on me.”
Her heart pounded.
The gaze of someone who genuinely needed her.
Seeing his desperate eyes, she felt a thrill as if she became the most important person in the world.
“That would be you.”
A shiver ran through Maya.
Trying to calm her excitement, she clenched her fists, realizing her face was heating up.
‘Stay focused.’
Even though the Grand Duke and the Emperor were different, she had readily fallen for the line before—that line being ‘I need you’.
There were still unanswered questions.
“But, Your Grace. Unlike you, I have not yet awakened.”
“I am well aware of your diligent training. Your brother, on the other hand, seems beyond hope.”
Understanding Macguire’s true nature only increased her fondness for the Grand Duke.
And more so?
‘He knew about my training.’
The more she pondered his words, the more her heart fluttered.
The Emperor had only summoned her after her awakening.
The fact that Maya would become an awakener was a future she alone knew.
Maya realized the depth of the Grand Duke’s awareness and her fondness for him grew.
Unlike the Emperor, who only sought her out after her awakening, the Grand Duke’s understanding of her potential was an unknown future, a secret only she was privy to.
Though she drew jealousy from many due to her skills with the sword, just for being a woman, she still drew scorn. Maya’s abilities were constantly negated and doubted.
“I believe you can awaken.”
But in those blue eyes of the man in front of her, there wasn’t a trace of doubt.
He was truly staking his future on her, even though he knew more about her past than her present.
“I am used to losing hope.”
The eyes of Tristan, the Grand Duke she had met before her death, shone differently, still holding a glimmer of expectation.
‘I don’t want to let him down.’
Despite the existence of Maguire as an alternative, Tristan chose her, someone unawakened and seemingly useless.
Maya had always been weak to those who needed her. Yet, there was a troubling aspect in his story.
“But a ‘mutual’ curse? Does it mean I am also under a curse?”
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