Chapter 86
Maya had never seen Count Baker and Serene Baker display any close bond.
It’s not as if she could know the detailed family matters of a household she wasn’t close to in the first place.
So it was even more puzzling.
‘How devastated Count Baker was over Serene’s death.’
She remembered Count Baker sobbing uncontrollably, even wailing, in front of Serene Baker’s coffin.
Of course, that could have been an act too.
But Count Baker betrayed the emperor he had once been fiercely loyal to.
He was caught plotting a rebellion and died, so his love for his daughter was genuine.
“Your Highness, could you help me?”
What could Serene Baker possibly need from Maya, whom she hadn’t known for long?
“If it’s something that requires the power of House Bayarden, I can’t give you an immediate answer.”
“Of course, I understand that the decision is yours. I’m merely asking.”
Serene acknowledged Maya’s response.
“…If it’s something I can personally help with, I’d be happy to.”
Maya had a gut feeling that the reason Serene Baker had grown fond of her and the request she was about to make were connected.
“I want to escape my father’s shadow.”
Serene Baker was the beloved daughter of Count Baker.
“What I mean is that I want to sever my ties with him, just as you have.”
But the daughter despised Count Baker.
Maya saw the hatred in Serene’s crimson eyes. She felt a sense of kinship.
It was the same kind of hatred she felt toward the Pendragon family.
Why?
She became even more curious about who Serene Baker really was.
“May I ask why?”
Did Count Baker gamble?
Or did he raise an illegitimate child and compare them to Serene Baker?
She kept thinking of scenarios similar to her own.
“Because he’s trying to control my life.”
Serene’s words were brief but carried a lot of meaning.
Even someone who came from a different background and lived a different life could experience the same kind of pain, which made Maya feel a mix of emotions.
Relief that it wasn’t just her family that was like this, and self-reproach for having judged their relationship based solely on superficial facts.
“How—”
Just as Maya was about to ask how she could help Serene Baker, a loud noise erupted from the imperial garden connected to the terrace.
Boom!
As if to confirm that the first sound wasn’t a mistake, another thunderous crash followed.
“What in the world…?”
Serene, also surprised, looked out at the garden.
Screams echoed from those who had been enjoying their time in the garden.
Then, a massive shadow suddenly rose from the garden.
‘A monster.’
Maya wasn’t the only one who thought so.
[Let’s go quickly!]
White Dragon, who suddenly appeared beside her in her sword form, spoke in an excited voice.
[Hurry! People might die!]
Maya hesitated.
‘If I fight here, my abilities as a Pendragon might be exposed.’
If she wasn’t careful, the emperor might find out that she had lied to him.
‘…’
But her hesitation didn’t last long.
“We’ll have to postpone our conversation.”
Maya put down the dessert she hadn’t even touched on the terrace railing.
“…Shouldn’t we call the knights?”
It seemed Serene also recognized the gravity of the situation.
“Yes, could you go inside and summon the captain of the knights?”
“You speak as if you’re not planning to evacuate and intend to stay here.”
Serene was quick to catch on.
“Of course not.”
Maya replied nonchalantly. If she didn’t say anything, how would anyone know?
“Let’s go inside together.”
But Serene wasn’t buying it.
“I’ll be fine. You know I’m from House Pendragon.”
“No matter how skilled you are, you can’t compare to the captain of the knights. You wouldn’t want to die out of overconfidence, would you?”
…Maya had surpassed that knight captain’s skill long ago.
“I can be compared.”
Maya couldn’t let that comment slide without a response.
As she was talking with Serene, Maya suddenly felt a murderous intent.
“Excuse me.”
Maya pulled Serene into her arms.
Crash!
The terrace was shattered into pieces.
“What, what is this!”
For the first time, Serene screamed in a high-pitched voice.
—So you’re the fiend who killed the white snake.
A giant wolf grinned as it looked at Maya.
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