TGDM 04

Chapter 04

“I see. We didn’t meet Mikhail.”

In the first place, the expedition team hadn’t stayed inside the Black Rift for fifteen years.
Time didn’t flow normally in that place, so it wasn’t certain—but at most, it had been around five years.

“Then… what about the families of the expedition members?”

At the sudden thought, I asked urgently.

“They said they moved to Belken, where the Black Rift had occurred, and waited for the expedition’s return for a long time. But now….”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask further.

When Mikhail was still alive, he must have taken good care of them.
Perhaps he even supported them for a few generations afterward.

But now, three hundred years had passed, and the very existence of the nation was in danger.

‘No.’

This couldn’t be.

Our journey, our promise—it couldn’t end like this.

I almost wanted to believe this man was simply talking nonsense.
That it was all a bad joke.
Or that I was having a nightmare.

“Are you alright? You look like you’re not breathing….”

The man cautiously placed a hand on my back.

The sensation was so vivid that it made it even harder to breathe.
As if it was proving that all of this was real.

‘Get a grip. This isn’t the time.’

I barely managed to steady myself from collapsing.

Even if I was shocked, it wouldn’t undo what had already happened—or turn back the years that had passed.

Three hundred years.

If that much time had passed outside, the expedition members who had scattered to meet their families would not be able to fulfill that wish.

If they were lucky, perhaps they could meet their descendants.

‘We were supposed to hold a grand victory banquet.’

If I went to the King of Vardia now, revealed my identity, and demanded a celebration of return—what would happen?

‘Would they throw me out as a madman?’

Even if I proved my identity as the expedition leader, there would still be another problem.

‘They might host the banquet, sure.’

But afterward, if they tried to use royal authority to control me and the expedition members as they pleased…

Then something far beyond imagination would happen.

‘If I want to keep control, I need to plan this properly.’

In order to create a foundation where the expedition members—who had trusted and followed me—and their descendants could live happily, I couldn’t afford a single mistake.

‘Because that will be my final duty.’

For that, I couldn’t let Vardia collapse as it was.

We needed to drive out external enemies and cut out the corruption inside, restoring stability somehow.

‘And if the king is incompetent, I’ll replace him if I have to.’

I would secure compensation.

Until I could place it all into the hands of those who had suffered and their descendants, I would fulfill my responsibility.

…And if possible, it would be even better to uncover the truth behind Mikhail’s disappearance.

“Slowly, breathe with me. You must have been very shocked earlier.”

I glanced at the man who was steadily rubbing my back.

‘As expected… his mana scent is almost indistinguishable from Mikhail’s.’

A mana scent couldn’t be identical just because they practiced the same cultivation method.

Will, character, the way one lived—all of it seeped into it, deepening its distinct flavor.

In other words, this man possessed not only a body anyone would envy, but also the qualities of a virtuous ruler that Mikhail once had.

‘He said he’s the deposed crown prince.’

Even if he was now a hostage, he was still the legitimate eldest son of the current King of Vardia.

That alone made him worth betting on.

‘For now, I’ll stay close to him and gather information.’

It would also give me time to determine whether he was someone capable of ushering in a second renaissance for Vardia.

Revealing my identity would come after that.

“I’m fine now.”

I pushed his arm away.

He tilted his head and studied my face for a long moment, as if still worried, before finally nodding.

“Why don’t you ask who I am?”

“Your name, you mean?”

“Not just that. Aren’t you curious? I could even be an assassin, you know. You don’t seem very cautious.”

At my slightly reproachful words, he replied,

“I can sense malice in others. If you were skilled enough to conceal even that, I would already be dead.”

So he did have some basis for his trust.

Still… wasn’t he a bit too naive?

“Even so… didn’t you misunderstand earlier and think I was attacking you? Doesn’t that count as malice?”

“That wasn’t malice… no, wait.”

He stiffened and asked back,

“Was that… a misunderstanding?”

“Yes. I only fell on you because my teleportation spell malfunctioned. I couldn’t move or speak properly afterward due to the aftereffects, so I couldn’t explain anything.”

At my explanation, he looked genuinely startled.

“So I… made a mistake. No wonder things were going too smoothly….”

He muttered weakly, clearly flustered.

Then, as if realizing something too late, he helped me up from his lap.

“I know an apology isn’t enough, but… I’m sorry.”

Having realized his misunderstanding, he seemed unsure what to do.

“I can’t immediately make it up to you, but I will compensate you later—”

“There is something you can do right now.”

I quickly cut him off.

“I’d like to stay here as your maid for the time being.”

He looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“…What?”

“I don’t have family or a home to return to. Could you be my guardian for a while?”

At my answer, he hesitated, rubbing his brow with his hand.

“You must have some idea of my situation.”

“Yes, to some extent.”

“And yet you still want to depend on me.”

His voice came out low and restrained.

“If you just need a place to stay right now—”

“I like it here.”

And my target is you, so where else would I go?

“……”

My stubborn attitude left him speechless.

So I added, pointing out something practical he might worry about.

“I’ll handle any issues regarding status or employment myself, so you don’t need to worry about that.”

With the powers of deceitful demons, blending into this castle would be easy enough.

“So? Will you allow it?”

After staring at me silently for a long moment, he let out a small sigh.

“I can’t… refuse you.”

I had prepared arguments to persuade him further, but he accepted far too easily.

As expected, he was a bit… no, very soft.

“You can call me Ser from now on.”

Three hundred years had passed. How many people would still remember the name Isserna Airvain?

If I introduced myself simply as “Isserna,” no one would connect it to anything.

Still, better to avoid using it for now.

“I’m Elhart.”

As if returning my introduction, he gave his name.

“Then… should I call you Master?”

I had never been a maid, nor had I ever kept one, so I didn’t know how this was supposed to work.

Even the form of address was confusing.

Seeing his expression shift strangely, I quickly revised my suggestion.

“Or Prince? Which do you prefer?”

“Just using my name would be better.”

“Isn’t that a bit improper? I feel like I shouldn’t just casually call someone I serve by name.”

“No one will care.”

Hmm… maybe?

“Alright then.”

If that’s what he wants, it can’t be helped.

“Elhart…?”

“…Yes.”

Why is he suddenly avoiding my gaze?

Maybe he’s not used to being called by name.

‘Well, he is royalty.’

Seeing his ears turn slightly red made me feel briefly awkward too, but I quickly composed myself.

Now then.

What should I do next?

With even the form of address settled, I should probably start acting like a maid.

As I thought about it and looked at him, I noticed his robe was half undone.

‘Fixing clothing is a classic maid duty.’

The moment I reached out suddenly, he looked quite startled.

“What are you doing?”

Before I could reach my target, he grabbed my wrist.

I could have avoided it easily, but that would have made things more suspicious, so I obediently let him hold it.

“Didn’t you just say it was a misunderstanding?”

“I was going to straighten your clothes. That’s what a maid does.”

“Th-that…”

His eyes wavered wildly, unable to settle.

“I see…”

Having accepted the misunderstanding, Elhart released my wrist.

I lifted his loosely hanging robe back up over his shoulders and neatly adjusted it so his chest wouldn’t be exposed.

Then I smoothed out the wrinkles and pulled it tight.

All that was left was to retie the waist string—

“I’ll do that.”

His voice stopped me, sounding unexpectedly urgent.