Will Smart Keyboard work without connecting to iPad?

I use my 12.9 iPad Pro to illustrate with the Pencil. Currently my setup is with a Luna display and I use my Magic Keyboard to use all of the quick key shortcuts while I draw. If I were to purchase a Smart Keyboard, connection, from what the website tells me, is through the pin connectors. Having the keyboard mounted while trying to draw with the pencil is quite uncomfortable because of the angle my left hand will need to be in. It would be much more comfortable with it to the side as my photo shows.

Can the Smart Keyboard connect via bluetooth while not mounted to the iPad Pro? I like having the Smart Keyboard for other protection and applications, while knowing that in the future, as illustrator or photoshop on the iPad will support keyboard shortcuts, I can use it for this purpose.