Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 103
Maya’s heart raced at Tristan’s compliment, out of her control once again. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that by not seeing him, it might calm down.
“Thank you, Tristan. You too.”
“My contribution pales in comparison to yours.”
Maya’s eyes snapped open. She disliked it when Tristan downplayed his own achievements.
“That’s not true.”
“What you’re feeling now is what I always feel about you.”
Tristan spoke as though he had been waiting to say it, leaving her momentarily speechless.
“There’s no need to be humble. Take more pride in what you do. You’re an incredible person.”
It feels like you’re the one who makes me feel amazing.
Maya nodded, breaking into laughter.
She was happy, so happy that she wished this feeling could last forever.
Little did she know what awaited her in the future.
* * *
The next morning, on her way back from training, Maya ran into Doshen, who promptly scolded her.
Maya listened to Doshen’s reproach quietly, as it was justified. From her sudden disappearance to ruining her dress, she hadn’t done anything right.
“That dress was crafted with such care by Madame Offrage!”
“It was a situation where the dress couldn’t be saved.”
But she felt a little unfairly judged to stay silent about it completely. Honestly, it had been a matter of life and death—who would have the presence of mind to worry about a dress?
‘How much does Doshen actually know’
Having taken her scolding, Maya decided it was time to assess the situation.
“Doshen, could you tell me what happened yesterday?”
“Really…”
Doshen shook her head, seemingly exasperated.
“Most people didn’t even notice you’d gone missing, given how chaotic things were.”
Though Maya had been a central figure at the banquet, the sudden appearance of the monster and the subsequent investigation had kept people moving back and forth between the reception hall and the guest rooms. No one had been able to keep track of who was where.
“That’s a relief.”
Maya sighed in relief.
“Did you go to defeat the monster?”
Considering her skill with a sword, it was a reasonable assumption, especially when connecting Maya to the fierce beast.
“Though the Grand Duke didn’t confirm, that’s what I suspect.”
Though Tristan and she had spoken at length the previous night, he hadn’t mentioned precisely what had happened while she was absent.
Doshen had heard Maya’s words in front of Emperor Reserfield—her insistence that she hadn’t awakened. So Maya nodded, her voice barely audible.
“…Yes.”
Doshen’s face grew darker upon hearing her confirmation.
“Did the Emperor find out?”
“No, he doesn’t. I managed to escape before then.”
As Maya recalled Reserfield’s face, she hesitated before adding,
“But he likely suspects me.”
No matter how well Serene Baker spoke on her behalf, it would be impossible to completely dispel Reserfield’s suspicions. His sharp intuition and distrust of others were precisely what had brought him so far.
“As it happens, the Emperor has already sent you an invitation.”
It was news that Tristan had delayed sharing to allow Maya to rest well.
Maya wasn’t surprised.
‘Of course he’d send one.’
Knowing the kind of person Reserfield was, this was exactly what she had anticipated.
“He has a lot of questions. You’re to present yourself at the palace tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
But she hadn’t expected him to demand her presence so soon.
‘I should coordinate with Serene, just in case.’
She would need to speak with Serene before the day was over if she wanted to avoid suspicion from Reserfield.
‘Meeting Serene Baker publicly will surely reach Reserfield’s ears.’
He was undoubtedly already keeping a close watch on House Bayarden and House Baker. But it wasn’t as if she didn’t have any options.
“Where is the Baker family’s manor located?”
The solution was simple: if she couldn’t visit officially, she could go unofficially.
Riding the wyvern might be too obvious…
Though taking the wyvern would be convenient, its size would make her an easy target for detection.
