Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 107
Serene had never encountered anyone like Maya in high society.
There was no pretense in any of her actions.
She was honest, genuine, and didn’t excessively humble herself.
Her advice flowed naturally, as if born from true experience.
She had both the resolve to walk her own path and a sincere consideration for others.
‘How could someone like this come from the Pendragon family?’
Unless she was living a second life, it seemed almost impossible.
Maya extended her hand to Serene.
“Take my hand. Let’s go to the Bayarden manor together.”
She wanted to reach out, to get closer to Maya.
“But…”
What came out of Serene’s mouth wasn’t a word of thanks or acknowledgment.
Being raised as a noble, with courtesy ingrained to her bones, she hesitated, feeling that stepping forward now would be an imposition.
What if Count Baker discovered her absence?
They had only just started to establish trust—was it necessary to risk so much already?
Serene clenched and unclenched her fists anxiously.
‘This is hard.’
She had always lived with predetermined answers.
Faced with an unfamiliar situation that required her own decision, Serene found herself hesitating again and again.
“To break free from family ties, you may need to do even harder things than this,” Maya said, sensing Serene’s hesitation. “You need to break out of the shackles of your current life.”
Those words ignited something within Serene.
How much longer could she remain stuck?
Without taking the first step, nothing would ever change.
Staying put would only mean surrendering to her current life.
Serene stepped into Maya’s embrace.
Once outside, Maya swiftly cleared the guards and magical barriers, heading for the Bayarden estate.
As Serene was carried out of the Baker residence, she felt a pang of emptiness.
It was surprisingly easy to escape.
‘Why didn’t I ever try to leave?’
At least now, she was certain she felt no lingering attachment to her father.
She was fed up with his claim of ‘love’ as he manipulated her to his liking.
…With the help of the Grand Duchess sitting beside her now, she would find a way to escape her father’s grasp.
***
Coincidentally, it was dinnertime when Tristan regained his true form.
Recently, he could sustain his form for up to five hours, though the timing of the shifts had become increasingly erratic—likely an effect of the Pendragon by his side.
He had sent a letter to Alec and Robert in the north detailing the current situation.
Though using carrier pigeons was slower than the mage towers or guild services, it was considerably safer.
He’d heard that Maya had gone to the Baker estate and assumed she would return shortly.
As he prepared dinner, he was glad at the thought of being able to dine with her in his true form.
It had been a long time since he’d shared a meal like this.
But the pleasant mood did not last.
“You mentioned that you wanted to meet and speak with Serene Baker, didn’t you?”
Yes, Tristan had indeed expressed his desire to meet Serene Baker with Maya.
“So, I brought her here. She was being kept under house arrest in her own home.”
He just hadn’t expected to meet her this soon.
***
Maya hadn’t just brought Serene to Tristan on a whim.
After arriving safely at the Bayarden estate, Maya entered through the main gate, proceeding with respect.
The Bayarden estate employed only a small staff, all of whom were aware of Tristan’s secret.
There was no risk of anything being leaked.
These were people who had trusted and supported Tristan for years, allowing him the chance to make the choice himself:
If he wished to meet her, he could come, or if not, he could say he wasn’t available.
Whether he was in his true form or his younger form, she couldn’t be sure.
“Allow me to escort you to the drawing room,” Doshen said, handling the rare guest with her usual composure.
She also knew the guest’s last name was “Baker,” and that Count Baker was the man responsible for her husband’s death.
‘But what fault does his daughter bear in that?’
