Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 118
“But it was just luck. There’s no guarantee I’ll be the one manipulating the magic tool next time, so either conceal your face better or take other measures.”
“Your tone is quite insolent.”
“I thought you’d accept at least this much since I helped hide the Grand Duke’s identity.”
Maya tilted her head in curiosity.
Kendrick and Tristan were always bickering whenever they met, but today Kendrick seemed unusually sharp.
“Kendrick, are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
“The more you ask, the less okay I feel…”
Kendrick slipped beside Maya and pretended to press his forehead.
“You know I’ve always had a weak constitution.”
“That’s true.”
“Can I lean on you for a bit?”
Tristan, who had been listening to their conversation, inserted himself between Maya and Kendrick, taking a seat.
“Given the height difference, leaning on me would be much more comfortable than on Maya.”
“That’s probably true.”
Maya agreed with Tristan’s comment. Kendrick sighed and stood back up.
“Well, I’ve had a good meal, and I’ve told you everything I needed to, so I’d better get going.”
Did he have to leave already?
Though Maya felt regretful, she didn’t try to stop him—Kendrick probably had other things to do.
“Come visit again.”
“Of course.”
Kendrick nodded with a smile.
“I’ll walk you to the front.”
“An honor, to be escorted by the Grand Duchess herself.”
Kendrick didn’t decline the offer.
“…I’ll come along too.”
Tristan, unwilling to let them go off alone, followed Maya.
As they talked, time flew by.
By the time they stepped outside, the sun was setting.
The snow, which had continued falling while they were talking, had now blanketed the world in white.
The sky shimmered with a pink hue, and the snow reflected the sunset’s color, painting the world in warm tones.
Lost in the beautiful scenery, Maya stood in a daze.
Kendrick’s eyes briefly lost focus as he stared at the sunset before returning to normal.
While admiring the sunset, Maya suddenly realized something strange about what Kendrick had said earlier.
“These monsters are special. They’re related to the Demon King.”
This was something Maya had already heard from Pendragon.
But it wasn’t something she had ever explicitly told Kendrick—or even Tristan.
‘How does Kendrick…?’
How did he know that the giant monsters were related to the Demon King?
A chill ran down her spine.
Something felt off.
Today’s Kendrick was still Kendrick, but at the same time, he didn’t feel like himself.
She needed to question the source of her unease.
“Well, I really should be going now.”
Kendrick gave her a regretful farewell.
Maya grabbed Kendrick’s hand.
“What’s gotten into you…?”
Kendrick looked at her, his face touched.
“Kendrick Arkisia.”
Maya called his name.
“What?”
“How did you know that the monsters are the Demon King’s subordinates?”
“…Well, that’s…”
Kendrick chuckled nervously, his words trailing off.
“That’s…”
Kendrick repeated the phrase, over and over again.
“That’s…”
Like a broken machine, Kendrick kept repeating the same words. His eyes lost focus.
After hanging his head, Kendrick raised it again.
But his eyes were no longer his own.
“I thought I hid it well.”
The voice that came from Kendrick was thin and sharp.
“Maya, step back!”
Tristan grabbed Maya’s shoulders and pulled her away, creating distance from Kendrick, who was speaking strange words.
“I expected the brainwashing wouldn’t fully take, but I didn’t think it would fail this badly.”
Kendrick’s mouth stretched into an unnatural grin—something no human could do.
“Still, pretending to be human was amusing. You’re quite clever, descendant of Pendragon.”
Maya immediately summoned Pendragon and pointed her sword at Kendrick.
More precisely, at the monster inhabiting his body.
“What are you afraid of?”
The monster asked Maya.
Maya didn’t answer, but her trembling hands betrayed her unease.
Suddenly, a vision filled Maya’s mind—a vision of Kendrick devoured by an illusionary monster.
And of Maya, unable to do anything.
Her thoughts filled with torment, a chain of emotions unlike her usual self.
As if someone were manipulating her.
‘It’s an ability.’
Maya gripped Pendragon’s sword and swung it.
The monster laughed gleefully before reaching out its hand.
From Kendrick’s hand—now controlled by the monster—white powder began to spill.
