Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 42
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Exactly two hours later, Maya woke up in time with the new day’s sunrise.
She immediately took out the rope buried in the snow, tying it around her waist.
She left her bag behind as it was cumbersome. Reducing baggage was best for fighting.
‘How long has it been since I fought properly?’
To be precise, it wasn’t fighting but capturing, yet the closer the day to see the White Dragon sword came, the more excited she became.
He was one of the few she could talk to.
“Alright, let’s eat first.”
She reignited the fire from the still-warm embers and started roasting the meat.
“You need a full stomach to help with the fight.”
“I’ll cook too.”
Tristan, rubbing his sleepy eyes, sat next to Maya to shake off the sleepiness.
“Here, this is for you, Tristan.”
As Maya shared the meat with Tristan, she observed him intently.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No, it’s just… looking at your young face made me think…”
Maya paused, causing Tristan to become uncharacteristically tense. It was his first time moving around so openly in his younger form, and he wondered if he was missing something.
“Maybe it would have been okay to act in this state.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, I can tell you’re different from your usual self, but other people don’t know what the ‘Grand Duke’ looks like.”
Maya’s words made Tristan chuckle.
“Thanks for seeing it that way… but it doesn’t make sense, timing-wise.”
The Emperor always kept a sharp eye on the Bayarden family.
If Tristan had started social activities without lifting his curse, the Emperor would have seized every opportunity to attach people to him at every moment.
Eventually, they would have discovered the curse.
Not only that, but they would have attacked Tristan, who now looked younger.
The Emperor was the kind of man who had killed his own brother to seize the throne.
The Emperor was still securing his unstable position, struggling.
Unless a genius capable of captivating the people appeared, the current situation would continue.
His side would keep looking for someone to attack, and eventually, Tristan would become the target.
So, it was better to take the initiative from this side.
“It seems I must engage in social activities.”
Sensing her darkening mood, Tristan thought she might be thinking about her troubled family.
“Is it because of your family?”
“No, I was disowned anyway.”
“Then what is it?”
“There’s someone in high society I don’t want to encounter.”
Maya’s eyes dimmed, revealing a depth of darkness that was usually hidden.
It seemed likely that this was related to a secret Maya had yet to disclose.
‘I want to ask.’
Who was Maya avoiding?
He didn’t even fully understand her relationship with Kendrick.
There might have been others Maya interacted with.
‘Is it a man?’
Was there another man, unknown to Tristan, aside from Kendrick? Someone who had formed such a deep connection with Maya that it brought worry to her usually carefree face.
He felt wary of someone he hadn’t even seen.
‘Who could it be…’
Tristan barely stopped himself from voicing the thought.
‘We’re not even a real couple.’
They had started a contractual relationship by mutual agreement.
He felt he had no right to ask, yet he was curious.
He wanted to ask…
“Looks like I really need to eat more energetically.”
Seeing Maya’s smiling face made his turmoil disappear.
‘How did she conclude that not wanting to encounter someone means she needs to eat more energetically?’
Tristan swallowed his laughter.
“Have some of this too.”
Tristan handed her the meat he had cooked.
“Thank you.”
Maya didn’t hesitate to grab the stick. Their hands touched momentarily, and it was hotter than he expected.
When he unconsciously tried to hold on, Maya’s hand slipped away like an eel.
‘Was it my imagination?’
He had told her to speak up if she was in pain.
Tristan’s eyes narrowed.
‘She might be lying.’
Self-deprecation seemed second nature to her.
Perhaps not taking care of herself was part of that.
‘And how she easily talks about pain.’
Why was she so indifferent about herself?
“Maya—”
Maya quickly stood up.
“I’ll go out first to digest!”
Tristan silently let Maya leave, wrapped in her cloak and dashing out of the cave. Her whole body was saying not to follow.
‘She seems to want to avoid it.’
There would be limits to staying still if a truly dangerous situation arose.
He needed to be cautious.
Tristan gripped his sword sheath.
Slowly rising, Tristan moved with deliberate steps.
