Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 46
At the mention of ‘husband,’ Maya’s mind went blank.
Despite knowing they were in a contract relationship, she couldn’t help but dwell on his words.
“But… it’s a contract relationship.”
“The title doesn’t change. And currently, I am on your side, am I not?”
On my side.
“No matter what you do, I’ll join you.”
A peculiar feeling stirred in Maya at Tristan’s repeated assurance of being on her side.
It felt like her heart was racing.
‘Do I feel moved?’
No, it was difficult to pin down this emotion as purely joy.
Her fingertips tingled. Her heart seemed to beat louder.
She was glad she had a fever. Otherwise, her flushed face would give her away because of his words.
It was all because Tristan was such a good person.
‘Calm down.’
Maya’s eyes widened. She needed to stay focused.
Maya Pendragon.
‘Tristan Bayarden isn’t someone you should be with.’
Tristan’s actions stemmed from his inherent kindness.
He wouldn’t say such things with any other intention, so there’s no point in misunderstanding.
Above all, now wasn’t the time to be flustered by his words—Maya finally admitted it to herself—it was more urgent to convince Tristan.
“Just wait like you did today, Tristan. After I catch the snake monster, you can heal me.”
“I followed you so that we could fight together, not to send you off alone, Maya.”
Back and forth, the argument continued, and Maya struggled to find her words.
Tristan’s skillful way with words was too much for her to handle.
“I have to do this alone for my awakening.”
“Delaying your awakening is better than you dying.”
Their argument went on, and Tristan’s voice grew softer.
“Why do you always try to do everything alone?”
Tristan’s words, laden with incomprehension, struck Maya’s heart.
“That’s just how I’ve been living my life.”
Hearing Maya mumble those words, Tristan regained his rationality.
“Just because you’ve lived your life that way doesn’t mean you have to continue in the same manner.”
Tristan returned to his gentle expression and took Maya’s hand.
“It’s okay to rely on others.”
But one cannot rely on someone else for their whole life.
We’ll part ways once the contract ends, after all.
Maya didn’t bother bringing that up.
She didn’t want to see Tristan’s reaction to those words.
Is there a way for both to be somewhat satisfied?
What would that be?
“Then, Tristan, let’s do this.”
Maya found a compromise.
“If I don’t come out after three days, come and get me.”
It took her ten days to awaken in the past.
But that was without catching a wyvern, and right after coming up from the capital.
“You can use your healing powers on me freely then.”
Maya’s face was resolute, her eyes burning redder than the sunset behind her.
“Let’s make a promise, Maya.”
Waiting for her answer, Tristan…
With a gaze as steadfast as an ancient tree that remains firmly rooted through all seasons and disasters.
“Starting with the next fight, I will participate from the beginning.”
“…”
“Whether you awaken or not, nothing changes.”
Of course, Maya’s awakening was crucial for Tristan as well.
It was a way to reclaim a life that had been hidden.
But he disliked the idea of Maya risking her life for her awakening.
“I mean it.”
“…I know.”
Maya knew Tristan meant what he said because he wasn’t one to speak carelessly.
“I know you’re saying this because you care about me.”
It wasn’t that Maya didn’t believe Tristan’s words.
It’s just that every time she heard them, she didn’t know how to react or respond.
The more she talked with Tristan, the more she found herself at a loss for words.
How could he act this way, knowing that without her awakening, his life couldn’t properly continue?
Maya stared intently at Tristan.
“Tristan, I will awaken this time. So, there’s no premise of ‘even if I don’t awaken’.”
Maya decided to plant hope in his life.
“I will surely do so.”
Because that was what Maya could do.
***
Maya’s injuries were not severe, thanks in part to the cloak given to her by Kendrick, which had protective magic activated.
The cloak faithfully performed its duty and eventually informed Kendrick of Maya’s location.
“She’s quite far away.”
Stuffing Maya’s favorite foods into his bag, Kendrick began to move.
