Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 78
“Carry me?”
“We’ve already shared a bed, so this is nothing, right?”
“…”
“It’s also to help lift the curse.”
For Maya to not lose herself, such contact was undoubtedly necessary.
There wasn’t much time to ponder.
“That’s true.”
As soon as Maya nodded, Tristan naturally lifted her as if she were a princess.
“Woah—”
Maya wrapped her arms around Tristan’s neck with a small exclamation.
Embarrassed by the soft sound that came out of her mouth, she cleared her throat.
“Um, this is embarrassing.”
“It’s fine.”
Tristan added in a low voice. The sincerity in his intense gaze made Maya tense.
“In front of me.”
His face, blending with the almost-set sun, was as beautiful as a masterpiece.
‘I feel strange again.’
It was as if someone was tickling her heart with a feather.
Did Tristan know?
That his smile, tone, and actions were shaking Maya.
That he kept knocking on the door of her heart, which she tried to keep closed because he was too good for her.
‘…Considering how much blood is on these hands.’
Maya resolved not to read too much into Tristan’s actions.
She smiled firmly again today.
“Alright.”
“…”
“Until the contract ends.”
But Maya forgot.
She might think she was hiding it, but her face transparently revealed her thoughts.
‘She’s shaken.’
He didn’t know to what extent.
But just knowing that she was shaken was enough to satisfy Tristan.
***
The day before the banquet, Offrage’s dresses safely arrived at the Bayarden mansion.
After fitting the dress and taking a bath, Maya lay on the bed.
Since visiting Offrage, Maya had been completely exhausted, and Doshen had taken care of preparing the necessary accessories and jewelry for her.
As she lay down, she couldn’t fall asleep easily.
‘The banquet is tomorrow.’
The realization that the day to see Reserfield was almost here hit Maya hard.
She imagined how she would react when she met Reserfield.
She would have to praise herself just for not slitting his throat….
But most of all, she was worried about what might come out of her mouth.
‘I don’t even know what I might say.’
She was very concerned about the first impression as the Grand Duchess of Bayarden.
‘I should talk about it in advance.’
It seemed proper to maintain boundaries regarding matters related to Tristan.
She couldn’t leave any blemish on Tristan’s perfect life.
‘Or should I ask Tristan for a good approach?’
Maybe asking Tristan if he had a better idea would be good.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Tristan, lying next to Maya, whispered in her ear, tickling her.
“I’m worried about what might happen if I ruin the banquet.”
Tristan laughed at Maya’s words.
“I’m serious.”
“I know, it’s fine.”
His immediate answer confused Maya even more.
“What do you mean by ‘it’s fine’…?”
“House Bayarden has long been disliked by the emperor and the high society. It means it doesn’t matter if you do.”
It was something that would make Doshen jump up, but Tristan was sincere.
His conviction grew stronger as he began observing the capital more closely.
Compared to the land frozen over and periodically plagued by monsters, this place was like heaven, yet people were unhappier than those in the north.
Because of one man.
And the recent silence from Emperor Reserfield was suspicious.
There were rumors that Otto Pendragon, Elise, and their son Maguire had disappeared from the gambling dens recently.
There was no way those addicted to gambling would quit suddenly. They were either dead or hiding.
So why?
He had a gut feeling that Reserfield and House Pendragon were conspiring.
They would likely try to break Maya’s spirit at this banquet.
Though he doubted it would work on Maya….
Still, he didn’t want to see her in a difficult situation.
“I mean it, Maya. Say whatever you want.”
Maya looked into Tristan’s eyes.
When she looked into Tristan’s eyes, she really felt she could do that.
It was dangerous. The more time she spent with Tristan, the more spoiled she became.
“…Tristan, you seem to always take my side too much.”
Tristan replied as if it was obvious.
“A husband is family too, you know.”
Family.
“If your family doesn’t take your side, who will?”
The word Maya hadn’t considered deeply struck her mind.
