Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 79
“Bloodline isn’t everything.”
It seemed that he had noticed Maya was thinking about the Pendragon family.
‘I said something similar to Maguire before.’
There were times when she had thoughts similar to Tristan’s. Maya smiled and closed her eyes.
Feeling much more at ease, Maya began to doze off.
Tristan’s embrace felt especially warm today.
As he watched Maya quickly fall asleep, Tristan became lost in thought.
‘I can feel myself growing stronger.’
Although his healing abilities were something he had been training regularly, his skills had always been mediocre.
He had realized long ago that it wasn’t something that could be improved by mere practice.
But ever since the death of the white snake, his power had definitely increased.
‘What was different about that creature?’
He had been staying in the library, searching for answers, but finding information wasn’t easy.
‘Perhaps in the imperial library.’
There was a growing possibility that he would need to search the imperial library.
***
The day of the banquet had dawned.
Typically, a noble lady would have begun her preparations diligently from the early hours, and Doshen had prepared accordingly, but Maya’s morning started differently.
Even on the morning of the banquet, Maya’s day began with training.
“I want to fight!”
“Just wait a little longer. They’ll show up soon.”
Besides the creatures that Kendrick had to deal with, there were plenty that Maya had vanquished as the leader of the knights.
It was during her time in the north, so she couldn’t recall the details exactly.
‘Where did it start again?’
She only knew that they had appeared in the capital, but the specifics were fuzzy.
However, it was only a matter of time.
“…But Wyvern, you’re unusually quiet today.”
Maya glanced at the wyvern standing behind her as she trained.
“Normally, you’d be begging to come along…”
The wyvern avoided Maya’s gaze, then awkwardly yawned. Haaah.
Maya took the yawn at face value.
“You must not be in the mood today.”
Concluding this, Maya hurried inside the mansion. Though Doshen understood her training, she had asked her to come quickly once it was finished.
Doshen’s touch was like that of a fairy, and the dress from Offrage was like magic conjured by one.
Was this how Cinderella from the fairy tale had felt?
The dress, elegantly blending pink and purple, reminded her of roses.
With slightly puffed sleeves and an off-shoulder top, the layered fabric evoked the image of rose petals.
‘It’s not just a dress—it’s a work of art.’
The confidence and pride that radiated from Offrage were born from her skill.
Not someone of noble blood like Maya, Offrage had achieved everything through her own efforts, and Maya found her truly admirable.
‘Dressing up like this puts me in a good mood.’
Having always worn ready-made dresses that were worn out to the point of tearing, she hadn’t realized that dressing up could be such a joyful experience.
‘I like this different side of myself.’
As she experienced things she hadn’t before, she felt new emotions. The process of discovering what she liked and disliked was satisfying.
Maya liked delicious food, meat, and desserts.
Now, she would add dressing up and adorning herself to that list.
“Now, once you put on this necklace…”
With a pleased expression, Doshen fastened a diamond necklace around Maya’s neck.
Maya gazed at her reflection in the mirror.
The dress and jewelry were armor and a helmet for the battle she would face alone.
The event she was about to attend wasn’t just a banquet to Maya, it was another battlefield.
Once she was ready, Maya headed to the main hall to board the waiting carriage.
At the front gate, Tristan, dressed as splendidly as if he were also attending the banquet, awaited her.
Though he appeared as a boy, which was not his usual age, she actually found it better.
‘At the ball held in honor of my birthday, he was an adult.’
How many people could experience their husband’s boyhood and adulthood?
…Of course, it was a contract marriage, but still.
Anyway, seeing Tristan’s face softened the tension that had been hardening in her heart.
“Maya.”
Tristan called Maya’s name as he approached her.
“Are you here to see me off? You’re all dressed up too? I’m so grateful.”
“It’s nowhere near as grand as yours… but my heart will be with you.”
Tristan gently tucked away the stray hairs that had come loose as Maya had rushed over to him.
“Yes.”
“I’ll be doing my part as well. Just don’t enjoy yourself too much.”
“My dancing skills are terrible, after all.”
“That’s not the reason…”
Tristan kissed Maya’s hand and spoke.
“It’s just, I might get jealous.”