Chapter 102
Like how a puzzle forms a complete picture once all the pieces are in place, Tristan finally understood Maya.
Where her words and attitude had come from.
…So even when she overworked herself to awaken quickly, it must have been related.
Naturally, he could imagine what her past must have been like.
After proposing to Maya, the Tristan of old would have gone to meet her in person to persuade her.
…But without Maya in the North, there was no way he could have defeated the White Serpent so easily.
If it was something serious enough that I couldn’t even face Maya myself…
Then Alec must have died.
Because of his funeral and the matter of appointing the next Knight Commander, Tristan would have been too occupied to deal with anything else until after the White Serpent was defeated.
By the time he had finished those urgent matters and tried to see Maya again, she would already have fallen into Lisefield’s grasp.
With the blood of an awakened Pendragon, Lisefield would have run rampant, without fear.
The suppression of monsters must have been much messier than it is now.
Without Maya’s overwhelming swordsmanship, all the monsters they had defeated so far would have taken far longer to bring down—naturally causing far heavier damage.
…Whether that giant monster had ended her life, or whether she had died at someone else’s hand, was uncertain. But what mattered was this:
I would have reached the same conclusion.
For the sake of protecting his people, for the sake of moving forward, Tristan would have made the same choice.
And eventually, he would have met Maya again.
…It must have been an unavoidable choice.
Already losing her sense of self, Maya might have believed that suicide was the only way she could atone.
…She might have thought she had to do it.
But Tristan knew.
Maya was the same person then as she was now, her outlook on life no different.
The only difference was that back then, Maya had no one on her side.
No one had shown her the world.
She had had to learn and endure life entirely on her own, and that life had been harsh—especially for someone who had devoted everything to the sword.
…Ordinary people might have blamed Lisefield alone for all of it, but Maya hadn’t.
Because for her, that was never even an option.
Maya was a person who was brutally honest with herself—harsh, upright, and uncompromising.
“Maya, you’re a good person too.”
“I’m trying. But compared to you, I still fall short.”
Maya gave her merciless judgment.
“If you put it that way, then I’m also a coward who tried to shackle you with marriage in order to lift my curse.”
“Then it was mutual wrongdoing!”
When Tristan judged himself the way Maya always judged him, Maya jumped up in protest.
“That was a contract I needed as well, so it’s absolutely not like that, Tristan!”
Tristan chuckled softly.
I figured she’d say that.
Whether he gave compliments or spoke truths, Maya’s own measure of his worth never changed easily.
It was already clear from the moment he confessed his heart today.
Because Maya believed herself far too lacking.
In that case…
“Have I now heard the whole story?”
Tristan asked in a slow voice, and Maya nodded.
“Yes.”
“What am I to do then, Maya?”
If her attitude wouldn’t change—
“…I still love even that part of you.”
He only needed to show her that he loved her as she was.
“You’re still my first love.”
She didn’t need to become any better than she already was. She didn’t need to prove herself before him.
Holding his breath, Tristan brushed Maya’s flushed cheek.
“Far from disliking what I’ve learned about you, I only want to know more.”
Was the warmth in her reddened cheeks just from the apple wine?
Tristan’s hand moved down to Maya’s clenched fist.
“…All of you.”
His lips touched the back of her hand.
Even after she had revealed everything, Tristan’s attitude hadn’t changed.
No—he was even more earnest than before she had spoken.
…Am I dreaming because I drank too much?
Maya stomped on her own foot with the other. Ouch! It hurt enough to bring tears to her eyes.
No, everything happening now was real.
“Don’t think I’m only saying these things because I’m too kind.”
Startled by Maya stomping her foot, Tristan dropped to his knees and muttered.
“To think so would insult my sincerity, Maya.”
She had thought that since Tristan always listened to her well, he would respect her decision and accept it after hearing her story.
…And naturally, that they would return to the way they had been before.
…And yet he still says he loves someone like me?
That he loved Maya, knowing who she was?
That he loved her just as she was?
Coming from no one else but Tristan?
Maya blinked. She couldn’t put into words what she felt.
Her heart swelled so painfully it felt like it might burst, only to sink again. The emotion left behind at the edges was unfamiliar.
What was this feeling? Maya thought hard.
Yes, it was…
The sorrow she had felt the first time she saw Tristan. Maya swallowed the emotions rising within her.
“Maya.”
After checking her foot, Tristan raised his head.
Kneeling to look at her foot, dressed in a pristine white suit, he looked like an angel who had descended to save her.
“…I don’t expect you to accept me right away.”
His steady gaze didn’t demand an answer from Maya.
It only calmly read her.
“You’ll push me away again, saying it’s for my sake.”
He was so accurate it startled her.
“But Maya, that’s only what you think. In truth, that’s not for my sake at all.”
Tristan’s eyes glimmered.
“Truly doing something for me… would be your confession.”
“…Another confession? Do I really need to make another one?”
She had already confessed plenty today, hadn’t she? Maya asked with a puzzled face, and Tristan rolled his eyes.
“Yes. I’m still waiting for the most important one.”
“….”
“That you love me too.”
Maya’s eyes went wide.
How did he know?
No—it was probably just something he said casually. Maya looked at him, clutching her pounding heart.
Gulp. She swallowed hard, struggling to stay calm, but it was useless.
“How did you know, Tristan?”
“You didn’t deny it.”
“…Because I’ve already been found out.”
His eyes told her plainly that nothing could be hidden from him.
When Maya admitted it honestly, Tristan’s eyes curved as he smiled.
“We can talk about that later. For now, what matters most is something else.”
He stroked Maya’s hand.
“Maya.”
That was the beginning.
Lowering his eyes slightly, Tristan’s voice grew softer. His gaze was as deep as a winter night.
“Our bodies have already connected. Now it’s time for our hearts to do the same.”
“…Why does that sound so strange to me?”
Was it because it was their wedding day? Or because she had felt a peculiar emotion earlier when they faced each other in the hall?
For some reason, the words sounded indecent.
Her whole body tensed, her skin prickling. It felt like her hazy mind had been snapped awake.
From the moment they began talking about the past until now, she hadn’t been herself.
Feelings she had never thought she was capable of had crashed down on her.
Tristan chuckled and murmured in a low voice:
“But isn’t it stranger if only our bodies are connected?”
Hearing him say that… it really did make sense.
“Unless…”
Tristan’s face drew closer as he sat up beside her.
So close she could feel his breath, he whispered:
“Was it only my body you intended to take, Madam?”
When had their mutually protective contract become this unfair?
Of course, she knew he was half-joking, his tone tinged with laughter!
“Don’t you think that’s unfair, Maya?”
Maya quickly nodded.
“Of course.”
But it seemed Tristan wasn’t finished yet.
“You intended to take my heart too, didn’t you?”
Had Tristan ever been this infuriating?
“When did you become so shameless?”
“From the moment I decided I would seduce you.”
“….”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
Maya blinked at him.
“Because I love you that much.”
Tristan’s smile as he said it was beautiful.
Even after she had realized everything.
“Let’s continue this talk tonight. For now, let’s finish the banquet. They must be waiting outside.”
Tristan rose and turned his back to her.
“Go on ahead. I’ll follow right behind.”
And until Maya left the room, Tristan kept his back turned.
