Chapter 100
He was nervous.
Even though the date had been set as late as possible, Tristan wasn’t satisfied with the wedding.
The decorations and theme, which he had chosen himself because he couldn’t bring in a designer, now seemed wrong.
He should have used that beautiful dark brown, like Maya’s hair.
The roses by the window that hadn’t been fastened properly and dangled awkwardly annoyed him, too.
But more than anything…
He hated himself the most—for not being able to return to his true form on such an important day.
It seemed God was not on his side.
His body didn’t feel well either. The nightmares kept coming. He didn’t show it while dreaming, but upon waking, his mood was always low.
“For your sake, it should’ve been a perfect day.”
But the moment he saw Maya, all of it felt meaningless.
Tristan couldn’t take his eyes off her, smiling brightly at him.
If Maya was here, what did those worries matter?
Just her presence filled his entire world.
Tristan took Maya’s hand, lacing their fingers together.
If he didn’t touch her, he felt like he couldn’t accept this reality.
Yet the warmth from her hand only made his heart beat harder, not calmer.
“Does the dress look okay?”
Maya whispered. Tristan tightened his grip on her hand. Okay?
“It’s perfect, just like you always are.”
“Haha.”
Maya laughed, delighted.
Tristan felt a pang of disappointment, thinking she had taken his words as a joke.
“Every word I say to you is the truth.”
After her laughter faded, Maya whispered back,
“You too, Tristan. It suits you well.”
At first, complimenting others had been hard, but now it felt as easy as showing her true heart.
“That’s a relief.”
Seeing Tristan smile shyly (at least in Maya’s eyes) made her throat tighten with unsaid words.
It felt like she should say everything—but at the same time, she didn’t want to break the moment’s happiness, so she kept silent.
This moment, just the two of them looking at each other, was too precious.
“Ahem! Then, we’ll begin the wedding.”
Alec, who had been standing between them watching, cleared his throat.
“I’ve never been to a wedding, nor hosted one, so this will probably be a terrible job as officiant, but please bear with me.”
Clap clap. Applause rose from the guests at Alec’s words.
On Maya’s side, Kendrick sat in a prepared chair, and on Tristan’s side sat Doscien and Robert, who had accompanied Maya.
Of course, Kendrick didn’t clap or celebrate—he only glared at Tristan.
“Since there are no family or relatives among the guests, we’ll skip much of the ceremony and move straight to the vows.”
Tristan stared at Alec, incredulous. He had trusted him when he said he would handle everything, but this was awfully sloppy.
Maya, however, actually liked it this way. It meant the wedding would end sooner than expected.
“If it drags on too long, I’ll get hungry.”
She hadn’t eaten properly since waking at dawn, only grabbing a small snack.
She didn’t want hunger to be the first memory tied to her wedding day.
Alec avoided Tristan’s sharp look and began reading from his notes.
“Tristan Beiadin, do you swear to always respect and love Maya Pendragon?”
“I swear.”
Tristan answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“I certainly will.”
Maya’s heart tickled at his words.
“Maya Pendragon, do you swear to always respect and love Tristan Beiadin?”
Maya hesitated.
But then she realized—even if she left his side, that vow wouldn’t change.
So she was able to answer.
“I swear.”
Because Tristan would always remain in her heart.
And Tristan, of course, noticed her hesitation.
It pulled them a step away from what could’ve been a perfect day.
Hiding his tangled feelings, Tristan gave Maya a faint smile.
“These two have sworn to respect and love each other for life. I now declare them husband and wife.”
At Alec’s final words, flower petals rained down like fireworks.
They fluttered down onto Maya and Tristan.
“Now, please kiss!”
Alec smiled, relieved that he had managed his role.
Maya shyly awaited Tristan’s kiss.
The hall, raining with petals, and Tristan standing before her—it all felt like a memory she would treasure forever.
Tristan brushed away a petal that had landed on her lips.
Maya thought his gaze, fixed on her, looked unusually deep.
Those quiet, burning eyes were like fire.
“Maya.”
Tristan seemed… different somehow.
But it was something she couldn’t put into words.
Maya curled her toes.
That peculiar thrill she always felt when they touched—that tingling tension she tried to ignore—now rushed through her whole body.
Eyes could speak more than words.
Tristan’s face drew closer.
Maya closed her eyes.
Their lips, which had met that morning, touched again.
Breathless, giddy air passed between them.
Though the kiss was short—mindful of others watching—it was intense.
Maya broke away and smiled brightly.
It was a perfect wedding.
“I’ll remember this forever.”
But Tristan continued staring at her.
“…Tristan?”
Sensing something strange, Maya waved her hand in front of his face.
He had planned to wait.
With time together, he thought it only natural to eventually get there.
They loved each other. If he stayed by her side, raised her confidence, and let her confess in her own time, surely she wouldn’t leave.
But when he saw Maya hesitate, he realized he might have been too complacent.
Maya, Tristan, and the circumstances around them had changed constantly—yet Maya always remembered the contract.
To leave his side.
Everything else had shifted, but that fact remained.
…Unless Tristan shattered Maya’s “egg” and moved forward, their relationship might end here.
“I need to express my feelings more clearly.”
Tristan had wanted to confess only in a perfect moment.
At first, he thought a perfect confession was for Maya’s sake—but soon he understood it was his own selfishness.
The desire to appear flawless before the one he loved.
But as he watched Maya walking toward him today, dressed for their wedding, Tristan remembered the obvious truth.
“None of that matters with Maya.”
With her, any confession was perfect.
Just as today’s imperfect wedding had become perfect because of her.
Yes—if he could just convey his feelings, that was enough.
Even if he was clumsy. Even if he wasn’t enough.
“Maya, that vow’s kiss—I did it because I love you.”
Before his closest ones, before Maya herself, Tristan confessed in his unpolished voice.
His face looked youthful, but his tone was earnest. His voice was thin, but resolute.
“Today’s vow, and this wedding, are the same.”
Even he hadn’t expected to say it today.
It was impulsive—but he would not regret it.
Because his feelings were true.
“To me, you are…”
Maya’s honest face revealed nothing but surprise.
Behind her carefully hidden expressions, what was she really thinking?
Whatever it was—it didn’t matter.
He would endure it all and stay with her in the end.
“…my first and last love.”
His final words were both a confession and a vow to himself.
Maya blinked.
And at that moment, his body reacted instinctively.
His body really was hopeless at keeping secrets.
When she gave no reply, Tristan clenched his teeth.
He had to hear her answer.
To see how her expression would change, to hear what words her lips would form.
Her face, usually so easy to read, felt strangely unfamiliar today.
He needed to know.
Just as his anxiety reached its peak, Maya placed her hand over his clenched fist.
“We’ll go together, Tristan.”
The tension melted away, like ice under sunlight.
“I’ll wait at the door.”
Her gentle words soothed him.
“We can talk after that.”
Maya held his hand and pulled him along.
Tristan left Maya by the door as he changed clothes.
Fortunately, he had also prepared formal wear suited to his adult form.
As he put it on and took a deep breath, his heart settled.
He felt ready to hear her words.
Tristan opened the door.
“I thought it might be a long talk, so I brought some food.”
Maya pointed at the two-tiered tray.
Her calm face, and the way she had prepared food as usual, made a smile finally bloom on Tristan’s lips.
