DCHWT 51

Chapter 51

Kendrick was flustered by the unexpected situation.

Monsters’ corpses do rot over time, but he had never seen one disappear this suddenly.

“What’s going on…?”

Kendrick used magic to try and keep the dust together.

He summoned a small whirlwind to gather the scattered remains.

The dust seemed to gather briefly—then dispersed again.

As if someone were deliberately interfering with him.

…Unless someone more powerful than me intervened, it shouldn’t be possible to render an already-activated spell useless like this.

There was no sign of anyone nearby. Kendrick scanned the area again.

Flap. A blue butterfly flew in from somewhere and landed on Kendrick.

“A pitiful wolf and white snake—just corpses, really.”

A voice Kendrick didn’t recognize whispered in his ear.

He flinched and turned his head sharply. But the area was eerily silent.

“Who’s there?”

The butterfly clung to the back of his head and continued.

“They were meant to be sacrificed for that person anyway. Still… it wouldn’t hurt to collect a few more offerings before I go.”

Realizing the voice was coming from directly behind his head, Kendrick quickly tried to turn again.

“I also need to deliver that for the sake of the future.”

The butterfly evaded Kendrick’s hand with ease and began emitting a blue mist.

“Consider it your final dance before death.”

The butterfly giggled and whispered once more.

“Blame your frail mind. I’m weak against brute force, after all.”

They always say the ones who seem strong on the outside are the weakest within. As if those muttered words were a signal, Kendrick’s eyes began to close slowly.

The magic glowing at his fingertips fizzled out before it could shine.

✦ ✦ ✦

After a long bath, Maya changed into her nightgown. The bed smelled fresh—must’ve been newly laundered.

She lay down, waiting for Tristan to return.

She was ready, once again, to do everything she could to lift his curse tonight.

“It’s not like I have ulterior motives.”

Feeling oddly guilty, Maya murmured to herself.

Physical contact with Tristan was necessary to lift his curse—and to help her keep her sanity.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

But…

She kept replaying what Tristan had said and done earlier that day.

The urgency she had suppressed came flooding back now that she was alone.

It was always the same—Tristan’s tenderness never got easier to handle.

Go to sleep.

Maya exhaled slowly and closed her eyes.

Usually, sleep came easily. But tonight, her eyes stayed wide open. The empty spot beside her didn’t help.

She’d grown used to having Tristan beside her.

This isn’t good.

She knew it was foolish to act like this when he would eventually leave. But she couldn’t help it. Her body and mind were no longer in sync.

It frustrated her even more—she was never like this before.

“Get it together…”

She sighed and buried her face in the pillow.

Creak. The door opened. Maya sat up immediately.

“You’re still awake? It’s late.”

Fresh from his bath, Tristan sat beside her with an apologetic look.

His conversation with Doshien had gone longer than expected. He’d also taken time to wash up before lying next to Maya, which delayed him further.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Were you afraid of nightmares?”

Even though she’d defeated countless monsters, today’s battle with the wolf creature was different.

She’d almost died.

“No. I couldn’t sleep because you weren’t here.”

Tristan blinked in surprise.

“Because I wasn’t here?”

Maya hesitated before explaining.

“We didn’t get much physical contact today.”

Tristan struggled to hide his disappointment.

Yet even her reason sounded strangely romantic.

“Of course, we touch when we sleep too. But I figured it’s best to keep a consistent level of contact.”

Maybe she didn’t want to be misunderstood. She kept explaining herself.

“Right.”

Tristan cut her off gently before she could say more.

Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter to him.

Just the fact that she’d waited to touch him was enough to make him happy.

Tristan stared at Maya.

Just looking at her made the exhaustion of the day fade.

Her damp face still glowed from the warmth of the bath.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Maya reached out to him.

“Shall we start by holding hands?”

If love could take form, it would look like Maya.

Tristan pulled her into a tight embrace, smiling.

And as he recalled how close she came to danger today, he felt her heartbeat against his chest.

The warmth in her body and the blood pumping through her veins—these were privileges only the living could enjoy.

“The power of Beiadén exists to keep you alive. That’s why I’ll be fighting with you next time too.”

He warned her gently—he wouldn’t let her go it alone again.

“Don’t try to fight on your own.”

His warm eyes and gentle voice left Maya unable to argue.

She nodded.

“You promised.”

As he released her and laced their fingers together, a smile bloomed on his face.

It was a special moment—though perhaps not extraordinary.

Since they started sleeping beside each other, Tristan had quietly become part of Maya’s daily life.

It was hard to pinpoint exactly when it began.

Was it the desperation in his eyes during battle today? Or the happiness in his face now?

Maybe it was just how warm his arms felt.

Whatever the catalyst, Maya realized something in that ordinary moment.

She, Maya Pendragon, liked Tristan Beiadén.

I love you.

She loved him very much.

What she felt now was only the tip of the iceberg.

Now that she’d named her feelings, every moment she’d brushed them aside lit up with meaning.

I just kept denying it.

This man—like sunlight personified—had taken up residence in her heart long ago.

No, maybe even in her previous life, before her death.

He was the only one who had wished her a good death.

“Maya?”

She knew. Realizing her feelings didn’t change anything.

She was still just Tristan’s contract wife.

Was that why her heart felt lighter?

She wiggled her fingers in his hand, and her mood lifted further.

She had no problem stepping aside for Tristan’s future.

But her mindset had changed.

I’ll indulge in my feelings.

After all, who dislikes holding or hugging someone they love?

She would enjoy touching Tristan while she still could.

So later, she could look back on these moments as fond memories.

She wouldn’t leave behind any regrets.

With that resolve, Maya tightened her grip around Tristan’s hand.

Beaming with a smile, fingers laced together, Maya looked so radiant that Tristan couldn’t look away.

Maya, too distracted by the warmth of his hand, didn’t even notice his intense gaze.

It was a sweet misunderstanding only the two of them remained oblivious to.

Soon, they lay down side by side in bed.

The familiar scent and sound of Tristan beside her lulled Maya’s eyes shut.

She turned slightly to look at him.

And finally, she remembered something odd about today.

Meeting Tristan and Wyvern on the banquet terrace had been great and all, but…

She had never asked why he was there in the first place!

“By the way, why did you come to the palace today, Tristan? You could’ve come with me.”

“I wanted to check if the royal library had more information about dragons.”

Ah, if it was for the curse, that made sense.

“So, did you find anything? Like… maybe we need more physical contact to lift the curse?”

Maya really hoped he found something.

Like maybe the intensity of contact had to increase… say, kissing.

Kissing.

“…No, I didn’t find anything. I suspect the royal family removed any information they didn’t find useful.”

“…That’s a shame. I mean, not that I’m disappointed in that way.”

“I understand.”

Tristan nodded at her hasty excuse. It made Maya feel a tiny pang of guilt.

Okay, maybe she was a little disappointed.

Still holding his hand, she fidgeted again.

“Maya.”

“Yes?”

“Was today hard for you?”

“You mean fighting the monster? Not really.”

“No, I meant the banquet. You said there were people you didn’t want to see.”

At that, the faces of the troublesome members of the Pendragon and Liserfield families came to mind.

“But seeing you made it all better.”

And it was true.

“Because of me, huh? That makes me happy.”

Seeing Tristan smile made her want to keep saying nice things to him.

“You must’ve been exhausted today. Good job.”

But those kinds of words… were always his to say to her.