Chapter 64
It was a path that was not easy for ordinary people.
“I’ve heard that the number of bandits has been increasing lately. It seems that due to the unusual weather, houses are collapsing, and farming is struggling, causing an increase in refugees,” Alex had conveyed this information from Robert before he left.
Originally, areas that had used magic to farm even during the winter were all ruined due to the strange weather. Some farmers, unable to pay back their expensive magical tools, went bankrupt.
“Bandits in the west…” Maya clapped her hands.
“They would make for good bargaining chips if we can get rid of them.”
And just then, the bandits appeared, but naturally, they posed no threat to Maya and her group.
“Give us everything you have!”
As the bandits, some with scars on their faces, shouted threateningly, Maya responded with generosity.
“Hmm, should I raise my hands?”
She had to classify whether they were truly bad people or whether they had become bandits due to the crop failures caused by the strange weather.
Afterwards, if Tristan, Alex, and Seren determined they were the bad ones, Maya dealt with them swiftly and cleanly. They were so weak, honestly, it was almost a disappointment.
‘They haven’t even trained.’
Maya had been diligently training every day, so when she met the butterfly that had taken Kendrick, she would be ready to kill immediately.
On their way, Maya and her group defeated a few more bands of bandits, and after three days, they arrived at the Lebur estate in the west.
When considering that it would usually take about ten days to travel from the capital, this was an impressive reduction in time.
It was Maya’s first visit to the west.
Her first impression could be summed up in one word.
“It’s cold.”
The harsh winter that was as severe as the north had arrived in the west as well.
As they got closer, it seemed like the temperature was dropping, and it wasn’t just her imagination.
‘It feels like everything is turning into the north.’
It was a different situation than before. There had been snow in the capital, but it had quickly stopped, and until the time Maya died, there had been a lot of talk about the strange weather.
‘I don’t know what I’ve changed, but…’
Maya and winter seemed to be related somehow. The north, which had always been cold, and now even the southern and central regions, as well as the west, were all covered in snow.
Maya wrapped the cloak Kendrick had given her tightly and clutched the front.
Why was that?
It had only taken three days to get here, but she was certain that the monster hadn’t killed Kendrick yet.
“They must have heard we’re arriving.”
Once again, Tristan had used the messenger from the Bayarden family to notify them of their arrival.
“Shall we fix our appearance before entering?”
Seren, now properly dressed after three days, suggested.
After inspecting her own collar, Seren smoothed out Maya’s wrinkled dress beneath the cloak.
She was acting as though she were Maya’s maid, diligently attending to every detail.
“Seren, you’re really meticulous when it comes to this kind of thing.”
“Clothes are very important when making a first impression.”
Having spent a long time in high society, Seren knew things Maya didn’t.
“Thank you.”
“What do you mean, Your Grace?”
Since coming to the west with Seren, the two had grown much closer. Now, Maya even called Seren by her name.
Seren liked Maya’s confident attitude and her abilities that surpassed those of ordinary people.
As they approached the mansion’s gatekeeper, Maya spoke.
“I’ll start looking for Kendrick from this evening.”
She judged that it would be best to speak first before meeting the Lebur Marquis, who would likely be overwhelmed.
“We’re going together, Maya.”
Tristan, although aware that Maya had been holding back, couldn’t bear the thought of sending her alone. It was clear that if it meant rescuing Kendrick, she would throw herself into danger without hesitation.
‘I feel bad for that sorcerer, but…’
To be honest, Tristan was always prioritizing Maya.
“Maya, remember. You won’t be able to find the way by yourself.”
Maya flinched at Tristan’s words.
She almost got persuaded by him mentioning her poor sense of direction…
Seeing Tristan’s resolute face, Maya nodded.
“…Yes.”
She thought that once she slipped away, Tristan would have no choice but to follow her.
Of course, Maya’s little tricks were completely understood by Tristan.
‘I’ll have to follow her, no matter what.’
Tristan still maintained his boyish appearance.
Though he stood behind Maya to hide himself, he lamented that he couldn’t even control his own appearance in such an important situation.
He thought about going out in his boyish form, but…
‘I’ll have to wait and see how it goes.’
It was questionable whether the Marquis, who spoke of rebellion, would calmly accept Tristan’s weakness of not even being able to maintain his true appearance.
Even though they had already shared each other’s secrets, it would be difficult if they weren’t on the same side.
‘Maya said that the Marquis of Lebur is not on the emperor’s side.’
That was fortunate, but it didn’t necessarily mean they were allies of Bayarden, so Tristan decided to be cautious.
Even so, a part of him felt bitter, wondering if he had acted more wisely, whether he could have greeted the Marquis of Lebur as his true self alongside Maya.
Up until arriving at the Lebur estate, all Tristan had done was hold Maya’s hand, and honestly, that was the extent of it.
‘That filthy… no, how could such vulgar thoughts come to my mind!’
Tristan squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.
The reason it had been this way was because Seren Baker was with them.
He didn’t want to spread rumors about his curse to everyone. The antidote was something he wanted to keep secret, and not even people in Bayarden should know about it unless they were reliable.
He didn’t want to draw suspicion by getting too close to Maya.
Unfortunately, Tristan never realized the contradiction in his own thinking.
On the outside, Maya and Tristan were married, and their relationship appeared perfect, so their interactions, as lovers, wouldn’t be considered ‘strange’ by anyone.
But Tristan, obsessed with hiding his curse, failed to see that this line of thinking was a mistake.
Anyway, Tristan was finally grateful to have arrived at the Marquis’s house, where he could separate Maya from Seren.
‘…Today.’
Today, he wanted to spend time with Maya and hold her hand.
Although the thought seemed impure, it wasn’t really…
‘Yes.’
He had to acknowledge his desire to touch Maya, not just because of the curse.
He simply wanted to hold her hand, kiss her, and leave his mark on her neck.
What kind of expression would she have when he kissed her? What would it feel like to touch her white, round shoulders after exploring her mouth until she couldn’t breathe?
The more time Tristan spent with Maya, the more intense and dark his desire became.
Though he was still trying to control his emotions, his longing for her was growing stronger.
‘How long will I be able to keep this in check?’
Tristan honestly didn’t know.
‘I need to at least hold her hand today.’
He’d love to take her around the western plaza while holding her hand.
If he could see her face lighten when she thought of Kendrick, he would be overjoyed.
‘…There are things we need to discuss.’
Since the incident with the northern monsters, things had been happening all at once—his hasty journey to the capital, the ball at Riserfield, the wolf monster incident, and now Kendrick. It had all become overwhelming.
Had Robert not given Tristan a heads-up before he left, he might have continued like this.
‘I’m really not fit to be her husband.’
Though Maya might not care that their marriage was never properly celebrated, Tristan knew he had to fix this.
As a true husband, he needed to act.
If Maya allowed it.
After all, Tristan had already planned to prepare the wedding himself once everything was over.
Though no one else would see it, a private ceremony with just Maya would be romantic enough.
