Chapter 70
The makeshift tent was so small that the word tent seemed almost too generous.
It kept out the cold well enough and offered some protection from the night dew, but the two of them would have to sleep practically glued together.
Maya nodded calmly.
“Yes.”
It had been a long time since she’d shared a bed with Tristan.
Just then, Hayden approached Maya as if something had come to mind and whispered softly.
“The tent is thin, so sound tends to carry easily. Please keep that in mind.”
“…Why would you say that?”
“You’re newlyweds, aren’t you?”
Maya stared at Hayden, who said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world—and suddenly remembered something she had almost forgotten.
Right. Tristan and I are married.
She kept forgetting that fact.
That they were a married couple, even if only by contract.
Come to think of it, we’ve been so busy with Kendrick lately that we haven’t even had proper contact.
Yet Tristan had never once complained.
“That’s why I’m warning you. Newlyweds tend to forget their surroundings and get… carried away.”
Hayden’s expression was deadly serious.
Well, if there was one more thing Maya had learned during this trip, it was that Hayden Rebour was a hopelessly devoted husband.
He had hesitated to leave home because of his wife, and even after departing, he never stopped talking about her.
A man who adored his family.
But Hayden had no children.
He didn’t in the past, either.
Maya had never learned whose fault it was. He had taken that secret to the grave—even on the day she killed him.
The truth was buried, but seeing Hayden like this in this life gave her a good guess.
Kleine’s body had been terribly frail after the accident.
Having children must have been difficult.
“Always be careful with… contraception.”
How many times had he thought about situations like this for such advice to roll so easily off his tongue?
As Maya watched Hayden lecture with such passion, a thought crossed her mind.
Maybe—
Maybe that’s why Hayden stayed away from high society.
He was the leader of the Western noble faction, yet he had spent his life almost entirely confined to the West.
Perhaps it was to keep rumors about the Rebour family’s heir problem under control.
Noticing Maya staring at him, Hayden cleared his throat awkwardly.
He must have just wanted to meddle a little in the lives of a young couple he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“An old man’s prattling has gone on long enough. Go and rest.”
Maya nodded and headed toward a nearby stream.
She washed her face and body (the water was icy cold, but at least it was refreshing), then dried off with a cloth and slipped into the cramped tent.
“Oh, Maya.”
Tristan was sitting by the neatly laid bedding. He looked… tense.
That’s ridiculous.
They’d slept together before.
Of course, the grand bed in the ducal mansion was different from this tiny tent…
But that wasn’t reason enough for him to be nervous.
Scolding herself inwardly for feeling oddly tense, Maya deliberately changed the subject.
“Kendrick’s always been soft-hearted since childhood.”
…Honestly, Tristan found it hard to agree with that statement.
“So I’m worried if he’s holding up okay.”
He couldn’t quite sympathize with that either.
The Kendrick Tristan had met and the Kendrick Maya knew were two completely different people.
People can act differently in front of someone they love, but that wasn’t pretense—it bordered on acting.
“He won’t go down that easily.”
“Thank you for the reassurance, Tristan.”
No, this wasn’t reassurance. It was the truth, Maya.
Tristan swallowed the words and simply patted Maya’s back as she came closer.
Maya looked at him with gratitude.
“Go wash up too. I’ll get the bedding ready.”
The time had come.
“Understood.”
Tristan left without protest.
Maya spread the blanket wide and made the sleeping area as cozy as possible. Since the blankets had been left by the fire, they were warmer than expected.
A warm quilt, a surprisingly soft pillow—this was the first time in a while she would truly sleep well.
Just then, Tristan returned.
“That was a long wash.”
“…I cooled off with cold water.”
When Tristan admitted it honestly, Maya’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You cooled off in this weather? You really are a Northerner.”
So for someone hardened by the northern cold, this was nothing.
As Maya marveled, Tristan let out an inexplicable sigh and covered his face with his hands.
It sounded almost like a prayer: God, do not lead me into temptation…
He must be worried about facing the butterfly monster tomorrow.
Still, he needs to sleep.
Worry and sleep were separate matters. You need rest to avoid making mistakes tomorrow.
…And lying down with Tristan would be comforting.
Because he was someone she liked.
Maya squeezed his hand reassuringly and guided him to the bedding.
“Tristan, sleep is important—maybe not as much as food, but still. Come lie down.”
Tristan let himself be led without resistance.
…This is torture.
Maya was far too close.
Every movement brushed her skin against his. This was nothing like sharing a bed at the mansion.
Her body pressed against his, carrying a faint, pleasant scent.
Every point of contact sent his nerves sparking.
The tension was unbearable—and all because of Hayden’s words.
I must not become a beast.
No—I could, but not now.
Not here.
As Tristan silently recited hymns in his head to hold his desires back, Maya was thinking about something entirely different.
She felt guilty for neglecting Tristan while chasing after Kendrick.
…Even though I like him.
Her feelings for Tristan weren’t strong enough to drown out everything else.
The memories of her past life were too vivid to ignore.
At least thanks to Hayden, she had remembered the truth.
We also have to worry about contraception.
…And Maya was hopelessly in love with Tristan.
As a married couple—even a contractual one—they needed to maintain some physical connection.
I feel like just having him near gives me strength…
But she had never once lost control, not even as she had with Risherfield when he was her contractor.
That was part of why she kept forgetting they were technically married.
But for Tristan, it was a different story.
Physical contact was tied to his very survival.
Yet all they had done so far was hold hands and embrace.
We’re supposed to be more intimate than that.
She had assumed things would go further, but Tristan had never crossed that line.
It couldn’t be easy for him to restrain himself. Maya understood better than anyone how crucial breaking the curse was for him.
But it was the same in our past life.
Even knowing she was his only chance to lift the curse, he had given her the chance for a peaceful death instead.
He never pushed me.
Even now, despite Hayden’s words, Tristan treated her no differently.
As if nothing had changed.
Maya knew how far things usually went when a man and woman grew closer.
…Well, in theory.
Tristan probably isn’t much different from me in that regard.
Perfect in appearance and manners, but when it came to intimacy, he was probably as inexperienced as she was.
So I don’t need to feel self-conscious.
Maya clenched her fists.
Yes, this is an opportunity.
They would part ways someday anyway.
In a relationship bound by contract, was it so wrong to take a little more for herself?
A sudden thought struck her—what if Tristan had refrained from going further because she wasn’t attractive enough?
Maya flinched, then tightened her fists again.
If she lacked charm, then she’d just have to create some.
They were married, even if only on paper—wasn’t this the kind of thing she could suggest?
Thank goodness Tristan had the curse of physical contact.
Burying her face against Tristan’s chest, Maya finally lifted her head after finishing her thoughts.
“Tristan.”
Even looking up at him from that position, she lost none of her dignity.
“Yes, Maya.”
When he answered, his breath fell softly against her face.
Maya, her face as red as a beet, asked:
“Shall we kiss?”
“….”
Tristan didn’t answer right away. Maya assumed he hadn’t heard her and took a deep breath.
Then, slowly and clearly, she repeated herself.
“Shall we kiss?”
“…Why are you suddenly saying this?”
Tristan was barely holding on to his sanity.
Maya, so close, was already temptation enough—too alluring for him to endure.
And now she was asking for a kiss.
Why was she putting him through this trial?
“….”
Maya fell silent. She seemed almost hurt—but that wasn’t like her, so Tristan dismissed the thought immediately.
“Because I want to.”
Whatever reason that carried, it was undeniably her honest feeling.
The moment those words left Maya’s lips, Tristan’s last thread of reason snapped.
Everything he had been holding back shattered before her.
Tristan kissed her.
