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The Contract Husband Wasn’t Supposed to Be Like This – Chapter 33
The Beyaden family’s territory was so vast that it practically encompassed the entire North.
There was even a saying that if someone in the North didn’t know the Beyaden family, they must have come from an enemy nation.
It wasn’t for nothing that the Emperor regarded them with such caution.
Rumors quietly spread about the wealth they had accumulated from monster byproducts and the mineral veins hidden throughout the northern mountain ranges.
Everyone wanted to grow closer to the Beyaden family.
However, because the family never participated in high society, no one ever had the chance to build a connection with them, leaving countless nobles frustrated.
Even the Pendragon family, who were said in legend to have defeated the Demon King alongside the Beyaden family, was no exception.
“So my daughter is useful after all!”
Elise’s face lit up with delight.
“I don’t know how she managed it, but she certainly chose the right husband. He’s the perfect match for a descendant of the Pendragon family.”
Otto eagerly nodded beside her.
“We should at least get something back for raising our daughter. That’s only fair.”
“They do say blood is thicker than water.”
Maguire, who was infamous for being thick-headed, puffed out his chest as he spoke.
No one remembered that Maya had already been removed from the family registry.
After all, forgetting unnecessary information had always been the most profitable way to live.
“I wish I could go with you.”
After the report that the monster had been defeated, Kendrick received immediate orders to return.
No matter how much he tried to delay, he had no choice. The Magic Tower threatened to expel him if he didn’t return immediately.
The Tower was extremely interested in the monster materials Kendrick would be bringing back.
They were just as curious about the method he had used to defeat the monster.
After listening to Maya describe the battle and piecing together a rough excuse, Kendrick slowly made his way toward the carriage with a sigh.
“Maya, make sure you contact me when you come to the capital.”
Holding Maya’s hand tightly as she came to see him off, Kendrick’s voice was filled with regret.
“You’d better send word the moment you arrive.”
Concern filled Maya’s voice.
Kendrick smiled contentedly and nodded.
After slowly wiping the smile from his face, he turned toward Tristan.
Tristan still hadn’t regained his true appearance and remained in the form of a young boy.
Although Kendrick knew him as “Arthur,” he remained perfectly calm.
“Then I’ll see you in the capital, Your Grace.”
Naturally, Kendrick addressed Arthur as Tristan.
Tristan blinked before nodding.
“Very well.”
He wasn’t surprised.
Given Kendrick’s sharp instincts, Tristan had expected it was only a matter of time before he discovered his true identity.
What intrigued him was why Kendrick had chosen to reveal it only at the very end.
“When you come to the capital, let’s visit that dessert shop you like.”
“Mmm… dessert. Sounds good.”
Maya found both Kendrick’s realization of Tristan’s identity and Tristan’s calm acceptance of it astonishing.
“How did you figure it out?”
“It would have been stranger not to.”
Even Kendrick’s answer surprised her.
Kendrick’s more perceptive than I thought.
To Maya, Kendrick had always been a kind but oblivious friend.
I guess it’s time for him to change.
This trip to the North seemed to have been a valuable experience for him as well.
“When you get there, we can have lunch and then go for dessert afterward. That would be perfect.”
Kendrick openly implied that he wanted to spend time with her.
After all, he knew it wasn’t something Tristan could really stop.
But Maya frowned and shook her head.
“I’ll just buy some to take away. Walking around openly would attract too much attention.”
Once word spread that she had become the Lady of the Beyaden family, countless people would come flocking to her.
For someone like Maya, who had never been involved in social circles, that sounded exhausting.
“…”
Kendrick fell silent at her unexpected refusal.
Watching him, Tristan smiled and stepped closer to Maya.
“Then we can simply rent the entire dessert shop.”
There had never been any need to flaunt their wealth, but the North’s finances were more than comfortable.
“As much as you like.”
Enough that he could grant Maya anything she wanted.
Not long after Kendrick departed, Maya and Tristan also finished preparing for their journey.
Knight Commander Alec and the butler Robert would remain in the North to oversee things.
Since it would be Tristan’s first time leaving the North behind, he needed trusted people to stay.
What should I do about the wyvern?
Leaving it here would certainly be more convenient, but nothing compared to its speed.
Besides…
After helping Maya train and gradually learning to fight alongside her, the wyvern had become more than just transportation.
It had become her companion.
It wasn’t stupid after all.
It was completely different from what Maya had believed.
Perhaps because it was still young, the wyvern learned everything incredibly quickly.
Now it understood most of what she said.
“You’re too big to bring with us…”
Hearing Maya’s troubled voice, the wyvern nodded.
It seemed to understand very well that it had been responsible for the collapsed castle wall that was still under repair.
Well, it had certainly made quite the spectacle.
“…Huh?”
She thought it had obediently accepted her words after nodding.
Instead, its body gradually shrank.
Soon, it became no larger than a stuffed toy children would adore.
The tiny wyvern rubbed its head against Maya’s shoulder as if proudly saying, Now it’s fine, right?
Maya was speechless.
“A wyvern can become this small?”
“It’s difficult to maintain a body that large for long periods. A smaller body consumes far less energy, making it easier to survive if something unexpected happens.”
Pendragon had somehow wandered outside and was happily explaining.
“Wyvern… don’t you have any pride?”
The fierce creature that had challenged them when they first met had completely disappeared.
“Kiiing?”
What’s more important—pride or staying with you?
The wyvern looked at him as though he were the ridiculous one.
For some reason, Maya suddenly felt ashamed.
“Then let’s go together.”
And so, the wyvern joined them on their journey to the capital.
“You can grow big again later, right?”
The wyvern nodded vigorously.
“Maya, are you finished preparing?”
“Yes. I didn’t really bring any luggage in the first place.”
She had arrived empty-handed.
She would leave the same way.
“I hope you’ll like the Beyaden mansion in the capital.”
Following behind Tristan, Robert smiled warmly as he watched the two of them.
“I’m looking forward to it too.”
Maya grinned.
The Beyaden mansion in the capital was located a little away from the bustling city center, with forests and hunting grounds stretching behind it.
It’ll be perfect for training.
Since she was the lady of the house, she would probably be given one of the best rooms.
The capital also had many excellent dessert shops she already knew.
She couldn’t help looking forward to it.
Though I’ll miss the chef here.
The chef at the northern castle had mastered preparing meals that perfectly suited Maya’s meat-heavy diet.
Still, it’ll be a nice new experience.
Even if it was a new mansion, anyone from the Beyaden family was trustworthy.
“The Emperor has sent a letter after hearing that we’re coming to the capital.”
The gentle spring-like atmosphere surrounding Maya instantly vanished.
Her body stiffened.
She unfolded the letter and carefully narrowed her eyes as she read every word.
She had no intention of overlooking even the slightest hint of what that cunning Emperor truly meant.
“A banquet in our honor… Anyone can tell this is suspicious.”
On the surface, it appeared to be nothing more than a gracious invitation from a benevolent Emperor.
The Beyaden family, who had not even attended his coronation—the Emperor emphasized this point repeatedly—was finally coming to the capital.
Even if only the lady of the house would be attending, he claimed to be overjoyed.
To welcome Maya Beyaden, the new Lady of the Beyaden family and daughter of the Pendragon family, the Imperial Family wished to host a modest banquet.
If her health did not permit attendance, it could not be helped.
But he would be waiting.
Words that sounded considerate were, in reality, a threat.
“He’ll ask a great many questions.”
Maya knew she was terrible at lying.
The Emperor was extremely perceptive.
“Please don’t tell me anything.”
Then it was simple.
If she knew nothing, she couldn’t accidentally reveal anything.
“I’ll answer honestly with what I don’t know.”
She had spent far more years not knowing Tristan than knowing him.
Naturally, there was far more she didn’t know.
Being Maya wasn’t entirely pleasant, either.
This would be the first time she faced the Emperor in this new life.
It was a different kind of pressure from hunting wyverns or white serpents.
A different kind of fear settled around her.
It was terror and conditioning engraved into her very bones.
Maya tightly shut her eyes before opening them again.
Calm down.
She hadn’t even faced him yet.
She couldn’t allow herself to become this shaken already.
If it’s a banquet hosted by the Emperor, many nobles will be there.
After meeting the Emperor, she would have opportunities to speak with others.
Then I’ll meet that man.
The minister who had stubbornly remained by the Emperor’s side in her previous life.
A sycophant.
Later, after his daughter’s death, he had descended into darkness, attempted to assassinate the Emperor, failed, and ultimately died.
He’s also famous for running an enormous merchant guild. He’ll be a great help to Tristan in the future.
If she remembered correctly, his daughter had also been renowned for her beauty.
Wait…
Now that she thought about it…
This banquet might also be the perfect opportunity to find Tristan’s future wife.
