Chapter 62
“No, there’s nothing’s wrong.”
Maya shook her head.
Facing Tristan, who was looking at her with an innocent expression as he was in his child’s form now, she felt a pang of guilt.
“His Highness will not be able to join for dinner as he will be focusing on his duties immediately upon return.”
Aware of Kendrick, Robert conveyed Tristan’s schedule on his behalf.
‘Not that he cares about Maya….’
Kendrick watched Maya’s reaction to the news about Tristan.
“I see.”
Maya seemed completely indifferent.
That was a relief.
“Um, Arthur. The white snake I defeated this time will be credited to Kendrick.”
“Why is the wizard taking credit for your achievement, Maya?”
“Because drawing too much attention would put Tristan in a difficult position.”
“Oh….”
This was something Tristan had been concerned about as well.
Maya brought it up first, which made him feel grateful but also sorry that Maya had to hide her accomplishments because of him.
‘I need to lift the curse quickly.’
He decided to search the castle library once again for books on curses.
He had memorized where every book was from visiting the library since childhood, but one could never be too sure.
‘And increase contact….’
Holding hands or hugging seemed fine.
‘How far is acceptable?’
What were Maya’s limits?
A kiss on the cheek? If not that, would a kiss on the back of her hand be okay?
For some reason, Maya didn’t seem like she would be surprised by anything he did.
‘That would hurt my pride.’
What should he say or do?
It was a problem he needed to think about alongside breaking the curse.
“Oh, and it seems I need to go up to the capital.”
Tristan, who was absentmindedly picking at his salad, widened his eyes.
“What?”
“Not immediately, but later.”
It was subtly implied that ‘later’ meant after the curse had been somewhat lifted.
“I’ll probably need to hunt monsters too, and I’ll have to make an appearance at the Bayarden residence.”
The idea that she wanted to hunt monsters made Tristan’s eyes sparkle.
Monsters had never appeared in the capital.
‘This is probably something Maya knows as well.’
It was also true that someone needed to be sent from House Bayarden.
Emperor Reserfield’s hostility towards Tristan, who had only sent congratulatory messages and gifts but had not made an appearance since his ascension, was considerable.
“It’s true that you should have sent someone soon.”
Butler Robert, who had been observing the atmosphere among the silent trio, intervened.
He knew it was rude, but the situation was becoming urgent enough to warrant it.
Tristan hesitated.
How should he set the timeframe?
Since it was difficult to go up to the capital before lifting the curse, should he allow ample time?
But it was also true, as Robert said, that someone needed to be sent.
Leaving the north for too long was also going to be a problem.
Tristan didn’t want the process of breaking his curse to hold Maya back.
“Kendrick, when are you planning to go there?”
“I need to report about this monster, so I’ll leave early tomorrow.”
Tristan, making eye contact with Robert, made a decision.
“Maya, you should go up too.”
Tristan took a step forward.
***
Tristan’s choices were always centered around the north.
‘This place will be fine, so please go with him. The curse can be lifted anywhere.’
However, it was only after hearing Robert’s words that Tristan realized his own foolishness.
The place where the curse is lifted doesn’t matter.
He had met Maya, and she had completed her awakening.
He had been so fixated on the north that he didn’t even consider it strange.
He only thought that he had to protect this monster-filled place.
“You made a good choice, Your Highness,” Robert said with a smile.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to go?”
Tristan asked again, worried.
“The curse doesn’t have to be lifted here. We should contact the capital quickly. People will be happy.”
Although most of House Bayarden’s people stayed in the north, there was a Bayarden family mansion in the capital too.
It was regularly maintained.
The mansion was managed by trustworthy people dispatched from the estate.
Though all the employees in the castle had been in and out of the mansion, ironically, Tristan, the actual owner, had never visited it.
“I hope you like the mansion, Grand Duke.”
Tristan smiled at Robert’s sincere words.
“I will like it.”
How could he dislike a mansion that had been cleaned and polished by people who cared for him?
It was impossible.
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