Dear Contract Husband, I Didn't Know You Were Like This? - Chapter 39
Kendrick was saddened by the fact that Maya had left him without hesitation.
‘At least she wore the cloak I gave her.’
He appreciated that she was using his gift, but it didn’t ease the sense of disappointment.
‘I didn’t know she was this reckless.’
Despite his warnings about the dangers, it seemed his words had no effect on her at all.
Yet, that very recklessness was so characteristic of Maya that he couldn’t really fault her for it.
After all, it was that aspect of her that he had fallen for in the first place.
Sighing, Kendrick found some solace in the magic he had placed on Maya’s cloak, intended for her protection in case of an emergency.
It was a relief that, should it activate, he would be able to locate her.
That wasn’t too bad, as it meant he could follow her somehow.
“What are you thinking about?”
Alec, who had conveyed Tristan’s message, narrowed his eyes at Kendrick.
He knew all too well the Mage Tower and the Emperor were not on their side.
Kendrick neatly ignored Alec’s question and got straight to the point.
“You’re not just going to wait here while serving the Grand Duke, are you?”
Alec bristled at the critique.
“Who are you to say… I want to go, but I’m restraining myself. How can we leave the castle unguarded, not knowing when monsters might appear, especially with the Grand Duke absent?”
“Then, while our reliable Commander stays here, I’ll go. It seems they’ll need reinforcements.”
Kendrick had no intention of heeding Tristan’s words. How could he stand by and watch Maya travel alone with another man?
“Ah, I’ll hear your thanks later. There’s no time to waste now.”
Before Alec could respond, Kendrick turned and strode away. Alec stood rooted to the spot, mouth agape.
‘How can anyone be friends with someone like that guy.’
His impression of Maya only worsened, which was an added bonus. Internally cursing, Kendrick turned his head as he walked.
“You don’t like me, right? And you probably don’t think much of my friend Maya either.”
Caught off guard, Alec hesitated. He was cautious because of what he had heard from Tristan.
Kendrick smirked venomously.
“Then help us get together. Wouldn’t it be great if the two of us stuck together and left the North?”
That was an undeniable point.
Alec had only heard that Tristan had entered into a contract marriage with Maya for the sake of a curse.
But the Pendragon family was known for being filled with gamblers and deceivers.
Alec was someone who preferred to express his feelings rather than hide them, and Kendrick quickly picked up on this.
“Even though they’re in a contract relationship, who knows how it might turn out, hm?”
Initially, they hadn’t even called each other by name, but now they were conversing freely.
How much closer they could become was anyone’s guess.
Even though it was just a contract, Kendrick had been anxious since the moment Maya came to the North for the sake of getting married.
Maya was an attractive woman.
He needed to create distance before Grand Duke Tristan could realize this too deeply.
“What can I do?”
Alec’s response was an unspoken confirmation.
“Keep Maya and the Grand Duke as far apart as possible until I return as the Master of the Magic Tower.”
“Master of the Magic Tower?”
“It’ll take about three months. The renowned Commander of the Northern Knights should be able to handle that much.”
Facing Kendrick’s cold gaze, Alec shivered.
Even for someone who had been through numerous battles, Kendrick’s eyes were chilling enough to raise goosebumps.
“And I’m someone who doesn’t forget a debt.”
Although Alec found his gaze unpleasant, it wasn’t hard to read the sincerity behind it.
There was indeed a sense of rebellion. Alec could only think, what right did this man have to use him like this?
But if Kendrick’s confidence was real…
‘If he really becomes the Tower Master.’
For the sake of the North, it would be beneficial to be in the future Tower Master’s good graces.
Keeping Tristan and Maya apart was just a bonus.
“It seems our interests align.”
Eventually, Alec negotiated some sort of agreement with Kendrick and sent him outside the castle.
Thinking of meeting Maya, Kendrick let a smile tug up on the corners of his lips.