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The plan was perfect.

This meeting was entirely orchestrated by Patrick’s meticulous planning.

He had someone tamper with the Izakhel family’s carriage in advance. And when the carriage broke down, he appeared like a savior, offering to take Bella to school.

As expected, Bella maintained her cold demeanor throughout.

Perhaps the bear dolls he had impulsively gifted her during the Seven Stars Union meeting had backfired.

The thought of being rejected by her once made his blood boil. In a way, it felt like karma.

Bella, on high alert, stared out the window without even glancing his way.

The more he looked at her, the more beautiful she seemed.

Her shimmering silver hair, mesmerizing eyes, and an alluring figure.

Not to mention, she was the daughter of a fallen ducal family and a descendant of the legendary hero Alonso, known to everyone in the country.

Just considering these points, was there any woman in the country who could rival her?

Since Patrick laid eyes on Bella, all other women seemed like mere decorations.

He felt like he could do anything to have her.

Ah, right.

Above all, freeing her from that man who held her weakness was the priority.

“…You’re offering to pay it back for me?”

“Yes.”

At Patrick’s proposal, Bella made a subtle expression.

“I know how difficult a time the princess has been through…”

Patrick was cautious.

He feared his offer might wound Bella’s pride.

“This may come as a sudden proposal, but you no longer need to worry about that notorious family. If you marry me, I will ensure the Ruelberta family can never interfere with the Izakhel family again.”

“……”

“Moreover, the Wolfbert and Izakhel families each have honorable histories. If our two families unite, we will surely receive everyone’s blessings. I, Patrick, will make you happy.”

“Happy…”

Bella quietly pondered Patrick’s words.

Her expression didn’t seem hurt, nor did it seem like she accepted it positively. She simply sat there with an ambiguous look.

What answer would Bella give?

After a heavy silence, she finally spoke.

“…There was once a man like you.”

“Huh?”

“He asked me how much it would take. How much it would cost to buy me.”

Her words were neither positive nor negative.

“I was so shocked that I asked him back. How much did he think I was worth? Do you know what he said?”

Without explicitly saying it, it was easy to guess who she was referring to.

Thus, Patrick couldn’t help but tense up at Bella’s question.

Yes, this was a test.

Even if he didn’t know the exact amount, offering more than what that man had proposed might win her heart.

He didn’t ponder long. Patrick answered without hesitation.

“50 billion Kael? Ah, no. At least 100 billion Kael.”

“…I see. Then, how much do you think this fan I’m holding is worth?”

“The fan?”

Bella suddenly changed the subject.

Did he answer wrong?

No, this must be part of the test.

Patrick pretended to examine the fan carefully, feigning knowledge.

“Hmm. It looks quite luxurious. A high-end item, worth at least 2 million Kael, right?”

“No. It’s 500 Kael.”

“…What?”

*Snap.*

Bella elegantly closed the fan.

“That man offered to buy me for the price of this fan—500 Kael.”

“What? That’s impossible…”

It was an unbelievable story.

Unless he was insane, Tristan had only offered 500 Kael for the most renowned woman in the country?

“Tsk… What a miserly man. I would’ve gladly paid 100 billion.”

“Yes. At first, I was angry. Was I only worth that much? It felt like I was being treated as cheap, and it hurt my pride.”

Despite saying she was angry, Bella looked somewhat pleased.

As if reminiscing about a happy memory, she fiddled with the fan in her hand.

“But he already knew. Whether he offered 500 Kael or 100 billion, he couldn’t buy me.”

“Ah…”

Patrick finally realized.

That he had made a mistake.

Bella spoke in a cold voice.

“But Patrick, what you’re saying now is essentially that you want to buy me with money.”

“That’s not what I meant, just the debt…”

“There’s no reason for you to pay it off. This is solely the Izakhel family’s matter. Even if you were to become my partner, that money would still need to be repaid by the ducal family.”

“How do you plan to repay 5 billion Kael? Without help from another family…”

“I’ll repay it. No matter what it takes. But I won’t marry you to do so.”

Bella stood up.

As if there was nothing more to discuss.

Patrick grew desperate.

“Princess. Even if you repay all that money, that cunning man won’t let you go. He’ll bind you by any means necessary.”

The notorious Count Ruelberta, Tristan, was that kind of man.

A man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

“…If this continues, the Izakhel family will forever be at the Count’s mercy.”

Having seen that thorough villain at the Seven Stars Union, Patrick spoke with a worried tone.

But Bella firmly shook her head.

“I find your love, which thinks you can control me by repaying the debt, suspicious.”

“……”

“Ah, let me off here. We’ll walk the rest of the way.”

The carriage stopped.

Patrick shouted at Bella, who was about to step out indifferently.

“That man!”

“…?”

“That man can’t make you happy. I can give you 100 billion Kael… no! Even more happiness. No matter how wealthy he is, he can only offer you 500 Kael worth of cheap happiness.”

“How pitiful.”

What?

When he looked up, Bella was gazing at him with a pitying expression.

“100 billion Kael worth of happiness, you say? Then you’re not the one who can make me happy. Do you know why?”

She pointed to the fan in her hand.

“This fan is my favorite. It’s only worth 500 Kael. I don’t know how you see me… but to me, happiness is like this.”

“……”

Patrick swallowed hard.

Her words struck him like a nail to the heart.

The two stepped out of the carriage without any lingering attachment.

“Let’s go, Blanshe. Let’s take a walk.”

“Yes, miss.”

“Thank you for the ride, Patrick.”

“Princess…”

Patrick could only see Bella off, feeling as though he had been dealt a blow.

Bella, with her usual beautiful smile, spoke to him, who was too overwhelmed to respond.

“I hope you find your own happiness too.”

*

“How could this be…!”

Helga exclaimed in a voice filled with shock.

In contrast, I sat calmly at the chairman’s desk, going through paperwork.

“I can’t believe it! Such shameless acts happening in this school…!”

“Calm down. It’s not worth making a fuss over.”

“How can today’s kids be so brazen?”

What Helga was holding was a letter that seemed to radiate the scent of flowers.

On the desk, there was a pile of letters with similar designs.

Helga read the contents with an incredulous expression.

“I’ve liked the chairman for a long time. I can no longer hold back my feelings, so I’ve written this letter. You now seem like a man to me… Such lewdness…!”

These letters were all love letters.

Since losing weight, the way people at the school viewed me had changed significantly.

Especially given the nature of a university, where students in their prime gathered.

Whether it was Tristan’s looks or something else, students had started sending letters filled with affection to my office.

At first, I found it cute, but as the letters piled up, it became overwhelming. Sorting through love letters and important correspondence became a chore.

And Helga, who was tasked with handling them, was understandably annoyed.

“Every time I see the chairman, my heart feels strange. Does it hurt a lot? If I stop your heart from now on, will it stop feeling strange?”

Helga made a chilling joke as she read the next letter.

“You are the chairman, I am a student. Ah… Our love is impossible, but I desire Chairman Tristan more than anyone. Your… Oh, my. Sorry. This one’s from a male student.”

Truly, an impossible love.

But Helga was not just busy with her eyes.

“Helga. What have you been writing since earlier?”

“Ah, this? I’m compiling a list of the students who sent these letters.”

“A list… you say?”

“Yes. Since they’ve shown such passionate feelings for the chairman, it’s only natural to respond. Hehe. So, I plan to send replies separately. Ah, for the anonymous ones, I’ll compare handwriting. I’ll track them down to the ends of hell…”

“Confiscated.”

“Ah!”

I snatched Helga’s notebook.

“Such! As your bodyguard knight, who else would repay them…!”

“What you’re planning isn’t repayment; it’s revenge.”

As much as I wanted to tell them they were all being deceived by Tristan’s looks… it was pointless.

I shook my head and instructed Helga.

“Put these letters away for now.”

“Huh? Already? I haven’t finished sorting them yet.”

“Do it later. It’s almost 8.”

“Huh? Ah!”

As if just remembering, Helga began to tidy up the letters.

“Time flies. I’ll clean up quickly.”

From 8 to 9 was an extremely important time for me.

It was time for exercise.

Helga quickly hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door.

This was a time when no one was allowed into the office.

Meanwhile, I lightly stretched.

What started as brief exercises in the chairman’s office due to a busy schedule had now become a regular routine.

Yesterday was leg day, so today was upper body.

An extremely important day, no doubt.

As I took off my shirt, the hidden muscles were revealed.

“Your body has improved so much… *slurp*… Chairman.”

“Hmm.”

Helga smiled slyly as she carefully examined my body. I didn’t know what she was thinking, but she was even drooling.

Through ‘Patience,’ I had pushed my body to its limits, resulting in muscles comparable to an athlete’s, if not a bodybuilder’s.

With a bit more effort, I could go from being the Pig Count to the Muscular Pig Count.

“Phew.”

I thought about doing some push-ups, but then…

*Knock knock.*

An unpleasant knocking sound interrupted my workout.

“Sigh… Who dares to disturb me…”

Helga growled.

No one should be visiting the office at this hour. But my doubts were short-lived.

*Crack.*

The sound of the doorknob breaking, and the door was roughly opened.

And there stood…

“Long time no see, Count.”

A large, wolf-like man with a dignified presence.

The moment I saw his face, I frowned.

“No, I should say Chairman now.”

Patrick, with an unpleasant expression, stood there.

 

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