“…You want me to propose to you?”

“Yes.”

I wasn’t hearing things wrong.

Bella, who had just stated her wish, was sitting at the desk, waiting for my answer.

The sunset light seeped through the curtains. Her silver hair shimmered like flames in the sunlight.

I could even feel the burning determination in Bella’s expression. The determination to get an answer from me today, no matter what.

“…I remember you hating the idea of being engaged to me.”

“That’s right. But there was something I hated even more.”

“…?”

Bella leaned forward and looked at my face.

“Count, do you remember how you proposed to me?”

Of course, I didn’t know. The original story didn’t go into such details.

No, even if it had been mentioned, I wouldn’t have wanted to know how Tristan proposed.

But now, I am Tristan.

I put on a stern face and spoke with a serious tone.

“I don’t remember.”

“You wouldn’t remember. You didn’t do anything.”

You didn’t do anything?

I was shaken, but thankfully, it didn’t show on my face.

Bella sighed.

“Count. You know what? The proposal I received from you was the first proposal I ever received in my life. Do you know what that means to a woman?”

Whether it’s the first proposal or the second, it’s still just a proposal. What difference does it make?

But I wasn’t tactless enough to say that out loud.

“…It must be important.”

“Do you think someone who understands that would just send over some engagement papers? Where in the world does that kind of proposal exist? There’s a limit to being shameless.”

A paper proposal? Is this for real?

It seems Tristan thought he could have her just by stamping some engagement papers.

Well, I guess that’s something he would do.

The reason he wanted to be engaged to Bella was simply to satisfy his greed.

Bella glared at me resentfully.

“Take responsibility for ruining my first time, Count.”

“Even if I propose again, I can’t undo your first time, can I?”

“That’s why I’m asking you to propose ‘again.’ Only you, who proposed to me for the first time, can cover up that terrible proposal.”

I see… So she wants me to make up for the mistake.

Asking me to propose again must mean that.

“Ah, of course, I’m not saying you should really propose. I just want you to show me a proposal with your ‘true feelings,’ Count.”

Bella added with a pout.

“Well… I don’t know if that will make me forgive you, but who knows? If I see your heartfelt proposal… I might actually fall for you.”

“Alright.”

Since I promised, I had no choice.

I took the ring from her.

But how do you propose in this world?

I was lost in thought for a moment when Bella covered her mouth and laughed.

“Hehe… Are you embarrassed to do a fake proposal? How cute.”

She was completely teasing me now.

“What are you doing? You should start with the pledge kiss.”

Ah, right… I’ll do as you say.

I reached out to take her hand.

But Bella quickly hid her hand behind her back.

Instead, she stuck out her foot.

“This is your punishment for making me wait. Kiss my foot, not my hand.”

Her playful smile was almost unfair in how pretty it was. But I couldn’t help but complain.

“…Do you really want to do this to a sick patient?”

“Who was it that said this level of injury was just a penalty earlier? Hehe… Come on, kiss until I’m satisfied. Are you trying to make my leg hurt?”

Did she remember what I said during our spar?

Bella playfully stuck out her foot, clearly enjoying herself.

“Hehe… Just kidding. As expected—”

“I’ll do it.”

“Huh?”

“Since we’ve started, I’ll play along with your stubbornness.”

I was trying to grant her wish, but her teasing stirred something in me.

No, maybe it was just my competitive spirit.

I took off Bella’s shoe.

“W-Wait a second!”

Her bare foot, hidden inside the shoe, was revealed.

According to the setting, the beauty praised throughout the empire was beautiful down to her feet.

I slowly moved my lips toward her foot, which looked like a work of art.

“W-Wait!”

Bella shouted.

“What’s wrong?”

“W-Well, I just thought… since I was sparring barefoot earlier… I might not have washed my feet properly? I-I mean, they’re not smelly or anything, but… it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“I see.”

“Right? So—”

“I don’t mind.”

“Huh? No, wait!”

Ignoring Bella’s desperate pleas, I kissed the top of her foot.

“…Eek!”

Bella flinched as if she had been shocked by electricity.

Regardless, I kissed her foot again.

“Eek!? I said wait!”

“Didn’t you say to kiss until you were satisfied?”

“I’m satisfied! I’m satisfied, so stop…!”

“No. You’re not satisfied yet.”

“Wait… Hnn!”

Now it was my turn.

I decided to use my ‘pride’ to pay her back for teasing me. This trait couldn’t stand anyone being above me.

I stubbornly kept kissing her foot.

Each time, Bella reacted sensitively.

And my ‘pride’ didn’t miss that, persistently exploring her foot.

“……!!”

Bella glared at me, her mouth muffling her moans.

Her eyes were filled with embarrassment, shame, and resentment.

I didn’t avoid her gaze either.

Thanks to the effects of ‘pride,’ I calmly observed her reactions with a relaxed expression.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Bella spoke.

“Well, aren’t you bold, kissing my foot like that. Isn’t it dirty?”

“…Can I be honest?”

“No. No, wait. Don’t say it. What are you trying to say…?”

“It’s not dirty.”

I kissed the top of her foot once more.

It was not the attitude of someone dealing with something dirty, but rather something lovely.

“……You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Hnn…”

At my words, Bella made a strange expression.

With a look that was hard to read—whether she was happy or embarrassed—she stuck out her foot and said,

“…If you like my foot that much, keep kissing it. You pervert.”

Her face was red, but her mischievous expression remained. It was a statement befitting her strong pride.

But when it came to pride, I wasn’t far behind.

“Alright.”

I even took off the shoe on her other foot.

Her eyes widened, then sharpened.

“Hnn… One foot wasn’t enough for you, huh?”

“Isn’t it you who’s not satisfied yet?”

“Shut up. Pay for the crime of making me a divorcee.”

“I’ve never been married to you.”

“An engagement is still a marriage. Keep kissing. You pervert.”

I kept kissing her foot.

The more I kissed, the more Bella’s moans escaped.

“You卑鄙 man…! Hnn…! How dare you do this to the woman you proposed to…! You’re embarrassing me, so you must be enjoying this… Hnn!”

“…Wasn’t it you who told me to do it?”

I looked up at her, slightly incredulous.

Bella, who had been full of energy from the repeated kisses, was starting to falter.

“…Don’t look at me. It’s embarrassing.”

“I refuse.”

For this moment, I could understand Tristan’s feelings.

“Your embarrassed face is also mine. So I’ll watch it closely.”

Because of the ‘greed’ in my heart, I was consumed by the desire to have her.

“……Hmph. Suit yourself.”

Bella turned her head away.

Her tone was still sharp, but there was something undeniably lovable about it.

Now that she had some composure, she wiggled her toes, trying to avoid my kisses.

It seemed like the time had come.

I stood up.

Bella, who had been looking down at me, now looked up.

“…What is it? I never said I was satisfied yet.”

“I know. I just realized that this kind of proposal won’t fully satisfy you.”

After all, it’s a fake proposal.

Just a fake proposal to ease her heart.

But because of that, I couldn’t satisfy her.

“Bella Izakhel.”

“Why are you suddenly calling me by my full name so formally?”

“I want to have you. Because you don’t belong with me.”

“…Huh?”

What she wanted was a real proposal.

“I don’t belong with you. You are too beautiful and noble for someone as dark and gloomy as me.”

Bella held her breath.

I took her hand. A hand so white it didn’t belong with mine.

“I am an ugly man. A man with a wretched heart that can’t be satisfied without possessing.”

Bella’s eyes trembled.

I slipped the ring onto her finger.

“So if I can’t have you, I won’t let anyone else have you either.”

Even if it’s an ugly desire.

It was my one and only true feeling.

“Can such a selfish me… such a bad me… protect you?”

“…….”

Bella silently got down from the desk.

Her gaze remained fixed on me.

Bella, now barefoot, was about two heads shorter than me.

She gently leaned into my embrace.

“…!?”

And then I felt the sensation of her bare foot lightly stepping on my shoe.

At the same time, I felt a soft touch near my mouth.

It didn’t take long to realize that it was her kiss, barely grazing the corner of my lips.

Bella, with her lovely eyes, looked up at me.

With a smile of happiness I had never seen before, she spoke.

“This is my answer. My Count… who doesn’t belong with me.”