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As the door opened, light seeped into Wendy’s dark room.

Tristan didn’t leave after confirming she wasn’t there.

*Thud.*

The sound of footsteps grew closer, and Wendy held her breath.

*Thud.*

The footsteps stopped right in front of the closet where she was hiding.

It was as if he already knew she was there.

“……”

Wendy shut her eyes tightly.

But what reached her ears wasn’t a scolding or reprimand.

“You did well.”

“…?”

That was it.

As if no other words were necessary, Tristan said nothing more.

He turned to leave, but Wendy, startled, quickly spoke up.

“I-I’m sorry, Count…!”

At her words, Tristan stopped at the door.

“Why are you apologizing to me?”

“Because… I disappointed you…”

Tristan closed the door and approached the closet.

“I’m not disappointed in you.”

Wendy, pondering the meaning of his words, soon felt deflated.

Tristan had never expected anything from her in the first place.

That’s why he spoke so calmly.

“R-really?”

Tears welled up in Wendy’s eyes again.

“T-to think someone like me dared to aim for first place… It’s ridiculous… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… *Sniff*… I didn’t know my place…”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Huh…?”

“Since you enrolled, there hasn’t been a single moment where you’ve disappointed me. You’ve always shown the qualities of an exclusive maid.”

His voice was as cold as ever.

“You’ve worked hard to show that, haven’t you?”

“Y-yes…”

“That’s why I said you did well.”

Wendy could sense a hint of kindness in his voice.

She vaguely understood that he was comforting her.

“*Sniff*… R-really?”

“Yes.”

“…Did I really do well?”

“Yes. You did well.”

“But… I didn’t get first place…”

“I heard you got second. That’s still doing well.”

“…What if I got third?”

“Even if you were last, I’d still say you did well.”

“R-really? Really?! *Sniff*”

“Of course. Though you might still get punished.”

“Eek?! P-punished?!”

Wendy flinched at his words but soon realized something.

Just by exchanging a few words with Tristan, her gloomy mood had lifted.

“…Anyway, I came here to tell you that.”

The sound of Tristan grabbing the closet handle reached her ears.

“But do you plan to never show me your face?”

“I-it’s just… I can’t show you my face right now…”

Wendy tried to hold the door shut from the inside, but it was too late.

The closet door opened easily.

“Eek! D-don’t look! Don’t look at me…!”

Wendy quickly covered her face with her clothes.

She couldn’t let him see her tear-streaked, messy face.

Seeing this, Tristan silently stepped into the closet and closed the door behind him.

“This way, your face won’t be visible.”

The closet was large enough to fit both of them, though not spacious.

Tristan’s voice was very close.

“Wendy. Lift your head.”

“B-but…”

“How long do you plan to disappoint your master?”

“Ugh…”

Wendy cautiously lifted her head, and Tristan’s face was barely visible in the darkness.

“…!”

At that moment, his hand touched her cheek.

“You still cry a lot.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Tristan’s fingers wiped away the tears on Wendy’s face.

Despite his androgynous appearance, he was still a man.

His hand was large and sturdy compared to hers.

As she leaned into his hand, Wendy suddenly remembered biting his arm before.

“Um… Count…”

“What is it?”

“I-is your arm okay…?”

“…See for yourself.”

Tristan extended his arm to Wendy.

Her fingers brushed against something as she touched his forearm.

“A scar…?”

She could feel it immediately.

The scar from where she had bitten him with all her strength was still there.

“It’s not a pretty sight.”

“W-why didn’t you heal it…? You could’ve easily removed a scar…”

“I forgot.”

“Huh…?”

Tristan answered indifferently.

“I was too busy to remember to heal it.”

“……”

“I don’t remember everything either.”

“*Snort*… What’s that… *Sniff*”

Wendy almost laughed at Tristan’s shameless attitude but ended up crying instead.

She felt guilty and sorry.

His kindness had touched her.

“I… I really wanted to get first place… *Sob*…”

In the darkness, Tristan quietly wiped her tears.

“I… I worked so hard… *Sob*… I really did my best…”

“I know.”

“I… I was scared you’d be disappointed in me.”

“I might feel regret, but I’m not disappointed. If anything, I feel regret for you.”

“*Sob*… You’re right… I regret it too… So much… *Sob*…”

It was a good thing the darkness hid her face.

Otherwise, Tristan would’ve seen her tear-streaked, snot-covered face.

As Wendy calmed down a bit, Tristan spoke again.

“Wendy.”

“Yes…?”

“Back then, you were braver than anyone. What you did wasn’t something just anyone could do.”

Come to think of it, Liri had said something similar.

That her sacrificial actions had earned her the right to undergo the Hero’s Trial.

Though her lineage might have played a part too.

“Is it because… I have the Hero’s bloodline…?”

Curious, Wendy cautiously asked.

“That doesn’t matter.”

Tristan shook his head.

“It’s just that you, Wendy, were brave.”

“……”

Thinking about it, Tristan had treated her the same even after learning she was the Hero’s descendant.

She felt grateful for how he saw her without prejudice.

But…

“…Thank you for seeing me in a good light. But I’m not as brave as you say… I’m a stutterer, a crybaby… a coward…”

“Honestly, I prefer you being a coward.”

“Huh?”

The closet was too dark to see Tristan’s face clearly.

“I wish you’d stay a coward. No, I wish you were more selfish. That way, you wouldn’t risk your life for others again…”

Wendy could feel the sincerity in his words, something he rarely showed.

“If you’re scared, run away. And make sure you come back to me.”

“Count…”

“Your survival and return are more important to me. In the face of that, bravery and the Hero’s bloodline are meaningless.”

Hearing his passionate sincerity, Wendy’s heart raced.

“Why are you so kind to me?”

Wendy clutched her chest, which felt like it might burst.

If she didn’t, she might spill everything in her heart.

“Why are you always so gentle with me?”

“I’ve told you before. Because you’re precious to me.”

Tristan quietly added.

“Without you, I have no reason to exist.”

“I… I feel the same…!”

Before he could finish, Wendy threw herself into Tristan’s arms.

“You’re… precious to me…! Important! You’re the most important person in the world to me…! Without you, I…!”

Wendy hugged his neck tightly as she spoke.

“I wouldn’t have a reason to live either…”

“…Troublesome girl.”

Suddenly, the closet door slowly opened. A moment later, Wendy’s body was lifted into the air.

“Eek?! Count?!”

Carried like a princess, Wendy was gently placed on the bed.

After setting her down, Tristan brushed off his hands and spoke.

“Go to bed early today. Tomorrow, there’s somewhere I need to take you.”

“Huh? With me?”

“Yes.”

Wendy was about to ask where but stopped.

Tristan seemed unusually hesitant.

“Wendy. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

“Yes… Yes…”

“I don’t know why you made that wish back then…”

Tristan hesitated, then cleared his throat.

“I can grant you anything else, but that wish of yours… I can’t grant it.”

“My… wish?”

“Yes. Even if you didn’t get first place, I planned to grant your wish from the start.”

“…Eek?! Y-you mean…?!”

Finally, Wendy realized what Tristan was talking about.

“Y-you were awake when I said that…?!?!”

“…At least wait until you’re an adult, and we’ll reconsider. So for now…”

At that moment, Wendy felt a soft touch on her forehead.

“Be satisfied with this for now.”

“Huh…?”

Realizing it was the touch of his lips, Wendy froze in shock.

As he left, Tristan tossed one last remark before closing the door.

“Sleep well, troublesome princess.”

 

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