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“Huh?”

The office door was open.

I always lock it with a magic formula when I leave.

Unless someone’s a brazen individual, no one would dare break into my office…

Of course, the culprit must be Blanshe.

No one else could unlock it so cleanly.

I pretended not to notice and walked into the office.

The first thing that caught my eye was the high ceiling. The history of Meikhael University was painted on it, making it clear this was a room for someone of high status.

The marble floor sparkled in the sunlight, spotless.

This was the view I saw every morning.

In other words, nothing seemed particularly out of place.

I widened my eyes, searching for anything unusual, but nothing had changed.

In a way, it was expected.

Blanshe, being thorough, wouldn’t leave obvious traces.

What I’m curious about is what she’s trying to hide. And it must be something I’m not supposed to find.

“…Hmm.”

I decided to start my usual routine.

Maintaining composure is one of the virtues I, as the possessor, value most.

Whatever Blanshe is hiding, I just need to focus on my work.

I hung up my coat and immediately took off my shirt.

*Thud.*

“Count…! I’ll explain everything… Huh?!”

Blanshe, who had rushed in, quickly turned her head away.

“F-forgive me! But… why are you undressed?”

“I’m preparing to exercise.”

Before starting work, I always exercise in the office.

It’s a routine I can’t skip even for a day.

It’s also my vow never to return to being the original Tristan.

Blanshe seemed at a loss, faced with my bare upper body.

“You can look if you want.”

“…I won’t.”

“Then you’re going to talk without looking at me? How rude.”

“Ugh…”

Eventually, Blanshe looked at me with a strained expression.

Her eyes darted around, unsure where to focus.

“Ah, seriously…!”

Helga appeared in the office, following behind.

“Why are your feet so fast?”

“You’re just slow. Who told you to wear those shoes in the first place?”

“This is my uniform! Shoes included!”

Helga, clearly annoyed, rubbed her exposed ankle above her high heels.

“Ugh… Do you know how hard it is to run in heels? I almost sprained my ankle chasing you. If I got hurt, would you take responsibility?”

“Is that so? When I carried you on my shoulder, I thought my shoulder would break…”

“It’s because you’re soft-boned. Anyway, that’s how it is.”

“…A normal person’s shoulder would’ve shattered.”

“Huh? You’re not a normal person.”

“Neither are you.”

“True. I’m not a normal person—I’m a normal beauty.”

The two bickered.

While Helga grumbled, Blanshe nervously glanced around.

I, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.

“Blanshe. What were you going to explain?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you just say you’d explain everything?”

“Ah… that…”

I was curious what excuse she’d come up with.

To be precise, I was intrigued.

The always cool-headed Blanshe desperately making excuses—that was something never seen in the original story.

As I waited for her answer, I placed my hands on the chair and did a handstand.

I began my exercise, bending and straightening my arms.

Finally, Blanshe’s voice came.

“…It’s a cat.”

“A cat?”

As I raised my head, Blanshe averted her gaze and continued.

“Y-yes. Actually, there’s a cat outside… I saw it entering the office through the window. So I had to open the door to catch it. I’m really sorry for not informing you beforehand.”

“…I see.”

A pretty convincing excuse.

“But it’s unusually clean for a cat to have come in.”

“…That’s true.”

“Where’s the cat now?”

“…It probably ran away.”

“Hmm.”

I straightened my arms and stood up using the momentum.

“Alright. But don’t enter without my permission next time.”

“Yes… I’m truly sorry.”

Blanshe bowed deeply.

“Then leave. I’ll finish my exercise now.”

“…Yes.”

As Blanshe tried to leave, she fidgeted and glanced around.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well…”

I asked the hesitant Blanshe.

“Are you worried about the cat and can’t leave?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“Huh?”

I smiled arrogantly and said to her.

“I see now, Blanshe. I didn’t know you had ‘that side’ to you.”

“?!”

I don’t know how she took it, but Blanshe’s face turned bright red.

“D-don’t insult me! I’m not cute! I’m not happy to hear such things from the Count!”

“Insult? You seem to be misunderstanding.”

“…Huh?”

“When I said ‘that side,’ I meant you have a compassionate side. Above all…”

I sat on the chair.

And stroking my chin, I added.

“I never said you were cute.”

“Ugh?!?!”

Only then did Blanshe realize what she’d said and buried her face.

But I saw her expression before she lowered her head.

A face that looked like a child caught in a mistake, about to cry in frustration.

Seeing Blanshe like that, Helga spoke up.

“Honestly… Why don’t you just be honest?”

“Huh?”

“Just say you want to see the Count’s bare body more.”

“…What?!”

Blanshe was shocked.

“What nonsense are you spouting?! Do you think I’d do something like that?”

“Eh. I know everything. The Count is generous, so he’ll allow it if you ask.”

Helga smirked.

“Ah, looking is fine, but touching is off-limits. Wiping the Count’s sweat is my privilege as his loyal servant. Hehe… Or if you become his bodyguard knight like me, maybe you’ll get to lick the sweat off the floor.”

“Count!? Are you really making me do such perverted things?!”

“No. I’m not.”

I was hearing this for the first time too.

The thought of Helga licking sweat off the floor gave me chills.

I cut her off and pressed my fingers to my temples.

Listening to their conversation was giving me a headache, so I had no choice but to make a decision.

“Both of you. You’re in the way.”

“Huh?”

“Yes?”

“Get out. Now.”

As I coldly ordered, Helga looked as if the sky had fallen.

“B-but…! Who’s going to drink the Count’s sweat if I’m not here?!”

“My sweat isn’t a beverage. And I never told you to drink it. Get out.”

“I have the right to watch the Count’s exercise until the end! No, it’s my destiny! I won’t back down!”

Right. I knew you’d say that.

“Blanshe.”

“Ah, yes?”

“Take care of Helga.”

I held up three fingers.

It meant 3 million Kael in repayment.

Blanshe, quickly understanding, nodded with a slightly brighter expression.

At the same time, she slipped her hand around Helga’s waist and interlocked their fingers.

“?!”

“My turn now.”

“L-let go!”

“Come with me, pretty.”

“Ugh…! Let go! I’ll report this as harassment!”

“Go ahead. Pretty.”

“Just wait! I’ll get you someday…!”

And so, Helga was dragged out, spouting lines like a third-rate villain.

With the two gone, the office fell silent.

Now I could finally focus on my time.

But there was still an unresolved ‘problem’ in this room.

“Strange…”

I pushed the chair back.

And looking under the desk, I said.

“I wonder how the cat got in here.”

“Ahaha…”

A woman hiding under the desk, hugging her knees, let out an awkward laugh.

Her beautiful eyes, like a winter lake, looked up at me.

“Did you get lost?”

“Not exactly…”

“Does the cat talk?”

“Ugh…”

At my cold remark, Bella waved her hand in the air like a cat and replied.

“Meow…”

 

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