Chapter 155
It was a long day.
I entered Bella’s dream early in the morning and woke up at dawn the next day, so it hadn’t even been 24 hours.
But that was only in real-world time.
What I experienced in the dream wasn’t just 24 hours.
I spent countless moments in Bella’s dream.
And to make it worse, I struggled to escape after falling into hell.
In reality, I had just slept all day, but physically and mentally, I was exhausted.
I stared blankly into the air for a moment.
Then, a message window popped up.
[264 days until service begins]
I sighed deeply.
It’s been about 100 days since I was transported to this other world.
And I might have to endure this for another 264 days… What a bleak future, but it’s the path I chose. I’ll just have to tough it out.
By the way, while I was asleep, quick measures were taken.
I was admitted to a patient room at the University Hospital instead of the health room, and apparently, I even survived a near-death experience.
Surprisingly, there were many who genuinely worried about me. It felt like proof that the path I chose wasn’t wrong, and I felt a little proud. If it were the original Tristan, he would’ve met a miserable end.
“I survived another day…”
I felt relieved, but I was still in the hospital room.
Though I was tired, I was in good enough condition to be discharged. However, not only the hospital staff but also those around me unanimously opposed it, so I had no choice but to stay for one more day.
Yeah… I had no choice but to stay.
Even now, I could feel a warm sensation on my waist.
It was none other than Wendy. She must’ve been exhausted because she fell asleep after receiving an IV-like fluid infused with magic power. She was so deeply asleep that she wouldn’t wake up even if carried away.
But for some reason, she was hugging my waist while sleeping. Every time I tried to move her, she clung tighter in her sleep, so I just let her be.
She’ll wake up soon. Probably…
When news spread that I had woken up, healers rushed in early in the morning.
Among them was a familiar face—Albert, the craftsman from the workshop. Thankfully, he had volunteered to take the lead in treating me.
After examining my condition, Albert summed it up in one sentence.
“It’s nothing short of a miracle…”
Considering I woke up with the help of divine power, his assessment was accurate.
Albert was fine, but the healers were overwhelming.
Some were genuinely concerned, but many came to curry favor with me, given my high status as the Chairman of the Ruelberta Foundation and the Head of the Ruelberta Family.
Since the hospital healers’ salaries came from my pocket, it was understandable.
But dealing with them one by one was exhausting.
Helga was the one who sent them away.
As my Bodyguard Knight, she politely and respectfully asked them to leave, following my teachings.
Though, she did so while radiating magic power.
“Ah… I’m sorry, everyone. I’m a bit tired, so my magic keeps leaking out. If someone gets hurt, I won’t be responsible.”
Her acting was clumsy, but the magic was real.
Sparks flying from Helga’s body crackled threateningly, and the healers had no choice but to slowly back away.
After all that, Helga, who had worked hard until the end, was now standing and sleeping.
With her arms crossed and leaning against the wall, she fell asleep with her eyes wide open. And uncomfortably, her gaze was fixed on me.
I’ve never doubted her loyalty, but moments like this make me a little scared.
Blanshe was the one who closed Helga’s eyes as she slept standing.
She had helped send away the healers who came to visit with Helga and emphasized that I needed absolute rest.
“Count. Don’t do anything and just rest there.”
“Alright.”
“Albert also said you should rest. So no matter what happens today, you must rest.”
“Alright…”
“Absolute rest is the priority. Rest no matter what. Even if you die, rest.”
“…?”
Even after saying that, she seemed uneasy and placed a chair by the door, sitting there to prevent me from leaving.
Blanshe must’ve been tired too because she was now dozing off there.
And then there was one person left…
The beautiful silver-haired princess, Bella Izakhel, was sitting next to me.
“Count. Say ‘Ah~’.”
Bella scooped up some porridge with a spoon and brought it to my mouth, trying to feed me.
But I’m not a baby.
“…I’m fine.”
“Why? You haven’t eaten anything all day.”
“I’m not in the mood right now.”
“…Are you worried about gaining weight again?”
Bella asked with concern.
I shook my head.
“Eating porridge won’t make me gain weight. I just don’t have an appetite.”
“Then, can I ask you something while we’re at it?”
“No.”
“Ugh, you’re so stingy.”
“I’m not stingy. I just know you’ll ask something pointless.”
“No, I haven’t even said anything yet. How would you know?”
“Whatever you’re going to ask, it’s obvious.”
Bella put down the porridge bowl, looking exasperated.
“It’s not obvious.”
“It is.”
“It’s not, okay?”
“It is. I know how you think.”
I know the original Bella, but I also remember the various scenarios created for her in the online game.
That’s why I could say it so confidently.
Bella, unaware of this, was in no mood to admit it.
“Hah. You’re just as obvious. You think I can’t read your thoughts?”
“Oh…?”
I didn’t expect that answer.
She shouldn’t have that ability.
I feigned interest and asked her back.
“So, you can read my thoughts?”
“Hmph. It’s not impossible. Want me to guess what you’re thinking right now?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Bella stared at me intently.
Her blue eyes between her silver eyelashes resembled a winter lake.
After about 10 seconds of silently staring at me, she spoke.
“…You were thinking I’m pretty, right?”
“No.”
This time, Bella brushed her hair aside and said,
“Then you were thinking I’m the most beautiful in the world, right?”
“No.”
“Ah… You were thinking, ‘I want this woman,’ right?”
“…No.”
“That’s really weird… Ah! You were thinking about marrying me, right?”
“No.”
Bella bit her lip, frustrated.
“That can’t be.”
“It can.”
“You’re lying. Tristan, you always lie when you open your mouth. That’s why you said you wouldn’t apologize to me, but you lied at the end, didn’t you?”
“……”
She suddenly brought that up.
Was she still holding onto the memory of me falling off the cliff?
“…I can’t argue with that.”
“Don’t do such reckless things again.”
“…Alright.”
“You’re lying again.”
Bella’s eyes were wet as she looked at me again.
“You think I don’t know when you’re lying? It’s obvious. You always try to reassure me with plausible excuses.”
“……”
“You were really mean… Showing up in my dream out of nowhere and then leaving like that…”
“……”
“Did you think I’d be moved? Did you think I’d spend my life longing for you…?”
“……”
“Don’t make me laugh… I would’ve resented you for life. I would’ve never forgiven you.”
I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t.
No matter what flowery words I used to comfort her, they wouldn’t ease her heart.
“Did you tell me not to cry for you? I won’t. I won’t. I was going to cry for you for the rest of my life… Did you know that? Is this also the obvious version of me you expected?”
“No… I didn’t know.”
“I thought so. I’m not just some predictable woman to you.”
Bella reached out and took my hand.
“Then promise me again. Promise you won’t do such reckless things again. That you won’t risk your life for me.”
The only thing that could comfort her now was my sincerity.
Trying to speak sincerely in Tristan’s body made my skin crawl, but this time, I had no choice.
I quietly opened my mouth.
“…That’s difficult. But if it’s what you want… I’ll try.”
In a way, it was a refusal of her request, but Bella, as if she had expected it from the start, spoke with a sense of relief.
“Hmph… Finally being honest, Count.”
Looking at Bella, who was smiling brightly, I suddenly thought of something.
She’s from the Izakhel Family, which opposes demons.
What would happen if she found out Tristan was a descendant of a demon…?
As I pondered this bitter fate, Bella spoke.
“Ah! You were feeling sorry for me just now, weren’t you…?”
She hit the nail on the head.
I sighed and answered.
“Yes… You got me.”
“Hehe… See? I told you it was obvious. Now, you must be hungry, right? Just one bite.”
Bella offered another spoonful of porridge.
After our conversation, my appetite had returned somewhat, so eating wasn’t a problem.
But…
“No, I’ll eat it myself.”
“Ah, consider it an honor that I’m feeding you.”
Before I could stop her, Bella shoved the spoon into my mouth.
I had no choice but to swallow the porridge.
It was warm.
“Then, I’ll have some too…”
Bella took a spoonful of porridge for herself. Then, with a playful smile, she asked me,
“Count, do you know what I’m thinking right now?”
“…What?”
“I just claimed you.”
I don’t know what expression I made at that moment.
But seeing my face, Bella said this:
“Hehehe… Didn’t expect that, did you?”
