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Helga’s sleep was abruptly shattered by his sudden command.

Come in? To the Count’s bedroom? Does that mean…? Could it finally mean that the Count desires my body?

In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through Helga’s mind.

How much effort had she put into seducing Tristan?

Though she didn’t show it, after removing the scars from her body, she had become increasingly conscious of her appearance.

She had even managed to do makeup, something she had never done before.

Every morning, she made sure to meticulously remove her leg hair for smooth legs.

Even her rough speech, honed on the battlefield, she tried to soften into a noble lady’s tone in front of him.

When sitting on a chair, she always crossed her legs so he could see them well. Her seductive gaze towards him was a bonus. Though it made her hips ache…

If it meant Tristan would notice her, she could endure it.

But despite Helga’s efforts and seduction, he remained unmoved.

No matter how short her skirt was, he didn’t even blink. Instead, he scolded her for being indecent…

This only made Helga more anxious.

Was Tristan seeing her as a childhood friend or a younger sister? Or just as the Deputy Commander and Bodyguard Knight of Aslan?

But today, her opportunity had finally arrived.

He had finally seen her as a woman.

Helga swallowed her trembling breath.

How long had she waited for this moment?

No, he had only told her to come in…

But a true loyal servant should understand the real meaning behind their master’s command.

Yes, of course.

Helga slid down the stockings she was wearing.

“Um, it’s my first time, but I’ll do my best.”

“…What?”

“Should I take everything off first?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Ah! Should I leave just the stockings on…? Oh, right. I haven’t showered yet, I should quickly wash-.”

“…Sigh.”

Tristan let out a deep sigh and got up from the sofa.

He approached her, who was awkwardly frozen in the middle of taking off her stockings.

“Is this… not it? Ahaha… I don’t really know…”

Tristan’s expression was darker than usual.

It seemed she had misunderstood again.

“You think too much about unnecessary things,” he said to Helga, who was awkwardly laughing.

“Eek-?!”

At that moment, Tristan suddenly lifted Helga, who was frozen in place.

She thought she might stop breathing from the shock.

She could feel his firm arm muscles and broad shoulders. He was indeed a man.

Helga was laid down on the sofa.

‘This time, I’m really going to be taken by the Count…!’

Prepared to accept Tristan’s rough touch, she slowly opened her tightly closed eyes.

“…Huh?”

What she saw wasn’t his loving face looking down at her, but the dark ceiling.

“Sleep.”

Tristan turned off the light and lay down next to Helga.

That was all.

Turning her head, she saw Tristan quietly closing his eyes.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Helga spoke.

“…Aren’t you going to do anything? Count.”

“Do you want me to do something?”

“You can tell me to do anything.”

“Anything?”

“Yes. Even… things you can’t tell others. I am yours, and your happiness is my joy. So anything…”

“Is that so.”

“…!”

Tristan opened his eyes in the dark and looked at Helga.

Though it was too dark to see clearly, she could tell his obsidian eyes were fixed on her.

After saying all that, what would Tristan say?

She had hoped, but…

“Then sleep.”

“Ugh…”

It felt like Tristan was teasing her, and she got a bit annoyed.

“You always make me expect things like this. Oppa.”

“I’m the Count.”

“No. I’ll call you Oppa. Oppa.”

Strangely, a rebellious feeling arose.

Helga decided to provoke Tristan.

“So, what are you going to do now? Are you going to scold me for calling you Oppa like this?”

“…Don’t throw a tantrum like a child.”

“No. I won’t listen. I’ll keep throwing tantrums until you scold me. Oppa.”

“……”

At that moment, Tristan, who had been silent, suddenly raised his arm.

“…Huh?!”

Helga flinched, thinking he was about to slap her.

But his hand gently stroked her head.

“Stop talking and sleep.”

“…Aren’t you angry even after all this?”

“It’s ridiculous to get angry over something like this. You just want my attention, don’t you?”

Ah…

It seemed he had seen through her, and she felt a bit embarrassed.

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine if you understand. We need to find someone to repair the damaged grave early tomorrow, so sleep.”

At his words, she suddenly came to her senses.

“Count.”

“What.”

“Though it’s late, thank you… for protecting my mother’s grave.”

“…No need for thanks.”

Tristan replied calmly.

Helga turned to her side.

Though the sofa was wide enough for two, they were close enough to touch.

So Helga could see Tristan’s face right in front of her.

She whispered into his ear as he lay with his eyes closed.

“Oppa. There’s something I haven’t told you.”

“……”

“Oppa. Are you asleep?”

“……”

“Count.”

“…Speak.”

“When you lost consciousness, I had decided to kill myself.”

“……”

She had revealed something he might not have known.

Would he scold her for such a foolish thought? Or would he yell at her?

But after a silence, his answer was neither.

“I see… I thought you might do that.”

As if he had expected it, he sighed.

“You are the reason for my life… So, in a way, I was disappointed. I could die for you… but it was painful to watch you die for someone else.”

“……”

“I never doubted you would come back… but just in case, I thought about writing a will.”

Helga’s throat tightened, and she paused before continuing.

“But when I tried to write it, I realized the only person I could send it to was my dead mother. Besides you, my mother was the only one who was on my side, even after my father and brother and family abandoned me. So… thank you for protecting my mother’s grave… my only family’s grave.”

“……”

“You might not want to hear my thanks… but I really wanted to say this… Ahaha… I’m crying for no reason.”

Tristan, who had been silent, quietly spoke.

“…Do you resent your father?”

“Now… I’m not sure. But if they had erased my mother’s grave without a trace… if they really had…”

Helga trembled with anger as she spoke.

“I might have killed my father like you did, Count. No, I definitely would have.”

“You would regret it.”

“No. I wouldn’t regret it.”

“No. You would regret it. Definitely.”

“Why…?”

His confident words made Helga question.

“I know. That you’re more tender-hearted than you seem.”

“Huh…?”

“I also know how much you struggled alone as a child to gain your father’s recognition.”

“…!”

Her heart raced.

Tristan’s words weren’t just because he had known her for a long time.

“Not only that, but when you lost your eye in an accident as a child, no one was on your side… I know everything.”

He had investigated everything.

To fully understand her past and wounds.

“Thus, I understand the feelings of that little girl who sought refuge with the Ruelberta family.”

“Count…”

“You’re not the type to hurt others. You’re more likely to get hurt yourself while trying to hurt someone.”

“No, I’m not that fragile…”

“You don’t need to pretend to be strong. At least not in front of me.”

“……”

Suddenly, her vision blurred.

She was happy to be understood by him.

“…Is it really okay?”

“Yes.”

“But then I can’t protect you…”

“I’m not a sunfish. I won’t die easily just because you don’t protect me.”

“Sun…fish? I don’t know what that is… but… I’ve been wanting to cry in your arms since earlier.”

“If you must, you can cry. But only for five minutes.”

“Five… minutes?”

“Yes…”

Tristan sighed softly and answered Helga’s question.

“In five minutes, it’s time to get up.”

“Huh…?”

Through the curtains, the early dawn was breaking.

 

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