---

“Count. Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

As I raised my head, Bella Izakhel was looking at me.

Her lake-like eyes, framed by snow-white eyelashes reminiscent of a snowy forest, reflected my image.

“Anything to say?”

“Yes.”

Though she wore a smile, it was clear she was expecting something from me.

I pondered for a moment.

Why was she asking such a strange question?

But nothing came to mind.

“Seems like nothing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

A crack appeared in Bella’s smile.

“Think carefully.”

“Can’t think of anything.”

“You haven’t even tried.”

“Then why don’t you tell me?”

“No way. If it’s something you want to say, why should I say it for you?”

“…Something I want to say?”

The more we talked, the more confused I became.

Come to think of it, Bella’s attitude today was a bit off.

She came to my office this morning and asked for a sparring match out of nowhere.

Dragged out by her, I didn’t even get to lock the office door.

We were at a small dojo on the rooftop of the main building.

Open and scenic, it was perfect for a light warm-up.

I hadn’t had a chance to wield a sword lately, so I was eager to join her…

But it felt like I was being tested.

Bella, dressed in a white uniform, tied her long hair back with a pout.

Her even whiter nape was exposed to the sunlight.

“Where are you looking…? Pervert.”

“Tying your hair like that isn’t bad.”

“Huh? My hair?”

At my words, Bella touched her hair.

But her surprise was brief.

“Hmm… Why not just say I’m pretty? What’s with ‘not bad’?”

“Pretty and not bad are different.”

“I see… I think I understand what you’re saying, Count.”

With that, Bella pointed her wooden sword at me.

“Then, shall we start blocking my attacks?”

“…!”

Clack-!

Reflexively, I raised my sword just in time.

Otherwise, Bella’s wooden sword would have struck my shoulder.

Though my heart was still racing, I asked her nonchalantly.

“…Should we start the spar now?”

“Oh my. What are you talking about? The spar already started. Hehe…”

Bella smiled like a fox.

Though she was trying to provoke me, I couldn’t bring myself to dislike her.

“Is that so? I thought it was a sharp ambush.”

“This isn’t even an ambush. Besides, I thought you’d block it easily.”

“Are you admitting it?”

“You’re still far from beating me.”

Perhaps confident in her swordsmanship, Bella was clearly provoking me.

Feeling this, ‘Pride’ within me began to stir.

Calm down.

Now is not your time.

I soothed ‘Pride’ with ‘Patience’ and asked Bella.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes.”

Holding her wooden sword, she spoke confidently.

“I know you understand our family’s Izakhel Style swordsmanship well. And you’re quite good at mimicking it.”

Bella’s words implied that my swordsmanship was merely a mimicry of hers.

But her assessment was accurate.

I was only imitating her swordsmanship out of ‘Jealousy.’

“That’s why you can’t beat me, the direct successor of the Izakhel Style.”

I knew she was right.

But ‘Pride’ refused to admit it… and a different answer came out of my mouth.

“We’ll see about that.”

“Hehe… I knew you’d say that.”

Bella adjusted her grip on the sword.

The atmosphere changed.

In this world, Bella is a figure you can’t ignore when it comes to swordsmanship.

I was now facing her.

This time, Bella closed the distance first.

Her wooden sword brushed past my eyes.

“…!”

It was fast.

Fast enough to barely follow with my eyes.

But her next attack was even faster.

The series of movements was truly elegant.

I quickly used ‘Jealousy’ to counter her swordsmanship.

Clack-! Clack-!

The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed through the dojo.

The relentless barrage of strikes.

Despite the speed, Bella looked composed.

She even managed to speak to me.

“Count. Are you coming to school next week?”

“…Yeah.”

“Are you planning to go to the festival too?”

The festival talk must have reached Bella’s ears.

I blocked the rapid strikes and replied.

“No. I only plan to attend the academic fair.”

“Hmm… That’s unexpected. I didn’t know you were so interested in academics. You’re not planning to pick on the professors, are you?”

“Not picking. As the Chairman, it’s my duty to evaluate the professors. I’ll dismiss all the incompetent ones.”

“Scary. What if I’m incompetent? Will you dismiss me too?”

“Of course.”

Clack-!!

I blocked a strike aimed at my head.

The impact was so heavy my hand went numb.

“No hesitation in your answer.”

“Why hesitate?”

“Could you at least pretend to hesitate?”

“Don’t order me around.”

“It’s a request.”

“Don’t request either.”

“Geez…”

Bella was close to me.

We were locked in a tense standoff, swords crossed.

“Count… So, aside from the academic fair, you have no plans for the festival?”

“Right.”

“That’s tough. Watching the students enjoy the festival all by yourself.”

“Doesn’t concern me.”

“If you ask me nicely, I might consider accompanying you.”

What?

As I turned to look at Bella, she quickly stepped back.

Her face was slightly flushed.

“Well, still don’t know what to say to me? Count.”

“…Not sure.”

“Hmm… Maybe a few hits will jog your memory.”

Bella muttered as she adjusted her sword.

I started to understand why she had been acting sulky since earlier. And what she wanted me to say.

But I’m not one to easily comply with her expectations.

“Ah… Right. I remember.”

“Huh?”

“Something I want to say to you.”

“…!”

Color returned to Bella’s face.

With great anticipation, I told her what I wanted to say.

“Don’t hold back.”

“……”

I pointed my sword at Bella.

And smiled with ‘Pride.’

“Come at me with everything you’ve got.”

“…That’s how it’s going to be, huh?”

Bella suddenly shifted the wooden sword in her hands to her left.

Then she grabbed another wooden sword from the wall.

“Alright. I won’t hold back, as you wish.”

Bella, now wielding two swords, slowly approached me.

Dual swords.

The aura emanating from her was extraordinary.

She was serious.

“Think you can handle this without begging?”

“…Bring it.”

Bella leaped at me with terrifying speed.

With just one sword and ‘Jealousy,’ it was hard to keep up with her dual swords.

The result was a draw, but for the first time, I thought I should restrain ‘Pride’ in front of her.

*

It was just around lunchtime.

Wendy stood in front of the Chairman’s office.

Perhaps because it was separate from the lecture buildings, there weren’t many people around the office.

Luckily, she managed to get here without drawing attention.

“Phew…”

Wendy took a deep breath.

Originally, she was supposed to have lunch with her friends today. But she came here secretly, without Sia and Rachel.

Wendy was holding a small picnic basket.

‘You can do it, Wendy.’

Since early morning, Wendy had prepared a lunchbox with Tristan’s favorite foods.

To have lunch with him alone.

Well, more accurately, her goal was to invite him to the festival.

Before leaving the mansion this morning, she even confirmed that Helga was still at home.

As far as Wendy knew, today was the only day Tristan would be alone. In other words, today was her only chance to ask him to the festival.

After steadying her breath, Wendy reached for the door to knock.

Creeeak.

“Huh…?”

The door opened easily.

“Ex, excuse me…?”

Just in case, Wendy peeked through the crack.

But the office was empty.

“Count…?”

Wendy entered the office and carefully closed the door.

The Chairman’s office was as spacious as ever.

The high ceiling made Wendy’s voice echo.

“Co, Count… Are you here…?”

Looking around, there was no one.

Strange. He should have been here by this time.

“Ah…”

Then, Tristan’s shirt draped over the chair caught her eye.

Perhaps he forgot to hang it up after changing.

Wendy picked up the shirt.

Though it didn’t feel warm, she could tell he had worn it.

There was a faint scent of him.

Wendy neatly folded the shirt and hung it on the hanger. As she was about to put it in the closet, something about the shirt caught her eye.

“Ju, just a little…”

Wendy cautiously brought the shirt to her nose.

The warm scent of his embrace filled her senses.

The same scent she had smelled when she slept in Tristan’s bed before.

Later, when she slept in other beds, she missed that scent…

“Count…”

Through her nose, she felt his warm embrace.

She could stay like this forever…

As she was lost in thought, sniffing the shirt…

Click.

“…Hic?!”

The sound of the doorknob turning reached her ears.

In that brief moment, Wendy thought if she got caught doing something so embarrassing, it would truly be the end.

So, she quickly hid inside the closet in front of her.

 

---