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A few days later, I responded to the Emperor’s summons and headed to the Imperial Palace by wagon.

It was a sudden call, but I wasn’t surprised. She must have finally made a decision about reclaiming the Northern Garden in the north.

Not long ago, the Emperor had requested my cooperation in reclaiming the north.

Currently, the group with the most combat experience against monstrous beasts in the Empire is Aslan, under my command. To easily reclaim the north, which has been occupied by monstrous beasts and demons, Aslan’s strength was absolutely necessary.

For me, the timing was quite good.

The north was a place I had to reclaim for my future plans.

However, since I was asked for help, I had no intention of doing it for free.

What I demanded from the Emperor was full command of the Northern Expedition Army.

If she wasn’t prepared to give me at least that much, she shouldn’t expect my help.

By the time I arrived at the Imperial Palace, the sun was setting.

As I stepped out of the wagon, a crimson sunset was spreading across the sky.

“Wow… this is amazing… Young Master.”

“I never thought the Young Master would rise so high as to meet His Majesty… I, Cynthia, am truly moved.”

Muiry and Cynthia, who had accompanied me in place of Helga, who was hospitalized, kept exclaiming in admiration.

Seeing the two people who raised me react like this, they were like overbearing parents.

Come to think of it, there was something I wanted to clarify.

“Muiry. Cynthia.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not the Young Master anymore. I’m the Count.”

They still called me “Young Master,” as they had in the past.

Back then, William was alive, so I was the Young Master, but now I am the rightful Count Ruelberta.

“Oh, oh, oh… I’m sorry. The term ‘Young Master’ just slipped out…”

“We didn’t realize it… it’s just become a habit… We’re still not used to calling you ‘Count’…”

Muiry and Cynthia seemed to prefer calling me “Young Master” over “Count.”

I could understand their feelings.

Their feelings were no different from those of any parent.

They were the ones who raised Tristan when he was just a baby. No matter how much I’ve grown, they’ll always worry about me like a child.

But it was still burdensome.

I understood their concern, but being called “Young Master” all the time made me feel like I was being treated like a kid.

Even though I thought this, the words that came out of my mouth weren’t harsh.

“…It’s fine at the mansion or in private, but be careful when we’re outside.”

“Yes, Count. We’ll be careful.”

“By the way, have you thought about what I said?”

“Ah…”

“I told you before, but you don’t need to serve me anymore.”

They were victims of the Ruelberta Family.

I wanted to give them a happy future.

The two exchanged glances.

Then Muiry spoke up.

“Young Master… no, Count, you told us to think about the life we want…”

“Yes. You’re free now. Live the life you want.”

“But what if we’re already living the life we want…?”

“……”

I didn’t need to ask what that meant.

I quietly looked at Muiry and Cynthia. In their calm eyes was trust in me.

“…I can’t understand it.”

Although it was William who killed them, his son Tristan could never be free from guilt.

Like Blanshe, I had prepared myself for their hatred…

But for some reason, they showed a determination to protect and serve me.

“Is that just your opinion?”

“No. Rika and Bess feel the same way.”

“We’ve already made up our minds, Count.”

“…Think about it again.”

I could only shake my head at their answer. I couldn’t bring myself to ask them to serve me, as they had served the Ruelberta Family even in death.

Leaving the two with bitter expressions, I entered the Imperial Palace.

There’s still time.

Someday, they’ll realize there’s a much better life out there.

*Creak.*

As I passed through the gate opened by the guards, a voice suddenly came from beside me.

“You’re late, Count.”

Turning my head, I met eyes as cold as ice flowers, framed by silver lashes.

“…Bella.”

“How’s your body?”

“I’m fine now. But you…”

“Why am I here?”

Bella gave a mischievous smile and wiggled her fingers at me.

As if telling me to listen closely.

I wasn’t thrilled, but I leaned in. Then…

“I thought you might want to see me.”

“……”

“Do you have to make such a disgusted face? It’s embarrassing.”

“That’s the point.”

“Then you’ve succeeded… hmph.”

Bella turned her head away with a pout.

It was nice to hear her grumbling again after so long, but I didn’t show it.

“Looks like you were summoned by the Emperor too.”

“Huh? Well, His Majesty called the heads of the Seven Stars, didn’t he? Isn’t that why you’re here too?”

Seeing Bella’s reaction, it seemed I wasn’t the only one summoned by the Emperor.

The fact that the heads of the seven noble families, known as the Seven Stars, who dedicate themselves to the country, were gathered meant that today was the day for a definitive answer.

“What do you think His Majesty is going to say? Count. Do you have any guesses?”

“Who knows.”

I shrugged.

“Only the Emperor who summoned us today knows that.”

“Seriously… ‘The Emperor’? Is His Majesty your friend or something?”

“No. She’s not my friend.”

“…Do you think I didn’t know that? I’m telling you to use honorifics like a proper subject, Count.”

“I’ll consider it if she uses honorifics with me first.”

“Really… I haven’t met everyone in the world, but I doubt there’s anyone else in this country who thinks like you.”

“That’s all well and good, but you’re not very good at complimenting people.”

“That wasn’t a compliment!”

Bella and I bickered, then I suddenly covered my mouth in surprise.

“Ugh… I’m so embarrassed because of you. I’ve been standing here for so long…”

“Were you waiting for me?”

“Huh?! Who said I was waiting for you? Be clear. You came looking for me.”

“Right… I guess you could see it that way.”

Though she snapped back, the way Bella’s lips twitched showed she was happy to see me.

On the way to the audience chamber, Bella spoke up.

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

“……”

It was the same question as last time.

Every time she asked me this, I felt more awkward and even a little scared.

But fortunately, this time I knew the answer she wanted.

“…I got the medicine you sent.”

“Hehe… that’s good.”

It must have been the right answer, as Bella’s face lit up.

“You’ve been looking a bit down lately. Did you rest well?”

“Yeah…”

“Count. Your complexion looks much better. Was it because of the medicine I sent?”

“I haven’t taken it yet.”

“What…?”

“…? I haven’t taken it yet.”

“Hmm……”

Bella gave a subtle smile.

What’s this? Did she cast some kind of spell? I even felt a chill.

“I see…”

Bella just covered her mouth and muttered.

“It was expensive medicine.”

“……”

“It was hard to get.”

“……”

“So the Count hasn’t taken it yet, huh?”

“……”

“Are you ignoring my sincerity?”

I couldn’t look Bella in the face.

I wasn’t ignoring her sincerity.

First of all, it wasn’t me who was sick, but Wendy.

I had taken a day off under the pretext of being sick to take care of her.

I wasn’t sick or lacking energy, so there was no need for me to take medicine.

Especially not some suspicious tonic with stamina-boosting effects.

“Count.”

“…What is it?”

“Why haven’t you been looking at me since earlier?”

I had no choice but to look down at Bella.

With ‘Pride’ fully activated.

If I hadn’t, I would have flinched at her expression.

“Finally looking at me, huh?”

Bella was smiling coldly.

She didn’t have the same personality traits as me, but the emotion in her smile was eerily similar to my ‘Wrath.’

Though if my ‘Wrath’ was an emotion that burned everything, hers was one that seemed to freeze everything.

“So… why didn’t you take the medicine I sent?”

I had to choose my words carefully to appease her anger.

And the answer was surprisingly simple.

“Because it was too precious.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know where you got it, but it seemed like a very rare medicine.”

I continued with a bold attitude.

“I couldn’t just take such a precious medicine carelessly.”

“But…”

“Besides, when you sent the medicine through Blanshe, I was already healthy. So I didn’t want to waste it.”

“Well… if that’s the reason, I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

Though she still seemed a bit dissatisfied, Bella seemed to accept it.

“…I thought it was strange that you didn’t seem affected when you saw me…”

“Not affected?”

“…?!”

At that moment, I grabbed Bella’s shoulders and pinned her against the wall without thinking.

“W-what are you doing…?”

“Do I still seem unaffected?”

I was startled by my own sudden action. And the moment I realized the emotion boiling inside me, I understood.

‘Damn… it’s ‘Pride’…’

The ‘Pride’ I had activated earlier was the cause. A part of it had leaked out, unable to be suppressed by ‘Patience.’

“You’re as beautiful as ever.”

“…!”

My hand, moved by ‘Pride,’ gently grasped her long silver hair.

Bella flinched at my touch but didn’t push me away.

My ‘Pride’ stirred again.

“But aren’t you being too careless?”

“W-what do you mean?”

“To think I’d have no thoughts at all with a beautiful woman like you in front of me.”

“Then…”

As I leaned closer, Bella turned her head away. Then, with just her eyes, she glanced up at me.

“What are you thinking… every time you see me?”

“Do you want to know?”

“Ah…!”

‘Pride’ grabbed Bella’s slender wrist and pinned it against the wall.

‘Damn it…!’

Even in that moment, I quickly used ‘Patience’ to suppress ‘Pride.’

I had let my guard down. Even though it’s ‘Pride,’ it’s still me. I didn’t expect my personality to act so impulsively. Maybe I’ve been suppressing these feelings without realizing it…

I wish Bella had just slapped me.

“……You’re such a jerk. Do whatever you want.”

For some reason, Bella just glared at me.

My hand, as if finding her adorable, gently caressed her earlobe. And as that hand slowly moved past her chin toward her lips…

“Ahem…”

The sudden sound of a cough startled me, and I finally managed to fully suppress ‘Pride’ with ‘Patience.’

No. Maybe I can’t even call it a success.

“At first, I thought you were discussing something important… but now you’re eyeing my daughter after messing with the Princess…? Count.”

Gale Wolfbert, the head of the Wolfbert Family, was standing behind us with a very displeased expression.

 

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