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Bella decided to prepare “that thing” a few days ago when she visited the Ruelberta Mansion.

While changing into her uniform for sparring practice, Bella casually asked Wendy, who was attending to her.

“Uh, what does the Count like…?”

“Yes. Come to think of it, I don’t really know his tastes or if he likes anything in particular.”

It had already been several months since Bella had maintained the position of Tristan’s fake fiancée to fend off troublesome suitors.

During that time, aside from Patrick, no man had proposed to Bella. The effect was clear. She could say she had already achieved her goal, but Bella had some complaints.

Why on earth was there no progress at all?!

Over the past few months, the relationship between the two hadn’t changed much.

They weren’t officially engaged, nor were they lovers. But they weren’t complete strangers either—just a subtle, ambiguous relationship.

After pondering the reason for this, Bella realized that the cause lay entirely with Tristan.

Tristan was someone who rarely revealed his emotions.

He didn’t say whether he liked or disliked things and maintained a consistently cynical attitude.

Perhaps that personality of his was related to Tristan’s unfortunate past… Bella vaguely speculated.

Tristan had lost his father at a young age and became a Count early on. Additionally, becoming the head of the Ruelberta family meant bearing the immense burden of being pointed at by many who opposed the Ruelberta family.

It was highly likely that the events of that time influenced Tristan’s arrogant, cynical, and distrustful personality.

Because of that, Bella, who was by his side, felt incredibly frustrated.

Since he didn’t express himself, she had no idea what he was thinking.

At the very least, if she could figure out what he liked, maybe this awkward relationship would change.

With that thought, she decided to secretly gather information about Tristan.

“Wendy, you know, right? The Count isn’t the type to express himself. But as his exclusive maid, you must have some idea, don’t you?”

“W-well…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep it a secret from the Count. His tastes… can you tell just me?”

“Ugh…”

Wendy seemed to think deeply for a moment before finally opening her mouth.

“The Count… uh, probably likes mature things…”

“Mature things?”

“Mature women… I think the Count likes that kind of person…”

“Hmm…”

Bella felt somewhat relieved.

After all, Bella also fit the criteria of a mature woman who was close to Tristan.

But upon reflection, the standard of being “mature” was too broad.

This is tough.

Bella knew full well that her appearance was exceptional. Growing up, she had always been the center of male attention, so it would be strange if she didn’t know.

But in front of Tristan, her beauty seemed to have little effect.

So, should she emphasize her maturity, as Wendy suggested?

“So, his taste is for maturity. Thanks, Wendy.”

“Ah, no… The Count probably doesn’t even notice someone like me… *sniff*…”

“W-wait?! Why are you crying?! Stop!”

“*sniffle*…”

Bella had no idea why, but she suddenly found herself comforting Wendy, who was tearing up.

Next, Bella turned her questions to Helga.

“The Count’s tastes? Hmm… *chuckle*…”

Helga let out a subtle laugh.

Bella felt a bit annoyed but held it in to extract information.

“Come on, help me out. You must know the Count’s tastes, right?”

“Ah, of course. I know a thing or two. After all, the Count is still a man, so he must have some interest in women.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes. *chuckle*… I’ll tell you something special, Princess.”

Helga smirked and whispered into Bella’s ear.

“What?! The Count likes that kind of thing?”

“Of course. I’ve lost count of how many stockings I’ve offered to the Count.”

“T-that’s kind of… gross, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it smell…?”

“You don’t understand. In this industry, it’s considered a reward.”

“Huh? A r-reward?”

“The Count enjoys the scent of women like me. He wants to keep it all to himself. *chuckle*…”

“Ugh…”

Bella felt her face heat up.

Due to her status as a princess and her stunning looks, Bella had always been an unattainable flower, so she wasn’t very knowledgeable about men.

But imagining Tristan sniffing an item with her scent made her incredibly embarrassed.

The funny thing was, while it was embarrassing, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. A man who wanted to possess even her dirty scent… It was obsessive and perverted, but somehow it made her feel… loved.

‘No. No way. I must be crazy. What do you mean, feeling loved?!’

Bella barely managed to snap out of her delusion.

Helga, watching her, let out a sly smile.

“My, my… Princess. Your face is so red. *chuckle*…”

Stay calm. You have to take this woman’s words with a grain of salt.

Helga Wolfbert, Tristan’s closest confidante, was not a woman to let your guard down around. Beneath her light and emotional demeanor lay a cunning nature akin to a vile wolf.

So, you had to assume there was some exaggeration in her words.

Bella cleared her throat.

“Ahem… Anything else besides that?”

“Princess, aren’t you overcomplicating things?”

“Huh?”

“The Count is different from other men, but also the same. He’s still a man, after all. It wouldn’t be strange if he had some sexual fantasies, right?”

“W-well… Sexual fantasies…”

“Hmm… *chuckle*… What I mentioned earlier might just be part of it. Why don’t you think about it seriously, Princess?”

“……”

Bella clenched her mouth shut at Helga’s remark.

It was frustrating, but she was right.

She didn’t really understand what kind of sexual fantasies a man might have… But in short, it was up to Bella to “test” Tristan’s secret tastes.

“…I see. I understand.”

Nodding, she thought for a moment.

Whether it was maturity or sexual fantasies, she had a plan to shake Tristan’s heart.

If she could just see his flustered face, a little shame would be worth it… right?

“Ah, by the way, Princess!”

“Yes?”

Just as Bella was steeling herself, Helga, as if remembering something, added a meaningful remark.

“Just in case, I should mention… It’s probably best not to drink with the Count.”

“…Alcohol?”

*

Even after finishing the sparring session, thoughts about the Demon Lord wouldn’t leave my mind.

I had always thought about becoming the Demon Lord, but now that I was actually planning to execute it, I felt uneasy.

‘What if Bella and Wendy find out about this…?’

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

They were destined to defeat the Demon Lord. It was inevitable that we would clash.

I wasn’t the Demon Lord yet, but thinking about that future made me feel a bit depressed.

Maybe that mood showed in my demeanor.

Bella, trying to cheer me up, dragged me to the office.

She might be a bit naggy, but at her core, she was a kind-hearted woman.

‘By the way… What on earth is taking so long?’

A few minutes ago, Bella told me to wait for a moment, then went into my office and hasn’t come out since.

Is she preparing some kind of surprise party? But at this point, it’s not much of a surprise…

I heard some rustling inside, but I didn’t dare peek.

-If you peek, I’ll hate you forever.

She had threatened me like that before going into the office.

At that time, Bella’s expression was dead serious.

So, I decided to wait quietly in front of the office.

A few more minutes passed.

“…Come in.”

“…What?”

“Come in…”

“Speak louder.”

“Ah, come in already! Seriously!”

Her temper was as sharp as ever.

At Bella’s irritable call, I opened the door with a sour mood.

*Creak*

But immediately after, all that discomfort and uneasy thoughts about the Demon Lord and fate vanished from my mind.

The first thing that caught my eye was Bella’s snow-white skin.

It was the same Bella I always saw, but now… she was exposing quite a bit more.

“…Why are you just standing there?”

As she spoke, two perky ears popped up on her head.

“……”

She was a bunny.

Bella had turned into a bunny and was sitting on my desk.

A high-cut outfit and ribbon tie that exposed her chest and thighs. It was the same bunny girl outfit worn by the female employees at the casino run by the Ruelberta family.

“Bella, you…”

For a moment, it took me some time to process the situation.

Why was Bella wearing such a revealing outfit?

Moreover, she was blushing furiously, as if someone had forced her into it.

“…Will this cheer you up?”

“What?”

“Say you’re cheered up already.”

Bella demanded an answer with shameless persistence.

So, this was what she meant by cheering me up.

Previously, at the casino, Bella had scolded me, asking if I wanted to dress her in such a shameless outfit…

I never thought Bella would actually wear something so provocative.

“Why? Don’t men like this kind of thing?”

“…Did I ever say that?”

“You did. Is your memory that bad?”

As I hesitated, Bella, unable to bear the embarrassment, shouted.

“Ah, what are you doing?! Say you’re cheered up already! I’m dying of shame here!”

“Y-yeah… I guess I’m cheered up.”

Normally, I would have held back out of pride, but seeing her as a bunny girl, I couldn’t help but answer.

“Hmph… I knew it. Who do you think you’re dealing with…”

Her grumbling and scolding should have been annoying, but somehow, I didn’t mind.

Above all, her figure, usually hidden under dresses, was now fully exposed in the bunny girl outfit, constantly drawing my gaze.

“…What are you looking at?”

Oops.

Bella was glaring at me while covering her chest.

“I was-”

“Pervert…”

This time, I couldn’t deny it.

 

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