The ‘Autumn Tragedy’ was an event that claimed the most lives, second only to the arrival of the Demon Lord. According to records, the forces of demons and monstrous beasts marched south towards Nordengarden and attacked Roelgreen Castle. At the time, Emperor Maxime Meikhael immediately dispatched reinforcements to the north, but it was insufficient to stop the beasts. In desperation, Emperor Maxime requested aid from the Ruelberta Family as a last resort. Even then, the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Ruelberta Family was strained, so the Ruelberta Family hesitated to send reinforcements to the north. However, after repeated pleas, Count Aidan Ruelberta sent his private soldiers, the Aslan, to the north. But by then, ten days had already passed. Although the Aslan managed to defeat the beasts upon arrival, the situation was already over. The outcome was devastating. Out of the 50,000 Imperial Army soldiers sent as reinforcements, only 10 survived, and even they succumbed to injuries and aftereffects within days. Not a single resident of Roelgreen Castle survived, including Ariel’s husband, Kyle, and their young son. At the time, Ariel had just given birth and was staying in the capital, Rudlow, due to health issues, which spared her from the tragedy. Upon hearing the news, Ariel was half-mad with grief, despairing over the loss of her husband and son. From that despair grew resentment, which soon turned into an unquenchable hatred. She knew it wasn’t fair to blame the Ruelberta Family entirely for the ‘Autumn Tragedy,’ but she needed someone to blame. Without someone to resent, she would have been consumed by guilt and longing for those she lost. Ariel isn’t foolish. She knows that no matter how much she resents or hates, Kyle and her son won’t come back. But having someone to resent, someone to hate, ironically gave her a reason to live. That’s why Ariel actively cooperates with the Imperial Family, who are hostile to the Ruelberta Family, and constantly tries to hinder me. Hatred is an emotion that can lead to ruin, but for some, it’s the only thing that keeps them alive. Ariel is one of those people—a pitiful woman living in futile hatred. In the original story, Tristan, being the villain, tried to eliminate her several times. He removes anyone who gets in his way—that’s just how Tristan solves problems. But I’m not a madman like Tristan, so I investigated to find a solution. What I discovered was this: During the ‘Autumn Tragedy,’ Aidan Ruelberta, William’s father, was the head of the family. William led the Aslan sent as reinforcements to the north. Surprisingly, after defeating the beasts in the north, William returned to Rudlow, seized control of the family, and became Count Ruelberta. There’s a whiff of something deeper here. I remember William Ruelberta from the trials—a villain who used the dead as puppets, the one who taught me ‘Wrath,’ and the expression he wore when he pulled the trigger in my place. Before the trials, William was just a background character in the original story, already deceased and with no significant role. But now, as Tristan, William has left a lasting impression on me. He’s no ordinary man, and the fact that he became the head of the Ruelberta Family right after the ‘Autumn Tragedy’ makes me think there’s more to the story. “Count.” Well… it’s just speculation for now. There’s no evidence. “Count.” If only I could find some clue here. But all that’s left here is— “Count!” A sudden voice made me turn my head, and there was Bella, the silver-haired princess, glaring at me with her hands on her hips. Oh right, I was taking a short rest in the carriage when Bella came to report something. “I called you several times, and you didn’t answer… What are you thinking about?” “…Just some random thoughts.” I rubbed my face. My eyes felt strangely heavy. The heavy conversation with Ariel earlier must have tired me out. Bella seemed concerned and asked, “Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m fine. What were you saying?” “Oh, I was asking if there’s any progress with the special unit.” “Hmm. The demons haven’t noticed us yet. If we diligently restore the castle, we can turn this place into a fortress before they catch on.” “That’s good news. Things are progressing smoothly on the castle side too.” Bella, part of my main unit, has been communicating with commanders and distributing manpower throughout the castle. Thanks to her high status as a duke’s daughter and her kind-hearted nature, everyone, from commanders to soldiers, obediently follows her orders. Originally, I should have handled this myself, but delegating to her was much more efficient. And it was the right choice. From the Imperial Army’s perspective, I’m practically an enemy. Many still aren’t comfortable taking orders from me. I’m used to the resentful, dissatisfied, and hostile glances, but today, for some reason, they feel particularly exhausting. “I see. Any other news?” “Ah, General Leon keeps asking when we’ll deploy. He’s so impatient that during breaks, he makes weird snowmen and burns them. Says it’s a demon execution or something…” “That’s… not the kind of news I want to hear.” “Right…?” Suddenly, as if she remembered something amusing, Bella pointed to her lower abdomen. “Hehe… Did you see this?” “What are you talking about?” It was hard to see because the table was in the way. Frustrated, Bella gestured for me to come closer. “Ugh, of course you can’t see from there. Come here.” Annoying… I reluctantly moved to her side. Then Bella giggled and pointed to her thigh. “Ta-da.” “…?” What’s with the ‘ta-da’? I frowned and stood there, confused. “What are you doing? Lie down.” “Lie down…?” “Yes.” Bella pointed to her thigh. Finally, I understood what she meant, but I was still puzzled. “…Why?” “Why? Count, you look like you really need to sleep right now.” Do I? Honestly, I am tired, but not that much… Without a mirror, I can’t check. “Stop dawdling and hurry up.” Bella grabbed my arm and forced my head onto her thigh. The scratchy texture of her stockings and the softness of her skin touched the back of my head and neck. But that was brief. Looking up, the view was quite nice, so I didn’t know where to focus. If I wasn’t careful, I might not be able to see Bella’s face, so I desperately strained my neck to keep her in view. “Your neck must be really stiff.” “No, I… well… let’s just say that.” “Hmm…?” I couldn’t bring myself to tell the truth, so I evaded the question. But Bella seemed to interpret it differently. “What? Are you embarrassed?” “…Think what you want.” “Hehe… Well, I guess so. Being able to lie on a woman’s lap like this, you must have saved a country in your past life.” You’re saying that yourself? “Tell me your thoughts, Count.” “Not bad.” My blunt answer made Bella pout. “That’s all you have to say about my lap pillow? You should be more specific.” “It’s a very good… pillow.” “Hmm. That’s not enough. Use a metaphor.” “A sturdy baguette.” “Eek!” Bella slapped my nose with her palm. “If you keep saying things like that…” “What if I do?” “I’ll…!” “You’ll what?” “I’ll… kiss you. To shut that naughty mouth of yours.” I looked up at Bella. Her cheeks were flushed red as her lips twitched. She must have been embarrassed by her own joke. Her expression was so cute that I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Go ahead.” “Huh? You’re really going to challenge me?” “Try it. Go on.” “I’ll really do it, you know?” “Yeah, really do it.” By now, Bella seemed determined as she brushed her hair aside. That simple action made her even more alluring. “I’m a woman of action. Even if you cry and beg for forgiveness, I’ll still kiss you.” “Do I look like the kind of man who would cry and beg for forgiveness?” “Well, that doesn’t suit you. How about arrogantly apologizing?” What even is that? “That’s… not really an apology, is it?” “What do you mean? You could totally pull it off.” Listening to her…? It made sense, so I nodded. It was strange. Just exchanging a few words with her made the dark clouds in my mind disappear. Bella smiled softly and gently stroked my head. “You know when to admit things. You’re such a good boy, our Count.” “Don’t treat me like a kid—” “Shh.” At that moment, Bella leaned in close. Her silver hair, carrying a faint floral scent, tickled my cheek. “Hehe… Did I scare you? Thought I was going to kiss you?” Bella was looking down at me, her finger resting on my lips. Her beauty was heart-stopping, but I managed to stay calm thanks to my ‘Patience.’ However, Bella, already used to my composure, lifted her head. “I’ll stop teasing you. You look too tired for more jokes.” “Do I?” “Yes.” Bella brushed my hair, and suddenly, my eyelids felt heavy. It wasn’t just fatigue—it was a sense of peace, like a flood of calm washing over me. “Stay like this for a while and get some rest.” “Okay…” I didn’t even feel like refusing and soon fell asleep on Bella’s lap. * “Hey, shouldn’t you be a little more embarrassed, being a man?” She poked his cheek with her finger and muttered. Tristan was sound asleep on her lap. “So oblivious…” She absentmindedly tickled his nose with her finger. No matter how actively she expressed her feelings, his heart remained unmoved. Of course, Bella knew. That he was intentionally keeping his distance. To avoid involving her in the curse placed on the Ruelberta Family. Looking down at the sleeping Tristan, Bella sighed. What a cruel fate. That the man she loved happened to be cursed. How could she fall for a man destined to never marry? Tristan’s face looked pale as he slept. Gone was the man once scorned and feared as the ‘Pig Count.’ That made it even more heartbreaking. To have such looks but be cursed to never marry. Knowing his circumstances, she couldn’t just leave him be. It was too pitiful for him to live and die alone. Bella gently stroked Tristan’s forehead. He frowned slightly and shifted in his sleep, stirring her hidden maternal instincts. She had to take care of him. This man couldn’t survive without her. “Right… You can’t do without me, can you?” There was no answer. But Bella acted as if she had already heard one, gazing at his tightly closed lips. Bella took a deep breath. Just as she was about to mark his lips with a kiss… “Oh my?” “?!” A sudden voice made her heart skip a beat. Her knees shook, but thankfully, Tristan didn’t wake up. Bella glared at the uninvited guest. “What, what are you doing here? Showing up out of nowhere.” “Why? I’m the Count’s bodyguard knight. It’s only natural for me to be by his side.” Standing by the open window with a sly smile was a female wolf—no, Helga Wolfbert. “Princess, did you do something?” “N-no?” “You did, didn’t you?” “No.” “You did.” “No, I didn’t.” Helga was grinning from ear to ear. To anyone else, it might have looked like she was in a great mood. But… “Hey… This isn’t good, Princess.” “Huh?” “We should stick to our roles, shouldn’t we?” Helga, Tristan’s bodyguard knight, was his closest confidante and, perhaps, a woman with the same goals as Bella. The cunning hidden behind that smile was unfathomable. She was not someone to let her guard down around. Bella quickly regained her composure and smiled. Her status as a duke’s daughter had trained her well. No matter who she faced—scheming or malicious individuals—she could maintain an unshakable spirit. “Hmm? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But even Bella had overlooked one thing. “You know, Princess, want to hear something interesting?” “Huh? Something interesting…?” “Yes. Being the legal wife doesn’t mean you’re the first to marry.” “Legal wife?” “The position of legal wife goes to the woman who bears the most children.” “Children… W-wait, what are you—?!” “Well, since I can have more children, you can enjoy yourself for now. I just wanted to let you know that.” Her rival was, without a doubt, a crazy woman.