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– Shameless thing!

– Shameless thing… it seems.

– Kneel down… it seems. Hehe…

– Kneel down… it seems. Hehe…

A woman with a beauty so radiant it was blinding smiled at young Bella. Her snow-white hair shimmered with a bright light, exuding a mysterious aura.

She was none other than Bella’s mother, Estelle Izakhel.

– Listen well, Bella.

Estelle sat young Bella on her lap and spoke.

– Someday, Bella, you’ll meet a man you like.

– Like Daddy and Papa…?

– Yes, that’s right. So, do you know what to do when a man you like appears?

– Umm… Ah! I know!

Bella stuck out her leg with a proud expression.

– I’ll halt my room! That’s it!

– No, lick my foot… wait, no. Where did you learn that, Bella?

– Daddy does it to Papa every day!

– …Early learning is good, but it might be a bit too soon. Well… you’ll learn it eventually, so maybe it doesn’t matter?

– Yes! Bella will do it again!

– Hehe… So cute. That method isn’t bad, but to capture a man’s heart, you need to be more proactive.

– Proactive?

– Yes, proactive. Men are weak to proactive women.

Estelle continued, stroking Bella’s head.

– Well, in my case, I felt a sense of desperation from Fred. Like a stray puppy…? I made him mine before anyone else could take him.

– How…?

– Like this.

Estelle kissed Bella’s lips and laughed.

– Now Bella is mine.

– Then Bella too!

Bella also kissed Estelle’s lips.

– Now Daddy is mine! Hehe.

– Well done. Hehe… You learn quickly, just like my daughter. So fresh and lovely. Ah, speaking of fresh, it reminds me of when Fred first confessed to me and I rejected him. His face looked like the sky had fallen… Hehehe…

– Uh, Daddy…?

– Later, he cried like a child who lost his parents. When I accepted his confession, he laughed through tears, so cute that I wanted to tease him more. Hehehe…

– Scary…

– Ah, reminiscing made me ramble. Anyway, remember this, Bella. To win a man’s heart, you need to be proactive. Though, honestly, there’s no man in this world who wouldn’t fall for you. Hehehe…

In Bella’s memory, Estelle smiled coquettishly.

‘But Mother… There really was such a man.’

A man who wouldn’t fall for Bella no matter how proactive she was.

He was Bella’s first love and the object of her family’s downfall.

Once a beautiful boy who caught the attention of the social scene, he became utterly repulsive after ascending to the position of Count Ruelberta. Naturally, he became her dark history.

Tristan Ruelberta.

He saved her from thugs.

He risked his life to save her from a dream demon’s nightmare.

When hanging from a cliff, he cut the rope connecting them and fell into hell.

Through these events, Bella realized that Tristan, the villain everyone pointed fingers at, had changed and that he would risk his life for her.

If that’s not ‘love,’ what is? The heart that dedicates itself to someone is undoubtedly ‘love.’

But Bella sighed.

Given Tristan’s personality, he wouldn’t be the first to say the word ‘love.’ But she wanted to hear at least a confession from him.

Even without the word ‘love,’ a confession is possible. Statements like wanting to be life partners or that his future only includes Bella.

Her fake proposal to Tristan was both practice and a hint. She subtly let him know she had feelings for him.

No, if it were just a hint or two, Bella wouldn’t be so anxious.

At this point, it’s not subtle; it’s almost blatant.

Bella believed the only thing standing between them was a cursed fate.

The curse passed down through the Ruelberta family. To prevent passing it to a child, Tristan decided to remain alone.

Bella was moved by his noble resolve but also deeply saddened.

She wanted to support him in his fight against the curse, to be his strength, to stay by his side.

Even if she were to die from the curse… she wanted to love him.

But recently, when she learned that Tristan’s curse had been lifted, she was overjoyed.

Now, there were no obstacles between them.

But Bella was mistaken.

She had a rival.

– The position of the legal wife goes to the woman who bears the most children.

Tristan’s bodyguard knight, Helga Wolfbert, disgustingly said so.

It was a clear challenge to Bella and a provocation that she would become Tristan’s legal wife first.

Caught off guard by the sudden declaration, Bella was both flustered and furious.

But thanks to that, she learned something.

Apparently, Helga knew nothing about the curse on Tristan. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have so easily mentioned having children.

In other words, she didn’t even know Tristan was cursed.

‘Well, that’s obvious…’

As far as Bella knew, Helga had met Tristan by chance in their childhood. On the other hand, Bella had met him even earlier. So, it was natural that Bella knew him better and that her place by his side was already decided.

‘But that woman…’

Helga clung to Tristan relentlessly, not hiding her feelings.

And Tristan, who accepted it, was also a problem. Even if he favored her as a trusted subordinate, he still accepted Helga’s blatant advances without showing dislike.

Tristan’s behavior increasingly made Bella restless.

Her constant hovering around him likely stemmed from that anxiety.

So much so that Bella remembered her mother Estelle’s words.

‘Make him yours before someone else does.’

And today… she decided to follow Estelle’s advice.

*

Her eyes fluttered open.

The bluish light of dawn seeped through the icy window of her private barracks.

In her drowsiness, she tried to recall.

Right… She must have fallen asleep while Wendy was giving her a massage. It seemed Wendy had worked hard while she slept, as her stiffness had improved.

Thanks to that, she must have slept deeply, as her condition had improved. It felt like most of the fatigue had been lifted.

Waking up much earlier than usual suggested that her fatigue had been somewhat relieved.

‘Hmm…’

She stretched while still lying down.

It was still early enough to stay in bed. Thinking about the busy schedule ahead, she wanted to stay under the covers a bit longer.

As she turned to hug the pillow beside her…

“Ung…”

A cute sound made her jump.

Wendy was sound asleep beside her. She must have fallen asleep while massaging, still in her clothes, just like her.

Likely, Wendy wouldn’t stop massaging until told to.

Since she couldn’t wake her easily, Wendy probably kept massaging until she was exhausted.

“Ung… blanket… blanket…”

Perhaps having a nightmare, Wendy made a pained expression and clung to her.

Feeling protective and sorry for Wendy’s hard work, she turned and patted her back. Wendy soon relaxed and fell back into a peaceful sleep.

Yes, rest well. I’ll stay by your side until sunrise.

Rustle.

“?!”

At that moment, she felt a presence behind Wendy and got goosebumps. Looking closely, the blanket was clearly bulging.

Who else is in this bed besides me and Wendy…?

But the surprise was short-lived.

The only person who would sneak into her room at night to sleep with her was already decided.

Her cheeky, mischievous bodyguard knight.

‘Tsk… She still needs to be punished…’

Helga was in a situation where she needed to be punished for a previous incident. Yet, she dared to do something punishable again.

She carefully reached out to remove the blanket from Helga, who was sleeping peacefully.

But the person under the blanket wasn’t Helga.

“…!?”

Silver hair bathed in the cold light of dawn. And the snow-white shoulders peeking out from the blanket…

If she wasn’t mistaken…

“…Bella?”

“Ung…?”

Hearing her name, Bella turned to her, still hugging the blanket.

“Good morning… Count.”

“…It’s still dawn.”

“Same difference… Yawn…”

Bella looked at her with only her eyes peeking out from the blanket. Half-asleep, her half-closed eyes exuded a strange allure.

But… that’s not the issue now.

“Why are you sleeping here?”

“…It’s your fault.”

“What?”

“You wouldn’t wake up, so I waited and fell asleep…”

“Did you come in while I was asleep?”

“Was there something urgent?”

“…I forgot.”

“……”

She almost retorted, ‘What could you forget?’ but stopped. Bella looked too tired, having waited for her and fallen asleep late.

“Why? It’s your fault I forgot, so don’t complain…”

“…Alright.”

“Hmph…”

Mumbling like she was sleep-talking, Bella closed her eyes again. Feeling her ‘don’t disturb me’ aura, she turned to look at the ceiling.

Whatever it is, let’s sort it out after sunrise…

As she closed her eyes to sleep again…

Bella rustled and moved, hugging Wendy in her arms. Or more accurately, hugging her with Wendy in between.

“…What?”

“Wendy… so warm…”

Bella murmured in a drowsy, melting voice.

Indeed, children’s body temperature is higher. Plus, the cold northern dawn made Wendy’s body feel like a warm stove.

“Hehe…”

Then, Bella started to laugh and lifted her head from Wendy’s.

“Doesn’t this make us look like a married couple?”

“?!”

When their eyes met, she flinched uncharacteristically.

“…What? I didn’t expect you to be so flustered. Did I hit a nerve?”

“No…”

“It’s a lie. I’ve seen you enough to know when you’re flustered.”

She was flustered, but not for the reason Bella thought.

“Whoever says what… I know you best.”

“……”

“So don’t lie and be honest.”

In the dawn-lit room, Bella asked her in a soft voice.

“What were you thinking just now?”

“I was……”

Realizing she couldn’t escape Bella’s interrogation, she swallowed hard.

And spoke her honest thoughts.

“…Mustache.”

“…Huh?”

“Mustache… I was thinking about it.”

Five seconds of silence followed.

“Pfft…!”

Bella burst out laughing.

“Hehehe… How did you know? Did you look in a mirror?”

“Mirror?”

“Yes. Hehe… It suits you, right? The mustache.”

“…Hmm. I guess it does…”

“Hehehe… Why don’t you grow a mustache and wear it around?”

“No…”

Something felt off in their conversation.

She decided to throw a straight question.

“So… what’s with ‘that’ mustache?”

“Huh? Hehe… What mustache?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

She shook her head and pointed to the area between Bella’s nose and mouth.

“‘Your’ mustache.”

“Eh? My mustache?”

“Yes. The mustache ‘drawn’ on you.”

She had been bothered by the perfectly drawn mustache above Bella’s lips. Of course, it wasn’t real. Whether it was ink or not, the smudged ends clearly showed it was drawn.

“Huh? On me? Not the Count?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t grow a mustache.”

“Ah?”

“I don’t know what prank you were trying to pull… but why did you draw a mustache on your face?”

Bella only realized the fake mustache’s existence after touching her own mouth.

“Ahhh! I forgot about that stupid thing!?”

“Forgot??”

The more she heard, the more confused she became.

Bella sprang up like a spring and covered her face. She seemed incredibly embarrassed, her ears turning bright red.

“I, I’ll go now!”

“?? Already? You can stay and sleep if you want.”

“No, thanks!”

Bella hastily put on her shoes and left without looking back.

Was having a mustache drawn on her face more embarrassing than sleeping in the same bed as her?

She still didn’t understand women’s hearts.

“Ung… Count…?”

The commotion of Bella leaving woke Wendy, who rubbed her eyes and sat up.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Count… Ah!?”

Wendy was startled when their eyes met.

“Sorry! I’ll wipe it off now…”

“Huh?”

Wipe what…?

Wendy hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief from beside the bed and started wiping her mouth.

“Sorry… I couldn’t stop the Princess from drawing on your face…”

“Drawing…?”

“Yes… She drew a mustache on you…”

Seeing the black ink on the handkerchief, it seemed a mustache had been drawn on her face too.

A prank of drawing on someone’s face while they sleep is cute and forgivable.

But something felt off.

“…Wendy. Let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes?”

“Did Bella draw a mustache on her own face too?”

“Huh?? No…? She only drew it on you…”

“…Hah.”

“Huh??”

Only then did she realize what Bella had done while she was asleep.

“Cheeky…”

Unconsciously, she touched her lips and muttered.

 

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