“How could that be…”

“Yes. The Count is not the kind of person you think he is.”

After hearing Bella’s story, Peter immediately bowed his head.

Bella was highly respected not only among the nobility but also among the commoners. The weight of her words was never light.

Indeed, while not as much as Peter, many people in the world had many misunderstandings about Tristan.

In fact, the Ruelberta Family had wielded absolute power in the past and had dominated the underworld of the Empire.

Thus, it was believed that Tristan, the current head of the family, was no different from his infamous predecessors, and Bella, who had been forcibly engaged to him, had also thought the same.

However, he was different.

He was trying to shoulder all the sins committed by his family. Even if it was a belated regret, he clearly felt a sense of responsibility.

Therefore, Tristan made no effort to spare in cutting ties with the underworld and ascending to the position of the Empire’s Seven Stars to clear his past. However, people’s perceptions did not change easily.

Rumors tend to become exaggerated and inflated the more they pass through people’s mouths.

The actual person involved, Tristan, seemed not to care at all about the rumors surrounding him… No, he didn’t care at all. If he had, he would have corrected his arrogant behavior long ago.

Thanks to this, Bella often went out into the social scene to correct the false rumors about Tristan.

If you ask why the person involved stays still while she meddles…

Well… let’s just say it’s because of the debt she owes to Tristan.

He saved her when she was captured by thugs and almost sold into slavery abroad.

He even fell to the bottom of hell in her place when she was trapped in a dream demon’s nightmare and almost fell into hell.

In short, Bella owed Tristan a debt she could never repay in her lifetime. To repay that debt, Bella was doing her best in her own way.

Of course… it’s not entirely untrue that she was also trying to improve his reputation in case he became her future husband…

Hmm. Yes. You never know how things will turn out in life.

I’d like to call this a kind of insurance.

Naturally, any man who is to be with Bella of the Izakhel Duke Family must be flawless in every aspect.

If even Bella stays still, it’s obvious that Tristan won’t care about his reputation at all.

That’s why Bella had intervened between Wendy and Peter.

Whenever she sees someone with a wrong impression of Tristan, her body reacts immediately. She feels like praising him on the spot.

‘But that insensitive man…’

Despite Bella’s efforts, Tristan hadn’t even made a simple date request, let alone a confession.

He talks to women like a playboy, but why is he so timid when it comes to love…

No, come to think of it, it’s not entirely impossible.

Just a few months ago, Tristan was so fat that he was called the Pig Count. Combined with his infamous reputation, he became an object of avoidance for women, so it’s safe to say he was far from love.

However, Bella knew Tristan from his childhood. Even the haughty Bella had fallen for him at first sight because he was such a handsome boy.

Tristan began to change after the sudden death of his father, Count William.

When he became the head of the Ruelberta Family, his personality became more violent, and he started gaining weight from then on.

Bella was saddened. Her precious first love had changed so much.

Even when Tristan was scorned as the Pig Count by others, a part of Bella’s heart still saw him as the proud and noble boy from her memories.

But when Tristan regained his handsome appearance and was hailed as a hero for successfully leading the northern expedition, she heard that many were sending marriage proposals to him.

On top of that, Helga, Tristan’s bodyguard knight, was actively clinging to him, making Bella anxious.

Now she had to worry about other women too…

In the end, the anxious Bella decided to set the stage herself instead of waiting for the oblivious Tristan.

First, Bella asked the Emperor to send her as an envoy to Mojito Island. She managed to get two tickets, one for herself and one for a companion.

However, the sharp Emperor seemed to see through Bella’s intentions.

“But… Bella.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you planning to go with the Count?”

For a moment, Bella was startled, but she responded calmly.

“Me? Of course not, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm… Keep in mind. All men are perverts. Especially that man is the most perverted I’ve ever seen.”

“Yes, yes??”

Although she still didn’t understand why the Emperor said that, Bella managed to bring Tristan to Mojito Island.

The famous honeymoon destination, Mojito Island.

What does it mean to go there together?

She thought he would have caught on by now.

However, Tristan maintained his usual demeanor even while walking through the honeymoon destination with Bella.

He was a man who rarely showed emotional fluctuations, so it was only natural.

But the problem was that Bella, knowing this, became anxious and crossed the line first.

She gave Tristan the key to her room.

If she went this far, any man would understand, right?

But on the other hand, she was worried she might seem like a frivolous woman.

‘Ugh… I was too hasty.’

No matter how much she thought about it, giving him the key was a bit much.

The image she had built up to impress him might be in danger.

While talking with Peter and Wendy, Bella sat there pretending nothing was wrong, but inside she was nervous and didn’t know what to do.

“I… always thought Count Ruelberta had harmed my sister…”

“No, no! That never happened! The Count was with me when I was sick… and he even sent me to school… He treated me so well…”

“Wendy…”

“I… I don’t want my brother to think badly of the Count… The Count is really… really a good person… Sob…”

“I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way…”

It was a relief that Peter eventually understood.

When he first tried to attack the Count, it seemed difficult to calm him down, but seeing his sister Wendy alive, he seemed to realize his mistake.

Bella sighed in relief and crossed her legs.

That’s when it happened.

“Miss, do you have a moment?”

It was Blanshe, who was in charge of her security.

“Yes. What is it?”

“Well…”

Blanshe hesitated, then whispered into Bella’s ear about what had happened earlier.

Bella’s expression immediately turned cold.

*

Wendy, overwhelmed with emotion, cried herself to sleep in Peter’s arms by the time the story ended.

She has a weak tear gland, after all.

She must have been heartbroken hearing about all the hardships her brother had endured after leaving home to become an adventurer.

Since Bella was there, they couldn’t talk about the hero, and if Peter found out Wendy had become a hero, he would be shocked.

Of course, they wouldn’t tell Peter everything at once.

His body and mind are unstable right now.

He seems to have symptoms of alcoholism, and there are many gaps in his memory, so it’s better to hide the truth for a while to help him stabilize.

There’s no need to worry. Peter, the original protagonist with an indomitable spirit, will surely rise again.

For today, they made sure Peter could sleep with Wendy.

Of course, regardless, Peter was holding Wendy and avoiding my gaze.

But then Bella spoke up.

“Ahem… Mr. Peter.”

“Princess…”

“Do you have something to say to the Count?”

“Ugh… Do I have to say it now…?”

“Didn’t you promise Wendy and me earlier? Keep that promise.”

“…Thank you, Count.”

Under Bella’s pressure, Peter, who had been hesitating, finally bowed his head to me.

“My sister… Thank you for taking care of Wendy all this time. I heard you even sent her to school.”

“Hmm.”

“I can feel how much my sister likes and respects you. It seems I had a big misunderstanding… Yes… I’m sorry.”

“Hmm… Is that all you have to say?”

Bella smiled and asked Peter. When she smiled like that, even I found it hard to argue, so Peter eventually gave in.

“…And thank you for not punishing me and making me a slave instead. I will never… never forget this kindness and will repay it.”

Perhaps because he had heard about me from Bella and Wendy, Peter’s attitude had softened somewhat.

However, the look of distrust hadn’t completely disappeared.

It felt like he was keeping his distance and watching for now.

Well, no matter what, he couldn’t change his opinion of me overnight. Especially since his enemy had become his benefactor.

Peter is as righteous as Bella. The moment he thinks I’m evil, he will try to judge me.

‘If he finds out I’m the Demon Lord…’

That would be a terrible thing.

No matter the circumstances, the fact that I’m the Demon Lord alone would make me seem evil.

Of course, I’m not afraid of dying at Peter’s hands.

I have personalities tempered by ‘Patience’ and am free from curses, able to use magic. With the Demon Lord’s abilities added, there are few in this world who can match me.

So, the current Peter is no threat to me.

If things had gone according to the original story, it might be different, but unfortunately, at this point, his abilities are still at the level of a novice adventurer who hasn’t awakened as a hero.

In fact, Wendy, who has awakened as a hero, would far surpass him.

It’s just that, being the original protagonist, Peter could become a variable and an obstacle for me. That’s why I can’t completely let my guard down.

But… honestly, Bella is more on my mind than Peter right now.

Unlike Helga, who is straightforward, Bella has subtly shown her affection for me.

When I fell into hell to save her from being trapped in a dream, and when I rejected Peter’s confession and died in a previous loop.

Bella has confessed her feelings for me.

But the reason I couldn’t easily accept her feelings…

That is…

“Now that Peter has said his piece to you…”

Bella, who was seeing off Peter as he carried Wendy back to their quarters, spoke up.

“Count, don’t you have something to say to me?”

“Something to say?”

Suddenly, she grabbed my tie.

“Why do you keep looking away?”

Her words reminded me of what had happened earlier with Helga.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Bella’s gaze was cold.

It was like the gaze of a wife who had discovered her husband’s infidelity.

“Sigh… Fine. I’ll ask you this once. Count. Why haven’t you proposed to me?”

“I…”

“You knew how I felt, didn’t you?”

Yes, I knew.

I’m a man, so of course I knew.

“Did you think I wouldn’t accept if you proposed?”

“No…”

“Then why?”

I know how fortunate it is to be loved by two beautiful women like Bella and Helga.

But I was afraid that if I chose someone, the delicate balance I had maintained would collapse.

I wanted to maintain this ambiguous relationship at least until I survived the players’ invasion.

But after dealing with Helga earlier, I realized something.

Maintaining an ambiguous relationship is much harder.

Moreover, there’s still something I haven’t told them.

I am Tristan, yet not Tristan.

This is something neither Bella nor Helga knows. That’s why I lacked confidence.

“It’s because I’m a coward.”

“…What?”

“I… have far more secrets than you think. I don’t have the confidence to tell you now.”

I didn’t have the courage to tell her everything.

“If I told you, I was afraid you would distance yourself from me… that you wouldn’t understand me… so I kept my mouth shut…”

Having said that, I couldn’t say anything more.

Bella, still holding my tie, stood there silently.

A cold sea breeze blew between us.

Bella was the first to speak.

“…I see. For me… I really can’t understand you, a man like you.”

“…….”

I nodded silently.

I thought there was nothing more I could do, no matter what she said.

“I may not fully understand you…”

As I listened to her calmly, suddenly my tie was pulled.

“?!”

Bella’s lips met mine. A kiss that, though not long, would be remembered for a lifetime…

When I came to my senses, I met Bella’s eyes. Her eyes were moist.

“I can… fully love you. Count, even your secrets.”