“Hey, a trip?”

“Yeah.”

That day, Tristan suddenly called Wendy and suggested they go on a trip.

“Well, it’s more about meeting an old acquaintance of mine first. If we have time left, we can make it feel like a trip…”

“I-I’ll go! I’ll definitely go! Even if I can’t, I’ll make sure I can! Please take me with you…!”

Wendy clung to Tristan’s coattails, pleading.

“Alright. I’ll take you, so calm down. But we’re leaving today, is that okay?”

“Yes! If I pack and prepare right away, I can make it in time!”

Wendy was mentally listing all the preparations needed for the trip, overwhelmed by the sudden proposal.

But Tristan gently patted her head and shook his own.

“No need to overthink it. Just pack lightly. It’s just the two of us going anyway.”

“Just… the two of us?”

“Yes. Just you and me.”

“Wow!”

Overjoyed, Wendy let out an exclamation before covering her mouth.

“S-sorry…”

“Are you that happy?”

“Yes… Hehe… But, Count…”

“Hmm?”

“Why aren’t you taking the Princess or Helga instead of me…?”

Honestly, she was curious.

Around Tristan, there was the beautiful Princess Bella and the stunningly attractive bodyguard knight, Helga.

In comparison, Wendy was young, not of high status, and not particularly outstanding in looks.

Wendy knew this.

Every time she stood in front of the mirror before changing clothes, she was aware of her modest figure.

Of course, she had grown taller, and her chest and hips were slowly becoming more like those of an adult woman.

The problem was, no matter how fast she grew, she was still far from being mature.

Especially when facing Bella or Helga, the gap in maturity felt even more pronounced.

Bella’s impressive chest and Helga’s slender legs… Everything about them seemed so attractive.

Unless Wendy became an adult or transformed into a hero, it was impossible to match their charm.

‘Right. Charm is a talent…’

Look at Bella and Helga’s natural charm. What man wouldn’t like them?

On the other hand, Wendy felt she was severely lacking in that talent.

That’s why she wondered why Tristan would choose her, the least impressive, to go with him instead of those beauties.

“Going alone with me won’t be fun… You should take the Princess or Helga instead…”

“Why are you so insecure?”

“Huh?”

“Those two are them, and you are you. I just thought it would be nice to go on this trip alone with you. There’s no need to compare yourself to them and feel insecure.”

Tristan’s words seemed to pierce through Wendy’s thoughts.

But Wendy, with her self-esteem at rock bottom, fiddled with her fingers and lowered her head.

“But… I’m not as outstanding as the Princess or Helga…”

“You have a ‘natural talent’ that they don’t possess.”

“…!”

If Wendy had been quicker, she might have realized that Tristan was referring to her talent as a hero with all attributes of magic power.

Also, he was taking her along because she was rich in magic power and skilled in manipulating magic formulas for their return, but she didn’t know that.

Moreover, Wendy, who had just been thinking about Bella and Helga’s natural charm, completely misinterpreted Tristan’s words.

Hesitating, Wendy placed her hands on her modest chest and asked,

“D-do I really have such talent (charm)…?”

“Yes, you do. I highly value your talent (as a hero).”

Tristan knelt down to meet Wendy’s eye level and smiled softly.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how much more you can grow, Wendy.”

“Hiccup?!”

He’s looking forward to how much I can grow!?

So surprised, she hiccuped.

Is the Count really expecting my modest chest to grow that much?

Unable to contain her curiosity, Wendy shyly asked Tristan,

“C-count, you said you’re looking forward to it… So, can I grow as much as the Princess…?”

“No…”

Tristan shook his head and added,

“Wendy, you will surpass Bella.”

“?!?! R-really!?”

“Yes. Be proud.”

Startled, Wendy looked down at her chest and thought,

‘R-right… Maybe…’

If she grew as much as when she transformed into a hero, she might become similar to Bella’s chest.

No, maybe she could even surpass Bella, as Tristan said.

Since they were promised to marry, Wendy wanted to meet Tristan’s expectations somehow.

Determined, Wendy clenched her fists and promised,

“I-I’ll work hard to grow bigger! Much bigger than now…!”

“?? Alright. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Encouraged by Tristan, Wendy suddenly had a question.

“B-but, Count. Where are we going?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure how to explain it to you.”

“Are we going abroad, like Mojito?”

“Well… in a way, it is abroad.”

Tristan smiled wryly.

“And it’s also a place where I used to live.”

“A place where you lived… So, like your hometown?”

“Something like that. Since we’re on the topic, let me explain. It’s a place unlike here, without a class system. There are no nobles or commoners; everyone is equal.”

“Equal…?”

For Wendy, who grew up in a class-based society, this was a very unfamiliar concept.

Could such a place really exist without nobles or commoners?

When she went to Mojito not long ago, the atmosphere was quite different from the Empire.

Maybe the place Tristan is talking about feels similar.

“Yes. So… there, you don’t need to call me Count. No… it’s not just unnecessary; it would be very problematic if you called me Count there.”

“Huh?! W-what should I do then?”

As far as Wendy knew, countries outside the Empire had their own unique cultures. Visitors were expected to respect and follow their customs and rules.

Perhaps the place they were going to was similar.

“Right. Well said, Wendy. Since it’s come to this, we should think of a title before we leave. Hmm…”

Tristan sat down and stroked his chin, pondering.

Watching him, Wendy also thought.

The Count and I…

Here, we’re master and servant, but someday we’ll be married…

‘Then…’

Wendy cautiously tried to voice the word she had thought of.

“Count. Then…”

“I’ve decided.”

“Huh?”

Tristan looked satisfied with his decision.

“Call me Dad there.”

“I-I absolutely don’t want to do that!!”

“?!”

Wendy shouted louder than she expected, startling even herself.

“S-sorry…! B-but… but…!”

Wendy felt something welling up inside her, and tears started to fall.

“Sniff… D-dad is no good… Sniff… Calling you Dad is just too weird…”

“Hmm. Is it that weird…?”

“Yes… Sniff… You’re much younger than my dad… A-and you’re not even married yet… Sniff…”

“Hmm… Then, do you have a title you’d prefer?”

“Sniff…”

Wiping her tears, Wendy looked up at Tristan and said,

“Darling…”

“Darling?”

“W-well… Married couples call each other darling… right…”

“……No.”

“T-then, husband…”

“Absolutely not.”

“Hiccup?!”

She was flatly rejected.

“B-but… My mom calls my dad that…”

“……If you call me that there, I’ll go to jail.”

“Huh, what?!”

It seemed like the country they were going to was strict about titles.

Calling someone ‘husband’ could get you arrested?

Was the place they were going to actually scary?

“T-then what should I call you…? Sniff… I can’t call you brother either…”

“Hmm… That’s better than the previous ones.”

“B-brother…? Like this…?”

“……”

Tristan paused and stared intently at Wendy.

“D-did I say something weird…?”

“No. Not at all.”

“R-really…?”

“If anything, it was cute.”

“Huh……?”

Cute…?

“Really? I-I was really cute…?”

“…Yes.”

Wendy covered her red face and shyly lowered her head.

Of course, it wasn’t the first time she had been called cute.

But it was Tristan, who rarely expressed his feelings, who called her cute.

Hearing it from him made her feel strangely embarrassed and flustered.

Hesitating, Wendy decided to try calling him by the new title again.

“B-brother!”

“?”

“Hehe… I-I just wanted to try calling you that…”

Tristan reached out and, pretending to pat her head, poked her cheek with his finger, tickling her.

“I-it tickles… Brother…”

“That’s the point.”

“B-brother! S-stop… Sniff…”

“You’re still calling me Count.”

“Count… P-please stop… Sniff…”

Tristan lightly pinched both her cheeks.

But soon, smiles naturally spread across both their faces.

“Hehe… Oh, but Count. What country are we going to…?”

“Ah, that place…”

At Wendy’s question, Tristan hesitated for a moment before briefly saying,

“South Korea….”