“Jihwan… no, Jisoo.”

“Just call me by my real name when we’re alone…”

“Ahaha. It just slipped out of habit. But what’s wrong? You look so gloomy.”

At Park Se-hee’s question, I took my mouth off the straw.

“…Do I look like something’s wrong?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

The cafe on the first floor of the company. It’s a place I used to visit almost every day with Park Se-hee when I worked here. It’s not a place that sells particularly delicious coffee. Just your average coffee you can find anywhere. But to me, it’s a place filled with memories of my time at the company. However, right now, I wasn’t lost in nostalgia.

“Did you fight with Bella?”

“……”

“Eck… Was I right?”

A woman’s intuition is truly terrifying. Especially when it comes to matters between men and women. Without giving any hints, Park Se-hee guessed the answer right away.

After declaring my engagement to Wendy, Bella took her back to her family home… no, the Izakhel Mansion, under the pretext of protecting her.

It was my own fault. I declared my engagement to a 12-year-old girl. Of course, separation was inevitable.

I eventually decided to accept Wendy’s feelings. Even if I didn’t realize it was sincere, I felt I had to take responsibility since I promised to marry her.

However, it was an engagement, not a marriage. I planned to let her annul the engagement anytime if she wanted. Of course, it didn’t seem like that would happen…

“Um, um… This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life… Sniff… Engaged to the Count… Sob…”

When I proposed, Wendy even cried tears of joy.

“Isn’t it too early for a 12-year-old to say that?”

“Is, is it? Hehe… Sniff…”

At that moment, Wendy’s smile was blinding. It was as if she truly believed she was the happiest child in the world. Seeing that smile, I was convinced Wendy’s feelings wouldn’t change. At the same time, I felt I had gone too far to push away her pure and tender heart.

I declared my engagement to Wendy in front of everyone because they would find out eventually.

Of course, I wanted to hide it. I wanted to keep it quiet until Wendy became an adult. Objectively speaking, getting engaged to a 12-year-old girl is not something to be proud of. But I didn’t want to hide it anymore since I decided to accept Wendy’s feelings.

And the result was this.

“Tristan. Let’s reconsider our marriage.”

Bella was furious, and Blanshe’s gaze wasn’t kind either. Wendy tried her best to explain, but it wasn’t enough.

By the way, Helga, who was watching from the sidelines like she was watching a fire across the river…

“Huhu. Well, in the end, it’s my victory.”

She said that and then got chased away by me. Of course, I didn’t completely kick her out; it was under the pretext of sending Wendy alone with a bodyguard.

“That’s unexpected. You seem like the type who would treat women really well.”

“…Me?”

“Yes.”

Where on earth did she get that idea…

“If that were the case, Bella wouldn’t have been so angry.”

“Hmm… I don’t know why you fought, but… don’t take it too hard. It doesn’t seem like Bella dislikes you, so if you apologize, she’ll probably forgive you quickly.”

“I hope so, but…”

I didn’t expect Bella to suggest reconsidering our marriage. Only after hearing that did I realize I had been too hasty. It was something I had to say eventually, but saying it without any intermediate steps… I deserved that kind of reaction.

The coffee tastes especially bitter today…

No, it’s so bitter it’s making my stomach churn.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. By the way, how’s the secretary job?”

“Ah, well. It’s manageable. Work has actually gotten easier. But…”

“But?”

“That jerk Director Choi… no, that pervert is making things hard. Ugh.”

Is that why Park Se-hee’s clothes have become bolder recently? She’s wearing a shorter suit skirt and high heels. I thought it was because she’s a secretary, but after hearing her story, it seems it’s just Director Choi Jae-man’s preference.

“It’s so disgusting. I can understand being old-fashioned, but why is he so obsessed with women…”

“…It seems like he’s making you suffer.”

She became Director Choi’s secretary because he’s the right-hand man of President Park. In a way, she’s sacrificing herself for me. But Park Se-hee shook her head.

“No. I’m getting paid well, so it’s fine. I’ve already lost all affection for this company, so I might as well make as much money as I can before quitting. Whatever.”

“So you’re thinking of quitting this company?”

“Of course. How could I keep working for a company that treated you and Sora like that?”

“I thought this was your first company…”

“Of course, I don’t have no feelings for this company. But there’s nothing like loyalty. If I had to say… this company is like a cheating boyfriend to me.”

“…You really hate it, huh?”

“Yes. I’m dating it for now, but I’m ready to dump it as soon as I get the chance. A company like this shouldn’t exist.”

Park Se-hee spoke with a burning sense of mission. Seeing her like that, I felt I made the right choice asking her for help. She’s practically the only connection I have in this world, so I didn’t have many options…

“Ah, by the way, Director Choi seems to have his eye on you too.”

I almost dropped my coffee.

“…Me? Director Choi?”

“Ah, no. I mean Director Choi has his eye on Jisoo.”

“That’s insane…”

My expression naturally twisted. Of course, I can feel men’s eyes on me everywhere. I didn’t even wear glasses or dress up, but this appearance, made from the ‘mirror,’ Trinity’s appearance, is enough to attract attention.

“Not joking, but if you play your cards right, you might even become my assistant. Director Choi seems to really like you.”

“…Why is that ‘playing your cards right’?”

“Oh my. Do you not want to work with me?”

“It’s not that, but…”

If we both worked next to Director Choi, it would undoubtedly make gathering information easier. But the fact that a lecher like Director Choi has taken a liking to me is extremely unpleasant.

“Should I tell him you have a boyfriend?”

“…I’d rather not. The fact that Director Choi is even curious about that is horrifying.”

“Eh. But there’s a big difference between saying it and not saying it.”

Park Se-hee, who had been staring at my face, sipped her coffee through the straw and added.

“Ah, what a shame. If you had come in as a man, I could have played the role of your girlfriend for you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll pass.”

“It hurts when you reject me so firmly.”

“Unless it’s an unavoidable situation. If we did that, they wouldn’t just sit back and watch.”

“They…?”

Park Se-hee tilted her head.

“Who are ‘they’?”

“…Huh?”

Seeing her strange reaction, I asked back, just in case.

“Did I not tell you?”

“No… How would I know what you’re talking about?”

“I’m planning to marry Bella.”

“…What did you say?”

“And I’m also planning to marry Helga and Blanshe.”

Crash!

The iced Americano Park Se-hee was holding shattered with a loud noise.

Why is everyone like this?

*

“Idiot!”

Thud!

“Lolicon!”

Thud!

“Pig… muscle pig!”

Thud!

Bella kept punching Dmitri’s stomach, which had just been stitched up. Poor Dmitri, wrapped in a blanket, endured her fierce punches.

Until she heard those words from Tristan, she had been thinking about whether to accept Wendy as an adopted daughter. And Bella, though it was an early thought, had even imagined a future where Wendy was adopted. Wendy smiling brightly between Tristan and Bella. It was the picture of an ideal parent and child. But that imagination was shattered by Tristan’s words.

“I plan to marry Wendy.”

“How could you say that…!”

Bella, fuming, kept hitting Dmitri until she finally let him go. Hitting Dmitri made her feel a little better.

Suggesting to reconsider the marriage was Bella’s last resort. Of course, she didn’t mean it. She just wanted to show how truly angry she was.

“Phew…”

A little calmer, Bella fixed her disheveled hair and headed to the reception room. Walking down the long corridor, she ran into a man coming from the opposite direction.

“Oh, my child.”

“Father…”

“Weren’t you staying at the Count’s mansion today?”

Duke Fred Izakhel smiled kindly and asked his only daughter.

“Yes. I plan to stay at home for a while.”

“Haha… Bella, you must have missed home.”

“No. It’s not that…”

Bella was about to talk about what happened with Tristan but stopped. What would change if she told Duke Fred?

“I had a bit of a fight with Tristan.”

“Haha. It’s natural for couples to fight.”

“…Father. We’re not a couple yet.”

“Oh dear! My apologies. I already thought you were married. But since we’re on the topic, when do you plan to get married?”

If he had seen Bella’s expression, he would have immediately shut his mouth, but unfortunately, he didn’t.

“Father… I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when the date is set.”

“Then have you decided on the location? Ah, of course, the Ruelberta Mansion? Or how about our family mansion or Paradise? Lady Michaela is fond of you, so she might gladly lend Paradise.”

“That’s… I’m not sure. Lady Michaela is quite free-spirited.”

Duke Fred, happy to be talking to his daughter after so long, became unusually talky. If it had ended there, Bella might have just let it slide.

“My child. It’s a bit awkward to ask this, but…”

“Yes?”

“If the Count becomes our family’s son-in-law… could you check if our debts would be cleared?”

“……”

“It’s better to clarify these things for everyone’s comfort. Haha…”

“Father…”

Bella sighed.

“I’ve been debating whether to tell you this…”

“I’m your father, aren’t I? If you have worries, you can share them.”

“I might not marry Tristan.”

“…What did you just say?”

“I said I might not marry him.”

“What, what?!”

“Just so you know.”

“My child, my child! Don’t joke like that. Okay? Your father doesn’t like such jokes. It’s actually scary. So please say it’s a joke. Please!”

Duke Fred’s voice echoing down the corridor was pitiful.

“What will happen to our dear son-in-law?!”