Chapter 366
On the way home earlier than usual.
Park Se-hee and I boarded the subway.
Amidst the bustling crowd, we swayed like waves.
“…Are you okay?”
“Huh? Yes?”
“I asked if you’re okay.”
“Ah… Yes. Of course. I was just spacing out for a moment…”
Park Se-hee answered my question in a dazed state. Today, her condition didn’t seem great. Her personality is a true workaholic. Even if she wasn’t as bad as me before, she was the type to immerse herself in work, often doing overtime as if it were a meal. So, it was unusual for her to leave early today.
Concerned, I asked,
“Was the secretary work too tough?”
“It’s not that tough. Ah, if anything, it’s tiring to cater to Director Choi Jae-man’s whims… Haha…”
Park Se-hee laughed as if to reassure me, but even her laughter seemed weak.
“Director Choi Jae-man must be quite persistent, huh?”
“It’s not just that, but wearing high heels all day makes my legs hurt, which is even more exhausting. He won’t let me wear low heels, saying my legs don’t look pretty in them. It’s killing me.”
“Helga said something similar.”
“Helga did?”
“Yeah.”
Ever since Helga became my bodyguard knight, she changed the Aslan uniform to a bold design. She insisted on a style that emphasized her legs, with a tight skirt and high heels. She kept remembering how I once said her legs were pretty, something I had long forgotten.
Hearing my story, Park Se-hee nodded.
“Now that I think about it, her skirt did seem oddly shorter.”
“At first, I often pointed out her attire, but I’ve given up now. She’s been wearing high heels for so long that she’s adapted.”
“That’s enviable… Being able to adapt to high heels.”
“With Helga, it’s not surprising.”
“I guess… Sigh…”
Park Se-hee sighed and rubbed her legs.
“But do men really like high heels?”
“Like them?”
“Yeah. Like Director Choi Jae-man, they say women in high heels look sexy.”
“Hmm…”
Come to think of it, Helga said something similar.
– Count. High heels can be called a woman’s weapon.
– Well, the heels are sharp, so I guess so.
– No. No matter how sharp the heels are, they’re not as penetrating as a spear. Their lethality isn’t that great.
– Didn’t a monster die instantly from your kick before?
– That was just a weak monster. Even a child can kill an ant by stepping on it.
– What you kicked wasn’t an ant but a giant ant. A giant ant that can crush humans to death.
– Anyway! High heels are a weapon to appeal to a woman’s charm. Look at my legs. Even if you stopped someone on the street, they’d say they’re sexy.
– Right… Those who said no are probably long dead.
Whether it was because of the high heels or not, Helga’s legs were indeed beautiful. Her long legs exuded both healthiness and sexiness. Thinking about it, Director Choi Jae-man’s taste made sense…
“Maybe that’s the case.”
“Oh? Ji-hwan, do you have such a taste too? Are you a pervert?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“I just thought they were pretty.”
“Then how do my legs compare to Helga’s?”
Park Se-hee subtly stretched out her legs.
“How about it? Do I look sexy now?”
“Don’t do weird things in public.”
“Anyway, there’s no one who can see. Whatever.”
It was a situation fitting the saying, “Many eyes are watching, but few can see.” It was rush hour on the subway, packed to the brim, so only I could see Park Se-hee’s legs.
“Seeing how you’re staring, you must really like my legs, huh?”
“It’s just hard to see.”
“Should I show you later at home?”
“No need.”
As we chatted, Park Se-hee’s face regained its vitality. Seeing her like that, I felt relieved.
“Feeling better?”
“Huh?”
“Glad you’re back to your usual self.”
“Were you worried because I seemed down?”
“Wasn’t that the case? I thought work was tough.”
“Hahaha.”
“?”
“Being so nice to women, no wonder three women like you, Ji-hwan.”
Actually, it’s four… but I didn’t mention it. If I talked about being engaged to Wendy, it would surely ruin our relationship, just like with Bella.
“I think there might be one more woman who likes you, Ji-hwan.”
…How did she know?
“That can’t be.”
“And she’s probably quite close, right?”
“…I have no idea.”
A woman’s intuition is scary. Was I too close to Wendy? Or did she see Wendy kiss me while I was asleep?
“There’s no guarantee that just because there are three, there won’t be a fourth.”
“That’s not wrong, but…”
Cold sweat ran down my back. Was this a leading interrogation?
Park Se-hee giggled and poked my chest with her finger.
“So, Ji-hwan, if a fourth woman appears, what will you do? Will you marry her too?”
“Even if such a woman exists, marriage is… a bit premature, don’t you think?”
“Eh. It’s just a hypothetical question. If a fourth woman likes you, and you like her too, would you consider marrying her?”
“…Do I have to answer that?”
“No comment? Don’t talk nonsense.”
No matter what I answered, it felt like I couldn’t avoid criticism. Saying no would make me feel guilty towards Wendy, and saying yes would make me seem like a playboy…
No.
Since I’ve already decided to marry them, criticism is expected.
Let’s not overthink it.
Tristan…
Jeong Ji-hwan…
I just need to answer as myself.
As I did before, I answered with pride.
“Three or four, it’s all the same.”
Park Se-hee didn’t scorn or criticize my answer. She just smiled brightly.
“I knew you’d say that.”
As if she had been waiting for my answer.
*
“Please, sit comfortably.”
“Yes…”
Led by Bella’s hand, Wendy arrived at Bella’s room. Bella had brought Wendy here, saying she had something to discuss, after having Helga and Blanshe take care of the aftermath.
Sitting nervously on the chair, Wendy rolled her eyes around the room. Being invited to the Duke’s daughter’s room, anyone would be tense, not just her.
“Wendy, please feel at home while staying at our mansion.”
“Princess…”
“You’re safe now.”
Bella gently stroked Wendy’s head.
“I’ll protect you from Tristan, so don’t worry.”
“Ah, no, Princess.”
“I know. You’re scared of Tristan, right?”
“Yes?”
“I know Tristan has been good to you and cherished you. That’s why you couldn’t refuse his proposal, right?”
That was Bella’s conclusion.
To Wendy, Tristan was an irreplaceable benefactor. No matter what request Tristan made, Wendy couldn’t refuse. Even if it weren’t for that, kind-hearted Wendy wouldn’t have been able to reject Tristan’s proposal.
‘I didn’t see it that way…’
Bella’s feelings were very complicated. She never imagined the man she was about to marry would do such a thing… She couldn’t have imagined he was a lolicon. Moreover, Bella had sworn to love him no matter what.
‘Should I understand this as a personal preference…?’
No, that’s not it.
Bella shook her head.
“Wendy. Actually, I was thinking of adopting you. I don’t know what Tristan was thinking when he brought up the engagement… But I truly wish you could become our daughter.”
Bella tightly held Wendy’s hand.
“Of course, only if you’re okay with it. If that happens, Tristan will probably give up.”
“Princess…”
Wendy felt pure goodwill in Bella’s words. She genuinely cared for Wendy and made the offer. Perhaps the opportunity of a lifetime for Wendy. But…
“I’m sorry…”
Wendy quietly refused. She had no choice.
It was time to tell the truth.
Wendy took a deep breath and spoke.
“I… like the Count.”
“I know.”
“No. I like the Count… as a man…”
“…What? As a man…?”
“The Count didn’t confess to me, I confessed to him first…”
Confession.
Bella swallowed hard.
She didn’t mishear. Wendy clearly said she confessed. And to Tristan…
“I feel so sorry for the Count… Because of me, he’s being criticized and fighting with you, Princess… But… I was also so happy…”
Tristan didn’t hide it.
In front of everyone, he held Wendy’s hand and declared they would get engaged.
“Because he finally accepted my feelings…”
“Bu, but… Wendy.”
“Princess. I may be young and immature…”
For the courage Tristan showed, Wendy also had to muster her courage.
“I truly love the Count…”
“Wendy?!”
As soon as those words ended, Wendy’s body began to glow. From head to toe, a bright light enveloped her.
The next moment, Bella couldn’t believe her eyes. The light surrounding Wendy’s body was high-density magic power. She couldn’t tell exactly what kind of magic it was.
But she could recognize the vivid rainbow color of the magic power. It was a very special magic power even in this world.
“Could it be…”
The rainbow light faded. In front of Bella was not a 12-year-old girl but a mature adult Wendy.
“……Hero.”
