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“……What are you trying to do now?”

Bella led me to her private bedroom. When she moved into the Ruelberta Mansion, rooms were assigned to her. Of course, considering her status and position, she was given the best rooms in the mansion. This room was one of them.

But why am I lying on her bed in broad daylight? And with my head resting on Bella’s lap, no less.

“Can’t you tell? It’s a lap pillow.”

“I know that. What I’m curious about is why I’m currently using your lap as a pillow.”

Bella looked down at me as if questioning why I was asking something so obvious.

“Do you dislike it?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“So you like it? Then isn’t that enough?”

“…It’s not about liking or disliking. I have a lot to do starting now…”

“Tristan.”

Bella stopped me as I tried to sit up and asked in a slightly stern voice.

“How many hours did you sleep today?”

I was at a loss for words. Come to think of it, how many hours did I sleep?

“…Maybe two hours?”

“You only slept that much?”

Bella was shocked, clearly not expecting it to be that little.

Well, there’s no helping it. The service launch is just around the corner. I had to defeat the Valkyries of Paradise, install the Gate, summon the Annihilation Maid and Rian, and instruct Aslan’s troops to be ready for deployment at any moment… Even ten bodies wouldn’t have been enough. But the mental fatigue was greater than the physical exhaustion.

“Just rest here for a bit.”

“I can’t. There’s no time for this.”

“Why are you so anxious?”

Her words hit the mark.

“What are you, who fears nothing in this country, so anxious about?”

“……”

I wanted to tell her everything. That soon, players from beyond the Gate would come and destroy this world. That I would fight against them.

But…

I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

In my past regressions, I’ve seen the world destroyed countless times. I’ve seen Bella fight to the end and die more times than I can count. I thought I’d get used to it, but each of her deaths still pains me.

After all my memories returned, I was afraid to sleep. More precisely, I was afraid of dreaming. I was tormented by nightmares of Bella and those around me dying.

The only way to escape those nightmares was to sleep less.

For a while, it was fine. This body could function without much sleep. But as the mental fatigue piled up on top of the physical exhaustion, it became impossible to hide.

When I stayed silent, Bella didn’t press further. She simply stroked my forehead.

“I know there’s something you’re still hiding from me. You’re probably hiding it to avoid burdening me.”

Bella’s voice was gentle.

“But I’m not as weak as you think. I’m not a fragile woman who needs your protection.”

“I know. You’re stronger than most.”

As the heir of the Izakhel lineage and unmatched in swordsmanship in this country, it was only natural.

But Bella shook her head.

“No. I’m not a strong woman. I once wanted to become one, but… not anymore. That’s right. Now…”

She smiled sweetly.

“I want to be a woman you can lean on.”

“…!”

Her words hit me like a hammer to the head. It was something I never expected.

Maybe I’ve underestimated Bella all this time. Having witnessed her death so many times, I only saw her as someone I needed to protect. I struggled to become stronger for her sake, thinking she was weak. But it was me who was weak.

When I think about it, Bella was always dignified, even in the face of death. She never backed down, even against the players’ forces.

It was always me who was anxious and desperate.

“If you want, I can be a woman you can stay with… forever. So… just for today… no, even for an hour, rest here.”

In the end, I gave in to Bella’s persuasion.

“……Alright.”

“Good choice.”

A shadow fell over my face. Like a tree offering shelter to a weary traveler, Bella looked down at me. Her lips drew closer and met mine.

“This is a reward for being a good boy.”

“Treating me like a child…”

“To me, you are a child. Especially when it comes to love, you’re no different from a newborn.”

“…A newborn? Me?”

“Yes. You don’t even understand a woman’s heart, and you’re so clumsy. Plus, I have to teach you everything and put in a lot of effort.”

Well, she’s not wrong. Ever since I came to this world, I’ve only thought about avoiding death flags and how to fight the players. I never thought about love. Somehow, we ended up like this, but it must have been a hassle for Bella.

“You know nothing about women. If that’s not a newborn, what is?”

“So you’re the skilled adult here?”

“Hehe… Of course.”

“Is that so?”

“?!”

I sat up and pinned Bella down. Then I took her lips.

“Mmph?!”

Bella tried to push me away, but I overpowered her. Unlike before, this kiss was rough. Bella turned her head to escape, but I didn’t let her. I persistently explored her lips and tongue.

“Mmm… uh…”

Eventually, I felt Bella’s body go limp. Her eyes still resisted, but her body began to accept me.

But only until that moment. I pulled away and released her.

“How was the newborn’s kiss?”

Bella, catching her breath, glared at me.

“……This kind of thing is not allowed.”

When our eyes met, my heart raced.

“That face… don’t show it to anyone else.”

“Huh?”

Her disheveled silver hair, the look of resentment and affection in her eyes, the faint blush. I was captivated, wanting to claim her entirely in this moment.

As if sensing my thoughts, Bella turned her head away.

“……Why? What expression I make in front of others has nothing to do with you.”

“It does. You’re my woman.”

“……Who said I’d obediently become your woman?”

“Didn’t I just show you? I have no intention of making you ‘obediently’ my woman.”

Remembering the rough kiss earlier, Bella quickly covered her mouth.

“……I said no to naughty things. I was planning to let you rest today.”

“I apologize. You were just too lovable.”

“Hmph…”

Bella, who had been glaring at me coyly, soon burst into laughter.

“You should be grateful to me. A man with a personality like yours would’ve ended up alone if it weren’t for me….”

Well, I do have quite a few fiancées… I never thought I’d end up marrying four women. Bella, Helga, Blanshe, and Wendy… It still feels like a dream, something I can’t quite imagine.

“…Just so you know, I’ll never forgive you if you cheat.”

“……”

“Understood?”

With four brides, the boundaries of infidelity are something I have to seriously consider.

I muttered as I rested my head on Bella’s lap again.

“……Bella. What if I were to…”

“Tristan, don’t tell me you’re the kind of man who gets excited over someone like Helga? Do you have a fool fetish?”

I was speechless. I barely hinted at something, and she fired back with several comments. No matter what I asked or answered, I knew it would be pointless.

In the end, I chose to escape reality.

“……I’ll close my eyes.”

“Are you running away now?”

“I’m tired.”

“You said it was fine earlier…”

I shamelessly closed my eyes while resting on Bella’s lap. Despite my brazen attitude, Bella, though exasperated, let me keep using her lap.

“…How is it? Is my lap comfortable?”

“Can I answer honestly?”

“Of course.”

“It’s harder than the pillow I usually use.”

*Slap!*

As soon as I finished speaking, Bella slapped my forehead.

“…Didn’t you say I could be honest?”

“That’s too much. Shouldn’t you at least say it’s nice, even if it’s a lie?”

“The texture of your lap is very nice. The height is just right, and I like it. It’s a lie, though.”

*Slap!*

“…What’s the problem now?”

“You don’t know? It’s not like I’m bowing to you. Do you think just anyone can use my lap pillow? Opportunities like this are rare, so at least put some effort into your lies.”

She’s quite demanding. But after seeing her precious expression earlier, I felt like indulging her. Yes, it’s just a thoughtful comment. A sincere compliment. What’s so hard about that…

After a moment of thought, I opened my mouth.

“Your thighs are firm, making them good for a pillow.”

*Slap!*

“……I meant it.”

*Slap! Slap!*

“……Is that not it?”

“Of course not!”

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

“Are you mocking my thigh size now?”

“No… It’s a compliment…”

“How is ‘firm’ a compliment? Is that something you say to a woman?”

I felt wronged. It was a genuine compliment.

“When you wore that bunny outfit before, your thighs were…”

“Eek! Why do you still remember that?!”

Embarrassed, Bella slapped my face repeatedly. It didn’t hurt before, but this time it stung.

“How could I forget… You wore that outfit to cheer me up, so I can’t forget it.”

“Shut up! Really… If it weren’t for you, I’d never wear something like that!”

“That’s a shame. The bunny outfit suited you.”

“……I feel like you’re subtly trying to get me to wear that indecent outfit again…”

“It’s all in your head.”

“Hmph…”

Ignoring Bella’s suspicious look, I closed my eyes and prepared to sleep.

I must have been really tired. As soon as I decided to sleep, my eyelids felt heavy.

Resting on Bella’s lap, I was able to take a nap more comfortably than ever. Just as my consciousness was fading, I heard Bella mutter.

“……Well, depending on what you do later, I might wear it again.”

*

Meanwhile, outside the room where Bella and Tristan were, there were ears listening to their conversation.

“Ohoho…”

Helga, with a mischievous smile like a child who just thought of a fun prank, was eavesdropping.

“A bunny, huh? Hehe…”

 

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