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“Of course, that plan is rejected.”

“Then… if I quickly carry the Count and run with Plan B…”

“That’s also rejected.”

“Ah…! Then, what if the Count carries me instead!”

“Rejected.”

“Ugh… Then what should we do now…?”

Helga quickly became discouraged.

Though she often acts recklessly, she’s fundamentally a good person.

If I teach her a few tricks, she’ll surely do well.

“Helga.”

“Yes…?”

“You need to learn to control your strength in everything.”

“Control my strength…?”

“It means to hold back. Before someone gets hurt by your brute strength.”

“How cruel to say such things to such a delicate girl…”

“……People would easily break even under your delicate strength.”

She was the complete opposite of Blanshe, Bella’s bodyguard knight.

Blanshe, the assassin, was calm and composed, but Helga, a warrior who rampaged on the battlefield, had a reckless side that just charged in.

If Blanshe was a killing machine, Helga was no different from a walking weapon.

It’s astonishing how such strength resides in those slender limbs.

“But… Count. You mustn’t let your guard down. You never know when or where someone might target you.”

“There’s no one bold enough to attack me in this country.”

Though I said that, there was actually one…

I recalled the time I almost lost my life to Blanshe.

That was clearly my mistake.

The original Tristan was an arrogant character, so full of pride that he didn’t even keep bodyguards despite his power.

And I naturally thought I’d be the same.

After all, in the original story, no one was bold enough to attack Tristan in broad daylight.

But after ‘I’ became Tristan, variables arose.

Because of those variables, many things changed.

And in the end, I allowed Blanshe’s attack.

The reason I hired Helga as a bodyguard from Aslan’s deputy commander was also to prepare for such variables.

Helga was one of the strongest in this game, and her loyalty to Tristan was beyond doubt.

The only problem was that if I took her around, I’d have to worry about the safety of those around me, not my own…

Now, we had to get off the carriage.

I gave Helga a stern warning.

“Helga. Remember. This is not a battlefield.”

“Yes…”

“It’s fine to act strong in front of the strong. But in front of the weak, you also need to be gentle like the weak. Imagine facing a child.”

“A child?”

“Yes. Lower your gaze. Hide your hostility and speak as if you’re gently advising a child.”

“……Hmm. I see… I understand what you’re saying, Count.”

Fortunately, she seemed to get it.

Helga nodded and got off the carriage first.

I followed her.

Pop! Pop!

Flashes went off in front of us.

In an instant, we were surrounded by reporters.

“Count! Please share your thoughts on joining the Seven Stars!”

“Will the name of the Seven Stars change now?”

“Is it true that the Ruelberta Family will lead the Seven Stars?”

“Is it true that you made a staff member kneel in the student cafeteria recently?”

“What do you think about the rumors of reuniting with the Izakhel Duke Family?”

“What was the trigger for joining the Seven Stars?”

“Do you have anything to say about the suspicions surrounding you?”

A flood of questions came at me.

If it were the original Tristan, he would have happily chattered away here.

Saying things like, “The Seven Stars? It’s nothing special,” or making arrogant remarks belittling other nobles, stirring up all sorts of trouble.

But I am Tristan, yet not him.

So, I dismissed all these questions with a single phrase.

“They’re not worth answering.”

“Huh?”

“W-Wait a moment!”

Having said my piece, I tried to ignore the reporters and head to the school.

But they were persistent.

“Count!”

“Just one more word!”

They were being quite a nuisance.

At that moment, Helga stepped in front of me, blocking the reporters trying to get in my way.

Whether she understood my instructions or not, she didn’t throw any punches.

She just spoke with a calm expression.

“Children.”

“…?”

Wait, what?

I thought I misheard and looked at Helga.

She had the expression of a kind kindergarten teacher reading a storybook to children.

There were many things I wanted to point out, but Helga was just following my instructions to the letter.

The problem was that she followed them too literally…

Helga interlocked her gloved fingers and spoke.

“From now on, any friends blocking our Count will be hit… no, no, I won’t kill them, just hit them~! Oh! Of course!”

She added as if she just remembered.

“Only one hit each because it hurts!”

Crack.

A chilling sound came from her cute clenched fists.

“So, who’s the first friend to get a spanking~?”

“Uh…”

“Not me.”

“Me neither…”

Of course, everyone who saw that slowly backed away.

No one felt hostility from her.

They just felt a deep-seated fear…

Thanks to that, I was able to enter the school without any hindrance.

“Hehe…”

Meanwhile, Helga was giving me a look, asking for praise.

Alright. Good job. My girl. No…

My crazy girl…

*

Under the warm sunlight, a grassy field stretched out.

A cool breeze blew, carrying the scent of grass.

In that scenery, two people were enjoying a picnic.

“How is it?”

“Mmm…! Sweet!”

“Haha… I’m glad you like it.”

Bella sipped her tea.

Beside her sat a golden-haired, blue-eyed girl, Michaela, munching on a cream cake.

“Next time, I hope the tribute is like this!”

“Of course. Next time, I’ll find something even sweeter for you.”

“Really? Yay! Hehehe!”

This seemingly innocent girl was actually a god who had manifested in this world, something only a handful of people knew.

Michaela seemed to really like the tribute Bella brought, as she gazed at it before speaking.

“By the way, how many kids are you planning to have?”

“Huh?!”

Bella almost dropped her teacup.

“W-What are you talking about…”

“What do you mean? You’re going to marry Tristan, right? Aren’t you?”

“N-No? Why would I marry someone like him…”

“Keke… You can be more honest with me~.”

Michaela giggled, amused by Bella’s reaction.

Realizing she couldn’t hide anything from Michaela, Bella had no choice but to reveal her true feelings.

“Well… maybe… a little? If Tristan wants to marry me, I wouldn’t refuse…”

“Hmph. I knew it.”

“B-But it’s only out of pity! He probably wouldn’t find anyone else to marry him.”

“Heeh… Do you really think that…?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Hehe.”

Michaela licked the cream off her lips.

“If you marry him, I’ll specially hold the ceremony here in Paradise.”

“Wow? Michaela, really?! Oh, no! Of course, that won’t happen! But thank you for saying so!”

“Right. Right. I’ll invite all the luxurious guests too. Hurry up and make it official, then get married.”

“O-Official…?”

Bella blushed in embarrassment.

Michaela, finding her reaction amusing, was about to tease her more when something rolled toward their picnic blanket.

Bella noticed it and tilted her head.

“Huh? A pillow?”

“Ah… Seriously!”

Michaela seemed annoyed, as if her fun was ruined.

Then, the pillow-like thing wriggled.

“Ung…”

“How did this sleepyhead know to come here?”

“I came because it smelled good…”

“The pillow talked?!”

“I’m not a pillow…”

“Huh?”

As Bella tilted her head, the pillow wriggled and sat up.

Wearing the pillow like pajamas, it snuggled up to Bella.

“Heeung… Bella mama…”

“Oh my…? Who is this? Liri, is that you?”

“Really… really… long time no see. Hee…”

It was a girl wrapped in a pillow-like outfit, resembling a baby.

When she took off the hood that made her look like a pillow, her lemon-colored, glowing hair appeared.

Liri, with sleepy eyes, clung to Bella.

“Mama… feed me that too.”

“Liri, really… Here, say ‘ah.’ Ah~.”

“Ah~.”

“Hey! Don’t just eat my tribute!”

“Shush. Yours, mine, what’s the difference… it’s all mine.”

“Ugh! Bella, don’t spoil her! She’s so spoiled, it’s driving me crazy!”

Michaela grumbled.

Michaela wasn’t the only god in Paradise.

Most gods spent their days lazing around somewhere in Paradise.

But why did this one wake up at this particular time?

Michaela glared at Liri with displeasure.

Regardless, Liri snuggled into Bella’s arms.

“Ung… Mama…”

“Haha… Liri, you always look like a baby.”

“Yep. I’m a baby god… But mama smells strange…”

“Huh?”

Oops… A foreboding thought crossed Michaela’s mind.

“This thick scent of fate… who is it?”

“Hey! Don’t say it!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out… Sniff sniff…”

“W-Wait! Liri! Don’t sniff there…!”

Despite Bella’s resistance, Liri sniffed her scent until she was satisfied.

When Liri finally let go of Bella, she realized what Michaela had been trying to hide.

“Hmm… I see… So that’s how it is.”

Liri, with her sleepy eyes, spoke to Michaela.

“You were having all the fun by yourself with something this interesting…?”

 

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