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Tristan looked quite different from the last time Wendy had seen him.

It was hard to say he had simply lost weight.

His sharp jawline and cold eyes, paired with his jet-black hair, gave off an indescribable intellectual vibe.

Wendy was so captivated that she couldn’t help but stare at Tristan’s face.

The Count had changed so much that it was hard to believe someone could transform so drastically in such a short time.

“Wendy…”

The decadent-looking black-haired nobleman standing before her slowly opened his mouth.

“How long are you planning to stay like that?”

“Huh?! S-sorry…!”

Realizing she had been staring at Tristan too long, Wendy hurriedly got up from the floor.

She brushed off her clothes and quickly fixed her hair.

She couldn’t afford to look any more disheveled in front of him.

There were so many things she wanted to say.

She wanted to share the joy of their reunion.

She wanted to ask how he had been.

How he had been during her absence.

If he had felt her absence at all…

Wendy had to choose just one of the many thoughts swirling in her mind.

Finally, her mouth opened.

“Um…”

“…?”

“Y-you’ve… lost a lot of weight…?”

Ugh… After all that deliberation, this was the best she could come up with! There were so many other things to say, why this?!

Wendy screamed internally.

But Tristan, as if her words were of little consequence, simply asked back.

“Do I look that way?”

“Y-yes…! I-I’m worried about your health, Count! I’m sorry I couldn’t take care of you while I was away. As your exclusive maid… I… I’m sorry…”

“You don’t need to apologize. And I’m in perfectly good health.”

“R-right! Actually, I think you look… like a prince now…!”

Wendy had no idea what she was saying.

Her thoughts were all jumbled, and words were spilling out irregularly, as if her mind had short-circuited.

Yet, despite her rambling, Tristan didn’t seem upset at all.

In fact…

“Heh…”

“Huh?”

For a moment, Wendy thought she must have imagined it.

But Tristan had indeed smiled, even if just for a brief moment.

“That’s not a word that suits me. No, it’s more like an overstatement. Especially for someone like me.”

“N-no! It’s not an overstatement at all. You look like a prince, Count. To me, you look even more dashing than a prince… So… please don’t say such self-deprecating things…”

That was Wendy’s genuine feeling.

Tristan’s presence had changed her life, much like a prince on a white horse.

And now, even those who didn’t know the circumstances would agree with her just by looking at his appearance.

How Tristan took Wendy’s compliment was unclear.

But he only muttered with a slightly complicated expression.

“Alright… I see.”

“Hehe…”

Wendy giggled.

She had missed this. She had missed these days of talking with the Count, just the two of them.

Moreover, the fact that she had seen Tristan smile sent shivers of joy through her.

It was a privilege only she, as his exclusive maid, could enjoy.

‘This is something I won’t give up to anyone…’

But their brief reunion was cut short by a voice that soon followed.

“Miss Wendy! What are you doing here…?”

Sia, who had just noticed Tristan, was momentarily speechless.

At first, she didn’t recognize him, but after seeing his jet-black hair and cold eyes, she realized who he was.

There was only one man in this school with such features.

“Chairman…? Is that you, Chairman?”

“Yes.”

“I almost didn’t recognize you. Your appearance… has changed… so much…”

Sia couldn’t help but stare at Tristan’s face, even though she knew it was rude.

In fact, Sia had noticed that he had been losing weight for some time now.

Every time she saw Tristan, his jawline had become sharper.

And the face that was emerging wasn’t bad-looking at all.

But the Tristan she met after about ten days was far beyond what she had expected.

She never thought he could become this handsome.

His long eyelashes and delicate jawline made him look like a noble lady lost in melancholy.

But Tristan was a man.

In fact, he was the only man Sia had ever seen who could truly be described as “beautiful.”

As Sia silently stared at his face, Tristan asked.

“…Is there something on my face?”

“Ah, no! Sorry. I was just lost in thought… But what are you two doing here?”

“W-we just happened to run into each other and were exchanging greetings…!”

Wendy quickly answered.

It would be a great discourtesy to make her master come up with such an excuse.

“Is that so? Well, that’s perfect. I actually had a request for the Chairman.”

“A request?”

“Yes. The exam period is coming up, and I was wondering if you could take care of the office cleaning? A student’s main duty is to study, after all. If you could be so generous, I’d really appreciate it.”

Sia made a bold request to Tristan.

It was something Wendy would never dare to ask.

Would he scold her?

Wendy’s heart was in her throat, but Tristan simply nodded.

“That’s a reasonable request. I’ll take care of the office cleaning until the exams are over.”

“Thank you, Chairman. But if it’s not too much to ask, could I make one more request…?”

Is there more?

Wendy tilted her head in confusion.

“Go ahead.”

“Well… We want to study together, but we don’t have a proper place. The reading rooms are full, and the cafes are too crowded. So, if it’s okay, could we study in your office after school?”

“…?!”

Wendy was startled.

Sia hadn’t given up yet.

She must have thought there was a chance to discover something in the office.

Of course, if Tristan refused, that would be the end of it… But once again, he nodded.

“As long as you clean up afterward, it’s fine.”

“…! Chairman, thank you so much!”

“But remember one thing.”

“Yes?”

“If I’m going to provide this convenience, I expect corresponding results.”

Tristan informed them in a low voice.

“If you plan to study in my office, I expect you to aim for first place in the exams. If neither of you gets first place…”

“What happens then…?”

Sia gulped.

“Then both of you will be expelled.”

“Whaaat?!”

“Wait! That’s too harsh!”

“Of course, I’m joking. If you don’t get first place, you’ll be in charge of cleaning the office until next semester.”

“Huh?”

“Still want to do it?”

Caught off guard by the sudden joke, Sia quickly regained her composure and shouted.

“O-of course! Just watch! We’ll take first and second place!”

“I’ll be expecting it.”

Tristan looked down at the two with a relaxed expression.

Sia, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, turned her head away.

“Then we’ll be going now! Miss Wendy, let’s go study!”

“Y-yes…”

Sia walked away briskly.

Wendy was a little disappointed by the short meeting, but she had no choice but to bow her head and say goodbye.

“Huh…?”

Someone’s hand rested on Wendy’s head.

A warm hand gently stroked her hair. And then, a familiar voice reached her ears.

“Wendy.”

“…!”

Only then did Wendy realize that the hand stroking her head was Tristan’s.

Her small heart raced as if it might burst at any moment.

But that moment didn’t last long.

It was only about three seconds.

In that brief moment, when no one else was looking, Tristan spoke in a voice only she could hear.

“If you get first place, I’ll grant you one wish.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his hand left her head.

“Then… do your best.”

Wendy raised her head.

The warmth left on her head and Tristan’s retreating figure left a deep impression in her heart.

 

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