“I see.”

Inside the wagon heading to school.

Bella, who had heard the whole story, nodded as if she understood.

“I get what’s going on now.”

Bella spoke in a calm voice.

“If I had arrived just a bit later, you would’ve gone too far, you lowly Count.”

She wasn’t smiling.

She was just staring at me with an expressionless face.

Her gaze was so cold it was almost uncomfortable.

For me, who was silently taking the blame, it felt unfair, but if Bella hadn’t shown up, I might have struggled to stop Helga.

So, I had no choice but to quietly listen to Bella’s nagging.

“Count, you should really be more self-aware. What if a scandal breaks out over something like this? Have you forgotten that people have been seeing us in a… delicate relationship since the Seven Stars Harmony Meeting?”

“A delicate relationship…?”

“Really. Do I have to spell it out for you? More than lovers, less than spouses! That’s exactly what our relationship is.”

Wasn’t it more than friends, less than lovers?

I wanted to point that out, but Bella continued her nagging.

“Where else would you find a master who willingly sacrifices his own eye for a mere subordinate? There’s a limit to recklessness. If you keep living with such a self-sacrificial spirit, not even caring about your own life, you won’t last long, you lowly man.”

It was a statement that was hard to tell if it was a compliment, criticism, or concern.

Blanshe, the bodyguard knight sitting next to Bella, muttered softly.

“That’s very Count-like behavior…”

“Really? I thought the Count would be the type to harshly scold and mistreat his subordinates.”

“No, he’s more considerate of his subordinates than you’d think… Eek?! Ah, it’s nothing.”

“Huh? Blanshe?”

“Ahem… My apologies. Miss Bella is right. Please forget my slip of the tongue.”

I chimed in on their conversation.

“I admit it was reckless.”

It was a necessary process, but it was indeed reckless.

At this rate, I might not survive.

Seeing me admit it, Bella pouted.

“Hmph… You really are a fool. Let me take a look.”

Bella suddenly leaned in.

Without giving me a chance to dodge, her hand touched the bandage over my left eye.

“Poor thing… Does it hurt a lot?”

“…Don’t worry about it. It’ll heal in a few days.”

“How can you say that…? Anyone can see it’s a serious injury. Why do you always… get hurt like this, you man…”

As Bella trailed off, a faint sadness appeared in her eyes.

Her hand, which had been touching my left eye, dropped and rested on her chest.

“But… you know…? Even if the Count doesn’t realize it, there’s someone who’s always been worried about you.”

Bella looked up at me.

Though the angle made it hard to see, her blushing cheeks were impossible to hide.

It was just like when I had rescued Bella after she was kidnapped.

So, it was clear who she was talking about.

“For that person’s sake, could you stop doing such reckless things from now on?”

“…I’ll think about it.”

“Liar.”

The moment I heard that, I couldn’t help but flinch. My lie had been exposed.

Of course, I expected Bella to be angry.

But contrary to my expectations, she was smiling.

“You really are a liar…”

From now on, the path I must take will be even thornier.

As if she fully understood why I had no choice but to lie to her, Bella smiled faintly.

For a moment, I felt like our hearts were connected.

A brief silence followed.

“Phew…”

And of course, it was Bella who broke the silence.

“By the way, I didn’t know you cared so much about your subordinates, Count.”

“They’re mine, so I treat them with care.”

“Hmm… So, if they’re yours, that’s how it is?”

“Exactly.”

“But for that… aren’t you treating them a bit too roughly?”

Bella glanced at Helga sitting next to me.

Helga was sitting quietly with a mask on.

Outwardly, it was hard to tell, but in reality, she was being punished for disobeying my orders.

If you looked closely, she had thick steel handcuffs on her hands behind her back, and her mouth, hidden by the mask, was muzzled.

“…A dog that tries to bite its master needs training.”

It might have seemed too harsh for someone who just had surgery yesterday, but considering Helga’s physical abilities, it was a light punishment.

However, I couldn’t help but wonder if this punishment was truly fitting for her.

Because…

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Helga, with her hands tied, seemed to want to hand me the leash she had somehow placed on her thigh.

She probably wanted me to put it on her.

Judging by the sparkle in her eyes, she seemed genuinely eager.

Unfortunately, I had no intention of indulging her hobby. Punishment is punishment.

Besides, if I put a leash on Helga and went to school, I could only imagine what kind of article would be in the newspaper the next day.

I briefly looked out at the passing scenery outside the wagon.

We would soon arrive at school.

I voiced a question I had been pondering.

“So, why did you come to my mansion so early in the morning?”

“Ah, just… I felt uneasy.”

“?”

Bella coughed suspiciously.

“Ahem… It’s just that. I came to see if something had happened to the Count. Besides, since I came to wake you up in the morning, shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

“I never asked you to come.”

“Hmph. I didn’t expect you to.”

Bella stuck out her tongue.

Her childish pouting was quite cute.

“But doesn’t it hurt? You should rest today.”

“I can’t do that.”

“What kind of work are you planning to do in this state? As the Chairman, shouldn’t you be able to take it easy? What exactly are you going to do at school today?”

“A school inspection is scheduled.”

Though I said that, it was something the Chairman didn’t necessarily have to do personally.

The reason I wanted to do it myself was to personally observe the talents who would be facing the players in the future.

“A school inspection… Even the Chancellor doesn’t do that often.”

“I’m not the Chancellor. I’m the Chairman.”

“Hmm… So that’s how it is?”

Bella fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, she spoke.

“Ah… Well, then I have no choice. I’ll accompany you today.”

“…What?”

It seemed like a sudden suggestion, but Bella had a plausible answer.

“If you’re going to do a school inspection, wouldn’t it be easier to have a professor with you? Besides, your bodyguard knight seems to need some punishment…”

“Ugh??”

At that, Helga reacted.

Regardless, Bella continued.

“Even though I’m a temporary lecturer, I’m still a professor. So, just for today, I’ll specially accompany you on the inspection.”

“I don’t need it.”

“You do.”

Bella cut me off.

“As far as I know, you have a class today.”

“Oh my…? You remembered? In that case, how about you observe my class after the inspection?”

“You want me to observe your class?”

“Yes. You’re always welcome, Count.”

Upon hearing it, it didn’t seem like a bad suggestion.

There were surely many professors who would be displeased if I tried to observe their classes.

If Bella cooperated, I could comfortably watch the students in class.

The deliberation didn’t take long.

“Alright. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Hehe… Good thinking.”

Soon, the wagon came to a stop.

We must have arrived at the school.

Just as I was about to get off, Bella spoke.

“Wait a moment.”

“…?”

Bella picked up the leash on Helga’s thigh and put it around her neck.

“Ugh??”

“Good girl. Who’s a good girl?”

“Ugh!?”

Bella petted Helga’s head like a dog and handed the end of the leash to Blanshe.

“Miss…? What is this?”

“Blanshe. You’ve worked hard. You don’t need to guard me today.”

“Huh?? What do you mean…”

“Today, I’ll be ‘alone’ with the Count, so Blanshe, why don’t you take that dog for a walk in the city?”

“Ugh?!”

“Huh?! A walk?!”

Helga and Blanshe exclaimed in surprise simultaneously.

But Bella ignored their cries and sent them off.

“Have a good time.”

“W-wait! Miss!”

“Ugh?! Ugh! Ughhh!!”

Bella quickly closed the wagon door and called out to the coachman.

“Take those two for a city tour.”

“Understood, Miss.”

And just like that, the wagon mercilessly departed.

I was momentarily stunned by what had just happened.

Bella turned around and looked at me.

“Well… Now it seems there’s no one to disturb us.”

Bella linked her arm with mine.

Her soft chest touched my elbow.

“Shall we go together? My very own Count.”