Chapter 102
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Unfitting
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You want me to propose?
Yes.
I hadnt misheard.
Bella, who had voiced her wish, sat at the desk, waiting for my answer.
Sunset light leaked in through the gap in the curtains. Her silver hair flickered like flames in the sunlight.
Even her expression burned with resolve. The determination to get an answer from me today, no matter what.
I remember you hating the idea of being engaged to me.
Thats right. But there was something I hated even more.
?
Bella leaned forward, peering into my face.
Count, do you remember how you proposed to me?
Of course not. The original story didnt cover those details.
No, even if it had been mentioned, I wouldnt have wanted to know how Tristan proposed.
But right now, I was Tristan.
With a straight face, I put on a stern act.
I dont remember.
Of course you dont. You didnt do anything.
Anything? I faltered inwardly, but thankfully it didnt show on my face.
Bella let out a sigh.
Count, do you know? The proposal I got from you was the first one in my life. Do you know what that means to a woman?
The first proposal or the secondits all the same. What difference does it make?
But I wasnt tone-deaf enough to say that out loud.
It must be important.
And someone who knows that just sends engagement papers? Is there any proposal like that in the world? Theres a limit to shamelessness.
Paper proposal? For real?
Tristan must have thought stamping the engagement papers was enough to claim her.
Well, that sounded like him.
Hed wanted to get engaged to Bella purely to satisfy his possessiveness.
She glared at me as if I were utterly deplorable.
Take responsibility for ruining my first time. Count.
Even if I propose again, it wont change that it was your first.
Thats why Im telling you to propose again. Only you, who gave me that awful first proposal, can cover it over.
Indeed So he was supposed to make up for his mistake.
Thats what she meant by proposing again.
Ah, of course, I dont mean a real proposal. I just want to see a proposal from you, Count, one filled with your sincerity.
Bella added primly.
What Even if its something like that, I dont know if itll appease my anger, but who knows. If I see your heartfelt proposal I might actually fall for you.
Got it.
Id promised, so no choice.
I took the ring from her.
But how do people propose in this world?
As I thought for a moment, Bella covered her mouth and laughed.
Pfft Even a fake proposal feels embarrassing when its time to do it? How cute.
She was clearly teasing me.
What are you doing? First, you need the oaths kiss.
Ah, right As you wish.
I reached out to take her hand.
But Bella whisked it behind her back.
Instead, she stuck out her foot.
This is punishment for making me wait so long. Not my handkiss my foot.
Even her playful smile was unfairly beautiful. Still, I couldnt help complaining.
You really want to do this to a sick patient?
Who was it who called that earlier injury just a penalty? Hehe Come on, kiss it until Im satisfied. You planning to hurt my leg?
Shed held onto what I said during our spar.
Bella extended her foot toward me, toying with me as if it were fun.
Hehe Just kidding. As expected
Ill do it.
Yes?
Since weve started, Ill play along with your whims.
She was granting my wish, but provoking me like this stirred the Pride inside me.
No, maybe it was just my stubbornness kicking in.
I slipped off her shoe from her foot.
Huh? W-Wait a second!
Her pristine bare foot emerged from the shoe.
As expected from the empires praised beauty, even her feet were lovely.
I slowly brought my lips to her foot, beautiful as a sculpture.
W-Wait!
Bella cried out.
Whats wrong?
W-Well, thinking about it, during our spar earlier, I was barefoot so maybe I didnt wash my feet? It shouldnt smell or anything, but its still kinda
I see.
Right? So
I dont mind.
Yes? No. W-Wait!
Ignoring Bellas desperate persuasion, I pressed my lips to the top of her foot.
Eek!
Bella jolted as if electrified.
Regardless, I kissed her foot again.
Kyaa!? I said wait!
Didnt you tell me to kiss until youre satisfied?
Im satisfied! Im satisfied, so stop!
No. Youre not satisfied.
Wait Mm!
Now it was my turn.
I decided to pay back Bellas prank using Pride. This trait couldnt stand anyone getting the upper hand over me.
I steadfastly kept kissing her foot.
Each time, Bella reacted sensitively.
And my Pride didnt miss it, starting to obsessively explore her foot.
Bella glared at me, covering her mouth to stifle her leaking moans as I kissed her foot.
Her eyes held embarrassment, humiliation, and resentment.
I didnt avoid her gaze.
Thanks to Pride, I simply watched her reactions with a relaxed expression.
Finally, unable to endure, Bella spoke.
Youre really kissing my foot like that. Doesnt it gross you out?
Can I be honest?
No. No. Wait. Dont say it. What are you even going to
Its not dirty.
I kissed the top of her foot once more.
It wasnt the attitude toward something dirtyit was toward something lovable.
Liar.
Its not a lie.
Hnng
Bella made a strange face at my words.
Whether glad or embarrassed, I couldnt tell, but she extended her foot toward me again.
If you like my foot that much, keep kissing it, you jerk.
Her face was red, but her sullen expression remained as she spoke to me.
It was just the kind of thing her prideful self would say.
But if it was pride, mine was no slouch either.
Got it.
99
I also slipped off the shoe from her other foot.
Her eyes widened, then sharpened.
Hnng Not satisfied with one foot?
The unsatisfied one is you, isnt it?
Shut up. Just pay for turning me into a divorced woman.
Ive never been married to you.
Engagement counts as marriage. Keep kissing, jerk.
I kept pressing my lips to her feet.
As the kisses continued, the frequency of Bellas leaking moans increased.
Such a pervert! How can you do this to the woman youre proposing to! Making me embarrassed feels good? Hnng!
You started it.
I looked up at her somewhat incredulously.
Her face, bold from the repeated kisses, was starting to melt.
Dont look up at me. Its embarrassing.
Refused.
In this moment, I could understand Tristans feelings.
.....
Your embarrassed face is mine too. So Ill look closely.
My inner Greed had ensnared me with the desire to possess her.
Hmph. Do as you like.
Bella turned her head away.
Her tone was still curt, but somehow endearing.
Now with some composure, she wiggled her toes, trying to dodge my kisses.
It was about time.
I stood up.
Bella, who had been looking down at me, now looked up.
What? I havent said Im satisfied yet.
I know. I realized that a proposal like this cant fully satisfy you.
It was a fake proposal anyway.
Just a fake one to soothe her heart.
But thats why it couldnt satisfy her.
Bella Izarkhel.
Why call me by my full name so unfittingly all of a sudden?
I want to have you. Because you dont suit me.
What?
What she wanted was a real proposal.
I dont suit you. Youre too beautiful and noble for a dark, gloomy man like me to have.
Bella swallowed.
I took her hand. Her white hand, which didnt suit me.
Im an ugly man. A worthless one whose petty nature wont be satisfied without possessing.
Bellas eyes trembled.
I slipped the ring onto her finger.
So if I cant have you, I wont give you to anyone else.
Even if its an ugly sentiment.
It was my one and only true heart.
Will you let a selfish man like me such a bad man protect you?
Bella silently stepped down from the desk.
Her gaze stayed fixed on me.
Without her shoes, she was two heads shorter than me.
Such a she lightly nestled into my arms.
?!
And I felt her bare foot gently stepping on my shoe.
At the same time, a soft sensation touched the corner of my mouth.
It didnt take long to realize it was her kiss, barely grazing the edge of my lips.
Bella looked up at me from right below my face, her eyes full of affection.
Wearing a happier smile than Id ever seen, she spoke.
This is my answer. To my Count who doesnt suit me.