Confirmed!

BELLE's P.O.V

I just stand where I am while looking at Hendrick. Shock was written all over my face. He was talking to some men not far away from me.

I just lost sight of him when the boy next to me touched me.

"You're pretty." He says.

"A-ah, thank you." I answered with a glint of awkwardness. I don’t know how to properly approach the child!

I stared at the child beside me, him and Hendrick don't have the same look. The boy's facial features are different and so are Hendrick's. Maybe he inherited it from his mother…

I don’t know why my chest suddenly seemed to tighten. The child’s now a grown up, it just means that Hendrick and the mother of the child have been in a relationship for a long time.

I looked at Hendrick again, I was shocked to see him looking at me.

His face is serious and his eyebrows meet slightly.

I looked back at the child as it suddenly ran in Hendrick's direction while I was just standing and unable to move my body.

Hendrick stepped forward, maybe to meet his son…

I looked at him sadly, I couldn’t describe the feeling I’m having right now, I seemed disappointed or whatever. I couldn't think of what would happen next so I just decided to leave that place, and why May didn’t tell me about it? She said that she knew Hendrick for a long time so it’s impossible that she doesn’t know about his son. 

Is his wife pretty? I suddenly felt insecure, how is it to be liked by Hendrick? 

It suddenly occurred to me that I was staying in his room, but if he already had a child, why did he let me stay in his room? 

Now that I know she has a child, it is difficult for me to stay there anymore. I'd better just find a new place to stay or I'd better just go home to the mansion. I can’t stand staying in his room when I know that he has a lover and they even had a son. It seems like nothing good has happened to me ever since I came to this place. 

I decided to leave but when I took a step I was surprised to see that the boy did not go to Hendrick.

Hendrick just kept walking in my direction. The boy ran straight after Hendrick, my forehead furrowed.

I peeked where the child had gone and saw that he went to another person. 

Wait…

I thought  he’s Hendrick’s child? 

Why did he go there and who’re those people? 

I didn't realize that Hendrick was close to me.

“Where did you go?” He asked with his forehead still furrowed.

I looked at him, surprised.

Why did the boy pass him?

I turned my gaze back to the child, now he was smiling and holding the hand of the woman and the man.

Don’t tell me…

I looked at Hendrick, his face looks like he’s wondering, when realization hits me, I laughed hard.

"What's wrong with you?"

I couldn't answer his question, I still couldn't help but to laugh.

As I laughed, Hendrick was just there, staring at me, confused. 

It seems that a thorn in my chest wasn’t there anymore. All my fears suddenly disappeared.

"Silly me!" I exclaimed.

The man's face was even more confused, when he still didn't get an answer from me, he sighed.

"Sorry!" I said between my laughs. I couldn’t stop laughing, but at the same time, what happened just made me realize something. I’m falling for this man. 

I stared at his face, I couldn’t help but smile at him. One of his eyebrows rose.

"Where are you going?" I asked with a smile.

"I asked you first." He sounded a little irritated. 

I explained to him what happened and why I hurried earlier to leave. He understood this but told me that next time I need to go with him or just tell him beforehand.

"Okay, sorry again."

Later on, he invited me to a restaurant just near us. When I entered the place my eyes roamed around, I was amazed by the atmosphere . The things here are really amazing, it’s also my first time seeing them since there’s nothing like that on Earth.

“Why are we eating here? It looks expensive. ” I whispered to him as we sat down.

"You may not be comfortable if we eat at other places." Hendrick says.

At first I didn’t understand but I remembered who Belle really was. Although Belle is not really considered noble, there’s still some who view her as one. Poor her. 

I tried to think if Belle had already eaten in this place but I didn't remember anything, it just meant that I was the one who had the first experience and not Belle, who was the original owner of this body.

Don't worry Belle, I’ll eat for you. 

Later on, a man served our meal. There's a beef steak, just a sight and it will make you very hungry, then it was followed by a few plates of dessert. A piece of cake and a variety of fruits.

“Wow! So many!" I couldn’t help but admire the food.

Ever since I came here, there’s just one meal available every time and even when I was still on Earth. Seriously, I get to experience many things here. 

We started eating, it was so delicious! I almost forgot who I am. 

The food tastes great but isn't it very expensive?

What's Hendrick's job again, isn't he a mercenary?

Are mercenaries paid well?

What has happened since we met here came to my mind, don't people know what Hendrick's job really is? I mean, he seems welcomed here and a lot of people came to talk to him. He seemed friendly to be honest. 

I really don’t know much more about Hendrick.

We ate peacefully and decided to leave afterwards as well. According to Hendrick, it's easy to pinpoint the place I'm looking for because this village is not that big.

After I told him all the details I knew, he led me to the place where I was looking.

We made many detours and passed houses before we found what I was looking for.

I looked at the place, the green exterior design and some plants outside helped me distinguish this place.

This is it.

I confronted Hendrick.

"Just wait for me here."

He didn't complain and just nodded.

I went up and opened the door. The quiet surroundings opened up to me.

"Hi!" On the side smiling came out the person I was looking for.

It’s him.

According to the comic, he will become the most famous artist in this world. 

Looking at him, he sure has the exact appearance from the comic. Since this year isn't really the start of the comic then that just means that I still have time to gather my party, that's why I'm risking my life coming here. 

If I'm not mistaken, the comic will start its story two years from now. Thanks to that, I still have time to secure my life so from the time that the comic starts going, I can just go somewhere where I can live peacefully. 

"How may I help you?" The man said.

"Hi! I have something to offer." I said straightforwardly.

The man in front of me looks confused. 

"What do you mean?" 

I looked around, there was a small wooden table at the corner of the room.

"Should we sit there?" I pointed to the table.

"Oh yeah! Sure! Have a seat dear customer." 

We sat down, facing each other.

"May I know what you meant to say?" He asked as soon as we settled down.

I smiled at him.

"I'd like to be your benefactor." 

Hansel Craig was the first one to have the title of "The Greatest Artist" because of his works. He isn't your typical artist, he sure draws greater than anyone but what picked the interest of the people in this world was his incredible talent of doing realistic drawings. To the point that you will doubt yourself if you're looking on a canvas or not. 

Hansel was smart so I'm sure he will understand what I'm saying. 

His eyebrows met. 

"I'm sorry young lady but, you will be my benefactor?" He slowly asked. 

I nodded. 

"That's what I said." 

He shook his head. 

"B-but why? Why would you support someone like me?" 

"I just saw a potential in you." I lied. 

I couldn't tell him that I knew he would become famous one day because of his art.

"No…like…" 

Looks like he couldn't understand why I suddenly told him that I'll be his benefactor. Looks like I will have a hard time pursuing him. Then I don't have another choice. 

"Hansel." I called him. 

He looked shocked.

"You know me?" 

I nodded. The confusion in his eyes strengthened.

"I knew you like painting." 

Hansel's confused face became darker.

"I don't know what you're talking about." 

This is one of the reasons why Hansel bloomed later in the novel. He always avoids what he wants because he thinks that painting will not benefit him anything, well, I can’t blame him since this world doesn’t give much opportunities to those in the field of arts. 

That’s why they don’t pay much but Hansel will one day be famous because of his art. If I remember correctly, he drew a canvas for the princess that immediately took a liking to his work, the princess even promoted his work, and that made him famous. 

That event opened a lot of opportunities to him and to other artists.

“I’ll buy everything you need, you just have to paint one time.” 

Hansel didn’t answer, he just continued looking at me seriously.

“Once is enough for me.” 

“I’ll stay away from you if you want, but that’s after you finish the painting.” 

“Why do you want me to paint so much? Have you seen me paint before?” 

I shook my head. 

“Then why do you want to be a benefactor of someone you haven’t even seen its work?” 

“I know you can do the work better than anyone.” 

He didn’t answer. 

He’s been staring at me since earlier. 

“I’ll give you time to think about it, I’ll come back again.” 

It looks like I have to do a different approach to let him agree. This is driving me crazy, I don’t know what to say, I never had this conversation with anyone even in my past life, it’s so hard to be an introvert! 

I stood up, I was about to open the door when Hendrick came in. 

“What’s taking you so long?” 

“Ah, I’m done.” I said as I turned my gaze to Hansel.

He’s still sitting in that exact position when we talked. 

“Let’s go.”

Hendrick held the door and let’s me pass first, but we stopped when Hansel spoke. 

“Wait.” 

Hendrick and I both looked at him. He’s now at our back standing with his head down. 

“I-i…just have to paint one time r-right?” He met my gaze after he said that. 

I nodded. “Yes.” 

It took him a while to answer. 

“Then, what will I get if I agree?” 

My face remained the same but my soul was rejoicing. Yes!  He finally agreed! 

“We can talk about that while we’re discussing the contract.” I smiled at him. 

Hansel and I talked again for the second time, he closed his store so that we could talk peacefully. 

Hendrick didn’t agree when I asked him to wait for me outside this time and Hansel gave him permission to roam around so that’s what he did. Hendrick was looking at the plants while Hansel and I were talking about the contract. 

Hansel looked hesitant at first, he thinks that the contract is purely beneficial to him only. I just lied about wanting to see him grow and achieved what he deserved. I also told him my name that I forgot to do earlier because I just remembered that it's proper etiquette here to introduce yourself first. I’m so dumb.

After a long talk with Hansel, he finally signed the contract that I made earlier before we decided to come here. 

“So, I’ll see you soon?” 

Hansel nodded. 

He thanked me once again before we left the place. 

Hendrick looked curious the whole time but didn’t ask about it. One point for him! 

We decided to go where we’re staying, Hendrick thought that I might’ve been tired. It’s true though.

We ate first at the lounge. Hendrick told me that he had something to do and that he will stay in another room so I went to his room first to rest. I immediately lay on his bed. It's really nice to have met Hendrick here, I feel like a lot has happened since I came here. Who would’ve thought that I almost died again? 

But the most important part is that Hansel agreed to my proposal. I felt relieved. 

My plans started to move. I sigh. I closed my eyes. 

That night, I slept really well.