Chapter 48
“That’s not happening. What are you planning to do with our Deli at night?”
“There are plenty of things one can do outside of night.”
At Alperen’s cryptic reply, Adrian’s face darkened.
“Y-you! Don’t see our Deli anymore!”
“She’s the one choosing to see me.”
“Doesn’t matter! I don’t like it, so stay away!”
“I don’t think I can grant that, Adrian.”
Alperen’s refusal was polite, but firm. He stood up from his seat.
“I should go get Deli.”
“Where do you think you’re going? I’ll get her first!”
The two bickered all the way out of the box—only to catch sight of Cesare Barnard openly flirting with Rodelia.
And then—
“Thank you for escorting me. It was unpleasant meeting you—let’s never cross paths again!”
With that, Rodelia bolted like a rabbit escaping a trap.
“…Hah. Guess there’s nothing for us to do.”
Adrian leaned against the wall, his chest shaking with laughter.
“‘Unpleasant meeting you’? ‘Let’s never cross paths again’? Pfft. Our Deli’s adorable, isn’t she?”
But Alperen’s face was far from amused.
“You go on ahead.”
Something in his tone made Adrian’s smile fade.
“…Where are you going?”
The cold glare Alperen sent him was answer enough. His eyes promised violence—enough to bury someone—regardless of the fact that the target was a prince.
Adrian sighed.
“You’re already pushing yourself too hard. Do you really think provoking the Imperial Family further will do you any good?”
At that, Alperen’s gaze sank, heavy as stone.
“…So you knew.”
Yes, Adrian already knew why Alperen had never been able to break the engagement before: because of his father.
Too often, Alperen had disappeared without a word, only to return reeking faintly of blood.
Adrian had long since pieced it together—those missions had been ordered by the Emperor.
So when Alperen had finally announced the annulment, Adrian had been shocked. He’d thought Alperen had found some way to free himself. But no—it wasn’t that.
It was because of Rodelia.
And once Adrian realized that, he couldn’t bring himself to stand in their way.
“Of course I knew. You think I’ve only known you for a day or two?”
Adrian clapped him on the shoulder.
“So you just sit back. As for that bastard, I’ll deal with him.”
I’m not exactly afraid of the Emperor’s wrath.
At his friend’s bold declaration, Alperen finally let out a short laugh.
Sulky just moments ago, now he was back to his usual self, simply because they had found a common enemy.
The Ferris siblings truly were a light in the stormy darkness of his life.
But if he said that aloud, Adrian would only get smug.
So instead, Alperen muttered dryly,
“Trying to act cool, are you?”
“That’s me repaying you for that time you threw a punch.”
“Didn’t even hurt. You’ve got pillow fists.”
“Hey, my mom was famous for her iron fists! Don’t disrespect the family legacy!”
Still bickering, they arrived at the theater entrance.
“I’m sorry, but the performance has already begun. You won’t be able to reenter now.”
The usher blocked them, looking flustered.
So the two men had no choice but to stand quietly in the corridor and wait. They weren’t about to make a scene—but they did have plotting to do.
Alperen asked,
“So, how exactly do you plan to deal with him?”
“Well…”
Their whispered scheming dragged on until the performance ended.
When Rodelia came rushing out, she froze to find the two of them waiting together so calmly.
She gave them a quick once-over, sighed deeply, and muttered,
“Thank goodness. I thought you two had gone off to duel because of me.”
From the way she looked, she hadn’t been able to focus on the play at all.
Adrian, grinning slyly, took her hand.
“Our Deli, you got way too invested in the story. So, which side did you bet on? Mine, of course, right?”
But on her other side, Alperen seized her other hand.
“Obviously it would be me. Right, Deli?”
Far from dueling, the two men who had been conspiring against a prince were back to bickering over her.
With both hands captured, Rodelia thought to herself:
‘This pattern… they’ve made up!’
She had worried their cold war would drag on, but thankfully, it seemed over.
Relieved, she declared brightly,
“Alright then! To celebrate your reconciliation, dinner’s on me!”
Cheerfully tugging them along, she led the way.
Adrian muttered,
“I want beef.”
“Oppa, seriously? Asking your unemployed little sister for beef?”
“Our Deli’s a wealthy unemployed little sister.”
…Well, he wasn’t wrong.
Feeling defeated, Rodelia turned to Alperen.
“What about you, Ren oppa? What do you want to eat?”
Her voice was softer with him than with Adrian.
Alperen’s reply was just as gentle.
“I’m full just watching you eat, Deli.”
It was the perfect line straight out of a devoted lover’s handbook.
Adrian scowled.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Witnessing his best friend dating his precious sister was a shock hard to recover from.
And when Rodelia’s face lit up with surprise and flustered delight, it only made his stomach churn.
“My gut… feels off all of a sudden.”
“So no beef, then?”
“Of course I’m eating beef.”
With that, Adrian gestured toward the restaurant.
“Lead the way, princess. We’ll make sure you get there safe.”
At his shameless tone, Rodelia couldn’t help but smile.
For the first time in a while, it felt like things were back to normal.
* * *
Since Cesare’s return, Nanael had been forced into an unwanted period of seclusion.
It was by direct order of the Emperor, who had visited her himself.
“Rosaria worries for you. And now that Cesare is back, you must be more careful. Restrain your extravagance for the time being.”
It was purely because of her mother’s relentless concern.
Everyone knew the Emperor doted excessively on Empress Rosaria. And with her constant backing, Rosaria’s own ambitions grew bolder by the day.
“Hmph. The great love story of the century.”
Cesare, meanwhile, strutted around like an ally of the Crown Prince—while secretly plotting his downfall.
And his habits hadn’t changed either: every night, he summoned courtesans. Rumor had it he dressed green-eyed women in pink wigs.
The resemblance was obvious, and Nanael was morbidly amused.
“So, it’s not going well for you, huh?”
The world’s biggest womanizer—struggling with one pampered noble lady?
Typical of a boy raised coddled under his mother’s wing. Useless, and now just in her way.
For the first time in a while, Nanael smiled and made her way to the parlor.
There, a nervous young woman awaited her.
The moment Nanael appeared, she sprang to her feet and curtsied deeply.
“Jessica of House Miranda greets Her Highness, Princess Nanael Barnard, the star of the Empire.”
Her timid face showed she had no idea why she’d been summoned.
It wasn’t surprising. For the last eight years, citing poor health, she had stayed away from the capital.
Yet once upon a time, her family had been quite prominent.
Nanael studied her closely.
On the surface, Jessica Miranda seemed plain. But in her eyes burned a desperate hunger to climb back up.
In the capital, families who couldn’t secure their place quickly fell behind. And no one was more desperate than someone who had once tasted power only to lose it.
For Nanael, handling women with such naked ambition was child’s play.
Especially when it came to tormenting those she disliked.
Stepping forward, she greeted her guest.
“Welcome, Lady Miranda. Thank you for accepting my invitation. I heard your health was poor—are you well now?”
Nanael had summoned Jessica Miranda for one reason:
Once, she had been Rodelia Ferris’s closest friend.
And now, they were estranged.
