Chapter 85
A sharp instinct warned me that something was wrong — Cesare’s energy was turning dangerous.
“You really shouldn’t keep rejecting me like this,” he sneered. “You’re not that special — except for your face, maybe.”
It was the first time I’d seen him show open hostility, and for a moment, genuine fear prickled through me.
Thank goodness there were still plenty of people around us.
At that moment, I caught sight of Adrian. His expression hardened the instant he saw what was happening.
‘Hurry up. Hurry up and get over here!’
I shot him a glare, silently urging him to move.
He murmured something to Summer and began to head my way.
‘Now you see me, you useless brother?’
If it had been Alperen, this never would’ve happened in the first place.
He would’ve stopped it before it even started.
I almost laughed at the absurdity of my own thought — and that was when I saw a familiar figure pushing through the crowd.
Alperen.
Unlike his usual calm and graceful stride, he moved quickly — almost urgently — parting the guests as he came.
Relief flooded through me the instant I saw him.
In a blink, he was in front of me, pulling Cesare away with force.
“Ugh!”
Cesare, who had been gripping me so tightly, was torn off as easily as if he were made of paper.
He staggered back, glaring as though he couldn’t believe what had just happened.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he spat.
I was now standing behind Alperen, unable to see his expression — but I could feel it.
The air around him had gone icy. He was furious.
I flexed my sore fingers, the blood finally returning to them, and noticed that many of the guests were watching us now.
Even Adrian, who had been heading this way, stopped in his tracks.
He looked like he wanted to step in but decided not to, probably realizing that would only draw more attention.
Then Alperen spoke, his voice cold and controlled.
“You seem too drunk to stand properly. I suggest you take your leave and rest.”
His words sounded polite — even concerned — but his tone carried a distinct edge.
It was anger, refined and deliberate.
Cesare’s pride clearly took a hit. His jaw tightened as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Interrupting someone’s dance isn’t exactly proper etiquette,” he said with a mocking smirk. “What, are you one of those possessive types? Can’t stand seeing your lover dance with another man? Not a very attractive trait. The lady won’t—”
“Yes,” Alperen cut him off flatly. “I can’t stand it.”
Cesare froze.
Alperen didn’t waver, didn’t even blink.
“In the future, I’d appreciate it if you refrained from acting like this when I’m not around,” he continued evenly.
“And if I don’t?” Cesare challenged.
“Then I’ll handle it in my own way,” Alperen replied. “I’m sure your sister knows exactly what that means.”
Cesare’s face darkened. The tension between them grew thick —
and then, suddenly, Cesare laughed.
“Hahaha. Quite the temper you’ve got. My mistake. I didn’t realize the lady wasn’t alone.”
“…”
“I’ll offer a proper apology sometime — perhaps over a meal.”
He gave a mocking little bow and even had the nerve to wink at me before walking off.
I hated it. The fake charm, the sudden shift in demeanor — it made my skin crawl.
He must’ve sobered up just enough to realize the mess he’d made.
Once Cesare disappeared into the crowd, Alperen led me quietly toward the terrace.
He walked ahead, his back straight and silent. I couldn’t see his face.
When the terrace doors closed behind us, he turned the lock to keep anyone else from coming in.
Then he finally turned around.
His expression wasn’t as harsh as I expected.
He opened his mouth a few times, as if searching for words, before stepping closer and asking softly,
“Are you okay?”
His clear blue eyes were full of concern — not anger.
He didn’t seem bothered by the fact that I’d danced with another man while he wasn’t there.
For someone who usually avoided unnecessary confrontations, the fact that he’d intervened so publicly meant… a lot.
‘Yes. I don’t like it.’
His earlier words echoed in my mind.
He knew Cesare was trying to provoke him, and yet, he’d answered honestly — without hesitation.
As if he’d meant every word.
My throat felt dry. I reached for a glass of wine sitting on the terrace table —
but Alperen stopped my hand gently.
“Your hand’s shaking,” he said quietly.
“Oh, it’s just… nerves,” I replied awkwardly.
“I’m sorry,” he said, frowning. “I shouldn’t have let that happen. I went to look for you, but I must’ve taken the wrong corridor.”
He sounded genuinely regretful.
Then, carefully, he took my hand — the one Cesare had gripped too tightly.
My fingers were pale from the pressure.
He began to massage them gently, as if to restore the circulation.
The warmth of his touch made my heart skip.
It felt strange — soothing and overwhelming at the same time.
I told myself to pull away, but my body didn’t listen.
And amidst the confusion in my mind, one question stood out —
the one I’d wanted to ask him all evening.
I closed my fingers around his hand.
“Ren,” I said quietly. “Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Why have you been avoiding Summer Klophen at the Magic Tower?”
I watched his face carefully, searching for an answer.
The mention of her name immediately darkened his expression.
It was like I’d touched on something he didn’t want to talk about.
“…Eden told you,” he said finally.
“Yeah. He seemed pretty stressed about it.”
I used Eden as an excuse, and Alperen fell silent for a moment.
Then, unexpectedly, he laced his fingers with mine and said,
“Then why were you trying so hard to set me up with her?”
“!”
I blinked, completely thrown off guard.
Before I could think of a response, he continued.
“After you ended our fake relationship, I kept thinking about it. Wondering what I did wrong.”
His tone was calm, but his eyes… weren’t.
“Then I remembered what you said once — that I should meet a nice woman. You even described her — blonde hair, green eyes.”
“…”
“I realized it then. Just like when you told me to break off my engagement with Princess Nanael — you were trying to match me with someone again. This time, with Summer Klophen.”
I’d known he might catch on eventually — I’d been way too obvious about it.
But I didn’t expect him to call me out this quickly.
Even so, what he said next caught me completely off guard.
“That’s why,” he said quietly. “That’s why I started avoiding her. Because I didn’t like it.”
He knew.
He’d known exactly what I was doing — and he’d hated it.
So… he didn’t like Summer?
In the original story, he’d slowly fallen for her. Not love at first sight like Adrian, but a quiet, growing affection.
‘Did I push him toward someone he never even liked?’
A heavy feeling settled in my chest.
All I’d wanted was for him to find someone good — someone who could make him happy.
But maybe I’d been forcing something he never wanted.
After all, he’d already broken off his engagement with Nanael.
There was no reason for me to interfere anymore.
So why had I been so fixated on his life?
‘Why else? Because I like him.’
It hit me — the truth I’d been too scared to face.
Maybe I’d seen him as more than my brother’s friend for a long time now.
But I’d been afraid. Afraid that if I acknowledged those feelings, I’d turn into the obsessive girl from the original story — the one who stalked him and ended up miserable.
So I’d buried it, pretended it was just care, or friendship, or family affection.
If not for our fake relationship, I probably would’ve kept lying to myself forever.
In the end, I was the foolish one.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly, lowering my head. “I just wanted you to meet someone good. That’s all.”
I hated how small my voice sounded. I didn’t know what else to say.
“Delly,” he said gently.
He brushed his thumb across the back of my hand. The simple touch made me look up.
When our eyes met, he smiled faintly — warm and sure.
“You’re a good person too,” he said.
“…Huh?”
“I thought I’d made it obvious already,” he murmured. “Do you still not get it?”
