Chapter 87
Cesare was currently obsessed with gathering power.
The Ainruke family, who had originally been on his side, had collapsed after the broken engagement, so expanding his faction had become even harder.
It wasn’t easy to convince the Ferris family, who openly supported the Crown Prince.
And to make matters worse, Ainruke—his once-silent ally—had started dating Lady Ferris.
To them, I must look like the villain blocking their future.
I’d never cared about politics before, but since they kept dragging me into it, I was starting to take an interest.
“You know what? Let’s just make it official and declare support for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The Ainruke family had never publicly supported any royal faction, though until recently they were known as Cesare’s allies.
But now, after my broken engagement with Princess Nanael, everyone was watching to see where our family would go.
If the neutral Ainruke family suddenly sided with the Crown Prince now?
That would be a heavy blow to Cesare — enough to completely shatter what little influence he had left.
It would also hit Nanael hard. She’d have to endure a nice long lecture from Queen Rosaria afterward.
“That wouldn’t be difficult… but…”
Alperen trailed off, clearly weighing the situation in his head.
He’d never officially supported the Crown Prince because of an agreement with the Emperor.
The Emperor didn’t want the Crown Prince’s faction growing too powerful.
He’d always known Cesare’s dreams were futile, but he’d kept pretending otherwise — encouraging him just enough to keep things interesting.
The engagement between Alperen and Princess Nanael had been part of that manipulation.
Because of that, Queen Rosaria had foolishly started to believe that her son might actually become Emperor.
‘And yet when the time came, the Emperor never gave Cesare any real chance.’
In the original story, all that pent-up frustration eventually drove the Queen to act recklessly.
The Emperor had underestimated her fragile nature.
He’d used that cruel tactic — giving just enough hope to make someone desperate.
If it worked, the person would dance in his hand.
If it didn’t, they’d spiral out of control.
‘If Alperen sides with the Crown Prince now, the Queen will be completely cornered.’
Already wounded by the broken engagement, she would take it as a personal insult.
That pressure might make her act out earlier than she had in the original timeline — a dangerous butterfly effect.
‘Fine. Anyone who tries to interfere with my relationship can leave the stage.’
Nanael was like a ticking time bomb.
It was best to remove her as soon as possible so I could enjoy my happy romance with Alperen in peace.
“Don’t worry about the Holy Water,” I said. “I already checked.”
A few days ago, I’d received a shard of the Ice Dragon’s glacier through Eden and asked the Fairy King, Ordell, to melt it.
He’d succeeded.
Of course, Daiven’s case was more serious since he’d been exposed to the ice for so long.
But at least now, Alperen would have some freedom from the royal family’s influence.
I squeezed his hand reassuringly.
“I’ll visit Lord Daiven tomorrow.”
Alperen looked down at our joined hands and let out a quiet sigh.
“Honestly… you’re impossible to stop.”
He frowned slightly, biting his lower lip, his expression somewhere between frustration and helplessness.
“Ren?” I called.
He didn’t answer right away — then stood up suddenly.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
“Already? We can stay a little longer.”
We’d only just confessed our feelings.
I didn’t want to say goodbye yet.
“Can’t you stay with me just a little more?”
I clung to his arm, pleading, and his eyes wavered.
“…No. I don’t think I can.”
“Why not?”
“Because I might do something stupid.”
“Huh?”
“Come on.”
He didn’t explain further — just led me outside.
Since we’d spent so long out on the terrace, the ballroom was nearly empty.
Most people had either gone to rest or gone home.
‘Wait—where’s Adrian? And Summer?’
My brother had just gone through that whole scene earlier, and yet those two had disappeared together?
‘Oh, they’re getting a scolding later for sure.’
Still muttering to myself, I climbed into the carriage.
Alperen sat across from me, smiling faintly.
The tension between us hadn’t completely faded.
It hung in the air, warm and charged.
And now that we were officially together, even this small distance between us felt too far.
When the carriage stopped briefly, I moved to sit beside him.
“Delly?” he murmured in surprise.
I leaned my head on his shoulder and took his hand.
“I want to ride like this. Is that okay?”
“…Yeah,” he said, chuckling softly as he brushed his thumb over my hand.
That tiny gesture made me ridiculously happy.
‘So this is what real dating feels like.’
Our “fake relationship” before had just been practice.
Now that our feelings were out in the open, everything felt new and overwhelming —
sweet enough to make my heart race nonstop.
I couldn’t stop looking at him.
He caught my gaze and muttered, covering his mouth with his hand,
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Why not? You’re mine now — can’t I look all I want?”
I turned my whole body toward him, smiling, and he groaned, rubbing his face.
“Ha… you’re going to drive me crazy.”
He didn’t look annoyed, though — his lips curved faintly upward.
Then he exhaled, took my hand, and brought it to his lips.
“If you keep being this cute, I might not take you home tonight.”
“Oh? Then where are you taking me?” I teased, grinning.
He looked at me seriously.
“Do you really want to know?”
His tone changed completely — deeper, lower.
His blue eyes slowly trailed from my eyes to my nose… and then to my lips.
He didn’t even touch me, but my face burned.
It felt like I couldn’t move — like I was caught by his gaze.
“If you’re that curious, I can show you,” he whispered softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my hand.
Somehow, I had a feeling that if I said yes, something… major would happen.
‘B-but we just started dating today!’
We’d already kissed — the only thing left was… that.
As much as my heart was fluttering, I was definitely not ready for that step yet.
‘Nope. I need more time!’
We’d only just started. Too much, too fast, was not good.
I’d never even spent the night out before.
Flustered, I lowered my gaze and pulled back quietly.
“Sorry for… getting ahead of myself.”
He chuckled.
Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he said,
“Why stop? I was hoping you’d keep going.”
“…”
“Or maybe that’s still too soon for a lady like you?”
He smiled slyly and gave me another quick kiss.
“You’d better grow up soon. Otherwise…”
He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against mine.
“I’m not sure what I’ll do.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, he let me rest my head back on his shoulder.
From where I sat, all I could see was the curve of his jaw and the small, satisfied smile on his lips.
I sat there frozen for a while before covering my burning face with both hands.
‘Otherwise what? What exactly would you do?’
Even while scolding myself, I couldn’t stop imagining it.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
***
After that heart-pounding first night as a real couple, I finally arrived home —
only to be met with a surprising sight.
“Miss Summer?”
There she was — Summer Klophen — standing inside our house.
What on earth was she doing here?
She’d disappeared from the banquet hall earlier,
and I’d just assumed she and Adrian had left together.
But to come here of all places?
‘Wait, what?! This is way faster than in the original story!’
I’d just started dating Alperen, and now my brother and his heroine were already in the “visiting the family home” stage?!
Summer gave me an awkward smile.
“Good evening, Lady Rodelia.”
“Good evening. But… may I ask what brings you here?”
As I spoke, my eyes drifted down to her dress.
It was the yellow gown Lottie had made with such care —
now covered in dark, ugly stains.
Anyone could tell at a glance that she’d been harassed.
The romantic imagination I’d had a second ago vanished instantly.
My expression hardened as I asked,
“What happened at the banquet?”
