Chapter 32
From behind me, I suddenly heard a girl sigh dreamily.
“Ahhh… if only two of those buttons would just pop open by accident…”
“I’d be happy if Duke Ainruk would just glance this way, even once.”
“Haaa…”
One look was enough to tell they were young noble ladies swooning over Alperen.
Didn’t Ed say he had a bunch of obsessive fans, too?
Worried some of them might be right behind me, my shoulders tensed.
That was when Sierra clicked her tongue.
“Tch. All these shallow people only care about his body. Me? If I could just get a look at that mana core of his, I’d die happy…”
Lady, if you did that, you literally would die…
Her words had a completely different kind of creepiness compared to fangirls, so I instinctively huddled closer to Lottie.
Then Glaster chimed in, sounding almost giddy:
“Yeah! Me, I’d just love to take a direct hit from one of the Tower Master’s trademark offensive spells!”
That’s not admiration—that’s a death wish!
Here I was, surrounded by people who either wanted to kill Alperen or be killed by him.
I was shivering at their insane banter when—
“Kyaa! Did you see that? He looked over here!”
The row behind us suddenly erupted in chaos.
Even Sierra and Glaster stopped talking, bouncing in their seats like kids.
What’s gotten into them?
Curious despite myself, I looked toward the waiting area—
—and froze.
At some point, Alperen had fixed his gaze directly on me.
Our eyes met.
And then he smiled brightly and waved.
“…Who’s he waving to?”
“Who else? Me, of course! I’m his number-one fan! Yes, yes, I’m right here, Alperen!”
The fangirls behind me squealed and waved their arms wildly, fighting over who he meant.
Ugh, what is wrong with this guy?!
I ducked low, clutching the brim of my bonnet tightly and bowing my head.
If I just ignore him, maybe he’ll stop…
But then a chilling shout came from behind me:
“Wait a second! What’s that badge on our Duke’s chest? Who broke the rules and gave him one?!”
Badge? Oh no. That was me.
There were rules about that?! I didn’t know!
Still, no one knew I was the culprit yet. If I just kept quiet, maybe—
But Glaster’s voice shattered my hopes:
“Oh, he’s coming this way!”
No way.
I jerked my head up—and sure enough, Alperen was already striding into the stands.
The crowd went silent. Every eye followed him, waiting to see what he would do.
And then he stopped in front of me.
Frozen like stone, I could only stare as he held something out.
“Hold this for me, Deli.”
It was his jacket.
Caught off guard, I accepted it—and immediately scowled.
“What am I, your porter? Don’t you have a locker?”
“It’s chilly by the river. You catch cold easily.”
His gentle words made the back of my neck prickle.
I heard mutters from behind me: “Who is that girl, why is he worrying about her…?”
I didn’t need to look to know the fangirls were glaring daggers at me.
“It’s summer,” I said weakly, trying to hand his jacket back.
But instead of taking it, he leaned down and carefully fixed the ribbon of my bonnet—making a show of it, as if daring everyone to watch.
I froze stiff.
“See you later, my goddess of victory.”
His hand brushed along my cheek as he withdrew, slow enough to make every hair on my neck stand on end.
With that, it was obvious to everyone that I was the one who’d given him the badge.
Alperen’s faint smile said it all:
“We still have things to talk about, don’t we?”
His tone carried a warning: If you run away again, I’ll come after you.
After finishing his little performance, he slipped back to his place in the waiting area as swiftly as he’d come.
But the silence he left behind lingered like a heavy fog.
A whole minute passed—feeling like a thousand years—before Sierra suddenly shrieked.
“Whaaaat! You really are close with the Tower Master?!”
What, you didn’t believe me before?
I gave her a half-lidded glare, my face full of betrayal.
Sierra flailed. “It’s just—I’ve met so many people who claim they know him, I thought you were exaggerating…”
“Would I ever make up something like that?”
“O-of course not! Anyway! Lady Rodelia—no, Deli! We need to be real friends, okay? You have to stay in Mazia forever!”
Her reaction was even more extreme than when I offered them money.
Then I glanced past her—and nearly jumped.
Glaster was staring at me with a look so intense it was practically screaming, I’m shocked, I’m jealous, I’m in awe, I hate you, I envy you… all at once.
Just then, Lottie muttered in a dark tone:
“…So I’m not the only one who calls you Deli. I thought you only let people you’re really close with use that nickname…”
Why are you jealous too?!
With everyone reacting in their own way, I pulled my bonnet lower and mumbled awkwardly,
“He’s just my brother’s friend, that’s all.”
I desperately wished they’d drop it—but of course, that was when Nanael decided to butt in.
“My, my. Isn’t that exactly the kind of excuse nobles use when they’ve started an affair behind their fiancé’s back?”
Her tone was sharp and knowing, like she was proclaiming my guilt to the world.
And with her engagement to Alperen freshly broken, her words carried extra weight.
All eyes swiveled toward us.
Hiding behind her fan, Nanael added sweetly,
“No need to keep it a secret anymore, is there? Why not act proud, Lady Rodelia? Nobles having affairs is nothing unusual.”
Her words, dripping with false sympathy, were meant to nail me as the reason for her broken engagement.
So that’s why she’d stayed quiet—waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
But Nanael made a mistake.
Just because I don’t strike first doesn’t mean I can’t fight.
And if someone hands me justification to retaliate, I won’t hesitate.
Seeing her openly try to ruin me in public only steeled my resolve.
If it was going to be a fight, I needed the strongest knight at my side.
And right now, that meant only one thing.
‘Just wear it. I’ll take care of the rest.’
Alperen’s voice echoed in my mind.
Right. When have I ever overthought things?
Summer’s issue could wait until she actually arrived.
For now, I had to focus on this moment.
After all—my brother is the male lead of this story, and the one asking me to fake-date him is the second male lead.
And I’m supposed to be scared of one little villainess?
His engagement with Nanael was already broken. My prison ending was gone.
The future ahead isn’t the one the original story wrote. It’s new, and mine to shape. So why be afraid?
I knew the plot. I’d prepared for it. Whatever tricks Nanael tried, I wasn’t going down easy.
Besides, she wasn’t exactly innocent herself. Everyone in society knew she went through lovers like gloves.
She was just a dirty dog mocking another dirty dog.
You picked the wrong target, villainess.
She probably expected me to panic and burst into tears.
Sorry, that’s not me. I don’t know how to take a hit without hitting back harder.
If that’s how she wanted to play, fine.
I’d become the shameless sunshine heroine who drives her crazy.
Wherever she walks, I’ll be the clown making her clutch her pearls.
Toying with the ring at my chest, I gave her a slow, meaningful smile.
