Chapter 34
Adrian suddenly tried to leap out of the boat, but Aslan grabbed him by the waist.
“Hey! If you leave now, it’s an automatic disqualification!”
“Let me go! Who cares about the race right now? My Deli—some wolf is trying to steal her away!”
Adrian was half out of his mind, thrashing like a madman.
The one who should’ve calmed him—Alperen—was instead blushing, pressing a hand to his chest, looking like he was offering a prayer of gratitude.
“Seriously?! Did you both go crazy at the same time? What is wrong with you?!” Aslan shouted, exasperated.
Something was definitely off with the athletes today.
At least Adrian didn’t manage to escape the boat.
Because Alperen, snapping back to his senses, bound him in place with magic.
“Hey! Undo this right now!”
“We need to win.”
“To hell with winning—!”
“We. Have. To. Win.”
Alperen repeated firmly. Adrian growled, frustrated.
“Fine! Then let’s finish this fast.”
Fired up with the urge to run straight to his sister, Adrian rowed like a man possessed.
The race began.
And the boat carrying Adrian, Alperen, and Aslan surged ahead so quickly that no other team could even keep up.
They crossed the finish line in record time—breaking the all-time tournament record.
When the race ended, everyone was buzzing about what had happened before and after.
“It was incredible.”
Alperen’s public display of affection before the start, Lady Ferris openly accepting his confession in front of everyone…
And then, as if to seal the deal, Duke Ainruk’s team completely crushed the competition, taking the victory with ease.
Only a month ago, there hadn’t been a single rumor linking the two. The excitement was off the charts.
“The princess must be fuming. For this to happen right after the annulment…”
“Well, it’s not like she’s clean herself. That’s why she didn’t say a word and just ran off.”
“Honestly, I found it satisfying. Last time, because of her, our family…”
Many had witnessed Nanael being verbally defeated by Rodelia and fleeing in humiliation.
“And Ferris and Ainruk together? There won’t be a bigger scandal this season.”
Contrary to Nanael’s hopes, people were actually reacting positively to the news of the romance.
Everyone—except one person.
“What the hell is all this supposed to mean?”
Adrian couldn’t believe his ears.
Alperen had confessed to Deli?
The ring had been from him?
So he’d just won the championship rowing in the same boat as his potential nemesis?
And Deli had accepted him? …Why?!
Overwhelmed with too much information at once, Adrian was in complete shock.
Soon after, he confronted Alperen.
“Alperen. Explain yourself. What’s going on here?”
His expression was deadly serious, his tone demanding denial. Say it’s not true. End this madness now.
But Alperen answered plainly:
“There’s nothing to explain.”
He calmly adjusted the oar in his hands. And on his finger… was a ring.
A pair to the one Deli had worn as a necklace earlier.
Adrian ignored it, pressing harder.
“Say it isn’t true.”
Just one word—that was all it would take to end this nightmare.
But Alperen met his eyes, his calm gaze speaking louder than words.
“The rumors are true. I confessed to Deli. And she accepted—”
Smack!
Before he could finish, Adrian’s fist slammed into his jaw, jerking his head to the side.
The champions of the regatta now looked more violent than the losers.
“You bastard…!”
Alperen had the skill to dodge easily, but he chose to take the hit head-on. That only made Adrian’s fury boil over.
Aslan quickly stepped between them.
“Hey, hey! Talk it out! Alperen, why are you just standing there letting him hit you? Can’t you see he’s losing it because of that?”
“Step aside.”
Ignoring Aslan, Alperen faced Adrian again, meeting his burning green eyes with unshakable calm.
“My feelings aren’t a game.”
“And what, you think I’d let my sister be dragged into this if they were?!”
“It’s been a long time coming.”
“I don’t care how long it’s been!”
“Deli chose me. You have no right to interfere.”
Alperen showed him the ring with quiet certainty, his expression serene—the look of someone who believed he’d already been chosen.
As if telling Adrian: There are things between us you’ll never understand.
Adrian’s temper snapped completely.
“What are you spouting?! I’m Deli’s guardian—her only brother! No one touches even a hair on her head without my approval! She promised she’d live with me forever!”
He was ranting words that would make anyone else faint from shock.
At that moment—
“My dear, did you hear that? Our son just announced he plans to block Deli’s future.”
“Yes, I did. Truly takes after his father. Quite impressive.”
“Wait—you’re his father!”
The familiar voices cut through the tension instantly.
“…Mother? Father?”
Adrian blinked in disbelief at the sight of Duke Ferris and Duchess Jasmine.
Their letters had said they wouldn’t be home for quite some time.
Meeting them here, of all places, drained the rage out of him, leaving only confusion and hurt.
Before Adrian could react further, Alperen stepped forward to greet them first.
“It’s been a while, Lady Jasmine, Duke Ferris.”
“Good to see you, Alperen.” Jasmine smiled warmly, extending her hand. “I thought you were always so detached, but you know when to seize the moment, don’t you? Took your chance while we were gone and swept up our youngest, didn’t you?”
Alperen bowed politely, kissing her hand.
Beside her, Duke Kianu Ferris scowled.
“I, however, am not so pleased.”
The atmosphere threatened to turn cold.
But Jasmine snapped, “And what if you’re displeased? Are you the one marrying Deli, or is she?”
Kianu immediately melted, whining pathetically.
“B-but darling! Marriage? Isn’t it too soon? Our little Deli is only twenty!”
Gone was the dignified “Iron-Blooded Duke.” What stood there now was a man whining like a child.
Jasmine, already weary from the journey, sighed deeply.
“Too soon? Do you remember how old I was when you dragged me away to marry you?”
“Ah, that was the happiest day of my life! It’s been exactly ten thousand two hundred fifty days since then, you know. And the first day I fell for you was…”
The more specific dates he rattled off, the colder Jasmine’s face became.
Who would believe this sentimental mess had once been the most admired man in the empire?
Before marriage, Duke Ferris had been every lady’s dream. After marriage, his popularity vanished overnight—because in front of his wife, his once-heavy words turned feather-light and sickeningly sweet.
When he finished, he looked at Jasmine expectantly, clearly begging for praise.
She ignored him cleanly and instead turned to her son.
“You still have a long way to go, Rian.”
“Mother…”
Adrian looked lost, as if his sister’s romance had stolen his whole world.
Their close sibling bond was touching, but this had gone too far.
“Didn’t you stop to think what it would look like, striking Alperen in public? I’ve always told you to behave like a gentleman.”
Her stern rebuke made Adrian flinch.
He hadn’t realized in his frenzy how many people had witnessed everything. Now he could hear the whispers spreading all around.
And when his eyes fell on Rodelia’s shocked face in the crowd, guilt struck him hard.
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
His shoulders slumped. Adrian surrendered at once.
Jasmine, smiling to lighten the atmosphere again, clapped her hands toward the dazed announcer.
“Well then! Shall we get on with the award ceremony?”
