Chapter 35
As soon as the award ceremony ended, Adrian came storming over to fetch me.
His glare was fixed on Alperen’s jacket draped over my shoulders. He grabbed my hand.
“Let’s go home.”
His voice was stiff, harsher than usual. I quietly followed, afraid that if I mentioned I was supposed to meet Alperen, Adrian might start Round Two right here.
His fistfight had already set the audience buzzing with every kind of rumor.
Some even whispered absurd things—like maybe we weren’t real siblings at all—since he’d already debuted his weird “sis-con” tendencies at the last ball, and now he’d picked a fight with his sister’s supposed lover.
I really didn’t think this through.
I’d let Nanael provoke me and forgotten the most important part: Adrian.
He must be shaken up too.
Our parents showing up had stopped things from going completely out of control, but it was only a matter of time before the tension exploded again.
Should I just tell him the truth—that it’s a fake relationship?
No. If I did, he’d probably challenge Alperen to a duel for “using” me.
That would just be lighting the fuse all over again.
Confused and cornered, I decided silence was safer. Whatever I said would only make things worse for me.
When we reached the carriage, our parents were already there, chatting warmly with Alperen.
I hurried into my mother’s arms.
“Mom!”
It was my silent SOS: Please save me from this atmosphere.
“My darling Deli!” she exclaimed, winking playfully. “To think you kept such an adorable secret from your mother. All those years of training your eye to appreciate only handsome faces—it paid off!”
Her cheerful tone made my chest unclench.
“Shall we share a room tonight? We have so much to talk about.”
As always, my mother was incredible. She knew exactly how cornered I felt, and gave me an escape route—shielding me from my father and brother, who were sure to pounce like hyenas the moment we got home.
“Yes! I’ll sleep with you tonight, Mom!”
The instant I agreed, Adrian clenched his fists in frustration, looking like someone had stolen his last lifeline.
That was when I felt a gaze on me.
Alperen, cheeks faintly flushed, was staring—not at my face, but at the ring on my hand.
His eyes lingered so intently, as if confirming this was real, that I reflexively hid the ring.
When I did, he looked up and smiled.
“Deli.”
He always called me that, but today it felt thicker, sweeter—like honey clinging to my skin.
And that smile…
Under the sunlight, it was radiant enough to melt anyone’s heart.
Anyone watching would be convinced we were truly in love.
So this is “Day 1” of our relationship, huh?
His warmth was almost too much to endure. I squirmed, flustered.
Then he spoke.
“I should get going now.”
“Why? Stay for dinner. We have things to talk about,” my mother offered.
“No, I’ll come properly another time. Everyone must already be tired from all the surprises today.”
“Mm, fair enough.”
Beside her, my father started to object—“Properly? Nonsense!”—but my mother stomped on his foot before he could finish.
The mighty Duke Kianu Ferris, head of one of the empire’s most prestigious houses, was shoved into the carriage by his wife, grumbling.
Adrian growled under his breath, a clear we’ll talk later warning, and climbed in as well.
I was the last to board.
That was when Alperen caught my hand, stopping me.
I turned, startled. His grip slid into mine, weaving our fingers together, holding me tight.
Not the polite touch of an escort—something far more possessive.
My heart pounded wildly.
“W-what is it?” I tried to sound sharp, but my voice trembled like a leaf. Disaster.
The more rattled I was, the more delighted he seemed. His blue eyes sparkled brighter than usual.
With a shy smile, he said softly,
“Deli, I won.”
The way he said it—like a boy begging for praise—made my jaw drop.
Oh. Right. I hadn’t even congratulated him in all the chaos.
“A-ah, yes! Congratulations, oppa! You were amazing out there—really flying across the water. So cool!”
Awkwardly, I clapped my hands together.
Alperen smiled faintly, then looped the medal around my wrist.
“It’s all thanks to my goddess of victory.”
Then, slowly, he lifted my hand to his lips.
A kiss—not quick or formal, but slow, lingering, overflowing with intent.
The medal pressed cold and heavy against my skin like a shackle, while his lips burned hot against me. My face flushed crimson.
He whispered so only I could hear:
“I’ll come find you… when there are no interruptions.”
And with that, he escorted me into the carriage.
As it rumbled forward, I pressed my face against the window, breathing hard.
The fake relationship had barely started, and already Alperen was charging forward at full throttle.
My mind was spinning.
Meanwhile, back at the Ferris estate, Garrick had arrived first and prepared for the duke and duchess’s return.
“Welcome back safely, Lord Garrick.”
“Thank you. You must’ve worked hard while I was away. A shame I missed our young lady’s debut ball.”
“She was stunning, sir. Like a living painting. I thought you’d be curious, so I recorded it with a memory crystal.”
“As expected. You always anticipate my needs.”
Garrick laughed heartily at Liam’s flattering words.
As the duke and duchess’s personal butler, Garrick had accompanied them on their journey as porter and guide.
If not for that avalanche, they would’ve made it back before the debut.
Instead, Duke Ferris had spent the entire return trip sobbing, nearly breaking the duchess’s patience in half.
At last, the servants lined up at the manor’s grand entrance, awaiting their masters.
The carriage rolled into the garden and stopped. Garrick waited for the signal to open the door.
But no signal came.
Sensing something was wrong, the veteran butler took a cautious step back.
Bang!
The door exploded off its hinges, soaring through the air.
“Whoa—!”
Liam barely avoided it, saved only because Garrick yanked him aside. The door slammed into the ground where he’d been standing.
The knights rushed to surround the carriage, but Garrick stopped them.
“Stand down.”
“But sir! This looks like an attack—”
He pointed to the door.
A perfect, fist-shaped dent was embedded deep in the wood.
“…Ah.”
It was the signature mark of Jasmine Ferris—the once-renowned Flaming Brawler.
The knights paled, quickly retreating.
Liam swallowed hard. “M-my apologies. I just… it’s been so long since I last saw it…”
Smoke curled from the carriage as Garrick brought a step stool.
Duchess Jasmine emerged gracefully, calm and composed—as if she hadn’t just punched the door off.
Behind her followed Duke Ferris, uncharacteristically meek, with Adrian and Rodelia trailing after, hands clasped together in perfect manners.
No one needed to ask. Clearly, Jasmine had already delivered her ultimatum inside.
“Welcome home, madam,” Garrick said.
“You’ve worked hard, Liam,” Jasmine replied, her eyes sharp. “I just confirmed how unruly my children have become in my absence.”
“It was my failure, madam.” Liam bowed stiffly.
But Jasmine shook her head, glancing at her son and daughter, who kept their eyes downcast.
“It wasn’t your fault. It was my mistake for being too lenient with their upbringing. Imagine—fighting in front of me, of all places. Such a ‘loving’ pair of siblings.”
“Oh dear…” Liam whispered, pale.
Jasmine hated nothing more than brawling in her presence.
And for Adrian and Rodelia to fight—inside a cramped carriage, no less…
It was practically suicide.
