Chapter 40
Then maybe… it was time for me to move more actively.
“I actually bought a piece from a rising new painter recently. Since you invited me here, I’d love to gift it to you. What do you think, oppa?”
The question was aimed at Alperen, but my gaze lingered on Isaac.
“Oh? Sure. Thank you.”
Isaac’s eyes shone. Immediately, he rushed toward an old, worn painting.
“Then I’ll clear this frame away at once!”
As expected.
“And the roses in the garden were beautiful, so maybe—”
“I’ll see to it right away!”
With every word I spoke, Isaac and the maids bustled about eagerly.
It might have seemed like I was being a fussy guest, but their expressions were far too bright.
As if they were truly happy to finally be doing real work.
It did feel a little like I was scolding someone else’s household… but since I was Alperen’s “girlfriend” right now, it should be fine.
That was when Alperen spoke.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve prepared the house better before inviting you.”
He seemed flustered, clearly realizing from my gentle hints that I had noticed the neglect.
Well, how would he know? Men were usually clumsy with such things—especially one who had never entertained guests at home.
Of course, if it had been Nanael here, she probably would have flipped the table, screaming about being insulted.
“Why? I think it’s fun. You know I love this kind of thing. Besides, I feel like I’m seeing a whole new side of you. Outside, you’re the flawless Duke… but at home, your housekeeping’s a disaster. Haha! Isn’t this side of Ren oppa mine alone to know?”
“A disaster…”
He blinked, stunned by my teasing laughter.
I only pressed further.
“So that’s why you’ve never invited anyone over. If my brother saw this, he’d never let you live it down for a whole year.”
“…Was it really that bad?”
“Of course! If my mom saw this mess, she’d throw a flaming punch!”
Bluntly calling his house a disaster turned his face redder and redder.
And Isaac looked mortified too—probably time to ease up.
“Anyway, I get that your father’s care is important, but you can’t neglect the household. Servants exist to support their lord. If you stop them from doing their jobs, what’s the point of having them?”
“It just… makes me feel at ease that way.”
“So your peace of mind is worth making your servants feel useless? They already know you worry about your father. You don’t need to prove it like this.”
“I doubt they see it that way.”
Alperen’s bitter smile caught me off guard.
“Just the other day, an elder came saying, ‘Isn’t it strange your father is alive when he’s really dead?’ If he passes away like this, they’ll say I killed him.”
What?!
That hadn’t been in the original story. To think people had actually been wounding Alperen with words like that…
“And you just let someone like that leave?”
His lips curved into a chilling smile.
His voice dropped, dark and cold.
“Of course not. I burned his carriage.”
Ah. Of course he didn’t just let it go.
He must have left that noble to stagger out of this massive estate on foot, drenched in sweat.
Relieved, though a little unnerved, I turned my head—only to see Isaac sweating bullets.
So much for the stern, composed image. He looked rather fragile.
“Good job. Keep doing that to anyone else who dares come around.”
“So… I did well?”
In an instant, Alperen was back to his usual gentle self, his smile curling as if he wanted praise.
Before I knew it, he lifted my hand to his lips.
Isaac nearly turned to stone.
“I-I’ll excuse myself now! Please ring if you need anything at all!”
And then the butler bolted, like a man who’d just stumbled upon a secret tryst.
Don’t leave me alone with him!
Not that I was immune either. I glanced desperately at Isaac’s retreating back, wishing he’d stay.
But then Alperen spoke.
“Deli, could you help me?”
“Huh? With what?”
“Like you said, the house is a mess. But I honestly don’t even know what’s wrong. Could you… help me fix it?”
I widened my eyes.
“Are you asking me to manage the Ainruk household’s inner affairs?”
“Exactly. I know it’s asking a lot… but you’re the only one I can trust.”
His face twisted with an unmistakable bitterness.
Clearly, my comments had made him realize just how much his home had fallen apart.
How could I say no to that face?
Normally, managing the inner household was the mistress’s duty. If an outsider took over, it was only ever a future fiancée preparing to marry in. Anyone else doing it could spark dangerous rumors.
So technically, the right answer was to refuse.
But…
Summer wouldn’t know any of this. If she came here, she’d only embarrass herself.
And I had already seen the cracks in Alperen’s world. Turning a blind eye didn’t sit right with me either.
Fine. I’ll just tidy things up enough so that when Summer comes later, everything looks proper.
I was still hesitating when Alperen clasped my hand tightly, his blue eyes shining.
“You’ll help me, won’t you?”
That dazzling, earnest gaze made refusal impossible.
It was like a force of nature.
“Yes! I’ll help you, oppa!”
Mother, I really must take after you too much.
And so, after somehow getting roped into putting the Ainruk estate in order, I returned home—only to nearly jump out of my skin.
At the door stood a guard, leaning on a staff that looked more like a club.
The oppressive air around him was unmistakable.
It was none other than my overprotective brother—and the male lead of this world.
“Aah! Oppa, what are you doing there?!”
Seeing him like this, even worse than in the original, made me feel guilty toward Summer.
Is it really okay to let the story unfold like this?
Adrian smiled sweetly.
“So, where have you been, Deli?”
“Uh… just out for a walk nearby!”
“A walk… all day long? In this heat? You’ve got stamina.”
He dragged his club along the ground, his eyes scanning the area.
The Ainruk carriage hadn’t yet escaped and the coachman had gone pale.
“Run!” I shouted.
The coachman cracked the reins and bolted.
Adrian clicked his tongue, lowering his weapon at the last moment.
“So that’s where you disappeared to.”
“Huh?”
“Not enough to see him elsewhere—you let him drag you to his house?”
A dark, eerie laugh slipped from his lips.
Like something straight out of a horror film.
I instinctively took a step back.
No way was I going to admit we’d be visiting often now. If I did, Adrian might actually storm the Ainruk estate sword in hand.
Then, suddenly, he closed the distance in a few strides.
The club clattered to the ground.
“Ahh! O-Oppa! Calm down—!”
I tried to back away, but his long legs easily outpaced me.
In a blink, he was in front of me, gripping my shoulders.
“Deli. Ride the carriage from now on.”
“Eh?”
“If you collapse from walking in this heat, it’ll break my heart.”
The fierce aura from before was gone, replaced with pure worry.
“Oh…”
Only then did I really see his face.
His slumped shoulders made me feel guilty.
For all his overprotectiveness, maybe I had been too reckless.
I leaned into Adrian’s arms and murmured,
“Okay. I’m sorry for sneaking out.”
