FDSML CH 50

Chapter 50

Sierra looked toward the direction of the Magic Tower and said,

“Seems even our Tower Master loses his judgment sometimes. Well, it’s family business—hard to stay rational in that case. I’m sure he knows that better than anyone.”

“He’s softer than he looks. On the outside, he might seem cold, but inside? He’s really warm.”

I quickly defended him, but Sierra just let out a dry laugh.

“That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all year. The word ‘soft’ and the Tower Master? They don’t belong in the same sentence.”

“It’s true, though…”

“Well, maybe in private he’s different. But in the Tower? If you said that there, everyone would react the same way I just did.”

“He’s really that different in the Tower?”

“Most people don’t even get the chance to speak with him. Usually, Aide Ethan handles everything in his stead. He’s… not exactly approachable.”

Fair enough. He was the ultimate homebody who hated meeting people, so at work he’d naturally keep his walls up.

“So in the end, you’re saying there really is no way?”

When I pressed again, Sierra answered firmly,

“Yes. Unless you’re hoping for a miracle, it would be best to start preparing your heart.”

Her expression made it clear—she wanted me to be the one to persuade him.

If even Sierra, a magical-creature fanatic, was this pessimistic, maybe it really was impossible.

In the original story, his father had died. There’d been no miracle.

‘But… is there really no way?’

As I racked my brain, one name came to me.

Alperen’s chief aide—Ethan Maker. The man with hollow eyes who lived on coffee and chocolate.

“That’s why the Duke throws himself into work even more. According to Ethan, he’s been experimenting with something…”

Sophia had said the two were conducting some sort of experiment together.

If I used my knowledge of the original story, maybe I could help somehow.

‘And whenever I see Ethan these days, he looks like he’s dying to ask me for help. But he can’t because of Alperen.’

If I wanted to talk to him, I’d need some excuse to keep Alperen distracted.

And just then, a clever idea came to me. I raised my hand high.

“Anyone interested in touring the Magic Tower?”

No sooner had I spoken than Sierra and Glaster nearly exploded with excitement.

“Me! Me, me, me! Please take me!”

“M-me too…!”

The two magical-creature nerds practically launched themselves at me.

And then—

“Me.”

Out of nowhere, Edwin appeared, slipping in through the open window.

What the—had he been clinging to the wall this whole time?

I gave him a disgusted look. He rubbed his nose and muttered,

“I was practicing climbing walls without equipment.”

Yeah, asking why would only lead to a bizarre answer.

Closing my notebook, I glanced at Lottie, who had been silently watching.

She looked like she wanted to come but had missed her chance to speak because of the three loudmouths.

“Lottie, you’ll come too, right?”

“Can I?”

“Of course! We’re all Magia members. I’ll talk to the Tower Master for us.”

At my confident promise, everyone’s eyes sparkled like stars.

* * *

“You want to bring your clubmates to tour the Tower?”

Alperen asked in surprise when he visited the Ferris estate.

I had already prepared my excuse.

“Well, it’s supposed to be a magical flora and fauna research club, but most of them have hardly ever seen one in person. I heard the Tower has plenty.”

“That’s true, but… there are also many dangerous things inside.”

“We’ll just behave and look around. Promise. Pleaseee?”

I clasped my hands together, pleading. Alperen’s guard crumbled almost immediately.

“…Fine. I’ll let Ethan know.”

“Thank you!”

I threw my hands in the air in triumph. But Alperen quickly added,

“But don’t touch anything strange, or wander off. A lot of artifacts in the Tower are warded with security magic.”

He was clearly remembering the last time I poked at something I shouldn’t have.

“I’ll be careful. I’ll even double-check before drinking any tea Ethan gives me.”

“…Sorry about that day. I wasn’t good at hosting.”

“No, I barged in without notice. If anything, I should apologize. I was… acting really weird.”

My cheeks flushed as I remembered that infamous day.

Now it all came back—me gushing over his face, whining for a kiss…

Compared to that, drunken rambling might’ve been less humiliating. I wanted to bury myself.

“Good thing it was me. If you’d done that to someone else, you’d regret it every night for life.”

“So… it’s a good thing it was you?”

Alperen tilted his head, resting his chin on his hand, smiling faintly.

We were sitting side by side on the sofa, chatting quietly, so the distance between us was already dangerously close.

I nodded firmly—then froze, my back stiff.

“Because if it had been anyone else, I…”

A crease formed between his perfect brows, as if he couldn’t even imagine the thought. For a moment, the air turned chilling.

As I darted my eyes nervously, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

The soft touch made me shiver.

I’d grown too used to these gestures.

But I reminded myself—his affection wouldn’t last.

I had to remember my role.

“Hey, oppa.”

“Hm?”

“About our contract… don’t you think we should make it more specific?”

At the word contract, his hand froze mid-motion.

“How so?”

“Well, the whole point is for me to stay by your side until you find the right person, right?”

Yes. From the beginning, the fake-dating contract had a huge flaw.

The term was vague. Until he meets someone better.

But how exactly would we decide what counted as “better”?

‘Sure, I plan to introduce him to Summer, but he doesn’t know that.’

Since the original story had already veered off track, I needed to make sure Summer took her place before it was too late.

“Shouldn’t we set an actual time limit?”

“A time limit…”

Alperen repeated the words quietly, expressionless. Almost like he had never considered it before.

“Yeah. If we don’t, then I might end up blocking you from meeting someone else.”

“I doubt a deadline would magically make the right person appear.”

Of course he’d say that. He didn’t know the future where Summer would sweep him off his feet.

But with less than a month before she arrived, I had to hurry.

If I’d succeeded at breaking off his engagement, then the next step was obvious: Summer-lighting.

So I tested the waters.

“At least tell me your type. Then I can help keep an eye out.”

“My type…”

Alperen gazed at me. In his blue eyes, my reflection looked slightly tense.

Then he lifted a hand to hover over my head.

“About this tall.”

His fingers brushed lightly through my hair.

“Straight hair rather than curls. Eyes like fresh spring leaves… a green that feels alive.”

Straight hair. Green eyes.

Wait. Isn’t that exactly Summer Clophen?

In the original, she’d been the epitome of a first-love heroine.

Long golden hair, eyes as green as the forest. A vision of a woodland fairy.

So Alperen’s ideal type really was Summer.

My eyes lit up with excitement at this unexpected confirmation.

Just then, he tilted my chin gently, like one would stroke a cat.

I slapped his hand away and clapped my palms together.

“Right! Green eyes like the forest! Long hair that brings back the nostalgia of first love!”