Chapter 83
“If I stay next to Alferen, Summer will misunderstand.”
A fated reunion with his first love.
After that, Alferen—who should have been nurturing their love while running into her at the Magic Tower—kept avoiding her instead.
Meanwhile, Adrian met Summer not at the ballroom, but at the Magic Tower, and ended up falling for her.
“This is putting Alferen at a disadvantage.”
Even if she was his first love, that was six years ago.
If a charming man like Adrian kept making advances, there was no way Summer wouldn’t eventually be swayed.
“If it even looks like those two might get together, Alferen won’t dare to interfere.”
Just the fact that Alferen wasn’t even facing Summer said enough.
He had already decided to push Adrian and Summer together.
“This is why I keep interfering.”
The truth was, I had no reason to be angry at Adrian.
Yet I felt this frustrated because I liked Alferen.
Because I didn’t want him to get hurt.
Because I wanted him to end up with the person he liked.
I had even ended our fake relationship while hiding my feelings for him.
So why was I still playing the role of a supporter on my own?
And on top of that, what he said in the carriage kept lingering in my mind.
“I was happy. Hearing that you’d been making that kind of effort for me all this time. For a moment, I even wondered if maybe you felt the same as I do. Of course, even if that’s not the case, it’s fine. I was prepared for that.”
It was the kind of statement that was easy to misunderstand.
Just those words alone were enough to make my heart restless like this—if Summer and Alferen really ended up together, could I even bear to watch?
“No… I couldn’t.”
I let out a deep sigh. No matter how I looked at it, there was no clear answer to this.
Right. I thought it was strange that my clueless older brother seemed to be getting lucky somehow.
As the original storyline naturally played out in my mind, my attitude gradually soured.
I propped my chin on the table and stared sulkily at Alferen. He tilted his head.
“What’s wrong? Do you have something to say?”
“Are you even listening to my advice?”
“Huh?”
“I told you, if you like someone, don’t just stay at home—go out and linger around them. Why can’t you take advantage of the opportunity right in front of you?”
At my frustrated complaint, he grinned.
“Is that so? I thought I was already doing plenty.”
“I don’t see it at all.”
Do you even know what Summer might be doing with Adrian right now?
You can’t even be her partner, yet you’re volunteering to be mine—what are you thinking?!
My frustration boiled over, and I took a big bite of the cream cheese cake on the table.
“Really? Then maybe I should linger around even more.”
As if he’d been waiting for that, Alferen moved closer to me.
The sudden proximity made my heart race.
He reached out and lightly brushed his thumb across my lips.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing, he brought the cream on his thumb to his mouth.
The cream that had just been on my lips disappeared without a trace between his parted lips.
Even the way his red tongue slowly swept across his lower lip.
Before I knew it, I had been staring at his lips. Embarrassed, I lifted my gaze—and met his eyes.
It was obvious he had been looking at me from the start.
“Can a grown lady really go around eating with cream on her lips like that?”
His gentle whisper sounded incredibly seductive.
Even though he wasn’t trying to tempt me.
He was just… naturally that charming, the kind of person who made you assign meaning to everything without realizing it.
I clutched my pounding heart and shot up from my seat.
“I’m going to the lounge for a bit!”
We had only been close for a moment, but my heart was racing too fast.
If this kept up, I felt like he’d notice my feelings.
I couldn’t stay there any longer.
I touched my flushed cheeks and took a deep breath.
Even without looking in a mirror, I knew my face must be bright red.
“I guess I’m tipsy. It’s been a while since I drank.”
Thankfully, I could use the wine as an excuse.
Just then, Alferen stood as well and held out his hand.
“I’ll come with you. I’ll take you there.”
“No! You stay here. My dress just feels uncomfortable—I’m going to check it.”
I refused his offer and hurried off toward the lounge as if fleeing.
The lounge in the imperial ballroom was a place divided by rank where people could rest—and also another social space.
May, who had been waiting outside, followed me in.
“My lady, why is your face so red? Don’t tell me you’ve been drinking again?”
“Yeah, I have.”
It was actually because of Alferen, but I didn’t bother explaining.
May put her hands on her hips and let out a deep sigh.
“Goodness! The duke is at the estate this time too—you really need to drink in moderation!”
“Ugh, whatever. I just came to rest because I feel tipsy. Follow me if you want, or don’t.”
With May’s nagging helping me regain my composure, I entered the lounge I’d been directed to earlier.
At that exact moment, the conversation inside abruptly stopped.
Everyone looked at me in a strange way—like they’d been talking about me and got caught.
Among them, I spotted Jessica, and my expression hardened.
She looked slightly surprised when she saw me, then smiled as if it were painted on.
“It’s been a while, Lady. You’ve come at just the right time.”
With a gentle expression, she offered me her seat.
At first glance, it looked like a gesture of respect.
But it was a trap.
If I casually sat there, I’d look shameless.
I already knew that rumors about me had quietly spread through high society.
Jessica had cleverly mixed lies in, playing the victim.
Hinting that there had been a “real reason” her family had to leave for their territory.
She never said it outright, but anyone familiar with social gossip could easily guess it was about me.
If I turned and left now, it would only give more weight to her story.
That was exactly why she offered her seat.
Because the “me” she knew would avoid the situation the moment I realized rumors had spread.
“She hasn’t changed at all.”
In a way, she was one of the people who had significantly contributed to my imprisonment ending.
Seeing her act like this again after I’d dealt with her leniently meant she hadn’t reflected even a little.
As I hesitated, wondering what to do—
“Did you come here to rest?”
“Ah, Julia.”
Right then, Julia entered the lounge and warmly took my hand.
“Come sit next to me. I actually had something I wanted to talk to you about.”
She naturally led me to her seat.
Thanks to that, I was able to avoid Jessica’s trap with a convenient excuse.
As I was pulled along, I glanced at Jessica.
She looked somewhat flustered.
Seeing others comfort her and guide her back to her seat, I finally sat down.
Julia covered her mouth with her fan and whispered,
“She’s probably very anxious right now.”
“Why?”
“They were gossiping about you over there the whole time before you came in.”
Ah, so that’s why she looked like that.
She was probably dying to know what Julia and I might be talking about.
The lounge was a space any noble could use.
Which also made it the perfect place for rumors to spread.
I stared at Julia.
Her attitude toward me felt strangely friendly.
Gossip in lounges was normal.
Even close acquaintances avoided saying too much to stay out of trouble.
But right now… wasn’t she basically tattling for my sake?
She even leaned in close, whispering in a way that made it obvious we were close—almost as if she was deliberately provoking Jessica.
I couldn’t help but wonder about her intentions.
“Julia, aren’t you usually not the type to get involved in things like this?”
“Seems like you know me better than I thought.”
Julia smiled, her eyes curving.
“Well, usually, yes… but…”
She leaned closer and whispered softly—
“Lady Rodelia, you’re my number one recruit target. So I can’t help but take an interest.”
