Chapter 23
For the past few days, strange rumors had been circulating.
They said Alferen had gotten into a heated argument with the emperor.
After that, he’d vanished for days, and the rumors only grew wilder.
Could it be because I pushed him about the broken engagement?
Worried, I contacted the Ainluk estate, but all I got was that the head of the house was absent.
Where on earth is he, and what’s he doing?
He was usually the type to let me know where he was going, so his sudden disappearance filled me with unease.
Time passed, and I was idling in the drawing room with Adrian when I decided to probe him, sensing he might know something.
“Any word from Ren?”
At the mention of Alferen, Adrian responded with a bored shrug.
“He’s a grown man. Probably off on some trip. Delly, you know this is the third time you’ve asked about him today, right? Wish you’d show that kind of concern for your dear brother.”
Instead of smacking his smug, grinning face as he leaned in, I pushed him back and retorted, “You’d survive even if you fell into an icy cave.”
“Alferen would too, you know.”
“You really don’t know where Ren went? You’re not just pretending?”
Despite my persistent questioning, Adrian only shrugged again.
“He’s not my subordinate. Why would he report his whereabouts to me? Half the time, I don’t even know what’s going through that guy’s head.”
Liar. You know something!
No matter how much I pressed, Adrian wouldn’t budge.
For someone with a tongue as light as a feather, he was keeping his lips sealed tight this time.
He’s definitely off doing something dangerous!
“You’re not even worried about your friend?”
“Worried? Delly, listen up. The most pointless thing in this world is worrying about Alferen Ainluk.”
“No matter how strong he is, that doesn’t mean he can’t get hurt or die.”
The memory of him being absurdly poisoned in the original story made it impossible to relax.
As I kept hounding him, Adrian let out a deep sigh, placed his hands on his hips, and said, “Delly, you don’t get it, but do you know what they called him at the academy?”
“What did they call him?”
“Ahem, he had a lot of nicknames, but the one that stood out the most was, without a doubt…!”
Just as Adrian cleared his throat, ready to spill, a familiar voice cut in.
“That’s enough.”
Alferen strolled into the drawing room with an air of nonchalance.
He looked impeccable, not a hair out of place, making my worries seem almost laughable.
Dressed as if he’d just come from a gala, I blinked in surprise.
“Ren?”
“Hey, Delly. Been doing alright?”
He flashed a radiant smile and lightly ruffled my hair.
Relieved by his calm, almost leisurely demeanor, I was caught off guard by something else.
Wait, that smell.
As his hand pulled away, a faint whiff of blood and a chilling shiver ran through me, making me instinctively grab his hand.
“Delly?”
For a moment, Alferen’s eyes widened.
I brought his hand to my nose and sniffed.
But the fleeting scent of blood and the eerie chill were gone.
That’s strange. I swear I felt something unsettling just now. Was it my imagination?
Just to be sure, I pressed my nose closer to his palm and sniffed again.
Adrian, leaning his face against the sofa, muttered under his breath, “Delly, stop it. You’re making Alferen uncomfortable.”
“Oh!”
Realizing I’d been clutching and sniffing Alferen’s hand without thinking, I let go in a panic.
“S-sorry, Ren!”
“…”
Alferen stood there, opening and closing his hand as if testing it.
His silvery eyelashes, shimmering like glass beads, drooped lower than usual, casting a shadow.
He seemed oddly lost in thought, and I got to the point.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“Oh, you know. Just stepped out for some fresh air.”
“There’s a rumor going around that you’ve fallen out of favor with His Majesty?”
“It was just a slight argument, nothing more…”
Alferen averted his gaze, biting his lower lip.
Was it just me, or did the tips of his ears flush red?
He’s not planning to tell me anything.
Well, I’m just his friend’s little sister—maybe he doesn’t feel the need to share such things with me.
Somehow, my concern fizzled out, leaving me deflated.
“What brings you here, anyway?”
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Noticing this, Alferen looked at me intently.
“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”
Meeting his eyes, I suddenly felt as if my pettiness had been laid bare.
Lowering my gaze, I muttered, “What is it?”
“Probably the thing you’ve been hoping for most.”
“The thing I’ve been hoping for?”
“Your debutante gift, remember?”
“!”
Alferen’s smile was radiant. My eyes sparkled as I realized what gift he meant.
And Alferen, watching me more quietly than anyone, spoke again.
“There’ll be an announcement tomorrow. My engagement to Nanael Barnard has been officially dissolved.”
Finally!
A tremor of indescribable emotion ran through me.
Seeing this, Adrian chimed in, “Anyone watching would think Delli’s your sister, not mine.”
His tone was tinged with mock hurt, but I barely registered it.
“Is it true? Really?”
“I’m telling you, it’s real.”
“Wow.”
I let out a gasp and pinched my cheek hard.
It hurt.
This wasn’t some dream!
So, does this mean I’m finally free from the threat of Kirpikan Prison?
The long-awaited moment was so overwhelming, words failed me.
Then Alferen gently cupped my cheeks.
“That’s gotta hurt.”
“…Huh?”
“Have you calmed down now, Delli?”
His gentle question sent an odd flutter through my heart.
Right. I was just sulking at him a moment ago.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I averted my eyes for no reason.
“Mad? I wasn’t mad.”
“Really? That’s a relief, then.”
The warmth of his kind gaze seemed to linger on my skin.
“Tch.”
I pursed my lips, letting out a small, meaningless sound, and Adrian jumped in.
“Alright, alright, let’s raise a toast to Alferen finally coming to his senses.”
Wrapping an arm around both me and Alferen, he ushered us toward the sofa with ease.
Yeah, a drink on a day like this doesn’t sound half bad.
As Adrian turned to fetch the wine, I called out cheerfully after him, “I know where Father’s hiding that 107-year-old Gabisan wine!”
The next day, upon learning of the engagement’s dissolution, Nanael stormed into the Emperor’s study.
“Y-Your Highness, you can’t do this!”
The chamberlain’s face was fraught with distress as he tried to dissuade her, but she was relentless.
The Emperor, already aware of the commotion outside, turned his gaze toward Nanael.
“You’re here.”
His calm demeanor suggested he’d fully expected her to barge in, fuming.
Nanael despised that impassive face.
The current Emperor was a politician who moved according to profit and loss.
And for him to have approved the dissolution meant Alferen Ainluk had made a rather compelling proposal.
Nanael adjusted her dress and gave a light curtsy.
“I greet Your Majesty. I hope you’ll forgive this girl’s unannounced visit with your boundless mercy.”
“I was just about to summon you.”
The Emperor rose from his desk and settled onto a sofa.
As Nanael sat beside him, a maid soon brought tea.
Savoring his tea, the Emperor spoke.
“I know this has upset you. But there are plenty of fine matches besides Duke Ainluk.”
As if on cue, he slid a list of potential suitors toward her—a clear signal to drop the matter of the broken engagement.
The fact that he didn’t even bother explaining what had been negotiated showed how little he expected of Nanael.
Clutching the hem of her dress, Nanael spoke.
“He insulted me. Pretending to be a devoted fiancé while secretly meeting Lady Peris. All this time, he kept up the engagement just to use me as a shield until he stabilized his position as head of his house!”
“And?”
“What?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Nanael, who had raised her voice, found herself at a loss for words.
Glancing at her, the Emperor murmured low, “Meeting someone else while maintaining an engagement. Is that something only Duke Ainluk is guilty of?”
