Chapter 50
Sierra continued speaking while gazing in the direction of the Magic Tower.
“Our Tower Lord can have clouded judgment at times too. Well, since it’s a family matter, it’s probably hard to make a cool-headed decision. He probably knows that best himself.”
“He’s actually really soft-hearted. He might seem cold on the outside, but inside, he’s incredibly warm.”
At my rebuttal, Sierra let out a soft chuckle.
“That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard this year. The word ‘soft’ doesn’t suit the Tower Lord at all, does it?”
“But it’s true…”
“Well, he might be different in private. If you said that in the Magic Tower, everyone would probably react just like me.”
“Is he really that different at the Magic Tower?”
“He’s generally someone who’s hard to approach. To begin with, not many mages even get to meet the Tower Lord face-to-face. Most of the time, Eden handles things on his behalf.”
It made sense that he kept work and personal life strictly separate, so he might act that way at the office.
And since he hated meeting people, being a power-obsessed homebody, it was understandable.
“So, in the end, there’s no way, is that it?”
As I asked for confirmation, Sierra stated firmly.
“Yes. Unless you’re hoping for a miracle, it might be best to start preparing yourself mentally around now.”
From her expression, it seemed like she was suggesting that I should be the one to persuade him.
Seeing Sierra react so pessimistically made me wonder if it truly was an impossible realm.
In the original story, he ended up dying anyway, so I couldn’t just hope for a miracle to happen like this.
‘Is there really no way?’
It was while I was racking my brain in various ways.
Suddenly, someone came to mind.
Alferen’s chief aide, Eden Maker, who always had hollow eyes and lived off coffee and chocolate.
‘That’s why the Duke seems even more immersed in work. According to Eden, he’s conducting some experiment…’
Sophia had said he was working on some experiment together with Alferen.
Since I knew the original story, maybe I could be of some help?
‘Besides, lately at the Magic Tower, every time he sees me, he gives me this look like he desperately wants to ask for something.’
It was obvious he couldn’t step in because of Alferen.
To talk to him, I’d need something to distract Alferen’s attention.
Just then, I thought of a great idea and raised my hand high with a proposal.
“Anyone interested in a Magic Tower tour?”
No sooner had the words left my mouth than Sierra and Glaster snorted with excitement.
“Me! Me me me! Take me with you!”
“I, I’d like to as well…”
The two magic flora and fauna enthusiasts lunged forward eagerly.
And then.
“Me.”
Edwin, who had suddenly climbed in through the open window.
What? Was he clinging to the wall or something?
As I wore a look of utter disgust, Edwin rubbed his nose and said.
“I was practicing climbing walls without equipment.”
If I asked why he needed such a skill, I’d probably just get some bizarre answer.
I looked at Lottie, who had closed her notebook and was staring this way.
It was clear she’d missed the timing to say she wanted to go because of those three musketeers.
“You’re coming too, right, Lottie?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. We’re all members of Magia, after all. I’ll speak nicely to the Tower Lord about it.”
At my bold declaration, it was only natural that everyone’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
* * *
“You want me to let the club members tour the Magic Tower?”
Alferen, who had come to the Peris estate after a long absence, asked back with a surprised expression.
I listed the reasons I’d prepared in advance.
“It’s supposed to be a magic flora and fauna research club, but they’ve hardly seen any in person. I heard the Magic Tower has quite a few magical plants and animals.”
“That’s true, but the Magic Tower has so many dangerous things.”
“We’ll really just observe quietly. Please? Pretty please.”
With my hands clasped in plea, Alferen quickly surrendered.
“Alright. I’ll let Eden know.”
“Thank you!”
I raised both hands in cheer, and Alferen firmly warned me.
“But don’t touch anything strange or go wandering into random places. There are a lot of things in the Magic Tower secured with magic.”
He must have been recalling the time I touched things indiscriminately before.
“Got it. I’ll be careful. I’ll even double-check any tea Eden gives me before drinking.”
“I’m really sorry about that day. I’m not good at hosting guests.”
“No, it’s fine. I showed up suddenly. Actually, I feel bad about it. That day, I was… pretty weird, wasn’t I?”
My face flushed red as I recalled that dark history.
Now I remembered it clearly. The cringy things I’d said right to Alferen’s face, whining for a kiss.
Even drunken rambling would have been better than that—I was left speechless, even if I had ten mouths.
“It’s a good thing it was with you, Oppa. If I’d done that to someone else, I’d bolt upright in the middle of the night just thinking about it.”
“It’s a good thing it was with me?”
Alferen smiled slyly, propping his chin and tilting his head sideways.
We were sitting side by side on the sofa, chatting cozily, so naturally, the distance between us closed.
I nodded vigorously, but then my back stiffened.
“Yeah, if you’d done that to someone else, really…”
As if he didn’t even want to imagine it, wrinkles formed on Alferen’s handsome brow.
For a moment, the air felt chilly—was it just my imagination?
It was amid this strange tension, as I merely rolled my eyes.
Alferen brushed a strand of hair from my cheek and tucked it behind my ear.
The ticklish sensation made my body tremble involuntarily.
A touch I’d now grown accustomed to.
Recalling that his affection would soon be gone, I remembered my true purpose.
“Hey, Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“About our contract. Don’t you think we should make it a bit more concrete?”
At the word “contract,” the hand stroking my cheek came to a gentle stop.
“How so?”
“After all, the goal is to find you a good person. Until then, I’m just holding the spot next to you.”
Yes. From the beginning, this fake relationship had a major flaw.
The vagueness of the timeline for ‘acting as a fake lover until a good person appears.’
Moreover, how do you even define the criteria for a ‘good person’?
‘I plan to set you up with Summer, but you don’t know that yet.’
Since the original story had already veered far off course, I needed to make things clear before Summer arrived.
“Don’t you think we should set a deadline for our contract?”
“A deadline…”
Alferen murmured lowly, his face devoid of enthusiasm.
It was as if he’d never once considered it.
“Yeah. If we keep up this fake lover act like this, it might actually prevent you from dating because of me.”
“Hmm. Even if we set a deadline, it’s not like a good person will suddenly appear.”
That was just because he didn’t know about the future where he’d fall for Summer.
With less than a month left until Summer’s arrival.
From my perspective, where I needed to give him some preemptive education, it was urgently tight—way too tight.
Having succeeded with the engagement-breaking lighting, the next step was naturally Summer lighting.
With the intent of steering him toward Summer, I casually broached the subject.
“At least tell me your ideal type. That way, I can look for someone too.”
“Ideal type, huh.”
Alferen gazed at me steadily. In his blue eyes, my reflection looked somewhat tense.
He brought his hand to the top of my head and said.
“A height around this would be good.”
Next, he lightly caressed my hair.
“Straight hair rather than curly. For the eyes, a green like fresh sprouts seems nice.”
Straight hair and green eyes…
Wait a minute, that’s totally Summer Clopen, isn’t it?
In the original story, Summer Clopen was the epitome of a first-love heroine.
Long straight hair and green eyes.
A woman with long, sunflower-like bright yellow blonde straight hair.
Her contrasting green eyes were described as evoking a forest fairy.
Now that I think about it, she was exactly Alferen’s ideal type!
My eyes sparkled at this unexpected harvest.
It was just as he was gently stroking my chin like one would a cat.
I slapped his hand away and pounded my fist into my palm.
“Right! Green eyes reminiscent of the forest! Long straight hair that evokes the nostalgia of first love!”
