Chapter 51
“Delly?”
Whether Alferen called out in surprise or not, I went on and on, listing out Summer Clopen’s charms in exhaustive detail.
“And the most important thing would be a personality that’s lively, strong in managing daily life, and really attuned to your feelings!”
Yes. Indeed, Summer Clopen is the one who belongs by Alferen’s side.
Sorry to this guy, but it’s none of my business.
If Adrian heard this, he’d feel hurt—I swallowed those words inwardly and let out a sly chuckle, heh heh.
It was around then that Alferen tilted his head and asked.
“Delly, did you hear me correctly?”
“Of course.”
In the end, it means your taste is Summer.
Hmm hmm hmm.
As expected, once Nanael is out of the picture, he naturally turns toward Summer.
At this rate, I might have to step aside early.
Alferen’s expression grew increasingly subtle as he watched me grinning wickedly.
“You look like you didn’t understand at all.”
“I’m all for it. For you, a woman with green eyes is your destined match. As for hair color, hmm~ how about blonde? Since you have silver hair, the two of you side by side would look like something out of the heavens.”
“……”
“In my opinion, you go well with gold tones. Even in the horoscope I saw yesterday, it said you’re compatible with gold and green.”
“……Now it’s blonde?”
Alferen let out a hollow laugh.
He must have recalled my brainwashing education about ‘beware of red hair.’
It was just as I was trying to list more of Summer Clopen’s good points, no matter what.
He lightly brushed the corner of my eye and said.
“But the green eyes part is spot on.”
His heated gaze licked over my eyes.
“That’s just as you said, Delly.”
With those words, Alferen pulled away.
His face looked oddly bitter, and no more Summer lighting came out.
‘Hmm. What was that?’
Just now, the mood felt really strange.
It was like I’d made some enormous mistake.
In the midst of the awkward atmosphere flowing between us.
“You’re right; we probably need to make our contract a bit more concrete.”
Alferen casually broached the subject, a smile curving his lips.
He gently took my hand. His fingers intertwined as if to bind me so I couldn’t escape.
I stared down at our firmly locked fingers for a moment, then belatedly looked up at him.
“How?”
“Since we’re doing this, we might as well be good practice partners for each other.”
“Practice partners?”
Practice what?
As I wore an expression of complete confusion, Alferen readily explained.
“Neither you nor I have dated before. So, when someone we like appears later, we can help each other not act clumsily.”
Enchanted by his smooth, flowing words, I murmured without realizing.
“So, you’re saying we do a dating simulation?”
“Yeah. Like the real thing.”
Alferen approached closer, his eyes crinkling with a teasing smile.
He lightly grasped my chin, and my lips parted naturally.
“We practice everything lovers can do.”
Thud.
Our foreheads bumped, and the distance closed in an instant.
Everything lovers can do.
Realizing what that meant, my face flushed bright red.
Alferen’s expression held a playful glint as he looked at my flustered state.
He pressed his thumb firmly against my lips and then pulled back.
For someone who’d come so close as if about to kiss, it ended anticlimactically.
“Of course, I won’t force it. We can set a number of times if you want. The condition is that we’re practice partners whenever we both want it.”
I’d only intended to set a deadline and attempt some Summer lighting.
But at Alferen’s proposal, which went one step further, I froze like a stone.
‘Was contract dating originally like this?’
Is it okay for a pure-hearted male lead from a novel to do this?
Alferen, who used to know only Summer, had become strange.
He was supposed to be a steadfast fool who agonized between love and friendship and chose friendship!
As I stammered in confusion, Alferen rose from his seat.
Without thinking, I grabbed hold of him.
“How far are we practicing?”
At the question that followed, Alferen let out a soft chuckle.
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
Maybe because our relationship had grown subtly closer since starting the fake dating.
It was hard to refuse what Alferen said. More precisely, it felt like I didn’t want to refuse.
He gently detached my hand from his sleeve and intertwined our fingers.
“We’ve already held hands, and we’ve hugged often before. So what’s left is……”
He kissed the back of my hand. His gaze directed at my lips all the while.
“Probably the lips.”
“……”
“Aren’t you curious too, Delly? About what lovers do.”
At his provocative question, I almost said yes without thinking.
‘Cu, curi… oop.’
I barely stopped my blabbering mouth and bit my lower lip.
“N-no, not curious at all?”
Did I deny it immediately and then unwittingly make a regretful face?
Alferen murmured meaningfully.
“Really?”
“……”
“I’m curious, though.”
In that moment, his words echoed loudly in my ears.
I’m curious, though.
Curious.
Curi……
Alferen, who’d so casually uttered words that would cause big trouble if Summer heard, quietly released my hand.
Pop-!
It felt like a popping sound rang in my overloaded head, steam billowing out.
For no reason, I scrubbed the back of my hand where his lips had touched, and Alferen laughed.
“I’m ready anytime, Delly.”
* * *
On the day of the Magic Tower tour.
The eyes of the Magia club members sparkled as they arrived in the Magic Tower lobby.
A moment later, when I presented the entry permits, Sierra let out a voice filled with emotion.
“Glaster, can I pinch your cheek?”
“Huh? Uh-huh… Ow! That hurts!”
Glaster’s eyes welled up with tears as he answered absentmindedly.
Realizing from his reaction that this was no dream but reality, Sierra grasped my hands.
“Miss, no, Rodellia! Is this really happening? Getting to see the magical flora and fauna of the Magic Tower—it’s like a dream!”
“It’s only viewing that’s allowed. Touching or feeding is strictly prohibited.”
I’d said this because Eden had firmly warned us beforehand, but Sierra and Glaster already seemed to be in another world.
Beside them stood Lottie, standing demurely, and Edwin, who had both hands shoved in his pockets while munching on some leaf.
Just then, Eden, who had brought protective hoods, spoke.
“That leaf is confiscated.”
At the stern command, Edwin spat the leaf onto the ground.
“Ptoo.”
Watching his insolent behavior, Eden pointed at his pocket.
“Hand over what’s in that pocket too.”
“Tch. So picky.”
When Edwin removed his hands from his pockets, leaves came tumbling out in a shower.
I thought it was odd that he kept his hands in there. So he was hiding stuff like that?
Wondering what on earth they were, I asked Eden.
“What are those?”
“They’re plants that magical animals go crazy for. Like catnip for cats.”
I quickly shot Edwin a glare.
You bastard. What were you planning to steal?
Avoiding my gaze, he pursed his lips and grumbled.
“Just. I was only going to keep them.”
Don’t lie!
It was clearly the excuse of a thief caught red-handed and playing innocent.
After that, only once we’d confirmed there were no other items that might stimulate the magical flora and fauna did we board the elevator.
Glaster fiddled with the Magic Tower’s protective hood and said.
“This has incredibly intricate magic engraved on it. Wearing it makes me feel like my presence has vanished.”
“Not bad. Yes, this hood is imbued with special magical formulas. It blocks sounds and scents, among other things.”
“Magical flora and fauna are extremely sensitive to the five senses, so unfamiliar people coming and going often would tire them out quickly.”
At Sierra’s agreeing words, Eden made a surprised expression.
“When I first heard that the Magia club was coming for a Magic Tower tour, I thought you took the Tower for child’s play, but you’re more serious than I expected.”
Eden. Don’t people usually keep thoughts like that to themselves?
It was the first time Eden, who’d worn a bored expression throughout, showed interest.
Even at Eden’s blunt, cutting remark, Sierra showed no sign of being affected.
Instead, with an elevated expression, she declared her ambitions.
“Though the club hasn’t been around long, we plan to become famous soon.”
With a sly smile, as if she had some ace up her sleeve.
