Chapter 65
“Yes, thank you for the invitation.”
I offered a polite smile out of courtesy, and Nanael did the same.
“Good. Since you’ve accepted the invitation, I’ll overlook this matter for now.”
She murmured it as if granting a favor, then nodded curtly and stepped back.
‘She was planning to report me if I refused!’
Having nearly lost all my coins, I stroked my chilled chest in relief.
“Are you really going?”
“Well, there’s no benefit in keeping up the pretense of bad blood. You’ll come with me, right?”
“Of course. How could I let you go there alone?”
Alferen smiled with his eyes crinkling. As if to say, did you really think I’d leave you behind?
* * *
Due to the aftermath of the commotion, the booth event ended early, and in the end, Genus took first place.
Julia’s chest already sparkled with badges from last year and the year before.
Mazia, which had aimed for second, regrettably ended up in seventh.
Who knew there were so many formidable clubs?
Still, for a new club to make it into the top ten was an impressive feat in itself.
After that uproar passed and we returned to our daily routines, a letter arrived from Summer.
She was finally departing for the capital.
Based on the date mentioned at the end of the letter, she should arrive next Friday.
[For the time being, I’ll be staying at the Riverton Barony as a live-in tutor with my younger sibling.
I needed to find a residence in the heart of the capital anyway to commute to the Magic Tower, so it’s fortunate that this good job came along.
Winter seems thrilled about the move to the capital too—he’s been unpacking and repacking his bags repeatedly before we even leave.
I look forward to the day we meet.
Your summer, Summer Clopen.]
Rent in the Barnard capital was exorbitantly high for a young breadwinner like Summer to afford.
Normally, she could stay in the Magic Tower dormitory, but that was only for herself.
Since her sibling couldn’t stay there too, it seemed she’d hastily secured a position as a live-in tutor.
‘This is another variable I’ve created, isn’t it?’
Originally, Winter should have died last year.
Losing her most cherished youngest sibling would have plunged Summer into grief, leading her to decide on escaping to the capital as a form of avoidance.
But thanks to my sponsorship and attaching a good doctor to her, Winter was still alive.
From the letter, it sounded like he could even manage daily life now, so one shadow hanging over Summer had lifted.
“She’d definitely be happy if I went to greet her, right?”
Summer had meticulously noted the train she was taking, the time, and even the address of her temporary residence at the Riverton Barony.
As if hoping I’d come pick her up.
It made sense, since I hadn’t firmly promised to meet her all this time.
And bringing Winter along despite the hassle meant she was even more eager to see me.
‘But of all days, it has to be the day of Nanael’s teatime.’
Regrettably, I had a prior commitment, so I’d have to reply that it would be hard to go meet her.
‘I wonder what her reaction will be when she finds out I’m the daughter of the Peris family.’
The four great ducal houses were names every citizen of the Barnard Empire knew.
For a commoner like Summer, she might faint in shock.
Originally, I’d planned to keep my identity hidden.
I didn’t want her to score points with me just because her close brother was the male lead.
Since she’d be running into Alferen often at the Magic Tower anyway, I figured Adrian had a better shot than him.
But bringing Winter along had created this variable—though their workplaces being the same helped.
‘I guess the fake relationship will have to continue until next week?’
From the start, I’d planned to step back once Summer arrived.
After all, compared to Adrian, who had both parents alive and well plus a cute little sister, Alferen—with his only family in a coma—needed Summer more.
But it was strange.
When it came down to it, the words “let’s end it next week” just wouldn’t come out of my throat when I was with Alferen.
‘Was I always this indecisive?’
Honestly, I’d tried several times.
The problem was that every time we were alone, the atmosphere turned oddly charged, and I’d miss the timing.
I gazed steadily at Alferen as he rowed the boat skillfully.
The sunlight was just right, so we’d launched a boat on the artificial lake behind the Ainluk ducal residence.
The carved boat glided steadily across the lake without a hitch.
Cool breezes tickled my cheeks with each movement of the boat.
In contrast to the peaceful, leisurely afternoon vibe, my heart was more turbulent than ever.
Before I knew it, we’d reached the center of the lake, and the boat came to a stop.
Clouds drifted lazily across the clear surface of the water.
As he tied the fluttering canopy to the post, he pointed somewhere.
“Look over there, Delly.”
Where he pointed, a family of ducks was crossing the lake in a line.
The mother duck leading, with five ducklings waddling along behind her in a row.
Alferen’s profile, as he idly watched that serene scene, was a work of art in itself.
‘This is a problem.’
I forced a bitter smile, trying to hide my churning emotions.
I could come up with countless reasons why I couldn’t end this fake relationship with him.
Today because it’s raining.
Tomorrow because the weather’s nice, and so on.
In the end, they were just excuses I’d made up because I didn’t want to end this fake romance.
I couldn’t bring myself to stop the fake relationship.
Had I gotten too immersed in this pretend romance with Alferen than I’d expected?
Honestly, what woman wouldn’t be shaken by a man like Alferen acting as if he’d give her his heart and soul?
Like getting soaked in a drizzle without realizing it.
By the time I snapped out of it, my feelings had grown irreversibly large.
I’d been so confident I wouldn’t fall for a face I’d seen all along, but when I opened my eyes, here I was in this state.
‘I let my guard down too much.’
At this rate, I’d end up obsessing over Alferen just like Rodellia in the original story.
After all the effort to twist the plot.
I couldn’t ruin it with my own hands.
The reason I was hesitating so much over something that would just require enduring a bit of pain was simple.
Because I liked Alferen.
That straightforward conclusion easily crumbled my feeble resolve.
Like waves washing away a sandcastle on the beach without a trace.
It was a truly absurd situation, where I ignored even my own decisions.
Whether he knew my inner turmoil or not, Alferen drew closer.
As we sat side by side on the narrow sofa in the boat, it felt like we were any ordinary couple enjoying a cozy date.
His hand gently tucking back the hair that had fallen across my face in the wind.
A touch I’d grown accustomed to by now.
But what shook me the most was that gaze of his.
When I met those blue eyes, so utterly fulfilled yet thirsting for more, I felt like an idiot incapable of any thought.
‘It’s because of that look that I get confused and think it’s real.’
I knew it myself.
This was a fake relationship, and Alferen was just doing his part.
Yet, being fake lovers now felt even more intimate than when I was just his friend’s little sister.
Because this fake romance had too many aspects that felt suspiciously real.
Even today’s date was like that.
Sure, the servants were watching, but wasn’t this space a bit too private?
For a showmance, it would have been better to choose somewhere with more people around.
‘Why does he have to put in so much effort and keep shaking me up like this?’
Before I knew it, everything felt like Alferen’s fault, and I grew sulky.
Honestly, from the moment we’d clumsily become practice partners, we’d already crossed the line.
Ever since he’d boldly stolen my lips, it had started feeling less like pretend and more like real romance.
‘And yet, after that, he hasn’t mentioned kissing even once—it’s like he’s teasing me.’
He’d begged so much for practice back then, but now he wouldn’t even bring up the word “kiss.”
Whenever the mood seemed to build toward it, he’d pull back instead, leaving me flustered.
As if he wouldn’t move to the next step until I brought it up first.
But then, as long as it wasn’t lips, he’d pepper my face with kisses.
‘It’s not like he’s testing the waters or anything. How can a guy be this indecisive?’
Honestly, at this point, I felt more impatient than he did.
With him constantly teasing and nibbling at the edges, it made me want to just go all in and get it over with.
As I stared at him intently, Alferen flashed a grin.
He gently stroked my cheek.
Then, he lightly kissed the bridge of my nose and whispered tenderly.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
