Chapter 105
Even Lord Davin had marveled at how transformed the mansion looked.
In the midst of it all, Sophia eagerly sang Rodellia’s praises.
“No one could suit House Ainluk better than Lady Rodellia. I’ve never seen a lady so capable since the late madam herself. If the madam were still alive, she would have adored her.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard you praise someone so highly… Yes. She certainly would have liked her.”
Davin clearly approved of Rodellia as well. He was throwing himself into the engagement preparations with remarkable zeal.
It’s not an assassination plot, yet he’s preparing in utmost secrecy.
The thought that next spring the Ainluk mansion would grow even brighter made a cheerful hum rise unbidden to my lips.
Just then, people from the magic tower arrived. They had come to inscribe light-magic formulas into the gardens that would be opened to guests.
It was the first opening in six years, and Alferen seemed determined to make it impressive—he had even mobilized tower personnel.
Well, he did invite the forces aligned with the broken-engagement princess and the Empress, so it makes sense.
Every notable noble in the capital had received an invitation.
No doubt part of the intent was to demonstrate that House Ainluk remained as formidable as ever.
Sophia, energized by the occasion, was about to inspect the gardens once more when a carriage appeared in the distance.
Rodellia stepped out, her expression unusually urgent.
“Oh my, Lady Rodellia. What brings you here without notice?”
“I heard Alferen was here.”
“Ah, His Grace went toward the plaza with the tower mages.”
“Thank you!”
The moment Sophia finished speaking, Rodellia raced toward the plaza at terrifying speed.
“Young lady, watch your step! It rained last night—the ground is slippery!”
Even at Sophia’s shout, Rodellia did not slow down.
The battle prowess she had built up while redoing her makeup and changing clothes had evidently paid off, though she herself was unaware of it.
As Sophia had warned, the ground was treacherously slick.
It was a relief she had worn something practical; in a dress she would have fallen long ago.
Far ahead, she could see Alferen directing the mages.
“Alferen!”
At her shout he turned toward her.
Feigning surprise, he opened his arms and walked to meet her.
In that instant, every trace of water on the ground evaporated.
“Don’t run, Delly.”
At his follow-up words, she shot him a sidelong glare.
Seeing how anxiously he worried she might fall melted her anger away.
No! He could have at least given me a heads-up!
While she tried to steel herself, he enveloped her in a tight embrace.
“What brings you here? Seeing you so suddenly makes me even happier.”
His beaming face instantly halved the maximum-level combat energy she had built up.
Ugh, Mother was right—men are all about the face. How am I supposed to stay mad at that smile? Holding back my own grin is harder!
Sighing at her own susceptibility, she pushed him away and responded sharply on purpose.
“This isn’t the place to talk.”
There were too many eyes around—especially Eden, who looked openly curious.
She led him toward the deserted maze garden.
He followed obediently, even turning the sticky mud in her path into firm earth.
“Don’t use magic so casually. Your body still isn’t fully recovered.”
“This much is fine. And Delly’s holding my hand, isn’t she?”
Alferen shook their joined hands and smiled softly.
“With Delly beside me, I can do anything.”
“If you can’t say anything nice—!”
“Does that mean I can kiss you?”
With the question, his lips brushed and withdrew from her cheek.
He’s definitely doing this on purpose.
All this time I had thought him an innocent, foolish second male lead—it had been my misunderstanding.
I now knew exactly how cunningly he had lured me in.
Yes. Knowing it and still falling for it every time—maybe the fool is me.
Once they reached the maze garden, I raised my eyebrows and planted my hands on my hips, pretending to be furious.
“Don’t you have something to tell me?”
At that ominous opener, Alferen widened his eyes innocently.
His utterly clueless expression only made me spell it out more clearly.
“You were the one hiding the courtesan, right? Why didn’t you tell me? It’s my problem.”
“Ah.”
Only then realizing why I had come running did he press a hand to his lips.
After a pause, he took my hand as though something had occurred to him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to worry, but I guess I only considered my own perspective.”
I had expected excuses, so I stared at him blankly.
This… this wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
Before I could even threaten him, he admitted fault, and my momentum collapsed.
“I was wrong, Delly.”
His subdued voice softened my heart. Alferen was clearly a master of pretty tactics.
I muttered, trying to summon anger that wasn’t really there.
“…Do you know how long I searched for her? I was terrified the rumors would just keep growing. And with Jessica involved on top of everything—I thought my head would split open.”
“Then split mine instead, Delly.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“It means I’m that sorry.”
He whispered like soothing a sulky child and pulled me into his arms.
“I was going to explain everything before the plan anyway.”
“Liar. You hoped I’d never find out.”
“…Haha. Caught me.”
Alferen burst into laughter. He didn’t even try to hide it, which left me dumbfounded, but that wasn’t the important part right now.
“So. What are you going to do?”
At my question, the teasing vanished from his face as though it had never been.
Upon hearing that Rodellia was searching for the green-eyed courtesan, Empress Rosaria immediately moved to eliminate her.
Poisoning a woman living in luxury at the villa Cesare had provided would have been simple.
But Alferen acted even faster than the Empress.
The courtesan, barely escaping with her life, turned ashen at the sight of him.
“P-please spare me, Your Grace! I had no choice but to obey His Highness’s orders! Please forgive me!”
She had already spent considerable time impersonating Rodellia Peris while frequenting nighttime balls.
Her boldness had been backed by Cesare.
Yet now his own mother had tried to kill her—she was no different from a puppet with cut strings.
She had lost her judgment, intoxicated by the life of a noble.
She had assumed death was certain for impersonating and dishonoring the Duke of Ainluk’s beloved, yet he offered her a chance.
“Whether I forgive you is not my decision.”
“O-of course. Please let me meet the lady. I will beg her forgiveness. Just spare my life…”
“If I killed you now, Rodellia would never be able to clear her name completely.”
“Th-then…”
“You died today. Follow me.”
That day she was confined to the underground dungeon of the Ainluk mansion.
Compared to the villa, conditions were miserable, but staying alive was something.
As long as I do exactly what the duke orders.
Before becoming a courtesan, she had been an actress.
She had been a rising star until a vile man swindled her and sent her crashing down.
Her acting experience had allowed her to work as a high-class courtesan, but she had always hated this life.
Then Cesare had promised to remove her from the registry, and she had agreed to this performance.
Now she understood: his promise to free her from the registry had meant killing her.
At that moment—
“They locked you in a place like this?”
“I had to keep you out of sight.”
“No. It feels more like you wanted me to suffer on purpose.”
“…That’s a misunderstanding, Delly.”
The Duke of Ainluk was approaching, speaking with someone.
His voice was markedly gentler than the one he used with her.
A flustered duke—it was almost unimaginable.
Curiosity about his companion growing, she watched as a strikingly beautiful young woman appeared before her.
“So you’re the courtesan who impersonated me.”
