Chapter 115
Meanwhile, Adrian’s heart sank at Summer’s inexplicable question.
‘Did she catch on that I’m about to confess?’
For the past few days, he’d been secretly preparing to confess his feelings to Summer.
Of all times, he’d left the ring behind, and the clothes he was wearing were soaked through with sweat, making him look utterly shabby.
‘Not now. Absolutely not.’
Adrian forced himself to hide his expression and played dumb.
“Hmm, let’s see. I don’t think so…”
Seeing his reaction, Summer felt a surge of urgency.
It was because she recalled what someone had said to her at the banquet a few days ago.
‘It’s fine to be close with the young lord, but don’t give your heart away too easily. He’s the one who’ll inherit the Peris family, after all. Surely he wouldn’t seriously court a lady from a mere nominal house like Lady Clopen.’
‘Even if he’s sincere, Lady Clopen should know better and be cautious. Coveting the duchess position that’s far beyond her station could easily bring misfortune.’
‘Did you hear about Prince Cesare’s incident a few days ago? Romances with vast status differences usually harm both sides. Of course, the woman tends to suffer the most.’
Those jealous words, disguised as advice, had easily wounded Summer.
Her unhappy family background was a long-standing pain for her.
As they said, the Peris ducal family would clearly disapprove of her, coming from a humble house with a drunkard and gambler for a father.
She’d never hoped for marriage with him in the first place.
But if she couldn’t control her heart, which had already fallen.
“Actually, I have something to say.”
Couldn’t she have at least one rosy love story in the gloomy pages of her life?
Meanwhile, sensing that Summer’s expression was unusual, Adrian fell into turmoil.
‘Did I make some mistake? Should I just apologize for everything first?’
His joy at her coming to find him had been fleeting.
Seeing her hardened face as she said she had something to tell him made him tense up instinctively.
Just as her lips were about to part.
“H-Hold on!”
Adrian suddenly remembered one of his mistakes and interrupted Summer.
“I’ll go first. I just remembered something I need to say.”
“Oh, alright.”
Summer, blocked right before her confession, looked awkward as she neatly folded her hands and met his gaze.
Looking into her earnest eyes, Adrian spoke.
“Actually, I lied to you, Miss Summer.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m not the Tall Lady.”
“Oh, yes…”
Summer’s eyes turned dull and dry, since she already knew that Rodellia was the Tall Lady.
He’d said he had nothing to say earlier.
It was hard to understand his intention in revealing the truth now.
Misinterpreting this as anger, he hurried to explain.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t clear it up right away. Things were so chaotic, and thanks to that, you’ve been so open with me, so I wanted to take some time to explain properly.”
“It’s fine. Rodellia will understand too.”
“Huh? Why is Rodellia coming up here?”
“Pardon?”
“Huh?”
Summer and Adrian stared blankly at each other.
A moment later, the flustered Summer said.
“You didn’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Rodellia was the Tall Lady.”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
Silence fell once more.
Finally grasping the meaning, Adrian clamped his mouth shut.
“That guy… I mean, that person is Delly?!”
It was a shocking revelation for him, who’d firmly believed it was a man all along and had been jealous.
‘I knew our Delly had a pure heart, loved helping others, and couldn’t pass by an injured animal…!’
Adrian’s shoulders shook as he swallowed his rambling in front of Summer.
Meanwhile, Summer was bewildered by Adrian’s intense reaction.
‘What do I do? He really didn’t know.’
Realizing that the Tall Lady had hidden her identity not just from her but from the family as well, Summer recognized her blunder and let out a shrill cry.
“P-Please pretend you didn’t hear that!”
It was then, as she stood up in a panic with a tearful face.
Adrian stood up too and grabbed her hand.
“Didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”
“Ah…”
“Are you disappointed that I’m not the Tall Lady?”
His green eyes gazed at Summer plaintively.
That look, stirring her protective instincts, made Summer’s heart pound wildly.
“No.”
“…”
“It wouldn’t have mattered even if you weren’t the Tall Lady.”
She’d felt a bit betrayed knowing it was a lie, but that was all.
Summer, who had already given her heart, was as vulnerable as could be.
As if she couldn’t even take a step just from him holding her hand.
Summer said to him.
“I like you.”
“…”
“I like you, Lord Adrian.”
Adrian froze solid at the unexpected confession that followed.
Taking this as rejection, Summer tried to bitterly pull her hand away.
But Adrian urgently grasped her retreating hand.
“W-Wait! Can we pretend I didn’t hear that just now?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Her heart ached. Asking to pretend he hadn’t heard right after her confession hurt more than outright rejection.
‘I must have mistaken his kindness for affection.’
As the words from the people at the banquet became reality, Summer felt a bit miserable.
Before she knew it, her green eyes grew moist.
Only then did Adrian realize the potential for misunderstanding in his words and added.
“What I mean is…! I meant, please wait until I can confess again!”
“Pardon…?”
The surprised Summer echoed back, and in that moment, a tear dropped from her wide eyes.
Flustered, Adrian fumbled and handed her a handkerchief.
“I’m sorry for startling you!”
“Ah, no. I just…”
“Actually, I ordered a ring to confess to you, Miss Summer, reserved a fancy restaurant, and even prepared an orchestra…”
Adrian ruffled his hair, his face flushed red.
“But of all times, I don’t have the ring now, no musicians, and I’m in my most disheveled state…”
Having run over during training, he looked even more unkempt than usual.
Adrian glanced around the meeting room.
At least the single flower in the vase was the most beautiful thing in the room.
He offered the flower to Summer.
“I’ll confess properly soon, so please let this be as if it never happened.”
“…This is enough for me.”
Summer smiled brightly as she accepted the flower.
“But if that’s what you want, I’ll wait.”
Enraptured by her radiant smile, he murmured dazedly.
“Tomorrow. I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
* * *
Arriving at the magic tower, I muttered in dismay.
“She’s not here?”
“Yes. Miss Summer just left.”
It seemed our paths had crossed.
‘Surely she hasn’t gone to my brother already?’
In the original story, Summer was a heroine with quick action.
Thanks to that, she resolved misunderstandings promptly, which readers loved about her.
Given her bulldozer-like personality.
As soon as she learned I was the Tall Lady, she must have gone straight to Adrian to ask why I lied!
Feeling anxious, I headed immediately to the Imperial Knights.
As expected, Summer was in the meeting room.
‘They’re already talking!’
Hearing the words ‘Tall Lady’ faintly made my heart race with nerves.
‘What do I do? Should I run? No, even if I run, he’s family, so I can’t avoid Adrian at home.’
At this point, I might as well confess the truth. It was then, as I gripped the doorknob.
Unexpectedly, I ended up witnessing a confession.
“I like you, Lord Adrian.”
Instead of confronting the lie, Summer chose to confess.
The problem was that this idiot brother of mine was about to kick away his own good fortune.
‘What? Pretend you didn’t hear? Is he crazy!’
Fortunately, Adrian sensed his slip-up and patched things up adequately, so it didn’t escalate.
The thrilling confession scene between the male and female leads.
I couldn’t ruin the pink atmosphere here, so I turned to leave.
“My lady?”
Just then, I ran smack into the Crown Prince coming my way.
