Chapter 40
In that case, maybe I could afford to be a little more proactive.
“I’ve just acquired a piece by an up-and-coming new artist that’s been making waves lately. Since I’ve been invited, I’d like to give it to you as a gift. What do you think, oppa?”
The question was aimed at Alferen, but my gaze was fixed on Isaac.
“Huh? Sure. Thanks.”
With eyes brimming with gratitude, Isaac immediately dashed toward the old frame.
“Then I’ll go ahead and put this frame away for now!”
Just as I’d predicted.
“And the roses in the garden are blooming so beautifully….”
“I’ll be right on it!”
Every time I spoke, Isaac and the maids sprang into action.
In a way, it could come across as meddlesome, but their expressions were so full of joy—almost excessively so.
As if they were thrilled to finally have the chance to do real, proper work.
It did feel a bit like I was overstepping by micromanaging someone else’s household, but since I’m Alferen’s lover right now, it should be okay.
That’s when Alferen spoke up.
“I’m sorry. I should have prepared more thoroughly for a guest before inviting you.”
Though I’d phrased it obliquely, Alferen seemed to have caught on to everything. He looked flustered by the unexpected指摘.
Well, you’d only know these things if you’d actually hosted guests before.
Men, in particular, tend to be even more oblivious about this sort of thing, so I could understand.
Of course, if it had been Nanael, he’d have flipped the table, accusing him of neglect.
“Why? I’m enjoying myself. You know I like this kind of stuff anyway. Plus, it’s nice seeing a new side of you. The duke who’s the epitome of perfection out in the world, but a total mess when it comes to running his own home. Ahaha. Isn’t this the Ren oppa that only I get to know?”
“A mess….”
When I deliberately teased him with mischievous giggles, Alferen adopted a dazed expression.
The more he did, the more I poked fun at him.
“Now I see why you haven’t invited people to the mansion. If my brother saw this, it’d be fodder for teasing for a whole year.”
“……Was it that bad?”
“Obviously! If my mom saw this state, she might just hurl a fire punch your way.”
When I outright scolded him for the house being in such disarray, Alferen’s face flushed an even deeper red.
Isaac, caught up in it, wore an embarrassed look too, so I figured this was a good place to stop.
“Anyway, no matter how important it is to care for your father, you still need to pay attention to managing the household. The staff are there to support the head of the family—if you keep them from doing their jobs, how’s that supposed to work?”
“I just felt more comfortable that way….”
“Is it okay to weigh down the staff’s hearts just so you can feel at ease? Even without going to such lengths, they all know you’re worried about your father.”
“I’m not so sure. They don’t seem to realize it.”
Alferen responded with an unexpectedly pessimistic tone, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
“Just a few days ago, an elder came by insinuating that my father isn’t actually dead but alive. Probably, if he passes away like this, they’ll claim I killed him.”
What? There are such rotten scoundrels out there?
This wasn’t in the original story. To think there were people sprinkling salt on Alferen’s wounds behind the scenes, without me even knowing.
“Did you just send someone like that away nicely?”
At my question, Alferen flashed a chilling smile.
Followed by a sinister voice that sent shivers racing down my spine.
“As if. I burned his carriage to ashes.”
Ah. So he didn’t let it go.
Yeah. Alferen wouldn’t let guys like that off lightly.
He’d have had to walk out through this vast mansion’s garden, so that frail noble lord must have sweated profusely.
While it put me at ease, somehow Alferen seemed frightening, and as I turned my head away, my eyes met Isaac’s.
Isaac was dripping with cold sweat, clearly mortified that his carefully concealed dark history had been exposed to an outsider.
He’d seemed so strict and tough at first, but he was apparently quite faint of heart.
“Good job. If creeps like that show up again, make a real example out of them.”
“Did I do well?”
By now, Alferen had fully regained his composure and offered a soft, crinkling eye smile.
When he even took my hand and pressed it to his lips as if begging for praise, my mind went completely blank.
Seeing this, Isaac’s face drained of color.
“I-I-I’ll excuse myself now. If you need me at all, please ring the bell anytime!”
The head butler bolting away in a panic, as if he’d stumbled upon a lovers’ secret rendezvous.
‘Don’t leave me here alone!’
I, too, had zero immunity to Alferen’s charms, so I gazed after Isaac with desperate longing.
That’s when Alferen said,
“Delly, could you help me out a bit?”
“Hm? With what?”
“I understand the house is a mess like you said, but I have no clue what’s actually wrong with it.”
My eyes widened at the unexpected request.
“Are you asking me to help manage the inner affairs of the Ainluk ducal household right now?”
“Yes. Of course, it might be inconvenient for you, but you’re the only person I can trust enough to ask.”
Alferen wore a noticeably wry expression.
He must have truly grasped the dire state of his family’s affairs thanks to my pointing it out.
‘How could I possibly refuse when he asks with a face like that?’
Traditionally, managing the inner household is the domain of the lady of the house.
The only outsiders who handle it are brides-to-be on the cusp of marriage; it’s the kind of thing that could easily lead to misunderstandings if others found out.
So, refusing would be the right thing to do.
‘But Summer probably wouldn’t know about any of this.’
Wouldn’t it be bad if Summer, clueless about noble customs, ended up coming here unnecessarily and becoming a laughingstock among others?
And having glimpsed this pitiable side of my brother’s friend, it doesn’t feel right to just ignore it.
‘Yeah. Just helping to get the household in decent order before Summer arrives should be fine, right?’
As I wrestled with the conflict inside, Alferen clasped my hand tightly and asked again,
“You’ll do it, won’t you?”
His blue eyes sparkled as they met mine.
Facing that radiant, poignant gaze, words of agreement slipped naturally from my lips.
It was an irresistible force.
“Yes! I’ll help you, oppa!”
Mom, I think I’ve ended up resembling you way too much.
* * *
Somehow, after sorting out the Ainluk family’s miscellaneous affairs, I returned home and jumped in surprise.
It was because a gatekeeper was standing right in front of the door, leaning on some club like it was a cane.
His identity, radiating a gloomy vibe at first glance, was none other than our family’s siscon and this world’s male lead.
“Eek, oppa, what are you doing there!”
Seeing him in an even worse state than in the original story made me feel sorry for Summer.
‘Is the original plot going to be okay like this?’
That’s when Adrian asked with a beaming smile,
“Where has our Delly been off to?”
“Huh? Just a walk around the block!”
“A whole day of walking, huh. You’ve got great stamina on a hot day like this.”
Adrian dragged the club along the ground as he circled around me, inspecting.
The Ainluk carriage’s coachman, who hadn’t managed to escape yet, turned ashen-faced.
“Hurry and get out of here!”
At my shout, the coachman swiftly urged the horses and vanished.
Adrian, who had been on the verge of smashing the carriage, clicked his tongue in perfect frustration.
“I wondered where you’d disappeared to.”
“Huh?”
“Dragging my little sister right into his own home?”
Hehehe.
Adrian began to laugh in a sinister way.
His appearance, like a zombie straight out of a horror movie, made me instinctively backpedal.
I didn’t bother mentioning that I’d be coming and going frequently from now on.
If I did, Adrian might grab his sword and charge solo into the Ainluk ducal residence.
That’s when Adrian swiftly closed in on me.
The club was already flung to the ground.
“Eek! O-oppa! Just calm down first……!”
I floundered, trying to put some distance between us, but I couldn’t outpace his long strides.
In the blink of an eye, Adrian was right in front of me, gripping both my shoulders.
“Delly. Take the carriage since I’m worried about you.”
“Huh?”
“If you walk on a hot day and end up exhausted, it’ll break oppa’s heart.”
In stark contrast to his terrifying earlier demeanor, his face was now filled with concern.
“Uh….”
Only then did I get a proper look at Adrian’s face.
Seeing his slumped shoulders stirred a pang of guilt in me.
No matter how over-the-top oppa can be, I felt like I’d been too reckless in my rebellion.
I nestled deeply into Adrian’s embrace and murmured,
“Yeah. I’m sorry for sneaking out like that.”
