Chapter 77
The dresses would soon sell out like wildfire and become impossible to obtain, so in truth, this was more beneficial to me than to Rodellia.
‘Julia will probably show up wearing one of Mother’s dresses.’
In the original novel, the reason Rosie’s dress shop became famous was largely thanks to Julia Chester. She had appointed Cassandra Beige as head designer and entrusted her with the gowns for every single ball. Once word spread that the flower of high society had taken notice, Rosie’s would become the kind of atelier where you couldn’t even collect a finished order without a reservation.
‘Soon the first performance of *Will First Love Come True?* will open.’
I was excited, yet anxious at the thought of that bastard oppa falling for Summer. Unlike the original story, Alferen had no fiancée now, and he wasn’t even working alongside Summer anymore.
‘No way I can beat that.’
No matter how much of a male lead he was, as long as the original-destroying sister who kept helping the sub-male lead existed, following the original plot was impossible. All I could hope for was that the bastard wouldn’t pointlessly interfere between them or get hurt on his own, and that everything would proceed smoothly.
After the fitting was over, Rodellia spoke.
“Want to head to the hideout together afterward? Sierra’s been worried because you haven’t come by at all lately.”
“Ah.”
I had been avoiding the place in case I ran into Alferen, and now an innocent person had been fretting over me. Come to think of it, the deadline for Sierra to deliver the Fairy Bloom had already passed.
“I was planning to go today anyway. How much longer until you’re finished?”
“It’ll be quick.”
Once Rodellia was ready, we headed straight for the Magia hideout.
On the way, we stopped at Winif Café to pick up some simple desserts.
“Oh my, it’s been a while!”
Nanael Barnard, basking in the sun at an outdoor table, smiled brightly when she saw me.
‘So now she’s even tailing me.’
I had sensed it the moment I left the Peris mansion, so I wasn’t particularly surprised.
Besides, Nanael and Winif Café really didn’t suit each other.
In the original novel, Nanael hated Winif Café. The reason was simple: she disliked having to wait in line because they didn’t take reservations. Yet here she was, sitting at a table, waiting.
She wanted to torment me that badly? I was still reeling from the absurdity when Jessica Miranda emerged carrying a neatly wrapped cake box.
“Your Highness, here… ah.”
Jessica’s face clouded the instant she saw me, then she quickly greeted me.
“Hello, Lady Delly.”
The way she acted as if this were our first meeting was utterly nauseating, but I was not a woman who neglected revenge.
“Hnng…”
I swayed as delicately as possible, and Rodellia immediately steadied me.
“Delly!”
“Oh dear.”
Nanael merely let out a soft exclamation at the sight of someone collapsing; she didn’t bat an eye.
And Jessica…
‘She’s delighted.’
Not only had the source of her constant anxiety vanished, but her rival didn’t even seem to remember her—she must have been in high spirits. Jessica went so far as to offer me her own handkerchief and speak kindly.
“You don’t look well. It is rather warm today, isn’t it?”
From her expression, she clearly had some idea why I was acting this way.
‘The information leaked exactly as planned. Perfect.’
It had been worth tracking who spread the intel May let slip and identifying Nanael’s spy.
I roughly brushed away her hand and said,
“I-I’m fine.”
Using the excuse of feeling unwell, I hurriedly left the scene.
Flustered Rodellia kept glancing back and forth between me and Nanael, utterly beside herself.
‘Rodellia! I’m sorry! I’ll explain everything later!’
I dashed into the carriage and peered through the window gap at Winif.
Even as Rodellia tried to smooth things over with a bewildered expression, Nanael and Jessica looked perfectly at ease.
A moment later, Rodellia climbed in, and I immediately ordered the coach to depart.
I wanted them to see me fleeing.
Meanwhile, Rodellia watched my complexion with deep worry.
“Delly? Are you all right? If you’re very dizzy, I have some medicine here.”
Like a squirrel sharing its winter stores, she rummaged for the medicine, but I gently stopped her.
“No, I’m really fine. More importantly, after I left, did Her Highness say anything?”
When I responded normally, Rodellia stammered in surprise.
“She asked if this had happened before. She wished you a swift recovery. Ah, and she told me to see you at the ball and gave me this.”
She handed me the cake box—the very one Jessica had just carried out.
When I checked the contents, it matched exactly what I usually ordered.
Which meant she already knew I was a regular at Winif.
‘She really is frighteningly persistent.’
She had definitely waited in line because she knew I would come.
By now she was probably gloating inside.
She believed I was so distraught just from seeing Jessica.
And the way she emphasized the ball—she was clearly planning something there.
‘That’s exactly what I wanted. This time I’ll cure Nanael of her bad habits once and for all.’
Just then, Rodellia placed a hand on my forehead.
“Are you sure you’re all right? Your forehead feels hot.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I tried to brush it off, but Rodellia unexpectedly continued.
“Is it because of Duke Ainluk?”
“…What?”
“There’s a rumor going around lately. That you and Duke Ainluk have broken up. Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen the two of you together recently. Did something happen between you?”
“Ah…”
“Of course, you don’t have to tell me if it’s difficult.”
Her words were pure concern, yet my stomach suddenly lurched.
Not the pretend nausea from earlier—real nausea.
I had deliberately avoided Alferen so the breakup rumor would spread.
Yet hearing Rodellia worry about it made tears well up before I could stop them.
I lowered my head to hide them.
But I couldn’t stop the teardrops from falling onto my lap.
“Hic…!”
Rodellia gasped in shock and offered her handkerchief.
“I’m sorry. Hic.”
Once the tears started, I couldn’t hold them back.
If I stayed like this, she would completely misunderstand.
Then Rodellia pulled me into her arms and patted my back.
“I don’t know what happened, but Delly, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sure the duke was at fault.”
It was blatantly biased comfort, but I had no room to care.
* * *
I arrived at the clubhouse with a red nose from crying my eyes out.
When the elevator doors opened, I came face-to-face with Alferen, who was just coming down.
Rodellia had disappeared for a moment, saying she’d look for an ice pack.
Alferen looked noticeably thinner than the last time I saw him.
I had assumed he was having fun with Summer.
Seeing him look so gaunt even now made me feel a little pathetic for still liking him.
“Aren’t you getting off?”
I had meant to sound cold.
But my voice trembled pathetically because I had just been crying.
“If you’re not getting off, I’ll take the stairs.”
The moment I turned to leave, Alferen grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside the elevator.
The doors closed.
He pressed me against the wall so I couldn’t escape.
His familiar scent hit me hard, and for a moment I felt a pang of longing.
After a pause, he gently brushed my eyes and asked in a chilling voice,
“Who was it?”
Alferen’s expression was grave. The man who was always gentle now looked hardened as he demanded the name of whoever had made me cry. I was speechless.
If he was asking who made me cry, it was none other than Alferen himself.
I stared at him blankly.
I had imagined that if we ran into each other by chance, we’d exchange banal greetings like “How have you been?” or “It’s been a while.”
‘At the very least, I never expected this situation.’
The timing was exquisitely bad.
Alferen seemed furious at whoever had made me cry.
He showed no awareness that I was his (fake) ex-girlfriend he hadn’t seen in ten days.
My red eyes and nose were proof—I couldn’t even deny I’d been crying.
‘But how could I possibly say I cried because of you, oppa?’
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t really because of Alferen, so I just wanted him to let it go.
“You don’t need to worry about it.”
I tried to brush it off lightly and pull away, but he stepped closer and blocked me.
