FDSML CH 21

Chapter 21

“Huh?”

Startled by the loud crack, I glanced down at my own chair. It looked perfectly fine, not a single crack. So I wasn’t the one who broke anything.

Slowly, I turned toward the sound.

That’s when I noticed—the armrest of Alperen’s chair was dented under his grip.

He felt my gaze and quickly said,

“This carriage must be old. It just broke when I touched it.”

“…But I thought this one was bought pretty recently.”

“Then I guess it was defective.”

He flashed me a crooked smile and tried to cover the broken spot with his hand.

It looked so awkward that my lips parted slightly.

Wait… did he just get angry on my behalf because I insulted his friend?

What kind of second male lead is this selfless?!

Even the heroine would cry at this level of loyalty.

No wonder he chooses friendship over love in the end! Sob!

A little later, the carriage stopped. Alperen helped me down, then turned back toward the carriage.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll take care of repairing the carriage before returning it.”

“No, if it’s defective, my family will handle it.”

“Let me do it.”

He was oddly insistent. I could only sigh.

“Fine, fine. Thanks for bringing me home, oppa.”

I waved him goodbye and headed into the estate.

And immediately ran into Adrian, who had just come out after washing up.

Without missing a beat, I teased him.

“So, I hear you fell into the lake? Think you can still win like that?”

“What? Did Alperen say that? He made it sound like I fell in all on my own?”

He looked so indignant, but I barely listened.

“Anyway, you promised to come pick me up but sent your friend instead.”

“Sorry, Deli.”

He looked downcast right away.

I gave him a playful glance, then turned to check the pile of letters waiting for me.

One postcard stood out immediately—it had a picture of a snowy mountain range.

Grinning, I opened it eagerly.

**[To my sweet Deli, as lovely as a summer breeze—

Are you doing well without us?

Here, an unexpected snowstorm cut off the trains.

That means we couldn’t attend your debutante ball, and I feel so sorry about that.

Your father even insisted he’d walk all the way to the capital! If Garrick hadn’t stopped him, I might’ve had to recover his frozen corpse in this foreign land.

Well, these past few days of being stuck alone with him in the manor weren’t too bad.

Though truly, your father talks far too much. Everyone else calls him a dignified gentleman, but in front of me, he’s more of a clown.

If the lake hadn’t frozen yesterday, I might’ve pushed him in. He would’ve just bobbed along, jaw still running.

By the time this postcard reaches you, you’ll have finished your debut, right? I’m certain you were the most beautiful and intelligent lady of the season.

It will take some time before the railway is restored.

But knowing Lian is with you eases my mind.

Once again, forgive us, my darling.

With all my love, more than anyone else in this world,

—Jasmine Ferris]**

Reading over my shoulder, Adrian asked,

“From Mother?”

“Mm. It’s longer than usual. She must’ve felt guilty for missing my debut.”

“Mother’s always been better with letters than words. They’re both safe?”

“Seems so. Still snowed in, though. Apparently the tracks are completely buried.”

“Figures.”

He sighed.

Our parents were currently traveling in the northern region of Rabernin, famous for its auroras, with only Garrick the butler for company.

They should’ve returned earlier this month, but the storm trapped them there.

When we first got the telegram, I worried—but clearly they were doing fine.

Mother even sounded like she was only slightly annoyed with Father.

“Looks like Father’s following her around again.”

“He always does when he’s uneasy. Mother must be gritting her teeth.”

“Good thing the lake froze. That’s probably what saved his life.”

We exchanged knowing looks.

Despite their constant bickering, the Duke and Duchess of Ferris were deeply in love.

Proof enough—they went on yearly trips without us, just the two of them.

Maybe because I’d grown up watching such parents, I couldn’t help but say,

“I want a husband like Father someday.”

All I meant was that I hoped to find a happy marriage of my own this season, but Adrian’s expression turned deadly serious.

“Deli, until they’re back, I’m your guardian. You have no idea how many dangerous men there are in society.”

Oh, here we go. Siscon radar, activated.

The way his eyes sharpened, I knew he was planning to tail me everywhere again.

I groaned, remembering the disaster at the last party.

“Instead of hovering over me, why don’t you go get a girlfriend?”

Soon you’ll be so lovesick you won’t even remember I exist anyway.

Thinking about his hopeless pining for Summer in the original story, I felt petty annoyance bubble up.

In that future, I’d be completely ignored—while he drowned in unrequited love.

And me? Left to spiral into obsession with Alperen, until I ended up accused of poisoning and thrown in jail.

Just the thought made me glare.

“You only act like an older brother at times like this.”

Even my sharp jab didn’t deter him.

“Deli, only men can spot other men’s true natures. So many scoundrels look sweet, but trick women into misery.”

“Fine. If you’re that worried, why don’t you go fetch me a gentle little lamb of a husband yourself?”

“There’s no such thing. All men are wolves. Some just wear lambskin better.”

So basically, he didn’t want me with anyone.

I gave up answering.

He pressed again. “Either way, I’d sooner let pepper be rubbed in my eyes than let you marry one of them.”

“I could be the one to sprinkle that pepper right now, you know.”

I narrowed my eyes. His shoulders drooped.

“You’re so cruel, Deli. When you were little, you said you’d marry me.”

“That was just to get the marshmallow in your hand.”

“As expected from my clever little sister.”

Unbelievable.

How could someone this dense act perfectly normal in front of the heroine later?

I waved him off, ending the conversation, and carried the rest of my letters to my room.

After changing into loungewear, I finally opened the last stack of envelopes.

And then—

“Oh!”

My eyes lit up.

There it was: the letter I’d been waiting for.

The envelope read: “To my dear Tall Lady” in familiar handwriting. Signed: Summer Clopfen.

The moment my past life memories returned, the first thing I’d done was track her down.

At that time, she’d been forced to delay school—her drunkard father stole her academy tuition.

That year, Alperen had been top of the magic department, so Summer couldn’t even win the scholarship.

From then on, I secretly supported her financially—eight long years now.

In the original, she’d constantly had to drop out, take mercenary work, and struggle to pay her sick sibling’s medical bills.

But I couldn’t let that happen.

Thanks to me, Summer finished her doctorate without money worries and became an academy professor—her lifelong dream.

Of course, it wasn’t purely selfless.

Part of it was survival instinct—I needed an ally if the plot veered off course.

Our kind heroine wouldn’t forget such help.

Excited, I unfolded her letter.

After the usual thanks and updates, she wrote at the end:

**[It looks like I’ll be starting work at the Mage Tower around July.

They requested me as a consulting scholar, and it aligns with my research perfectly. I think it will be a great experience.]**

“…Wait. July? That’s barely two months away!”

Earlier than I expected.

And the Mage Tower of all places?

This could mean she and Alperen might even fall for each other at work.

A workplace romance, huh?