IBACM Chapter 10

Chapter 010

An awkward silence filled in the air, so I decided to change the subject.
Gripping my pen firmly, I looked at my notebook and asked,
“Didi, how do you write ‘Have a lot of money’?”

He smiled slightly and wrote the words in my notebook.
“What about ‘Be happy’?”
“Like this.”
He wrote it next to ‘Have a lot of money’.”

I carefully copied what he wrote, adding his name, and handed it to him.
“I hope you’ll be happy, Didi.”

“…….”

Though it started as a way to save my life, I genuinely hoped for his happiness.
He had lost his mother and been neglected by his father, lived a difficult childhood, but…

In the end, Didi would become happy, no matter what.

‘But if he’s going to be happy anyway, why not start now?’
It’s too heartbreaking to see a child worrying about others from such a young age.

The Duke left for the capital earlier than expected, so the meeting with him ended inconclusively.
Because of that, the whole book incident was brushed aside as well. I was a little disappointed since it meant losing my chance to get back at Somerset and Axel, but I knew they wouldn’t stop here anyway.

With some free time on my hands, I focused on writing simple words in my notebook and memorizing them.
Dedrick seemed unusually passionate about teaching me letters, perhaps to help me learn faster.

“These are spring, summer, autumn, and winter, in order.”
“Spring… summer… autumn… winter.”
“This is where you start, and it should end here.”

Whenever I struggled, Dedrick would gently guide my hand, holding the pen with me and explaining patiently.
Honestly, it wasn’t a bad way to spend time.
In fact, I enjoyed it.

Seeing Dedrick brighten up, and getting closer to me, made me happy.
I didn’t want to go back to the days when no one noticed or talked to me.

As I was concentrating on writing, I heard a small chuckle from above and looked up.
I found Dedrick smiling as our eyes met.

“What?”
“Nothing, just…”
“Am I bad at this?”
“No, you’re doing great.”

He patted my head encouragingly.
“I’m not distracting your studies, am I?”
“No. I’m studying too, right here with you.”

That was enough reassurance. I went back to quietly writing the words he had written for me, softly saying them aloud.
“Spring… summer… autumn… winter.”

“Didi, which season do you like?”
“I haven’t really thought about it. What about you?”

My answer came without hesitation.
“Winter! I like being in a wardrobe in winter—it’s cozy and quiet.”

“Isn’t it stuffy?”
“I’m a wardrobe monster, so it can’t be. I like being inside. It made me stop thinking about everything…”

“…….”

“Oh, wait, I don’t usually think much anyway.”
“Pfft.”

Dedrick couldn’t hold back a small laugh.
Ah, the most beautiful boy in this world really does stand out in every way.
A boy like this not smiling is a huge loss for the world.

He quickly tried to hide his smile, glancing at me cautiously.
“I like it when you smile.”
“…….”
“Smile more, a lot more.”

It’s said smiling brings good fortune.
In the original story, it was nearly impossible to see Dedrick smile for anyone other than the heroine.
He was the kind of male lead who was kind only to her.

“…Okay.”
Dedrick looked a little shy.
So cute. Kids are always adorable.

As I was enjoying the moment, the door suddenly burst open without a knock.
This was so common that Dedrick didn’t even flinch and just turned his head.

Standing there was Somerset’s servant, Ruan, with a sulky expression.
He was a few years older than Somerset and one of the people who bullied Dedrick, something I knew because he was always with Somerset.

A classic trope.

Servants who bully their masters without realizing it, thinking they are above them.
That’s exactly what Ruan was.
“Hey, the first young master is calling you. Get out here, now.”

He even spoke informally.

I hopped down from my chair and kicked Ruan hard in the shin.
Thud!
“Ow!”

“…?” 

Dedrick looked at me, startled, as if asking why I had suddenly attacked someone.

“He spoke rudely to you. You’re the master of the Blackwood family.”
“…….”
“And he’s one of the guys who bullies you, isn’t he?”

Even before regaining my memories, I had noticed Ruan pushing Dedrick’s shoulder or tripping him occasionally.

“I’m sorry for ignoring it back then.”

It wasn’t my problem, so I ignored it back then. At the time, no one could see me, and I couldn’t talk to anyone, so I didn’t really think much about anything.
I just went with the flow, living day by day like that.
Then I regained my past life’s memories, and even though I was helping Dedrick to save myself, I felt a lot of guilt for ignoring everything before.

“……”
Dedrick, who had been silent for a moment, shook his head slightly as if to say not to apologize.
“I’ll help you from now on, so don’t be afraid.”
He smiled faintly.

“W-What? Are you the one saying that?”
“……”
Dedrick slightly furrowed his brow, though it wasn’t visible due to his long bangs. Still, his expression clearly showed his disbelief.
Ruan, too, seemed to find his own words amusing, as he nervously glanced around.

To keep Ruan from thinking too deeply, Dedrick asked him,
“You said my brother is calling me? Where should I go?”
“Uh… Go to the training grounds.”
Ruan grimaced, rubbing his shin.
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and come out.”

That jerk!
His attitude was unbelievable.
As I raised my foot to kick him again, Dedrick blocked me with his hand.
“Just wait outside. I’ll be there right away.”

“Don’t mess around and come out now. Do you think I don’t know you’re planning to run away?”
“Then just wait at the door.”
“Hah. Are you really saying that to me…?”
“Wait outside.”

Dedrick, uncharacteristically, coldly commanded. Startled, Ruan flinched before lashing out in frustration.
“D-Don’t even think about running away!”
He slammed the door shut as he left.

“Didi, did you see that? He’s scared.”
“Is he scared…?”
“Yeah! He must have been really scared of you! You did great!”

Seeing Ruan scurry off in fear, I felt a sense of victory.
Since the confrontation with Somerset, Didi had stopped shrinking back so much. It was truly a surprising change.

“Let’s go now, Didi.”
“No.”

I naturally tried to follow him, but he stopped me and shook his head.
“Stay here.”
“Why?”
“…Just stay. I’ll be right back.”

It seemed Dedrick didn’t want me to follow him.

“Okay, got it. Be careful.”

The girl nodded as she saw him off.
Dedrick cautiously checked her expression, relieved to see no sign of displeasure. He let out a small sigh of relief and stepped out of the room.
Ruan shot him a glance before striding ahead, forcing Dedrick to hurry after him, almost running.

Dedrick was used to being treated like this.
Other servants might have been different, but the ones under the Duchess always treated him this way.
It wasn’t new to him.
No one felt sorry for him, and everyone believed this was normal.

That’s why, when the girl said “I’m sorry,” it made him incredibly happy.
So much so that…
He didn’t want her to see it.

The sight of him getting helplessly beaten with a wooden sword by Somerset in the training grounds.
The sight of his weakness.
He knew she would feel sorry for him, and perhaps even try to step in for his sake. But he couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt because of him.

He couldn’t bring himself to say it, though.
It was a matter of pride for Dedrick.

As he stepped outside, a wave of heat hit him.
Walking toward the training grounds, he thought of the girl.

‘It’ll be okay.’

Dedrick clenched his fists tightly.
With someone who told him he was precious, he could find courage.

He calmed his rapidly beating heart, driven by fear, as he arrived at the training grounds.
In the center, Somerset was spinning a wooden sword playfully.

Seeing Dedrick, who had frozen in nervousness, Somerset’s face broke into a wide grin.