IBACM Chapter 100

Chapter 100

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Joanna scoffed and looked at Ebony.

“Ebony, liking someone isn’t a crime, but the way you say it makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong. Could you be more careful with your words?”

Ebony thought she was defending Joanna, so she felt a little hurt by her sharp response.

“I’m sorry if I upset you. I was just trying to support you—”

Joanna cut her off and spoke coldly.

“Enjoy the party.”

Then she turned away, radiating coldness.

Ebony sighed and complained softly to Sohe.

“Why is she upset again?”

Sohe didn’t respond. She had spent years giving Ebony advice, but Ebony never understood.

Or rather, she never tried to understand.

Talking was pointless.

“I should visit Joanna’s house soon,” Ebony said.

Sohe sighed and held back her frustration.

“You two aren’t even close. Why bother?”

“Because I like Joanna.”

Then act like it.

Sohe almost said it but held her tongue.

At that moment, Somerset entered the ballroom. He was well-dressed, but everyone knew how incompetent he was.

Joanna frowned and tried to avoid him, but Somerset was faster.

“Joanna!”

“Ugh…”

Among Somerset’s many bad habits, the only clean thing about him was his love life—because he was obsessed with Joanna.

Even after their engagement was called off, he couldn’t let her go.

“I was so happy to see you here. But I noticed you returned all the gifts I sent you. Do you know how hard I worked to get them?”

“They were too much for me,” Joanna replied flatly.

She didn’t even pretend to smile anymore. Whenever she did, Somerset took it as encouragement.

“Just accept them. They’re a sign of my feelings. You deserve such valuable gifts. Do you think anyone else can get you things like these?”

He wasn’t just being arrogant—he was putting down other nobles to make himself look better.

Joanna’s face twisted in annoyance. She ignored him and tried to leave, but Somerset blocked her way.

“I found a great restaurant. Want to go together?”

“I’m busy that day.”

“I didn’t say when.”

“Yes, that was my polite way of rejecting you. Should I be more direct?”

“Why do you hate me?”

How many times do I have to explain?!

Anger flared inside her, but she took a deep breath and raised her voice slightly.

“Because you drink every day. Because you come to my house drunk and cause trouble. Because you treat me disrespectfully. Because you yell at people for no reason. Because you abuse your status to control others. Should I go on?”

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Somerset’s face turned red with humiliation.

“Joanna!”

“See?” Joanna said coldly.

“Your expression changed just because I said this. It makes me wonder… if I ever disobey you in the future, what would you do to me?”

Then she quickly walked away.

The laughter around them continued, and Somerset’s face darkened with rage.

Just as he was about to lose his temper, Delani stopped him.

“This is the royal palace, Somerset. Calm yourself.”

“Damn it. Mother, didn’t you say you would handle Joanna?”

“When you become the Duke, she’ll come crawling back on her own. Be patient and control your temper,” Delani said, smiling to soothe him.

Then she pulled him toward a group of nobles.

“The vassals are gathered here. You need to leave a good impression.”

“Tsk.”

Somerset sighed and approached the nobles, who already looked displeased.

Delani tried to smooth things over, but it didn’t work.

Just then—

“Who is that…?”

“I’ve never seen that noble before…”

Whispers spread as people turned toward the entrance.

Delani and Somerset followed their gaze—and both froze.

“…Was there a noble like that?”

“He looks just like Duke Blackwood…”

Somerset clenched his teeth and muttered the name like a curse.

“Dedrick…”

A nearby noble overheard him and raised their voice.

“Oh my! That must be Dedrick Blackwood!”

“He went to Herba Academy and disappeared. I thought he had fled to another country.”

“But apparently not!”

Dedrick Blackwood, the third son of the family, had left for Herba Academy, and no one had heard from him since.

Everyone assumed he had given up his inheritance and left the country.

Because of that, only Somerset and Axel were considered for succession.

But now, Dedrick had returned for all to see.

This could change everything.

Yet, for the moment, people were too busy admiring his beauty.

“I didn’t know he was this handsome.”

“…He looks incredible. And so well-built.”

“He trained at Herba Academy, so he must be skilled with a sword, too.”

Everyone was mesmerized.

Dedrick walked in with confidence.

Despite wearing formal attire, his strong, athletic build was evident. His deep blue eyes, like the ocean, were intense and cold.

His presence was overwhelming.

Anyone who met his gaze instinctively looked down, and young noblewomen blushed, sneaking glances at him.

Dedrick strode across the ballroom and stopped in front of the Duchess.

He was so tall and imposing that Delani flinched.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for something dramatic to happen.

But nothing did.

Dedrick simply greeted her.

“It’s been a long time, Duchess.”

“…”

Delani couldn’t speak.

She couldn’t believe the man before her was the same Dedrick she had once known.

She felt dizzy, and her body swayed slightly.

“You must have aged quite a bit,” Dedrick said mockingly.

Even as he insulted her, she didn’t respond. She couldn’t.

The aura he emitted was choking her.

She trembled slightly.

Dedrick’s jaw tightened.

‘This pathetic woman took what was mine…’

His gaze then shifted to Somerset.

Somerset stiffened, pretending to stand tall, but he couldn’t even meet Dedrick’s eyes properly.

Dedrick smirked, clearly amused by his weakness.

“It looks like you’re doing well, too, brother.”

“You…”

Before Somerset could say anything, Lord Ziyad eagerly extended his hand to Dedrick.

“It’s been a while, Lord Dedrick. Or should I call you a marquis now?”

“Feel free to call me whatever you like, Lord Ziyad.”

The retainers looked pleased as they observed how much Dedrick had grown.

He had successfully graduated from the Herba Academy, shared his ambitions openly, and even won over the retainers—everyone except for the head of House Aulus.

“So, are you officially starting your activities now?”

Before Dedrick could answer, Somerset lost control of his temper and interrupted.

“Wait, what do you mean, marquis? Why is that brat a marquis?!”

The retainers clicked their tongues at his rudeness.

The only person who could have stopped Somerset’s foolish behavior was Delani, but he was still struggling to recover from Dedrick’s intense aura. Pale-faced and barely standing, he was leaning on Gemma for support.

“Young master.”

Lord Ziyad called him sternly, clearly displeased, but Somerset refused to back down.

“Why are you a marquis?!”

“Because Her Majesty the Empress and His Grace the Grand Duke granted me the title.”

“What…?”

Lord Ziyad answered on Dedrick’s behalf.

“He successfully graduated from Herba Academy, and on top of that, he completed a subjugation mission with the Black Hawk Knights. That alone is enough to justify the title.”

Somerset was so shocked by this unexpected news that he stammered.

“A… a subjugation mission? With the Black Hawks?!”

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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •

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Advance chapters of this novel are available on my kofi channel

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