IBACM Chapter 101

Chapter 101

---

“Is there a problem with me stepping in for my brother because he was too scared?”

Dedrick answered calmly.

Laughter erupted from the group of nobles as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“Pfft.”

“So he didn’t miss it because he was injured?”

“Then all the things he said before were lies?”

Hearing the mocking voices, Somerset couldn’t say anything. He just trembled in anger.

Seeing his face turn red with shame, Dedrick whispered softly.

“Are you already feeling embarrassed over something this small?”

“What?”

Somerset glared at Dedrick in irritation, but when their eyes met, he instinctively looked away.

Dedrick’s fury was so deep that it radiated pure killing intent.

Looking down at the frightened Somerset, Dedrick warned him.

“This is just the beginning.”

“…….”

“So enjoy the party while you can.”

With that, Dedrick pushed past Somerset’s shoulder and blended naturally into a group of noble supporters he had already won over.

The neutral nobles, watching from the side, also began to gather around Dedrick. They, too, were people he had already secured in advance.

Delani bit her lip anxiously as she watched. There was nothing she could do.

A solid wall had formed around Dedrick, one she had no way of breaking through.

“Madam…….”

Gemma called out to her cautiously. Delani turned around.

She couldn’t afford to look any more pathetic in front of everyone.

“I need to rest for a moment.”

“I will take you to the lounge.”

“Somerset, you should—”

Before she could finish her sentence, a trumpet sounded arose, followed by the loud voice of a servant.

“Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Second Prince are entering!”

The doors opened, and the Empress appeared, escorted by Perez. As they gracefully walked across the red carpet, they exchanged a smile with Dedrick.

At that moment, all color drained from Delani’s face.

This meant that the Empress and Perez were openly supporting Dedrick.

‘When did he manage to win over even the Empress…?!’

Delani anxiously bit her lip. Seeing her distress from afar, Milos chuckled.

“How amusing.”

“Shh!”

Pavle elbowed him in the side.

Dedrick didn’t avoid the hostile gazes of Delani and Somerset.

Both of them looked as if they were choking.

---

A little while later, after having a friendly conversation with Dedrick, the Empress left the ballroom.

As everyone rushed to surround Dedrick, Ebony stood a few steps away, staring at him in awe.

She had no words to describe how handsome he looked—he was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her heart pounded wildly as she gazed at him.

‘He’s even more stunning than before.’

She hadn’t seen him since that day, but she still carried feelings for him.

His expression was stiff and serious, without the slightest hint of a smile, yet even that suited him so well that her face turned red.

“Miss.”

“Ah….”

She swallowed nervously, mesmerized by Dedrick.

“I have to go to him.”

Sohe turned pale and tried to stop her.

“You can’t! Do you want to embarrass yourself again? He already rejected you once!”

But Ebony was undeterred, even shameless.

“It’s fine. I just need to approach him without being too pushy. Now that I think about it, maybe he rejected me because I was too sudden last time.”

Sohe pressed a hand to her forehead in frustration.

Everyone around Ebony had always adored her and granted her every wish, so she had never learned restraint.

She had to be stopped before she embarrassed herself in front of everyone again…

Just then, Joanna stepped in front of Ebony.

“Oh my, Joanna. Did you leave earlier because you were upset with me?”

Ebony asked cheerfully, but Joanna ignored her and got straight to the point.

“You’re not thinking of approaching Dedrick, are you?”

“Why? Can’t I?”

“Do you want to embarrass yourself?”

Sohe looked at Joanna with admiration. Honestly, if it were her, she wouldn’t have cared at all about what Ebony was doing. In fact, she would’ve enjoyed seeing her humiliated.

But Joanna stepped in to stop Ebony out of concern.

Unlike Ebony, Joanna had grown a lot—both physically and mentally.

“Why would I be embarrassed?”

Ebony asked as if she really didn’t understand, making Joanna sigh in frustration.

“Lord Dedrick isn’t interested in women. So just stop.”

However, Ebony, oblivious to the atmosphere, narrowed her eyes playfully.

“Joanna… You still like Lord Dedrick, don’t you? Are you afraid I’ll take him from you? But I’ve told you before—it’s not about taking him. It’s about his own feelings…”

Again. And again.

Seeing that reasoning wouldn’t work, Joanna finally gave up.

“Hah, whatever. I have nothing more to say to you. Just get lost.”

Sohe looked like she was about to cry, and Ebony, as if she understood everything, patted Joanna’s shoulder. Joanna quickly brushed her hand off, but Ebony just smiled and walked toward Dedrick.

However, noblewomen desperate to get his attention had already surrounded him, making it impossible for her to even get close, let alone talk to him.

“My lady, let’s just leave.”

“Let’s wait nearby. If he sees me, he might come over.”

Why do you think he would come over…?

Sohe was on the verge of tears but had no choice but to follow her.

At that moment, the Second Prince suddenly blocked Ebony’s path.

“Still haven’t given up on Dedrick?”

“Your Highness…”

“Do I need to make you give up for good?”

Perez looked at her with an unusually cold expression. It wasn’t because of something as petty as jealousy. It was out of genuine concern for his friend.

Dedrick had too much ahead of him—he had no time to be distracted by something like this.

So, if this lady was going to be an obstacle to Dedrick’s work, Perez wasn’t going to tolerate it.

“Dedrick already has someone he loves. So don’t show up in front of him again. Just stay here and enjoy the party with the other useless pests circling around you.”

Ebony’s face turned pale at his unexpected hostility. She had believed the prince didn’t dislike her, which made it even more shocking.

“Y-Your Highness, why would you say such a thing…?”

“If you can’t even handle these words, I doubt you could ever handle Dedrick. I’ve given you a kind warning, so you’d best behave yourself.”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”

Sohe quickly bowed her head in apology. Without even sparing Ebony another glance, Perez walked toward Dedrick.

“Dedrick, it’s been a while.”

“Your Highness.”

“Shouldn’t we meet more often? I’ve missed you.”

“I haven’t.”

“Haha.”

“My Lord, you have such a great sense of humor!”

Everyone eagerly tried to join their conversation.

Raising his wine glass, Perez spoke to him.

“Congratulations on a successful debut.”

Dedrick clinked his glass against his without a word.

---

Delani hurried back to the Grand Duke’s castle with Somerset, using a headache as an excuse.

At this point, she wanted to lock the gates and keep everyone out.

But outside, the Black Hawk knights stood firmly, waiting for Dedrick, as if making sure no one could stand in his way.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, even the Grand Duke himself was in his office.

There was nothing the Grand Duchess could do.

Except vent her anger.

“I should’ve killed him when I had the chance…! No, I should never have sent him to Herba Academy—I should have just gotten rid of him back then!”

How dare he bare his teeth at me?

That pathetic worm who couldn’t even lift his head as a child…!

And on top of that, while she had been dealing with Somerset’s mess, Dedrick had been busy socializing with his vassals.

The moment he arrived, everyone welcomed him, while Somerset and she were suddenly in danger of losing everything.

“This can’t go on.”

She had to find another way to get rid of him.

Her rage flared as she glared at Somerset, who was sitting there, holding his head in his hands.

Delani screamed at him.

“If only you hadn’t destroyed that wardrobe, things wouldn’t have come to this! You useless fool!”

“Mother!”

“If you had kept using that to blackmail him, you would’ve easily become the heir! But you ruined it?!”

With a look of pure disgust, Delani glared at Somerset.

The resentment she had been holding in finally exploded.

“Why did it have to be you?! If only it were Axel instead…!”

If only he had truly been the Grand Duke’s son…!

Then we wouldn’t have had to struggle this much!