Chapter 105
I slowly walked over to him.
Before long, his low voice drifted to me with the scent of flowers.
“…I hope this scent reaches you.”
Holding back my tears, I smiled.
“It did.”
“……”
“It’s so beautiful, Didi.”
“……”
“You’re so beautiful.”
As if hypnotized, I reached my hand out to him.
At that moment, Novembris quickly pulled my hand back.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“Ah… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
“Let’s go back. If we stay any longer, you might end up touching him.”
I shook my head desperately.
“Not anymore. I just want to be near Didi for a little while. Let me enjoy this scenery he made for me. I promise I’ll behave.”
Grabbing Novembris’s collar tightly, I pleaded earnestly. He sighed and stepped between me and Dedrick.
“This is as close as you get. No closer.”
“…That’s enough.”
And so, I gazed at Dedrick endlessly until the rose-colored sunset faded from the sky.
A fortnight had passed since the founding festival ended. The plaza still buzzed with the lingering joy of celebration, but Dedrick walked by without emotion.
Beside him, Milos grumbled nonstop.
“Can’t you rest before starting your revenge? You never listen. You know you’re super stubborn, right?”
When Dedrick ignored him, Milos shouted louder.
“Right?!”
Dedrick let the complaints slide in one ear and out the other.
“Why are you rushing to help the Second Prince anyway?”
“So I can focus on revenge.”
“Why help him in the first place?!”
“…Because he helped Marilyn.”
Dedrick answered with mild irritation.
“You already know. Don’t ask.”
Milos mumbled but couldn’t argue. The Second Prince had indeed helped Dedrick a lot.
He had even passed on something Marilyn left behind and supported Dedrick alongside Eugene.
‘It must be because of those earrings.’
The ones Marilyn gave as a gift—Perez had delivered them. So Dedrick probably felt obliged to help the Second Prince in return.
‘But still, does he have to go this far, even losing sleep over it?!’
Like he’s hurrying to wrap things up just so…
‘Just so he can go to Marilyn…’
Lost in thought, Milos snapped out of it when Dedrick suddenly stopped the carriage.
“My Lord, why? Want to buy something?”
“A hair ornament.”
Without saying more, Milos followed him into the jewelry shop.
Since Marilyn’s death, Dedrick often bought accessories he could never give her, so many that the storage was nearly full.
He always picked them out himself, and even when buying from shops, he usually ordered one or two custom pieces.
“I’d like to order a hair ornament made of diamonds.”
“Do you have a particular artisan in mind?”
“Afton.”
Dedrick took out a piece of paper and handed it to the staff.
“In the shape of a snowflake. I don’t care about the price—as long as it’s made entirely of diamonds.”
“Afton’s work may take some time…”
“I’ll pay ten times the usual cost. Make it your top priority. Is that a problem?”
The clerk’s eyes widened at “ten times.” Struggling to speak, he nodded quickly.
“N-No, not at all! I’ll inform him right away. Please wait just a moment!”
The clerk hurried off with the design in hand.
“A snowflake? Why that?”
“She looks like pure white snow.”
Whenever Dedrick spoke of her, his face and voice grew gentle. Milos felt a pang of sympathy.
Holding onto someone you can’t be with only leads to emptiness. But saying that would get him kicked out, so Milos kept the thought to himself.
After all, this whole revenge was for her.
“Marquis Dedrick?”
A soft voice made Milos grimace.
Ever since Dedrick returned to high society, invitations had poured in, along with nobles trying to push their daughters at him.
“Meeting you here—what a coincidence!”
The usual line.
Milos rolled his eyes, knowing what would come next.
“It must be fate. Just like when we met in the palace’s maze garden.”
In the past?
Milos snapped his head toward the cheerful beauty. He knew her face—she was almost as famous as Joanna.
There had even been rumors that Dedrick admired her, but she had never denied them. Instead, she enjoyed the gossip, which made Milos dislike her.
Trying to remember her name, Milos muttered:
“She was… Evelyn? Ever—uh, Everbug?”
“It’s Ebony Silius!”
Ebony snapped briefly but quickly composed herself when she looked at Dedrick.
“Is he your knight?”
Milos answered for him.
“Yes, I am. Our Lord is busy, so please go away now.”
He waved her off like a fly, and Ebony frowned.
“Sir, I don’t mind, but it’s rude to behave this way to other nobles. You should choose your attendants more wisely. What if he embarrasses you?”
Milos flinched slightly, but Dedrick stared down at her with cold eyes.
“Don’t judge my knight’s behavior. If you think he’s rude, don’t speak to me at all, Miss Ebony Silius.”
His words were so cold that they chilled the air. As he walked away, Ebony turned quickly. Milos followed, raising his voice so she could hear.
“My Lord, diamonds? She’ll love them.”
“I hope so.”
Seeing Dedrick’s slight smile, Ebony’s eyes widened in shock.
‘Is there… another woman? Did the Second Prince speak the truth? He really loves someone?’
Just then, the clerk returned.
“Marquis, the artisan has accepted your order. But because of the delicate diamond work, it’ll take at least two weeks. Will that be alright?”
“That’s fine.”
“We’ll contact you once it’s done.”
With business finished, Dedrick and Milos left the shop without hesitation. Ebony hurried after them.
“Um, Marquis! If you don’t mind, may I ask just one question?”
“No.”
“If you answer this, I promise I’ll never bother you again!”
Throwing away her pride, Ebony cried out.
With a sigh, Dedrick motioned for her to speak. Her voice trembled.
“Do you… love someone?”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, Dedrick answered and stepped into the carriage. Milos gave Ebony a final look and barely held back a laugh as he closed the door.
Ebony stood frozen, staring blankly at the departing carriage.
“My Lady…”
“That was…”
“Pardon?”
“A lie…!”
Tears welled up in Ebony’s large eyes.
“Why would he lie to you, My Lady?”
“But, but…”
“Please accept it now, My Lady. He’s just not interested in you.”
Sohe hoped this would finally help Ebony come to her senses.
In the private reception room of the prince, a few minutes passed before Perez arrived. He opened his arms in greeting, then immediately complained.
“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting all morning!”
Milos answered for Dedrick.
“Our Lord got distracted again.”
“Ah, did he buy something for Marilyn?”
What a mind reader.
Milos was impressed.
“Let’s get to the point.”
At Dedrick’s signal, Milos handed him a file and a small box. Perez opened the box and found two vials—one with a dark purple liquid and the other a pale blue.
“Five drops should be safe. Be careful not to exceed that.”
“I will.”
“You must take the antidote within two days. Otherwise, it could be dangerous.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Both men spoke little. Perez then looked over the documents inside the envelope and nodded gratefully.
“This is more than enough. Now you can focus on your own goals. Leave the empress and First Prince to me.”
Even though Perez had refused help, Dedrick insisted—knowing Marilyn would have helped him—and found evidence against concubine Greta.
Thanks to that, Perez even gained an audience with the empress.
“The witness has also been handed over to your servant. Please confirm.”
“Thank you. When all is done, I’ll reward you properly.”
“Then if we’re finished, I’ll take my leave.”
Barely thirty minutes later, Dedrick stood to go. Perez grabbed his arm in protest.
“At least stay for dinner! I’m lonely!”
