IBACM Chapter 13

Chapter 013

“…I told you not to endure it if you’re hurt.”
“Ah.”
“I want you to tell me if you’re hurt. And try not to get hurt in the first place.”
“I will.”

It felt nice to be worried about after so long.

“Wait a second. Let me grab some gloves.”

I couldn’t touch them with my bare hands.

“Don’t you dare do it alone while I’m gone!”

I warned him sternly, just in case. Dedrick nodded meekly.
“Alright. Be careful.”

I slipped into the wardrobe to grab some gloves, specifically the fine leather gloves often worn by Axel and Somerset.

Poor Dedrick didn’t even have a single pair of gloves.

Returning to the room, I handed him the gloves.
“Here are the gloves. Be careful not to tear them.”
“Okay.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why I took them?”
“To return them later, right?”
“Exactly!”

So smart. Whether wearing poisoned gloves would affect Axel and Somerset didn’t matter—I was just being petty.

“Are you going to stop me?”
Dedrick shook his head.
“I don’t want to just take it anymore.”

 “Good thinking. Whether it’s a favor or revenge, it should be returned ten times!”
“Tentimes.”

He repeated my words softly and smiled. Together, we safely returned Axel’s scorpions to a box.

“What will you do with this scorpion?”
“I’ll give it back to its owner.”

“…Won’t they get hurt?”

I closed the box and looked at Dedrick. 

He avoided my gaze, smiling awkwardly. Despite saying he didn’t like being on the receiving end, the idea of returning the scorpion seemed to make him worry about Axel.

There was no reason to care about that jerk.

“You’re too kind. Being a pushover will only hurt you.”
“…”

“Let’s just keep the scorpion here. When they come looking for it, we’ll use it to scare them. Teach them a lesson.”
That should keep things quiet for a while.
“Okay… Thank you.”

This kindhearted boy… 

The cruel duchess and her children didn’t deserve him.

---

“Did you release the scorpions?”
Somerset’s question made Axel nod stiffly, forcing himself to smile.

He knew it was better to stay on his brother’s good side.
“Of course. By now, he should be rolling in pain.”
“Good.”

Somerset smirked. On the outside, he looked calm, but inside, he burned with frustration.

‘How could I lose to that idiot?’

He’d always been number one in swordsmanship, so he couldn’t accept losing to that idiot.

Meanwhile, he made sure to keep the people around them quiet.

The fact that Dedrick had won in the duel could never reach his mother’s or the Duke’s ear.

‘Damn…’

Suddenly, the image of Dedrick wielding a sword with the duke’s confidence flashed in his mind.

“I challenge you because I want to succeed.”

Even with a battered body, his face shone proudly.

Somerset gritted his teeth.

‘It was just luck, nothing more.’

“I hope the scorpion stings him in the face,” he growled, marching toward Dedrick’s room. Axel trailed nervously behind, glancing at Somerset’s mood.

As usual, Somerset barged in without knocking.

“Hey, how are your bruises? Today, I am just in good cond—” He stopped mid-sentence.

Dedrick was calmly leaning against his bed’s headboard, reading a book. Seeing this, Somerset’s words dried up.

“Brother.”
Dedrick closed his book and stood up from the bed. Somerset glanced at the bed, then at Axel, his sharp gaze making Axel flinch.

Somerset looked at the bed once and then turned his gaze to Axel. Axel was frightened by Somerset’s sharp look.

“It’s… it’s definitely on the bed…”

He couldn’t believe it.

He had clearly ordered the servant to scatter it…!

Axel’s pupils shook violently. Seeing Axel panic, Dedrick nodded knowingly.

“The bed…? Ah.”

Then he handed Axel the box next to him. Axel, who had suddenly received the box, stared at him in confusion.

“These scorpions belong to my second brother, right? I found them on the bed and packed them away.”

Dedrick’s calmness left both brothers speechless. His cold gaze seemed to mock their petty prank. 

Somerset clenched his teeth.

“You…!”

“But be careful, brother. They’re poisonous.”

“…”

“Also, I haven’t told Father.”

At the mention of their father, both brothers stiffened. 

Dedrick leaned in to whisper to Somerset, loud enough for only him to hear.

“Not about today’s training session either.”

Somerset broke into a cold sweat. 

Things had already gone wrong, and now the Duke was brought into it.

Despite being tortured countless times, Deadric had never gone to the Duke for help.

Partly because of the duchess’s influence, but mostly because Dedrick couldn’t forgive his father for failing to protect his own mother.

For Dedrick to bring up their father now was significant—it was a warning. If they tried anything like this again, he wouldn’t stay quiet.

‘Has this brat lost his mind?’

The once timid Dedrick seemed like a different person.

“Now, could you please leave?”

“…”

Somerset didn’t argue and stormed out in frustration. 

Axel followed, trembling, his face pale as if he’d been sentenced to death.

When silence returned to the room, Dedrick sighed, clasping his slightly trembling hands. 

He turned to the girl who had watched everything.

“Did I… do okay?”
“Of course!”

The girl, who had been watching with excitement, ran up to hug him tightly. Dedrick smiled.
“You were amazing!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”

She jumped up and down, holding his hands.

“For a while, they won’t dare mess with you!”

Watching her delight, Dedrick tightened his hold on her hands. The warmth spread from his palms to his chest.

“What did you whisper to Somerset earlier?”
“Oh…”

Suppressing a grin, Dedrick spoke nonchalantly.
“Actually, I had a sparring match with him today.”

Before she could react, he quickly added,
“And I won.”

“You beat Somerset?”
“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

She was more excited than he was.
“Dedrick, you must be so talented with the sword! How could you beat someone who’s been training for so long?”
“I just got lucky…”
“No, it’s your skill! Don’t doubt yourself.”

Her firm tone made Dedrick nod and smile. Unable to hold back, she hugged him tightly.

“You worked so hard today!”

Then, taking his hands, she checked for injuries. Seeing none, she grinned in satisfaction.
“Great job, Dedrick!”

“Alright, should we continue reading, or should we sleep?”
As the girl pulled her hand away, Dedrick fidgeted with his fingers, reluctant to let go.
‘…I want to hold it longer.’
But there’s still plenty of time…

“Let’s read. Come here, next to me.”
Leaning back against the headboard of the bed, he patted the spot beside him.

The girl crawled over and settled snugly at his side. Her soft, grayish hair brushed against his arm, tickling his skin.
‘I want to pet her.’
Her tiny, twitching horns were almost too adorable.
‘…Not yet.’
‘She might dislike it.’

“I’ll read slowly so you can follow along with the words, alright?”
This was part of his plan to teach her how to read.

“Got it!”
The girl widened her eyes in eager anticipation, making Dedrick laugh softly.

---

That night, once Dedrick was fast asleep, I quietly slipped out and made my way to Axel’s room.
‘Did they really think I’d just let this slide?’

The thought of Dedrick almost being hurt by those scorpions made my blood boil.
‘I’ll make sure they get a taste of their own medicine.’

Carefully, I searched Axel’s room and spotted a glass container filled with scorpions in one corner.
‘Let’s deal with that servant first.’
‘That jerk dared to insult Dedrick’s mother?’
Still not learning his lesson, huh?

The man flopped onto his bed, mumbling to himself.
“Just wait until tomorrow… I’ll make him pay for it…”

“Tomorrow?” I whispered furiously.
“Not happening.”

I carried the box of scorpions over to his bed, glaring down at him as he snored away.

“You won’t wake up fine tomorrow, that’s for sure.”

With a quick motion, I dumped the scorpions onto his bed.

 Based on my experience, their sting wouldn’t kill him, just leave him suffering.
The scorpions scattered with a faint skittering sound.

Rustle, rustle.

“Ugh… wh-what the…?”

 “Whether you squash them or get stung, it’s your problem now!”
My heart pounded as I hurried back into the wardrobe.
Why am I so nervous? It’s just payback for all their horrible deeds!

But I didn’t regret it. Not one bit.

Finally, I reappeared in Axel’s room. 

He lay sound asleep, My brows furrowed as I watched him.

Time for you to have some nightmares.

 Grinning wickedly, I grabbed a fistful of his hair with both hands.