Chapter 015
“……”
Delani smirked mockingly, crossing her legs as she glanced up and down at Dedrick with a cold gaze.
The cherished son of the Duke and Amelia, who inherited only their best traits and was raised with love. Delani hadn’t forgotten the humiliation she’d recently suffered, and she sought comfort by taking it out on Dedrick, who resembled the Duke.
“Did you receive the keepsake?”
“……”
“I had no intention of giving it to you, though…”
Delani ground her teeth in fury. Gemma, standing nearby, approached Dedrick and whispered,
“Isn’t your pride too high, young master?”
She was implying he should kneel, but Dedrick struggled to stand firm despite his trembling legs. It was the last shred of his dignity. Gemma placed her hand on his shoulder and pressed down, her sharp nails digging into his skin.
“Urgh!”
Dedrick clenched his teeth against the pain but refused to kneel. The Duchess let out a low chuckle.
“Ah, so that’s why Somerset spoke that way about you.”
“If you have something to say—”
Dedrick’s voice faltered as he tried to speak in a cold tone, fear gripping him. The event that day loomed over him like a giant shadow, ready to devour him.
“You dare to open your mouth in front of me?”
The Duchess continued, not even sparing a glance at the pale Dedrick.
“Who could it be? Who has changed you?”
“……”
“Was it the knight of the Black Hawk who treated you? It seems you went out to meet him early this morning.”
“……”
“Should I take care of him myself, as punishment for changing you? He might be a Black Hawk knight, but he’s a pitiful wretch who can’t even summon his aura. It wouldn’t be hard to get rid of him.”
As the threats continued, Dedrick’s body trembled uncontrollably, as though he were falling into a deep, pitch-black abyss.
‘I’m scared…’
Just when he felt like he might suffocate—
‘Didi!’
A girl’s voice echoed in his mind. It was as though a thin ray of soft gray light pierced the darkness of the cave.
‘I hope Didi finds happiness.’
A bright smile appeared in his mind, and with it, a small surge of courage. Though still trembling, Dedrick voiced his thoughts.
“D-Duchess, with all due respect… you were the one who allowed me to learn swordsmanship if someone were willing to teach me.”
“……”
For a moment, she was speechless.
In the past, Delani had spread vile rumors within the knights’ order to prevent Dedrick from learning swordsmanship—that he was arrogant and ungrateful, treating everyone with disdain. The rumors were effective; no Black Hawk knight wanted to teach him, and the White Hawk knights under her command didn’t even consider it.
She had never expected to be caught by her own words.
“…Fine, as you said, I won’t contradict myself.”
The Duchess stepped back, confident she could control such a small child whenever she wished.
She motioned to Gemma, who finally removed her hand from Dedrick’s shoulder.
“Where were you last night?”
The sudden question left Dedrick puzzled, but he answered earnestly.
“I was in my room.”
“Axel fell out of bed last night, claiming he was hit by someone.”
“……”
“He says it was you.”
“…What?”
Dedrick’s expression was genuinely confused, his innocence clear. Delani hadn’t actually thought he was guilty either.
She knew Axel and Somerset always blamed Dedrick whenever something went wrong. She was merely confirming her suspicions.
‘As expected.’
Delani frowned slightly, annoyed by Axel’s constant whining.
“And Axel’s servant released a scorpion in your room. Strangely enough, that scorpion was later found dead in the servant’s quarters.”
“…Pardon?”
Delani studied Dedrick closely.
He was too timid and frightened of her to even manage his expression. His baffled face made it obvious he wasn’t the culprit.
‘It must have been the servant trying to get back at Axel.’
How foolish.
Clicking her tongue softly, she saw Dedrick flinch. Since this matter didn’t concern her, she quickly changed the subject.
“Second Prince will visit the duchy soon. Stay in your room unless I give you permission to leave.”
“……”
“Understood?”
“…Yes.”
“Good. You may go.”
Dedrick fled the room as if running for his life. Watching his retreating figure, Gemma closed the door and approached the Duchess.
“Madam, why did you let him go? Shouldn’t we stop him?”
Though Dedrick’s changes and desire to train in swordsmanship were clear, the Duchess chose to ignore them.
“Leave him be. He needs to experience the despair that comes from failure if his efforts continue to yield poor results.”
The Duchess’s eyes grew cold as she thought of Amelia’s golden hair.
“By then, he’ll willingly give up on everything himself.”
She glanced over the book from Herba Academy on the table.
“Herba Academy, huh…”
The Duchess smiled wickedly.
I finally found Dedrick.
Unlike Delani’s room, the drawing room had no wardrobe, so I couldn’t hide. I nervously paced near the door, unsure of what to do.
Just then, the door burst open, and Dedrick stormed out, his head hanging low, seemingly unaware of my presence.
He ran down the hallway, and I quickly started chasing him from a distance.
‘I have to reach his room first!’
But Didi runs so fast!
After meeting with the Duchess, Dedrick might not want to show himself to me.
I had to reach the room before him…
How did you run so fast?!
Out of breath, I was relieved when he went straight into the bathroom.
Taking the chance, I hid in the wardrobe, closed the door, and waited, breathing deeply.
“Huff, huff…”
“Phew… So fast…”
Why hadn’t I thought of hiding in the nearest wardrobe earlier?
After calming my racing heart, I realized he was taking a long time in the bathroom.
‘Is he crying?’
I cautiously opened the wardrobe door and knocked softly on the bathroom door.
“Didi, are you in there?”
“……”
“Do you need some time alone? I can go somewhere else if you want.”
There was no response. I turned back to the wardrobe but stopped when the bathroom door opened slightly.
His wet black hair dripped water onto the floor, his shoulders drooped, and his head hung low.
He tried to force a smile, but it only made his face look more distorted.
I grabbed a towel and gently pressed it to his hair, then took his hand.
He flinched but didn’t pull away.
“Let’s hide in the wardrobe!”
“…What?”
“Hurry!”
I led him into the wardrobe and closed the door. We sat facing each other inside.
“How is it?”
“…”
“You can’t hear any noise from outside, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“And since it’s just the two of us, we can share body warmth. It’s cozy too. This wardrobe is so big that there’s enough room for both of us to lie down comfortably, isn’t there?”
He gave a small laugh as he watched me excitedly boast about the wardrobe.
“It’s quiet, and it’s just the two of us. You can relax without worrying. No one will see us here.”
“…”
“So, um… if it’s okay, should I give you a hug?”
He hesitated, remaining silent, so I gently wrapped my arms around his head. After a moment, he clung tightly to my waist, burying his face in my shoulder.
I softly patted his back as he silently wept.
I knew how mentally exhausting it was for him to meet with the Duchess.
And then there was Gemma.
They had imprisoned Dedrick’s mother in the tower, poisoned her to death, and even stole her keepsakes. Dedrick had nothing left.
It must be unbearable to share the same space with those who had taken everything from him in an instant.
More than anything, Didi is still so young.
Even an adult would struggle to bear such a burden alone.
“From now on, if anything happens, come here to the wardrobe.”
“…Together?”
“Together.”
“…But this wardrobe is yours.”
“It only exists because of you. It’s our secret hideout.”
Dedrick smiled warmly and rubbed his face against me.
Like a cat.
I stroked his still-damp hair.
In the calming silence that seemed to soothe the soul, Dedrick asked in a whisper.
“Aren’t you going to ask what happened?”
“Yeah.”
“Why not?”
“Because rumors will spread anyway, and I’ll hear about it eventually.”
“Pfft…”
