Chapter 023
Early in the morning, Joanna woke up from bed.
No matter how comfortable the room was, she couldn’t sleep well whenever she came here.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she frowned.
“Ugh… so annoying.”
Although she couldn’t show it in front of the Blackwood family, Joanna disliked Somerset, who was always showing off in front of her.
He was chatty and greedy, and she hated that he was a man wrapped around his mother’s skirts.
“The whole engagement must be something his mother is pushing to secure his position.”
It annoyed her even more that Somerset acted like they were already engaged, even though nothing was finalized.
Many people would have been desperate to step foot in the duke’s castle, but not Joanna.
She had been forced to come by her parents, but she wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Since lunchtime yesterday, Somerset had been glued to her side, constantly chattering, leaving her stressed and irritable.
“I just want to go home.”
Unable to get a moment alone, Joanna finally threw a shawl over her shoulders and opened the door.
The knight stationed outside naturally followed her, but Joanna’s eyes narrowed.
“Is there a safer place than the duke’s castle? I want to be alone, so don’t follow me.”
Her sharp tone made the knight hesitate. If something happened to Joanna, the knight knew he’d bear the blame from her parents.
Sensing his hesitation, Joanna added,
“I won’t tell my parents. Just give me a moment alone.”
Reluctantly, the knight nodded, knowing Joanna’s irritation would only worsen if he refused.
Feeling a bit freer, Joanna stepped outside to clear her mind and strolled around. The calm dawn air, light mist, and faint scent of flowers lifted her mood slightly.
As she walked without any particular destination, she heard the faint sound of footsteps.
Tap-tap-tap.
Her body froze.
“Did someone realize I was gone and come looking for me? Ugh, it must be Somerset.”
Thinking of the persistent Somerset, Joanna hid in a nearby bush.
Soon, through the lifting mist, she saw someone—a boy running, perhaps for morning exercise.
“Who’s that?”
Curious, she leaned forward slightly for a better look. The breeze pushed back the boy’s hair, revealing his face clearly.
Eyes as blue as the cold ocean, a sharp nose, delicate features, and lips releasing warm breaths.
“…”
Joanna found herself staring at the beautiful, sweat-soaked boy, mesmerized.
“I’ve never seen him before… but such dark black hair is rare.”
As she watched the boy, a memory suddenly flashed through her mind. Her eyes sparkled.
“Could it be…!”
The boy ran past the bush where Joanna was hiding, and without thinking, she stood up.
“I can’t let him get away.”
Feeling an intense urge, Joanna chased after him. She believed she would regret it if she didn’t act now. Joanna had always dreamed of love at first sight, and this boy felt like destiny.
“Dedrick Blackwood!”
The boy looked just like the duke she had briefly glimpsed from afar before.
Rumors described him as gloomy and frail, but the boy in front of her was entirely different. Joanna’s heart was captured instantly.
“If I have to get engaged, I’d rather it be him!”
“Wait, please!”
But her voice didn’t reach him. Desperate, Joanna ran after him but tripped and fell.
“Ahhh!”
Her knees stung slightly, and tears welled up, but catching him was more important.
She quickly looked up to see if he was gone, but to her relief, the boy had stopped and was looking back at her.
Joanna smiled faintly as he approached.
“Are you… talking to me?”
Even his voice was lovely. Joanna, ignoring her ungraceful state, reached out her hand toward him.
“Yes! Can you—”
Her words faltered as her eyes met his icy blue gaze.
“Help me up, Dedrick.”
Joanna decided to use this opportunity to her advantage.
Of course, Dedrick had already noticed her presence.
His skills had improved to the point where he could easily detect someone hiding nearby.
He had pretended not to notice her because he didn’t want to get involved with Somerset’s favorite person and create unnecessary trouble.
Dedrick was well aware of Somerset’s deep affection for Joanna, which made him even more cautious.
He stared at her outstretched hand without taking it. If Somerset saw him holding her hand, it would only cause problems for Dedrick.
“Dedricl?” Joanna called him hesitantly, noticing he wasn’t responding.
Thinking he might not recognize her and was being cautious, she quickly introduced herself.
“I’m Joanna from the Primrose family. I’m not a suspicious person.”
She smiled warmly, but Dedricl remained cold and composed.
“I’ll call someone to help you.”
Joanna panicked and grabbed his sleeve.
“Why? You can just help me yourself!”
“You’re the woman engaged to my brother, aren’t you? I don’t want to cause any misunderstandings.”
“It’s just helping me up. Wouldn’t he praise you for that?”
“I doubt it. My brother and I are rivals for the heir position. If he thought I laid a hand on his future fiancée, he’d be furious. Besides, you should already know my position in this household.”
“…”
“Then, I’ll be on my way.”
Without hesitation, Dedrick turned to leave. Joanna struggled to stand on her own, brushing off her dress.
As she watched his retreating figure, her smile grew wider.
“Perfect!”
She admired how he left no room for misunderstanding and how direct he was. Unlike Somerset, who constantly babbled about nonsense, Dedrick spoke concisely and got to the point.
For the first time, Joanna felt a sense of excitement about staying at the duke’s castle.
“Being an outcast suits him. I can help him.”
Then, he’ll open up to me.
“Just like in that fairy tale!”
Joanna Primrose, age fifteen.
With her beautiful appearance, she was envied by everyone because she was one of the most admired young ladies among noblewomen of her age.
This lady was completely immersed in romantic stories.
She stared intently at Dedrick, who had just come out, freshly cleaned. His ears were red as he tried to avoid her gaze.
The way he shyly covered his face with the towel on his head was adorable.
Without realizing it, she stared at him so much that it became uncomfortable, and Eventually, Dedrick couldn’t hold back and, with a flushed face, stole a quick side glance at her.
“Why…?”
“…”
“Are you mad at me?”
“I never get mad at you, Didi.”
Only at someone like Somerset.
Dedrick walked over to her, who was sitting on top of a wardrobe, gently pulled her hands, and asked cautiously,
“Then why do you keep staring?”
“Where do you keep going so early in the morning?”
“Ah…”
When Dedrick looked a bit troubled, She quickly added,
“I wasn’t going to ask because I respect your personal time. But I’m too curious.”
I want to know everything about you.
At her last comment, Dedrick scratched his blushing cheek.
“I just thought I was lacking stamina, so I’ve been running for exercise…”
Obviously, there’s no comparison between Somerset and Dedrick if you have eyes, but she, remember, Dedrick was already taken!
“Should I run with you?”
“No, you sleep too much for that.”
“If you’re okay with it, I could join you.”
Even if I get called back to the wardrobe halfway, we could at least start together.
But Dedrick gently refused.
“I’ll take the thought to heart.”
He tousled her hair and led her toward the desk.
Before Joanna left, Dedrick intended to make the most of this peaceful time by finishing two fairy tale books.
Dedrick had been working with her on reading and writing. Although she once thought of burning her notes each day, Dedrick stopped her.
“I’ll keep them safe,” he had said, hiding them somewhere she didn’t know.
“Today’s storybook is ‘The Orphan and the Prince.’”
“Oh, I know that one!”
