Chapter 025
I manipulated Dedrick from the side.
“Just say you brought the wrong book. You were trying to bring another one but made a mistake, and now you’re going to put it back.”
“It was just a mistake. I was going to put it back,” Dedrick repeated exactly what I said, and Joanna, showing clear disappointment, drooped her shoulders.
“Ah, I see.”
Joanna, fiddling with the fairytale book, nervously spoke to him.
“Don’t put it back. Read it, it’s really fun!”
“No, please leave my room.”
His firm refusal was so blunt that she awkwardly closed her lips.
I watched Joanna anxiously.
If she wasn’t so obsessed with Dedrick, she would’ve been a great person.
She was capable and knew her strengths, using them well.
Without the female lead, I thought she might’ve ended up with Dedrick.
If she likes him, only to end up frustrated…
She might as well not like him.
It would be better if she gave up on Dedrick and lived her own life.
“This kind of behavior is burdensome.”
Dedrick firmly said, making Joanna’s eyes widen.
Somerset glared at him and grabbed Joanna’s wrist.
“Let’s go, Joanna. You don’t know yet, but he’s not as great as you think.”
Why the hell is he grabbing her arm like that?
Joanna frowned, clearly uncomfortable. She tried to pull her hand away, but Somerset wouldn’t let go.
I was trying to stay out of it, but this isn’t going to work.
I raised both hands and struck Somerset’s wrist.
Whack!
Surprised by the sudden pain, Somerset let go of Joanna’s wrist.
Joanna quickly stepped two paces away from him.
“Ah! What’s going on?”
Somerset rubbed his wrist and looked around in confusion.
Ignoring his drama, Joanna bowed her head slightly as she looked at Dedrick.
“I’ll come back properly later, Dedrick.”
She didn’t give up.
She gave Somerset a look as if saying, What kind of person is this? and gracefully walked out.
Somerset rushed to follow her but stopped and warned Dedrick.
“Don’t ever meet Joanna again. If I see you two together again, I won’t let it slide!”
“I won’t let you off either!”
I yelled as loud as I could, hoping it would make me feel better, even if they couldn’t hear me.
The stormy pair left, and the room fell into silence.
Dedrick looked at me, locked the door, and stood in front of me.
“I was wrong.”
“When did you meet?”
“…I saw her briefly after exercising this morning. I told her not to acknowledge me and came straight here.”
“Okay.”
“It’s true, nothing happened.”
Dedrick explained the whole situation. I raised up on my tiptoes and brushed his bangs back.
“…Why?”
I stared up at his face, which was suddenly blushing, and nodded.
“Your face fits the story…”
His face was covered by his bangs, so I couldn’t see it clearly, but it was definitely shining with beauty.
His voice was also nice, so he matched the “prince” image Joanna had in mind.
Whether young or old, people fall for looks, just like in the novels.
“Eh?”
“Dedrick is handsome. When you were running, your bangs moved, and I guess that’s when she fell for you.”
He was already good-looking, but these days he looked even better, probably because he was eating well.
Also, with all the exercise, his muscles…
Can running really do this?
I heard Dedrick swallow hard as he nervously rubbed his strong arms.
He quickly covered his mouth with his hand and turned his head away.
“Should I wear a mask?”
“A mask?”
“…If my face is that handsome, wouldn’t it be better if no one saw it?”
“What are you talking about? First impressions are really important. Your beautiful face should be shown!”
“I don’t want to get involved with someone like her.”
Hmm. If we leave things as they are, things might get complicated.
It’s probably better to stay out of the spotlight until he’s an adult.
Herba Academy’s age limit is 18.
That’s just before he becomes an adult, so as long as he stays low until he turns 19, there won’t be a risk of getting kicked out of the academy.
…What should I do?
Lost in thought, Dedrick gently cupped my cheek.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I was thinking of hiding you away so I could keep you all to myself.”
It was a joke, but he was genuinely happy.
“I like that.”
Kidnapping isn’t good, though…
“By the way, what should I do now?”
“Eh?”
“Joanna Primrose.”
That was definitely a concern.
Somerset was already filled with an inferiority complex towards Dedrick.
That inferiority was so strong that he would do anything, even reckless things.
If Joanna fell for Dedrick earlier than expected, Somerset’s behavior would only get worse.
His one-sided love for her was intense.
He definitely shouldn’t get involved with Joanna, but I don’t know how to avoid it.
“Ah… I don’t know.”
“What if she keeps coming to find me until we return?”
“Then it won’t work.”
The duchess likes Joanna a lot.
“Right? It won’t work?”
With an oddly bright smile, he tightly grabbed my hand and asked.
“Yes, it won’t work. Well, how about rejecting her firmly?”
That’s the only solution I could think of.
She hasn’t fallen too deep yet.
And honestly, she seems like a pretty decent girl, polite and good at talking.
It’s a shame for Somerset, though.
Maybe she became that way because of him, acting like the villain in the story. It’s a reasonable suspicion. Somerset is no help to anyone.
“I’ll also break the illusion she has for you…”
If she was looking for a “prince,” I could make sure she knows that Dedrick isn’t one.
“Break the illusion?”
I smiled playfully and spoke.
“Maybe pick your nose or something…”
“I’ll do it.”
“…”
“No, it’s just a joke.”
He took my joke so seriously that I had to stop smiling awkwardly and shook my head.
“No. I think it’s best to just refuse her firmly and not see her again until we go back.”
Even if Joanna hadn’t changed her mind, by now, all of this would’ve reached the Duchess.
Then, the Duchess would try to get Joanna and Somerset closer. If that doesn’t work, she’d probably kick Joanna out quickly.
And she’d never call Joanna back to the Duke’s residence again.
The Duchess would never do anything good for Dedrick.
“So, should I pick my nose?”
Why does the conclusion keep going this way?
“You don’t have to do that… I just said it.”
“But if you tell me to, I will.”
I must look pretty mean if he thinks I would actually make him do that.
That night.
Dedrick couldn’t sleep.
Though his precious monster had said she was fine, he felt bad for causing unnecessary trouble.
Still… I didn’t want to get involved with Joanna Primrose.
He was glad about that. It felt like the girl was starting to claim him as hers.
Most importantly, she said she wanted to lock him away, only for herself.
Thinking about that made Dedrick cover his flushed face with his hand.
His whole body felt hot, but he didn’t mind—it actually felt good.
I want to get closer.
He licked his dry lips and glanced at the wardrobe.
After hesitating for a moment, he hugged his pillow and tapped the wardrobe.
Knock knock.
“Yes, there’s a monster in the wardrobe.”
Dedrick chuckled softly as he opened the door a little.
“What’s up?”
He entered, looking at the girl who was lying down, gazing up at him.
“Is something wrong?”
“I’m scared to sleep alone. Can you sleep with me?”
“Huh?”
The girl looked confused, and Dedrick, hugging his pillow tightly, glanced around awkwardly.
He grabbed the girl’s sleeve tightly with one hand and asked carefully.
“…Are you going to kick me out?”
How could I kick him out when he asked so cutely?
Besides, we had already called the wardrobe our secret hideout, so I couldn’t just kick him out.
“No.”
The wardrobe was big enough that it wasn’t uncomfortable.
But his legs were the problem.
I glanced at his awkwardly bent legs.
They say kids grow quickly, but Dedrick seemed to grow every day.
Though, he was still smaller than others his age.
“You can’t stretch your legs, right? It must be uncomfortable.”
Even though I didn’t stretch my legs, being a wardrobe monster, I wasn’t uncomfortable.
“It’s fine.”
I looked at Dedrick, who was strangely stubborn today, but he seemed oddly excited.
I had no reason to kick him out, so I nodded.
I lay down, placing my head on his big pillow, and he carefully took my hand.
