Chapter 035
Dedrick stepped forward with his left foot, extending his arm to strike Jacob’s neck with the wooden sword. Jacob effortlessly dodged by stepping back. With that, the sparring match began in earnest, both of them clashing their swords seriously.
Clang! Clack!
As they fought, Jacob constantly pointed out Dedrick’s weaknesses.
“This time, attacking the legs would be more effective than using your arms.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Straighten your back. Your wrist is too stiff.”
Dedrick seemed to absorb the advice quickly. I wasn’t an expert in swordsmanship, but I could tell he was improving because Jacob frequently praised him.
When the sparring session ended, I jumped up from my seat, unable to contain my excitement.
“Didi! That was amazing!”
I ran toward Dedrick, ready to hug him, but stopped right in front of him. Dedrick, seemingly unconsciously, spread his arms as if to receive a hug but then froze.
“Why did you stop? Do your arms hurt?”
“N-No.”
Dedrick awkwardly lowered his arms. Feeling embarrassed, I pretended to stretch and started circling around him excitedly.
“You were so cool! I don’t know much about sword fighting, but even I could tell you were incredible!”
Dedrick’s lips twitched as if he wanted to respond. Seeing that, I smiled brightly and added,
“You must be exhausted. You worked really hard!”
“……”
“And your hands look so beautiful. Even with all the calluses, they’re the most beautiful hands in the world.”
“……”
Dedrick bit his lip, then turned to Jacob.
“That’s enough for today. Something urgent just came to mind.”
“Of course. You did exceptionally well today.”
“Yes! Didi was amazing—”
Before I could even finish my sentence, I was teleported away.
How rude.
Frustrated, I smacked the wardrobe next to me.
“Yes! Didi was amazing—”
Before she could finish, the girl disappeared. Dedrick flinched.
‘She was teleported.’
His heart pounded as he clenched his fists.
‘She called me pretty.’
She always called him pretty.
Even though his hands had become rough from sword training, she admired them as if they were the most precious jewels in the world.
His fingers itched with the urge to cup her soft, white cheeks.
He wanted to run to her and hold her close.
“I’ll be going now.”
With unusual haste, he hurried down the hill.
“……!”
But before he could go any further, he was blocked by a man who looked exactly like him—the Grand Duke of Blackwood.
A dark shadow loomed over Dedrick, its weight pressing down on him like a suffocating force. His skin tingled under the overwhelming presence. Clenching his jaw, Dedrick looked up at him.
“Are you feeling well?”
The sudden concern felt ridiculous. Still, Dedrick simply answered shortly,
“…Yes.”
The Grand Duke observed him silently before shifting his gaze to Jacob, who was approaching hurriedly.
Jacob placed his fist over his heart and bowed deeply.
“I greet His Grace, the Duke of Blackwood.”
The Grand Duke acknowledged his greeting with a slight nod before turning his attention back to Dedrick.
Then, in a cold, emotionless tone, he spoke.
“You’ve improved.”
“……”
Dedrick hadn’t expected the duke to be watching. But knowing that didn’t make him happy.
This man had never paid attention to him before. Now, suddenly showing up here, Dedrick couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
Dedrick remained silent, while Jacob hesitated, unsure if he should leave. But leaving without permission wasn’t an option.
More than anything, Jacob was worried.
‘Will he be upset that someone like me is teaching the young master?’
They had met before because of the Somerset incident, but since then, they hadn’t interacted. Jacob couldn’t help but feel tense.
However, the Grand Duke simply gestured for him to leave. Understanding the silent order, Jacob gave a polite bow before heading down the hill.
Now alone with the Grand Duke, Dedrick felt even more uncomfortable. He considered leaving first, but the man blocked his path.
“……”
“Sir Jacob’s swordsmanship is good enough to lead the Black Hawks one day.”
Dedrick looked up in surprise at the unexpected praise.
Then, in an icy voice, the Grand Duke added,
“If he ever awakens his aura.”
Dedrick bristled at the remark and immediately defended his teacher.
“He will awaken his aura soon.”
“If you want, I can find you another teacher.”
Dedrick couldn’t understand him.
The Grand Duke had never interfered with his life before.
He had never tried to take care of him.
Now, suddenly acting like a concerned father was more irritating than anything else.
“Sir Jacob is my only teacher. If it weren’t for him, the Somerset case would have been buried. No one else has ever cared for me as much as he does.”
He emphasized the last sentence, but the Grand Duke remained cold.
“You won’t progress if you learn from someone who hasn’t even awakened his aura.”
“There is no better sword instructor than Sir Jacob. Stop trying to force this.”
Dedrick clenched his fists, grinding his teeth to hold back his frustration.
‘Mother never wanted me to go against Father.’
The only reason he still called this man “Father” was because of his mother’s dying wish.
Dedrick took a deep breath, forcing down his anger.
He didn’t want to argue any longer, so he changed the subject.
“Do you know a man named Arnold?”
The Grand Duke’s expression didn’t change. It was impossible to tell whether he recognized the name or not.
“He wants to enter the Grand Duke’s castle. The Grand Duchess seems willing to allow it. It looked like they had some kind of leverage over each other.”
Whether the Grand Duke cared or not, Dedrick simply stated the facts he had uncovered.
“There’s a secret passage in the underground fruit storage. Press against the wall where the apple crates are stacked, and it opens.”
“That’s not important right now. What matters is—”
“When did you ever care about me?”
Dedrick finally snapped, glaring at the Grand Duke with bloodshot eyes.
“I will handle things my way.”
“……”
As always, the Grand Duke said nothing.
‘He’s always like this.’
He acted like someone who had already decided to leave, someone who had no attachments to anything.
Dedrick clenched his fists even tighter and finished what he had to say.
“Gemma uses that passage. Should a mere maid have access to a secret passage the Grand Duke doesn’t even know about? She and Arnold seem to use it frequently.”
“……”
The Grand Duke’s face remained unreadable.
But Dedrick could tell—he already knew about Arnold. He had just chosen to ignore it.
That meant Dedrick had nothing more to say.
“I’ll be going now.”
As he turned to leave, the Grand Duke finally spoke.
“I’ll have the passage sealed.”
Dedrick didn’t look back.
He ran.
He didn’t want to be in the same space as that man any longer.
The good mood he had been in earlier had completely disappeared because of him.
Later…
The Duke silently watched as Dedrick disappeared into the distance.
A rustle in the bushes.
Jenkinson stepped out, waiting for orders.
Without looking at him, the Duke commanded,
“Appoint Jacob Howard as Dedrick’s official sword instructor.”
Jenkinson barely held back a sigh and responded.
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
“And seal off every secret passage that woman knows about.”
“Every passage? Not just the one in the fruit storage?”
“All of them.”
Jenkinson blanched.
“You’ve made him his master; now you’re even—”
The Duke raised a hand, cutting him off.
“Is it so wrong for a father to do this much?”
Jenkinson let out a weary sigh.
“…Then I should prepare for your absence. You’ll need to leave the estate for a while.”
The Duke said nothing, and Jenkinson studied him with a troubled gaze.
Meanwhile…
Before Dedrick arrived in his room, I had checked on the wardrobe once more.
So far, there has been no suspicious activity from the two brothers, Delani and Gemma.
As I perched on the wardrobe and waited, the door suddenly burst open.
Dedrick rushed in.
“Didi?”
Before I could react, he hugged me and lifted me into the air.
“Ahh—!”
I gasped, inhaling the cool morning air before he gently set me down.
I blinked at him in confusion.
Dedrick looked at me eagerly, his expression filled with anticipation.
“Did I do well?”
Good for Dedrick. Stand up to that sperm donor.
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