Chapter 46
Even though it was about him, Dedrick seemed indifferent.
“You won’t get in trouble just for wearing a formal outfit, right? Let’s ask the Grand Duke for one!”
“No.”
“Then I have no choice! I’ll secretly get one and put it on you while you’re sleeping!”
“…….”
“So just wear it, okay? I’ll take care of everything!”
“Then… make sure it’s loose.”
“……Why?”
What is he planning?
Dedrick answered in a small voice under my suspicious gaze.
“I don’t want to stand out.”
“But…”
Even if he wore it loose, people would still tease him.
Delani had already decided that he must attend the banquet. Ignoring her was not an option.
She would likely spread even worse rumors about him or find new ways to torment him, all to hide her own flaws.
But if he showed up in loose clothes…
“Oh? That might actually work!”
Since the rumor was already spreading that Delani mistreated Dedrick, this would be a great opportunity to make it seem even more true.
Before I could finish my thought, a knock came at the door, followed by a voice.
“Young Master, the Madam has sent your formal attire.”
“Damn it!”
Of course, Delani had already thought of this.
If he refused to wear the outfit she prepared, she would take it as a challenge.
To prove to everyone that he would never be able to compete with Somerset, she wanted him to wear extravagant attire.
It was infuriating!
“…….”
“Oh, sorry for cursing.”
“It’s fine. It’s cute.”
……Cursing is cute?
Dedrick glanced sideways at the girl beside him, who was eagerly studying her letters.
Then, he sighed quietly, holding his head.
‘When should I tell her…?’
For days, he hadn’t been able to focus on studying.
It was all because of the girl’s name.
After much thought, he had finally chosen a name that suited her. But he couldn’t find the right moment to tell her.
He wanted to make it a special gift, so he kept waiting for the perfect time—and now, too much time had passed.
‘It’s an important name…’
The girl didn’t say anything, but he could tell she was looking forward to it.
‘Should I have told her when I gave her the rose…?’
But the name he had chosen didn’t quite match the rose.
Furthermore, he was not certain that a second gift would have the same enigmatic impact as the first.
If not a gift, then maybe he could tell her in a special place—but going outside was too dangerous.
‘Besides, if I say it outside, we won’t even be able to celebrate properly.’
So, it had to be somewhere private—just the two of them. A place where they could fully enjoy the moment together.
“Didi!”
Suddenly, the girl’s voice snapped Dedrick out of his thoughts. He quickly relaxed his grip on his head.
“Are you okay? Does your head hurt?”
Her soft, pale face filled his vision, eyes full of concern.
“Oh, no… I’m fine.”
She gave him a puzzled look before turning back to her studies.
Dedrick let out a small sigh of relief and went back to pretending to read, but his mind was still occupied.
‘When did I like hearing my name the most?’
It wasn’t hard to remember.
He had loved it when his mother called his name—
Especially when…
‘When she woke me up in the morning.’
Whenever she woke him up with a gentle voice, his whole day was filled with warmth and happiness.
‘So…’
Dedrick looked at the girl, her brows furrowed in concentration. A soft smile spread across his face.
‘’So I will call her name.’
Tomorrow morning, when he woke her up.
Just thinking about it made his whole body tremble with nerves.
So much that the girl, startled, shouted—
“Didi, is it an earthquake?!”
She quickly crawled under the desk and pulled him with her.
Dedrick couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Before sunrise, Dedrick sat up in bed and stood in front of the wardrobe.
Dark circles hung under his eyes.
After deciding to tell her, he had been so nervous that he couldn’t sleep at all. He had stayed awake the entire night.
‘I shouldn’t wake her up too early…’
As he waited, sunlight slowly seeped through the white curtains, lighting up the room.
‘It’s time…’
Wiping his sweaty palms on his clothes, Dedrick reached for the wardrobe door and carefully opened it.
Inside, the girl was still sound asleep.
Her long gray eyelashes, soft cheeks, and slightly parted lips—
Dedrick let out a slow breath and gently shook her shoulder.
“Marilyn.”
His voice trembled.
“…….”
“Marilyn, wake up.”
“……Mmm?”
“Marilyn.”
Finally, she rubbed her eyes and blinked, her golden eyes meeting his, still heavy with sleep.
Dedrick, voice still unsteady, called her name once more.
“Marilyn.”
“Who’s Marilyn…?”
She mumbled sleepily, then suddenly froze.
A moment later, she shot upright, wide awake.
Her bright, expectant eyes locked onto his.
“Marilyn… is that my name?”
Dedrick hesitated, then smiled awkwardly.
Just like his mother had done for him, he gently asked—
“Marilyn, did you sleep well?”
“It is my name!”
Marilyn jumped up and started bouncing excitedly.
Unable to contain her joy, she threw her arms around Dedrick in a tight hug.
Then, in a voice full of excitement, she asked—
“Marilyn slept well! Did Didi sleep well?”
“I slept well.”
“Marilyn slept in the wardrobe last night!”
“Yeah. Are you going to have breakfast?”
“Marilyn and Didi will have breakfast together! Yay!”
Still filled with joy, she ran around the room, unable to sit still.
Before, she had no memory of her past name.
In this world, she had been abandoned before anyone had even given her one.
But now—she finally had a name.
It felt like proof that she truly belonged in this world, that she was not just a shadow that had been forgotten.
“My name is Marilyn!”
Her radiant smile was dazzling.
Dedrick, watching in awe, barely noticed as she stepped closer.
“Does it have a meaning?”
Looking at the sparkling girl before him, Dedrick slowly answered—
“It means sea, happiness, joy… or a long-wished-for child.”
“They all sound wonderful. And the sea—it reminds me of your eyes! That makes it even better!”
Marilyn practically bounced with excitement, then suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Do I have a nickname too?”
“……Mary.”
“Mary! So cute! Didi and Mary. Mary and Didi!”
Giggling, she threw herself into Dedrick’s arms once more.
“Thank you, Didi. It’s so beautiful.”
Somehow, she sounded like she was crying.
As Dedrick held her close, his heart swelled.
Muttering softly, he buried his face in her shoulder.
“……Marilyn.”
“Yes!”
Her answer came quickly, but her voice was trembling.
He called her name once more.
“Marilyn.”
“Yes!”
When Marilyn answered brightly, a shiver ran through Dedrick from head to toe. He pulled her even closer.
“…Mary.”
“Yes, Didi!”
“I gave you this name…”
“Didi gave me this name.”
“Then…”
You belong to me now, don’t you?
The words got stuck in his throat, unable to come out. Instead, Dedrick hugged her even tighter, as if he never wanted to let go.
He had given her a name that would stay with her forever.
At first, he thought it was just a simple name. But now, hearing her happily respond to it, an overwhelming satisfaction filled him.
It felt like she was truly his now.
Like they belonged to each other.
A strange sense of fulfillment and a warm, trembling feeling spread through his body.
‘She’s so precious.’
His emotions swelled up so much that it was almost dizzying.
A name only he knew.
His girl.
His monster.
Dedrick lifted his face from Marilyn’s shoulder, his eyes swirling with countless emotions.
‘She’s my monster now.’
Someone he could never let go.
Someone who was truly his.
Ooh are we getting possessive Didi
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