Chapter 51
I listened carefully to the voices of the nobles.
“Was Young Lord Dedrick close with the Second Prince?”
“They look so friendly…”
“Did I perhaps insult Young Lord Dedrick before?”
Among people Dedrick’s age, the most influential figure was undoubtedly the Second Prince.
The Second Prince liked talented people and wasn’t kind to just anyone.
Since he looked close to Dedrick, everyone was busy thinking.
Was Dedrick really that capable?
Should they start building a relationship with him now?
Dedrick’s reputation is slowly rising!
Of course, all of this was thanks to the Second Prince, so even the Grand Duchess wouldn’t think Dedrick had suddenly become impressive on his own.
But she’ll still keep a close eye on him.
As expected, Gemma was pretending not to care while secretly watching Dedrick closely.
“Ahem. There was a little commotion, but please continue enjoying the banquet.”
Axel awkwardly tried to smooth over the situation, and the music started again. But because of what just happened, the hall still felt a bit chaotic.
At that moment, a servant opened the door to the lounge, and I quickly slipped inside first.
Dedrick, the prince, and Eugene followed and sat on the sofa.
In the awkward silence, I glanced around to check if anyone was listening.
“Didi, it seems safe. You can talk freely!”
“…”
But Dedrick was a boy of few words unless he was talking to me.
With all three of us sitting in silence, Eugene hesitantly spoke up, sensing the tension.
“Um, thank you for letting me come with you…”
“I was the one who spoke to you first and got you caught up in unnecessary trouble, so I should be the one apologizing.”
“Ah, no!”
Eugene lowered his head, his face turning red.
“I- I was actually happy that you talked to me first.”
Hmm, he reminds me of the old Dedrick.
As the awkward atmosphere continued, the prince glanced at Eugene before turning to Dedrick.
“You spoke to him first?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“Did you feel sorry for him?”
Ugh, this guy is testing him again.
Even without my advice, Dedrick answered calmly.
“Someone in my position has no right to pity anyone. I just… wanted to get along with him.”
Then, he glanced at me, and I clapped for him, letting him know he did well. Only then did his expression relax a little.
The prince had been watching Dedrick carefully, so he immediately caught the subtle change in his expression.
“Hmm, looks like someone just praised you.”
“Ugh! I told you not to make it obvious!”
My fists are itching!
Dedrick tried to hold back a smile, but the prince just sighed.
“…What a shame. I wanted to spend the evening alone with you.”
That sounded kind of dangerous! If someone overheard, they might get the wrong idea!
“Ah, uh, then I-I should leave…!”
Eugene, feeling like an uninvited guest, hurriedly tried to stand up, but Dedrick stopped him.
“His Highness is just being mischievous. You don’t need to leave.”
“Oh…”
Even though Eugene laughed awkwardly, he couldn’t hide his happiness.
“Be that kind to me as well.”
Dedrick remained silent. But the prince didn’t seem to care and continued speaking.
“Ah, by the way, tell Young Lord Somerset that his little solo act was quite amusing.”
“…”
“That boy is really…”
Why? Is he about to say it was my doing?
Dedrick must have felt nervous because he quickly cut him off.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, I get it.”
Still, the prince looked at Dedrick suspiciously.
“So, you really spoke to him first just to be friends? I don’t see you as the type to do that…”
Eugene also seemed curious about the reason, sneaking glances at Dedrick. He looked a little troubled.
I should step in.
“Tell him that you admired how he didn’t cry even when Young Lord Somerset kept bothering him at every banquet!”
I quickly added,
“If he asks when you saw that, just say you weren’t invited to the banquet but watched from afar!”
That would create a sense of connection.
Dedrick slowly opened his mouth.
“I knew my brother was saying unpleasant things to you at every banquet. But you never ran away. I admired that and wanted to talk to you.”
Eugene’s eyes wavered. His lips trembled as he spoke.
“W-When did you see that?”
“You wouldn’t have noticed me. I was never invited, so I watched from the sidelines.”
“…I see.”
Eugene hesitated before looking at Dedrick with a flushed nose.
“No one has ever thought that way about me before…”
Of course.
Eugene had always been timid. But despite all the harsh words thrown at him, he had never once cried.
Even when he was insulted and humiliated, he held back his tears and endured it.
Now, someone had finally acknowledged his efforts. Dedrick must have meant a lot to him.
Sniffling, Eugene gathered his courage.
“…If it’s okay with you, can I stay with you for the rest of the banquet?”
Dedrick nodded, and Eugene smiled brightly.
Great!
First the Second Prince, and now Eugene—both were now on Dedrick’s side.
What mattered now was the future. But knowing Dedrick’s personality, he wouldn’t hurt anyone.
And once someone developed goodwill toward him, it wouldn’t fade easily.
The prince, watching the two, suddenly asked Dedrick,
“Why did they invite you this time when they never did before?”
“They probably wanted to fix the rumors.”
Rumors about how Dedrick was being mistreated.
And Dedrick was right.
The prince nodded and scanned him from head to toe.
“Well, at least they haven’t been tormenting you as much. You’re taller and look healthier than before. I bet the formal attire I gave you last time doesn’t fit anymore?”
“…By the way, how did you know I didn’t have any formal attire back then?”
“I took a look in your wardrobe.”
“Why did you go through my wardrobe without permission…?”
“We’re not strangers anymore. We share a secret, don’t we?”
Why does he keep saying they share a secret…?
Eugene might start feeling left out.
I gave Dedrick a worried look, and he subtly warned the prince.
“…Your Highness.”
“Ah, fine.”
Perez glanced at Eugene, whose expression darkened slightly, while his own face brightened.
Ah. Ahh!
“I see now!”
“…”
“Your Highness is jealous. Because Didi approached Eugene first.”
Wait, I told them to build friendships, not fall in love…
I never said to turn this into a battle of love!
“Didi is mine. Right?”
Dedrick didn’t care about anyone watching and nodded his head firmly at my question.
Eugene looked at us with a puzzled expression. The prince seemed to have caught on.
Eugene cautiously asked,
“Why all of a sudden…?”
“Just… exercising my neck because it hurts.”
“Ah, I see.”
Wait, he actually believed that?
Meanwhile, Somerset, all dressed up again, was enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention among the nobles.
The nobles’ attitudes toward him had subtly changed from before, but clueless Somerset didn’t notice.
Joanna stood next to him, struggling to keep her expression in check. Her lips were twitching as if she was forcing herself to smile.
I turned to Dedrick and said,
“Didi, make sure you never go near the fountain, okay? Oh, and don’t make any enemies among the people here! You can handle that on your own, right?”
He looked at me, confused.
I answered his unspoken question.
“I need to look around. The Grand Duchess seems suspicious.”
I stared at the grand, ocean-like fountain set up in the middle of the hall.
That thing is the problem.
Delani had once pushed Dedrick into that fountain, turning him into a laughingstock.
If it had ended there, it could’ve been seen as just a young noble’s mistake.
But the real problem came after that.
