IBACM Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Delani showed up late and pretended to be worried as she helped Dedrick up.

But the moment she touched him, he panicked and pushed her away.

Unfortunately, that only made the rumors she had spread—about how bad the youngest prince’s personality was—seem even more true.

And that was one of the main reasons he ended up going to Herba Academy.

After all, Dedrick had pushed the Grand Duchess in front of everyone.

Delani exaggerated the story, calling it violence, and spread the rumor everywhere.

Everyone there sided with her, and Dedrick was labeled as a hopeless case—a worthless brat who even hit his own mother.

As if that wasn’t enough, he kept falling into Delani’s traps, becoming more and more isolated.

And on top of that, the “Closet Monster” drew even more attention to him. How could Dedrick have possibly endured it all?

In the end, Delani sent him to Herba Academy under the excuse of education.

That’s why I have to stop this first incident from happening.

Especially since Somerset had already caused an unexpected mess, they were bound to make things even worse to cover it up.

I need to be prepared. I also have to watch how the maids are moving.

At the same time, I listened in on the nobles’ conversations.

“A sea-themed banquet in this season…? I heard it was the young lord’s idea. Is that true?”

“Hah! Since it’s hard to see the sea this time of year, I thought I’d bring the experience here instead.”

What’s he going to do when his mother isn’t around anymore…?

He’s so shameless.

If it were me, I would’ve been too embarrassed to even show up.

Oddly enough, no one mentioned how Somerset had been drenched in wine earlier.

I glanced at Axel. He wasn’t enjoying the banquet at all.

He must have realized it by now—

That he was just a substitute, filling in for Somerset whenever needed.

If I play this right, those two might destroy themselves without me having to do anything.

For now, my priority was protecting Dedrick in this banquet.

I paid close attention to the maids, especially those lingering around the fountain or looking around suspiciously.

So far, nothing seemed strange.

But then—

A maid carefully entered the banquet hall. She avoided people’s eyes and quickly walked somewhere.

I hurriedly followed her.

She approached another maid who was waiting nearby. I got as close as possible to listen in.

“Lisa, over here.”

The two naturally slipped into a hallway meant only for servants.

They stopped in a corner, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

“Are we really supposed to leave like this? Weren’t we told to keep watching?”

“The plan has changed.”

The first maid whispered to Lisa.

“Young Lord Somerset was humiliated earlier. Do you think anyone will care if the youngest prince falls into the water now? It’ll just be another disgrace to the Blackwood family.”

“So what are we doing instead?”

Lisa asked dumbly, and the other maid sighed in frustration.

“Ugh, this is why you never get promoted.”

“Why are you attacking me all of a sudden?!”

“Keep your voice down!”

After making sure no one was around, the maid continued.

“We have to make sure the youngest prince is humiliated even worse than the eldest. Even after the banquet, people should only remember him. That’s what Madam wants.”

“Ah… so, what do we do? Are we canceling the fountain plan?”

“We’re bringing out a whole cake. then just accidentally push the youngest prince. Make sure he falls in the most ridiculous way possible.”

“That… I can do.”

“And when it happens, Madam will step in to make sure no one helps him. Keep a close watch.”

“Leave it to me. I’m strong, you know.”

And you’re wasting that strength on this nonsense.

But at least I knew their entire plan now, which was reassuring.

Since this could bring disgrace to the entire family, even the Grand Duchess seemed to be holding back and limiting it to just this.

After all, mistakes made by young nobles would eventually be forgotten with time.

Still, she couldn’t stand the thought of her son being ridiculed, so she was using Dedrick as a scapegoat.

That’s why I have to turn the tables and make sure Somerset or Axel falls into the trap instead of Dedrick.

I headed back to the banquet hall.

It was time to expose this pathetic scheme.

Dedrick tried to stay in an unnoticed corner, but because of Perez, people kept gathering around him.

Even when he tried to slip away, Perez followed him everywhere, making it impossible.

Meanwhile, nobles kept asking Perez questions.

“Your Highness, there’s a rumor that you’re going to study abroad. Is it true?”

“You look a little pale. Are you feeling unwell…?”

They bombarded him with questions, but none of them were directed at Dedrick.

Dedrick, however, was staring intently at one spot—

The servant hallway Marilyn had disappeared into.

…Why isn’t she coming back?

He had been fine while Marilyn was around, but now that she was gone, he was starting to feel anxious.

Eugene hesitated, watching Dedrick, then finally gathered his courage to ask,

“Young Lord Dedrick… are you feeling unwell?”

“No.”

Before Eugene could even finish speaking, Dedrick replied coldly.

Eugene scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Then, Dedrick realized his mistake.

Marilyn wanted to get closer to him, and if she left, it wasn’t because she was trying to do something bad to him.

Relaxing his stiff voice a little, Dedrick spoke to Eugene.

“You can just call me Dedrick.”

“Ah, c-can I really?”

“You can talk casually too.”

Eugene’s face lit up. His cheeks turned slightly red as he excitedly answered.

“T-Then Dedrick should call me by my name too.”

“Alright.”

Hearing Dedrick agree so easily, Eugene felt like coming to the banquet was the right choice.

His mother would definitely disapprove, saying he was making friends with someone who wouldn’t be of any use.

But Eugene didn’t care.

He didn’t want to ignore the first person who had ever recognized him and reached out to him—just because of his mother.

Though he was timid, Eugene had an unexpected determination.

Once he set his mind on something, he stuck to it.

While Eugene kept chatting happily, Dedrick nodded along at the right moments, but his hands nervously fidgeted.

Should I go check?

But what if I get in the way…?

His mind was completely filled with thoughts of Marilyn when suddenly, someone blocked his view.

It was Ebony.

Dedrick, who had been watching Marilyn, frowned slightly at the interruption.

But because of her long bangs, she didn’t see it.

Ebony looked satisfied just from making eye contact and introduced herself happily.

“It’s nice to meet you, Young Lord. I’d like to formally introduce myself. My name is Ebony of the Silius family!”

Dedrick had studied noble family trees, so he knew exactly how much power the Silius family held in politics.

The Grand Duchess invited them to every banquet, so it was clear they weren’t a family to be ignored.

He needed to be polite.

But Dedrick’s first impression of Ebony wasn’t good.

He remembered how she had misinterpreted the look he gave to Marilyn.

His face stiffened, but he forced himself to stay composed.

“At least don’t make any enemies here!”

That’s what Marilyn had told him.

Even if he didn’t become friends with her, he shouldn’t offend her either.

So Dedrick relaxed his expression slightly and responded to her greeting.

“I am Dedrick of Blackwood.”

“Are you alright after what happened earlier?”

“It happens all the time, so it’s fine.”

Dedrick answered calmly, choosing his words carefully so Somerset wouldn’t look too bad.

“Oh my…”

As expected, Ebony took the bait and looked at him with sympathy.

But Dedrick felt nothing from her gaze.

If she truly pitied him, she would have also spoken to Eugene, who had been humiliated alongside him.

Yet Ebony didn’t even glance in Eugene’s direction.

So in the end, she avoids illegitimate children too.

Dedrick wished she would just leave now, but instead, she hesitated for a moment before speaking in a careful voice.

“If it’s alright with you… would you dance with me?”

At her sudden request, Dedrick’s expression finally turned sour.