IBACM Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Somerset stood on the stage in the hall, raising his glass.

Everyone’s attention was on him as he smiled in satisfaction and began speaking.

“I sincerely thank everyone for coming today.”

I ignored his speech completely, focusing instead on Lisa and the suspicious movements of the nearby servants.

“…And so, we’ve prepared a special cake for you all to enjoy.”

At Somerset’s signal, a servant entered, pushing a tray with a massive cake on top.

Alright, let’s get started.

I stretched my arms, preparing myself, and moved closer to Lisa.

Originally, I planned to embarrass Somerset…

But the distance between us was too far.

Since he was up on the stage giving a speech, it would be awkward to get too close to him.

Then I’ll target Axel instead…

Right then, Eugene, who was standing next to Axel, nervously called out to Dedrick.

“D-Dedrick, c-come over here….”

He called Dedrick over but then fidgeted anxiously.

As if Dedrick would ever refuse.

Axel stood quietly beside him, lost in thought.

Not that I cared.

“Let’s go, Didi. We’ll aim for Axel instead of Somerset.”

Dedrick smoothly moved to stand next to Eugene.

And, as expected, Perez slipped in beside him.

Perez leaned in and whispered into Dedrick’s ear.

“If you were going to have fun with the Closet Monster, you should’ve taken me along too.”

“Why would I do that?”

“How cold! We know more about each other than anyone else, don’t we?”

That just kind of happened.

By then, the cake had reached the center of the hall.

People started gathering around, and I scanned the room for the Grand Duchess.

She was slowly making her way inside, covering her mouth with her fan while signaling to someone.

Lisa quietly crept up behind Dedrick.

I gently bumped her to the side.

“Ah!”

Lisa, caught off guard, lost her balance and ended up shoving Axel forward.

CRASH!

Axel fell face-first into the cake.

“Mmmph!”

As he struggled to pull himself out, he slipped on the cream-covered floor and fell again with a loud thud.

“AARGH!”

I quickly shouted to Dedrick.

“Didi, help him up! But be careful—he’ll probably shove you away! Dodge it, okay?”

Dedrick nodded and reached out a hand.

“B-brother, are you alright…?”

Wow, he’s gotten so much better at acting.

I watched proudly, knowing what was about to happen next.

“Get away!”

SLAP!

Axel smacked Dedrick’s hand away with so much force that the sharp crack echoed throughout the hall.

“Ah….”

Dedrick’s hand turned red.

For a moment, I felt awful.

“I told you to dodge it!”

Dedrick just smiled reassuringly and stepped back.

“I-I’m sorry, Brother….”

His hand looked so red.

Do I have any ointment left?

I sniffled as I stared at his injured hand.

I had wanted to create a dramatic scene, but I never wanted Didi to actually get hurt.

“Y-young Master!”

A maid hurriedly tried to help Axel, but the slippery cream on the floor made him flail even more.

“Pfft!”

“Haha, what a mess….”

“It seems like bad luck has struck both Blackwood brothers today.”

Laughter and whispers spread through the crowd.

Somerset’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“You…!”

From his perspective, Axel had been ruining his afternoon all day.

But before he could explode, the Grand Duchess stepped in.

“Enough.”

“M-Mother!”

Delani swept her sharp gaze over the young nobles in the room.

Immediately, they lowered their heads and fell silent.

“It was just a little accident. No need to make a fuss.”

With a warm smile, she gently calmed Somerset down before signaling the maids.

The maids quickly helped Axel to his feet.

“Axel, are you alright? But even if you’re upset, you shouldn’t have hit Dedrick’s hand like that.”

She pretended to be a kind and loving mother as she carefully held Dedrick’s hand.

“That must hurt. I’ll call for a healer.”

As soon as she touched him, Dedrick flinched hard.

“Didi, I’m here. It’s okay.”

I quickly reassured him.

He barely managed to calm himself before replying,

“…This much is fine. Thank you.”

His flat tone made Delani’s eyebrow twitch.

She had expected him to react more dramatically to her touch.

But since his response was too normal, she looked irritated.

“…Still, make sure to get treated.”

Delani finally withdrew her hand.

At her command, the ruined cake was swiftly taken away.

Then, she smoothly wrapped up the situation.

“There was a small commotion, but I trust everyone will understand. It was simply due to poor event preparation.”

Then, with a gentle smile, she added,

“After all… there’s no guarantee that something like this won’t happen to you one day. Don’t you agree?”

“…”

“…”

That was a thinly veiled threat.

She was basically saying that if they didn’t keep their mouths shut, they might be the next ones to suffer.

But honestly?

This would only make people resent her more.

She and her incompetent sons had made a fool of themselves at the banquet.

And now, instead of admitting it, she was trying to intimidate the guests.

And there’s no such thing as secrets at a banquet.

The moment these people left, they might keep quiet in public.

But in private? They’d tell their families everything.

And soon enough, rumors would spread.

About how both of Blackwood’s sons were complete fools.

And now, people would say that the Grand Duchess was completely blinded by her love for her children.

In other words, Dedrick had managed to win without lifting a finger!

Well, that was convenient.

Delani couldn’t hold back and ended up making a mistake, making things even easier.

All because of her pride.

Somerset’s hot temper was definitely something he inherited from her.

No matter how you looked at them, they were obviously mother and son.

Now, only Somerset, Axel, Delani, and a few of her closest aides remained in the banquet hall.

In the now quiet hall, Delani walked across the floor without saying a word.

Click. Clack.

The sharp sound of her heels echoed through the empty space.

Somerset and Axel anxiously watched their mother’s back.

Both of them bit their lips, bracing themselves for the scolding they knew was coming.

Finally, the clicking of heels stopped.

Without turning around, Delani spoke.

“It seems to me that my sons need to relearn how to walk from the very beginning.”

Somerset protested, looking upset.

“Mother! This isn’t fair! The glass suddenly— No, this is all Axel’s fault!”

Axel’s face twisted in frustration as the blame was suddenly thrown at him.

“Brother!”

“If you had just spilled wine, people would’ve forgotten about it! But you laughed and turned it into a joke at my expense!”

“I-It was because I suddenly got ticklish…!”

“See, Mother? My own brother laughed at me instead of helping me!”

Axel clutched his chest in frustration.

“No! It wasn’t like that! I really—”

“Enough.”

Delani’s cold voice instantly silenced them.

She turned around, her icy gaze falling on her two sons.

Neither of them could meet her eyes, lowering their heads instead.

“Axel, I’m disappointed in you.”

“Mother…!”

Why me again…?!

“How many times have I told you? A younger brother must support his elder brother.”

“…….”

Why… why is it always me?

Axel’s eyes filled with tears.

That was when Somerset smirked and sneered at him.

“See? That’s what you get for acting up.”

Only Axel heard the quiet whisper.

His clenched fists trembled with anger.

Somerset gave him a pitying look before adding,

“What, did you throw yourself at the cake just to ruin the banquet?”

“That wasn’t my fault—!”

“And you shouldn’t have slapped Dedrick’s hand away.”

“Mother! But—”

“Axel. What you should have done was take Dedrick’s hand and thank him.”

“…….”

“Do you not realize how poorly you handled the situation? Especially when people are already talking about you?”

As Delani continued scolding him, Axel bit his lip so hard it started to bleed.