Chapter 59
Dedrick was about to be held accountable, but then a distinct voice cut in from a distance.
“You all know that’s nonsense, right? Calling him unlucky… Dedrick was just standing there. Lord Somerset and Lord Axel fell because of their own carelessness.”
It was Ebony. Joanna glared at her, but she knew she couldn’t change Dedrick’s reputation by speaking up herself.
‘I believe you’ll do well at this banquet.’
‘Don’t disappoint us again, Joanna.’
Her parents’ stern voices echoed in her mind. Even though she now understood what kind of life she wanted, she was still too young to have the courage to pursue it.
In the end, Joanna could only bite her lip.
Somerset, who had been enjoying the gossip, smirked mockingly.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss Ebony. You can’t just ignore a poor, pitiful soul, can you?”
His words implied that Ebony wasn’t defending Dedrick because she believed in his innocence, but simply because she felt sorry for him.
Ebony frowned deeply.
“Dedrick is not pitiful! He’s much more mature and admirable than you!”
Somerset chuckled and teasingly provoked her.
“Oh? Did you fall for my little brother at first sight? How surprising! The famous Miss Ebony, interested in someone as gloomy and unlucky as him? I have to wonder if your eyes are on the ground.”
“Pfft!”
Many nobles suppressed their laughter, aware of the power the Silius family held.
Ebony, however, just laughed.
“Oh, then that means Joanna’s eyes are on the ground too. I wonder if everyone here knows—your engagement was almost called off, not because you changed your mind, but because Joanna was interested in Dedrick!”
“Ebony Silius!”
Joanna screamed her name, but Ebony didn’t stop.
“Not only that, but you even beat Dedrick to a pulp with a sword. A noble and caring older brother like you—doing something so disgraceful… You keep insisting the rumors are exaggerated, but how long do you think you can keep the truth hidden?”
Ebony hit the mark. Somerset, who had been acting relaxed, finally snapped.
“That was just a spar! And whether I kill my brother or not, it’s none of your—!”
From a distance, Delani’s smile quickly disappeared. Then, as if on cue, murmurs spread through the crowd.
“Oh my, did he just say…?”
“Isn’t that a dangerous statement?”
“Did he just imply it’s okay for a brother to kill his sibling…?”
As whispers spread, Somerset flinched and quickly tried to explain.
“I-I didn’t mean it like that! It was just a joke! Can’t I even joke around? Ha… ha…”
Ebony smirked victoriously, but Joanna’s expression darkened.
The secret she had confided in had now been completely exposed. Everyone knew now—she had fallen for Dedrick and given up a prestigious marriage because of it.
‘…My worth will decrease again.’
Joanna clenched her dress tightly, then slowly let go. It had always been this way.
Eventually, she turned and left. Somerset called out urgently.
“Joanna!”
“I’m tired. I need some rest.”
“Damn it. Ebony Silius, I’ll be watching you.”
Somerset growled before quickly chasing after Joanna. Ebony stuck out her tongue at him and scoffed.
“Hah! As if he’s someone important.”
“That’s enough, Miss Silius. If you keep going, it won’t be good for Dedrick’s reputation either.”
“Oh…”
Ebony hesitated when the prince, who had been watching from a distance, intervened. She awkwardly closed her mouth.
“My lady, should we intervene?”
“Sigh.”
Sitting far away, Delani let out a long sigh and massaged her temples. Then, she glanced at the prince and Ebony.
‘The prince is one thing… but even Ebony Silius?’
A sly smile curved Delani’s lips.
‘She must have seduced him, just like her mother did with her looks.’
Tap!
Delani closed her fan and stood up. She stared at Ebony for a moment, then suddenly had an idea.
“Dedrick needs a fiancée too.”
“Are you suggesting Miss Ebony? But there’s no way her family would let her marry into Blackwood…”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Quite the opposite.
“We’ll send Dedrick as a son-in-law.”
‘I wanted to send him to the Herba Academy, but there was no good reason…’
Now, another opportunity had come.
This plan would be even better—it wouldn’t damage Blackwood’s authority, and it would also protect Delani’s dignity.
She smiled and gave an order to Gemma.
“After the banquet, bring Ebony to me. I have something important to discuss with her.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“And make sure Dedrick spends plenty of time alone with her.”
Humming in satisfaction, Delani left the banquet hall.
Early Afternoon.
Delani sent a servant with a neat uniform and an invitation for dinner.
And now, in the evening, Dedrick was heading to the dining room, wearing the uniform she had provided.
Of course, I followed him.
‘What is she up to now?’
I was on high alert, expecting another scheme. But surprisingly, inside the dining room, Ebony was waiting.
She immediately brightened when she saw Dedrick.
“Welcome, Lord Dedrick! I was so disappointed I didn’t see you at the banquet, but I’m happy we can have dinner together!”
While Ebony cheerfully chatted, Dedrick ignored her and cautiously observed the duchess.
Delani, sipping her tea leisurely, smiled warmly.
“I heard you two have grown quite close at the banquet. I’ve always worried since you have so few friends, but thankfully, Miss Ebony has taken pity on you.”
That was an insult, wasn’t it?
I narrowed my eyes. Delani then turned to Ebony with a gentle voice.
“Please continue being friends with my son. He’s just shy—he actually gets quite embarrassed easily.”
“Of course, Duchess! I’ll take good care of him!”
Satisfied, Delani stood up and walked past Dedrick.
In that brief moment, she smirked mockingly.
That… that woman…!
Then, without a care, she left the dining room.
I clenched my fists in frustration.
“What do you mean, take care of him?!”
I couldn’t take Ebony’s side this time.
“What do you think of Didi?”
And what is Delani planning? Is she really trying to match Dedrick with the daughter of the Silius family? Herself?
If she truly wanted to help him make friends, she should have invited Eugene too, not just Ebony.
There’s definitely something going on.
Could this be a trap to make Dedrick and Ebony fight?
I held my forehead. There was no point in overthinking it here.
I needed to act!
“Didi, I’ll follow the Duchess and find out what she’s planning! Just in case, be careful, okay?”
He didn’t seem happy about me leaving but gave a small nod before heading to his seat.
“I’m going to uncover exactly what she’s up to…!”
Swoosh!
“Ack!”
Not now, of all times!
I quickly moved into the Duchess’s wardrobe, then carefully slipped out.
But she was nowhere to be seen.
I ran all over the place searching for her until I finally found her in the garden, enjoying tea with Joanna and Somerset.
I hurried closer.
“…So, I’m thinking of pairing Ebony with Dedrick.”
…What?
I froze in shock.
So she really wants to match Dedrick with Ebony?
Delani herself?
Even the villain is getting involved in the protagonist’s love life?
It was kind of impressive, but I shook my head.
“There’s no way she’s doing this out of kindness.”
If Dedrick were to gain the favor of the Silius family, they could be powerful allies.
But instead of winning over the Count of Silius, she was trying to match Dedrick with Ebony?
Wait… No way.
A bad feeling crept over me, and soon, it turned into certainty.
