IBACM Chapter 86

Chapter 86

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Marilyn’s kiss was mixed with tears and blood, yet it was sweeter than anything else.

As they slowly parted, they gazed at each other.

“…My kiss.”

Marilyn spoke playfully, making Dedrick chuckle softly.

“That time, you kissed my chin because of the height difference, right?”

“Didi is too tall.”

“Haha.”

They pressed their foreheads together, lost in the warmth of the moment.

But that moment was brief. Marilyn gently stroked Dedrick’s bruised face, smiling softly.

“…Take care, Didi.”

“Mary…”

Swallowing his emotions, Dedrick confessed in a tender voice.

“I like you.”

Marilyn’s smile bloomed like a flower.

“I like you too. I like you very much, Didi.”

Her love-filled smile was dazzling.

Just before their lips could meet again, Marilyn’s warmth suddenly disappeared.

Dedrick’s arms reached out to hold her, but she was gone.

His empty hands slowly lowered as he whispered,

“…I’ll be back, Mary.”

---

A week had passed since Dedrick left for the Herba Academy.

That’s when Carlos arrived at the Grand Duke’s estate.

After hearing everything that had happened, he silently retreated to his office.

Running a hand over his face, Carlos muttered to himself in regret.

“…I acted too hastily.”

He should have waited until Dedrick was of age before deciding on the extermination order.

Then, as delayed anger boiled up inside him, his jaw clenched tightly.

“They dared to do this while I was away…”

Carlos’s fury was so intense that Jenkinson, his loyal aide, stepped forward to calm him.

“You must hold back, Your Grace.”

“…”

“If you don’t endure this, Young Master Dedrick will never be able to return.”

Carlos’s clenched fist trembled, veins bulging under the pressure.

Had Jenkinson not stopped him, the Grand Duke would have rushed out and executed the Grand Duchess on the spot.

“If you kill her now, you know what will happen.”

“…Is she even human?”

“Your Grace.”

“….”

The Grand Duchess was hated by Jenkinson as well. Allowing Carlos to act out his anger was all he wanted.

But they couldn’t.

Everything they had endured until now would be for nothing.

“We can only intervene to this extent. We’ve already weakened too much trying to clean up Young Master Dedrick’s situation. If we lose any more ground, Somerset will take the Grand Duke’s title.”

“…Shut up.”

BANG!

Unable to hold back any longer, Carlos slammed his fist onto the desk.

The desk shattered into pieces, and blood trickled from his injured hand.

Jenkinson didn’t try to stop that much.

Just then, a knock echoed through the room.

“Your Grace, the Madam has arrived.”

“Let her in.”

Sweeping back his disheveled hair, Carlos leaned against the wall, his posture indifferent.

As the door opened, Delani entered with a bright expression—until she froze.

The air in the room was thick with murderous intent.

Jenkinson whispered one last warning.

“Your Grace, no more than this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Please, restrain yourself.”

“…You think I would personally kill the Grand Duchess?”

“…”

Delani’s pupils trembled violently. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.

Though Carlos had always been cold to her, this level of murderous intent was new.

Jenkinson, watching her tremble, silently shut the door.

“W-Wait…!”

Delani tried to run, but Carlos took slow, deliberate steps toward her.

Step. Step.

Her voice quivered as she desperately tried to justify herself.

“H-Honey… D-Dedrick threatened me first…!”

“You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”

“…”

“You waited until I was gone to strike. How clever.”

“…”

His unfiltered rage made Delani turn pale. She couldn’t even form words.

Suddenly, Carlos reached out and wrapped his bleeding hand around her throat.

“Khh—!”

His grip tightened. Blood smeared across her skin.

“Kek!”

“Your Grace! Stop!”

At Jenkinson’s urgent plea, Carlos finally let go.

Delani crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath, as Carlos coldly uttered,

“Take good care of that neck.”

As he withdrew his killing intent, Delani let out a rough breath, gasping for air. She glared at him with bloodshot eyes and shouted,

“I didn’t kill you! Isn’t that quite generous, considering he tried to harm me?!”

“I allowed that creature. So I… Ugh!”

“Your Grace!”

Jenkinson quickly stepped in front of him as a hot sensation surged up inside Carlos. He covered his mouth, tasting the bitterness of blood.

Delani took advantage of his momentary pause and spoke.

“I will keep the wardrobe. I have authority over it! No matter what you allowed, it attacked me!”

Carlos’s clenched fists trembled, his knuckles turning white. Jenkinson shook his head, silently pleading with him. Carlos barely managed to spit out,

“Shut up and get out.”

He no longer cared for formalities. His cold warning made Delani bite her lips until they bled.

She forced herself to stand on shaking legs, glaring at him.

“I stopped here, so you turn a blind eye too.”

Carlos turned to her, grinding his teeth.

“Get lost. If you don’t want to die.”

He meant it.

Feeling the heavy threat looming over her, Delani finally grabbed the door with trembling hands and rushed out.

Carlos turned to Jenkinson and ordered,

“Find out where Marilyn is.”

“Your Grace!”

“I just want to check her condition.”

“I keep telling you—if you want Lord Dedrick to become the Grand Duke one day, you must stay alive. If you die, the Grand Duchess will kill him and put Somerset in his place!”

“…I understand. Just check. I promise not to interfere.”

A promise was a promise. He wouldn’t break it.

Jenkinson hesitated before leaving the office. Left alone, Carlos quietly took out an old pendant from inside his coat.

He opened it, revealing a small portrait.

Amelia, smiling beautifully, a very young Dedrick, and himself, holding his son.

He stared at it endlessly.

---

Step, step.

Steady footsteps echoed in the underground chamber, stopping in front of the shattered wardrobe.

Inside, Marilyn lay barely breathing.

She had pushed through gut-wrenching pain, teleporting again and again, leaving her in a terrible state.

Carlos gently placed a hand on her forehead before slowly pulling it away.

“…She must have met Lord Dedrick before he left, then passed out. She’s been unconscious ever since.”

“……”

Carlos couldn’t hide the turmoil in his heart.

“Is this really the right thing?”

“…We don’t know. You know that.”

“…It’s painful.”

“…Your Grace.”

“It’s unbearable.”

Carlos covered his eyes with one hand.

A single tear slipped through his fingers.

---

On his way to Herba Academy, Dedrick faced numerous threats.

But with Hogan and Jacob’s help, he arrived unscathed.

The entrance of the academy, deep in the forest.

The eerie cries of beasts and monsters echoed through the air.

Dedrick stared blankly at the towering iron gates and high walls.

“Young Master.”

At Hogan’s call, Dedrick handed him a letter.

“Give this to the Second Prince.”

“Yes, I will.”

“And… take care of Mary.”

“Don’t worry.”

Dedrick watched him for a moment before turning toward the academy, but Hogan grabbed his shoulder and spoke loudly.

“Stand tall! Do you not trust me? We will save Marilyn, no matter what!”

“Mary…”

“Haha! Whatever it takes, we’ll rescue your beloved!”

At the word beloved, Dedrick’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“…Yes. My beloved.”

“Go, Young Master. And when we meet again, we’ll have our revenge.”

“…Yeah.”

“What are you doing, Jacob?”

“Take care, Captain.”

“…What?”

Dedrick turned to Jacob in confusion.

“Don’t you know? Every student at Herba Academy is allowed one servant.”

“…You’re coming? Are you insane?”

“I’m your sword instructor. By the time you graduate, I’ll make sure you awaken your Aura.”

“Sounds great!”

Hogan agreed enthusiastically, then turned and left without hesitation, leaving Dedrick standing there in disbelief.

“Let’s go, Young Master.”

“…Your skills are wasted here.”

“Survivors of this academy are highly valued by the Imperial Court. Here, both of us will grow stronger.”

The gates creaked open, and the two of them stepped inside.

Dedrick glanced back one last time.

Mary, wait for me.

Just one year.

He vowed to finish the entire course in a single year and leave this place.

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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •

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Advance chapters of this novel are available on my kofi channel

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