IBACM Chapter 90

Chapter 90

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“…When did you wake up?”

“…”

Dedrick didn’t answer. His silence made Eugene uneasy. It would have been better if he had caused a scene like he did in the infirmary.

Eugene slowly got up from the bed and approached him. The moment he saw Dedrick up close, he was at a loss for words.

It was unbelievable how much a person could fall apart in just one day.

Eugene unknowingly called out to him with a trembling voice.

“Hey…”

“…Tell me it’s a dream.”

The letter in Dedrick’s hand was soaked with tears, the words now unreadable.

His cheeks were still wet, and clear drops continued to fall.

“Please… tell me it’s just a dream…”

His hunched back shook with sorrow.

“…”

Eugene wanted to say something—anything—to comfort him. But no words came out.

Dedrick’s despair was so deep and raw that Eugene couldn’t dare to offer meaningless reassurances.

Dedrick clenched his fists tightly. The wounds on his hands, barely healed, reopened, and his bandages turned red with blood.

“Dedrick, stop! You’re reopening your wounds!”

Eugene tried to stop him, but it was useless. Dedrick just stared blankly at the blood-soaked bandages.

“This is painfully real.”

“You need to get some rest.”

Dedrick ignored Eugene’s words and got out of bed. Eugene grabbed his shoulder, trying to stop him.

“Where are you going?”

“Move.”

“Not in your condition! Maybe later, but not now!”

“Mind your own business.”

Dedrick’s voice was cold, but Eugene didn’t back down.

“I said I won’t let you go.”

Dedrick pushed Eugene away, but he stood firm. Eventually, it escalated into a struggle, and Dedrick grabbed Eugene by the throat.

“Ugh…!”

“Don’t stop me. Before I kill you.”

“You bastard… Wake up already!”

Thud!

Eugene’s fist struck Dedrick’s face hard. But Dedrick barely reacted—if anything, it only made him more furious.

Thud! Thud!

Dedrick retaliated, beating Eugene to the ground. Eugene coughed up blood and scowled.

“Wow… so this is how you treat a friend?”

“…”

Dedrick staggered toward the door. Eugene called out to him desperately.

“Don’t go.”

“…”

But Dedrick didn’t hear him.

He picked up a broken piece of glass from a shattered vase.

“Hey…!”

Eugene called out in alarm, but Dedrick walked out without hesitation.

He didn’t have the luxury of worrying about anyone else.

He walked straight into the dark, monster-filled forest. The wounds on his feet reopened, leaving a trail of blood behind him. But he didn’t care.

He clutched the small glass bottle in his hand and walked, endlessly.

‘Mary…’

The little bottle in his hand felt burning hot.

He could clearly picture Marilyn’s smiling face. Just seeing her happy had made him feel like he had everything.

“You gave me everything… even this death.”

That sweet and kind girl couldn’t stand being used as his weakness any longer.

Somerset and Delani had used her against him, blackmailing him over and over, until she lost hope and worried only about his future.

‘Idiot…’

Even though she hadn’t said anything, he understood.

From the moment they first met, all she had ever wanted was his happiness.

‘You were going to die anyway, so you just chose to go early. Right?’

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left him behind.

No. There’s no way you’d die and leave me alone.

But Marilyn…

“If only you were alive, I could have kept going.”

His steps came to a halt in the middle of the forest. He collapsed to his knees.

“If it was for you… I could’ve endured them forever… just to stay by your side.”

He pressed the sharp glass shard against his wrist.

‘What’s the point of living without you?’

There was no more reason to keep struggling, no reason to survive.

Just as he was about to cut deep—

‘Didi, I want you to be happy.’

A voice echoed in his mind.

His hand trembled.

He saw her again—the small girl who always looked at him with kindness, leading him to her wardrobe whenever he was hurting.

‘So… can I give you a hug?’

‘You’re going to be someone great, Didi. Greater than anyone here.’

‘You did well, Didi!’

‘I’ve never seen the ocean, but I think I know what it looks like when I see your eyes. I bet it’s beautiful!’

Her bright, smiling face was clear as day.

She had never seen the ocean, so he had promised to show it to her one day. But now, he never could.

Because of those who took her away from him.

Just thinking about them—those who had pushed Marilyn to this—made him sick. He couldn’t let them go unpunished.

Thud.

In the end, he let the shard fall from his hand.

“I’m sorry, Mary.”

I can’t die just yet.

The ones who did this to you shouldn’t be allowed to live happily. So…

“I’ll finish everything first, then I’ll follow you.”

I’ll make them suffer even more than we did. I’ll make them beg me to end their lives.

I’ll personally cut off their heads before I come to you.

Even if I end up in hell, I’ll find you no matter what.

“So just wait a little longer.”

Dedrick gently pressed his lips against the small glass bottle.

His heart, which had felt frozen, started pounding loudly again.

The thought of revenge sent fire coursing through his veins.

Slowly, he stood up.

His icy blue eyes gleamed fiercely in the darkness, like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

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At dawn, with mist rising softly from the ground, Jacob wandered through the forest, searching for Dedrick. But there was no sign of him.

A sense of unease crept over him.

Then, he heard a rustling sound—followed by the faint scent of blood.

Jacob hurried toward the source.

There, he finally saw Dedrick. Relief washed over him, but something made him stop in his tracks.

Dedrick’s eyes burned like a raging storm.

His entire presence felt different—like something had changed within him.

Jacob swallowed hard and called out, his voice barely above a whisper.

“…Young Master.”

“….”

Dedrick glanced at Jacob, then looked away.

“Did you think I was dead?”

“….”

Jacob couldn’t answer.

Dedrick let out a cold, bitter laugh.

“I was planning to be.”

His chilling gaze drifted to the small bottle in his hand.

“But I couldn’t just let that girl’s suffering be forgotten.”

“…”

“At the very least, I should offer them corpses in return.”

“Young Master…”

“Dying can wait until after that.”

With those words, Dedrick turned and walked forward, his steps steady.

Jacob thought he looked even more fragile that way.

His tears had stopped, but his entire being screamed in silent agony.

Jacob followed behind him, speaking with quiet determination.

“I will stand with you.”

“…”

“Let’s return to your room. The Second Prince has sent a letter and a package.”

Dedrick’s pace remained unchanged.

Jacob hesitated, then added,

“…Marilyn’s name was written on it.”

Before Jacob could even finish speaking, Dedrick took off running.

He ran without pause, even as his breath burned in his chest, even as branches scraped his skin and rocks cut at his feet.

He reached the academy in no time and rushed into his dormitory room.

On his desk sat a box—neither too big nor too small—with a letter resting on top.

Breathing heavily, he walked toward it.

The letter was brief.

[Marilyn left this for you. She came to me despite her failing health, handed these over, and then disappeared.

Originally, she wanted you to receive them when you became an adult. But given the circumstances, I decided to send them now.

Marilyn would have forgiven you, so don’t be too hard on yourself.

…Stay strong.]

“Mary, you…”

His throat tightened, making it hard to breathe.

With trembling hands, he untied the knot and opened the box.

The first thing he saw was an old, crumpled piece of paper.

It was the very first thing Marilyn had ever written after learning to read and write—”Didi, be happy.”

Tears and bloodstains had seeped into the paper.

Below it, there was another line of writing—something he had once scribbled in secret:

“Wardrobe Monster ♥ Didi”

And underneath that, in Marilyn’s handwriting:

“Mary ♥ Didi”

“…Ha.”

He laughed and cried at the same time.

Panicking at the thought of ruining the paper with his tears, he quickly wiped his face.

He placed it down gently, treating it like the most precious treasure in the world.

Inside the box were countless little things they had collected over four years together.

The hairpin Marilyn always carried for her bangs, their favorite fairy tale book, a dried winter flower, a bottle filled with summer rain from a midnight storm… Every item held a piece of their memories.

“…I should have kept more things.”

Then, he noticed a bundle of papers.

It was a collection of conversations between Perez and Marilyn.

He could see where Perez had corrected her spelling mistakes—and where Marilyn, pouting over the corrections, had written in shorter, sulkier sentences.

He let out a small laugh.

[“With this, I’ll make earrings! Super affordable and beautiful! Find a good craftsman! It’s for our Didi!”]

[“The Grand Duke’s wife must never find out! If she learns I exist, I won’t be able to protect Didi.”]

A dull ache bloomed in his chest.

From the very beginning, she had only ever thought about him.

[“Yes. This is a decision as precious as my heart.”]

[“Of course. I love Didi the most in the world.”]

His fingers traced the words.

He whispered softly,

“I love you the most in the world too.”

Then, he reached for the luxurious box at the very bottom.

He carefully opened it.

The moment he saw what was inside, his blue eyes trembled violently.

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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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