IBACM Chapter 98

IBACM I Chapter 98

Posted by Freya, Released on May 3, 2025

Chapter 98

Axel stood still for a while before entering his room and locking the door behind him. He placed a document on the desk.

The document was titled “Record of Consummation.” It contained a detailed list of the servants on duty that day, as well as the schedules of the Black Hawk and White Hawk knights.

While moving the document to his room, he had run into Somerset, but Somerset didn’t suspect anything and simply let him pass.

Axel smirked as he opened the record.

“Idiot.”

Everyone in the Grand Duke’s castle had already given up on Somerset and was considering Axel as the next successor. However, Delani strongly opposed the idea.

By now, Axel didn’t feel anything about it anymore.

“I don’t even want to be the Grand Duke.”

He had abandoned that ambition long ago. He was already grateful that the Grand Duke had treated him fairly despite everything. So, he focused on the record in front of him.

“If I count back from my birthdate, it should be around this time…”

He didn’t even have to search hard. Ever since Somerset was born, there had been no records of any consummation between the Grand Duke and Delani.

Except for one single night.

The records were meticulous. There wasn’t a single inconsistency.

Axel spent the entire night studying the document but found nothing unusual. Left with no choice, he returned it to the archive and placed it back in its original position.

As he did, a thought crossed his mind.

“If everything is recorded so precisely, then His Excellency must have known… and chosen to ignore it.”

But why?

Why would he protect me?

“I’m not even his real son.”

He was an illegitimate child born from his mother’s affair. He should have been abandoned.

The warm morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow on Axel’s face. He looked outside at the rising sun before silently leaving the archive.

After confirming that Novembris was a little distance away, I whispered to Yggdrasil.

“I worked really hard for the past year. You know that, right?”

The World Tree swayed its branches in response.

“I cleaned up all the animal poop, took them on walks, and even fed them!”

Since this was a sanctuary, the animals here weren’t ordinary—they were divine beasts. Even though they were special, they still needed care.

Originally, Novembris had taken care of them, but since I wanted something from Yggdrasil, I had volunteered to do it for a year.

I stretched out both hands.

“Now, give it to me!”

With a jingling sound, a pouch filled with gold coins landed in my hands.

“Money!”

“Did you just threaten Yggdrasil for money?”

“Agh!”

Startled by the sudden voice, I jumped in place. My heart pounded as I looked up at him.

“Why do you always appear out of nowhere?!”

“I always appear suddenly. You should be used to it by now. But what is that money for?”

“To buy a gift for Didi!”

“So, you did all that cleaning for a year just for this?”

“Yep! It’s payment for my hard work!”

Of course, I was also planning to get gifts for Novembris and Yggdrasil.

Normally, bringing human-made items into the sanctuary was forbidden. However, Novembris and Yggdrasil had agreed that if they purified the items, they could be kept.

“Anyway, I owe Didi some information, so let’s head to the human town!”

Another weak point of the Grand Duchess. Delani was crafty enough to escape trouble, so the best way to deal with her was to pass along any weaknesses to Dedrick as soon as I found them.

Carrying a bag full of evidence for Dedrick, I motioned to Novembris.

He sighed and took the heavy bag from me.

“I could carry it myself.”

“Yes, but then we’d take forever to get there.”

“Oh, you were worried about me being too slow?”

“Where in my words did you hear concern?”

“This is just how you are, Bris. You grumble, but you still do everything for me.”

“Don’t make me sound like a nice person.”

“But you are a nice person.”

Smiling, I grabbed his hand. I had to hold his hand to leave the sanctuary—it was a precaution Yggdrasil and Novembris had put in place so I wouldn’t sneak off on my own.

“I wouldn’t break my promise to the people who saved me.”

Yet, they still treated me like a troublemaker.

Novembris glanced at our hands before silently grasping mine and extending his other arm forward.

A white door appeared in the middle of the open field, and we stepped through it to leave the sanctuary.

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by a bustling crowd.

“Where are we?”

“The Imperial Capital. The founding festival is about to begin, so people are gathering here.”

“Is Didi here too?”

“Yes.”

Was he planning to attend the festival?

Well, since the preparations were mostly done, it was time for him to show his face.

He couldn’t stay hidden forever.

“We’ve already secured the support of the noble families.”

Unless there was a special reason, nobles were required to attend the founding festival.

Dedrick hadn’t attended since graduating from the Herba Academy, but…

“He had a private meeting with the Empress, so it won’t be a problem.”

She and Perez must have handled things well.

The Emperor had suddenly collapsed two years ago and had yet to regain consciousness. As a result, the Empress was now in control of the Imperial Palace.

This had kept the concubines and First Prince quiet, but…

I dodged people left and right as I spoke.

“Let’s go to Didi’s room first. We’ll drop off the stuff, then go shopping!”

“Yes, we need to get Dedrick a very expensive gift.”

“Exactly!”

Novembris shot me an annoyed look before turning away sharply.

He was sulking.

Clearly, he was upset that I wasn’t giving him a gift.

But, of course, I had something for him too—I just wasn’t going to say anything yet.

Surprise gifts were the best kind. I hid my mischievous smile as I stepped into Dedrick’s room.

“But if he’s staying in the capital for the festival, won’t Delani know he’s here?”

What if she sent assassins again?

Novembris scoffed as if he couldn’t believe my concern.

“After everything you’ve seen him do, you still don’t get it? If another assassin comes, he’ll just beat them half to death and send them back to the Grand Duchess.”

“You know Didi better than I do.”

“Because you never stop talking about him!”

He snapped, and I patted his back, amused.

“Alright, alright.”

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

With a frown, he placed the bag on Dedrick’s desk.

“Well, we’re done here. Let’s go.”

I grabbed his arm and pulled him along. Since I didn’t know my way around, I asked him to take me to a men’s boutique.

He grumbled but still led the way.

Before using his magic, he checked to make sure Dedrick wasn’t nearby and then said,

“Hide your horns.”

“Oh, right!”

I pressed my hands against my horns, making them disappear. Just to be safe, I also put on a wide-brimmed hat.

I wasn’t skilled enough to keep them hidden for long yet.

Novembris then used magic to make us blend naturally into the crowd.

When we entered the boutique, a staff member greeted us warmly.

“Welcome! How can I assist you today?”

“I’d like to see tie accessories.”

“Right this way.”

Inside a glass showcase, a variety of tie accessories were displayed.

“These are the simple designs, and these are the more extravagant ones.”

I pictured Dedrick in my mind. Both simple and fancy styles suited his handsome face.

Remembering my pouch full of gold, I decided to buy both.

After a long debate, I finally picked two different tie accessories, each with its own charm.

“I’d also like to see brooches.”

“Of course! Right this way.”

The employee’s attitude became even friendlier, likely realizing I was a big spender.

Meanwhile, Novembris sighed in boredom.

“What else are you buying? Isn’t that enough? Do you have that much money?”

“Yep! Yggdrasil gave me a lot.”

“…”

“Less complaining, more following!”

“Sigh…”

The shop assistant eagerly explained the brooches displayed in the showcase, while I held up different ones against Novembris, trying to find the perfect match for him.

“If Didi were here, he’d be picking them out for me.”

“Yes, my apologies for being here instead,” he replied, his face showing no sign of regret.

I tilted my head, thinking about Novembris’ usual style.

“Hmm… Would a necklace be better than a brooch?”

“Of course,” he answered indifferently.

I nodded.

“A necklace it is!”

I had a feeling Novembris wouldn’t wear any jewelry I gave him regularly.

A brooch, especially, would probably just be tossed somewhere and forgotten.

But a necklace?

It wouldn’t get in the way, could be easily hidden under his clothes, and even if he didn’t wear it, it wouldn’t be too obvious.

That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about it.