Chapter 116 –
His broad shoulders, slim waist, and defined muscles were completely different from when he was eighteen. I couldn’t help but gasp.
Not noticing my surprise face, he pulled me into a tight hug with his bare body.
“It feels nice hearing that again. That you’re on my side.”
It’s unfair. I’m the only one who’s distracted by your body.
Trying to ignore how hard and warm he felt against me, I spoke.
“I’ll say it every day.”
“Mm.”
“Oh, and look at this.”
I turned to face him and pressed my hands down on my horns.
His pupils trembled.
“Surprised? Impressed? I can hide my horns now!”
I proudly lifted my shoulders. He gently placed his hand on my head and stroked the smooth top.
“That’s amazing.”
“Say it properly.”
“You’re really amazing.”
“But I’m not perfect at it yet.”
As soon as I relaxed, my horns popped right back up.
“If I lose focus even a little, they come back like this.”
Even though I trained hard with Novembris while we were in the sanctuary, I am still not great at it.
“It’s okay. You’re beautiful no matter what.”
Dedrick kissed my horn and nibbled at it again.
“W-Why do you keep doing that?!”
Blushing furiously, I looked at him. He calmly toyed with my horn and said,
“It tastes good.”
“…What?”
“You’re sweet all over.”
He buried his face into my neck and inhaled deeply.
“I want to stay like this forever.”
He clung to me like a child. I gently patted his back.
“You will. Oh, and when I fully recover, humans will be able to see me too. You’ll be able to take me anywhere.”
Excited, I waited for his smile.
But his face looked conflicted.
“That’s… good, and not.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want others to see you… but it’s nice that I can take you anywhere.”
I couldn’t meet his eyes, full of possessiveness and jealousy, so I looked away—and noticed the height marks on the wall.
“Let’s measure your height!”
“Okay.”
He walked to the wall, but I shook my head.
“…Put some clothes on first.”
“Why?”
“It’s embarrassing!”
He laughed low and changed into casual clothes before standing against the wall. He was definitely taller than the last mark.
He had to be over 190cm now…
I stood on tiptoes, struggling to draw the line when he suddenly lifted me up with ease.
“Now you can reach.”
“You’re strong, Didi.”
Smiling, I marked the wall. Then I leaned straight-backed against the wall to measure myself.
“Hurry! Before I shrink back!”
Dedrick drew the line while stifling laughter. I stepped back, saw it, and couldn’t help but pout.
“What! I barely grew!”
“You’re tall if we count the horns.”
“But the horns haven’t grown much either…”
Why am I stuck like this?
Novembris’s words about me being unusually small echoed in my head.
Ugh, go away!
As I waved my hand to chase the thought off, Dedrick grabbed my hand. His hand completely swallowed mine.
“You’re so small.”
“You’re just too big.”
“I feel like I might break you if I squeeze too hard.”
“Don’t say scary stuff like that!”
“You’re adorable.”
“By the way, Mary… do fairies live long?”
“Yeah. Usually around 500 years.”
Pretty amazing, right?
“Ah, 500 years…”
He nodded quietly.
“I’ll have to find a way to live longer.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I just won’t leave you alone. Ever.”
“Okay!”
Even if you try to leave me, I’ll use my fairy dust to bind you to me forever.
I giggled mischievously, stealing a glance at him.
It works on humans too, after all.
I am not good at it yet, but once my horns get fully matured, I’d be able to control it better.
I just had to practice more.
Knock knock.
“Someone’s here.”
I instinctively stepped away from him. Dedrick looked disappointed.
“Mary… like I said this morning, I don’t want to hide you anymore. I can protect you now.”
He kissed my hand.
“But if you’re scared or uncomfortable, I’ll keep it a secret until I drive them all out of the castle.”
“No, it’s okay. We don’t have to hide. I want to mess with Delani and Somerset too. It’ll be fun.”
I rubbed my hands together with a wicked grin. He looked deeply moved seeing me smile again.
“But… showing myself to others might be tricky. Even if I hide my horns, people won’t be able to see me unless I’m touching you.”
“They’ll never dare say anything to you.”
“Still. It’s okay to show myself to your closest aides. Just them.”
I thought that was fair. But Dedrick didn’t seem too happy.
“Then… I can’t even touch you outside?”
“How much touching are we talking about?”
“I want to hold your hand.”
“…I’ll think about how to explain that.”
I want to hold hands too, after all.
“Mary.”
He looked serious as he spoke.
“You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone. You’re not someone who needs explaining. Do whatever you want.”
“…But what if that causes trouble for you?”
“I’ll never be troubled. Worst case, I’ll wipe them all out.”
I stared at him in shock. He gave a gentle smile.
“I was kidding. I mean, there’s no need to worry.”
He brushed my lips with his thumb.
“I don’t want to hide you anymore.”
“…If you’re sure.”
If he was that certain, I had no reason to say no.
“But I’m still hiding the horns. If I show them, Delani and Somerset will just use me as bait.”
“Mary.”
“Nope. No negotiating there.”
“…Haah.”
He looked disappointed but accepted it and held my hand to open the door.
“My lord! What took you so lo—huh?”
I lifted my hand to greet him, and Milos flinched and stumbled back.
“Ha! Look at his face. That’s hilarious.”
“Yeah. Looks like an idiot.”
Milos’s eyes shook like an earthquake. I watched his funny face before speaking.
“You’re Milos Bernbaum, right? Nice to meet you. I’m Marilyn.”
“M-M-M-M-M—!”
How many times are you gonna say “Ma”?
He couldn’t finish, so I helped him out.
“Yes, I’m the Marilyn you’re thinking o—”
Before I finished, Milos screamed in my face.
“AAAAAAAHHH!”
BAM!
He slammed the door shut. Dedrick looked furious and tried to storm out, but I stopped him.
“He must’ve been shocked. He thought I was dead.”
“No one can treat you like that.”
He looked ready to fight. I hugged him from behind and quickly distracted him.
“We need to work on the blueprint!”
“…Ah, right. Come here.”
He picked me up and walked out.
I didn’t expect to be carried through the hallway like this. My words came out in a fluster.
“W-Where are we going?”
“To the office.”
“L-Like this?!”
“Yeah.”
“I’m not ready for this!”
I quickly hid my horns and hugged his neck tight. Footsteps came rushing from the distance.
“See?! I told you I wasn’t hallucinating!”
Milos shouted, pointing at me. Dedrick’s brow twitched.
I gently lowered his eyebrows with my fingers.
“We expected this kind of reaction.”
“…”
Milos, Pavle, and Jacob stood frozen like statues when they saw us.
Dedrick ignored them and gave a cold warning.
“Don’t be rude.”
He didn’t explain anything, just walked past them.
I turned and waved cheerfully at the stunned trio.
Haha, their faces are priceless.
***
Meanwhile…
After the two disappeared down the hall, Milos whispered,
“See? I told you… not a ghost…”
When he first saw them at the door, he was so shocked that he screamed and ran to find Pavle and Jacob.
They didn’t believe him—until now.
“…Was that really Lady Marilyn?”
Even Pavle, usually composed, was shaken. Milos nodded.
“Yeah. She said so herself and even greeted me…”
“Our lord… smiled.”
Jacob’s comment made the twins fall silent.
The colorless expression that used to haunt their lord was now filled with color—bright, vivid, almost too cheerful to be real.
That realization replaced their shocked faces with something warmer.
Relief.
Ever since they returned from the tower, they feared Dedrick might make a terrible choice.
But now, they don’t need to worry.
They finally exhaled.
From now on, all they had to do was focus on the enemies in front of them.
