Chapter 120
Click.
“Why did you take so long to answer? I was sweating from anxiety. Can you see it?”
“I can’t see anything.”
“Of course not. You can’t see a person through this communicator.”
“Did you contact me just to make jokes?”
“Of course not! I heard a very strange rumor.”
Without even asking what it was, Dedrick calmly responded.
“It’s true.”
There was silence from the other end. After a moment, Perez spoke in a lowered, serious voice.
“…Even the rumor that you love your fiancée?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Perez fell silent again, lost in thought. Then, with a sudden loud clatter, his voice rose in shock.
“Wait—you’re saying you two are madly in love?!”
“Yes.”
“Yes!”
I grabbed Dedrick’s hand and answered brightly. Chaos broke out on the other end of the line.
“Th-that voice! It’s more mature, but I could never forget it. Marilyn?!”
“Your Highness, it’s been a while.”
Perez’s voice trembled, so much it almost sounded like he was crying.
“You… you’re alive?”
“As you can see.”
“So it was you. The woman in the rumor was Marilyn.”
Then came a warm laugh, and Perez spoke with genuine happiness.
“I’m glad you’re alive, Marilyn.”
“Thank you for giving Dedrick my earring.”
“Of course. You disappeared that day, I was so worried.”
“My body was in terrible shape back then…”
“We must have a lot to talk about. I can’t meet you just yet, but once this is all over, I’ll visit. Let’s catch up then.”
“Sounds good!”
“You’re still as cheerful as ever. Well—”
“Second Prince, the Empress is asking for you.”
“Darn. I’d love to talk more, but I guess I have to go. See you next time, Marilyn.”
The call ended all too quickly, and Perez didn’t even say goodbye to Dedrick. Dedrick didn’t seem to mind, but his face darkened.
In a low voice, he asked,
“…Were you really that unwell?”
“You’re asking now? After what the two of them did to me, of course I wasn’t okay.”
I patted his arm reassuringly.
“But I’m really fine now.”
“…”
He didn’t respond. Somehow, the atmosphere felt like the calm before a storm. A chill ran down my spine.
***
By Delani’s order, Somerset had agreed to stay out of public for a while. All because of Dedrick.
With Dedrick’s return as a potential heir, Somerset had to behave. The more he acted like a reckless fool, the more favorable Dedrick would seem.
Delani had nagged him endlessly about it, so Somerset reluctantly agreed.
He knew full well—if Dedrick became heir, either he or his mother wouldn’t survive. He had to hold onto the position no matter what.
So, he decided to quit drinking and gambling—at least for now.
But Dedrick didn’t make that easy.
Somerset, fast asleep, woke with a jolt and pain ripping through his body.
“Ugh…”
He grabbed his aching back and opened his eyes, finding himself on the floor instead of his bed. His gaze followed the polished black shoes in front of him and slowly looked up.
He was face-to-face with Dedrick’s icy blue eyes.
“W-what is this…”
The chill in the air made Somerset swallow nervously.
After Marilyn returned, things had been quiet… but now the beast had bared his fangs.
“You tormented her, didn’t you.”
Somerset flinched at the coldness in Dedrick’s voice as he stepped closer.
“Wh-what are you saying! You can’t just barge in like this—!”
Dedrick covered his face with a trembling hand, voice shaking with restraint.
“I couldn’t hold it in.”
There was murder aura in his tone. Somerset’s instincts screamed that he had to escape—now.
He tried to get up on his unsteady legs, but Dedrick moved faster.
Smack!
Dedrick’s fist slammed into Somerset’s face.
“Argh!”
Somerset’s lip split open as he tumbled across the floor. Furious and terrified, he screamed.
“You bastard! You think you’ll get away with this?! I’ll tell everyone what you did! You think Retainers will just let this go?!”
Dedrick slowly rolled up his sleeves and looked down at him, his eyes glowing coldly in the dark.
“Who saw it happen?”
His voice sent chills through Somerset’s spine.
The defiant yelling turned into trembling silence.
“W-wait! I-I don’t know what you’re talking about, but—”
Dedrick bit his inner cheek, holding onto his last shred of control.
Don’t kill him. Not yet.
He grabbed Somerset’s shoulder roughly.
“If you don’t know, I’ll make you understand. What you did to Mary.”
The sound of bones breaking filled the room along with horrific screams.
When Dedrick kicked his already dislocated shoulder, Somerset choked on blood, unable to even swallow.
As he whimpered and begged, Dedrick knelt in front of him and grabbed his ear.
“You broke her horn, didn’t you.”
“Ugh… ah…!”
Even through the pain, his eyes were filled with fear and guilt.
“This isn’t over.”
“Ugh… sob… ngh…”
As Dedrick turned to leave, he paused and looked back. Somerset flinched and cowered defensively.
“Tell them I did this.”
“Ugh…”
“I’m curious what kind of reaction you’ll get.”
Cold and calm, Dedrick left the room.
***
While Dedrick went to train at the Black Hawk barracks, I was following the maids around, eavesdropping for gossip. Then I heard something really interesting.
“His jaw was completely broken. He couldn’t even talk at first!”
Broken jaw?
I moved closer, ears perked up.
“They said his shoulder popped out too. No way he did that to himself.”
“As soon as he started speak again, he started screaming that Dedrick did it!”
“What?!”
A maid frowned in disbelief.
“Dedrick? No way. He was at the Black Hawk dorms all night! Even the knights said that.”
I tilted my head.
‘But he was with me all night… We slept together, and he left in the morning.’
Smells suspicious.
Smells like Dedrick beat Somerset to a pulp.
‘He must’ve been in a bad mood after the call with Perez.’
And yet, he didn’t show it. He just snuck out and handled it quietly.
I didn’t even notice—I was asleep.
Breaking his jaw must’ve been revenge for my horn.
Really, Dedrick…
“You did great.”
I’ll be sure to praise him later.
But more than that, I was curious how others were reacting. Right now, it wasn’t helpful for Dedrick’s image to suffer.
“Come on, everyone knows Somerset has blamed Dedrick for things he never did.”
“He used to hit Dedrick all the time when they were kids.”
“Exactly. I bet Somerset got drunk, picked a fight, and now he’s blaming Dedrick again.”
“He should’ve known better. People aren’t buying his lies anymore.”
The maids clicked their tongues and went back to work.
This is why reputation matters.
With all the bad things Somerset’s done, it’s no surprise no one believes him.
In fact, his already terrible reputation just took another hit.
‘If you can even call it a reputation at this point.’
And I learned something else too.
‘The Black Hawks are on Dedrick’s side.’
They want him to be the heir—maybe even the Grand Duke.
That alone was enough.
‘He’s doing great without me.’
Ever since I came here, I’ve just been resting. Sometimes I wonder if that’s okay.
But Dedrick loves it, so I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore.
