IBACM Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Dedrick noticed and changed direction just in time.

Did Ruan leave midway, thinking Dedrick had stepped on the powder?

“And—And young master Somerset himself damaged the holy relic! Just to frame young master Dedrick!”

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

Somerset struggled, but it was too late. Both evidence and witnesses pointed directly at him.

“Take off young master Somerset’s gloves! His hand has turned black from touching the holy relic left by the goddess!”

At the duke’s signal, knights approached to remove Somerset’s gloves. He fought them off, but he was no match.

Once the gloves were off, everyone gasped.

Somerset’s fingertips were clearly blackened—a clear sign of guilt.

“P-Please, have mercy on my family, at least!”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace! Please spare me!”

They begged desperately. But the duke, the god’s representative, could not overlook the crime of damaging a sacred relic.

“Such a crime is unforgivable.”

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

Dedrick quietly stepped beside me. The punishment was now up to the duke.

“You knew how serious the crime was, yet you tried to frame Dedrick out of personal spite. Do you not recognize your own guilt, Somerset?”

“Mmph, mmph!”

Somerset cried and writhed, but it was over.

Still, he wouldn’t be executed—it wasn’t murder, and he was still of noble blood.

But exile? That was possible.

And once exiled, Somerset would essentially be in our hands.

“So please, just exile him from the estate,” I pleaded.

The duke finally spoke.

“Somerset is hereby banished from the family.”

“W-Wait, dear!”

Delani arrived late and rushed forward, but the duke raised a hand, and the knights stopped her.

“Dear! This is a setup! Somerset would never do such a thing!”

“Then are you saying Dedrick would?”

“D-Dear!”

“Even when I sent him to Herba Academy, I trusted only the evidence in front of me.”

Delani flinched under his cold gaze.

“Say anything more, and I’ll assume you were part of this conspiracy too—and banish you as well.”

“……”

She opened her mouth, then looked down in silence.

The duke continued, expressionless.

“This is a grave crime. All his property will be seized, and his noble title will stripped.”

“Dear!”

“Mmph!!”

“Remove him from the estate. Now.”

The duke added one last order.

“Replace all the servants. Throw out everyone associated with him.”

Finally, even Ruan was being removed.

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Milos replied cheerfully.

The duke turned and left the sanctuary. Delani followed, but he would never reverse a decision once made.

“Everyone, return to your duties,” said Pavle, ending the matter.

But the murmuring crowd clearly couldn’t wait to spread the news.

Dedrick stood in front of Somerset. He smirked as he looked into Somerset’s bloodshot eyes.

“You dared touch the relic to frame me? Clever, but you failed.”

Somerset’s face contorted in rage.

Dedrick grabbed my hand proudly—everyone here already knew who I was, so he could do it freely.

His hand trembled slightly, so I squeezed his hand tighter and asked:

“How does it feel to be the one who got framed?”

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

Somerset looked furious, still showing no remorse.

“To frame Didi, you defiled the goddess’s relic. Do you even understand what that means? You deserve divine punishment.”

I summoned fairy dust to my fingertips. Red, ominous magic swirled, and Somerset stumbled back in fear, falling on his backside.

“You framed Didi and now you act like you’re the victim?”

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

He clearly had a lot to say, but I had no intention of letting him speak.

“Milos, take him away. Finally, peace returns to the estate.”

“My thoughts are exactly same! That was so satisfying!”

As Milos dragged him up, I warned Somerset.

“If you ever want to come back here, you’ll have to lick Didi’s boots first.”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be allowed to step foot in this place again.

“Mmmph!!”

Inside the sanctuary, Somerset’s defeated scream echoed.

***

Swoooosh—

Caught in a sudden downpour, Somerset ran into an abandoned building for shelter. Just then, something foul hit his face directly.

Splat!

Sticky filth slid down his face, spreading a rotten stench. The smell was unbearable.

“Aaagh! The stench! Who dares—!”

Laughter echoed in the air.

“He still thinks he’s a noble lord?”

“Guess we better teach him he’s trash now!”

Clang clang! Iron struck the walls.

Somerset stepped back in fear.

“Hey! This is our turf, you stray noble!”

“We beggars have rules too! Got it? Get lost unless you want to die!”

Spit!

Spit hit the ground. A group of ragged men closed in, and Somerset fled into the rain, soaked through.

“Look at him running!”

“Ha! Going to fall any second!”

“A noble running like that—what a sight!”

“Damn it!”

He cursed and ran, but as he entered a well-lit street, people began to recognize him.

“Oh dear, so that’s where he’s been?”

“I almost didn’t recognize him. Thought he was a beggar trying to talk to me!”

“Even the duchess can’t help him. If she does, she risks her own position. She’s staying silent.”

Somerset’s eyes shook violently.

Again. Again!

They abandoned me again!

Fury built inside him. His teeth clenched.

“Of course they did. I’d choose my surviving child too. He defiled the goddess’s relic, for heaven’s sake.”

Insults followed him everywhere. Unable to take it, Somerset ran deep into the woods and screamed.

“AAAAAH! Back then, these filthy bugs couldn’t even dare look me in the eye! I’m Somerset! HOW DARE THEY—!”

“Who are you?”

A cold voice froze him. Turning around, he saw Dedrick, Milos, and Pavle.

Milos sniffed the air and recoiled.

“Ugh, the smell! What is that?!”

Pavle covered his nose, disgusted.

“Smells like this guy. Disgusting.”

“Seriously, take a bath!”

Somerset’s face twisted in humiliation. He lashed out at Dedrick.

“What are you doing here?!”

“You mean my land? This is Blackwood territory.”

“Where are the guards?! Someone get rid of this beggar!”

Milos snickered.

“Oh, Lady Marilyn should see you now. Look at that mess.”

Somerset clenched his fists and glared at Dedrick.

“You think you’ve won, huh?! Just wait—I’ll be back!”

“How? You’ve been exiled, lost your title, and you’re penniless. What right do you have?”

“Still delusional,” Milos muttered.

Pavle adjusted his glasses and spoke calmly.

“There’s one way you can come back.”

Somerset’s eyes lit up briefly. He looked at Pavle with hope.

But Pavle’s next words crushed it.

“Get on your knees and beg our master.”

“Oh, or better yet—lick our lord’s boots like Lady Marilyn said. Or run around the square shouting, ‘I am Lord Dedrick’s dog!’ a hundred times!”

Hope vanished. That wasn’t mercy—it was humiliation.

“You bastards! You think I’d stoop so low?!”

Pavle responded coolly.

“We’re not the ones desperate.”

“And we didn’t come here to help you.”

The three stepped closer.

Feeling threatened, Somerset backed away slowly.