Translator: Nox

While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster

Chapter 13

“……I told you not to hold it in if you’re hurting.”

“I want you to tell me when you’re in pain, too. And I’d prefer it if you didn’t get hurt at all.”

“I will.”

Perhaps it was because it had been a while since someone had worried about me.

It felt good.

“Wait just a second. I’m going to go borrow some gloves.”

Since we shouldn’t touch them with our bare hands.

“Don’t try to do it alone while I’m gone\!”

I gave him a firm warning just in case. Dedrick nodded his head gloomily.

“Okay. Be careful.”

I slipped into the Wardrobe. It was to fetch gloves from Axel and Somerset.

I secretly stole the expensive leather gloves that those two seemed to wear often.

Our Didi doesn’t even have a single pair of gloves.

I emerged from the Wardrobe again with the gloves in hand.

“Here are the gloves. Use them carefully so they don’t tear.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“Aren’t you planning on putting them back later?”

“Exactly\!”

As expected, he was smart.

I wondered if it would really make a difference if Axel and Somerset wore gloves tainted with venom, but I was simply being spiteful.

“Are you going to stop me?”

Dedrick shook his head.

“I don’t like just being a victim either….”

“Good thinking. Whenever someone does something to you, you should pay them back double. And pay back kindness double, too\!”

“Kindness double, too.”

He let out a small laugh as he repeated my last words.

We safely placed the scorpions Axel had released into the box.

“What are you going to do with these scorpions?”

“Return them to their owner.”

“……Will he get hurt a lot?”

I looked at Dedrick after closing the lid of the box.

He gave me an awkward smile and avoided my gaze.

He said he didn’t like just being a victim, yet the moment he thought about returning them, he seemed worried about that wicked Axel.

There was absolutely no need to worry about that guy.

How was he going to survive in this harsh world being so kind-hearted?

“Why are you so nice? If you live your life just taking it, you’ll end up sick.”

“Since you said that, I won’t release them, but let’s leave them here and threaten them when they come looking. So they won’t play pranks like this again.”

Then things would be quiet for a while.

“Yeah…. Thanks.”

What a soft-hearted boy.

The Grand Duchess and her children, who tormented this kind child, were so wicked that even harsh curses wouldn’t be enough for them.

“Did you release the scorpions?”

At Somerset’s question, Axel managed to smooth out his grimacing face and nodded.

Axel knew that things were easier for him when he catered to his brother's whims.

“Of course. If you go now, he’ll probably be rolling around in pain.”

“Well done.”

Somerset grinned.

He was smiling on the outside, but his insides were actually burning black.

‘To lose to that brat, of all people.’

Somerset’s stomach twisted. If nothing else, he had always been number one in swordsmanship. He couldn't accept that he had lost to such an idiot.

In the midst of that, he didn't forget to silence those around him.

Because news of Dedrick winning the spar must never reach the ears of his mother or the Grand Duke.

‘Dammit….’

Suddenly, the image of Dedrick pointing a sword at him with a face that resembled the Grand Duke flashed through his mind.

‘I am challenging you because I intend to succeed.’

That face, which had shone with dignity even when battered and messy from being beaten soundly.

Somerset bit his lip hard.

‘Succeed? My foot. You were just a bit lucky today.’

“I hope a scorpion stings that brat’s face right about now.”

Grinding his teeth, Somerset strode toward Dedrick’s room.

Axel, who was beside him, followed quietly while watching his brother’s mood.

And as always, he burst open Dedrick’s door without knocking.

Somerset entered with a deliberate, heavy sarcasm.

“Hey, are your bruises okay? I was in such good condition today so….”

But he couldn't finish his sentence.

Somerset’s mouth snapped shut at the sight of Dedrick leaning against the headboard, comfortably reading a book.

Dedrick closed the book and stepped down from the bed.

Somerset glanced at the bed once and then turned his eyes toward Axel. Axel was terrified by the fierce gaze.

“I-I definitely put them on the bed….”

He couldn't believe it.

He had clearly ordered the servant to scatter them…\!

Axel’s pupils shook violently. Seeing Axel’s panic, Dedrick nodded as if he understood the situation.

“The bed…? Ah.”

Then he held out the box beside him toward Axel. Axel, who suddenly found himself holding the box, stared at him blankly.

“This scorpion belongs to you, doesn't it, second older brother? I found it loose on my bed, so I put it in here.”

The two were speechless as they watched Dedrick speak so nonchalantly.

Dedrick looked at them coldly.

His eyes were filled with pathetic disdain, as if asking if they really found such pathetic pranks amusing.

Reading that, Somerset ground his teeth.

“You…\!”

“But be careful, hyung-nim. The scorpion is venomous.”

“Still, I haven't told Father.”

At the mention of their father, both boys' shoulders flinched.

Dedrick leaned down and whispered so only Somerset could hear.

“About what happened at the Training Ground, too.”

Cold sweat broke out on Somerset.

Not only had their plan gone awry, but he had also mentioned the Grand Duke.

Despite being bullied countless times, Dedrick had never once gone to the Grand Duke to tattle.

Part of it was due to the Grand Duchess’s influence, but it was also because Dedrick himself had not forgiven the Grand Duke for failing to protect his mother.

Dedrick didn't want that man’s help.

For such a Dedrick to mention the Grand Duke carried great significance.

It was like a declaration of war—that if something like this happened again, he would not stay silent.

‘Did this bastard eat something wrong\!’

The Dedrick who used to tremble in fear of him had changed somehow.

“Now, would you please leave?”

Unable to argue, Somerset spun around and stomped out in frustration.

Axel bit his lip with a face that said ‘I’m dead now’ before belatedly following after Somerset.

Silence returned to the room, and Dedrick let out a sigh.

Clasping his slightly trembling hands together, he looked at the girl.

“Did I… did I do well?”

“Of course\!”

The girl, who had been watching with excitement, rushed over and hugged him in an instant.

A smile spread across Dedrick’s face.

“You were totally cool\!”

“Really?”

The girl took Dedrick’s hands and hopped up and down.

“They won’t be able to bully you easily for a while\!”

Watching the girl who was even happier than he was, Dedrick squeezed the hands she was holding even tighter.

Warmth spread gradually from his palms and reached his heart.

“But what did you whisper to Somerset earlier?”

Dedrick suppressed his rising smile and spoke as if it were nothing.

“Actually, I had a spar with hyung-nim today.”

Before the girl could say anything in surprise, Dedrick added quickly.

“I won the spar. And since it’s Somerset hyung-nim, he’ll want to make sure Father doesn't find out.”

“You won? Against Somerset?”

“What\! Why are you only telling me such great news now\!”

The girl was more delighted than if it had happened to her.

“Didi, isn't your talent for the sword just incredible? How did you beat someone who’s been learning it all this time?”

“It was just… luck….”

“No. That was Didi’s skill\! You shouldn't doubt yourself.”

Seeing the girl speak so firmly, Dedrick nodded and laughed.

The girl, unable to contain herself, gave him a tight squeeze.

“You worked so hard today\!”

Then she took Dedrick’s hands and checked to see if there were any injuries. Fortunately, there were no noticeable wounds. Smiling with satisfaction, the girl asked.

“Well then, shall we finish reading? No, should we sleep?”

When the girl pulled her hands away, Dedrick’s fingers twitched with a sense of loss.

‘……I want to hold them longer.’

But there was plenty of time….

“I want to read. Come here, next to me.”

He leaned his back against the headboard and patted the spot beside him.

The girl crawled over and sat right up against him. Her fluffy grayish hair tickled his skin.

‘I want to pet her.’

Her twitching horns were so cute, too.

‘……Not yet.’

Because she might not like it.

“I’ll read slowly, so look at the words with me. Okay?”

He had decided to start reading to her today to help her learn to read.

Seeing the girl widen her eyes in concentration, Dedrick couldn't help but burst into laughter.

That night.

After confirming that Dedrick was asleep, I moved to Axel’s room.

‘Did you think I’d just let this slide?’

I couldn't sleep at the thought that Dedrick could have been stung by a scorpion and suffered greatly if things had gone wrong.

‘I’m going to get revenge in kind\!’

I cautiously looked around Axel’s room. In one corner, I saw a glass container holding scorpions.

“First, that servant guy.”

How dare he insult Dedrick’s mother like that?

That’s an unfilial joke, you know?

I can never forgive him\!

I transferred the scorpions into the box I had brought. Then I moved to the wardrobe in the room of the servant whose face I had memorized.

The man happened to enter the room quite drunk, pulling off his shirt and tossing it on the floor.

“Kuh, dammit. I was the only one who got scolded because of that piece of sh*t\!”

“Are you talking about our Didi? \!”

This guy still hasn't come to his senses…\!

The servant threw himself onto the bed and muttered to himself.

“Just you wait until tomorrow…. I’m going to absolutely wreck him as much as I got scolded…\!”

“Ha\!”

I took the box out of the wardrobe, approached the bed, and glared at the sleeping servant.

“Tomorrow?”

“Zzz….”

“You won't be waking up in one piece tomorrow.”

I poured the scorpions from the box onto his bed.

From my experience of being stung by a scorpion, I knew that no matter how many times he was stung, he wouldn't die.

If those were the symptoms for a young child like me, it would be much less for an adult male.

Skitter, skitter.

“Ugh, what is it….”

“Whether you kill the scorpions or get stung by them. I don't think I’ll be seeing you again\!”

I squeezed my trembling hands tight and stepped back into the wardrobe.

‘I’m just getting revenge for a bad deed, so why am I shaking so much….’

Still, I don't regret it\!

Shortly after, I moved to the wardrobe in Axel’s room and stood before him. Seeing him sleeping soundly made my brow furrow sharply.

“I’m going to make sure you have some nightmares.”

I grabbed his hair firmly with both hands.