While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 2
“What are you doing? Let’s go.”
“Are you refusing me?”
Knowing that a torrent of verbal abuse would follow if he refused, Dedrick stood up hesitantly.
I prepared to follow Dedrick out as well.
I couldn’t stay outside the Wardrobe for long, but…
‘I should be able to watch over him for about an hour, right?’
If there were a wardrobe in the dining hall, I could travel through it and keep watch from inside, but there wasn’t one there.
Listen, boys, let’s make sure every room has a wardrobe as a requirement. It would be nice to have one in the dining hall even just for decoration.
When I stepped out of the Wardrobe, Dedrick flinched.
“Follow me.”
On the other hand, a smile bloomed on the face of Somerset, who couldn’t see me.
Are you really that excited about feeding poison to your younger brother?
“You moronic piece of shit.”
Dedrick’s shoulders jerked at my blunt swearing.
Right, he must be scared.
I reached out to pat his shoulder, but seeing Dedrick’s small body hunched over in fear, I changed the gesture to a fan-like motion as if I were just hot and spoke up.
“It’s not a poison meant to kill you.”
No matter how thoughtless they were, they couldn’t kill him openly. After all, Dedrick was still a member of the Blackwood family.
Somerset was simply a guy desperate to torment Dedrick, who was a thorn in his side.
He resented that Dedrick, who had no backing, had become a candidate for the succession by the Grand Duke’s order.
“He’s just trying to prank you. But it’ll hurt a lot if you eat it, so don’t.”
Dedrick didn’t answer; he just stared straight ahead and followed Somerset obediently.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“Ah, right. You can’t answer right now.”
If he muttered to himself, he’d be treated like a lunatic, so how could he speak?
“It’s going to be delicious, so you have to eat every single bit, okay?”
Somerset looked absolutely thrilled at the thought of pranking Dedrick.
“No, leave some. Got it?”
There’s no need to listen to that bastard!
Dedrick struggled not to turn his head toward the girl following behind him.
Not only did she have long grey hair that dragged on the floor, but her clothes were so oversized that her hands and feet weren’t properly visible.
The child, who looked to be about his age, had a surprisingly foul mouth, but…
“Should I trip him? Just nod your head. I’ll do it for you.”
She also seemed to really enjoy playing pranks.
More than that.
‘She could come out of the Wardrobe?’
He was a little surprised, but soon shook his head.
‘She was outside the Wardrobe when we first met, too. She must be able to move around.’
What puzzled him was when she had entered the Wardrobe in his room.
He had many questions, but he was too afraid to ask, so Dedrick just kept his mouth shut timidly.
“All you have to do is give me a little nod.”
The girl grumbled as if disappointed. Dedrick unconsciously stiffened his neck and stared straight ahead.
“Should I try making you nod by force?”
At the girl’s eerie mumble, Dedrick carefully covered his neck with his hands.
She was a truly strange monster.
“That’s it, that. No matter how much that thick meat covered in sauce tempts you, you mustn’t eat it. Understand?”
I stood beside Dedrick, staring at him with wide eyes.
“It looks like it’ll burst with juice, but you absolutely cannot eat it. *Gulp*.”
I swallowed hard while speaking.
The smell of steak piercing my nose made me feel the hunger I had forgotten.
After hesitating, Dedrick followed my words and only poked at the salad next to the meat.
‘Fortunately, he’s listening to me.’
It was only natural, since Dedrick was very kind-hearted and soft as a boy.
‘That’s why he was bullied helplessly by the closet monster.’
Just as a wave of pity washed over me, Somerset’s irritated voice rang out.
“Aren’t you eating the steak? I personally prepared it for you.”
When Dedrick hesitated, Somerset arched an eyebrow.
“That sauce is poison! But he’ll keep nagging if you don’t eat, so just pretend to eat from the part without the sauce. Then, let’s roll around saying it hurts.”
Then Somerset wouldn’t be able to say anything more.
Somerset’s goal would be achieved just by seeing him in pain.
I moved closer to his side so as not to startle him and sat down, slightly bending my knees.
I ended up looking like I was hiding under the table, but I pressed close to Dedrick’s chair, hoping he would listen to me well.
“That’s what he wants to see, so just give it to him and let’s get out of here quickly. It’s better than actually being in pain!”
“He does that because you endure everything. If it hurts, it’s okay to say it hurts.”
I looked at him pityingly and carefully poked the back of his hand with my finger.
Dedrick’s hand flinched violently.
He hesitated for a long time with his fork in front of the meat, then finally cut a piece from the side without sauce, put it in his mouth, and chewed.
Since the table was wide, he probably wouldn’t notice that part.
Somerset was only watching to see whether Dedrick was eating the steak or not.
Somerset was watching Dedrick’s expression with great interest.
I wanted to throw the steak in front of him, but I held back.
It wasn’t time to step forward yet.
It shouldn’t be discovered that an intangible being was protecting Dedrick.
It would be a disaster if they brought all sorts of things to kill me.
‘Besides this, there are many things I have to do, so I can’t.’
For now, I had to be satisfied with chattering by his side.
“Now, this is it. Make a face like you’ve tasted something disgusting.”
I whispered, coaching him. But he just stayed still.
“Can’t you act?”
He gave a faint nod.
“Hmm, then first, lower your head deep. Hunch your body, too.”
He obediently did as I said.
As Dedrick lowered his head and hunched his back, Somerset suppressed a laugh and asked.
“What’s wrong? Does it taste bad?”
“Shake your head!”
Dedrick obediently shook his head.
“Then why don’t you finish it all?”
“Good. Now, stab the meat with effort.”
He stabbed the meat hard, and I shouted with the enthusiasm of a theater director.
“Now, collapse from the chair! Fall all the way to the floor and hunch over, clutching your stomach!”
Do it!
Dedrick hesitated, then dropped his fork and slumped to the floor just as I said, letting out a groan.
“Hey, you okay?”
There wasn’t a hint of worry in his voice as he asked with a laugh.
“Repeat exactly what I say. I’m sorry, hyung-nim. My stomach hurts so much… may I leave first?”
“I-I’m sorry, hy-hyung-nim. My stomach hurts so much….”
Before he could even finish, Somerset waved his hand.
“Yeah, go on. I can’t eat with you anyway, it’s sickening.”
Since he had already seen Dedrick collapse and suffer, Somerset’s business was done.
As Dedrick stood up unsteadily and left, Somerset spoke loudly to his servant before the door closed.
“Throw all of that away. The chair and the table, too. They’re too filthy to use.”
I followed close behind Dedrick as he walked away lonely.
In any case, Dedrick would become the master of Blackwood, and Somerset was destined to be thoroughly crushed by him.
So I watched him with concern, hoping he would endure just a little longer.
“Your stomach is okay, right? You didn’t eat any of the sauce earlier, did you?”
He kept his lips stubbornly shut.
It wouldn’t be easy to open his heart to a closet monster who wasn’t even human.
Following Dedrick’s somewhat brisk pace, we soon arrived at his room.
He immediately sat at his desk and opened a book.
‘He’s very diligent.’
I trotted over to his side and peeked. His pen moved continuously without stopping.
My head spun at the sight of the notebook filled with difficult characters I had never seen before.
I didn’t know letters could be this dizzying.
Rubbing my eyes, I spoke to him with sincerity.
“You’re working hard.”
“Tell me if your stomach hurts. Okay? I’ll bring medicine.”
“Well, I’ll be able to tell if I watch you even if you don’t say anything.”
I was watching him intently to see if cold sweat would break out on Dedrick’s forehead.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, my body was pulled into the Wardrobe.
“Ugh.”
I wasn’t particularly surprised.
I was often forcibly summoned like this if I stayed outside the Wardrobe for too long.
‘A closet monster is supposed to be in the closet, after all.’
I was about to brush it off and open the Wardrobe door.
*Clack.*
The door wouldn’t open, accompanied by the sound of something catching.
“Huh? Dedrick! The door won’t open!”
*Thump, thump, thump!*
“I’m in here!”
Don’t tell me…
Did this brat lock it on purpose?!
