Translator: Nox

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

Chapter 23

Early in the dawn, Joanna rose from her bed.

No matter how fine the room was, Joanna could never find sleep when she came here.

Perched on the edge of the bed, she furrowed her brow.

‘So annoying….’

She couldn’t show it because this was the Blackwood family, but Joanna loathed Somerset, who did nothing but bluster in front of her.

Despite his calm appearance, he was talkative, greedy, and the exact type of man she detested—one wrapped in his mother’s skirts.

‘The Grand Duchess is undoubtedly pushing for the engagement just to solidify that idiot’s position.’

Moreover, while talks were ongoing, they weren’t officially engaged yet, and she hated how he acted as if he were already her fiancé.

Others were desperate to even set foot in the Grand Duke’s Castle, but not Joanna.

Her nerves were incredibly frayed because Somerset had been clinging to her side and chattering incessantly since lunch yesterday.

‘I want to go home.’

She had come here unable to withstand the pressure from her father and mother, but she wanted to return as soon as possible.

Since Somerset stayed by her side until she went to sleep, she didn’t even have time to be alone….

Eventually, Joanna threw on a simple shawl and opened the door.

The knight guarding the door naturally fell in behind her.

Joanna’s eyes sharpened.

“Is there any place safer than the Grand Duke’s Castle? I want to be alone, so do not follow me.”

The knight hesitated at her irritable tone.

If Joanna caused trouble or got hurt here, it was the knight who would be severely scolded by the Marquis and his wife.

So, he couldn’t help but follow. Sensing that hesitation, Joanna spoke again.

“I won’t tell my mother and father. It’ll only be for a moment, so wait.”

In the end, the knight nodded. He knew that if he didn’t comply, the irritation of the already sensitive Joanna would pour down on him.

With a slightly relieved expression, Joanna headed outside. She wandered nearby to refresh her mood.

The quiet dawn, the white mist, and the faint scent of flowers made her feel a little better.

As she strolled slowly without a clear destination, she heard small footsteps.

Tada-dak….

Joanna’s body froze instantly.

‘Did he realize I was gone and come rushing out of bed to find me?’

Thinking of the tiresome Somerset, Joanna hid herself in the nearby bushes.

A moment later, as the water mist cleared, someone appeared.

A boy, perhaps out for morning exercise, began to come clearly into view as he ran.

‘Who is that?’

She leaned forward slightly to get a better look.

A light breeze swept the hair covering the boy’s eyes back, revealing his face fully.

Blue eyes reminiscent of a cold sea, a sharp nose, a delicate jawline, and hot breath escaping from between red lips.

Joanna found herself staring blankly at the beautiful, sweat-drenched boy.

‘It’s a face I’ve never seen before….’

But that jet-black hair was uncommon.

‘Black hair….’

As she watched the boy who exuded an air of nobility, a memory flashed through Joanna’s mind.

Her eyes sparkled.

‘Could it be…!’

Just then, the boy passed the bushes where Joanna was hiding.

Joanna sprang up from her spot without realizing it.

‘I can’t let him get away.’

I’ll regret it if I miss this.

She had a powerful premonition.

She placed the most importance on first impressions.

She was also a young girl who dreamed of a love that felt like fate at first sight.

And such a beautiful boy had appeared before her!

‘Dedrick Blackwood!’

He even looked exactly like the Grand Duke, whom she had glimpsed from afar—so much so that she wondered why it had only just occurred to her.

Rumors said he was gloomy, scrawny, and pathetic….

But seeing the boy’s real face, so different from the rumors, Joanna’s heart was stolen in an instant.

‘If I have to be engaged, I’d much rather it be him!’

“W-wait…!”

Joanna’s voice didn’t reach the boy in the distance.

Growing anxious as the boy pulled further away, Joanna shouted as she ran after him.

“Please, wait a moment!”

Running blindly with the thought that she mustn’t lose him, Joanna eventually tripped over her own feet and fell flat.

“Kyaak!”

A sharp pain flared in her knee.

A few tears welled up, but the man was more important right now.

She knew that if Somerset were around, he would never let them meet.

Up until now, he hadn’t even let a single word about Dedrick escape his lips.

Afraid he might have disappeared, she snapped her head up and saw the boy standing still.

A smile touched Joanna’s lips. The boy slowly turned to look at her.

“…Are you speaking to me?”

‘His voice is nice too!’

Pushing aside the embarrassment of her fallen state, which was unbecoming of a noble lady, Joanna reached out a hand toward the boy.

“Yes! First….”

As her eyes met his blue ones directly, the girl’s gaze sparkled.

“Could you help me up? Dedrick-nim.”

Joanna decided to take this as an opportunity.

In truth, Dedrick had been aware.

He could sense Joanna’s presence.

Dedrick’s skills had improved by leaps and bounds to the point where he could easily notice someone hiding in the bushes.

Still, the reason he had tried to pass by as if he hadn’t noticed was that he didn’t want to get tiredly entangled with the woman Somerset liked.

Especially since Dedrick was well aware of Somerset’s desperate love for Joanna.

Dedrick didn’t take Joanna’s outstretched hand; he just stared at it blankly.

If Somerset were to see him taking that hand, Dedrick’s life would become even more grueling than it already was.

“Um, Dedrick-nim?”

Joanna called out to him cautiously as he just stared at her, but Dedrick did not take her hand.

Thinking he might be wary because he didn’t recognize her, Joanna hurried to state her name.

“I am Joanna of the Marquis Primrose family. I am not a suspicious person.”

Joanna smiled softly, but Dedrick was cold to the point of being chilling.

“I will call someone for you.”

At the unexpected words, Joanna hurriedly grabbed him.

“Why would you do that! You could just help me up yourself, Dedrick-nim!”

“Are you not the one in talks for an engagement with my older brother? I do not wish to create unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“It’s just helping me up. Wouldn’t you be praised instead?”

“I wonder. My brother and I are in the middle of a struggle for the position of successor, and if he finds out I reached out to Lady Primrose, who will one day be his fiancée, he will be more than furious. Above all, Lady Primrose, you must be well aware of what my situation is like here.”

“Then, excuse me.”

As she watched Dedrick turn away without hesitation, Joanna eventually stood up, staggering on her own.

Brushing off her dress and looking for any trace of the already vanished Dedrick, Joanna’s smile deepened.

“…Perfect!”

She even liked that he didn’t give others an opening.

She also liked that he spoke concisely and got straight to the point.

Somerset babbled on with so much useless talk that her ears used to ache.

For the first time, Joanna began to look forward to life at the Grand Duke’s Castle.

‘It’s actually better that he’s in a position of being ostracized.’

I can help him.

Then he’ll open his heart.

‘Just like in that fairy tale!’

Joanna Primrose, fifteen years old.

A lady who was the envy of everyone for her beautiful appearance and was the second most noticed among noble daughters of her age.

Such a lady was currently deeply immersed in romance stories.

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I stared fixedly at Dedrick, who had come out after washing up neatly. With his ears turned red, he was busy avoiding my gaze.

It was cute how he used the towel on his head to cover his face while checking my reaction.

As a result, I ended up staring at him to an almost burdensome degree, and finally, Dedrick couldn’t stand it anymore and stole a glance at me with a flushed face.

“Why…?”

“…Are you mad?”

“I don’t get mad at Didi.”

Only at kids like Somerset.

Dedrick approached me as I sat on the edge of the wardrobe, took both my hands, and pulled gently.

“Then why do you keep looking at me?”

“Where do you go every dawn?”

When Dedrick looked a little troubled, I hurriedly added.

“I wasn’t going to ask originally. Because I respect Didi’s private time too. But I’m so curious.”

I want to know everything about you.

When I added that last part, Dedrick scratched his flushed cheek.

“I felt like I lacked physical strength, so I’ve been running for exercise….”

“Should I run with you?”

“No. You sleep so much anyway.”

“If Didi is okay with it, I can run with you.”

I might be transported back to the wardrobe in the middle of it, but let’s place the significance on going out together.

However, Dedrick gently refused.

“I appreciate the thought.”

He ruffled my hair and led me toward the desk.

I decided to use this peaceful time until Joanna left to master the second fairy tale book.

So I could read and write.

I had intended to burn the notebooks I wrote in every day just in case, but Dedrick wouldn’t let me. Saying he would keep them, he hid them somewhere even I didn’t know.

“Today’s fairy tale. It’s a book called ‘The Orphan and the Prince.’”

Oh, I know this fairy tale.