While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 32
It was evening by the time Dedrick and I heard the news about Somerset from Jenkinson.
“So, right now, Brother Somerset is…”
“He is confined to his room.”
“And the Commander of the White Falcons was dismissed as of today,” I murmured in surprise.
“So he was injured like that because of a steel core in a wooden sword.”
Upon learning the truth thanks to Jenkinson, I ground my teeth in a fit of rage.
“That bastard! Just confinement?! Is that really enough?!”
Knowing I couldn't beat him back the same way since he was still a minor, I clutched my head in frustration.
“Aaaargh! Seriously! Once he’s an adult, I’ll beat him to death without a shred of guilt!”
He beat Didi into a mess, and all he gets is confinement?!
Jenkinson, who couldn't possibly hear my desperate screams, continued to worry about Dedrick.
“Is your head alright?”
“Ah, yes. There are no issues.”
Dedrick received another thorough examination from the doctor who had visited this morning.
“...Something like this will never happen again under the guise of a duel. I am truly sorry for finding out so late.”
Jenkinson bowed deeply, then hesitated before opening his lips.
“Please... do not hate His Grace too much.”
Dumbfounded, I glared at the top of Jenkinson’s head.
“How can he not hate the guy who turned a blind eye just because there was no evidence?! Let Didi do whatever he wants!”
After a moment, Jenkinson quietly withdrew. I looked at Dedrick and said repeatedly,
“Do whatever your heart tells you, Didi! If you want to hate him, hate him to your heart's content. Understood?”
He watched me for a moment, then beamed with a deep, happy smile.
“...Yeah. You really are on my side.”
“Of course I am!”
I grinned broadly and shook his hand.
“I guess because Didi is such a good person, kind people naturally gather around you.”
If the swordsmanship instructor went so far as to report the injustice, it must mean he has some level of affection for Dedrick, right?
“A month of confinement isn't enough to satisfy me, but at least he won't be able to bother Didi for a while. Right?”
“...Yeah. I think I can be at ease for a bit.”
Looking at Dedrick’s relaxed face, I gently stroked his cheek.
I wished this peace would last a long time.
‘But that won’t happen.’
It was obvious he’d cause a scene again as soon as the confinement ended.
‘Well, it’s still good.’
I heard Delaney got chewed out too, and since she lost command of the White Falcon Knights, no knight would follow her orders from now on.
They’d provide an escort, but they wouldn't do anything beyond that.
That was a huge disgrace for the Grand Duchess. She’d probably be so shocked she’d be bedridden for a while.
It felt so refreshing.
Chapter 4.
As soon as Somerset’s confinement ended, Delaney began moving busily to restore her fallen reputation.
“Madam, here is the guest list for this party.”
Delaney took the list Gemma handed her. She reviewed the long line of noble family names with satisfaction.
The list was mostly comprised of families favorable to Somerset. Since she had also invited neutral nobles, she had to firmly win them over to Somerset’s side this time.
‘Furthermore, several vassals turned their backs because of this incident.’
She had to pull them back to Somerset’s side.
Delaney’s first goal was to move the vassals and give Somerset strength.
“The 1st Prince has been excluded. However...”
Gemma’s lips twitched.
Delaney’s gaze, scanning down the list, stopped at ‘Joanna Primrose’.
“Is it because of Joanna?”
“Yes, Madam. What shall we do?”
The first thing Delaney did after Joanna fled the Grand Duke's Castle was spread rumors about her.
She intentionally leaked rumors to high society that Somerset did not welcome the engagement with Joanna.
Because she subtly mixed in lies claiming it was all due to Joanna’s inadequacies, the Primrose family became a laughingstock in social circles.
People whispered about how she had acted so arrogantly only to be cast aside by the Grand Duchess.
Afterward, Delaney sent a letter to Marquis Primrose saying the talk of engagement with Somerset was off.
Since then, she had been ignoring all letters coming from Marquis Primrose.
“Exclude the Primrose family. Isn't it an adult’s duty to teach an immature child that the price for turning one's back on me and my son is high?”
“You are right, Madam. Then, shall we take measures to ensure the youngest young master cannot attend this party either?”
“Hmm...”
The Grand Duchess let out a thoughtful hum before shaking her head.
“Let him attend.”
She couldn't miss such a great opportunity.
An elegant smile played on Delaney’s lips as she savored the aroma of her tea.
Gemma did not leave even though her business was finished, but lingered instead. Hesitantly, she spoke.
“And Madam, I have something urgent to tell you...”
Gemma approached her and whispered in her ear.
“...has arrived.”
At that moment, the teacup Delaney was holding fell and rolled across the floor. She asked back in a trembling voice,
“...Who has come?”
It wasn't because she hadn't heard. Gemma looked at her and asked cautiously,
“What shall we do?”
Delaney’s hand gripped the armrest of the sofa, trembling violently.
“The reason for the visit?”
“He says he wants to start working as a knight again.”
He came to the Grand Duke's Castle for such a trivial reason now?
Delaney couldn't contain her rising anger and shouted.
“Then put him in any suitable place!”
“...He wishes to enter the Black Falcons of the Grand Duke's Castle.”
Delaney bit her red lips.
Now, when she had even been stripped of her command over the White Falcons, the Black Falcons?
Was he mocking her?
“There’s a limit to being shameless...!”
“Wouldn't it be dangerous to leave him alive like this?”
Gemma wanted to deal with him, but Delaney pressed down on her furrowed brow.
Delaney wanted to get rid of him too, if she could. But she couldn't.
“The evidence is in his hands.”
If he died, all that evidence would be revealed to the world.
She had to prevent that at all costs.
“Tell him to stay quiet until I contact him. It won't take that long.”
Delaney ground her teeth, her body shaking with rage.
Creak...
I stopped what I was doing, stealing blueberries, at the sound of a door opening.
“Sir, please come this way.”
At Gemma’s secretive voice, I grabbed the rest of the blueberries and poked my head out.
As a man entered, Gemma scanned the surroundings and closed the door to the fruit cellar.
‘What is this? This is incredibly suspicious.’
Was there a guest visiting the Grand Duke's Castle today?
And besides that, why guide him specifically this way? Judging by her formal tone, he doesn't seem to be a man of low status.
She hadn't been able to lay a finger on Dedrick for a while because she was wary of the Grand Duke.
Is she starting to move again now?
‘What is she planning?!’
Or is he Gemma’s guest?
‘Maybe he’s Gemma’s weakness.’
Could this be a good opportunity to get rid of Gemma, who is basically the Grand Duchess’s hands and feet?
I didn't take my eyes off the two of them.
In the dark fruit cellar, holding a lamp, Gemma pressed hard against a wall where apple crates were stacked.
Rumble...
The bricks opened on their own, revealing a passage.
“There was something like that?”
“This way.”
Startled, I hurriedly followed behind Gemma.
The bag containing the blueberries was black, so in this darkness, what I was carrying wouldn't be visible.
Still, just in case, I wrapped it carefully to ensure no rustling sounds were heard.
The brick door closed only after I had entered. In the pitch-black space, only the lamp held by Gemma provided light.
‘The fact that Gemma is personally guiding him means he’s the Grand Duchess’s guest.’
But why take him through a secret passage like this?
Even if I wanted to check the man out, it was difficult because he was bundled up tightly in a hood.
I tried to flutter around to see his face, but the passage was narrow, so I couldn't get ahead of him. I might have accidentally touched him if I tried.
‘I can catch a glimpse of a sword at his waist. If he’s a knight, his senses will be sharp. He might not simply think it’s the work of a ghost.’
So, I decided to follow quietly and listen to their conversation.
“The Grand Duchess has asked you to wait a little longer.”
“I’ve waited over ten years, and you want me to wait more?”
I heard the man's appalled voice. Though I couldn't see it, Gemma let out a displeased sigh.
“Sir Arnold. Do you think it was easy to bring you here?”
Arnold? That’s a name I’ve never heard before...
No matter how much I racked my brain, the name Arnold didn't come to mind.
‘Furthermore, is she trying to bring that man into the Grand Duke's Castle?’
Then, the man named Arnold spoke in a sarcastic voice.
“It seems Delaney hasn't been able to establish herself properly in the meantime? Well, I heard a rumor that she got scolded big time by the Grand Duke recently. Heh heh.”
