While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 35
He stepped forward with his left foot and extended the arm holding the wooden sword, sweeping it toward the neck. Jacob retreated, dodging the strike with ease. Starting with that move, the two began to clash swords in earnest.
Thwack! Crack!
As they sparred, Jacob continued to point out Dedrick’s shortcomings.
“In this situation, it is better to attack the legs rather than the arms.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Straighten your back. Your wrists are stiff.”
Dedrick seemed to absorb the advice rapidly. Being a complete novice when it came to swordsmanship, I didn’t know much, but I could tell by the way Jacob praised him every time he made an adjustment.
Once the spar ended, I couldn’t help but jump up from my seat and hop around.
“Didi! That was amazing!”
I rushed toward him as if I were about to pull him into a hug, but I skidded to a halt right in front of him. Dedrick had instinctively started to spread his arms as well, but then he froze.
“What is the matter? Do you have a cramp in your arm or something…?”
Dedrick lowered his arms awkwardly. I likewise began to circle around him, swinging my own awkwardly raised arms in a round motion instead.
“You looked so cool! I don’t know much about swords, but even I could tell how incredible that was!”
Dedrick’s lips twitched. I could see how badly he wanted to respond to my words.
With my eyes sparkling, I said, “It must have been so exhausting, you worked so hard!”
“Your hands are so pretty, too. Even with all those calluses, Didi’s hands are the prettiest in the world.”
Dedrick bit his lip hard and turned to Jacob.
“Would it be alright if we stop here for today? I just remembered something urgent.”
“Of course. You were excellent today.”
“That’s right, Didi, you were excel—!”
To think he’d move me before I could even finish my sentence.
What a mean Wardrobe.
I gave the Wardrobe a few frustrated thumps for no reason.
The girl vanished before she could finish her thought. Dedrick flinched.
‘She’s been moved.’
Dedrick’s heart began to race with impatience. He clenched both fists tight.
‘She said they’re pretty.’
The girl always told him he was pretty.
These hands, made ugly by sword training—she loved them as if they were the most beautiful jewels in the world.
His hands itched with the impulse to cup her white cheeks with them.
He wanted to go to her and hug her as soon as possible.
“I will take my leave now.”
It was as he was hurrying down the hill, uncharacteristically flustered.
Grand Duke Blackwood, who shared a striking resemblance to him, blocked his path. A deep shadow swallowed Dedrick.
The pressure was so intense it made his skin sting, and Dedrick bit his lip as he looked up at him.
“Is your body holding up?”
It was absurd that he was asking only now, but Dedrick simply gave a short reply.
“……Yes.”
The Grand Duke stared at him silently before shifting his gaze toward the approaching Jacob.
Jacob placed his clenched fist over his heart and bowed deeply.
“I greet His Grace, the Grand Duke of Blackwood.”
The Grand Duke acknowledged the greeting and looked back at Dedrick. A compliment, so brief it felt desolate, flowed from his lips.
“Your skills have improved significantly.”
Dedrick hadn’t expected him to be watching. However, that didn’t make him feel any better.
Thinking of how the man had never looked at him before, Dedrick could only wonder what the Grand Duke was up to by suddenly appearing here.
Dedrick remained silent, and Jacob agonized over whether he should leave. However, it was unacceptable to leave without an order.
More than anything, Jacob was suddenly gripped by worry.
‘Will he be displeased that someone as unqualified as I am is teaching the young master?’
They had met over the Somerset incident, but since he hadn’t seen the Grand Duke since then, he was nervous.
However, the Grand Duke looked at Jacob and gave a blunt wave of his hand. It was a signal to leave. Jacob gave a clean bow and headed down the hill.
Left alone, Dedrick felt even more uncomfortable. In the awkward silence, he was about to leave first when the Grand Duke stepped in front of him.
“Sir Jacob’s swordsmanship is excellent enough that he may lead the Black Falcon one day.”
Dedrick looked up at him, puzzled by the sudden praise. Cold blue eyes looked down at him as the man added, “Provided he can manifest his Aura, that is.”
Dedrick flared up in defense.
“Master will manifest his Aura soon.”
“If you wish, I shall provide you with another teacher.”
Dedrick could not understand the Grand Duke. He had never once meddled in his affairs.
He had never stepped forward to take care of him like this.
It felt like he was trying to play the father now when it didn’t even fit, which made Dedrick feel even more unpleasant.
“Sir Jacob is my only master. Even with the matter of brother Somerset, it would have been buried if not for Sir Jacob. There is no one else who thinks of me as much as he does.”
He put emphasis on the last sentence, but the Grand Duke remained cold.
“Learning from someone who has not manifested their Aura will only lead to a standstill.”
“There is no better swordsmanship teacher than my Master. Please do not force this any further.”
Dedrick clenched his fists. He gritted his teeth, trying his best not to let his resentment explode toward the utterly indifferent man who was his father.
‘Because Mother wished for me not to be at odds with Father.’
The only reason he consistently called him “Father” was because of his mother’s final request.
Dedrick closed his eyes and pushed down the surging anger.
He didn’t want to bicker any longer. So, he changed the subject.
“Do you know a man named Arnold?”
The man’s expression did not change. It was impossible to tell if he knew him or not.
“It seems he wants to enter the Grand Duke’s Castle. It appeared that the Grand Duchess was going to permit it. They seemed to hold some leverage over each other.”
Whether the man was interested or not, Dedrick simply stated the facts he had gathered in a calm voice.
“There is a secret passage in the underground fruit cellar. I heard it appears when you press the wall where the apple crates are stacked.”
“That is not very important. Right now, you……”
“Since when did you care about me?”
Dedrick eventually glared at him with bloodshot eyes.
“I will take care of myself.”
The Grand Duke fell silent with his usual indifference.
‘This man is always like this.’
He looked like someone who would leave at any moment, someone who had no lingering attachments to anything.
Dedrick clenched his fists and finished what he was saying.
“……Gemma frequents that place. Is it acceptable for a maid to use a secret passage the Grand Duke is unaware of? It seemed she and the man named Arnold used that passage quite often.”
The Grand Duke’s expression remained the same.
However, Dedrick felt instinctively that the man was pretending not to know about Arnold even though he did.
If that was the case, Dedrick had nothing more to say.
He was about to pass by the Grand Duke when the man spoke in a frigid voice.
“I shall have the passage blocked.”
Dedrick ran without looking back. He didn’t want to be in the same space as him for a moment longer.
His good mood had plummeted to the bottom because of that one man.
The Grand Duke silently watched Dedrick as he ran away without a backward glance. He watched until the boy disappeared from sight.
Jenkinson, who had been in the bushes, stepped out quietly. As the Grand Duke left the clearing, he gave an order.
“Formally appoint Jacob Howard as Dedrick’s swordsmanship instructor.”
At that command, Jenkinson suppressed a sigh and answered, “……Yes, Your Grace.”
“And block all the secret passages that woman knows about.”
“Pardon? Are we not just blocking the fruit cellar?”
“Block them all.”
“Not only the instructor, but what on earth……!”
Jenkinson turned pale and tried to stop him, but the Grand Duke raised a hand to cut him off.
“Can I not do at least this much as a father?”
Eventually, Jenkinson wiped his face and said bitterly, “……We will have to leave the Grand Duke’s Castle for a while. I shall prepare for the departure.”
The Grand Duke said nothing, and Jenkinson looked at his master with a face full of worry.
Before Dedrick arrived, I took a quick look around the Wardrobe.
Since it was still early morning, there were no unusual signs from the two brothers, Delaney, or Gemma.
I sat on the edge of the Wardrobe and waited for a few minutes. Then, I heard the sound of the door swinging open and someone rushing in.
As soon as I stepped out of the Wardrobe, Dedrick lunged toward me. He then grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me up.
“Whoa!”
In an instant, I breathed in the high-altitude air before being set back down. I looked at him in a daze, and Dedrick asked with a face full of anticipation.
“Did I do well?”
