While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 36
Was he asking if he did a good job lifting me up high? When did he get this strong?
While I was having these somewhat dazed thoughts, Dedrick, perhaps not getting the reaction he expected, murmured with his confidence visibly deflated.
「Earlier, the sparring…」
I had forgotten all about it because I was so startled by him suddenly picking me up.
I threw my arms wide and gave Dedrick a very tight hug.
「You did so well! I was seriously so surprised watching you! I wanted to jump up and down holding you, but I couldn't do anything because I was afraid we'd get caught!」
「Did I really do well?」
「Amazingly! And your teacher seems so kind and wonderful too!」
He gave a soft, messy smile and leaned his forehead against mine.
「Right? You think Master is great too?」
「Yes. Didi, you're going to follow in his footsteps and become someone truly incredible.」
Oh, absolutely.
Even without my interference, Dedrick was carving out his own path.
To think he actually took Jacob as his master!
I was so happy I didn't know what to do with myself.
However, Dedrick's expression was strangely dark for me to be purely joyful.
He seemed to be trying to hide it by acting overly bright, but he couldn't fool my hawk-like eyes.
「Did something happen? Did you run into those two ugly brothers on your way here?」
He blinked, pretending not to know what I was talking about.
Of course, even that was cute, but still…
「You don't look happy. Did really nothing happen?」
「…Why do you think I don't look happy?」
「Because Didi's face is dark.」
「I didn't think I was letting it show…」
「Even so, I know everything about Didi. Because I see you every day.」
Only then did Dedrick take off his awkwardly worn mask. I carefully observed and caressed his gloomy face.
「Why? Did something happen after I left?」
「…Father came to see me.」
「The Grand Duke?」
I was stunned because, in the novel, he had never sought out Dedrick first.
「Haha, yeah. The Grand Duke.」
Did he like that I was speaking of him so casually?
Dedrick's face brightened a little.
「He told me he would find me another master instead of Jacob.」
The Grand Duke really said that?
「I'm very surprised too. He's someone who has never suggested or done anything for me before.」
「…He said Master can't even manifest Aura, so he'd provide me with a different, more excellent teacher.」
「So, what did you say?」
「I said no… because I trust Sir Jacob.」
Dedrick's lips trembled slightly as he took my hand, asking in a shaky voice.
「Do you think… I made the wrong choice?」
I answered immediately.
「That was Didi's choice.」
「What if I regret it later?」
「Do you think you'll regret it?」
「No, never. I trust Sir Jacob.」
「Then the Sir will live up to your trust. Because Didi's trust is very precious.」
He asked with trembling pupils, like someone who had heard something completely unexpected.
「…Why is my trust precious?」
「Even though you have every reason to hate people, you still choose to trust. So of course it's precious!」
When I smiled broadly, Dedrick stared at me blankly as if he had lost his soul.
Then, as if possessed, he slowly raised his hand and caressed my cheek.
「Your palm is so cool!」
The refreshing sensation felt good, so I leaned into his palm and rubbed my cheek against it. Watching me do that, Dedrick spoke quietly.
「I… trust you the most.」
As I blinked, he gave a gentle smile.
「I trust you more than anyone else in the world.」
I looked at him for a moment, unable to say anything.
His steady, serious gaze was fixed only on me. My mind went blank under that stare, and I couldn't think of a single thing to say.
Only when the corners of his mouth lifted softly did I flinch and shake my head.
Feeling a strange atmosphere, I threw out a joke for no reason.
「O-of course! I'm the most reliable Closet Monster, after all.」
「Yes, that's right.」
Dedrick laughed lightly and agreed with my words, but for some reason, I couldn't look him straight in the eye.
The next morning, the Grand Duke dropped a bombshell on Delaney and left the Grand Duke's Castle.
That bombshell was the order officially appointing Jacob as Dedrick's swordsmanship instructor.
The reason this was shocking was that Delaney had chosen all the swordsmanship instructors for Somerset and Axel. Everything else had been handled by Delaney as well, and the Grand Duke had never once interfered.
If she ever asked him anything, he would just tell her to do as she saw fit; he had no interest.
All he ever did was check the visible results to see how much the successors who would follow him had grown.
'It was definitely like that in the novel too…'
Since the Grand Duke had personally appointed Jacob as Dedrick's instructor, Delaney would never be able to push him around as she pleased.
'Especially since she has no knights left under her control.'
And because it was such an unconventional move, everyone would assume the Grand Duke was considering Dedrick as a potential heir.
The fact that the Grand Duke had stepped in personally caused quite a stir among everyone.
'So I have to go check Delaney's reaction right away. She must be feeling backed into a corner.'
That was why I was currently inside the wardrobe in Delaney's room.
But there was no one in the room.
Instead, the room was a mess. It was clear that as soon as she heard the news, she had smashed things in the room to vent her anger.
What a temper.
'She's definitely summoned Jacob by now.'
No matter if he couldn't manifest Aura, a Black Falcon was still a Black Falcon.
Since she couldn't treat him recklessly, she would probably badmouth Dedrick to Jacob and try to coax him into stepping down from the instructor position himself.
「It was Jacob who reported Somerset's tyranny to the Grand Duke, so she can't possibly think he'll listen to her.」
…No. Delaney is the most shameless person in the world, so she just might.
I hurried to the drawing room that Delaney frequently used.
I wasn't going there specifically to stop Delaney. The Jacob in the novel was a man who lived and died by loyalty and took great pride in the Black Falcon Knights.
'But I still need to see what kind of conversation they're having.'
Just in case.
And just in time, Jacob was standing in front of the drawing room. Soon the door opened, and I quickly dashed inside with him before it closed.
「Welcome, Sir Jacob.」
Delaney greeted him with a bright smile.
To be able to smile after being bested by Jacob. I guess not just anyone can be the Grand Duchess.
「I greet the Grand Duchess.」
Since he was not a knight serving Delaney directly, he addressed her as 'Grand Duchess' rather than 'My Lady'.
「Sit, Sir.」
「If I may.」
Jacob sat with his back straight and his fists resting on his thighs. He didn't even touch the tea in front of him.
Unable to watch any longer, Delaney smiled softly and offered him the tea.
「Have some, Sir.」
「I am fine.」
「I called you here to speak comfortably, so there's no need to be so stiff.」
「We may not have the best feelings toward each other, but we should clear up any misunderstandings.」
「Misunderstandings… you say?」
「What Somerset did was simply out of a desire to teach his younger brother. Let's just say His Grace was being a bit excessive.」
Wow, she really is shameless.
Even though she had been stripped of her command over the White Falcons and the commander, Dowell, had been kicked out because of that incident—earning her the deep resentment of the knights—Delaney seemed to have no idea what she had done wrong.
'In Delaney's mind, she thinks that incident wasn't something to get so angry about.'
I let out a hollow breath in disbelief.
I wasn't the only one; Jacob's face also crumpled slightly. As the atmosphere grew even heavier, Delaney stopped insisting and brought the teacup to her lips.
With her lips hidden by the cup, her mouth set into a hard, straight line.
Anger was visible even in her downcast eyes.
Nevertheless, Delaney quite skillfully hid her emotions as she finished her tea and set it down.
She began to speak again in a graceful tone, trying once more to lighten the mood.
「First of all, congratulations. I heard you've become Dedrick's swordsmanship instructor.」
「I am merely grateful that His Grace and the Young Lord viewed me favorably.」
「Ah, there's one more thing to celebrate.」
Delaney smiled thinly, testing Jacob.
「Congratulations on manifesting your Aura as well. You must have suffered quite a bit of heartache over it.」
What is she talking about?
Delaney also knew that Jacob couldn't manifest his Aura.
'There's no way she wouldn't know, considering how much she looked down on him.'
But since the Grand Duke had personally assigned him to Dedrick, she seemed to be trying to confirm it.
Whether he could manifest Aura or not.
Jacob replied with a somewhat somber face.
「I do not know what you mean, but I still cannot manifest Aura.」
「You cannot…?」
Delaney pretended to be flustered and opened her fan to hide her mouth. Behind the fan, her lips curved into a spiteful arc.
However, her eyes remained full of feigned concern.
「But didn't His Grace personally appoint you as Dedrick's instructor? If that's the case…」
「I am very lacking, but thanks to the Young Lord's strong recommendation, I have been able to teach him officially.」
「Oh my…」
Delaney's small exclamation was laced with a hint of a sneer.
