While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 37
Jacob felt it too, but he only furrowed his brows and did not respond. Regardless of the circumstances, she was the mistress of Blackwood, and he could not treat her with open disrespect.
“I see…. It seems Dedrick has taken quite a liking to you, Sir Knight.”
Jacob remained silent, but Delaney began her performance, acting the part of a mother who loved her son dearly.
“The truth is, Dedrick is quite frail. After losing his mother, the child has become a bit dark and withdrawn.”
Ah, here comes the bad-mouthing.
I felt a surge of annoyance and wanted to dump the tea over her head, but I forced myself to endure it.
“I’ve assigned him many swordsmanship instructors separately, but they all ended up quitting—perhaps because of the boy’s foul temperament…. I’m a bit worried he might commit similar discourtesies toward you, Sir Knight.”
“The youngest young master is more honest and well-mannered than anyone else.”
Jacob replied, his voice tinged with a hint of indignation.
Delaney let out a mocking laugh from behind the fan covering her lips.
“Everyone says that at first.”
“Pardon my bluntness, but could you please get straight to the point?”
When Jacob spoke up, unable to bear it any longer, Delaney snapped her fan shut and cast her eyes downward, looking the picture of concern.
“Dedrick is weak, so he won’t be able to learn the sword for long. He seems to be struggling a lot lately; wouldn’t it be best to stop tormenting the boy and just let him be?”
This loathsome woman…!
Delaney was posing as a stepmother who cherished Dedrick more than anyone.
Jacob muttered as if checking if he had heard correctly.
“Tormenting him…?”
“Oh dear. I’m sorry, Sir Knight. That was a slip of the tongue. I’m so worried about Dedrick that I ended up repeating exactly what the child told me.”
“Liar!”
You don’t even look him in the eye!
“Are you saying the young master said those words to you directly, milady?”
“Contrary to public perception, the relationship between Dedrick and me isn’t bad. The boy leans on me from time to time. That’s why I was a bit puzzled to hear he liked you so much.”
Who would believe that?
Delaney’s words continued.
“Above all, you are unable to manifest Aura, Sir Knight. I have some doubts as to whether you are truly qualified to teach anyone. Even if you are a member of the Black Falcon Knights.”
Jacob’s head began to drop lower and lower.
“Jacob!”
You shouldn’t let her get to you like that!
I paced back and forth, wondering what to do.
Should I interfere now?
Delaney looked at the bowed Jacob with immense satisfaction. As if she had already won this round, she spoke with an air of leisure.
“I will find a separate swordsmanship instructor for Dedrick, so you need only tell the Grand Duke yourself that you are resigning.”
“……Grand Duchess.”
“It is simply the heart of a mother worrying for her son, so do not be too upset.”
Delaney lowered her eyebrows as if it pained her even to say such things.
“You want Dedrick to improve as well, don’t you, Sir Knight?”
Delaney continued to corner Jacob.
‘Ha. I have no choice.’
Just as I was about to throw Delaney’s teacup to force an end to this meeting, it happened.
“Yes, the young master will improve.”
“Exactly. So—”
“Through me.”
As if he had never bowed his head at all, Jacob looked Delaney straight in the eye. Then, as if he had been waiting for this moment, he began to rebut her while maintaining a strict line of courtesy.
“As far as I am aware, the Grand Duchess currently has no knights at her disposal. Am I mistaken?”
Exactly!
In short, he was sarcastically asking how she intended to provide a swordsmanship instructor for Dedrick.
Oh, Jacob.
That was incredibly refreshing.
Realizing his meaning, the hand Delaney used to hold her fan trembled violently.
But Jacob didn’t stop there.
“Furthermore, what the Grand Duchess has just said is equivalent to claiming there is a flaw in His Grace’s decision.”
Delaney’s shoulders flinched momentarily.
“What are you saying, Sir Knight!”
“Who would dare question His Grace’s decision? Not even the Grand Duchess can do such a thing. Isn’t that right?”
Not a single thing Jacob said was wrong. Delaney had dared to nitpick the Grand Duke’s decision. She had crossed the line.
“Well done, Jacob!”
Knowing this, Delaney could only tremble, unable to offer a single rebuttal.
If word of this reached the ears of the Grand Duke and his vassals, it could be seen as an act of defiance against his authority.
“Also, if the Grand Duchess truly intended to find the young master an instructor, you would have done so long ago. Is that not so?”
Exactly, this woman never had any intention of finding him a teacher!
The Grand Duchess spoke up immediately, refusing to back down.
“As I said before, Dedrick chased them all away. Sir Knight, have you not been listening to a word I’ve said?”
Delaney’s voice grew sharp, but Jacob remained unfazed.
“I am well aware that no one wanted to be the young master’s instructor.”
“See, you know it too. So what is the problem? Above all, bringing up His Grace to me is extremely unpleasant. I was merely speaking out of concern for Dedrick.”
Jacob was a man of immense patience. He could have easily cut her off out of annoyance, but he waited until the end to deliver his opinion clearly.
“I used to think that way once.”
“What?”
“It seems you haven’t heard the rumors circulating among the knights since the Captain of the White Falcon was dismissed.”
I know!
Among the knights, word was spreading that the Grand Duchess had been preventing the youngest master from being taught.
And that she had recruited several knights to spread false rumors about him.
Delaney’s reputation was currently plummeting toward the ground in plain sight.
Delaney wasn’t ignorant of this, but having it brought up directly to her face caused her skin to flush red with shame.
“Our Didi really picked a great swordsmanship instructor. How wonderful is it that everyone takes care of things even when I don’t do a thing! This is how a child should be protected!”
I now sat comfortably beside Jacob, listening to their conversation.
“Grand Duchess. No matter what you say, I have no intention of resigning as the young master’s instructor. Since His Grace has officially granted his permission, I believe this is not a matter for the Grand Duchess to interfere with.”
Ultimately, Delaney resorted to threatening Jacob with her status.
“……Sir Knight. I am the mistress of Blackwood. Petty rumors will soon die down, and I will reclaim the authority of the White Falcon one way or another. Do you think you will be fine after speaking to me like this?”
“I have said nothing to disparage the Grand Duchess. I have only spoken the truth. I will not report this matter to His Grace, so if I have been impolite, please forgive me.”
It was practically a counter-threat. A suggestion that since he would overlook her opposing His Grace’s decision, she should let this go as well.
“Jacob, you’re the best.”
I quietly clapped my hands.
Jacob stood up from his seat and added one last thing.
“If you are finished, I shall take my leave.”
After a polite bow, he walked straight out of the drawing room.
Click. The door closed, and Gemma cautiously called out to the Grand Duchess.
“Milady….”
Delaney’s hand holding the fan shook as she ground her teeth.
“That useless husk who can’t even manifest Aura certainly knows how to wag his tongue.”
“What shall we do? Should we take care of him?”
Take care of who?
Is killing people that easy for you?
“Gemma, watch your mouth. If we carelessly ‘take care’ of a member of the Black Falcon, we are the ones who will suffer the consequences.”
“……I am sorry, milady.”
“Even if we do nothing, that man won’t be able to stay in the Black Falcon for long anyway.”
Delaney sneered, her lips twisting sharply.
“Do you think someone who can’t even manifest Aura can last long in the Black Falcon?”
“But if word of this reaches His Grace’s ears….”
“The Black Falcon have a rigid side to them. They will keep their word once promised.”
Delaney said, as if spitting the words out.
“We just have to wait for the corpse to drift downstream.”
Yeah, that’ll be your corpse.
