While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 43
When I opened the wardrobe door, Dedrick was huddled inside, hugging a pillow tightly with only his eyes peeking out.
“Why are you being so cute?”
“……You always say I’m cute.”
“Because you are!”
At my heartfelt exclamation, he let out a small laugh and slunk further back into the wardrobe.
“I feel a little sick…….”
“Huh? Where? Are the symptoms showing up late?”
Turning pale, I grabbed his arm and checked him over. But there didn’t seem to be anything wrong.
“My head hurts a little…….”
It was only after hearing him mumble in that uncertain tone that I realized.
He’s faking it.
Well, I suppose when you’re hurting, you crave someone’s presence.
Since he has no one else to turn to for comfort, he’s seeking me out.
The sight of him was both adorable and heartbreaking.
I crawled all the way inside to make enough room for him to sit and patted the spot next to me.
“Come here.”
Only then did Dedrick move further in and close the wardrobe door.
Without needing to say a word, we pulled each other into a tight hug and patted each other’s backs.
It was strange how we both did the exact same thing at the same time.
“We just had telepathy!”
“……Telepathy?”
“It means our hearts are in sync.”
“Our hearts are in sync?”
“We both patted each other because we both want the other to sleep peacefully. That’s our hearts being in sync.”
“You’re right…….”
Dedrick stared at me and murmured, looking a bit amazed.
“……Our hearts really are in sync.”
It’s not really that big of a deal…….
But since he seems so happy about it, I’ll just let it be.
The next morning, the first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was Dedrick staring at me with wide, alert eyes.
I offered him a morning greeting.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to you.”
“Then let’s head out now.”
Seeing the sunlight streaming through the cracks in the wardrobe door, it was time for Dedrick to return from his swordsmanship training. Yet, he made no move to leave.
Maybe the wasp sting yesterday really was the problem. Was he not faking it after all?
Even though me checking his temperature wouldn’t change anything, I habitually placed my hand on his forehead before pulling it away.
Even as I sat up, Dedrick remained lying down, unmoving.
He hesitated for a moment, then wrapped his arms around my waist and mumbled.
“……I don’t want to go out.”
Kid, this is my house.
I told you that you could come in whenever you wanted, but I never said we were moving in together.
I had no intention of turning Dedrick into a wardrobe-dweller, so I opened and closed my mouth, unsure of what to say.
Then again, Dedrick has been overworking himself lately.
Just for today, I’ll let him play in the wardrobe…….
Bang!
However, our peaceful time didn’t last long.
Along with the sound of the door being kicked open, a voice I hated to hear drifted in.
“Where is that brat?”
It was Axel.
When Dedrick flinched, I quickly covered his mouth and held my index finger to my lips.
He gave a small nod. We huddled close together and held our breath.
“Did he go out somewhere?”
Axel didn’t even consider that he might be hiding.
Axel grumbled.
“I was going to see how those wasp stings were doing……. If he went out, it means he wasn’t stung that badly!”
The sound of someone being struck was followed by another man’s groan.
“Are you sure you released the hornets properly?!”
“I-I definitely coated him in honey before releasing them…….”
“Then why is he walking around fine?”
“Th-that guy usually doesn’t show when he’s in pain. Maybe he’s just sucking it up and went out?”
“……Could be.”
Axel definitely seems to be a gullible fool, just like me.
Fortunately, the two of them left the room quickly.
“I’ll go see if Axel is gone.”
Leaving him in the wardrobe, I stepped out for a moment and checked the hallways.
Hmm, not a trace of Axel left.
Good.
When I went back inside, Dedrick was climbing out of the wardrobe with a pen in his hand.
Huh? Did he have a pen with him while he slept?
Chapter 5.
The servants of the Grand Duke’s Castle were moving about busily.
Their hands were full of items to decorate the banquet hall.
Expensive decorations—luxurious new curtains, artworks bought at high prices from auctions, and more—continued to flow into the banquet hall, more than enough to display the wealth of the Blackwood family.
I watched the scene blankly from the window.
‘They’re trying hard to restore their reputation this time.’
Since rumors of her mistreating Dedrick have spread far and wide, she’ll be desperate to act the part of a benevolent mother.
‘It’s going to be noisy for a few days.’
Since the Grand Duke’s party lasts for three days, everyone is expected to arrive a day or two early, stay at the castle, enjoy the party, and then return home.
Young noble ladies and young masters who had not yet reached adulthood were especially desperate for an invitation to the Grand Duke’s party. It was a golden opportunity to build networks and connections.
‘No matter how bad Delaney’s reputation is right now, the nobles won’t miss this chance.’
Rumors always followed high society, and as long as Delaney was the Grand Duchess, there was nothing to gain by getting on her bad side.
In any case!
‘Dedrick is attending the party too, so I have to stay sharp.’
Because…….
She’s finally appearing! The long-awaited female lead!
In the novel, Dedrick becomes the laughingstock of the nobles throughout the party, and to make matters worse, he even gets humiliated after falling into a trap set by the Grand Duchess.
The struggling Dedrick secretly sobbed in an empty room, and that’s where the female lead finds him.
‘From that moment on, they can’t take their eyes off each other.’
Even while pretending otherwise, they are more conscious of each other than anyone else.
I turned away from the window.
‘Come to think of it, I heard the 2nd Prince is coming to this party too.’
Unlike the novel, it seemed he decided to attend because he had become friends with Dedrick.
“Didi, I’m going to the Grand Duchess’s room for a bit.”
“Why there?”
“Why else! Party preparations are in full swing.”
“……So, why does that matter?”
I smiled with a face full of schemes, stepped into the wardrobe, and waved.
“I’ll tell you when I get back!”
I immediately moved to Delaney’s room.
Stepping out of the wardrobe, I headed toward the living room connected to the bedroom. I could see Delaney through the slightly ajar door. She was looking at a catalog and ordering Gemma to put in various requests.
“Since this theme is the ocean, we must match it accordingly. It must be overwhelmingly lavish so that no unpleasant stories about me and Somerset can surface.”
Even though it was currently winter, the reason for choosing the ocean as a theme was to flaunt her immense wealth—showing she could even change the seasons—and to demonstrate that Somerset and Delaney were still as powerful as ever.
“So that everything can revolve around Somerset…….”
She paused for a moment, but Delaney continued without concern.
“Somerset’s formal wear for this banquet should also be blue…….”
Delaney’s hand, which was flipping through the catalog, came to a dead stop.
“Mother, it’s Axel.”
“Madam, perhaps it would be best to speak with Young Master Axel first before making the final decision?”
Gemma suggested cautiously, and Delaney raised an eyebrow in disapproval before letting out a sigh.
“Tell him to come in.”
When Gemma opened the door, Axel walked in as if he had been waiting.
His expression was filled with anger, disappointment, and hurt.
“Mother, a banquet? You didn’t say anything to me about that.”
“I was so busy with the preparations that I simply couldn’t attend to it. You must understand.”
Delaney replied indifferently without even looking at him, and hurt flickered across Axel’s face.
“……You could have at least given me a hint.”
Delaney exhaled deeply and spoke as if she were exhausted.
“I am quite busy, so it would be best if we spoke later.”
“If a banquet is being held, I naturally have to prepare as well……!”
I could feel Gemma nervously watching the two. However, Delaney cut him off so coldly it made one wonder if Axel was truly her own child.
“It is enough for your brother, the star of the show, to prepare. I don’t know why you’re being so dramatic when you have nothing to prepare for. Do you think I would ever order anyone to treat you poorly?”
Delaney waved her hand as if she were fed up.
“If you understand, then leave.”
But Axel didn’t leave; he stood there rooted to the spot.
Eventually, Gemma led him away gently.
“Young Master, let’s leave it at this for today…….”
Axel shook off Gemma’s hand.
He must be reaching his limit of understanding now, too.
He had worked twice as hard as Somerset, and his grades were even slightly better, yet Delaney was unconditionally on the side of the eldest son.
In the end, Axel’s patience finally snapped.
“Why is it never me?”
