While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 46
Even though it was about his own affairs, Dedrick remained indifferent, so I grabbed him and spoke.
“They won’t say anything about just wearing formal clothes, right? Let’s ask the Grand Duke for some!”
“I don’t want to.”
“I have no choice. If you refuse, I’ll steal some and put them on you while you’re sleeping!”
“So let’s just wear the formal wear, okay? I’ll get everything for you.”
“Then… something baggy.”
What is he planning?
At my suspicious look, Dedrick answered in a small voice.
“I don’t like standing out in front of others.”
Even if he dressed like that, he’d still be an object of ridicule.
Since Delaney had spoken, he absolutely had to attend the banquet. If he ignored her, she wouldn’t let it slide.
She would likely use his defiance as an excuse to fabricate even nastier rumors or find new ways to torment him.
To cover her own flaws, she would make things even more provocative!
But if he went out in baggy clothes…
“Oh? That might actually be good…?”
Since the rumors that Delaney mistreated Dedrick were already widespread, it was a perfect opportunity to lend weight to those rumors.
But before I could finish my thought, a voice accompanied by a knock was heard.
“Youngest Master, I have brought the formal wear sent by Madam.”
“Dammit!”
Of course, there was no way Delaney hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Yet, if he didn’t wear the clothes she prepared, she would certainly see it as a challenge to her authority.
She probably intended to have him dress up to the nines for the banquet, only to show everyone that even then, he couldn’t possibly measure up to Somerset.
How incredibly annoying!
“Ah, sorry for swearing.”
“It’s okay. It’s cute.”
…The swearing is?
Dedrick stole a glance at the girl, who was diligently studying her letters beside him.
Then, he clutched his head with a silent groan.
‘When should I tell her…?’
For the past few days, he hadn’t been able to focus on his studies at all.
It was all because of the girl’s name.
After much agonizing, he had finally decided on a name that suited her, but he couldn’t quite find the right timing to tell her.
He wanted to tell her while giving her a gift she would be happy with, and before he knew it, this much time had passed.
‘It’s a precious name…’
The girl didn’t show it, but she seemed to be waiting expectantly as well.
‘Should I have told her the name when I gave her the rose…?’
However, the name he had chosen didn’t quite fit the rose.
He hesitated to give another gift, as there was no guarantee that a mystical phenomenon like the one with the rose would happen again.
In that case, he wanted to at least call her by her name in a wonderful place even without a gift, but the circumstances didn’t allow for it.
He had to be especially careful outside.
‘Most of all, if I call her name outside, we won’t be able to celebrate together.’
The place had to be a space where only he and the girl were present, where they could enjoy the joy to their hearts’ content.
At the sudden sound of the girl’s voice, Dedrick quickly relaxed his grip on his head.
“What’s wrong? Do you have a headache?”
The girl’s pale, clear face, full of worry for him, filled his vision.
“Ah, no.”
The girl watched him curiously for a moment before focusing back on her studies.
Taking a small sigh of relief, Dedrick pretended to study while falling back into his dilemma.
‘When did I like it when my name was called?’
Fortunately, that wasn’t hard to recall.
Dedrick liked it when his mother called his name.
And specifically…
‘I liked it best when she woke me up in the morning by calling my name.’
Whenever his mother woke him up by calling his name with affection, only good things seemed to happen for the rest of that day.
‘So…’
Dedrick watched the girl, who was narrowing her eyes in concentration, and a faint smile played on his lips.
‘I’ll call your name then.’
He decided to call her name when he woke her up tomorrow morning.
Once he made the decision, a sudden wave of tension washed over him, making his body tremble.
It was enough to make the girl cry out in surprise.
“Didi, it’s an earthquake!”
Looking at the girl, who was pulling him under the desk to hide, Dedrick finally burst into a clear laugh.
At dawn, before the sun rose.
Dedrick got out of bed and stood before the wardrobe.
There were shadows under his eyes.
Once he had resolved to call the girl’s name, he was too nervous to sleep. In the end, he had stayed up all night.
‘Let’s not wake her too early…’
As he waited quietly, the sunlight began to filter through the white curtains, illuminating the room.
‘It’s already time…’
Dedrick rubbed his sweaty palms against his clothes before grabbing the wardrobe door and opening it carefully.
Inside, he saw the girl still fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
Her long gray eyelashes, her soft cheeks, and her cute, slightly parted lips.
Dedrick let out a quiet breath, took her shoulder, and shook her gently.
“Marilyn.”
The voice flowing from his lips trembled violently.
“Marilyn, wake up.”
“…Mm?”
The girl finally rubbed her eyes and managed to lift her heavy eyelids. The golden eyes hidden beneath stared at him blankly for a moment.
With a trembling voice, Dedrick called the girl’s name once more.
“Who is Marilyn…?”
The girl, who had been mumbling in a sleep-laden voice, suddenly paused and bolted upright.
Then, with eyes as clear as if she had never been asleep, she met Dedrick’s gaze.
Her eyes were filled with immense anticipation.
“Is Marilyn… by any chance, my name?”
Dedrick’s lips moved tentatively before he smiled awkwardly and asked tenderly, just as his mother used to do for him.
“Marilyn, did you sleep well?”
“It really is my name!”
Marilyn jumped up and started hopping in place.
Unable to contain her joy, she threw herself into Dedrick’s arms.
After giving him a tight squeeze, she spoke in a voice full of excitement.
“Marilyn slept well! Did Didi sleep well?”
“I slept well.”
“Marilyn slept in the wardrobe yesterday!”
“Yes, and you’ll have breakfast, right?”
“Didi and Marilyn will have breakfast together! Yay!”
Marilyn pulled away from his embrace and skipped around the room.
The girl, who had no memory of her name from her previous life and had been abandoned here before she could even be given one, finally had a ‘name.’
It felt like an acknowledgment that her existence belonged to this world.
It felt like it was telling her that she wasn’t an illusion, and Marilyn was overjoyed.
“My name is Marilyn!”
The sight of Marilyn laughing was more lovely than anything. As Dedrick watched her as if entranced, she strode over to him.
“What does it mean, by the way?”
Looking at the star-bright Marilyn, Dedrick spoke slowly.
“The sea, joyful, cheerful… or a wished-for child.”
“They all sound like wonderful meanings. The sea—it’s a name that reminds me of Didi’s eyes. I love it even more!”
Marilyn stomped her feet, unable to contain her happiness.
Then, she squeezed Dedrick’s hand and asked.
“Is there a nickname too? A nickname for me?”
“…Mary.”
“Mary! That’s so cute! Didi and Mary. Mary and Didi!”
Calling her nickname and the boy’s nickname together, Marilyn tucked herself into Dedrick’s arms.
“Thank you so, so much, Didi. It’s beautiful.”
Feeling her tremble as if she were crying, Dedrick hugged her tight, feeling his heart swell.
His lips moved as he buried his face in Marilyn’s shoulder.
“…Marilyn.”
Her answer came immediately, though her voice was thick with emotion.
He called the girl’s name once more.
When Marilyn answered brightly, a thrill ran through Dedrick from head to toe, and he burrowed further into her.
“Yes, Didi!”
“I gave you a name…”
“It’s the name Didi gave me.”
“Then…”
You are mine now, aren’t you?
The words caught in his throat and wouldn’t come out, but Dedrick hugged her even tighter, as if binding her to him.
I have given the girl a name that will be with her for a lifetime.
He had thought it was just a simple name, but seeing Marilyn answer with such overwhelming happiness when he called it, an uncontrollable sense of satisfaction enveloped him.
It felt as though that girl truly belonged to him now.
As if I belonged to you, and you belonged to me…
An indescribable, strange sense of fulfillment and a trembling heat wrapped around his entire body.
‘She’s lovely.’
His emotions surged to a dizzying degree.
A name only I know.
My girl.
My monster.
As Dedrick lifted his face from Marilyn’s shoulder, his eyes were a whirlwind of various emotions.
‘She’s my monster.’
The one I can never let go of, the one who is truly mine now.
