IBACM Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Seeing him in tears, I felt something inside me loosen. I burst out laughing.

“Ah! That feels good!”

“Your uvula is showing.”

“I must be really happy if I’m laughing so hard my uvula shows.”

You shouldn’t point out things like that when someone’s laughing.

I glared at him sharply and then looked at Dedrick, but his face didn’t look relieved at all.

Instead, he was glaring at Somerset with even more anger in his eyes.

“How pathetic.”

“Ugh, sob…”

“Are you planning to keep lying there? Get lost. Go report to the Duchess.”

“Pfft.”

“How old are you? Tsk.”

Mocking voices aimed at Somerset echoed from all around. It was reminiscent of when Dedrick, surrounded by white hawks, was helplessly attacked by Somerset as a child.

‘Though it’s a bit less intense than back then.’

Unable to withstand the criticism coming from all directions, Somerset hung his head low. He couldn’t even stand up properly and remained crouched down.

“I said get lost. Do you want to get hit again?”

“You…!”

“Still haven’t come to your senses, huh?”

When Dedrick raised his real sword this time, Somerset turned pale and pleaded.

“Ah! I-I’ll go! I’m going! Please, just stop!”

He practically crawled out of the training ground. Dedrick stood alone in the center.

Even after getting his revenge on Somerset, he didn’t look satisfied. If anything, he seemed more displeased.

Jacob quietly approached him.

“My lord, please rest for today. You haven’t slept for a week.”

“What?!”

I shouted without thinking, and Novembris quickly covered my mouth. Again, his gaze turned towards me.

But since he couldn’t see me, his unfocused eyes made tears well up in mine.

“What are you doing…? Are you crying?”

I gently pulled Novembris’s hand down and spoke sadly.

“Didi hasn’t been sleeping well.”

“He can’t possibly sleep.”

“…But this is the first time he hasn’t slept for over a week.”

At least he used to sleep once every few days, but this was the first time he hadn’t slept for an entire week. I was worried about his health.

“Swordmasters don’t die from lack of sleep.”

“Do you think that’s what I’m worried about?”

“Then what?”

“I’m worried about Didi acting like he doesn’t care what happens to his body. I’m afraid he’ll follow the twins after finishing his revenge.”

Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind.

After completing his revenge, would he live happily?

What if he ends his life before I return?

Tears fell from my cheeks, darkening the dirt floor.

“Please don’t cry.”

As Novembris led me away, Dedrick suddenly appeared in front of me.

“…!”

Startled by his sudden approach, Novembris and I held our breath as he quietly lowered his head.

Dedrick was looking directly at the spot where my tears had fallen.

“…Can he see my tears?”

“I-I’m not sure. He shouldn’t be able to see them.”

Dedrick grabbed a handful of the wet dirt. Jacob called out to him worriedly.

“Lord Dedrick?”

“…I can still feel Mary.”

“…”

“…It’s astonishing.”

Novembris murmured in awe.

***

“Bris, you said I shouldn’t touch humans. That’s why I couldn’t even meet the Duke at first.”

“That’s right.”

“But now I can meet him and even touch him. Isn’t that right?”

He looked at me, trying to figure out my intentions, and answered a beat later.

“…Yes. But that’s only because the Duke is a divine representative. You still can’t touch humans.”

“Then what about playing pranks on humans without touching them?”

“…What are you planning?”

“So it’s okay?”

“…No, it’s not.”

Oh, he hesitated.

“So it is okay!”

Novembris covered his face and muttered.

“Fairies shouldn’t harm humans.”

“I was born on the battlefield, so I’m different.”

“…”

He seemed at a loss for words, moving his lips silently before closing them again.

Excited, I brought out cleaning tools. I’d been feeling down lately, so this was a good distraction!

I applied oil to the brush and polished the floor until it shone.

Soon, a voice filled with disbelief spoke.

“This is what you’re doing?”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s a way to prank humans without touching them.”

Satisfied with the oiled floor, I stood up. Novembris suddenly asked.

“If someone bullies me, will you take revenge for me?”

“I will.”

I owed so much to Novembris and Yggdrasil.

Of course I’d help.

Without hesitation, I answered, and he showed a complex expression. He carefully took my hand.

“Come this way.”

“Thanks. Whoa!”

I must have oiled a wider area than I thought because I slipped. Novembris quickly pulled me into his arms.

As a result, I ended up almost embraced by him. He scolded me while holding me.

“That was dangerous!”

“I forgot how much I oiled…”

“Are you stupid?!”

“Hmm, maybe a little.”

“…”

He let out a deep sigh but didn’t release me from his arms.

“Um, Bris.”

“What?”

“I know you’re really worried about me. But could you let go? We’re too close.”

“Ah…!”

He pushed me away in surprise. As I stumbled, he hurriedly supported me.

“That almost hurt. You pushed me away like I was something dirty.”

“Th-That’s not it…”

At that moment, the front door opened, and the Duchess and Gemma entered.

“Oh, time for some fun!”

“…Ha.”

He sighed deeply, looking somewhat gloomy.

With a pounding heart, I watched the two of them. As they stepped onto the slick, oiled floor…

“Kyah!”

“M-Madam, ah!”

Delani stumbled, and Gemma tried to support her, but they both ended up tangled and fell.

They tried to get up but kept slipping, creating a comical scene. Novembris and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Pfft.”

“Chuckle.”

We looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“Snicker.”

“Gemma!”

“M-Madam! J-Just a moment!”

“What are you doing?! Help me up!”

It was complete chaos.

Then, the front door opened, and Dedrick entered.

“Ah! D-Didi, no!”

But he walked across the oiled floor without issue. Novembris commented, as if it was no big deal.

“You can’t think of him as an ordinary person when it comes to balance.”

“…”

Dedrick looked down at the two women calmly. A flicker of contempt and disdain crossed his eyes, making Delani’s face flush with humiliation.

“You sure have unique ways of seeking attention.”

“You scoundrel…! You did this, didn’t you?!”

“If I wanted to hurt someone, I’d do it directly. I wouldn’t use tricks like this. This kind of method…”

Suddenly, Dedrick’s pupils trembled as he looked around. He was searching for me.

“…This kind of method is just like Mary.”

Though his voice was faint, I heard it clearly.

Dedrick quietly left the scene. I hurriedly followed him.

Before he could close the door, I slipped inside. He approached a wall with a horizontal line, reached out, then let his hand fall.

Looking at his back, I pleaded earnestly.

“Could you hold on a little longer?”

“…”

“Just wait a bit more. I think my horns will grow soon…”

Still, he didn’t respond. I softly called his name.

“Didi…”

At that moment, he turned around as if in disbelief. I widened my eyes. Dedrick walked towards me with determination.

I stepped back, but with the wall behind me, I had nowhere to go. He extended his arms, trapping me between them.

Caught off guard, I opened my mouth to speak.

“Mary, are you here?”

He called out to me.

I held my breath. I looked up at him quietly.

He was crying. Tears streamed down his cheeks and fell at my feet.

“…If you’re here, could you give me a small sign?”

“…”

“Mary.”

He lowered his head, almost collapsing.

As his face drew closer to mine, just before his lips touched mine…

Knock knock.

“Lord Dedrick, you have a visitor.”

His face stopped in mid-air. Dedrick wiped away his tears and lowered his arms from the wall.

“…I must be going crazy, Mary.”

“…”

“Then again, have I ever been sane since you left?”

He turned away, self-mockingly. Without thinking, I reached out to him.

‘Just…a little longer. Just a little longer and I’ll be able to touch you. I’ll be able to hug you.’

That wish, more desperate than anything, bubbled inside me. I stretched out my hand to the back of Dedrick, who was walking away again.

And then—

My fingertips grazed his.

Dedrick flinched.

He turned around.

“…”

“…”

His red eyes, still wet with tears, stared at his hand as if stunned.

His fingers, which had just now felt something, trembled.

He slowly raised his head.

“Mary?”

“…”

“Was that… you?”

My heart pounded so loudly it felt like it echoed through the air. I slowly nodded. Tears poured from my eyes.

“I’m here.”

For the first time in a long, long time, his lips trembled—not with anger, not with hatred, but with an emotion I had almost forgotten.

“…You really…”

His voice cracked, and he bit his lips. His shoulders shook.

“I missed you.”

A sob burst from him.

“I missed you so much, Mary…!”

He collapsed, as if all strength had left him, and I rushed forward instinctively.