IBACM Chapter 141

Chapter 141

“Miss! Where are you going?”

“…I want to ask directly.”

“Huh? Even after seeing that, you’re really going to ask directly? The answer is obvious!”

Sohe tried to stop her, remembering Dedrick who was so eager to get close to Marilyn.

“Not this time! I have a duty to protect your reputation! If you want the rumors to calm down, you have to wait quietly!”

“I’m frustrated!”

“Miss… please!”

“Listen, Sohe. Those two won’t spread rumors about me.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Dedrick keeps secrets well. So if rumors spread, it will be because of Marilyn.”

“Ah, Miss!”

Sohe looked around nervously, afraid someone might overhear, but Ebony was determined.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll reveal the truth about that bad woman.”

“So that was your plan!”

“Joanna was jealous too.”

Looking at Ebony, who said women like that were all the same, Sohe was at a loss.

But what could a mere maid do?

They couldn’t stop Ebony’s reckless determination. She blocked their way as they left the party and headed toward the Imperial Palace. Sohe couldn’t even lift her head.

“Long time no see, Dedrick. Nice to meet you, Marilyn.”

“….”

Dedrick’s eyes turned cold instantly. Sohe trembled. Ebony gasped for breath, but Dedrick’s bright voice quickly erased the tension.

“Good to see you, Ebony.”

Holding her pounding heart, Ebony looked at Dedrick. He gritted his teeth and stood behind Marilyn protectively.

Marilyn called out to him in surprise.

“Didi?”

“Don’t misunderstand, Mary. I have no connection with that woman. You know I’ve only ever had eyes for you.”

“I don’t misunderstand. So can you move that big body away?”

“No.”

“Stubborn now?”

“Yeah. We should be fine going to the palace like this.”

“Didi!”

“…”

Seeing Dedrick so stubborn, Marilyn sighed as if it was a headache. That gentle, natural look made Ebony clench her fists and speak.

“You said you two first met when you were fourteen. Exactly when did that happen…?”

“Ebony Sirius.”

Dedrick spat out her name sharply, but Marilyn quickly interrupted.

“Ebony met Dedrick at the Winter Party he attended, right? But I knew him before that. And… at the Maze Garden.”

Ebony flinched. She couldn’t believe Marilyn spoke about that secret memory, only Dedrick and she knew.

Looking at Dedrick with resentment, Ebony was cut off by Marilyn’s sigh.

“You’re mistaken, Ebony. You thought you locked eyes with Didi, but I was there too.”

“What? It was just the two of us!”

“No. I was hated by the former Grand Duchess and couldn’t attend the party, so Dedrick came to see me in the Maze Garden. Then you came looking for him, and he hid me and stepped out. The smile he gave was for me, not you.”

Marilyn came out from behind Dedrick and held his hand tightly.

“It was a smile for me. Dedrick has never smiled for anyone but me.”

“….”

“Ebony.”

“…I…”

“You never came between Dedrick and me. We’ve never even talked about you because you are such a faint presence to us.”

Shocked, Ebony looked at Dedrick, but he didn’t even glance at her.

“So stop it. When Didi becomes the Grand Duke, we will marry immediately.”

“Is that true? I want to hear it from Dedrick himself!”

“I don’t intend to marry anyone but Mary. And…”

Ebony looked at him with trembling eyes. Dedrick looked at her with disgust and said,

“I hope you stop now. You’re so tiresome and disgusting.”

“Didi!”

Surprised by his blunt words, Marilyn called his name, and Dedrick held her hand and explained.

“I have to be direct for some people to understand. You always hear what you want and say what you want, so I’m sick of it too, Mary. So please, just this once.”

He kissed the back of her hand and warned Ebony, who was frozen.

“Don’t ever show up in front of me again. Don’t speak to my lover carelessly. If this happens again, I won’t hold back against the Sirius family.”

It was a perfect rejection. No, it was mockery.

Then they walked away from Ebony. She collapsed to the ground weakly. Tears filled her eyes.

“Miss…”

“It’s embarrassing. It’s too much! So humiliating! Annoying!”

That was the end of Ebony’s first love. And it ended terribly.

“You really shouldn’t have crossed the line, Ebony.”

Joanna’s voice made Ebony look up.

“Joanna…”

Sobbing, Joanna frowned as she looked at her.

“Why do you look at me like a comrade? You made me a fool blinded by love before.”

Ebony, who thought Joanna came to comfort her, was shocked by her cold words.

“Jo, Joanna.”

“Marilyn is a good person. She saw my true self.”

“Joanna!”

Ebony tried to grab her friend, but Joanna pushed her away coldly.

“Please grow up, Ebony. And don’t ever contact me again.”

Joanna turned and left without regret. Ebony stayed there for a long time without moving.

***

“Do you feel better now?”

“I’m even glad to think we won’t meet again.”

I laughed. How much Dedrick must have been annoyed!

“Oh, and…”

“Hmm?”

Did I forget something?

I looked up at him, and Dedrick grabbed my chin, kissed me briefly, then pulled away.

The kiss made a loud smack sound. I looked at the servant walking ahead, but he didn’t even look back.

“Are you crazy?”

“I heard from Milos that when someone says something like that, you just say, ‘Yeah, I’m crazy about you.’”

“Milos is crazy.”

Dedrick laughed low and held my hand. He looked happy, so I didn’t say anything more, and we followed the servant.

Soon, we arrived at the reception room and the door opened. Perez greeted us with a big smile.

“Welcome! We still have much to talk about.”

We sat opposite him. We also briefly greeted Eugene, who had come earlier.

“I received the gift Marilyn sent. I really like it. Does it suit me?”

I looked at the brooch on the Emperor’s chest and smiled happily.

“It’s a sacred power from the World Tree. Wearing it brings a bit of luck.”

Perez’s eyes widened in surprise.

“This… is an incredible gift.”

“You helped me with my request. You also took care of Didi.”

“That’s true.”

Since becoming Emperor, he seemed to have stopped being humble.

Seeing my subtle expression, Perez couldn’t stop smiling.

“Why do you keep laughing?”

“Nothing. I just keep imagining what face you made when I wasn’t looking.”

“This was the face.”

I made an exaggerated disgusted expression, and Perez happily slapped the armrest.

He has such a unique taste.

“So, how is the party I prepared? Dedrick asked me to put extra effort into it.”

Since it was Marilyn’s debut in high society at the palace, it seemed Dedrick had asked the Emperor personally.

I smiled at Dedrick and thanked him, then answered.

“I like it. Especially the roses.”

“I’m glad you like the specially prepared roses.”

Perez stared at me.

“No horns, Marilyn.”

“I hid them.”

“I want to see them again sometime…”

Eugene seemed curious and added.

“This is my first time seeing it, so I’m a bit excited.”

“No way.”

Dedrick rejected their eager eyes.

But since I owe Perez a lot, I decided to do him a favor.

‘Thanks to Eugene too.’

He had stayed by Dedrick’s side at the academy.

Both of them seemed to treat Didi lightly, though.

Anyway, I tapped my head with both hands. The horns popped out.

Eugene clapped in surprise.

“Oh! Those are the horns I heard about!”

“Your horns have grown.”

“I have grown too.”

“What?”

“Pfft. What?”

Perez laughed again at my glare.

I quickly put the horns away.

“Come visit the palace often, Marilyn.”

“The Emperor is busy.”

“I can make time no matter how busy I am. Come have some fun with me.”

“I’m too busy watching Didi to come.”

“Such a lovey-dovey couple.”

Eugene shivered and groaned.

Still, seeing Dedrick happy made me glad. It was clear he cared about him.

“Well, if I call Dedrick to the palace often, will you come too?”

“I’ll come with him. Not often, though.”

“That’s an honor. By the way, how have you been?”

“Well, about that…”

I didn’t reveal Nobembris’s or the Grand Duke’s identity, just explained roughly, saying they were fairies who lived by the call of the World Tree.

Thankfully, they seemed to believe me.

“Shall we have dinner together?”

“The Emperor didn’t want to part after meeting us for the first time in a while.”

“So lonely, huh, you rascal.”

“If you insist so much, I’ll agree.”

I imitated as a proud noble, and Perez burst out laughing.

“Ha ha! It doesn’t suit you at all!”