I directed Didric from my side.
“Just say you brought the wrong book. You were trying to bring another book but you made a mistake, and now you're going to put it back.”
“It was just a mistake. I was going to take it back,” Deidrick repeated verbatim, while Joanna showed obvious disappointment, lowering her shoulders.
“Aha, I see.”
Joanna, fiddling with her book of fairy tales, spoke to him nervously.
"Don't repeat it. Read it, it's really interesting!"
“No, please leave my room.”
His firm refusal was so blunt that her lips closed in embarrassment.
Joanna watched anxiously.
If she wasn't obsessed with Deidrick, she would be an amazing person.
She was able to make her own decisions, knew her strengths, and used them well.
If she hadn't been the heroine of the story, I think she might have ended up with Deedric.
If she loved him, only to find herself disappointed...
It was better for her not to love him.
It would have been better if she moved on from Deidrick and lived her own life.
This type of behavior is exhausting...
Deidrick said firmly, making Joanna's eyes widen.
Somerset gave him an angry look and grabbed Joanna's wrist.
“Let's go, Joanna. You don't know yet, but it's not what you think.”
Why the hell was he holding her arm like that?
Joanna frowned clearly, uncomfortable. She tried to withdraw her hand, but Somerset would not let go.
I was trying to get away from the situation, but that was no longer possible.
I raised my hand and snapped Somerset's wrist.
slap!
Somerset was surprised by the sudden pain, and let go of Joanna's wrist.
Joanna quickly backed away from him.
"Ah! What's going on?"
Somerset rubbed his wrist and looked around in confusion.
Ignoring his appearance, Johanna bowed slightly as she looked at Deidrick.
“I'll be back later right, Daedric.”
Didn't give up.
She gave Somerset a look as if to say: “What kind of person is he?” Then I walked elegantly towards the door.
Somerset rushed to follow her but stopped and issued a warning to Diderick.
"Don't meet Joanna again. If I see you two together again, I won't let it go unnoticed!"
“I won't let you get away either!”
I screamed as loud as I could, hoping to make myself feel better, even if no one could hear me.
The stormy duo left, and the room fell silent.
Deedric looked at me, closed the door and stood in front of me.
“You were wrong.”
“When did you meet her?”
“...I saw her briefly after practice this morning. I told her not to acknowledge me and came straight here.”
"Good."
“It's true, nothing happened.”
Deidrick explained the whole situation. I raised my feet on my tiptoes and brushed his bangs.
“…why?”
I stared at his suddenly red face, then nodded.
“Your face fits the story…”
His face was covered by his hair, so I could not see him clearly, but there was a gleam of beauty in his features.
His voice was also beautiful, so he fit the image of the “prince” that Joanna had in mind.
Whether you are young or old, people fall in love because of looks, just like in novels.
"any?"
"Dederik is handsome. When you were running, your bangs moved, and I think that's when Johanna fell in love with you."
He was already handsome, but these days he looked better, maybe because he started eating well.
Also, with all the exercise, his muscles were...
Can running do this?
I heard Daedric swallow hard as he rubbed his strong arms nervously.
He quickly covered his mouth with his hand and turned his head away.
“Should I wear a mask?”
"mask?"
“…If my face is this beautiful, wouldn’t it be better for no one to see it?”
"What are you saying? First impressions are very important. Your pretty face should show!"
“I don't want to be associated with someone like her.”
Hmm. If we leave things as they are, it can get complicated.
It's probably best for him to stay out of the limelight until he's an adult.
The age limit for Herpa Academy is 18 years.
This is before he becomes an adult, so as long as he stays quiet until he turns 19, there will be no risk of him being expelled from the academy.
...What should I do?
Lost in thought, Deidrick gently ran his hand over my cheek.
“What are you thinking?”
“I was thinking of hiding you so I could keep you for myself.”
It was a joke, but he was really happy.
“I liked that.”
But kidnapping is not a good thing...
“By the way, what should I do now?”
"any?"
“Joanna Primrose.”
This was already a concern.
Somerset was filled with inferiority complexes towards Diderick.
This feeling was so strong that he would do anything, even rash things.
If Joanna falls in love with Deidrick earlier than expected, Somerset's actions will become even worse.
His one-sided love for her was intense.
He should never get close to Joanna, but I don't know how to avoid it.
“Ah… I don’t know.”
“What if she keeps looking for me until we get back?”
“Then it won't work.”
The Duchess loves Joanna very much.
"Wouldn't it? It won't work?"
He smiled a strange, bright smile, then held my hand tightly and asked.
"Yes, that wouldn't work. Well, how about flat out rejecting it?"
This was the only solution I could think of.
She hasn't fallen deeply in love yet.
To be honest, she seems like a very decent girl, polite and articulate.
But it is a loss for Somerset.
Maybe I became like this because of his behavior, as if he was the villain in the story. These are reasonable doubts. Somerset is of no use to anyone.
“I will also break the illusion I hold towards you...”
If she's looking for a 'prince', I can be sure she knows Daedric isn't one.
“Breaking the illusion?”
I smiled jokingly and said.
“Maybe you're scratching your nose or something...”
“I will do it.”
“…”
“No, it's just a joke.”
He took my joke so seriously that I stopped smiling awkwardly and nodded.
“No. I think it would be best for you to refuse her outright and not to see her again until we get back.”
Even if Joanna had not changed her mind, all of this would have gotten to the Duchess by now.
Then, the Duchess will try to bring Joanna closer to Somerset. If that doesn't work, maybe you'll fire Joanna quickly.
And she will never re-summon Joanna to the Duke's residence.
The Duchess won't do Diedric any good.
“So, should I scratch my nose?”
Why does the score keep heading in this direction?
“No need... I just said it.”
“But if you tell me, I will.”
I must look pretty tough if he thinks I'm actually going to make him do that.
That night.
Deidrick couldn't sleep.
Even though his precious beast said she was fine, he felt guilty for causing unnecessary trouble.
However… he didn't want to get involved with Joanna Primrose.
He was happy about that. It seemed that the girl was beginning to claim him for herself.
More importantly, she said she wanted to reserve it just for herself.
He thought about it and Daedric covered his reddened face with his hands.
His whole body felt hot, but he didn't mind—in fact, it felt good.
I want to get closer.
He licked his dry lips and looked at the closet.
After hesitating for a moment, he hugged his pillow and knocked on the closet.
Knock knock.
“Yes, there is a monster in the closet.”
Deedric laughed softly as he opened the door slightly.
"What is there?"
He entered, looking at the girl who was lying down and looking at him.
“Is something wrong?”
“I'm afraid to sleep alone. Can you sleep with me?”
“Huh?”
The girl looked confused, and Deidrick, hugging his pillow tightly, looked around nervously.
He held the girl's sleeve tightly with one hand and asked carefully.
“...Are you going to fire me?”
How can I fire him when he's asking for it in a nice way?
Plus, we had made the closet our secret hideout, so I couldn't simply kick him out.
"no."
The closet was large enough not to be uncomfortable.
But his legs were the problem.
She glanced at his awkwardly bent legs.
They say babies grow fast, but Deidrick seemed to grow every day.
However, he was still younger than others his age.
"You can't stretch your legs, can you? It must be uncomfortable."
Although I did not stretch my legs, like a monster in the closet, I did not feel uncomfortable.
"decent."
She looked at Daedric, who was strangely stubborn today, but seemed strangely excited.
I had no reason to fire him, so I agreed and nodded.
I lay down, put my head on his large pillow, and he carefully took my hand.