When Daedric saw the girl's bright smile, he felt a strange tingling in his chest. It was annoying enough to make him rub his chest for no apparent reason.
“Am I the only one?” He asked in a hesitant voice.
She replied with a wide smile: “Yes, just you, Didi. I approached you with a very malicious intention… in order to stay alive. Didi, you will become such an amazing person that you will be able to save me easily.”
But despite her claim that she approached him with malicious intentions, she seemed so sweet that he made him lose his guard in front of her.
“So, you'll stay by my side?”
"naturally."
“For how long?”
“Until you give up on me?”
Yes, this is correct.
Unless that happens, I will stay by Didi's side forever.
The girl nodded as if to confirm her words to herself, while Daedric lowered his head further. He felt a strange heat rising from his neck to his face, so strong that he didn't know what to do but silently bite his lips.
Ever since I helped him recover his inheritance, Daedric had remained reserved towards me, but today, his guard seemed to have disappeared. Maybe telling him the truth was a good move. Having a clear reason for the kindness he showed made him trust me more. Now, he doesn't mind me staying by his side anymore.
“A very satisfactory result.”
In fact, I only said that to gain his trust, but I didn't lie. As long as I am the wardrobe monster, my survival depends entirely on Dedrick, because he is the one who owns “my heart.” There was no safer place for me in this world than to be by his side.
“He's also not the type of person who likes to change his furniture often.”
Romance novel heroes rarely care about rearranging their rooms. Under his protection, I was planning to live a quiet and comfortable life. What more could a wardrobe monster ask for?
As she walked beside him, she smiled happily.
"Shall we go back now? Somerset has probably already returned the book."
Deidrick stopped to look at her.
"What's going on? If you're curious, you can ask me anything."
He hesitated for a moment, then his eyes fell cautiously on my horns.
“…What are these two horns? Do they have a specific function?”
"job?" She tilted her head thoughtfully. “I'm not sure, maybe they're just a sign that I'm a wardrobe monster.”
“…Do you want to touch it?” She offered, tilting her head towards him.
Daedric froze for a moment, then backed away slightly.
"Oh, do they look scary? I can't see them myself, sorry about that."
I always thought they looked like reindeer antlers, but I wasn't entirely sure. As I adjusted my posture, he seemed to have made up his mind, and cautiously extended his hand.
I felt the coolness of his fingers touching one of my horns, and when our eyes met, I couldn't prevent a slight smile from appearing on my face.
In a calm, whisper-like voice, he said, “…They’re not scary.”
"Thanks. How do they feel?"
“Warm...”
“What else?”
“Soft.”
“Right! Try squeezing them, they're pretty firm.”
He looked at me asking permission before grabbing my horns and squeezing them gently.
“Does this hurt?”
“Not at all.”
The feeling was like a warm touch in the sun, a comforting feeling that made my eyelids feel heavy.
After a moment, he carefully withdrew his hands. I felt a childish desire for him to touch my horns again, as if I were a puppy longing for its owner’s hand.
As for Deidrick, he seemed pensive as he muttered: “The nerves extend to your horns as well...”
"That sounds about right. I wonder, will they grow back if they break?"
“Have you tried breaking them?”
“No, I only tried a light touch, but it hurt.”
Deedric nodded thoughtfully, then asked: “But isn’t it a weakness for you to reveal this information?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “I already told you that the closet is my only source of survival, so it makes no difference.”
Daedric looked at me strangely, but it wasn't a look of contempt or disapproval.
I was about to start another conversation when—
Whoosh!
I was suddenly called again.
When I opened the closet door, my sight immediately fell on a torn book lying on the table.
I sighed lowly.
“Don’t they realize that this will cause problems for them later?”
It was clearly another attempt at bullying.
But the reason I insisted on replacing the book was because the Grand Duke expected Daedric to handle these matters alone.
“Anyone who cannot solve a small problem like this does not deserve to be the heir of the Blackwood Family.”
So, even if Somerset was the one who stole the book and acted like it was his, the Grand Duke would not say anything. Perhaps he will praise him for his “cleverness” in dealing with situations.
“First, I have to go to Somerset Library.”
Daedric needed to read that book eventually, because the Duke was summoning random children to test their knowledge. So, the sooner he reads it, the better. (Parents' movements leaked)
Finding another copy of the book wasn't difficult, and since I could move things around with the dresser, I had no trouble getting to it.
“Found it! Exactly identical to the one he had.”
I returned to Deidrick's room with the book, but before I could put it down, the door suddenly opened.
Daedric came in panting, looking worried.
She smiled at him and said, "Didi! Look, I brought the book for you!"
He wiped the sweat off his chin with the back of his hand, and I noticed he was panting a little.
“Did you run here?”
“...Have you been summoned?”
“Ah, yes! The timing is unexpected as always.”
I put the book on the table and said confidently: "When you finish reading it, I will return it to its place. Somerset will suspect you first if it goes missing, so it is best to leave it here temporarily. When the Duke calls the children, we will bring it quickly!"
He nodded as he moved closer.
"…Good."
Now he answers me without hesitation! Great progress!
I watched him read for a while, before I felt sleepy and fell asleep inside the closet.
But the person who woke me was none other than Somerset, who burst into the room violently.
Bang!
He almost broke the door from how hard he hit it.
She muttered wearily: “Couldn’t you have opened the door with your hands?”
Daedric stifled his laughter with difficulty, while Somerset approached with heavy steps and glared at Daedric angrily.
“You are, right?”
"…Yes?"
Deedric pretended not to understand, as I quickly moved towards his office.
He had hidden the book beforehand, as if he expected Somerset's arrival.
I fiddled with my hair guiltily, then muttered to myself:
“I failed in my duty... I fell asleep and forgot to return the book.”
At least, Daedric noticed it and hid it quickly, which was reassuring.
I looked at him apologetically and whispered softly:
“Sorry...”
I did not do my duty properly.
Apparently I was more tired than I expected after that short distance.
It was weird, but every time I came out of the closet, it felt like all my energy was being drained.
Deederick nodded slightly, before Somerset suddenly shouted:
“You stole my book!”
“...I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“This is ridiculous!”
As expected, Somerset began frantically searching the room.
Then, Daedric cautiously stood in front of me, as if trying to protect me.
This piqued my curiosity, so I tilted my head slightly and looked behind him.
Deidrick was nervous, but when our eyes met, he relaxed a little and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Immediately, Somerset became emotional when he saw him smile.
“What's wrong with you?”
"…What?"
“Why are you smiling?!”
Somerset's angry shout automatically made Deidrick freeze in place. After years of being bullied, his body was responding instinctively.
I approached him and whispered softly, trying to calm him down:
"Didi, there's no need to be afraid. People like him are just cowards, really. He yells at you every day because he's afraid you'll threaten his status. There's nothing for you to be afraid of."
Daedric listened silently, before nodding slowly. Then he clenched his fists and faced Somerset directly.
“Did you…smile?”
For a moment, Somerset was stunned, and his mouth remained open, unable to find anything to say.
This is the first time Deidrick has responded this way. I couldn't help but praise him:
“This is what is required! There is no need for you to back down.”
Somerset let out a short laugh of disbelief.
“Give me the book, before I lose my patience.”
"…What?"
“The economics book my father gave me!”
“Why are you looking for it from me? I'm in the same predicament—my father's book is all torn up, and it's really annoying.”
Daedric looked nervous as he tried to pretend not to understand, but his features were filled with frustration.
I watched him silently, unable to hide my admiration.
He performs great without me even asking him to.