A Stepmother's Marchen

Chapter 26

My pink hair was braided and decorated with pins in several places. I was told about a fancy hairdo that is popular these days, but it was impossible for me to wear it.

And that was simply because a nasty guy made a really sharp scar on my back…

“I think we should take the role of protecting our guests from Shuri today, brother.”

“Oh, you’re right. To be precise, we should protect their vision.”

… Patience. If I put up with it, I’ll be spared from commiting a murder.

The fact that the children and I might have been thoroughly excluded even during the memorial service hosted by our family could have been somewhat ironic.

Anyway, despite my vague anxiety, guests dressed in fancy clothes began to arrive one after another.

I have done a pretty good job of being a kind housekeeper by exchanging long greetings. The guests were responding with a smile that seemed sincere on the outside.

Should I conclude that the gossip that happened at the funeral before is on hold now? This banquet is truly a way for people to get to know each other.

“It’s actually going to be a great banquet, madam.”

“Dear Duke Heinrich. You’re here.”

“Oh, this is my daughter O’Hara.”

Oh, my God!

Seeing my 12-year-old daughter-in-law, Gong O’Hara, my past daughter-in-law, I felt a new feeling.

The platinum-haired girl, who grabbed the hem of her skirt slightly and showed courtesy in an impeccable posture, was so pretty. She will grow up to be the most beautiful woman in the future.

Well, Rachel is a lot prettier in my eyes.

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Marchioness Neuwanstein .”

“It’s my pleasure to meet you too. Please, enjoy yourself.”

Shyly blushing, O’Hara looked at the children standing with her purple eyes twinkling. To be exact, she was looking at Jeremy.

Jeremy, stood there looking bored.

The girl who is looking at you might be your future wife!

Of course it’s his decision…

Anyway, I wasn’t going to go ahead with the children’s marriage as I did in the past. They’re still young, so I’ll consider it just when there is a person who likes them.

“Marchioness Neuwanstein .”

“Welcome Duke and Duchess Nurembert.”

Unlike the Duke, who responded with a benevolent smile to me and greeted me brightly, the rather vulnerable Duchess just looked at me quietly with a sad expression.

It wasn’t in the sense of condolences. In the past, the Duchess used to treat me with such a mournful look. I might have gotten used to it, but I still feel awkward.

“This is my immature son. I just wish he doesn’t cause so much trouble.”

“Father, why do you always treat me like that?”

The special introduction of the kind Duke and the appearance of the young boy to complain made me feel overwhelmed and shocked.

How come I didn’t notice it right away?

“Huh? You are the…”

Realizing the identity of the apostle of justice the other day, I began to resent my late discovery, and at the same time felt great compassion towards the Duke and his wife.

I think this is why the Duke is so kind to me.

“Nora, how dare you call the Marchioness ‘you’?”

“What…? She’s the Marchioness?”

“You brat!”

Wearing a black uniform, with blue eyes wide open and looking at me, was the boy who drove Lucas away the other day!

No wonder he looked familiar. This is Nora Von Nurembert, who will grow up to be Jeremy’s only adversary?

“Forgive me for my rudeness, madam, but have you ever met my son before?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s…”

A feeling of embarrassment came.

I hope he doesn’t disclose what happened..! Even though I looked at those blue eyes, I never thought he was a member of the Nurembert family….

While the young boy was silent with a mysterious expression on his face, whether he had read the plea in my eyes or not was unknown.

On the other side, Elias put his hand first to the surface of the storm.

While eating cookies, he suddenly looked up, and he said in astonishment, “Brother, isn’t he the one who snatched your sword the other day?”

“What…? What, why is he here? Hey!”

Nora paused for a moment at Jeremy’s shout, which was truly ferocious, and soon began to grin back slyly, “Well, well, look who is here, aren’t you that slow turtle from before? Are you Neuwanstein’s child? What a waste of a family name.”

“You scrawny shriveled-up apple bastard, you only know how to talk big. You’re the one who brings shame to your family, you rat!”

I took turns looking at the two of them because I was dumbfounded. Is that what bad luck means?

If Jeremy was Neuwanstein’s lion, Nora was Nurembert’s hungry wolf.

In 1118, the two faced each other for the first time in the finals of the Founder’s Day Sword Tournament. In the end, the duel could be said to be the beginning of their rivalry.

Everyone was cheering and screaming. I was so nervous at that time, afraid that my eldest son would get wounded.

“The dumber a person is, the more they see what they want to see and they have no idea that their behaviour shows how idiotic they are.”

“I thought you only knew how to cower away, but it looks like we have a great philosopher here. Why don’t you just come at me instead of talking?”

“Jeremy!”

“Nora!”

Eventually, the Duke Nurembert and I had to step up and stop this pathetic fight. The Duke hit his son in the head and I slapped Jeremy in the back.

“Argh!”

“Argh! It hurts!”

“Jeremy, what do you think you are doing to a guest? Hurry up and apologize!”

“Why me?! He started it first!”