A Stepmother's Marchen

Chapter 56

Elias, who had an expression claiming that he felt left out while nodding his head without sincerity, suddenly shouted, “Wearing clothes?”

“No, they’re going in naked.”

“What?! That’s a weird trend. Aren’t men and women different?”

“They are separated by gender. My brother is weird.”

“Leave it alone. That’s how little our brother is. Mom, can I take my shoes?”

“Sure, of course. I’m gonna go buy a new one…”

“Oh, why are you all bullying me? Oh! What’s with this atmosphere?!”

Needless to say, silence came to the roar of the red little lion.

As me and the twins looked at each other with wide open eyes, Elias looked at Jeremy, the one in all this strange atmosphere, to check if he was calm after he shouted.

And I’d say it wasn’t a very smart choice.

The eldest son, who put the knife down quietly, now wiped his mouth with a napkin, spoke bluntly, “Did you just yell at me?”

“…No, I’m just asking my dearest guardian.”

“No, but you don’t know table manners. Come here, let’s warm up together.”

“No! Don’t come near me, you terrible human being!”

While Jeremy was holding Elias and performing a joint break, I turned a blind eye to the two and drank milk after eating with the twins. By the time we stepped down from the dining room, the two were already running upstairs into a long hallway. Then came the sound of the door closing roughly with a thud, and the triumphant voice of my second son, who secured the safety zone.

“Darn it, you’ll never get married when you grow up! What kind of woman would marry a domestic thug like you?”

“Did you just shut the door hard?! Open the door, won’t you?!”

“No! It’s closed by itself! And this is my room!”

Boom, boom, boom, boom!!!

……Did he have to grow up strong?

In the end, I had to replace the door of Elias ‘ room that day with a new one. It was just a wonder how he could break that solid door.

While I was planning a trip for three days, I arranged a pile of documents in advance and checked the new year’s cards all over.

I should say I’m a little surprised that there are so many more than I remember.

After the last trial, the movement between the aristocrats and the Emperor began to shrink.

I need to give my condolences to the Imperial Family, which will be troubled by the Vatican’s check. To myself, too.

“What is this…? “

Unknowingly, I muttered to myself. No wonder, among the countless New Year’s cards, a card from the imperial family was mixed.

It didn’t exactly have the eagle seal symbolizing the Emperor, but a swan seal symbolizing the Empress. Empress Elizabeth, no one else, sent me a New Year’s card.

Caught up in a suspicious and reluctant mood, I immediately opened the shiny white envelope and looked at the content. And then I was stunned.

(Let’s meet someday. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t like you.)

Yes, you don’t, your Majesty. I’ve known you for a long time, but you’re very consistent.

Clicking my tongue, I next opened up a New Year’s card from the Duchess of Nurembert. The blue letter paper in the black envelope gave a cool feeling.

(I was amazed by your courageous appearance. I’m trying to be brave, too. Have a good end of year.)

I don’t know what courage it is, but if the weak lady did cheer up, that’s good, right?

It wasn’t until I quickly read and replied to countless letters like that did I feel like I finished everything.

Of course, it’s just the beginning, but… it’s short but a lot of things happened. It feels like I’m finally wrapping up this winter.

There were so many incidents. If I die one day and go to that afterlife to meet my husband, this winter’s events alone would be enough to keep me awake. Ahem, I’ll have to brag to my heart’s content. Even though I look like this, the crown prince fell in love with me!

“Dear Mother, you look worried.”

Oh, that scared me. My eyes glanced through the half-open study door.

My eldest son, who was pushing the door and smiling leisurely, came in.

Did I look like I was worried?

“Then you’re too carefree.”

“Don’t you think one of us needs to make some adjustments? What are you looking at?”

“Well, if I may explain it, I was trying to respond with sincerity to the ostentatious greetings.”

“Wow, that’s a lot. Is it just my imagination that there must be a love letter among all these greetings?”

“Why? Do you wish I had one?”

As I narrowed my eyes and looked at him, his dark green eyes sparkled mischievously, “That’s not true. It’s not as if you have a crazy partner who likes you so much.”

“If I get someone like that, you’re okay with anyone, right?”

“Well, it depends on the way he treats you, regardless of whether you like him or not.”

The way he treats me…?

I tilted my head a little, then grinned at him, suddenly feeling playful, “You can’t accept a person who is bad to me? That’s a nice thing to say.”

“If there is such a person…”

The eldest son, who clicked his tongue, smiled again, scratched his golden head with his hands and said, “I’ll tear his legs apart and kill him.”

I stared at the cross, then raised one hand and slapped him on the back. A scream full of exaggeration rang in the house.

——

“Take care of yourself.”

“Take care of yourself, madam.”

“Have a safe trip, madam. We’ll take care of this place.”

Being sent off by the butler, maid and knight, I set out on my first trip with the children in all my previous and present life.

I think I’ve done a lot of things that I’ve never done before. But I’m glad the kids seem to like it.

“I’m going to sit by the window! Get out of my way!”

“The first person to sit is the owner, my lovely sister, who I want to bite and kill.”

“Mom, my brother threatened to kill me!”

“Mom, mom, I feel like throwing up all of a sudden.”

“Pahahaha! So why are you reading in the carriage ‘short legs’? If it’s a trip…”

“Get out of the way, brother! That’s my seat!”

“Oh, Rachel, why are you saying that to me?! I’m not that easy…”

“Who- Shut up so I can get some sleep!”

“… Mom, big brother, I’m scared..”

Oh, my God! I don’t think it’s going to be a smooth trip.