I Became The Stepmother Of An Irrevocable Dark Family - Chapter 35

My hips hurt because I sat on the floor for a long time, and I had cramps in my legs because I had the same posture the entire time.

Still, I didn’t hate it.

I spent a long time leaning against the rabbit as the time went by.

Before I knew it, the night came upon us.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to be scared nor back down.

Because Rere was right next to me.

“Ah~ I feel so good.”

I said after a long silence.

“I don’t feel good.”

“…Rere. I really want to hear your grumpy voice.”

“…I don’t want to hear mom, no, auntie’s voice.”

“Yeah, I know…but Rere, do you know what I’ve been doing these days?”

“….”

“I slept and ate as much as I wanted. I’ve been going around enjoying myself like that. Rere was having a hard time, yet I was so mean having fun by myself.”

“….”

“But my heart was restless. I felt so uneasy, and I missed my Rere so much. I think I got punished. Rere is getting bigger and bigger in my head.”

So, I continued telling her about my journey.

“And then I went to the temple to pray for Rere’s happiness. But you know what? I met a strange grandpa there.”

“….”

“For some reason, he kept staring at me.”

“Do you know how surprised I was? It’s so ridiculous. Even though I went there to pray for Rere’s happiness and health.”

“…I’m not happy. I’m not happy that mom left.”

“I’m sorry…”

“So what happened? Who is that person?”

“While I was still surprised, he suddenly said that his name meant ‘dog’ and laughed by himself. That’s why I ran here.”

“Stupid. Thank god nothing happened. It’s because you have an innocent looking face!”

At the words, the rabbit doll fell forward and a small head came out of it.

“Stupid!”

“Ah! It’s Rere.”

“…Tch. Look at your face.”

Maybe because she was buried among the rabbit dolls for a long time, sweat accumulated on her forehead.

Only four days have passed, but Rere’s cheeks became so hollow.

“…Because of a certain stupid person…I thought I was abandoned again.”

Tears streamed down the child’s face like rainfall.

I quickly got up from my seat and took Rere out from the rabbit dolls.

“My Rere is losing so much weight. Look how light you are.”

“Whose fault do you think it is? Isn’t it because of you? Stupid!”

“Yeah, it’s because of me. I’d prefer it if you hated me, and then ate well and live well… Why are you crying so much?”

“Crying? As if! Do you think I’m crazy? I didn’t cry at all.”

“Your eyes are puffy, though?”

“….”

At my words, Rere bumped her head on my shoulder.

“I was afraid that mom…will abandon me and leave forever. I thought mom was gone…I thought mom will never return…”

“I’m sorry…”

“Daddy said… Daddy said he was going to search for mom… He said he was sorry… He didn’t know what was good for me because it was his first time…and he said he would bring you back no matter what… That’s why I waited.”

“…Rere.”

What had I done to this little girl?

I did what I shouldn’t do. Something unforgivable.

“But…I kept getting sick because I thought my mom won’t return. I had a fever and I kept having a dream where my mom was walking away. Mom went farther away no matter how much I called out to her.”

“I will…never leave now.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then I’ll be by Rere’s side until Rere believes me.”

However, Rere only looked at me silently.

Then I smiled brightly at Rere.

“You don’t have to call me mom.”

“I’m not going to do that in the first place.”

“Okay, from now on I’m your rabbitty~”

“Stupid. Mom is an idiot.”

“Did you call me mom just now?”

“No, you’re wrong! I didn’t say that!”

Rere pinched my cheeks with a grumpy face.

“You left for no reason, and look! Your skinny cheeks are getting skinnier! You can’t be this ugly.”

“From now on, let’s eat a lot of delicious food, okay?”

“…Yeah, do whatever you like.”

A small smile spread over the child’s face, who turned her head pretending to be upset.

And so, we met again.

I laid the child on the bed and patted her on the shoulder. And late at night, the duke came to visit us.

I opened my eyes to the sudden sound of the door opening, and I made eye contact with him.

“….Is the child sleeping?”

“Well…”

“…I think I’ve been too indifferent all this time.”

“Yes, so please treat the child well now.”

“…..”

At my words, he sat in the chair beside the bed and smiled.

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“…Rere was hurt a lot.”

“…Now I feel like I’ve come to my senses. I don’t think I was myself at that time. It was as if I was controlled by magic.”

“Is that so?”

“…Yeah. And don’t worry about your position, I’ll take care of it in a few days.”

His hand gently brushed Rere’s hair.

“It’s been a while since she slept well like this.”

“Express it.”

“Huh?”

“Express it as you do now. Do it when the child is awake so she can see those loving eyes.”

“…I should do that. I will do it for Rere…and you as well.”

“Nope. Not for me. I’ll refuse that.”

It was obvious that he would keep upsetting me. So I shook my head firmly.

“… Alright, I get it.”

“Then, you should go. I’ll sleep with the child.”

“You must be tired.”

“Still, I like to sleep in this room with Rere.”

“…I’ll get your room ready soon.”

Did you get rid of my room while I was gone? I was about to glare at him in dismay, but the duke rose from his seat.

“Good night.”

After that, he left the room. And I fell asleep with Rere again.

***

Rere, who had been sick for a few days even after I returned, recovered in ten days.

In case I would leave again, Rere became more obsessed with me than before.

She asked me to go with her not only when she sleeps, but also when she goes to the bathroom.

Thanks to that, I stayed with Rere for ten days straight.

And in the end, my body was exhausted.

I was afraid that Rere would get a fever or get hurt again, so I focused my whole mind to take care of her. Furthermore, I haven’t rested ever since I came back from the mountain.

As a result, my eyes felt heavy even though I knew that morning had come.

At that time, I could barely open my eyes because of the rustling sound and the feeling of something moving in the spacious bed.

I thought the warm sunlight touched my cheek tenderly…

A tiny hand was rubbing my cheek.

“Mhm.”

“Wake up!”

Rere, who looked at me while cupping her chin in her hands, smiled so brightly to the point that her eyes couldn’t be seen.

“Did you sleep well?”

I hugged Rere, who hastily hopped from her seat, and rolled over.

“Ahhh! W-What are you doing?”

“It’s so soft.”

“Uh, do you know that this is what I like the most?”

While speaking, Rere was busy rubbing her cheeks against my cheeks. It’s been a long time since I had a chubby cheek.

“I’m happy.”

“Tch! I’m not happy. Why are your cheeks so rough? If you left like that, you should’ve at least eaten well. I’m so upset.”

“Are you upset?”

“Oh, no. Just stay there.”

The child, who was so angry, jumped down from the bed and squeezed lotion into her hand.

Then she started applying the lotion to my face.

“Anyway. Look what happens when I’m not around?! It’s troublesome and annoying. Ah, when I say it’s annoying, it doesn’t mean you should leave. I like to be bothered. So don’t get me wrong and listen carefully.”

Contrary to what she said, her actions were very sweet. After applying the lotion for a long time, Rere showed me the mirror on the table next to the bed.

“Look at this. Your face looks softer after applying a little bit of it.”

I burst into laughter at that moment. My face was smeared with white lotion as if I had put on the wrong sunscreen. I slightly removed the lotion from my face and smeared it on Rere’s face.

“Is Rere’s face rough as well?”

“No! I’ve been eating well and doing well! My nanny and the maids bothered me all day long! Everyone’s the same. You should worry about yourself… Why bother me all the time? Anyway, I’ll apply it again.”

The cute little hands were moving on my face again. I smeared the lotion into Rere’s face as well.

At that time,

Perhaps she heard our clatter, the door opened and the nanny stepped inside. She hurriedly put the silver tray on the table as soon as she saw us.

“You’re up, madam! But your face…”

The perplexed nanny grinned and held out a warm towel and mirror. The more Rere rubbed my face, the more spectacular my face became. My face was so white that it resembled the slender man.

“How pretty!”

“This won’t do! Both of you need to wash up right away!”

The nanny, who tried to hold back her laughter, eventually forced us into the bathroom. Unintentionally, we had to take a bath early in the morning.

In order to not replay this morning’s incident, the nanny gave me an adequate amount of lotion and applied it to Rere’s face.

Then, the nanny and Rere approached me to dry my hair. I slightly lowered my head towards Rere.

“Look, Rere. Mom’s cheeks are so soft now, isn’t it?”

“Yeah! It’s touchable now! But who’s calling you mom?! You’re a big bunny! And you have longer hair than me! Plus, why are you drying your hair alone? Come here and I’ll dry it for you!”

Rere, whose hair was being dried by the nanny and maids, approached me and dragged me towards her.

“What are you doing there? It’s warm here!”

“No, I’m fine here.”

“No! Big bunny, you sit here.”

“Here?”

Rere pointed her hand to the spot near the furnace.

“Sit here?”

“Yes. Sit in front of me.”

Then, I sat in front of the child as she wanted. I sat on the floor.

“You’ll catch a cold if you go around like this.”