I Became The Stepmother Of An Irrevocable Dark Family - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

At that time, Duke Arvida’s eyes turned sharp.

“How stupid. You’re the one who fell in love at first sight and wanted to be the duchess! You made a fuss even though two people already quit!”

His hands trembled. He thought Duke Ian Petri would benefit him the most, so he contacted Duke Petri as soon as he knew about his daughter’s feelings. Everything was done in a hurry.

‘I should have known better.’

Such disgrace. At that time, he hurriedly seized the chance in fear that he would lose the duchess’ seat. He never thought that it’ll strangle him in the end. He should have doubted when Duke Petri wanted his daughter.

Damn it. He hoped that it wouldn’t turn into a serious problem. He hoped that Duke Petri’s leniency and calmness were just a means to kick him out.

‘No, it can’t be.’

However, Astra, who couldn’t read the Duke’s mind, made another fuss.

“Father!”

“Shut up. I’m not in a good mood.”

Duke Arvida, who was biting his fingernails anxiously in a fast-running carriage, pulled the curtain and looked out the window.

‘What could it be? What is this ominous feeling?’

He was thinking of destroying Duke Petri before. Three dukedoms became the pillar of the empire. Among them was Petri Dukedom with many interesting rumors surrounding it, and those rumors alone were enough to bring down Duke Petri.

Duke Petri, who allegedly dealt with the empire’s dirty laundry, had so many weaknesses.

He had been waiting for this chance.

If two families merged into one, he would trample on the young duke Petri and gain the upper hand. It would be great if his daughter gave birth to a son to get rid of Rebecca as the official successor. That way, he could try to remove the name of Petri Dukedom permanently. He got his daughter married for all that…

‘Weird. It’s too weird.’

He felt like his head was torn into pieces. But what made the headache even more dreadful was the mysterious force earlier. Such an unexpected strength.

He recalled a rumor circulating in high society which said that Duke Petri has a strange power. The existence of magicians was long gone from this empire, but it is rumored that Duke Petri was the only one who had magic power. Duke Arvida, who thought it was only a rumor created by someone to boost Duke Petri’s reputation, finally realized.

‘It’s real. The ground was shaking and I felt a tremendous cold air that made my body tremble.’

Everything was so vile. He hated his daughter for ignoring his words even though he told her to get along with Duke Petri.

“What the hell did you do there!”

“Are you angry at me? I’m a victim! You told me to make a fuss to pressure Duke Petri!”

“Read the room, won’t you! It’s not been long since you entered the house, yet you’ve done something atrocious to the point that they kicked you out!”

“Atrocious?!”

“That’s why you got kicked out. How useless! I can’t believe I raised you. Do you want to keep throwing mud at me during important times!”

Duke Arvida, who pretended to be a dignified nobleman all this time, raised his hand as if to hit his daughter.

“I’m just doing what father told me to…!”

“Shut up! This won’t happen if you just followed what I said. Stupid girl.”

Astra shuddered when her father, who had always been on her side, blamed her.

“You’re only doing useless things. You fell for that bastard just by looking at his face.”

“Ha. Did you not remember praising me for doing a good job?”

“Shut up, you useless thing! How dare you raise your voice!”

“…Fa-father. How can you say that? I’m the victim! You’re the one who encouraged me!”

“I don’t want to hear it. Stop whining!”

His hands trembled due to his desire to destroy something.

‘Duke Petri. The reason why nobody could touch him despite doing such terrible work… Was it because of his power?’

A power unrivaled to anyone. That was why the Emperor left him alone.

“Father!”

“Shut up. It’s noisy. You’re exactly like your mother! So loud!”

Eventually, he raised his hand fiercely and punched the carriage wall, barely holding his anger. But Princess Astra was the only child of Duke Arvida. Because of that, he couldn’t say anything more and only glared fiercely at his daughter.

‘One more word and I won’t go easy on you.’

Only then did the princess shut her mouth. His lips were shaking incessantly due to anger. Meanwhile, the carriage gradually slowed down.

They arrived at Duke Arvida’s residence.

He would normally hold her daughter’s hand and pretend to be a courteous father, but he was in a hurry.

“I want you to find out right at this instant!”

“Wh-What do you mean?”

“What did that bastard Duke Ian Petri have been up to? Whether he did something to our family or not! Investigate thoroughly if anything strange is going on.”

“Pardon? He’s the princess’ husband…”

“Husband?! He got me fooled from the beginning. Completely fooled. So find out everything. Everything he’s been doing to our family!”

It wasn’t until the butler heard of the reason that he hurried out. The knights of Duke Arvida and the servants moved at the duke’s order. And it wasn’t until that evening that he could hear an answer.

“…I see.”

Thanks to his greed of trying to eat something too big for him, Duke Arvida belatedly realized that he had lost too much due to one mistake.

***

The red sunset had gone and the darkness came upon us. I woke up from time to time, but I was too tired and ended up sleeping for quite a while with Rere.

A night without moonlight.

A caring hand touched my sleeping face. It was both warm and cold. The hand I felt in my sleep was so soft.

“…Sorry.”

Someone’s voice was heard. It was definitely a man.

Was it the Duke or Luca?

I had to open my eyes, but somehow, I was so tired that I couldn’t even open my eyes.

“Mhm…”

‘Who are you? I have to say something.’

But I could only mumble my words.

Was it Luca? Did he put me to sleep? Otherwise, I couldn’t be this sleepy.

At that time, the soft hand caressed my cheek. It felt like he applied ointment since the texture was rough. However, the warm hand touched my cheeks for a long time, and I fell asleep again.

Next morning. I felt like something poking my cheek, so I slowly opened my eyes.

“Mmh…”

“Wake up!”

I could hear Rere’s refreshing voice. When I opened my eyes completely, I could see Rere smiling brighter than ever. As soon as she saw me, Rere waved her hands as if pleased.

“You’re up! You’re not dead!”

“Oh my god!”

“That’s true!”

Then I woke up and rubbed my eyes. The nanny and maids were standing around me.

“What’s wrong with everyone?”

“Oh my god, we thought there was something wrong with you, madam.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because you didn’t wake up until late in the afternoon.”

Only then did I look around. The sky over the window was a little dark to call it daytime.

“Ahh.”

“Do you know how worried I am because I thought Big Bunny was dead!”

“Did you?”

“Don’t get me started. Our miss said she won’t eat if you don’t wake up.”

“And I told her that madam was just sleeping, but she’s been throwing a fit about calling the doctor…”

“Can’t you all be quiet!”

It wasn’t until Rere screamed that they hurriedly shut up.

“Anyway! It’s fine now since Big Bunny is up.”

While looking at the embarrassed Rere who turned her eyes away, I hugged the child’s body and lied down again.

“Aww, our Rere is worried. I feel good.”

“I’m not worried. Let go of me, I feel so stuffy.”

“Should I let go?”

Unlike her words, Rere buried her tiny head in my chest and tried to hold back her grin.

“No! Bi-Big bunny wants it. So I can stay a little longer.”

The grumpy child finally loosened her body. Thanks to that, I could hold Rere in my arms for a long time.

Her head smelled like warm sunlight. As well as the smell of a clean blanket that was exposed to the sun. My mind was so relaxed as I held Rere in my arms.

But then,

“Have you woken up?”

I heard a man’s voice. Only then did I wake up with a half-hearted smile. Just in case it was the duke who came inside.

“..Are you coming to see me wake up?”

“I’m just standing here.”

“I thought you were suddenly interested in me.”

Could someone who was cold until recently change so quickly? Even if he did, there was no way I’d be happy to see the duke like that.

“…Of course, you’re my wife.”

“Wife, huh? Sadly, I never thought of myself as your wife. Of course, I’ve been bluffing about being a Duchess and all that in front of Astra, but I have no desire to be your wife.”

“It’s also fine if you’re just going to be Rere’s mother. Rere, let’s get up now.”

“Yeah! Ah, I’m hungry. Our Big Bunny is also hungry, right? Let’s eat!”

I didn’t care about what kind of expression the duke made. It doesn’t matter now, and it won’t matter in the future either.

I had given up my desire to look good in front of him completely. All that matters to me now is to get along with Rere and cure her illness.

“I understand your feelings. If you’re going to have a meal, I will join you.”