I Became The Stepmother Of An Irrevocable Dark Family - Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Of course, there was a different reason as to why I liked the rain.

“Does that mean Big Bunny is crazy?”

Rere stared at me innocently. She looked like a rabbit popping out of a rabbit hole when her head was sticking out of the blanket.

“Yeah! I’m crazy about Rere!”

“Tch. What are you talking about?”

Only then did a smile spread on the child’s face.

“But the thunder…it’s a little scary.”

Rere grabbed my arm firmly. So I gently soothed the anxious child.

“They said thunder is a warning from God.”

“A warning from God?”

“Yes. Because people do so many bad things, God warns them to stop being mean.”

The little girl nodded her head up and down.

“Yes, there are many bad people. Poopie head and Big Bunny’s mom are mean!”

“Right. That’s why it is a warning to stop doing bad things. Just like how we scream when we’re angry.”

Rere’s eyes sparkled as she listened to me.

“Does that mean God screams, ‘You punk!’ from the sky?”

“Yeah.”

“Woah…it’s a little less scary after hearing that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah!”

Rere regained her cheerfulness and leaned close to my side.

“But I can’t sleep well when there’s rain and thunder, so will you pat my back?”

“Okay. I will pat your back until Rere falls asleep.”

Perhaps my answer comforted her, she slowly overcame her fear and closed her eyes.

The rain didn’t stop pouring for days. However, the warmth from the fire pit and the rain sound created a cozy atmosphere.

Thanks to this, Rere calmed down and slowly fell asleep.

So I stood and looked out the window after making sure the child was asleep.

“Rain….”

In the past, I had really liked when it rained.

Since there were no guests coming to the orphanage.

I didn’t know about other places, but this was how it was in our orphanage.

The other children and I had a hard time because of guests who came under the pretext of giving donations or caring for us.

I had to greet them in clothes that looked so shabby. Because we had to look pitiful so people would feel sorry for us.

‘That way, the orphanage will receive more donations.’

In particular, our favorite toys were taken away from us when the guests came.

Even the head of the orphanage told us to pluck out grass or play outside until we looked dirty and shabby.

What a greedy human.

The children became more and more tolerant of the abuse because they knew they would be hit shortly after the guests left.

But on rainy days, no guests were coming.

That’s why I really liked the rain.

I also liked the fresh air after rain.

I used to get scolded by the head of the orphanage because the laundry didn’t dry well during rainy days, but I still liked the rain.

“Even now….the rain is so nice.”

It felt like my chaotic mind was being washed away in the rain. So I looked out the window.

And my eyes focused on the terrace for a long time.

What if Luca comes? What if he waits for me somewhere?

So I waited for a long time and fell asleep, feeling a bit regretful that he might have come if it hadn’t rained.

***

The next day.

The rain poured down all night long and only stopped when the morning came.

The world felt so refreshing today. The sky was clear after a few days of intermittent rain.

“Good morning, Madam. The air is fresh today, but the ground is still wet.”

“Too bad. I’ll have to wait until the ground dries so I can play with Rere.”

“Yes. You have to play in the room a little bit longer.”

The nanny turned her gaze to Rere. The child was lying in the middle of a large bed.

“In the past, she couldn’t sleep well when it rained.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m also not sure why. We were also trying to figure out the cause.”

“Weren’t you here ever since Rere was young?”

“Yes, but not from when she was very young.”

“Is there no one else who worked here for a long time?”

“Yes. I’m afraid they’ve all been forced to retire. I’ve heard that the butler who served the duchy for generations was kicked out.”

It was such a strange circumstance.

“Is there anything you’re curious about?”

“Yes. Do you happen to know any of them?”

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“I know the butler, but he won’t tell me much about himself. He’s quite a reserved person. I’ve asked him a few times, but he didn’t tell me anything.”

“Still, can you please help me out? I’d like to meet him when I go out.”

The nanny hesitated for a while, then she approached the table and wrote down an address.

“There you go. I’m sure he’ll be mad if he finds out that I gave you his address…”

“Thank you. Oh, it’s not too far from here.”

“Others were given big pensions and moved far away from here. Same goes for that old butler, but since he wanted to see our young miss grow up, he decided to settle down there. Of course, without my master’s knowledge.”

The nanny whispered in my ear just in case anyone heard it.

Moreover, the address she wrote was very close to the temple. I could immediately reach the temple if I went down the mountain where the duchy was located.

“Thank you. I’d like to visit him on my way to the temple.”

“Yes. I hope you’ll get the answers you want.”

“I’ll do anything for my Rere….”

I felt like I could unravel something by meeting that old butler. So I climbed back into the bed where Rere was sleeping and stroked the child’s head.

“I’ll make sure that you don’t get sick anymore.”

At that time, Rere’s little hand clasped my hand as she was sleeping. She didn’t talk in her sleep or anything, but her hand felt so warm that I was determined to protect her at any cost.

Then Rere woke up at eleven o’clock.

“I’m hungry.”

Normally, children would whine as soon as they wake up, but meals came first for Rere.

These days she was especially strict about meals. As soon as she woke up, Rere took a quick bath and grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go eat.”

“I have to go somewhere. So I need to be fast.”

“Mom, where are you going?”

On the way to the restaurant, I patted the pocket that Rere gave me.

“Yes. I’m going to visit the temple. Is it okay for me to go?”

Rere’s permission was more important than the Duke’s.

“Umm…um..do you have to go?”

“Yeah…”

I had to go if I wanted to save Rere’s future. There was nothing better to do than investigate her illness.

“Rere, my dear. This is something that I must do. I’m sorry, but can’t you please understand for once?”

“…Is it because of Rere?”

Telling the child that I was leaving for her sake was a bad idea. Those words would only burden her, so I gazed straight at the child.

“No. It’s not because of Rere. It’s for myself. That’s why I’m asking Rere’s permission first. Didn’t I promise that I won’t leave you alone?”

“Yeah, you did!”

“But I can’t keep that promise today.”

“So you will leave the decision to Rere?”

The child’s eyes were twinkling with excitement. A smile spread on her face as if she was happy just because she had the right to decide.

“I want to say that you can’t go, but I’m not worried anymore because I know Big Bunny won’t throw me away! I will let you go because I know you will return! Rere is so nice, right?”

“Thank you, Rere. I think I’ll be able to return safely thanks to Rere.”

“Instead, don’t follow a stranger just because you went out alone.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t run and jump around when you’re excited because you’ll fall down. Okay?”

Rere folded her fingers one by one and spoke seriously about the precautions.

“You can’t just buy whatever the merchants try to sell you, okay?”

“Uh, okay.”

“Why is your reaction so flat!”

“No! I’m listening seriously!”

I was thinking of buying a lot of things for treasure hunting with Rere, though. She probably liked it if I bought her a lot of things.

So I giggled at the grumpy child who looked so adorable.

“Hmm, what else-”

“Rere.”

“Hmm?”

“Where did you learn to say all that?”

“From the book! I read that’s what mothers say before their child plays outside.”

“But I’m an adult, right?”

“Geez, Big Bunny…it’s true that you’re an adult…but….I’m worried, you know? *You’re just like a child on the slide!”

(*T/N : It’s an idiom when you’re constantly worried about someone or situation.)

“Did you learn that from the book, too?”

“Yup! Rere remembers it because those are the words Rere has been wanting to say to Big Bunny!”

Rere raised her chin proudly with a wide grin on her face.

“You’re so amazing, Rere! I think you’re smarter than Big Bunny!”

“No. I’m not smarter than Big Bunny…but I’m smarter than Daddy! Daddy is stupid.”

Rere couldn’t stop giggling as she swung her arms back and forth more excitedly than ever.

***

The mealtime was quiet.

If there was anything different from before, Rere was busy putting a lot of food in front of me. After feeding food to each other, I began to open my mouth.

“I will visit the temple.”

The Duke’s eyes grew sharp at my announcement.