She Became The Devil’s Stepmother Who’s About To Be Killed - Chapter 28 – The Archduke Will Also Cherish And Love The Grand Duchess

[tl/n: the title is so clickbait I feel sorry for us readers lol]

“Do I really need to change the bed size?”

Gerard snorted indifferently.

“Well, there’s no need to change it unless the three of you plan to be crammed into a small bed.”

“Forget it, just leave it alone.”

He said naturally, thinking he would never get into that bed.

“I understand.”

‘Is this a consideration to keep Theodor from wanting to sleep there’ head-maid Madeleine thought so as she left Gerard’s office.

She didn’t know what was going on, but he had said Sinclair found the missing Theodor. He returned to the palace with Gerard and seemed to have received a command from the Archduke to keep his mouth shut so blocked his small mouth and just shed tears. Furthermore, he didn’t even sleep. Getting rid of Molli, hiding behind a pillar on the second floor until late at night, waiting for Sinclair to come.

She wanted to put a blanket over his shoulders out of pity, but she looked impatiently because it would hurt his pride even more if he knew he had been found hiding. And late that night, the Grand Duchess returned drenched in water and sagging in the Archduke’s arms.

As soon as the Grand Prince saw this, he flew down the stairs as if tripping, grabbed the Archduke’s leg, inflated his small cheeks, opened wide his eyes, and did his best to suppress his crying.

‘Could it be the Grand Prince made a big mistake and the Grand Duchess was seriously injured while trying to cover it up? Madeleine guessed that much. She was convinced when the Archduke gave orders to establish her residence in Saios, where the late Empress stayed. It was to ensure proper recovery and stability.

The late Emperor regarded the late Empress dearly, and the Archduke, who saw and learned from this, will cherish and love the Grand Duchess as well.

As soon as the sun rose, the Grand Duchess summoned them regarding the condition of the Grand Prince, even though she had been suffering since dawn. And based on the data reported last time, instructions related to the safety of the Grand Prince were issued.

‘Right. It’s like that. Life as Grand Duchess.’ Madeleine, late Empress’ lady-in-waiting and the current head-maid of Shlezen Castle, had high hopes that the castle would work properly in the future. The corners of her mouth rose naturally by themselves.

As soon as she saw Schmidt, she quickly erased her smile. The curt and cold-headed lady-in-waiting of the former Imperial Palace disappeared across the hallway.

Knock, knock! Gerard was annoyed. ‘Can you stop coming in now?’

“What?”

The door opened and Schmidt entered. Gerard’s greenery-like eyes gleamed.

“How did it go?”

“Your opponent took the bait.”

“Yeah? When can I fish?”

“The afternoon of the day after tomorrow will be enough.”

“Alright.”

Gerard got up and looked down at Saios again. Resembling a purple hydrangea, Sinclair was still busily striding in and out of the backyard.

* * * 

‘If you come at four in the afternoon, I’ll begin to be happy by three.’ Like a verse from〈The Little Prince〉my heart was a bustle. This was because the time for Theodor to arrive was approaching. I devoted myself to preparing the first meal for him and Gerard.

Although there were no centrifuges, micro-mills, syringes, soda siphons, gestrobics, smoking guns, keyboard, test tubes, etc., and no common spices.

As much as I wanted to shout at Gerard, if I didn’t capture his heart this time, he might ban my meetings with Theodor right away. To prevent such an unfortunate situation, I had to present the happiest and most delicious dish in the world.

Besides, the current work was also the realization of my dream. As a food lover, I created a club called ‘Molecular Food Society’ when I was in college. It was a club concept.

Well, how many members were there? None. Especially, there was no place to work. When I tried to work in the kitchen of the Department of Food and Nutrition, I was pushed out by classmates who had obtained first-class Korean food certificates, first-class Western food certificates, and other qualifications. So, I was criticized for what I was trying to set up in a chemistry lab.

In the end, working at home came to nothing, and now my dream job is here!

I hummed. I decided to make lunch with basic bread, meat, and dessert. Was I being a bit petulant? Nothing like that. Everything was for my dear angel.

I asked Sophia to accessorize me neatly. Officially, I was hurt and sick after facing the monsters.

‘Is it because of that?’ I looked in the mirror and my hair, curled by heated stones, shone beautifully. Instead of ending there, Sofia held a long white satin ribbon and hair together, and twisted, twisted, and tied it up to make a neat single flower.

“Um… Sophia, isn’t that too much?”

“No, Grand Duchess. You have to do this much. I didn’t even use jewelry.”

‘Right, Theodor would like a pretty mom rather than an ugly mom?’

My hair was too flashy by my standards, so I chose an empire-style dress that wasn’t too bulky. Sinclair’s skin was so transparent and white that putting on long white gloves and holding a bouquet would be enough to make it appear I was about to film a small wedding.

[tl/n: empire dress is a dress with a fitted bodice that drapes out under the bustline, rather than at the natural waistline]

Finally, the door opened. Theodor walked in proudly hand-in-hand with Gerard, and his eyes widened at me. Then, he rolled his upper and lower lip inward and twisted his body. The child looked up at Gerard, who patted him on the back saying it was okay.

‘Hmm, looks good.’

If Gerard’s gaze had touched Theodor affectionately from the beginning like that, I wouldn’t have been so worried until I lost consciousness.

Quite dramatic for relationship development. I felt a little unfair.

But Theodor was strange. The boy who pretended to be strong and brave did not approach me. With one hand on his waist, he put his index finger in his mouth, crossed his legs, looked at Gerard once, and looked at me once. He bowed his head to the floor, not knowing what to do.

‘Why is he doing that?’

I approached Theodor, greeting him gladly.

“Hi, Theo? Did you sleep well? Good afternoon.”

“Yes, how is Stepmother?”

“As you can see, I feel much better.”

“Did you feev scafed becoz you were alone?”

“No, your father came back for me right away.”

I bent one knee and squatted in front of Theodore to make eye contact. Then Theodor turned back and held out a rolled-up paper.

‘What is it? Was it because of this?’

When I pulled out the roll of paper, I found that the picture I had been asking for until I lost consciousness yesterday was drawn crookedly. The corners of my mouth rose.

“Woah. Did Theo draw this?”

“Yee~. Theodod drew it with Dad Gedad.”

Theodor raised his chin and stuck out his chest proudly, but his cheeks turned red.

‘I’m dying of embarrassment. Fufufu. Do you want me to compliment you?’

He looked so cute that I wrapped one arm around Theodor’s shoulders. Theodor, letting himself be held, extended his short, thin index finger and explained, pointing to the square, triangular, and round faces one by one.

“Thiz iz dad in hevon, thiz iz mom in hevon, aaa~nd thiz iz friend Bibbie.”

Oh… the vague pronunciation of a five-year-old child and the soft, fluffy, rounded cheeks that brushed my own while talking were fatally sweet.

I bit Theodor’s cheek, who was talking seriously next to me and blew on it with a ‘prrrr’ sound. Theodor opened his eyes wide and looked at me with his small lips wide open as if a ripe clam burst. He looked cute, so I bit his nose lightly and let it go.

“Ehem.”

Upon hearing Gerard’s dry cough I pondered if I was being harsh, so I looked up at him. His face was red as if he had seen something he shouldn’t, and he turned his head to the opposite side.

‘I’m not being rude.’

Theodor asked, pulling my collar.

“Wvat did you do to Theo now?”

I hugged Theodor, who was seriously asking while frowning, and answered as we moved inside.

“I tested Theo’s cheek candy and nose candy. As an appetizer before eating.”

“Is Theodod candy?”

Theodor asked with a frightened expression, quickly covering his cheeks and nose with his small hands.

“No.”

“Then why do you Theodod?”

“Because Theodor is love?”

Theodor bit his lower lip with his upper teeth, tucked his chin inward and smiled.

“Vove?”

“Yes. Theodor is love, so Theo’s cheek candy and nose candy are very sweet.”

Then Theodor turned his head slightly with one hand covering his chest.

“Phew… Das too much. Eat too much vove.”

He pushed his cheek slightly towards me.

‘Are you giving in? Ah… It’s cute, how can’t I not eat it?’

I quickly grabbed the round cheeks and blew in making a ‘prrrrr’ sound. Theodor shook his shoulders and laughed, perhaps he felt ticklish.

‘Oh? I guess you liked it.’

I bit Theodor’s nose once more.

“Tickles!”

And then,

“Theodod too?”

“Oh? my cheeks are dirty.”

In response to my embarrassed answer, Theodore said shyly.

“Stepmother cheeks smell like fwowers.”

“Then…”

As I was about to stick out my cheek, Gerard quickly took Theodor out of my arms. We both rolled our eyes and looked at him.

“It’s dangerous.”

‘Uuhk The waterway was right next to us.’

I was so focused on Theodor that I almost got in trouble because I wasn’t looking ahead.

Gerard took Theodor and strode into the hallway.

As he walked in, he was speechless. No matter whose son he was, he coveted his wife’s cheeks first? He couldn’t stare straight into such a show of affection.

* * * 

“Wvhat iz dis?”

Theodor pointed to the bottle with a finger as if curious about the distilled water in a long-necked glass bottle on the table. Inside the transparent bottle were two fresh dianthus flowers.

“Water.”

“You’re going to give Theodor water that commoners drink?”

Sitting across from the table, Gerard frowned.

“It’s not ordinary water though? It’s distilled water for Theo. It was specially made to protect Theo’s kidneys.”

“That’s why Ellie and Schumann visited earlier?”

I smiled bitterly at Gerard’s words. After all, it must have been reported to him who came in and out and what they said.

“Yes. As I said a few days ago, I would like to share my views on Theo’s food management and inspection.”

“What about engineer Arden?”

“He was technical help in the manufacture of distilled water.”

I turned to Theodor, wanting to stop answering Gerard’s prickly questions.

“Theo, I’m really sorry about the wine last time. In the future, the main palace kitchen will also prepare distilled water for you, so you can drink this from now on.”

“Wvater specially made for Theodod?”

“Of course, Theo is love. Sophia.”

Sophia quickly opened the vial and poured water into Theodor’s. Expectations rose in his small eyes as he looked at the water. As soon as his glass of water was full, he tried to drink it right away.

“Wait, Theo.”

“…?”

It was Gerard.

“I’ll drink first.”

‘It’s true that trust isn’t forged yet…’

“I have another drink for you, My Husband, Sophia.”

Sophia quickly turned around and brought a glass bottle that was kept cold in an ice mana stone. Two pairs of eyes were on Sophia’s hand. Every time Sophia moved, carbonated bubbles rose. As soon as Theodor saw the soda, he jumped up from the table and shouted.

“Inside the bottle iz mafic?!”

At that moment, Gerard’s expression cooled. My heart sank with a thud.

‘Ma-? What’s that?’

Whenever the ‘Ma’ appeared in the Empire, it was instinctively bad. Besides, isn’t the word ‘ma’ a word for blood? My head turned white with the presence of a word that couldn’t even be read in books.

‘No, it will be fine. Sinclair.’

Arden and Lucio, the knights, Sofia, all of them drank too sweetly.

I looked at the Demon Realm’s censor, the Imperial Sword Master, the ruler of the Demon Realm, with a trembling heart.