She Became The Devil’s Stepmother Who’s About To Be Killed - Chapter 37 – The Power Of Love? (1)

Chapter 37 – The Power Of Love? (1)

Gerard Vonzeyer. A sword master who had been wandering through the demon world since he was a teenager. His fame spread throughout the demon realm.

Why is that? Arrogant people tend to be interested in someone when they start to be praised. They want to know what’s so good about them. And a way to bring them down.

Rurarisa, the 3rd Holy Saint, was jealous because he had to fill that gap. If he was truly better than him, he should surpass him. Gerard was one of those who worked hard for the wealth of the empire when he fought monsters. Just like his father, Julius Vonzeyer. He looked at him closely, he was warm-hearted. As a sword master, he came to conquer the Demon Realm, but he couldn’t step over the head of the weaker.

That may be why there were quite a lot of people who went to his estate. After all, many people were killed when the empire subjugated the demon realm five years ago. He thought Gerard would be quietly retired after such an event, but before anyone knew it, he married.

Anyway, Rurarisa thought it would be better to leave this place quickly. It was then–

“What do you mean by hidden motive? You’re being rude.”

Bonya stepped up. Curtis was delighted to see her take his side.

“He is the person who made the water purifier. How do you treat people who have worked hard for the people of the castle? Introduce yourself.”

Curtis felt re-energized by Bonya’s support.

“Thank you, Bonya. I’m Curtis, from Brooks Guild.”

“Bonya?”

‘Bonya is your nickname.’ Gerard looked at Sinclair.

“Ah, it was complicated to say my real name.” Sinclair quickly explained the reason, but Gerard heard it as an excuse.

The sound of that guy Curtis calling her ‘Bonya’ echoed in his ears. It was as annoying as mosquitoes. Gerard didn’t like him from the moment he walked in.

With pure white-silver hair, bright red eyes, a trained body, and dark skin. At first glance, he was no ordinary man.

‘Ha… you have a crush for looks.’ Besides, like purple hydrangea, Sinclair and his pure white silver hair matched quite well. Gerard thought it would be a good idea to get rid of him quickly to make those crazy hormones disappear.

“Speak comfortably.”

“…?”

Curtis bit his lip.

‘He seems to already know that I’m a demon, so shall I lean on his generosity?’

“I didn’t mean to cause any disturbance.”

“It’s not a disturbance in itself, is it?”

“I couldn’t help it.”

“You seem to have neither manners nor shame.”

It was amazing. A person who was much younger than he.

“I’ll take my leave.” Curtis jumped up.

“As expected, irresponsible.” Gerard crossed his legs and looked at Curtis.

“What? Irresponsible?”

A red flame flashed in Curtis’ eyes at those words.

‘What the hell do you mean by irresponsible? I did my best to invent an ion water purifier and didn’t even sleep to make 100 of them?’

In an instant, Gerard jumped up from his chair and pointed his sword toward him. His body had a faint cinnamon scent. Traces of the demon tribe

“You. Who are you.”

A moment after, Sinclair stepped in front of him. Gerard was perplexed.

“What kind of rudeness is this to my guest?”

‘Could it be that she’s in love with a demon? Did he place some spell on her so my magic doesn’t work? Or was it the power of love?”

“He’s my business partner.”

Gerard chuckled at Sinclair’s phrasing.

“Hah, you don’t have to meet with business excuses. I will divorce you. Both of you, leave my estate immediately.”

Gerard put his sword back and was about to leave when the big teddy bear he had seen before stood tall in front of him. He halted in surprise and–

“Vat do you mean divoze?”

The teddy bear turned forward and Theodor appeared from behind. His face was pale in shock, and his round eyes were damp.

“Theo?” Sinclair was taken aback by the child’s sudden appearance. Theodore asked Sinclair, holding back his tears.

“Will stepmodah divoze?”

“Oh?”

“You vil leave Theodod and the Shuleyen castlaaaaaaaaannhgg!!”

Theodor raised his head and burst into tears. With one hand, he was still holding the paw of the teddy bear tightly.

“It’s not that, Theo. Oh my gosh, Theo.”

Sinclair immediately ran to Theodor and denied it, but Gerard did not.

“That’s right.”

“Uuuhnnng and why?”

“That…” Gerard was about to answer, but Sinclair glared at him as she held Theo in her arms.

Gerard looked at Curtis.

“You tell me.”

“…?”

“Isn’t she the woman you love?”

Curtis looked at Bonya.

‘Do I love her?’

‘Oh?’ Suddenly, his heart was pounding. That was it, love. The reason he wanted to quickly make a water purifier and bring it to her. The reason he endured with the desire to be praised by her even though he had to be humiliated and servile to others. Maybe the last time, when he was slapped on the right cheek, he went crazy?

‘Or when I was hit on the left? Or when hugging from behind and out of breath?’

Ha… If you think about it, wasn’t it since she warmed up on her own? Or when she playfully ran and kicked a tree? But Bonya, who had shaken his heart like that, said she was worried about a little boy who was a lot younger than her, and she said that she couldn’t help it. The boy’s red eyes fluttered as crimson as his own, still held in her arms. Bonya kept whispering something into his ears, holding him in her heart.

“I do love her, but it seems she doesn’t love me.”

Gerard’s eyes followed Curtis’. A restless Sinclair with Theo on her lap, wiping his tears, and patting him came into sight.

“Aren’t you her lover?”

He wanted to shout ‘of course!’ But his mouth, which used to lie as naturally as breathing, didn’t open. Then–

“I wish I was, but she is my teacher and master.”

“Master?”

“Ha… Did you fight her?”

Curtis shrugged and wrinkled his nose. He didn’t like his mouth telling the truth like this.

It didn’t make sense for Gerard to fight a weak woman. Besides, things might be complicated if it was revealed that a demon was there, so he took Curtis to the corner.

“What? Why?”

As Bonya wasn’t there, Curtis shook off his hand roughly. Without her presence, there was no need to be polite.

“You’re a demon.”

Curtis licked his lips and smiled.

“Gerard Vonzeyer. As the name suggests, your eyesight is amazing.”

“Why did you approach her?”

Rurarisa pondered for a moment whether he should say that the savior of the demon realm had appeared, but he decided to stop. Because humans weren’t trustworthy.

“By chance?”

“Were you resting by the river?” Gerard remembered what Sinclair had said and asked.

“I was.”

“And you fought her.”

“It was rather insolent. She knocked on me on my own territory, how dare she.”

“He- her?”

Truthfully, his sister and Jenice looked slender and weak, but they were stronger than anyone else. Gerard was pleased. The corners of his mouth curled up. At the same time, he was relieved.

‘Was it a misunderstanding? Really?’

“A great human woman. Although magic doesn’t work…”

“…!”

Gerard looked at Curtis.

“If somebody…”

“That’s your problem. Seeing that you didn’t try to slash me, it seems like you’re not the emperor’s loyal dog as they say. See you next time.”

Curtis disappeared.

‘Ah…’ Gerard was more worried about Theodor crying at the entrance to the annex than Curtis disappearing so rudely.

He didn’t mean to part ways like this.

Wiping Theodor’s tears with his teddy bear’s paw, he looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar woman playing with him.

* * * 

Before I knew it, Theodore was asleep. As I soothed him from crying, I pondered how to solve this problem without hurting both Gerard and Theodor.

First of all, I told Theodor words of comfort that I wished my mother had told me when she left when I was young. Of course, my mother never said those things. And I thought about what I could do to prevent this little child from being hurt by adults.

Fortunately, seeing Theodor’s tears, Gerard decided to follow my lead, unlike his former self who resolutely announced the divorce.

That alone was a relief.

I put a blanket on the sleeping Theodor. And at the foot of the bed, Gerard, who had been thinking about something for a long time, beckoned to me.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────