Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil - Chapter 68

“Wow…”

Tiaris gasped as she entered the mansion.

“Is this brother’s house?”

“Yes.”

“It’s so big and shiny.”

Tiaris looked around frantically, her eyes sparkling more than the mansion itself.

She’d been living in the woods with Baron Hazel since she was a little girl, so it was no wonder she’d never seen a mansion like this before.

“Good, we can stay here now!”

A look of pride spread across Escal’s face.

He looked happy as he held Tiaris’s hand tightly and didn’t let go.

“But, brother.”

“Why?”

Tiaris leaned in and whispered in Escal’s ear.

“Brother, you look very good today.”

Escal’s face burned with fire in an instant.

My son’s face is going to explode like that.

Escal, who coughed in vain, whispered to Tiaris this time.

“You’re pretty too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. Very very pretty.”

Escal nodded vigorously.

The two children who complimented each other looked at each other and burst into laughter.

They say that when you’re in love, it’s fun to watch the leaves roll.

When had I ever seen Escal smile so wide?

He kept his emotions in check, especially around Helios, but it was both cute and strange to see him so excited no matter who was around.

“Tia, do you want your brother to show you my room?”

“Ung!”

“Come here.”

Escal grabbed Tia’s hand and led her to the room.

As they ran down the hallway, they couldn’t stop laughing.

Seeing these children, I, Baron Hazel, Helios, and even the people who lived in the mansion smiled happily.

“Sit down.”

Helios, who instructed the servants to prepare a room in the annex, offered Baron Hazel a seat.

As I sat down next to Helios, Mary brought refreshments.

I poured my own tea into the Baron’s teacup and opened my mouth.

“Escal wanted to see Tiaris a lot.”

“So did Tia. They seemed to have a lot of affection while they were together.”

“I can see how well you took care of Escal. Thank you very much.”

“No. Don’t say that.”

Baron Hazel waved his hand.

“It seems that Madam raised Escal very well. It must have been difficult to stay in a hut like that, but he never complained.”

“It’s because the Baron and Tiaris take good care of him.”

“If there is anything missing during your stay, please tell me.”

“Thank you for your kindness. It won’t be long.”

Baron Hazel said stubbornly.

If it were me, I would pretend not to know and sit down.

It was frustrating for me, knowing that Escal and Tiaris would end up like that anyway, but it was hard to convince Baron Hazel, who was so stubborn that even if the Emperor granted him a title, he wouldn’t take it.

I changed the subject as I watched the servants carry the furniture out of the room I had prepared and into the outbuildings.

“By the way, Is Tiaris in good health?”

“Yes, thanks to the Magic Stone, she was almost healed.”

“That’s good to hear, but why don’t you take her to see a doctor, just in case?”

“There is a good doctor among my acquaintances, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Ah, yes.”

Still polite but resolute in refusal, I shrugged and picked up my teacup.

Helios opened his mouth as if trying to help me.

“I’m sure you’re tired today, so why don’t you get some rest and have dinner with us.”

“I will.”

*****

Dinner was prepared a little earlier than usual.

Baron Hazel, who was unpacking and resting in the outbuildings, entered the dining room with Tiaris.

“Tia, sit here!”

Escal jumped up and pointed to the children’s chair.

After taking a bath, Tiaris, who had changed clothes, ran and stood in front of the chair.

“Wow. Brother, Tia, can’t go up here.”

“Brother will pick you up.”

Escal jumped out of his chair and hugged Tiaris’ waist.

Tiaris’s feet wobbled in Escal’s arms.

The attempt was unusual, but it was not difficult.

Tiaris reached out and tried to get on the chair, but it was in vain.

“Huh, I can’t, brother.”

“You can’t reach it?”

Escal, who had lost his strength, put down Tiaris.

Helios, watching the scene, rose from his chair with a grunt.

“Excuse me for a moment, little lady.”

“Uh?”

Helios gently picked up Tiaris and sat her on the chair, and then put Escal to his seat.

“Thank you.”

Tiaris, bowed cheerfully, then slammed her head into the table.

“Ouch.”

The Baron smiled and patted his granddaughter on the back.

“You must behave yourself in front of the Duke.”

“Tia will do it.”

At Baron Hazel’s words, Tiaris straightened her back and pulled her chin to sit.

The clumsily tied hair swayed gently in the moderate movement.

The meal began, and the food that had been prepared began to fill the table.

While Baron Hazel and Helios tantalized their palates with aperitifs, I heaped chicory salad with lemon sauce and warm soup onto the children’s plates.

“Eat a lot.”

“I will eat well.”

“Me too. I will enjoy this food.”

Tiaris raised the fork with one small hand.

She stared at the food, holding the empty fork as if she didn’t know what to eat first.

“Tia, eat this.”

Escal put tomatoes and cheese on the fork and handed it to Tiaris.

Tiaris, with her mouth open like a baby bird, took the food stuck in the fork and ate it.

“Is it delicious?”

“Ung!”

It was very cute to see her nodding her head vigorously.

“Eat this too.”

As soon as Tiaris swallowed the food, Escal poured a lot of soup.

Tiaris opened her mouth without resistance this time as well.

The look on Escal’s face as he stared at her mouth, he was as proud as mine.

“Escal, stop and you should eat too.”

In fear of being scolded by Helios and Baron Hazel, I deliberately lowered my voice, and Escal looked at me and answered.

“T, Tia is sick.”

“Uh? Tia, is okay.”

“…….”

“Did brother hurt your arm?”

She asked.

I patted Escal’s back as his gaze wandered away.

“Let’s eat.”

“… Yes.”

Escal then started eating.

A deliciously baked cod fillet, a turkey roast, and a beef steak arrived on the table.

“What is this?”

“It’s called turkey.”

“Wow, so big!”

I spread the turkey leg and put it on the children’s plate.

Even though it must have been the first time she had tried it, Tiaris enjoyed the meal without any hesitation.

However, the most welcome menu for the children was dessert.

The appearance of chocolate pudding and vanilla ice cream made Tiaris’s eyes wide.

“What is this?”

“It’s called ice cream. Come on, eat it. It is very sweet and delicious.”

At Escal’s suggestion, Tiaris scooped out plenty of ice cream with a teaspoon and put it in her mouth.

The round eyes were softly folded.

“How is it, is it delicious?”

“Yes! I like it!”

“Then eat this too.”

Escal said as he pushed his share of ice cream in front of Tiaris.

“What about brother?”

“I can eat later.”

The child’s eyes landed on the ice cream cup as he replied, sounding quite grown up.

I smiled and ordered more ice cream.

“There is a lot of ice cream, so eat as much as you want.”

After seeing the new ice cream being put on the table, Escal finally grabbed a spoon and ate the ice cream fiercely.

“I ate well.”

Tiaris, who ate three scoops of ice cream and two puddings, tapped her bulging stomach.

After eating, Escal picked up a napkin, wiped Tiaris’s mouth, and wiped himself.

Then he asked me carefully.

“Mommy, can I get up first?”

“Yes, you may.”

Judging by the bottles of wine on the table, the meal was going to be a long one, so I agreed, and Escal jumped out of his chair.

He grabbed Tiaris’s hand and pulled her down from the chair.

“Let’s go, Tia.”

*****

“I’d better get up.”

After a meal with alcohol, Baron Hazel got up after rinsing his mouth with lukewarm tea.

His complexion hadn’t changed despite the strong drink.

“You must be tired, get some rest.”

I followed the baron in place of the drunken Helios.

Baron Hazel, who had left the dining room, looked around the hallway as if looking for Tiaris.

I grabbed a maid passing by and asked.

“Where is Escal?”

“Young master? He just went into his room.”

Then Tiaris will be there too.

“I will bring her. Please wait for a moment.”

I apologized to Baron Hazel and headed to Escal’s room.

Knock—

“Escal, what are you doing?”

I knocked on the door and waited for a while, but there was no answer, so I quietly twisted the doorknob.

“Escal?”

As I slowly stepped into the darkened room, I saw two children sleeping on the bed.

Their faces were angelic as they slept, their hands clasped tightly together.

I looked at the children for a moment and then quietly left the room.

Baron Hazel, who was waiting for Tiaris, looked at me curiously, who came out alone.

“The children must be very tired, so let them sleep in this room for the night.”

“Well, I’ve been bothering you all the time.”

Baron Hazel smiled faintly and bowed his head to me.

“Then please.”