A Stepmother's Marchen

Chapter 16

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Let’s calm down. Whoa, let’s calm down and be rational.

“Sir Albert.”

“Yes, madam.”

“I can guarantee my trust in you, but I have to point out that there are more than one or two loopholes in the story. You know Elias isn’t a child who will be beaten by anyone, and even if it happened, I would have heard.”

“Yes, I was surprised, too. Why did the second young master make such a request?”

“Are you saying that he told you not to tell anyone?”

“Yes, he ordered me not to let anyone know.”

I had no choice but to be stunned. Elias, what did he do that for? Why did he make such an unbecoming request?

Is it because of pride? Pride is nothing! They are just a bunch of kids!

My husband, as well as I, never hit the kids.

……I’ve slapped Elias once before, but they’ve never been beaten by their father!

Albert, who seemed to keep an eye on me, coughed, “And, madam. I’d like to ask you.”

“Hmm?”

“I heard rumors that you might be leaving soon.”

“…what are you talking about?”

This time, my eyes were as wide as a plate. The three exchanged looks again, literally in front of me, who was dumbfounded.

Then Robert broke the silence, “Madam, are you not going to leave then?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about right now.”

“Madam, then you’ll be here all the time, right?”?”

How can I explain this absurd phenomenon?

Of course, I’ve thought dozens of times that it might be better to leave. But I’ve never talked about it!

Even if I really did, I would leave when I wanted to, when I thought it was most appropriate. I’m not leaving to meet other people’s damn expectations.

“Who the hell… Hold on, hold on, all right. Everybody thought that I’m going to leave, right?”

They nodded.

“Who did you hear that from?”

“The… young masters and the young lady have begun to ask such questions, so…”

“Why the hell haven’t you said a word to me about all this? Robert? Gwen? Sir Albert?”

There was a moment of silence. How many seconds of ice-like silence had passed, and the three people who were looking at me with blank eyes began to talk.

“I made several written reports to the butler. But not once in the last 15 days did I receive a response, so I thought that the person had been bought off…”

“Is that true? Madam, I didn’t receive any request from the captain. I’ve never even heard of Master Elias. What the hell is going on…”

“I’m sorry, madam. The same goes for me. I was nervous about the thought that you might leave, and then you became sick…”

I couldn’t do anything but laugh. It’s ironic that I can’t help but laugh when I’m angry.

Only then did I understand all the weird things happening around me. The maid and butler who seemed to keep an eye on me, the knights who were somewhat dubious, the bizarre atmosphere that was hovering in the mansion…

“For now, all three of you pretend not to know anything. Robert, Please convene all the employees according to the situation.”.”

“You, did you see Elias?”

“Oh, no, madam…”

Why isn’t Elias or Jeremy in the house at a time like this?

Needless to say, I ran out of the house, passing by the knights who were wiping their swords and chatting at the sight of me.

“Ma’am? What’s wrong…”

“Elias! Have you seen Elias?”

“What? The second young master is probably in the backyard…”

Leaving behind the chaotic knights, I ran straight to the backyard. It didn’t really matter what I look like now. The important thing is… !!

“Elias!”

Elias was really there.

But Jeremy was there, too.

To be exact, the two were sitting on the fountain and exchanging words with a very serious-look. It was ridiculous to see them that way.

“Elias!”

Only then did Elias, who turned his head, heard my call and leapt to his feet.

But isn’t this bastard just running away?

“Why are you running away? Stop there!”

“No, I don’t want to! What’s the fuss about all of a sudden?”

“Elias Von Neuwanstein! Can’t you stop right now?”

“If you were me, would you stop? Oh, don’t come!”

“Let go of me…”

“Did you think no one would know if you hid it well? Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you stay still? Why was the usual strong, condescending man getting beaten up without resisting?”

I barely suppressed my anger and fired back, and Elias, who was floundering under me, opened his eyes wide.

He was speechless.

It was then that my body suddenly lifted up because I felt a hand holding my waist.

“Hey, just calm down…”

“Let go of me!”

“No, first of all, let me tell you… Oh, wait, wait, Shuri! Calm down and listen to my explanation first!”

“You are the same, idiot! Why didn’t you tell me?”

For the first time in my life, I have beaten my husband’s precious first son.

Similarly, even though I was experiencing a rare experience that I had never imagined, I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t stop myself.

“Oh, my God, calm down! Uh, why are you kicking me? Calm down! It’s not like that!”

“It’s not like that! You impossible morons! Do you have any idea how much your father thought of you? Why didn’t you just do half the things you usually do to me?”

“He said you’ll leave!” At Elias’s words, I stopped talking and blinked.

It was only then that the boy’s dark green eyes were full of tears.