A Stepmother's Marchen

Chapter 24

“Oh, Shuri, I need to buy a new hunting suit.”

We picked the final design of Elias and Jeremy’s outfits, and then sat on the sofa far away from the table where the other guests sat and took a breath.

I was frozen on the spot by the shadow of something outside the huge window.

“Shuri?”

Jeremy, who had been talking about his hunting suit, started coughing and glaring at me. I couldn’t even afford to respond as I was just struggling in panic.

“Shuri, what’s wrong? Are you upset?”

“That was just… Hm, I wasn’t paying attention.”

……I’m glad you’re aware of that, but it’s not the case. Damn it, I’m sure I wasn’t mistaken, but why at a time like this… I almost forgot…!

“If she runs away from home, it’s all because of big brother!”

“Big brother, you idiot! You always tease mom! You’re in trouble!”

“That’s what he does best.”

“Shuri, are you really upset?”

I managed to pull myself together and shook my head slowly. Let’s calm down first. The kids are here.

“Jeremy.”

“Huh?”

“Would you mind watching your siblings for a minute? I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going? We’ll go with me!”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you doing?”

When asked persistently, I pressed my heart with one hand, which began to pound.

Let’s calm down.. Jeremy is surprisingly sharp. If I show a little bit of emotion, I’m sure he’ll get suspicious.

So I grabbed Jeremy by the wrist with one hand and whispered low, “…I’m going to buy women’s supplies. Stop asking me.”

“Ah…”

Jeremy’s face that turned red was such a spectacular sight to see, but now I have no time to spare.

I walked out of the clothing store and down the quiet road behind it. I stopped for a while and looked around, but as expected, a hand suddenly popped out of nowhere, grabbed my shoulder and dragged me into an alley.

“Long time no see, sweet sister. Has it been almost two years?”

It has been almost 6 years to me. I was now staring at Lucas von Ighoeffer, my brother’s weasel-like face after nearly six years.

Perhaps because I thought I would never see him again, I forgot that I would definitely bump into him at least once since I came back to the past.

“You don’t look very happy to see me, that’s really disappointing. I’m your one and only brother…”

“Why did you come to the capital?” My voice was cold.

Lucas stared at me, and soon laughed, “I came to see you, of course.”

“Why? Did my father collapse? Or is my mother hurt? I already know it’s a lie, so just go. I don’t have anything to give.”

As he struggled with his profound feeling, Lucas immediately stumbled.

Looking at him, I laughed out loud.

It used to be the same. After my husband died, my parents, brother and relatives came to me to make a fortune.

Lucas was particularly persistent, though kicked out every time, he frequently asked for money in any way.

I remember taking care of him a couple of times. But in the end, no matter how far he came to the mansion and begged, I never met him again.

“Why have you changed so much? Everyone says that people change when they come to the capital, but it wasn’t like this.”

“Oh, come on, listen. I’ve been starving for three days now. Does that make sense? You’re rich enough that the money is just rotting away anyway, so help me out. Or let me stay at your place for a while.”

“Do you think I have been stabbed in the head to accept that? You’ve been starving for three days? Get the hell out of here before I call the knights. I don’t have time to deal with you. Don’t ever come back, understand?”

I don’t know how to describe the truly stupid look on Lucas’ face. I should’ve done this in the past, I should have done this from the beginning… ..I was about to go back to the children, leaving behind the pathetic figure of my brother, but he suddenly grabbed my shoulder and pushed me hard toward the wall.

My back hit the wall and a painful sensation washed over it.

“What the hell is going on…”

“Now that you’re a Marchioness, you’re being pretty arrogant toward me? Are you threatening me now? You’re looking at me with that look on your face. Do you think you will last in your position? You’ll be back when you’re kicked out anyway…”

“Hey!!!”

Puck!!!

It was then that Lucas’s poisonous words were cut off.

To put it precisely, someone who suddenly came into a narrow alley where we stood, or, like, flew in, kicked Lucas.

The next moment Lucas was rolling on the floor, coughing up a very pitiful scream.

“I’ve never seen such an impolite bastard! You little weasel on the wheels of the wagon, that girl doesn’t like you!”

……The voice was strangely high and squeaky. The next thing to come into my half-struck blank vision was a boy with a sword his size.

He was tall, but he was definitely still a kid, maybe Jeremy’s age at the most?

He looked strangely familiar, but I couldn’t remember exactly where I saw him. Black hair and cool blue eyes. I’m sure he looks familiar, but where did I see him…?

While I was puzzled, this boy briefly clicked his tongue and scratched his head, but then moved forward without hesitation toward Lucas.

Then he grabbed Lucas by the back of his neck with one hand and pushed the blade that seemed newly bought from around here forward.

“Hey, old man.”

“Ahhhhhhhh!”

Lukas, in a state of confusion, began to scream in horror. Lucas was 21 years old for reference. How ridiculous is this?

“Darn it, you’re so loud. Shut up! Hey, shut up! Before I cut off your tongue.” “Hey, look at my eyes. Look me in the eye.”

“Uh, do you even know who I’m!”

“Even if you’re the Crown Prince, you’ll be damned. You want me to pull out all your teeth? Do you want me to pull your gums out?”

“……Why, why are you doing this?”

“Don’t bother this lady ever again. Don’t touch her, don’t run into her on the street, don’t think about her, don’t see her in your dreams. Actually, stop breathing all together.”