A Stepmother's Marchen

Chapter 55

“So, this is… …”

On the morning of the last day of the year, which was short and eventful, I was standing in front of the butler and maid in the early hours before breakfast, dealing with them. To be exact, I have to say that I was dealing with a dense sheet of paper that they made.

“……What is this?”

When I asked, mumbling with a really silly face with my chin half down, Gwen and Robert rushed to shout with a rush of energy-

“List of destinations, madam! Please take this opportunity to get rid of all your hard work!”

“Yes, madam. This is a list I made with the maid all night. I’ve listed a lot of popular destinations among high-profile people these days!”

“Come on, pick whichever you like!”

“You know, both of you just need to calm down for a second. What is this list for?”

“It’s a list of potential places to travel to! We’ve put all the famous tourist attractions that are in trend these days!”

“So, at this point in time, do you mean that I should go on a trip?” I tried to say it solemnly, but failed.

The two nodded their heads.

“What can’t be done? This season, the rest of the houses are doing the same. You should have some fun and spend time with the young masters and the lady.”

“Gwen, no matter how trendy it is, if there is an accident…”

“Don’t worry, madam! We’ll protect you!”

Oh, you scared me. The knights, who were supposed to be there silently like statues, shouted out loud, and I flinched.

No, wait a minute, but these things…?

“I’m starting to get suspicious that it’s all in one place…”

“You’re mistaken, madam.”

“I don’t think I’m mistaken.”

“You’re mistaken.”

I had to swallow my groan, looking at the loyal maid and butler who answered stubbornly.

Did they all eat something wrong? What’s this out of the blue talk about traveling at this time?

“What time is it now?”

“It’s the end of the year vacation season, madam.”

“Even so…!”

“The young masters and the young lady will love it. I bet you…. I’ll bet you on my hair.”

“… Robert, you don’t have that much hair.”

“Oh, madam, how could you say such a cruel thing?”

The faithful butler, who had been taking care of this family for generations, began to cry in the morning, so I could no longer complain about the bitterness and had to head to the dining room with the list. Well, I guess it was on purpose.

“Oh mama, what’s that?”

Elias, who had been cutting turkey with a strong appetite, suddenly fell from his chair when one of the twins called me that.

Elias, who stood up on his two feet, now glared fiercely at his brother, “What, brother, have you gone crazy this morning? What’s with that weird, senseless word?”

“Silly brother, is it wrong for a son to call his mother Mama?”

Elias held his chin with a look on his face as I sat silently.

Rachel, who was pulling the turkey’s skin, said as if she was frightened, “My brother’s face looks so ugly!”

Elias, who immediately released his chin, now crossed his arms and looked at me with a stern look.

To be exact, I, who was putting down the paper in my hand by the plate, smiled and stared at Jeremy, who was disassembling the pumpkin pie for a long time.

Then he shouted, “What kind of deal was made between the two of you?”

“Sit down, stupid brother. When an adult eats, he or she sits still and waits.”

I opened my mouth trying to ignore Elias’ pitiful appearance as he sat down muttering, “What else would I get?”

“Hey, my reliable eldest son.”

“Yes Mother?”

Jeremy, who took a huge bite of the pie piece, looked at me. I hesitated for a moment and then shook the note in my hand, “I’m thinking about going on a short trip together, what do you think, my eldest son?”

“Travel? Why all of a sudden? Where are we going? What do we have to go see?”

“There are a lot of places on the list… like famous hot springs and gladiators’ shows. I don’t know if you’d like it.”

“No, wait, why are you two talking about such an important matter? I have an opinion, too! Don’t discriminate against your child!”

“My father told me not to scream at the table, little brother.”

“What are you talking about, short legs!”

“Elias, what do you mean by calling your younger brother ‘short legs’? Stop it and take a look, where should we go?”

At my scold, Leon stuck out his tongue to Elias with a triumphant look, and Elias murmured and looked into the list of destinations, “Let me see… wow, who wrote all this?”

“Oh, let me see it, too! Don’t just look at it yourself, you greedy man!”

“Oh, my gosh, there’s a dog barking.”

With one hand down Elias’s red hair, and with the other hand high with the note paper, Jeremy, who seemed to be looking over for a while whistled,

Jeremy, who was looking at the list for a while with one hand lifting it high, and the other hand pressing down the red head of Elias, sighed.

“I’m not particularly attracted to anything but watching gladiators’ shows. The others are all places for ladies and girls liking, right?”

“Aha, is that so? Then the problem ends like this…”

“No, let’s go somewhere else.”

“You said you weren’t attracted to anything!”

“He made a mistake for a moment. Let’s forgive him generously with a good heart. Oh, but what’s a hot spring? I have never been there before.”

“Hot springs are made to soak in hot water and play. It’s in the encyclopedia my mom bought me.”

It was an answer that came from Leon, our little intellectual.

…..It’s the right definition, but it seems to be a little modified.

Jeremy exclaimed, “Aha!”