A Stepmother's Marchen

Chapter 57

I don’t know who said that the beauty of life is that if you have money and manpower, you can create heaven on earth.

The magnificent mountain range of Berchtesgaden, which we finally reached after a full day and a half, has recently emerged as a famous resort among aristocrats, boasting a spectacular view of vacation villas, hunting grounds, and magnificent hot spring houses in the middle of a dizzying ridge.

It can also be quite interesting to see the children who were dozing off from the long trip, opening their eyes wide and looking out of the window.

“Hey, this is crazy. I-I am getting out of here!”

….Isn’t it?

“Elias, what’s wrong with you?”

“Woo, we’re all going to die! I’m going to fall and die! I want to get out of here! Let me go home!”

…Who could have imagined that my second son could be scared of the high mountains…! And I’ve known him for nearly a decade now.

“Mom, what’s wrong with my brother?”

“I want to go back! I’m going back. Oh! We’re all going to die!”

“I don’t want to go back! I love it here! Mom, tell my brother to go home alone!”

“Oh, my God, save me! We’re all gonna die if we stay here! Hurry up and turn the wagon! Shuri, we’re all going to die!”

There was a bit of a commotion thanks to Elias, who shouted and made a fuss, saying that we would all fall and die and be swept away by the wind. It goes without saying that I came all the way here but thought seriously about turning the wagon.

It was none other than the reliable eldest son who calmed down his second brother, who was in a state of panic.

“Argh! Why are you hitting me?”

“What’re you saying in front of our beloved guardian? Shut up and be a man, don’t be a disgrace to the family. If you say that one more time, I’ll tear you with my fist.”

Oh, wow! It was a terrifying declaration that would make my spine chilling.

Then Leon, who was anxious about turning the wagon, raised his thumb as Jeremy rolled up one sleeve to his elbow and looked out the window calmly.

In other words, poor Elias, who wasn’t only faced with unexpected fear, but also was beaten up, was no longer open about it.

Instead, he remained stiff, with a tense face until he got off the wagon.

Nevertheless, after passing through the security office and arriving at the villa I had reserved, everyone began to like the place.

As it is an exclusive area for aristocrats, the villa, which is as colorful and charming as the mansions in the main city, has a separate guesthouse for the servants, as well as accommodation for the knights.

Above all, I have to say that the view is awesome. It is a landscape full of wild beauty that is different from the main city. Perhaps because this is the first time I’ve been to such a high altitude area, the scenery of the mountain range, which gradually changed as the sun was colored in red and purple, was beautiful.

“This is my room because the curtains are pink! Don’t come in!”

“Sister, how can you be so greedy? You’re gonna take this whole place by yourself? You’ll just whine about the ghost coming out later.”

“Then decide what you want, brother!”

“Hey, Rachel, can I come in?”

“You’re my twin, so it’s okay.”

While the children were running around the luxurious and colorful bedroom and deciding where to sleep, I started to think about what to do for dinner after getting the employees unpacked.

I wanted to go into the warm hot spring water right away and sleep without thinking, but I couldn’t.

“Excuse me, Mama.”

“Yes, son?”

“I heard that this area is famous for craftsmanship dishes pickled with special spices. I think that’s the main ingredient of all the restaurants over here.”

Oh, is that so? Why did you look into that? Looking back at my eldest son, I had to stop at the next moment.

“Jeremy, have you grown taller?”

“Really? I don’t know. I must have grown up.”

Jeremy, who was tilting his head and touching his head with his hands, had certainly grown a little longer in the meantime. Although he was originally taller than me, I felt incredible even though I knew from a long time ago that their level of development was no different from weeds.

The sad reality that even Rachel, the smallest of siblings, will be taller than me in a few years isn’t easily accepted.

Cough….

“I’ve grown up! I’ve grown up!”

Elias, who rushed in and stood in front of me, was certainly taller. My height was about the same as mine, but now he is two fingers taller.

It’s still a long way for them to get really tall, but I guess the sad reality is that I have to look up to talk to these guys sooner or later…

“Wahaha! What do you think? I’m taller, right?”

“That’s really true. But I’ll grow further.”

“How dare you say that! But Shuri, when are you gonna grow up? You’re not gonna be this little forever, are you?”

It was amazing to see Elias, who was making a fuss about this place a while ago, pressing my head with his hands while smiling at the topic.

Oh, yeah, you guys have great genes! How great would it be if your mind grows together as your body grows?

It was then that Jeremy, who was watching Elias with a really funny look, suddenly raised his hand and hit his brother’s redhead. Elias screamed, “Argh! What did I do again?”

“When did you get cheeky to touch your mother’s head? Do you want to lose your wrist?”

“Big brother, what’s wrong with you? What have I done wrong the last few days?!”

Despite Elias’ cry, which was full of grief, I also had nothing to say about Jeremy’s outrageous, strange and subtle attitude. Even though I’m seeing it for the first time.

“I don’t like dishes that smell weird!”

“Me too! We can’t eat spicy and smelly food!”

Like countless famous resorts where aristocrats come to enjoy secret vacations not only with their families but also with government officials, luxury restaurants located near the villa had an unusual structure with curtains closed from room to room.

In a place like this, there would be no chance of getting offended by meeting with a hostile family member while having a meal at a vacation spot, or having a meal with a young government that is not an unfamiliar one and attracting people’s eyes. Of course, no matter how secretive it may be, people could know.

Anyway, like other guests, we sat around a round table as the twins began to complain.

I felt sorry for the Marquis’ cook, who would sweat blood every day to match their demanding tastes. After I go back, I’ll have to give a new year’s bonus.

“Mom, I can’t…”

“Leon, you can’t always eat what you want. To be a gourmet the way you want to be, you have to taste a variety of dishes.”

“But…”

“Don’t whine like a baby, you short-legged man. I don’t think it’s going to be too spicy.”

“You’re not touching that, brother!”

Jeremy was the only one who was acting casually in front of this unfamiliar dish that I had never seen before. Will the appetite of the aspiring knight who will become a legend in the future overcome the unfamiliarity and reluctance?

Jeremy, who was slicing off the thigh of a peacock dish with an unusual scent, suddenly put down the knife and stared at me with a strange look.

Then he immediately looked at his younger siblings with a look filled with irritation, but began to say something I had never heard before, “Dear Mother, with your permission, may I knock some sense into those who don’t know table manners?”

“Yes, do whatever you want, my eldest son.”

“Did you hear that? If you don’t want to be beaten, shut up and eat!”

There was a moment of silence. As Elias stared at both of us as if the world was ending, the twins began to concentrate on the meal, claiming that they were quite impressed by Jeremy’s behaviour when he asked for my permission.

In conclusion, the peacock dish, covered with unidentified spices, was surprisingly quite delicious that even the picky Rachel ate three plates of it.

Why was she complaining so much if she was going to enjoy it anyway?

After eating raspberry pie and drinking tea for dessert, everyone’s eyelids become heavy. We decided to go to the hot springs and other attractions tomorrow and went straight to the accommodation. Rachel, who took the bedroom with the pink curtains, eventually slept with me.

The next morning, I woke up early as a habit and left the children to sleep in and went out to see the market lined up around the hot spring with the knights.

It was expected that by the time we leave, we wouldn’t have time to even look at the souvenirs, and Elias was at the villa, so it’s very quiet. If he comes to this street where one could see the distant scenery, I don’t know what would happen.

I know better than anyone else. They are only children, but they are difficult to understand.

This is why people shouldn’t be complacent.

Oh, yeah, let’s not be that way, life is…

“Don’t be afraid, madam. I’ll risk my life to protect you.”