Chapter 7

Looking at that, it seemed that Agatha would never be a good stepmother to Carl. Merilyn is still alive with her eyes wide open, and she’s flirting with her husband, the Duke. The Duke of DeMancier turned to the fireplace again as if he was not interested in it, and Agatha seemed a little embarrassed, but soon recovered her posture.

“Oh, Carlo, what a pity.”

It seemed like she was going to show off that she had a side to be a good mother by affectionately calling Carlos’s nickname. Carlo, how unfriendly is she to Carlos, to have come up with the wrong nickname. Agatha came out in a fancy open shoulder dress, approached Carl, and his eyes sparkled.

Carl opened his arms, and Agatha hugged the baby and comforted him. In particular, she raised her head to me and made a triumphant expression. Carl seemed completely distracted by Agatha’s necklace, and the baby, born with anything in his hand, also held Agatha’s necklace. Agatha walked slightly in front of Merilyn’s bed, showing off Carl, who was still in her arms, and sat back on her bed, while Carl tucked the jewels of her necklace into his mouth.

“Ooh, buu, buu.”

“Wow, what is this! It’s dirty!”

It was different for me and Agatha to feel dirty. Agatha freaked out, pulled Carl away, and Carl, who had never experienced such a cold touch in his life, burst into tears and opened his arms to me. Coming into my arms, I soothed Carl, who was crying, and stared at Agatha frowning at the baby’s saliva-stained necklace.

“That’s why I told you not to wear big-sized jewelry when hugging a child.”

Viscountess Desmond, who once fought with Agatha over this, pointed out and did not miss the opportunity. She could not hide her savory expression, and Agatha and Viscountess Desmond stared at each other.

Since Viscountess Desmond had already stabbed Agatha with words, I swallowed my sharp words for Agatha and focused on appeasing Carl.

“Young Master Carl, good boy. Oh, you were surprised. Really? Yeah, you’re fine now, you’re fine. Shh.”

In the quiet bedroom, all I could hear was the sound of soothing Carl and his sobbing. When I hugged him, he soon touched my hair with his hand and buried his face in my arms, and I patted him gently on the back because he seemed sleepy.

“Mandy…”

Cough, and cough, Merilyn looked at me with a mournful look. The moment I saw her face, I felt hurt and intense guilt at the thought that I had not been able to see her before her death, although it was not my fault.

“Mandy, please, Carl…”

Her voice was as dry as a leaf that would break apart if touched.

“Be Carl’s mother.”

Over and over again she’d ask me to take care of him, to be his mother. This was the first time Merilyn had asked me so clearly.

“Merilyn…”

“What do you mean? Carl’s stepmother is me!”

Agatha raised her voice and forcibly removed Carl, who found peace in my arms. It happened out of the blue. At the same time, Carl started to cry again. Agatha tried to placate Carl, but the baby’s cry only grew louder. Carl, who was gentle in anyone’s arms, struggled with his hands and feet. Agatha now glared at me with the baby in her arms, wondering if she thought she would miss the Duchess position if Carl was taken away.

The child’s crying was getting louder and Carl was struggling even worse. I tried to ignore the cry, not to listen, but I couldn’t.

The baby, Carl, was crying.

“Let go of Carl, Agatha!”

My voice got louder because of Carl’s loud cry. Agatha just hugged Carl tightly without any tricks, and his struggles gradually increased. In the end, Agatha gave up Carl and I quickly brought him into my arms.

“Shhhh, you’re surprised. Everything’s fine now. It’s all right now.”

Viscountess Desmond blocked Agatha from rushing back. Fortunately, the two women did not fight here by grabbing each other’s hair. Carl came into my arms and wept sadly and clenched my hair and clothes. A small, plump hand clasped tightly and desperately. Merilyn reached for us.

“Oh, Mandy… Please, there’s no one but you. I need you, I need you.”

Merilyn begged. With her still on the verge of death, my friend grabbed my collar. I sat by her bedside again and held her dry hand. My heart beat uneasily. Carl had his face in my arms and was clutching my clothes with his hands.

How can I turn a blind eye to these two.

While staying in the Duke’s castle, Oscar’s handsome face became blurred, and the future I dreamed of became blurred. I finally promised her in the face of death.

“I promise, Merilyn. I’ll raise him like my child, but I won’t let him forget you, his mother.”

“Mandy…”

“Merilyn, I’ll give him the love you’ll give the child. I’ll be Carl’s mother and take good care of him. I’ll do my best.”

“Oh, Mandy.”

What should I say to reassure the mother who is leaving her young baby? I couldn’t say more, I closed my lips and Merilyn smiled faintly.

“Thank you, I trust you.”

Was the past time we spent together enough to reassure Merilyn? Was I trustworthy enough to leave her young son to? Merilyn closed her eyes with a smile. Just as if it was Carl that really worried her until the very end, as if she was relieved to leave him to me.

“Merilyn!”

I screamed her name at the sight of her not opening her eyes, and her doctor approached and examined her condition. Her doctor pronounced her dead. Count Petrika sighed loudly and Agatha looked around with a bewildered face. I held Carl in my arms and burst into tears. Then the Duke got up without a word and left the bedroom. I knew Agatha was chasing after him, but I let her.

The next day, the carriage of Count Petrika carrying Agatha left and Merilyn’s funeral began. A few days later, my father Viscount Ventta, my mother, and my three older brothers came to the Duchy at once.

They tried to persuade me for a long time, but failed, and the next day I and the Duke became a couple on paper. The wedding could not be held soon after the funeral of the Duchess Merilyn. The Duke’s wedding was postponed and I didn’t think he and I would be officially celebrated.

I sighed as I signed a document confirming my marriage to the Duke.

Amanda eventually became Carlos’ stepmother.

The first method. Don’t become a stepmother. Failed.