CH 3

“It’s not that bad right now because I’m sitting still and applying a cold pack. Kar, you must have had a hard time dealing with mourners for me today, so why don’t you take a break?”

“I took a break from time to time, so don’t worry.”

Kardiel said and handed me a glass of water. I was a little thirsty, so the consideration was sweet.

I thanked Kardiel and looked around.

Although there were few mourners, it was too quiet. The reason was immediately apparent.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see Chelsea and Euphie. Do you know where they are?”

Chelsea is the youngest son. His full name is Chelsian Tudor Dieren, and he is eleven years old.

Euphie is a fourteen-year-old girl who is one year younger than Kar. She has a pretty name, Euphemina Sichel Dieren.

“Chelsea fell asleep after crying earlier, so I put him in his room. I told Euphie to stay next to Chelsea in case there would be an accident.”

“I see. Good job.”

Come to think of it, Chelsian shed tears throughout the funeral. Even for a father who assaulted his children, the loss would have been quite heavy for an eleven-year-old child.

In contrast, Euphemina showed no expression throughout the funeral. It was a bit of a blank look, but in other ways, it looked like she was smiling, so I wasn’t worried.

‘I’m glad Kar handled things well on his own.’

At times like this, Kardiel was such a reliable son that it was hard to believe he wasn’t an adult yet. Seeing my son, I felt proud and tapped the seat next to me.

“Then will you sit next to me?”

“That’s all right, Stepmother.”

“I want to sit next to my son.”

“…”

Kardiel sat next to me, pretending to be defeated. With that hard face, his character is really kind.

However, even though our eyes naturally faced the same direction, there was no particular conversation between us. Like Kardiel, I didn’t have a very lively personality either.

Perhaps that’s why this silence isn’t particularly awkward…

“Stepmother.”

“Hmm?”

I was a little taken aback because I didn’t think that Kardiel would talk to me first.

When I turned my gaze, my eyes met Kardiel, who was staring at me still. It seems he has been watching me for a long while.

“What’s wrong?”

“By any chance.”

When I asked, Kardiel only frowned and couldn’t speak quickly.

“It’s all right, so tell me.”

It was not until I urged him that Kardiel finally opened his mouth.

“Does Stepmother really intend to remarry soon?”

“What?”

The question was a little unexpected, so I couldn’t answer right away and blinked.

Then Kardiel continued.

“The mourners murmured that it was obvious that Stepmother would soon decide to remarry. And that whoever becomes the stepfather will have the title of Duke of Dieren. Even if that’s not the case, they said it was clear that the new child born between the two of them would be the next duke. So I…”

“Wait a minute.”

I usually don’t stop the children from speaking, but I couldn’t stand this at all. In the end, I gave up listening to Kardiel’s words.

“Who said that?”

“I don’t know that much. But many mourners seemed to expect so. Even if it’s not necessarily a group of guests.”

They must have been very determined to destroy someone else’s family. Either that, or the force of the operation to try to turn me into a wicked stepmother from a fairytale book.

‘Why are you mindlessly provoking from your lips in a house with three children of sensitive ages?’

Even if it were true, it was something that shouldn’t have been said.

I turned and faced Kardiel. Then I held the child’s hands together.

“Even so, I was going to tell you after the funeral. But yes. Now that it’s like this, Kar, I’ll tell you first.”

Kardiel was still staring at me with focused eyes. However…

For some reason, I thought I could read anxiety in those eyes.

Of course, it’s natural in a way. No matter how mature Kardiel is, he still needs emotional stability and is at an age where his guardian should be by his side.

In other words, he’s not yet mature enough to distinguish between the nonsense that people are talking about.

Maybe he thought I could abandon him and his siblings. I shouldn’t make him feel that way.

I know that at times like this, I have to answer firmly.

“To begin with, I will ensure that the Dieren Duchy returns to you in three years, no matter what.”

“…”

“It doesn’t matter what people say or how my situation changes. I have never thought of anyone but you, Kar, being the next duke.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. The next Duke of Dieren will definitely be you. If you don’t believe me, I can write you a memorandum.”

Neither I, nor my new husband, nor any child of my blood would ever have anything to do with the Duke of Dieren.

Of course, if I really write the memorandum, I would rather be providing an excuse to be checked by those around me. This is because the sentence implies the possibility that I will remarry and have a second generation.

Whether he thought that far or not, Kardiel shook his head slowly.

“No, there is no need for that. It is enough for Stepmother to say so.”

It was only then that anxiety disappeared from Kardiel’s clear blue eyes.

There was still no smile on his face, but I could see that the child felt quite well.

“But, Stepmother. What I asked was something else.”

“Hmm?”

I thought I answered correctly, but what was missing?

I was about to ask more.

Knock knock. The butler came in with a knock.

“A mourner has come.”

I didn’t know that there would still be more people to come, even if they were mourners, until the sun was up.

In any case, I sat back to prepare for the reception. But Kardiel’s forehead contorted in a flash.

‘You look displeased because you were interrupted.’

I patted Kardiel lightly on the back that meant we would talk about it later, then had the child get up. The mourner arrived, so the chief mourner should meet them.

“Who is the visitor?”

The butler mentioned an unexpected person to my question.

“It is Count Alperon, Sir Yuzef Overeem Alperon.”

My pupils dilated unknowingly.

Why is that person here?

“My condolences, Duchess. And the little duke.”

“Welcome, Sir Yuzef. Thank you for coming to see my husband off. This is Kardiel Diark, the little duke of Dieren.”

“Thank you for your condolences, Count Alperon.”

I was a little surprised because I didn’t expect Sir Yuzef to come and give condolences.

Besides, there was nothing to be said for friendship with him. Of course, regardless of the immediate friendship, mourners can visit the family they want to build a friendship with in the future.

…But suddenly, I had a strange thought.

‘I think Sir Yuzef called Kardiel the little duke before I even introduced him.’

I wondered if he was the kind of person who was prepared and polite enough to find out that much in advance.

Also, the more I see him, the more I like him. In particular, I like the fact that Kardiel was called the little duke first.

“First, I will greet the deceased and come back.”

After a brief greeting with Kardiel and I, Sir Yuzef approached my husband’s coffin for a silent prayer.

My gaze naturally followed the back of Sir Yuzef, who was dressed in black mourning clothes. Perhaps because of his clothes, he had a distinctly different image from when we met at the banquet hall the day before yesterday.

At that time, it was a very mysterious and splendid image of a fairy king, but today it feels like a calm spirit of mist.

‘Although they both have something in common in that he looks unrealistic.’

Since it was very rude to smile at a funeral, Sir Yuzef’s expression was quite different from then. A layer of a smile lifted off, and a subtle expression that was a little dry. 

Perhaps that’s why those red eyes especially captured my attention.

It’s definitely bright as a ruby, but in a way, it gives off a sinister feeling like blood…

“It seems that the madam’s ankle is still intact.”

“Ah.”

It seems that I was unconsciously distracted by Sir Yuzef. When I snapped out of it, he had already left a lily on my husband’s coffin and returned from the silent prayer.

“I am still recovering. According to my doctor, it will get better in a few days.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

After saying that, Sir Yuzef handed over a small box half the size of a palm from the accompanying attendant. The box was soon in my hands.

“This is an ointment that I used in Alperon. It’s a very effective medicine, so I brought it because I thought it might help… If you think it’s suspicious because it’s your first time seeing it, you don’t have to use it, so please accept it.”

“Thank you for your concern, Sir Yuzef.”

Having said that, it was something I couldn’t refuse. I instructed the butler to put away the box.

afterword

if Kardiel ends up having feelings for Lizelotte i will cry (#novelandmanhwatrauma) also umm idk if i’m gonna be able to keep translating this novel bc naver is so fucking stingy with their shit like wdym every chapter’s gonna be lock after completion and the only way is paying through cookies?