Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Chapter 3- I entered the stepmother’s body (3)

I don’t know. I have Mildred’s memories, but I don’t know if she clearly remembers all that happened in her life. I can’t even remember my life so vividly, even more so others.

I picked up the bread and began to munch on it. I have to do the laundry today. In order to live more efficiently in this large mansion, unused rooms should be closed and places that can be used to break in should be barred.

“It’s not good for four women to be living alone.”

I said and sighed. Also, just in case, I told the children

“You guys, don’t go anywhere or if you do, tell me where you’re going. It’s only the four of us in this house.”

Iris nodded in understanding; Lily didn’t seem to understand but agreed. And Ashley is—

“Why?”

She looked as if she didn’t know. Why? Wouldn’t it be dangerous if the news that four women who lived alone in such a big house reached a bad guy’s ears? I wish I could be sarcastic, but I remembered Ashley was just 17 years old and that this was a fairytale.

She was the protagonist of the fairytale. I know, I can’t imagine anything would go wrong with that. Suddenly, I was envious of Ashley. Anyways, she’s going to be rewarded after all these troubles.

I, on the other hand, wouldn’t be. There was no sign that the sun would someday shine on me who was struggling with a meager salary and paying monthly rent and credit cards. Thinking about that made me more tired.

Well, Ashley doesn’t know that she’s going to marry the prince.

“There are many reasons”

I used a fork to take some salad. It’s a good thing that vegetables are cheap. This world’s diet is great for constipation. Bread and meat are the main food while vegetables are used as decoration or a light garnish.

This large house also had a greenhouse, but it was all ornamental. Furthermore, Mildred wasn’t interested in landscaping or floriculture, so she had no intention of going to it.

I think it was also the same with Fred. When Mildred came into the house, the greenhouse was almost full.

I ate the salad and explained to Ashley why it wasn’t good to tell people that there are only four women living in this house. Lily, although she didn’t quite understand still nodded, opened her mouth and listened to my explanation.

Maybe this is what I have to do.

I thought about Ashely and Lily both making an expression that they learned something new. Mildred wanted to marry Iris and Lily to a man with a good family. Of course, in the fairy tale, I know the story doesn’t go according to her wishes.

If there is a god in this world, that bastard must have put me in Mildred’s body to save her and her children. But I don’t know what that means for me.

I sighed and picked up the salad bowl I was eating. I remembered that in Mildred’s memory, she doesn’t eat any vegetables at all and that it was only the poor people who ate vegetables.

Well, meat is more delicious.

“Eat the salad too”

I used the tongs to put some salad on the children’s plates. You have to eat it all. Iris and Lily had a distorted look on their face.

As I secretly glanced, Ashley didn’t look so good too.

“It’s crispy and delicious.”

I thought it would help, but it didn’t. Lily scrunched up her face but stopped when Iris struck her with her elbow.

I hesitated for a moment and then spewed out a compelling reason to eat vegetables.

“It’s also good for constipation.”

Silence reverberated through the dining room. Iris and Lily stared at me with their eyes wide open. Well, it wasn’t good to talk about that in front of food, was it?

But the next moment, Lily started eating the salad. Iris too.

The crisp crunching sound of the vegetable was heard. When I turned around, Ashley was eating the vegetables on the plate. What? Did you have constipation too?

I bowed my head grinned. It’s like this. This world’s diet is good for constipation.

After eating, we went upstairs and dusted the furniture, then we went out into the town. White cloth should be placed on the furniture of unused rooms but in order to do that, we would have to put off going to town tomorrow. And because of the invitation to the ball, it was clear that the dress shop and haberdashery would be the places to go.

Let’s do the urgent things first.

I changed my clothes and left the mansion with the children. We all then proceeded to go down the hill. The mansion was on the outskirts of the capital. There is a horse, but in order for two or more people to ride it, a carriage is needed. And the house didn’t have a carriage.

Mildred used to ask Ashley to drive the carriage if she needed to go out for something. Afterall it’s cheaper than hiring a coachman.

“Mother, have you ever been to the town?”

Unlike Lily and Ashley, who excited ran forward, Iris stood by and walked next to me. Ashley may be unaware, but it has been a long time since Iris and Lily went to town.

And Mildred….

When did she ever go to town?

I was puzzled and searched through Mildred’s memories. I think the last time was before Fred went to travel. Oh my god. So, she’s been cooped up in the mansion for over two years?

Although the mansion was spacious, there were only twenty people who lived there, including the servants. Mildred has a temperament that is undisturbed. But, only a week and there and I was already going crazy.

“It’s been a long time”

In retrospect, there was no guarantee that Mildred’s temperament wouldn’t be strange. I thought, as I inattentively answered Iris’ words. All I knew was based on the memories taken from Mildred’s perspective. For others, Mildred may be strange enough.

“Mother, look!”

Lily, who was up ahead, pointed her finger and exclaimed. I could see the figure of the buildings standing tall at the foot of the hill. As we went further down, we could see the houses surrounding the shopping street.

The castle can be seen in the far distance across the town square. However, the castle can also be seen from our home.

Mildred remembered seeing the castle’s display of fireworks from their home. I told the children not to get too excited.

“Both of you, don’t go running around on your own. Understand?”

There wasn’t much time left in the day. Young ladies, no, it was dangerous for teens about to turn into a woman to be going out alone. Ashley and Lily quickened their pace, but Iris was till walking beside me.

“Buy now! It’s Cheap! Cheap fish!”

“Come get these fresh vegetables!”

The marketplace was in the very center of the town. There were still quite a few people even after lunch. There must be many tourists since this was the capital. Or the people also came her like us to quickly buy some cloths and fabrics for clothes.

I can also see many people like us around. Such as this couple of a girl who looked the same age as Iris with a woman who seemed to be her mother.

Somehow, I felt that Mildred wouldn’t like this present situation very much. She was the wife of a wealthy baron, and had always had people from the clothing stores come over to their home. She had only personally gone to the stores on her own, once or twice before her marriage.

But right now, I’m here to get the children’s dresses made, not mine. I thought about that and went to find the children. Iris was next to me, but Lily and Ashley were far away.

“Mother, Do you want me to call them?”

Iris asked. I stopped and worried for a moment. It would be rather inconvenient for the four of us to be walking at the same time because there were a lot of people. Plus, we still needed to walk a little further to get to the alley where the clothing store and fabric shop was.

I think it would be fine to let them roam free for a little while.

“It’ll be alright if it’s just us two.”

Hearing my words, Iris had a strange expression on her face. How come? I looked back at her questioningly, and she asked,

“Do you want Ashley and Lily to get along?”

What did she mean? I stared blankly at Iris. At the age of nineteen, she was similar in stature to me. At this rate, she’ll grow taller than me. Should I then take and wear Iris’ clothes?

I poke while moving aside to avoid being run over by the people.

“If possible.”

“Possible…Is it?”

“She’s your sister anyway. There’s nothing bad about being friends.”

“But Ashley….”

Iris stopped. I looked at her again. What was it this time?

Somehow, Iris seemed to be unhappy that Ashley and Lily are close. What should I do about it….I stopped for a bit and waited for Iris’ next words. Then something suddenly came out of nowhere and bumped into me.

“Ouch!”

In a blink of an eye, I was pushed down. What the hell was that? I was surprised that I couldn’t feel any pain. The next moment, I could hear Iris calling for me.

“Mother!”

I heard someone running. Oh, wait. I’m feeling a lot of tingles. Don’t tell me I got hit by a car?

It shouldn’t be. There are no cars in this world. I don’t know, maybe it was a carriage. I don’t know if it was a carriage but I’m worried that I might have been crushed by a carriage.

I wondered if I was in a fairytale where there was a madman driving a speeding carriage in this road full of people and screamed in surprise when Iris had caught me.

“Ouch!”

It hurts. Only then the pain surged into me. As I stumbled down the ground, I had scraped both my legs and palms. Oh, Good Gracious. My hands hurt so much that I couldn’t muster up any strength.

“Mother, Are you alright?”

Iris didn’t know what to do and tried to help me get up. A lot of people were passing by, so I shouldn’t keep sitting in the middle of this busy road. I knew that but my body wouldn’t move.

Someone passed by me and shouted,

“Excuse me!”

Excuse me? Did you say excuse me? Are you a dick? The rush of anger dissipated my pain for a moment. I raised my head to find Iris suddenly standing up before me.

“You!”

Iris was angry on my behalf. She ran, grabbed the man the man who had ran past me and yelled.

“If you bump into someone, you should apologize!”

“Then, Sorry!”

“Are you kidding me? Was that an apology?”

Huh. I was dumbfounded as I watched what was happening. Iris was arguing with someone.

Her personality was no joke. Somehow, I felt very proud. Mildred would have gotten angry at her screaming and arguing with a man because it wasn’t lady-like. But not me, I’m different.

Yes, that’s how it should be. If a polite motherfucker tries to run away, you must chase it and beat that slippery bastard.

I saw Iris holding on to the getting angry man and I gathered some strength. I staggered and tried to get up from sitting.

Then a big hand helped me get up from the ground and said,

“I’m sorry.”

What did he say? The way he spoke made it more pleasing than the other man’s apology. I suddenly turned my head to look at the man who helped me. A man in his late twenties stood there and supported me in his arms.

“Are you all right? I’ll pay for your medical treatment.”

What are you talking about, son of a bitch? Besides, you, would pay for the medical treatment? Though I didn’t think I’d take the offer because of that attitude. I did not like his condescending tone. I spoke, trying to get out of the man’s arms.

“You, do you know me?”

“What?”

The man’s eyes widened. I spoke again, trying to shake off his hold on me.

“I, no. Who are you talking down at? I’m still young.”

Strength really matters. Although I struggled with all my might, the man held on to me tight. He looked at me with a flustered expression, as if he didn’t know what to say and quickly released my arm.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but then closed it and began to stare at me.

Oh, Damn it! I forced my hand to lift up and tilt my clothes. My clothes are completely messed up. As I fell, not only did my dress get dirty but it had also been caught up in a jagged stone and was ripped.

The underskirt seemed to have also been torn. Otherwise, I don’t think I’d be feeling my knees burn.