Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 138

Side story Chapter 8 “The repatriation of Princess Adela has been decided?”“Yes, someone from the kingdom will come tomorrow.”Helios said, putting down his teacup. Claudia’s eyes widened as she shoved a cookie into her mouth.“Really? His Majesty the Emperor is sending someone?”“The kingdom presented new evidence, so we had no choice but to send her.”Helios said as if it was nothing, but the empire had been rocked by the princess. It couldn’t be helped since it was revealed that the princess’s husband, who had suddenly died, had been murdered by her.“The kingdom doesn’t ask for anything else?”“They said they wouldn’t make a fuss about it if we just sent the princess away.”“Then there’s no other way.”Lenia smiled at Tiaris, who was frozen. Claudia tilted her head, not understanding.“But isn’t this a matter of the imperial family’s reputation? People will think that His Majesty has bowed his head to the kingdom.”“His Majesty has no reason to protect the princess even at the risk of friction with the kingdom.”“He decided that sending her away before things get worse is the better option.”Lenia accepted Helios’ words.Although it was not made public, the corruption committed by Princess Adela had been reported to the aristocrats.It was revealed that she had used her status as a princess to take bribes and mobilize private soldiers to dispose of those she found troublesome, and that she had contacted Gail Warland Eaton, who had been demoted to a commoner, to plot to overthrow the royal family.Escal’s testimony that he had almost lost his life after being attacked by an assassin sent by the princess after refusing her request to marry him caused a particularly big stir.The princess denied it, but the decisive factor was the check issued in the name of Adela Hastings found in the luggage of Harriet Tuffman, who was found dead in a shabby inn room.“Even if she is a traitor, she is his younger sister, so it would be neat to deal with her through the hands of the kingdom.”Helios said coldly. Tiaris, who had been listening to the conversation, clasped her hands together.On Escal’s birthday, Adela kicked the puppy doll she was playing with. What was lacking in her as a princess?Tiaris sighed, glancing sideways at Escal’s wounds visible through his torn clothes.“Anyway, it’s fortunate that it ended like this. Both of you, don’t think about anything for a while and rest.”Lenia furrowed the corners of her eyes. Escal hesitated for a moment and then carefully opened his mouth.“I have something to tell you two.”“What?”“Once this is over, I think I’ll go to Fenbury with Tiara.”“Fenbury?”Escal nodded at Helios’s question.“I also feel uncomfortable being in the capital with Tia, and I feel like I’m only causing you trouble by getting involved in something bad like this. I want to live quietly in Fenbury.”Lenia stared at Escal after he finished speaking. It wasn’t unexpected since her son had chosen to live outside before becoming an adult, but she couldn’t hide her disappointment.“What about Tiaris? Is Tia okay with it?”“Yes, I’m okay too.”Lenia let out a deep sigh at her answer, which didn’t hesitate a single bit.“Okay. Do whatever you want. Instead, let’s have the wedding here after Escal gets better.”“I’ll do as you say, Mother.”Escal readily answered. Helios, who had been silent, put down his teacup and got up.“Escal, let’s go inside and talk.”“Yes, father.”The two men left the living room together. Tiaris looked at Escal’s back and then turned her head.Claudia, who was drinking tea elegantly, smiled brightly. Just as Esfal had hinted that his younger sister resembled his mother, she had a beauty as splendid as a Duchess.“Why didn’t you say anything?”Tiaris lowered her head at the slightly excited tone. Lenia cleared her throat and continued.“I was also a Viscount’s daughter. Baron Hazel was the commander of His Majesty’s knights, but my father had no position.”“……”“The previous Duke opposed my marriage with Helios, but it made no difference, only Helios suffered.”Claudia nodded fervently and agreed. Tiaris stared at Lenia with moist eyes.“You even saved Escal’s life twice. You are the one who saved my son. Why would I oppose this marriage?”“But…”“I want my son to be the happiest man in the world. To do that, Tia needs to be by his side.”Lenia added, hugging Tiaris warmly.“Don’t worry. You are like a daughter to me.”Tears suddenly burst out. Tiaris smiled brightly with her face soaked with tears. ***** “Sit down.”Helios, who had brought Escal into the office, offered him a seat. Escal looked around the room with unfamiliar eyes. The office was filled with paperwork.Helios took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Escal narrowed his eyes.“You didn’t smoke, did you?”“It’s not that I didn’t smoke, it’s because I couldn’t. Because your mother didn’t like it.”Helios, who had made a sharp joke, got up. Escal quickly blocked his path as he started to leave the room.“I’m satisfied with Fenbury. I don’t intend to inherit the Ducal family.”“Don’t argue, just accept it. That’s for Tiaris.”Helios said firmly.“After Princess Adela is sent back to the kingdom, you and Tiaris will definitely have a wedding, and there will be all sorts of things to say. Ignore them or keep their mouths shut, but you need to be strong to protect Tiaris.”Escal quickly realized that it was advice from experience.“I’ve decided to tell His Majesty to get the property of Marquis Melks back that belongs to the imperial family. You’ll take care of that too.”“Father….”A smile appeared on Helios’ lips. He lightly patted his son’s back, who had grown up a lot.“You’re my son, so you look so much like me.”“…….”“You’ll live well because you look like me.”Escal smiled brightly.“Yes. I will live as well as father.”It was a perfect spring night.After finishing the long dinner, Tiaris returned to her room first and went out to the terrace. Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol she had as an aperitif. Tiaris cooled down and breathed in the refreshing night air.It was an unbelievably happy day. Everything felt like a dream, and she was afraid that if she closed her eyes and opened them, everything would disappear.“What are you thinking?”“.. You surprised me.”Tiaris turned her head with a hand that hugged her waist. Her hair, fluttering in the wind, tickled her face. Tiaris twisted her body slightly and pushed him away.“Someone would see us?”“What’s the problem if they see us? We’re about to get married.”Escal mumbled and pressed her hot cheek. Her breath was thick with the scent of alcohol.“Are you drunk?”“A little.”Escal nodded. It was the aftereffect of drinking all the alcohol that the Count of Tilburn had poured for her at the dinner to celebrate the marriage.So drink moderately.Tiaris sighed and turned around to face Escal. When he put his hand on her flushed face, Escal rubbed her face against his palm.“Your hand feels cool.”“Don’t get drunk. If you’re drunk, go and sleep.”“Hm.”When she didn’t answer, he grabbed her shoulders and asked again.“What were you thinking?”“I didn’t think about anything.”“Don’t lie.”The eyes urging her to answer were clearer than before. Was she pretending to be drunk on purpose? He grumbled that he had been fooled again and reluctantly opened her mouth.“I wonder if this is real.”“… Why do you think that?”“It just doesn’t feel real.”That Tiaris Hazel would become a member of the Anthemion family.At her soft answer, Escal suddenly pushed her against the railing. The moment she lost her balance and leaned back against the railing, hot, soft lips covered her.The bitter alcohol scent on her tongue blurred her vision. As she twitched her body because of the numbness all the way to her toes, Escal obediently stepped back.“Does it feel real now?”“……”How could his eyes, which were fluttering gently, be so mean? As she kept her mouth shut and glared, Escal tilted his head.“If it doesn’t, then again…”“It feels real, I’m going back!”Escal laughed brightly as she fled her body in shock.“If you still don’t believe it, I’ll make it more real.”He took something out of his pocket and said.“Give me your hand.”Tiaris hesitated and held out her hand. A ring slipped onto her fourth finger. It was a ring with a pink gem that matched her hair.Escal looked down with a smile. His face, illuminated by the moonlight, was shy like a boy’s.“I won’t make you lonely again.”“…….”“Marry me.”A trembling voice fluttered in the wind. I felt a little embarrassed by the sight of myself in his large eyes. His lips, looking up at me clearly, drew a soft curve.“The proposals are so uncool.”Escal smiled broadly and hugged Tiaris tightly.Six years old to twenty-two years old.It was the end of a long loneliness. Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

-Side Story End-