Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 92 “… What a brat.”After escorting Sirius to the front door and returning to his room, Helios let out the irritation he’d been holding in.“Come on, for someone who came here with the best intentions.”“Who cares. He’s here to scratch my back.”“Sir Peterson is more comfortable than Your Majesty’s formal sending. That’s why you went out with just one coat on your body.”“Don’t let that child stand in front of me. I’m offended.”Ugh, jealousy.Helios threw the ointment bottle that Sirius had left behind and collapsed on the bed.Tired of seeing him behaving like a child, I realized that his body was drenched with sweat.“Are you really okay? Did you have any injuries?”“No.”“But why are you sweating like this?”When I took off the robe that had been hanging loosely and put my hand on the bandage, I felt a burning sensation.“The fever is so bad, why didn’t you tell me? Since when?”“Since he applied the medicine.”“Then isn’t the medicine wrong? Hurry up and wash it off—”“No.”Helios hurriedly turned around and gently grabbed my wrist and sat me down.“It’s basically this kind of medicine. It gets better in a little while.”“You’re not a doctor, how do you know that?”“I know it because I used it when you got hurt.”“……”He said quietly.That day, even after the hidden secret was revealed, it was like a taboo among us.Helios had a hard time recalling those memories, and I didn’t want Helios to blame himself.But the way he suddenly brought it up, it was obvious he was doing this so I wouldn’t worry about him.‘Because I was very weak.’With disgust, I pretended to cover his back with a towel, pressing down on the wound.“Ugh.”“I’ll tell the maid to bring an ice bag, so wait.”“The fever will go down soon, but there is no need, ah!”“I don’t need anything, I don’t need anything. Haven’t you heard from the doctor that if you continue to have a fever, you can become inflamed and the poison can spread all over your body? Then, they had to cut out the flesh, you were stubborn about what to do.”“That’s just to scare me.”“Well, just in case, I don’t think Sir Peterson would have brought medicine if he was worried about you, so you’d better lie still.”As I pulled the string and gave him discipline, Helios smiled as if he couldn’t win.While fanning the wound to see if it would heal, Mary came running.“Did you call me, madam?”“Bring me an ice pack and some clean towels.”“Yes.”As soon as Mary left the room, she came back with what I had said.I placed an ice pack on Helios’ back and wiped his sweaty face with a towel.Helios, watching my actions, opened his mouth.“If I’d known my wife would be so sweet, I’d have hurt myself.”“You’re saying strange things again.”“Weird. I’m serious.”“Looking like you’re talking nonsense, do you think it’s worth living for now?”I rolled my eyes and pouted, and Helios teased me again.Because your love is so devoted, it’s undeserved.”“Well, I’m not even close to being devoted.”“Hmm? What’s that supposed to mean?”“Well, it means that you need to get some sleep so you don’t exhaust yourself with nonsense and I can rest.”“Okay.”Like a well-behaved child, Helios smiled faintly and closed his eyes softly.I waited for him to fall asleep, then quietly left the room. ***** “Brother, open your mouth.”“I’ll eat it.”“Don’t. What if you spill it on the duvet?”“I won’t spill it.”“Then don’t. Tia will feed you.”Tiaris, who was holding a spoon, shook her head sternly.Escal, who had been hesitating in embarrassment, reluctantly opened his mouth, and the cold ice cream slipped into his mouth.“What do you think? Tasty?”“Yes. You eat too.”“Yes.”As if waiting for those words, Tiaris scooped a lot of ice cream and put it in her mouth. The refreshing lemon scent that spreads gently hits Tiaris’ throat.Tiaris swallowed the ice cream and picked up the spoon again.“Open your mouth too.”“Ah-.”Escal wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.“I want to stop eating now.”“What’s wrong, you’ve had enough?”“I’ve been lying in bed and I’m not hungry.”“Huh. Then I won’t give it to you. Doctor said you’ll sleep well and he’ll heal you soon.”Escal patted Tiaris’s head, who was still not quite reassured.“It’s okay, I’m not hurt.”“I know. You had a nightmare last night, and Grandpa says it must be hard to have such dreams.”Tiaris said as she rolled up her sleeves.“Yes. I will eat well in the future.”Just as Escal nodded, he heard a knock on the door.“Escal, can I come in?”“Yes, Mom.”When Lenia opened the door and entered, Tiaris, who was sitting on the bed, jumped out.“Is Tia with you too?”“Yes. Oppa eat breakfast, eat medicine, eat lunch, eat ice cream!”“Did Tia help your brother to eat?”“Yes!”“It’s nice to have Tia.”Lenia patted Tiaris on the shoulder as if encouragingly, and whispered.“But, Tia, I’m sorry, I have something to talk to Escal, will you wait outside for a moment?”“Uh, yes.”Tiaris looked at Escal and left the room.Lenia, who waited for the door to close, took a seat on the chair next to the bed.“Escalium Anthemion. Shall we talk to your mother?” ***** “……”As if sensing what was coming, Escal clamped his mouth shut like a clam.I studied him carefully.The child looked a little shaken from the shock of facing the monster.I felt guilty and sorry that I hadn’t been able to give him my full attention while taking care of Helios.“Does it hurt?”“… Yes.”Escal replied, his voice completely dead.“I’m sorry for making you worry….”I came here to warn him not to do anything reckless again, but my heart quickly weakened as his face looked like he was about to burst into tears.Honestly, it’s not Escal’s fault. The only problem is that Escal is overly brave and caring…No, you can’t do this. I’ll teach what I can teach.I made up my mind again and opened my mouth.“Escal. What you did that day wasn’t wrong, but it was too risky. Do you know?”“……”“Even though it is a knight’s duty to protect a weak person, you still lack the strength and you are not good at swordsmanship.”“…….”“What would you have done if the monster attacked you straight away, or if your father was a little late? If you were hurt, it would be natural for Mom and Dad to be sad, and Your Majesty the Emperor would be in trouble.”“… sorry.”Tears welled up in Escal’s eyes as he looked at me.I was going to talk a little more strongly, but I couldn’t discipline him more.I hugged Escal quietly and stroked his back.“Do you know how surprised mother was? Never do that again.”“I won’t do that again.”The shrill cry grew louder and louder.Being too good is a disease. so why go to all this trouble to stop a demon to protect that naughty Princess?No way, Escal is protecting Princess Adela?With a sudden realization, I unwrapped my arms from around him and spoke cautiously.“Escal, are you and Adela….”“Yes?”“Oh, no. Mother misunderstood.”No, no.I shook my head as I looked at Tiaris’ hairpins on the side table. ***** “Ha….”“Why are you sighing again, is the Duke still not feeling well?”As I stopped embroidering, I sighed, and Mary, who was selecting the thread next to me, asked.I put down my embroidery and shook my head.“It’s not like that, I have a problem.”“What are you worried about? Just tell me. Let’s think about it together.”Mary asked, twinkling her eyes.Looks like she’s bored again.I opened my mouth sullenly.“Worrying about who will be my daughter-in-law.”“Yes?”Mary looked at me as if surprised.“If you don’t want to talk about it, then stop.”Oh well, I was serious.I know it doesn’t make sense that I’m already thinking about my six-year-old son’s bride-to-be, but I’m serious.“I don’t know what’s going on, but everything will be fine. Madam, no, the process was complicated, but that’s how you ended up with the Duke.”Mary soothed me.“Is that so?”“Because it is. So, stop worrying about something that can’t be solved and get back to your embroidery…”“Madam!”Merlin rushed into the terrace.I tilted my head and asked, seeing how he was bewildered.“What’s the matter?”“W-we have a visitor outside.”“Visitor? Who is it?”“That is… Her Majesty Grand Duchess Crawford and the Princess.”