Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 93 “Who is here?”“Her Majesty, Grand Duchess Crawford and the Princess…”Grand Duchess Crawford, and Princess?I questioned my ears and asked.“If it’s the Princess… She is an eight-year-old girl, right?”“I don’t know the exact age, but she looked a little older than the young master.”If it looks a little bigger than Escal, it’s definitely Adela.Viola, who is five years older than Escal, would never use the word “a little older” to describe her.Why do you come all of a sudden without even contacting me?… I’ve done it a few times myself.A headache rushed over me, and I rubbed my forehead, then pulled my hand away and pushed myself.“Take them to the drawing room right now… No, I’ll go. Did you tell Helios?”“I knocked, but it seems that he’s sleeping, so I told madam, first.”“Then go and wake him up and tell him to get ready slowly and come to the drawing room.”“Yes, madam.”“Oh, he doesn’t have to be perfectly prepared. Do you know what I mean?”“Yes.”Merlin, who was quick-witted, hurriedly left the terrace, and then I got up.“Mary, bring refreshments to the drawing room. One for the children.”“Yes.”“Oh, where is Escal?”“If it’s the young master, he and Tiaris were in the garden earlier….”“What?”Damn, haven’t they already met?“Do you want me to bring him in?”“Uh…”What do we do.It was odd that anyone would question their friendship since they were still children, but given the Empress’s personality, it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.Not too long ago, she secretly called Viscount Espenser to inquire about the relationship between the two children, so I don’t know if she’s completely dispelled her suspicions.“Tell him to come into your room. Send Tiaris to the outbuildings.”“Yes.”Mary hurriedly ran out of the terrace.I stood in front of the mirror, hurriedly checked my dress, put on a shawl, and ran out to the front door.Three carriages stood in front of the front door. One was a carriage bearing the Imperial coat, and the other two were packhorses.As Merlin had heard, Grand Duchess Crawford and Princess Adela were standing in front of the carriage.I flew down the stairs and greeted the two of them.“Welcome, Grand Duchess. Princess.”“How are you, Duchess?”“I have been well, thanks to you. If you had sent word, I would have come to see you.”“The Duke of Anthemion is not well, and I should not trouble him. It’s not a big deal, so I came quietly.”Grand Duchess Crawford smiled softly.The atmosphere, which had never been experienced before, was embarrassing, but she assumed it was because Princess Adela was with her and acted casually.“How did the Princess come together?”“I begged my aunt to come.”Princess Adela answered boldly.Perhaps because of her braided hair, her sharp eyes were even more bitter today.Asked Adela, who was looking at the entrance to the front door the whole time the Grand Duchess and I were greeting each other.“What about Escal? Is he okay?”Yeah, that’s the only reason she came all the way here.“He’s okay.”As I answered, maintaining a poker face, Adela nodded her head in relief.Just when I thought it was going to be a troublesome meeting, I saw the tail of Tiaris running away from a distance and running to the annex.Princess Adela’s head turned towards Tiaris, perhaps even noticing my shaking eyes.“I-I’m glad that the Princess seems to be in good health. It’s hot too, so please go inside. I have tea in the drawing room.”“Let’s do that.”I quickly took the two of them into the mansion.Princess Adela entered the mansion and looked around as if looking for Escal.I pretended not to know that and led the two of them to the drawing room.Refreshments prepared in advance were laid out on the drawing room table. Grand Duchess Crawford, taking a sip of tea, spoke.“How about the Duke’s body?”“He’s okay…”No, I don’t know the purpose of the visit yet.“—It is what he said, but it’s not good.”“Tsk, what does the doctor say?”“If you overdo it, the monster’s poison can spread, so you have to be absolutely stable.”“I’m glad it’s over, though. I heard from the Empress that it was a very frightening creature.”“The doctor said he was lucky too.”As I added, the Grand Duchess clicked again.“A monster on Your Majesty’s hunting grounds. What on earth were the Imperial Knights doing, I wonder.”“Who would have expected a monster to appear in such a place in broad daylight?”“Aren’t the imperial knights supposed to predict? Had it not been for the Duke, there would have been a major misfortune for the Imperial family.”“It was, but…”I frowned and glanced at the Grand Duchess’s gaze.“As if all of them deserved to be hanged for dereliction of duty, Your Majesty is really soft because it’s only a three-month pay cut.”Grand Duchess Crawford raised her voice.Normally, the Grand Duchess would have been angry at the Emperor’s carelessness, who went hunting without receiving proper escort, but it seemed that she did not do this because of Princess Adela.“Sirius said it wasn’t common, but I’m worried about how His Majesty will handle this…”“You’re here, Grand Duchess?”A familiar voice interrupted the Grand Duchess’s words. It was Helios.As if Merlin had conveyed my story properly, Helios was wearing a thin shirt with a see-through bandage and not hiding his messy hair.“Duke Anthemion?”The Grand Duchess looked quite surprised at the look of Helios, who had become noticeably haggard.Helios opened his mouth with a grin.“I apologize for not being there to greet you.”“No. I’m sorry for bothering sick people.”Grand Duchess Crawford motioned for him to sit down, and Helios staggered and took a seat next to me.From his pale complexion to his labored gait, he was obviously seriously ill to a stranger.‘Where was the person who washed up and ate well this morning?’I looked at him with a worried expression on my face, admiring Helios’s acting skills, and he gripped my hand firmly and spoke.“What is your purpose in coming here all of a sudden? And then the Princess….”“I have brought a message from Your Majesty. Originally, Count Grenier was supposed to come, but the Duke would be more uncomfortable, so I said I would come.”“Say it.”“Your Majesty is saying that he will pay a great reward to the Duke.”Having said that, the Grand Duchess called the attendant waiting outside the drawing room.The monks brought some large and small boxes and set them down on the table.“What is all this?”“The Duke saved His Majesty’s life, so he deserves the reward he deserves.”Grand Duchess Crawford presented the Emperor’s letter and a small jewelery box. The purple velvet box wrapped in gold leaf was very luxurious.“Open the box first.”Helios was handed the box with a somewhat burdensome look.A lot of hesitation was smeared in his hands as he opened the box, as if he had guessed what was inside.Carefully opening the box, the decorations inside shimmered and glowed.“This…”It was the Royal Hastings Order, in which only those who made great achievements among the royal family were honored.“When the Duke’s health is restored, His Majesty will summon the Duke to the Imperial Palace and award him the medal.”“The Royal Hastings has never been bestowed on a nobleman before.”“The Duke will be that precedent.”“How am I supposed to receive a medal that even the Grand Duchess hasn’t…”“If there was a problem with the procedure, I would have objected first.”The meaning of the words was so unsettling that the Grand Duchess continued to speak while contemplating the conversation.“Thanks to the Duke’s killing of the monsters, not only His Majesty, but also the Empress and the Prince and Princesses were able to survive, so you deserve it. Your Majesty is preparing a separate reward, so please look forward to it.”Helios, who even checked the Emperor’s letter, spoke with difficulty.“Thank you, Her Highness.”“There is nothing to be embarrassed about as it is a reward for the achievements of the Duke.”The Grand Duchess, who almost carried a medal in Helios’ arms, opened the remaining boxes one after another.In the box were foods that are said to be good for the body, precious medicines, clothes to replace the torn hunting clothes, a large and strong bow, a large amount of magic stones, and a medicine bottle filled with dragon’s blood.“People will come as soon as the date of the award ceremony is set. I will tell His Majesty that the Duke is not in good health, so it is better to take the time to rest.”“Thank you, Grand Duchess.”Helios answered briefly.Just as I thought that they would go back after finishing the business, Princess Adela, who had been silent the whole time, opened her mouth.“B-but where is Escal?”