I Became The Stepmother Of An Irrevocable Dark Family

Following Rere’s lead, we all laid on the bed and fell unaware into a deep sleep. We slept without saying anything, as if to express how tired we had been all day.

I heard someone entering and firewood burning from time to time. I also heard the sounds of someone organizing something, but I ended up sleeping until late in the morning because I hadn’t slept so well in a long time.

“Big-Bun-nny~ Bunny, Bunny, Big Bunny.”

I gradually opened my eyes after feeling a poking sensation in my cheeks and hearing a faint voice urging me to wake up.

“She’s up! Daddy! Big Bunny has woken up!”

“Leona, are you alright?”

Hearing a familiar voice, I opened my eyes.

“They’re open! Big Bunny opened her eyes!”

“Rere…?”

“I thought Big Bunny was dead!”

My eyelids were heavy, and I was about to close them again, but Rere pushed at them, forcing them up and down.

“Goodness. Wake up already, Big Bunny. Something is wrong with Daddy.”

“Huh? Your daddy?”

Her words prompted me to open my eyes wide.

“Where? What is wrong with him?!”

“…Weird. He’s acting weird.”

“Huh?”

But as soon as I sat up, I noticed Rere with her arms folded and puffy cheeks, and Luca, no, Ian, with an embarrassed look sitting behind her.

“I-Ian, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“See? He’s acting weird.”

Her mouth pursed like a carp, Rere glared at me and Ian with suspicion.

“Since when did my daddy use honorifics to my mom? What’s up with the way you talk?”

“But wasn’t Daddy always like this?”

“Not at all! He used to be so mean! Can you see who I took after from the way I talk?”

“W-Who do you take after?”

“I take after my daddy, of course! That’s why I know Daddy never says things like that. Why are you being so friendly? Because it’s so strange, I think my arms are going to turn into chicken wings!”

Rere stroked her arms and shook her head.

“Oh, huh?”

“Big Bunny. Doesn’t Daddy look weird to you, Big Bunny? I think he must be severely sick.”

“Huh?”

“He keeps saying no, but I’m sure he’s sick. I think I need to call the doctor.”

As I mumbled, Rere rang the little bell beside the bed. Then the nanny and the maids rushed inside.

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you need something…?”

Each of them rushed in and added a word of concern.

“…?”

Rere, Ian and I looked at them blankly in response to their overly dramatic reaction. The nanny quickly bowed her head.

“I’m sorry for surprising you. We were concerned the entire time because there has been no sound from inside for a long time.”

“Ah…!”

“I thought something was going on…”

“It’s not like that. It’s just that we slept comfortably for the first time in a long time.”

I thought my words would soothe them, but the nanny and maids paled and dropped their jaws in similar fashion.

They looked at each other and exchanged comments through their eyes, but in the end, they closed their mouths. Then, the nanny approached me slowly, her gaze fixed on me.

“Madam.”

“Yes?”

“…Raise your right hand and shake it if His Grace threatens you.”

“What?”

“There’s no way three of you slept here!”

The nanny was as serious as ever. She whispered furiously in my ear, her brow furrowed in disbelief.

I burst out laughing belatedly after mumbling for a while at her unexpected concerns.

“It isn’t what you think it is.”

“What do you mean it isn’t what I think….It’s all right. We’ll protect you if you speak quietly…”

“I slept here because I was comfortable. After all, we are a family.”

They curled their lips in an utter dismay.

“…Madam. Did His Grace cast a spell on you…”

“I’m telling you that’s not the case.”

“Are you serious? Don’t you truly hate him…?”

“Uh…that’s true.”

While I scratched my head with a chuckle, Rere jumped down and stood next to the nanny.

“See, I wasn’t the only one who thought it was strange!”

“Did you also feel the same way as us, miss?”

“I told you so! It’s strange no matter how many times I look at it. Big Bunny and my daddy. Yeah, I’m sure Daddy did something strange!”

“His Grace can use magic, too!”

“That’s right. Huh? Did you say my daddy can use magic?”

Rere finally turned her head after reacting to every word of the nanny.

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that true, though? I think His Grace can use magic…?”

“I’ve never seen him use it.”

“Really? So why did I think he’d be able to use it?”

Ian’s face brightened as he watched them. Before I knew it, he got out of bed and slowly approached Rere.

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“I know how to use magic. But I didn’t use it on Leona, though?”

“See. Did you hear him? How can he be this gentle? This won’t do. Nanny, go get the doctor right now.”

“Rere. Daddy does not need to see a doctor.”

“But I’m not fine with this! Nanny! Go now!”

“Yes! I understand!”

The nanny moved without a second thought. She scurried out as if she genuinely believed Ian wasn’t in good health and vanished before Ian could stop her.

“Ah…”
Then, Rere grabbed the Duke’s hand and dragged him back to the bed.

“Lie down here.”

“No. I’m alright. Daddy is…”

“Daddy is strange. You must be very sick.”

The Duke had no choice but to sit on the bed at Rere’s urging.

“I can’t help it if Rere says so…”

“Rere. Are you saying Daddy is weird because he’s being gentle?”

“Uung! Daddy is a terrible father. He’s supposed to say mean things and do weird stuff.”

His gaze was drawn to me. We couldn’t help but smile at each other. How long had it been since? The doctor entered in a great rush.

“Who’s sick today! My young lady or madam!? Or is it His Grace this time?!”

“It’s my daddy today!”

“Is the young lady alright?”

He walked in, sweating profusely, and sighed with relief when he saw Rere.

“I was worried you were sick, so it’s a relief.”

“But my daddy is very sick.”

The doctor naturally turned to face Ian. But Ian casually waved at him.

“A-Are you sick?”

“His head!”

“H-His head? Do you have a headache?”

“That’s not the case. It’s just…they think I’m strange for acting responsibly.”

“Ah! Come to think of it, the way you talk today is strange.”

In a situation where everyone thought he was strange, he burst out laughing without any explanation.

“Am I that strange?”

“Yeah, normally…” The doctor hesitated to speak, trying to gauge the Duke’s mood as he approached.

“Then allow me to examine you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Normally, the Duke would make a big deal out of this.”

“…I’ll do that next time.”

He deliberately frowned like the old Duke, but despite their similar appearances, he didn’t seem mean. Rather, he was awkward, like a nice person pretending to be mean. Meanwhile, the doctor examined Ian and shook his head awkwardly.

“You have no serious illness.”

“Then what’s wrong with him?”

“Hmm, ah! Maybe…”

“Maybe…?”

“I believe it was only temporary because he was recovering from illness. Given that he fell ill for no apparent reason.”

“Really? Then will he be like that for the rest of his life?” Rere smiled brightly at the doctor’s explanation.

“That’s how it usually is. Don’t you suddenly crave food and want to be nice to everyone when you get well after being sick?”

“Ah! That’s right.”

“That’s all. He’ll probably return to his usual self soon.”

“Ahh! I see!”

Rere nodded and clapped with her small hands, as if she had attained deep enlightenment.

“Okay! That’s good news. I’m not worried as long as my daddy returns to normal!”

“Please don’t worry too much. The Duke will soon return to his original self.”

“Okay, then I won’t worry.”

“May I examine your condition while I’m here?”

“I’m fine!”

Despite this, the doctor examined Rere. But, unlike usual, a smile spread across his face.

“I see. You’re perfectly healthy.”

“I told you so. Rere knows Rere’s body better than anyone. I didn’t feel hot inside today!”

“I see what you’re saying. Then I’ll be taking my leave.”

The doctor was about to leave, but I grabbed him by the wrist.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, madam.”

“Is Rere really alright? I think she got better faster than usual.”

“Come to think of it, she’s actually getting better. Please don’t be too concerned. When I examined her, she had no fever and appeared to be in good health.”

It didn’t sit well with me when I saw him in a particularly good mood. Why did Rere’s health improve so quickly? Rere would be sick for a week or ten days after she would fall ill, so I couldn’t understand it no matter how hard I thought about it.

‘Why? Just why?’

I kept an eye on Rere just in case. She didn’t have bloodshot eyes or fever, and she wasn’t trembling or listless like she usually behaved when she was sick.

‘I think I know, but I’m not sure.’

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes. Please don’t worry.”

He relieved me of my constant anxiety before he left.

“Don’t worry, Big Bunny. Because Daddy is not sick, and we’re all fine, let’s go see that.”

“That?”