I Became The Stepmother Of An Irrevocable Dark Family

Chapter 77

AD
As soon as he appeared, both of us stood at the same time. Princess Astra bowed her head almost immediately.

But she couldn’t utter her greeting because the Duke didn’t even spare her a glance.

“Why are you here?”

“Because I miss my wife?”

But the Duke seemed to be in a good mood which was probably because of Princess Astra. It was the same expression he wore on the day he trampled on Duke Arvida and Princess Astra last time.

“You’re good at lying, too.”

The Duke laughed at my remark and turned his gaze to Princess Astra.

“Princess Astra seems to be very upset with me.”

“That’s not true.”

“You don’t even greet me properly…and the way you look at me is enough to drill a hole in my head.”

“…I’m Astra Arvida, Your Grace the Duke.”

“I think you’ve become an obedient sheep now. If it were you of the past, you wouldn’t greet me immediately after talking like this.”

Astra’s face stiffened hearing the Duke’s snide remark.

Why does his attitude make my heart flutter? It’s the same Duke that I hated every single day, but I want to compliment him today.

“So what were you talking about?”

“Ah, about that-”

“N-No, please don’t say it, Duchess Petri.”

“…Wouldn’t it be better for you to talk to him in person?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Astra hurriedly waved her hands as if telling me to shut up.

“Leona. Did Princess Astra ask you for a favor regarding the investigation into Arvida Dukedom?”

Princess Astra’s face turned white.

“Th-That’s….That’s not true!”

Astra screamed even before I could answer.

“Not true, huh? I definitely told you not to mention it. I really can’t tell whether it’s you or your father who is stupid.”

Astra’s face paled whiter under the Duke’s fierce pressure.

“Since you can’t reach out to me, so now you’re ‘bothering’ Leona?”

“I didn’t bother the Duchess. And today…I’m just here to apologize so I can maintain a good relationship with the Duchess in the future.”

“Hooo…Is that so?”

He sneered at her while stroking his chin.

“Have you apologized then?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you apologized for everything you did to Rere and Leona. If you are a human who has a perfectly working brain, you should apologize first before you say anything else.”

Astra mumbled to herself then bowed her head while glancing between me and the Duke.

“Umm about that…”

“Did you call that an apology?”

“Pardon…?”

The Duke’s voice became harsher than ever.

“I’m asking you if standing upright and bowing is enough for an apology. Princess Astra.”

“……”

“This is not enough considering what you did to Rere and Leona.”

Huh, aren’t you a pot calling the kettle black? The Duke is not much different from her, but today he was especially confident.

“…How should I apologize?”

She was obviously in a very tight spot.

What in the world did the Duke do? How could he make this overbearing Princess become this meek?

“Kneel down and apologize properly.”

Hearing that, the Princess quickly made eye contact with me for a while, as if asking me, ‘Do I really have to do this, too?’

Her face trembled as if asking me if I really wanted her to do this, but it was too much even in my opinion.

How could I make a Lady of a prestigious Duchy kneel in front of me?

But she had to apologize for what she had done to us. So I smiled broadly and nodded at her.

“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. But if you don’t apologize, you will regret it, Princess Astra.”

The Duke, who was annoyed, crossed his arms and looked down at her with an overbearing expression. Eventually, she gave up her pride and slumped on the floor.

“I apologize for what I did to Duchess Petri and Princess Rebecca in the past.”

I was a little surprised since I didn’t expect her to actually kneel down.

“…Umm.”

What should I say to her?

“If you want more apologies, I’ll lower myself and apologize no matter how many times it takes. You don’t even have to accept my apologies, all I want is for you to consider what I said before.”

While I was staring at her in a daze, thinking that she looked like a completely different person, the Duke smiled next to her.

“You need to apologize more. Think about everything you did wrong and write it down. If Leona forgives you after reading it, I’ll consider your request.”

Astra, who was bowing her head to the floor, slowly raised her head.

“Then you may leave now.”

“Are you letting me go like this?”

“Aren’t you done with what you have to say? Or are you going to confess your sins here? I was being considerate toward you.”

“…Alright. Then I’ll come back soon, Your Grace the Duke and Duchess Petri.”

But there was no answer to her last greeting. The Duke only stared at the Princess’ retreating back for a long time. And when she completely disappeared, he turned toward me.

“Let’s go in, too.”

“Alright. But what are you going to do now that I already received an apology?”

“That much is not going to quell my anger. I’m sure you’re also the same, Leona.”

“But since I got an apology, I have to show her a little change too. Of course, that’s only if she writes me a letter.”

The Duke, who had been looking at where she went for a long time, reached out his hand to me.

“Leona, you don’t have to worry about anything else.”

Along with the words, he wriggled his fingers as if telling me to hold that hand.

“Ha…Honestly, you’re not doing a good job either.”

“Is that so?”

“..She’s at fault, but you’re at a bigger fault than her. Because you hurt the child more than that woman.”

His lips quivered a bit.

“…I hope you will come to your senses from now on. You have to treat Rere better. What are you going to do if a wall falls around your child’s heart, and she closes her heart on you?”

Today, I planned to talk moderately and end the conversation like usual. However, he smiled and bowed to me.

“You always worry a lot about our Little Miss, and our Little Miss is also worried about you.”

I was dazed for a moment listening to the voice that sounded different. In addition, he was referring to Rere with ‘Our Little Miss’.

“No way. Are you Luca?”

“I guess some people are pretty ignorant, don’t you agree?”

As if he was in a good mood, Luca smiled and grabbed my hand.

“Haa…seriously…I was fooled again.”

“Because I had to fool you, too. Princess Astra has a feeling toward His Grace, so I thought she might recognize me.”

No wonder it felt unfair. I kept wondering why he was so perfect today.

“You have to fool your allies to fool your enemies.”

“I really didn’t know this time.”

“Is that so? I feel good but a little sad.”

“Why are you sad?”

“I thought Leona would recognize me right away, regardless of what I look like.”

“I’ll make sure to recognize you next time. By the way, you look happy.”

“Someone remembers me, and someone is looking for me. Is there anything else that makes me happier than that?”

Luca’s eyes folded beautifully as he said that. His hands were so warm that I didn’t think they ever went cold. That’s what I thought as he led me inside.

He was the one who filled my empty heart. Thanks to him, spring seemed to have come to my heart. He made it beat so hard that I couldn’t bear to look at him. I knew I shouldn’t do this. My mind told me that it wasn’t right, but my heart continued heading for him.

The path to the room felt really short. However, there were no people on the way back, as if we were lost in our own time.

“This must be Luca’s magic, too.”

“Do you not like it?”

“No, it’s just…there’s only the sound of our steps and breathing here.”

For some reason, hearing those sounds made me embarrassed, that’s why I tried to change the subject.

“By the way, Luca.”

“Yes.”

“The flower crown…It’s Luca who put it in my room, right?”

He slowed down our pace at my question.

“Luca is always sweet.”

“I want to be sweet only to Leona.”

“You’re sweet enough, Luca. Wasn’t it Luca who always caressed my cheeks sweetly? Last time, and this time, too…?”

Luca just smiled at my question.

“Huh? So it’s true?”

“Do you know that you’re getting thinner?”

“Me…?”

“You don’t sleep well at night, do you?”

“No. I think I’ve been sleeping very well…”

“You toss and turn a lot at night. You won’t get quality sleep that way.”

“I don’t even know that….but you know it well…”

Finally, Luca stopped.

“I want to know more about you, Leona. What do you think of me? Am I the only one who has these feelings? I want to know it all.”

“I…”

“But I will endure it for now because I’m afraid I’ll be greedy if I know that. I will endure what I want to know and try not to force my heart to you.”

Why are your eyes so sad?

“…Luca. As for me…”

“…Yes.”

His voice trembled a little.

“I like Luca.”

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