Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Author: Byuon

… I mean, this guy sometimes makes weird words that I can’t handle.

“Oh, thank you for the words. Helios.”

“Thank you for everything.”

Helios grinned and bit the nape of my neck.

Oh no. I have no energy.

I quickly turned around and got out of his arms.

Then, pretending not to notice the disappointed gaze, I spoke naturally.

“Have you been to the Imperial Palace? Did you make any progress in the investigation?”

“… Ah, well.”

A slow reply came out of Helios’ mouth as he took off his coat.

What? What happened?

It was an attitude that was not like the usual Helios, in which he talked about who he had met and what he had done before I even asked.

Helios hesitated and opened his mouth when I looked at him with a puzzled mind.

“I think Baron Rockefeller was attacked.”

“Attack? What do you mean? Wasn’t he in jail?”

“Well, His Majesty ordered the Baron to be detained in the mansion until the charges were high, but the charges were established….”

“So?”

“Last night, on the way back from the investigation, a strange man attacked the Baron’s carriage, killing the coachman and seriously injuring the Baron.”

“Did they catch the culprit?”

Helios shook his head.

“It was so late, so there must have been no witnesses. Baron Rockefeller was the only witness, but they said he was seriously injured and I don’t know if he’ll ever be able to recover.”

“Who is….”

I couldn’t hide my disappointment at the unexpected news.

There are a lot of things to find out by interrogating Baron Rockefeller.

Where did the Baron spend all his money, where did the children who disappeared from the academy go, who ordered him to do it, and so on?

He was suddenly attacked without any important facts being revealed.

If Baron dies suddenly, there is a high possibility that all the questions will be buried together with the Baron.

Who did that?

Since he had bought so many grudges, it was difficult to pinpoint the culprit.

Maybe the blacksmith is trying to get revenge on his son… It’s not, is it His Majesty the Emperor?

He must have been trying to silence Baron Rockefeller’s mouth…

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Ouch.”

As if he knew what I was thinking, Helios flicked his finger across my forehead and smirked.

“Don’t think in vain. The knights are looking for the culprit, so they will be caught soon.”

“But what if the Baron Rockefeller investigation goes wrong like this? What should I do then?”

“Even if the Baron dies, the ledger remains, so the investigation can continue. So don’t worry about it, just take care of yourself.”

Helios concluded the story by saying it lightly as if it was not a big deal.

It’s not a big deal, but seeing that he went to the palace early in the morning and only came back now, it means that the matter is serious.

Helios says he will continue the investigation even if the baron dies to reassure me, but if the baron actually dies, the emperor is likely to cover up the work secretly.

After all, Grand Duchess Crawford will have to make some progress in the investigation…

“Yes, Your Majesty heard that you are hosting a banquet.”

“Did Your Majesty the Emperor know?”

“Well. I think Your Majesty the Empress is telling him. He asked why I didn’t send him an invitation.”

“So? What did you say?”

“I don’t know because it’s my wife’s job, but I said I also haven’t received an invitation yet.”

“Oh my.”

Helios smiled innocently at his generosity.

I don’t know what the emperor meant to say to Helios, but the fact that the word spread to the imperial palace means that Viscount Espenser’s advice to make them proud of receiving the invitation worked.

And that meant that there was a high probability that this banquet would be a success.

“I really need to prepare well.”

“You’re still doing good enough.”

On the other hand, Helios quietly kissed my forehead.

****

“The tablecloth here is wrinkled, iron it again!”

“Has the orchestra not arrived? I said they had to get here before the guests arrived!”

“”You need a set of cutlery. Check it out quickly.”

This is a war, not a banquet.

Even after confirming that, the shortcomings continued to stand out.

I sighed as I looked at the red sauce on the skirt of the maid carrying the food.

“Merlin, instruct all employees to change into clean clothes before the guests arrive.”

“Alright, madam.”

It was only after running around until my feet hurt, that I was ready enough to not be caught off guard.

Minor flaws were still visible, but I couldn’t trouble the servants who were exhausted even before the banquet started.

I finished the inspection at that point and headed to Escal’s room.

“Escal, can I come in?”

I knocked on the door and heard a rustling and the door opened.

Escal, who was fixing the suspenders, saw me, put his hand on his belly button and folded his waist in half.

“Good morning.”

What a cute boy.

I stroked Escal’s hair lightly.

“Did Escal sleep well?”

“Uh, yes.”

The boy’s face hardened slightly as he nodded. The maid, who was serving his clothes, quietly spoke.

“It was his first time appearing in front of people, so he must be nervous.”

“Ah.”

Seriously, I’m also so nervous, but what about Escal?

I didn’t say it was an important day, but he seemed to notice that it was different from the usual day because the atmosphere in the mansion was unusual.

I fixed Escal’s suspenders and said kindly.

“Escal, you know it’s the Duke’s birthday today, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, a lot of guests will come later to celebrate the Duke’s birthday.”

“Um, yes.”

“When you see a guest, you should say ‘Hello, nice to meet you’, and when someone talks to Escal, say ‘I’ll come and ask my mother’ and call me. Understand?”

“Yes, got it.”

As if my encouragement had given him courage, Escal replied bravely.

“Okay. Escal will do well.”

After stroking the cheek of the handsomely grown boy, I asked the maid.

“Make sure to take care of Escal’s meal, and it’s crowded outside, so please stay with him until guests arrive.”

“Yes.”

“See you later, Escal.”

I gently waved to Escal and left the room.

The next place to go was Helios’ office.

Helios, who celebrated his birthday, was locked in his office as soon as he opened his eyes as if it was no big deal.

“Helios, I’ll go in.”

Carefully opening the office door, Helios, who was tying his tie, turned his head.

“Are you changing clothes?”

“Um, how much time do you have left?”

“About three hours left. Turn around and look this way. I will do it for you.”

I fixed Helios’ tie with a careful touch. He was stunning even though he only changed his shirt.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“What kind eyes do I have when I see you?”

“Didn’t you look at me with eyes that couldn’t stand it because I was so cool?”

I’m going crazy.

I’m not from this world, so I hold on, if someone hears such an unfamiliar sound with that face, no woman will fall for it.

I replied with a glare.

“It’s your birthday, so I’m holding it.”

“Then bear with this.”

“What… Ah!”

Helios, who suddenly pulled my body and kissed me, without even having time to prepare my heart.

He skimmed his lips skillfully, and my body was sweet at the feeling of digging into his mouth.

I’m glad I didn’t get my makeup done yet. I almost got it removed.….

“Hey, Helios!”

As I pulled myself back, startled by the touch of his hands poking through the laces of my dress, he whispered softly.

“Are you used to it now? There is room to think differently.”

“Don’t do that! Guests will be arriving soon.”

“Okay. Then just a kiss.”

Helios smiled mischievously and bit my lips again as if he had written a big favor.

‘… It’s his birthday, so I’m holding on. It’s his birthday.’

With that in mind, I put my hand around his neck.

****

After checking that Helios had changed clothes, and finally checking the banquet hall, I headed to the dressing room.

As I sat in front of the vanity in the gold dress I had matched in Madame Floren’s dressing room, Mary started putting on makeup.

Originally, the white skin was painted white, and pink powder was placed on both cheeks to make it lively.

After applying bright red rouge to the lips and arranging the eyebrows, she drew the line with black ink.

Well, it’s worth tolerating the smell of eggs.

The make-up went very well, probably because of the egg mask on my face a few days before the banquet.

Lenia’s face is pretty even without makeup, but today is a special day, so I had to pay more attention than usual.

I hate to say that the Duke of Anthemion is possessed by her beauty, but being ridiculed for saying that such a lowly woman is the Duchess of Anthemion is far more fatal to the Duke’s reputation.

‘Better jealousy and envy than sympathy and contempt.’

I stared at my reflection in the mirror and burned my will to fight.

“It’s done, madam.”

Mary, who finished my makeup with a skillful hand, smiled proudly.

I handed Mary a gold coin and got up. Just then, Merlin knocked on the dressing room.

“Madam, the carriage has arrived.”