Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

I hid my alertness and calmly greeted her.

The Duchess Eaton looked me up and down and said.

“I really wanted to meet you once, but I’m seeing you like this.”

“Me? why?”

“Why? Rumors are spreading that Madam has done a great job for the Empire.”

The light smile was meaningful.

You know that your husband is under investigation.

“It’s a big deal, it’s a crime against children. Anyone other than me would have done it.”

“Well, the people here have nothing to do with such a low-quality academy.”

A sympathetic laugh spread across the audience.

Clank, I put down the teacup I was holding aloud.

“That’s very unfortunate.”

“What?”

“I’m sure everyone here is, but I’m very interested in children’s education.”

“But?”

“I believe that every child, not just my child, has a right to a quality education. It is also the duty of a nobleman to pay attention to a low-quality academy, as madam said.”

“There are great places in the Empire like Primus Academy. You should pay attention to an academy without such a name…”

“Only aristocrats can enter Primus Academy. Will aristocratic children lack educational opportunities?”

Anger flashed across the Duchess Eaton’s face as I took it all over.

The Countess Turner, who was sitting next to me, quietly assisted me.

“I hadn’t even thought of that, but the Duchess Anthemion is very thoughtful.”

“That’s right, education is important regardless of your status.”

Some wives agreed with me.

The Empress interrupted Duchess Eaton, who had lost face, when she tried to refute her anger.

“I had no idea that the Duchess had such a great educational philosophy. It is a pleasure to invite you.”

“I’m flattered. Her Majesty the Empress.”

The Duchess Eaton attempted another counterattack.

“Actually, I was surprised to hear that the Empress did invite madam to the meeting, but now that I hear it, I understand.”

“What did you wonder about?”

“As you can see, this group has strict membership requirements.”

She said looking around at the people.

“Children are children, but it is difficult to join because they carefully look at the background and intellectual level of their parents.”

“I see. I didn’t know.”

“If there is a difference in level, it is uncomfortable for each other.”

“Ah… Well, talking to an uneducated person is tiring.”

Some of the wives who understood what I meant covered their mouths and swallowed laughter.

The Duchess Eaton’s face turned red.

“Anyway, madam child is only six years old and has just started tutoring, so I’m a little worried that he will be on the same level as the other kids.”

“Thank you for your concern, but our Escal is smart, so it’s okay.”

“Really? So, I thought I would set up a seat for today’s presentation.”

“Today is so sudden that the child will be surprised, so I will discuss it with Viscount Espenser and prepare it.”

“Viscount Espenser?”

“Is young master Escalium’s tutor Viscount Espenser?”

When someone pretended to know, the wives began to murmur.

“Viscount Espenser never teaches any child right?”

“I think they paid a lot of money. If it’s the wealth of the Duke Anthemion, that’s…”

“Didn’t he turn down Duchess Eaton’s request?”

Maybe it’s because they’re polite ladies, and they’re excellent at talking in front of the person involved.

I asked with a grin.

“Did Viscount Espenser turn down the offer of tutoring?”

“Wh-who’s rejecting? I canceled it because my child seemed to be more suited to group life than homeschooling!”

The Duchess Eaton, who had thrown away all the culture, burst out.

As the drawing room became quiet as if cold water had been poured on it, the Empress hurriedly changed the topic.

“Now, shall we make plans for a spring outing next month?”

“Yes, that’s good.”

“Where are you going?”

The discerning wives responded quickly.

I smiled brightly at the trembling Duchess Eaton.

I felt very refreshed.

****

At that time, Escal was sitting alone in the corner of the living room, watching the children.

It was his second time with so many children.

The first memory was not very good, so Escal was a little scared..

“Are you the son of Duke Anthemion?”

Someone spoke to Escal, who was gloomy.

When he looked up, a little girl in a pretty dress was standing in front of him.

‘It was that kid.’

She was a kid who played the piano in the music room.

Adela tapped Escal, who blinked blankly.

“Why don’t you answer? Can’t you talk?”

“Oh, no. Yes.”

“What. That stupid answer.”

Adela burst out laughing.

“Are you really the son of Duke Anthemion?”

“Uh. I am Escalium Anthemion.”

“That’s right.”

Adela shrugged her shoulders triumphantly, as if she knew it would.

Then, she pressed her face close to Escal’s eyes.

… Pretty.

I thought it was pretty from the moment she played the piano, but it was even prettier when I saw it up close.

Gulp. Adela looked at Escal who swallowed dry saliva and whispered with a smile.

“The person who came with you, she wasn’t your real mother, right?”

Suddenly, my heart sank.

Escal shouted with a stricken face.

“No, that’s my mom!”

“But why don’t you look alike?”

“If you look closely, we look alike.”

“I couldn’t tell even if I looked closely.”

Adela tilted her head and continued.

“She has blonde hair and green eyes, but you have black hair and black eyes.”

“That’s because I resembles the Duke.”

“Duke?”

“Yes, Duke!”

Escal shouted in a loud voice.

Everyone who saw me said that I look exactly like the Duke, so I thought that this girl would agree if she met the Duke.

Adela raised the corners of her lips crookedly.

“Are you calling your dad Duke?”

“… Huh?”

Escal’s face turned pale at the unexpected question.

“You can’t call him daddy?”

“That… that’s not….”

“They say your father hates you, so it seems true.”

Escal’s patience was cut off at the sound of shrill laughter.

“No!”

“Oh my god!”

Surprised by Escal’s shout, Adela fell on the grass and hit her buttocks.

A big boy came running when he heard Adela’s scream.

It was a boy who recited a poem in the music room a while ago.

“Adel, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Get me up, Gail.”

A boy named Gail grabbed Adela’s hand and raised her up, and asked Escal with a stern look.

“What is this child?”

“That’s enough, Gail.”

“Stay still. Hey, what are you, yelling at my Adele and making a fuss?”

The big boy shouted threateningly. Escal clenched his teeth and responded.

“She said something to me first.”

“How dare you talk back to me?””

“Gail, don’t do it.”

Adela, worried that she would be scolded if it was known that she provoked him first, pulled Gail’s arm.

“Don’t worry, Adele. I will scold him.”

“That’s enough. There’s nothing to deal with.”

“I know he’ll be scared only when he scolded. Where do you dare to touch the princess?”

“Gail.”

“Hey, do you know who I am?”

“……”

Escal looked up at Gail with a strong spirit.

“What? What are you staring at?”

As soon as Gail’s hand was raised, someone grabbed the child’s hand.

“What kind of child..!”

Gail’s face hardened as he turned around with irritation. A man in a nice outfit said politely.

“Stop it, young master.”

As soon as the man released his hand, Gail rubbed his wrist and looked at Escal.

“I think you are lucky today.”

Escal rubbed the corners of his eyes as he watched Gail run away.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.”

“Please understand it. Because young master Gail is such a mischievous person.”

Escal silently nodded.

“I’ve never seen your face, is this your first time coming to this meeting?”

“… Yes.”

“Fighting from the first day, your mother must be upset if she finds out.”

“Uh, please don’t tell my mother.”

As the contemplative Escal begged the man, the man smiled meaningfully.

“Of course, you have to keep it a secret. By the way… Your mother will be in a lot of trouble.”

“Wh-what?”

“The young master and the young ladies here are all excellent people.”

“…….”

“But how upset must your mother be that the young master caused trouble from the first day without talent?”

The man whispered like a snake.

“If the young master has a younger brother at this rate, you may be completely abandoned.”

“……!”