Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

“Get up.”

I held him by the hand, hesitating to respond to his confession.

Up until last night, all his fingers that were smooth without a single wound were in a swelled state.

“Lena.”

Helios, who called to me with a friendly voice, gently wrapped my lips with his soft lips. We share hot breath again and again.

After a deep kiss, Helios looked at me.

Thousands of emotions melted when I saw his faint smile.

I’m not the real Lenia Evelyn, so I brace myself not to be mistaken by this feeling, but it’s not easy.

It was the first time someone loved me so blindly, so I wanted to respond to his earnestness.

I gently grabbed his hand caressing my cheek and smiled faintly.

Helios didn’t get my answer, but as if that was enough, Helios smiled.

Afraid he’d know my racing heart, I pretended to be calm and turned around.

“It’s so pretty here. Too bad I’m the only one who sees it, if Escal here… … .”

“Lena.” He raised his voice a little. “Let’s not talk about anyone else.”

“… … .”

“Today, I want you and I to think only of the two of us.”

If I’m stubborn, his antipathy towards Escal will only get worse.

“Alright.”

Satisfied with my answer, Helios smiled.

“Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”

“… … I promise.”

The winter wind that came in through the door shook the flower stalks. Paper petals that fell in the wind fluttered beautifully.

Helios hugged me tightly once again.

It was no longer cold.

* * *

Merlin Strang, the loyal butler of the Duke of Anthemion, was very satisfied with the atmosphere in the mansion, which has become so softly in recent times.

Having dedicated himself to the dukedom for several generations, he was deeply saddened by the gloomy atmosphere in the mansion after Helios’s marriage.

Helios, who was blunt but affectionate, became more sensitive, and Charlett Melks, who was neglected by her husband, took revenge on the employees whenever she had spare time.

As a result, most of the employees could not stand it and either left the duke’s mansion or tried not to be seen as much as possible by the former duchess.

However, when Lenia became the hostess, things stabilized again.

“Madam said she will raise my salary by 10%!”

“She gave me a full month’s vacation.”

“She even changed our uniforms and bedding to new ones. If you need anything, just tell me.”

The maids, who couldn’t breathe under the previous rude hostess, now gathered around to praise Lenia.

Merlin also liked Lenia, although he didn’t say it out loud.

Helios, who had been suffering from insomnia, was more stable since she came here.

“Buy whatever Escal needs. Use the budget allocated to me for his expenses.”

The benevolent hostess paid special attention to her stepson as well.

In fact, Merlin guessed that Lenia would hate Escal.

Isn’t it strange that she likes the son of a woman who stole the man she loves?

But his expectations were pleasantly wrong.

“I won’t forgive those who treat Escal badly.”

Lenia loves Escal more than his biological mother did.

Until then, no one took care of Escal, although he himself felt sorry for him. It was because he was afraid that he would anger the duke.

However, when Lenia publicly defended Escal, the employees also began to treat him as a young master.

‘Now, he’s the only one who has to open his heart.’

Merlin stopped his thoughts about Helios’ cold attitude towards Escal. Standing in front of the office, he knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Merlin entered the office after the servants around left.

“Did you call me, sir?”

“Yeah.”

Helios, who was reviewing the documents, raised his head.

“Find out what the admissions process for Dillua Academy is like.”

“Dillua Academy, you mean the educational institution that trains soldiers?”

“Yeah.”

“Why there… … .”

“I need to get Escal into the Dillua Academy.”

Merlin’s face turned pale in an instant.

Dillua Academy was a place to train low-ranking soldiers, and it was like an orphanage where children who had nowhere to go were.

To get the son of the Duke of Anthemion into such a place… … .

Merlin replied calmly, “It is a place where the commoners go. Most of the children of noble families attend Primus Academy… … .”

“Isn’t Primus Academy only accepting admission to children over the age of ten?”

“It is. But sir, if it’s because of the education, let’s find a competent tutor—”

“You don’t understand me.”

tuk. As he put down his quill, Helios said, “I want to keep Escal away from Lena.”

“Your Grace, madam cares about him very much.”

“I know. That’s why I will send Escal.”

“Please reconsider. This is something that is not only about you but also about the honor of the duke.”

“Merlin, do you think I called you to discuss this with you?”

“… … .”

Merlin lowered his head at his cold tone.

Helios is not a master who bullies his employees, but he is also not generous enough to employees who crossed the line.

But Merlin thought he had to stop him this time, even if he would be fired for this.

“If you want to separate the two, why not send the master to the Marquis of Melks instead?”

“You’re talking nonsense.” Helios’ voice filled with anger.

Realizing that he had made a mistake in his haste, Merlin bit his tongue.

After Charlett Melks’ sudden death, the Marquis of Melks publicly criticized Helios for persecuting his daughter.

Later, while rumored that Helios had conspired with Lenia to poison Charlett Melks, he insisted that Escal be nominated as the heir to the Duke of Anthemion.

By the time Helios, who had been focused on finding Lenia, found out about it, his and Lenia’s reputation had already been damaged.

If he sent Escal to the Marquis, it was obvious that only conflict would arise.

Helios did not point out the frivolity of the butler.

“I don’t want to talk about this more. As soon as possible, check the Dillua Academy admissions process and report to me.”

“Your Grace.”

Merlin tried to dissuade Helios one last time, but Helios was adamant.

“Stop. Get out of here.”

“… … I will take your orders.”

* * *

“Whoo.”

Merlin walked out of the office and wiped his face from the cold sweat.

He said yes to Helios’ coercion, but had mixed feelings.

Throwing the Duke of Antemion’s only son in a place where even a low-class aristocrat won’t send his child, isn’t this tantamount to not naming Escal as his successor?

“This is a big deal.”

“What’s the big deal?”

Merlin’s face grew white when he heard the soft voice, and then raised his head hastily.

“Ma- ma’am.”

On the other side of the hallway, Lenia was looking at Merlin with her head tilted.

Merlin, who was trying to make an excuse, couldn’t find a place to look and lowered his eyes.

Lenia, who was looking sideways at the closed office door, nodded silently, asking him to follow.

She moved to a study where there were few people and asked bluntly, “Now tell me. What’s going on?”

At the calm but sharp question, Merlin swallowed dry saliva.

“Did Helios make you do anything difficult?” Lenia asked again.

“It’s nothing.”

“I don’t think so.”

Merlin let out a long breath after realizing that she would not back down easily.

He wondered what he would do if he accidentally separated Helios and Lenia because of his answer, but Lenia may be able to break Helios’ stubbornness.

He spoke frankly about what had happened in the office with a glimmer of hope.

“The duke said that he will send the young master to the Dillua Academy.”

“Dillua Academy? What kind of place is it?”

“It is a place where children from poor families attend… … You can think of it as a training center that trains lower-end soldiers.”

“A place to train commoner children to become soldiers?” Lenia asked, tilting her head.

“That’s right. Despite the name of the academy, it is not a suitable place for children of noble families to attend.”

“Why would he want to send Escal there?”

“That’s the only place where the young master can enter because he’s still young.”

“Then we can send Escal somewhere else after he is a little older, right?”

“I think it would be better to do what Madame said, but… … .”

Merlin looked into Lenia’s eyes and paused for a moment.

Lenia, noticing the hidden meaning in his words, frowned.

“Helios gave the order stubbornly.”

Merlin added cautiously,

“Yes. His Grace was asking me to hurry up and find out the admission process, and the academy clearly doesn’t want to miss out on a talented person like the young master, so once we start the process, it won’t take long to enter.”

“I’ll talk to Helios, so please find out as slowly as possible. For now, it’s just between you and me.”

“Alright.”