Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

The Emperor nodded deeply.

Count Turner calmly made his decision.

“Defendant Anthony Warland Eaton, as a Duke, has committed unspeakable sins to satisfy his personal greed, and has harmed others to cover his crimes.”

The Empress turned her head in dismay.

Even as a choking pressure filled the room, Count Turner did not lose his composure until the end.

“Therefore, this tribunal condemns the accused, Anthony Warland Eaton, to life imprisonment.”

“……!”

“We also strip the accused of his title, demote his wife and children to the status of commoners, and confiscate his Ducal estate to the exchequer.”

Decapitation wasn’t the best punishment for what he’d done to Escal, but it was heavier than we expected.

Holding the trial in such a public place had set the stage for the punishment.

The Duke of Eaton, who had been contemplating, raised his voice to the Empress.

“No, that’s nonsense, Sister! Please stop it! This can’t be!”

The Empress wiped away her tears and got up. But the Emperor did not look back at the Empress leaving her place.

As the guards dragged away the rowdy Duke of Eton, the Count of Turner struck his gavel three times.

“This concludes the trial.”

****

The central square where the trial ended was still noisy.

Parents who had lost their children were uproarious, unhappy with the verdict, and several nobles were busy discussing the implications of what had happened.

I stared at the blacksmith’s complicated face, who was watching the trial in a corner of the square, and then I looked away.

While the soldiers cleared the courtroom, Helios was talking with Count Turner, who presided over the trial, at the Emperor’s call.

The Emperor returned to the Imperial Palace after the conversation and Helios came to me.

“Lena.”

“You’ve worked hard, Helios.”

There were many ups and downs, but I was just happy to know that months of hard work had finally come to an end.

I smiled up at him, feeling elated, and Helios smiled back.

“You did well too. Escal.”

Helios patted Escal on the shoulder and bowed his head to Grand Duchess Crawford.

“Thank you for your help in many ways, Grand Duchess.”

“This is the only time I am helping the Duke. Don’t forget that I took the side of the Duke even though you went against Your Majesty’s will.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And…”

Grand Duchess Crawford lowered her voice.

“For the time being, lower yourself and refrain from going outside. This is advice not only for the Duke, but also for the Duchess.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Helios bowed his head politely.

As Grand Duchess Crawford said, it was unclear how this event would affect Helios.

It was well known that Helios made some kind of deal with the Marquis of Melks.

It was an inevitable choice to get back Escal custody, but it was also true that a person with investigative powers should not do it.

In particular, it was advice to take care of yourself, especially if you offended the Empress.

“I’ll leave then.”

The Grand Duchess, who gave the advice, turned around.

“Go back safely.”

We saw her off and climbed into the carriage, avoiding the attention of the nobles.

‘This must be noisy for several months.’

It would be strange if it wasn’t noisy now that the Empress’s family had been blown away.

“Don’t you have to go into the imperial palace?”

“Well. I told His Majesty that I am taking a break for a while.”

“Does Your Majesty say anything?”

“Outwardly. It’s better than treating the whole imperial family to be blamed for taking care of something like this.”

“That’s right.”

And maybe it was a good thing for the Emperor.

He’d saved himself a headache by getting rid of the Duke of Eton, who hadn’t realized how high up in the sky he was.

“All I need to do is catch him, Harriet, but I don’t know where he is.”

“Since the Duke of Eaton has become like that, he will be caught sooner or later. Don’t worry.”

“Yes. It will be as you say.”

Helios smiled and whispered in a soft voice.

“Then I don’t have anything to do now, so let’s go on a date…”

“Oh! Viscount Espenser was supposed to come in the afternoon! I’m late! Come on in.”

“… Okay.”

*****

After the Duke of Eaton’s trial, the Empire was in turmoil for a while.

The Emperor wanted to impose strong punishments on the aristocrats involved in the case, but the aristocrats were fiercely opposed to the Emperor’s decision.

Because there were too many people involved, punishing them all would make a big hole in the internal affairs of the Empire.

After a long tug-of-war, the matter was finally settled by finings the aristocrats whose names appeared on the ledger.

And as soon as the disposition was announced, rumors were heard that the Empress and the Emperor had a great quarrel.

Everyone else received light punishment, but her younger brother was deprived of his title and sentenced to life in prison, so it is not unreasonable to feel unfairly.

The problem was that Helios was the one to blame.

‘The mistake was made by her younger brother, so why did Helios make a fuss?’

It was also heard that the Empress wanted to publicize the deal with the Marquis Melks, but fortunately that did not happen.

Anyway, it’s best not to get involved, so don’t go near the Imperial Palace for the time being.

The Honor Society or whatever it is hasn’t been held since Escal went missing, so I don’t get to see the Empress.

‘I’m lucky, I don’t have to go to those places.’

I took him to a place that didn’t suit him because of my own greed, and suffered so it’s not enough to reflect deeply.

“Madam.”

As soon as I raised my head to the sound of the knock, Mary poked her head through the crack in the door and said.

“The doctor is here.”

“Oh, I’ll come.”

Today was the day that Escal’s bandages were removed.

The wound was almost healed, but I was worried about what to do if there were any aftereffects.

‘It should be fine.’

I struggled to shake off my anxieties and entered Escal’s room.

The doctor was removing the bandage with a careful hand.

The arm, which had not been used for a while, had lost its muscles, and was thin enough to be bare.

“Can you move your arm?”

“Yes.”

With the bandages off, Escal slowly bent and straightened his arm.

“Is it hurt?”

“No. I think it’s fine.”

Escal, who was moving his arms around, nodded.

“That’s good. The bones seem to be well attached.”

“Then can I hold the sword now?”

“As long as you don’t move too aggressively, you’ll be fine.”

With the doctor’s permission, the child grabbed the sword from the wall as if it were a shrine and left the room.

“Escal, be careful not to get hurt!”

“Yes!”

It was good thing.

I smiled warmly as I watched the child rushing to the garden.

After the treatment, the doctor asked, while packing a bag.

“Is Madam alright?”

“Of course. I’m alright.”

“I checked to see if there’s any way to get rid of the scar, but it’s not a normal scar, so I don’t think it’s going to be possible to get rid of it, but this one is…”

“What do you mean, it’s not a normal scar?”

“Yes?”

At my question, the doctor stopped his hand with a bewildered look on face.

“What about the scar on my back? Do you know what caused it?”

“That is… I, I didn’t cure it, I don’t know.”

“Didn’t you say it’s not a normal scar?”

“That, that, that, I mean I don’t know how to treat it because my knowledge is shallow. Then we will go.”

The doctor who refused to answer hurriedly ran out of the room.

‘What’s wrong?’

I stepped out into the hallway, rubbing my hands over my hard-to-reach back. Merlin, carrying the mail, held out a letter.

“Madam, the letter has arrived.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I received the letter and looked at the envelope. The sender’s name was written on the plain envelope.

‘Grace Evelyn.’

“Huh?”

It was a letter from Lenia’s mother, Viscountess Evelyn.

I hurried back to my room and checked the letter.

The envelope contained seven sheets of stationery.

To my beloved daughter Lenia.

Lena, how are you?

It’s been a long time since I wrote to you.

After marrying the Duke of Anthemion, I have never heard from you, so I am writing to you out of curiosity.

.

.

.

My mother’s letter was full of concern for me and Escal.

Hearing the news of Escal’s disappearance, she wanted to visit, but she couldn’t. She was worried when she heard the news that I was injured, and even apologized for not being able to stop the sudden visit from my father.

There was no resentment or blame for my indifference in not contacting her after my marriage, so I feel more apologetic.

‘I should have visited once.’

I put down the letter and sighed bitterly.

The truth was, ever since I’d taken an arrow to save Helios in the magic stone mines, I’d felt like ‘me’ and ‘Lenia’ had become one and the same.

It felt like Lenia’s feelings had been transferred from time to time before, but this time it was more certain.

It was as if I had become Lenia Ivelyn, Lenia’s memories and emotions naturally melted into me.

As if an arrow had touched a scar and unsealed it.

‘Die!’

The identity of the woman in the dream was still unknown.

‘By the way, I have to write a reply.’

I was guilty of being out of touch for so long, I didn’t even have the face to reply.

‘If it’s my mother’s personality, I’m sure it’s fine.’

While fiddling around with the letter and contemplating replying, there was a knock at the door.

“What are you doing?”

“I was reading a letter from my mother.”

“Your mother?”

Helios saw the letter in my hand and opened his mouth.

“Shall we go see your parents?”