Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 106 “Did you say that the iron fence on the western border was damaged?”“That’s right. Your Majesty.”“”Was it the work of the immigrants?”“It does not appear to be the work of humans.”The Emperor’s aide, Count Grenier, laid out a request from the western border on his desk.“Reports say that one of the border guards was killed, but his body was badly damaged.”“It must be a monster.”The Emperor glanced down at the request. The request included a brief summary of the case and a statement asking for assistance.“How many troops do you propose to send to…”“Is it necessary?”Count Grenier’s hand stopped as he was about to write the order. As if to ask if he’d heard correctly, the Emperor added bluntly.“The people of the western border are used to monster raids, it’s not the first time this has happened to them, I’m sure they’ll handle it well.”“But, Your Majesty, a monster appeared in the hunting grounds not too long ago, and Sir Peterson predicted that the time for the monster to rampage was near, so sending volunteers just in case…”“Let’s leave it alone for a moment.”The Emperor said coldly.“It’s not certain yet, so if you make a fuss about sending soldiers, only the public will get confused. So far, the monsters that inhabit the western border have never caused any damage to other territories, but it seems that they are overreacting to a few monsters.”Count Grenier swallowed the words he was about to say and shook his head at the sound of his uncomfortable feelings.“All right. Then I will tell them that there is no military support.”“Don’t say it like that—.”“…….”“A monster has appeared in the capital and is in the process of resolving the chaos, so it will take some time to prepare the volunteers, so please wait.”“… Yes.”“Go back.”Count Grenier left the office with heavy strides.The Emperor, looking down at the request placed on the desk, frowned with disapproval.His head hurts just from working at the Imperial Palace, but they asked him to take care of the incident that occurred in the countryside.“Tsk.”He clicked angrily and leaned back deep into the chair.Nothing ever went as planned.The nobles tried to catch up on every occasion, and the commoners only begged him to do this and that when they had time.No one seemed to fully understand their plight.Of course, the one that bothered me the most was Helios Anthemion.‘Should the Duke of Eaton be reinstated?’He clenched his chin and fell deep in thought.If Helios rejects his offer, he has no choice but to bring Anthony Eaton back. But if that happens, the backlash of the already talkative nobles will be huge.Even if he could, he doubted that Prince Frederick would be able to handle a group of nobles.My head is complicated and I can only sigh, but the servant knocked on the office.“Your Majesty, Marquis Melks is asking for an audience.”‘Marquis Melks?’The Emperor’s brow narrowed slightly.“Tell him to come in.”When permission was granted, the Marquis Melks entered the office.“I see Your Majesty.”“What’s going on?”“Strange words have come to my ears, and I have come to ask your Majesty about them.”“A strange word?”“Is it true that the Duke of Anthemion refused to marry his son to the second princess?”Marquis Melks, who opened his mouth carefully, looked into his eyes.Instead of answering, the Emperor gave a displeased expression, and the Marquis lamented in an exaggerated voice.“If it’s true… How could a mere Duke turn down His Majesty’s proposal?”“I heard that Escal was still young and it was a burden.”“It is nonsense. It’s not that you want them to get married right away, but he’s making excuses about age. Even if you ask a passing villager, they will say that it is impossible.”Marquis Melks vomited.“It is a rude statement, but Your Majesty has given the Duke too much.”“Hm.”“By giving a man as arrogant as the Duke so much power, could it be that he is taking advantage of Your Majesty’s generosity to infiltrate the Empire with his people and disturb the peace?”“… Is that true?”“It is true. Anthony Eaton was also told that he was being watched by his men. The conversation I have now with Your Majesty may well reach the Duke’s ears sooner or later.”The Emperor’s face lit up. After listening to the words of Marquis Melks, there were a few suspicious things.Helios knew the news inside and outside the capital faster and more accurately than anyone else. Sometimes even the Emperor himself didn’t know.“When a person rises to a position that does not fit, his true nature will be revealed. I’m worried that Your Majesty seems to be overly fond of Duke Anthemion, but eventually….”The Emperor clenched his fist.Although he did not completely believe what the Marquis had said, it was clear that Helios was making fun of him.But his guilt was not clear enough to punish him.Marquis Melks spoke again as he was contemplating how to do this.“How would you like me to ease your anxieties?”“… Marquis?”“Yes. God will do everything in his power to make your wishes come true.”-Like last time.Marquis Melks muttered meaningfully and took a letter from his bosom. It was a slip of paper that the Emperor had sent him not long ago.The Emperor swallowed dryly, realizing that the Marquis’s offer was both cooperation and blackmail.“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.” ***** “Escal, how about this doll? Isn’t it cute?”“… Yes.”“Escal, I think this book is a new swordsmanship. Would you like to read it?”“… Yes.”“Escal, this Sword Frog looks very cool. Shall we try it once?”“… Yes.”Ha.As I wandered through the biggest general store in Kingston, looking for things Escal might like, I put down the Sword Frog in my hand.It had been nearly a week since Tiaris had left, and Escal was still grieving.I thought that buying a toy would make him feel a little better, so I took the reluctant child to Kingston, but to no avail.“Is there anything you like?”“I like it all.”Escal replied weakly.I looked at the child with sad eyes.After reading the letter Tiaris had left, he stayed in the room and cried the whole time, I felt sorry for him and the cheeks that had become noticeably thin for a few days.No matter how scary first love is, how can a seven-year-old suffer from a love fever so badly?“Tell me if you want anything, huh? Mom will buy you everything.”“… No.”Escal shook his head, saying he was out of his favorite sword and shield.How can I free his mind?We went to the doll shop, the bookstore, and even the general store, but Escal’s mood didn’t seem to be getting any better.We ended up leaving the general store empty-handed without buying anything.“Should we head back home?”“Yes.”With his shoulders drooping, Escal nodded his head indifferently.I thought it would be a waste of time to look around, so I headed to the carriage with Escal.Escal, who got into the carriage, was just fiddling with a handkerchief as he had when he came.It was the handkerchief that Tiaris gave as a birthday present.‘It would have been better if I they said goodbye.’It seemed that the wounds were bigger because he couldn’t even organize his minds and parted up overnight.In my mind, I wanted to tell him that I would take him to the place where Tiaris is right away, but the problem was that I didn’t know where Tiaris went.Seeing that the knights who followed to escort the two did not return even after a full moon had passed, it seemed that they would settle down somewhere far away.“… Mom.”“Yes?”Escal, who was looking at the handkerchief, suddenly called me.“How can I meet Tia?”“Uh, that’s…”I stammered, feeling embarrassed..‘It must be difficult to meet for a while.’As Baron Hazel had feared, it was safe not to see each other as long as the Emperor did not cast his suspicions aside.This means that it will be difficult for him to meet Tiaris until Princess Adela is engaged to someone else.But I couldn’t be honest with the child who was already depressed.“If Escal eats well, smiles and is happy like before, we’ll see her soon.”“Really?”“Yes, really.”As I nodded vigorously, Escal stared at me. His face was exactly like Helios. ‘He looks like me. Leave him alone.‘How can I leave him alone? He’s skipping meals and crying.’‘It’s not going to be resolved if you comfort him. He should be sad enough and brush it off by himself.’‘How did you brush it off on your own?’‘I couldn’t. So I found you.’ … It may not look like that.It was an unwelcome prediction for me, knowing how difficult Helios was.Helios is a grown man, and Escal is only seven years old.I felt sorry for him, knowing he had to deal with the pain of heartbreak at such a young age.“Don’t be too sad. Mom will make sure so you can see Tia again. Huh?”“… Yes. I won’t be sad anymore.”Whether or not he believed my promise, Escal nodded his head brightly.I’m relieved to see that he’s feeling a little better.“Hey!”“Hey!”The carriage overturned with the loud roar of horses.