Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 113 Autumn in the Duchy had come quickly, and within days the leaves had turned red, coloring the castle and grounds.My hair was fluttering in the cool breeze. I brushed my hair and picked up my mug.“You must catch a cold.”Mary put on coat and said anxiously.“It’s okay.”I shook my head at Mary and took another sip of tea.Training was in full swing today at the gymnasium. It was not a daily training, but a full-fledged training equipped with armor and a sword.“Again!”Helios’s voice echoed through the training center, accompanied by the clash of swords.It was a scene reminiscent of a real battle, like a battle between gladiators.Mary furrowed her brows at the sound of chirping and the sound of metal hitting her ears, said Mary.“I heard that a recruitment notice was posted in the central square in the name of the Duke.”“Yes. I heard that the troops are not enough, so we are recruiting them.”“You’re not preparing for war, are you?”“If it’s war, it’s war.”“Really? Where is there a war?”Mary opened her eyes wide as if surprised. I sighed and shook my head.“It’s a monster.”“Ah…….”Then Mary, who understood what I was saying, put on a relieved expression on her face.It was two months ago that a monster appeared in a nearby estate.They quickly ravaged the village, looting food and goods before fleeing.There had been three or four of them, but they hadn’t been prepared for them, and the damage had been done.Mrs. Rotney had said that no monsters had ever appeared in the Duchy of Anthemion, but this was not a relief.It would soon be winter, the time of year when monsters are at their worst, and when they plague the entire empire.“You don’t think they’ll show up here, do you?”“They might.”“Then what do we do?”“I don’t know. Do you want to pack an evacuation bag or something?”I joked to a pale Mary.It’s the Duchy of Anthemion. Helios is well prepared, so it may be okay, but the estate that doesn’t take precautions will suffer a lot of damage.‘It would be better to issue a warning all over the Empire as soon as possible.’I cringed at the fact that the Emperor, who shouldn’t be unaware of this, hadn’t taken any action yet, but I shook off my anxiety, figuring he was probably moving quietly so as not to stir up the populace.I stood up, trying to ignore the throbbing wound on my back.“I’m cold. Let’s go inside.”“Yes.”While Mary was packing the tea set, I entered the room first.Training was coming to an end, and I was thinking about bringing towels to the gymnasium.“Madam!”Mary, who was cleaning the teacup from the terrace, hurriedly ran into the room.“Why, again?”“Outside, they’re here !”“Who is coming?”“Th-the knights who followed Miss Tiaris!”“Now?”“Yes, I saw them through the gates a while ago.”“I see.”I grabbed the skirt and ran outside.As Mary said, I could see the knights who had gone to escort Baron Hazel in the distance.And Helios, who heard the news of his arrival, was also coming this way with Dustin.“Duke.”A knight standing in the front saw Helios and jumped off his horse.He looked very haggard because he came back after almost two months, but his appearance went beyond shabby, and they all had big and small wounds.Helios, who carefully counted the number of knights, frowned.“Why are you alone?”At Helios’ question, the knight who was the captain fell to his knees.“We were ambushed by Harriet Tuffman.” ***** When Helios arrived at the Duke of Anthemion.“Grandpa, where are we going?”Baron Hazel, who left the Duke of Anthemion, was wandering the Empire aimlessly.Since he had left without a destination, he expected the wandering to be long, but finding a place to stay was more difficult than he thought.There were three conditions the Baron had in mind.A place that was free of demons, safe for Tiaris to live alone, and free of pursuit by the Emperor’s soldiers.But no place seemed to fulfill all three conditions.‘I don’t know where to go.’Baron Hazel sighed.Tiaris, who was looking at her grandfather like that, pulled Baron Hazel’s hem.“Grandpa?”“Hmm? No, nothing like that.”“Then why are you sad?”“I’m not sad, I’m just thinking about something. Don’t worry.”Baron Hazel smiled hard and stroked Tiaris’ small head.Traveling for nearly a month without a home, even in a carriage, was not easy for a grown man.But the child, who had gone from living in luxury to being a vagabond overnight, never once flinched.‘If I see a suitable place, I should just settle in.’The Baron decided to let go of his greed, examining Tiaris’s face, which had grown pale.“Baron, would you like to come out for a moment?”The knight knocked on the window and said. Baron Hazel stretched his neck and looked out the window.There was a small path through the dense forest. The road was well maintained, but it was too narrow for a carriage to pass.“Is there a detour?”“I asked the neighbors, but it would take three days to get around the forest.”“We’d better get off and walk. Tia, let’s get off.”Baron Hazel got off the carriage, dropped Tiaris out of the carriage, and took the pack from the carriage.“It’s been a long journey, and it’s time to say goodbye.”“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”The man asked with a puzzled expression.“I’m sorry for delaying the schedule because of this old man. If we’ve come this far, we’re in no danger, so you can go home in peace.”“The Duke asked me to come and help you get settled in.”“I would not go to such trouble just because I have some connection to the Duke of Anthemion.”Baron Hazel politely declined.“You should go back to your own house. All I can say to Duke Anthemion is thank you.”“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”In response to the worrying question, the Baron silently carried the pack on his shoulders.Tiaris, noticing what was going on, held the Baron’s hem with his luggage in both hands and bowed her head.“Thank you for watching over me. Goodbye.”Tiaris, who finished greeting bravely, followed her grandfather.The knight watching the two disappearing into the dark forest clicked his tongue. The moment they turned their body back with an unpleasant feeling.“Ahhh!”At the scream of a child, the knights reflexively drew their swords and ran into the forest.A familiar man was swinging his sword at Baron Hazel. The Baron, who could not pull out his sword in the sudden raid, struggled to block the attack with his luggage.“Harriet Tuffman!”The knight who first recognized the identity of the assailant quickly fired an arrow.The arrow flew away from the target, but Baron Hazel, who had a moment to catch his breath, threw down his pack and grabbed his sword.“Everyone with me!”Harriet Tuffman’s shout brought the ambushers to their feet. Baron Hazel shouted to Tiaris, who stood dazed in the center of the forest.“Tia, get to the carriage!”“Ahh!”The thug who had been brawling with the knights grabbed Tiaris by the arm. Baron Hazel plunged her sword into the back of his hand.“Argh!”A nearby knight quickly shoved Tiaris, freed from the thug, into the carriage.Relieved, Baron Hazel sheathed his sword and swung it in earnest.The path turned red with each movement of his hand.They outnumbered him, but they were no match for his skill.Realizing that the battle situation was unfavorable, the assailants removed their tails one by one. All that was left was Harriet Tuffman.“You fucking old man.”Harriet Tuffman, who gave a hateful glance, threw a dagger around his waist.“Ugh!”The Baron, with the sword stuck in his thigh, put out the sword, enduring the pain. The sharp tip of the sword pierced Harriet’s left eye.“Ugh, damn it…!”Harriet, who had lost one eye, staggered and ran into the woods. Several knights followed him.After confirming that the situation was over, Baron Hazel grabbed his thigh and sat down.“Baron!”“I am fine. Go back to the duke and tell him about this.” ***** “So, you just left the wounded baron alone and came back?”“He told me to go back because he said it was more dangerous for him to stay with us because he would be seen and…..”Helios clenched his fists.It looked like he had a lot to say, but it was difficult to blame the knights because they were so messed up.“You don’t even know where he went?”He said he’d be fine wherever he was, and not to look for him.”“…….”Helios, forcing down his anger, finally spoke after a long moment.“Dustin, prepare the messenger.”