Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 122 “My God, how in the world you didn’t realize you’re having a baby!”“I think I’m not feeling well because I’ve been so busy these days….”“If you weren’t feeling well, you should have gone to the doctor right away, you could have been in trouble.”Mary, who came in with a hot towel, chirped and nagged me.“If even one thing goes wrong, huh, just thinking about it…”“Mary.”Mrs. Rotney gave her a stern look, and Mary finally shut her mouth.For some reason, I think she’s more afraid of Mrs. Rotney than I am, since we grew up together.While Mary wiped my hands and feet with a warm towel, Mrs. Rotney held out the medicine.“What’s this?”“It is a medicine that stabilizes the baby. Take it straight.”The smell alone made me nauseous, but I couldn’t resist the silent pressure behind Mrs. Rotney’s smile.“Ugh.”When I forcibly drank the whole cup, Mary popped a dried fig into my mouth as if she’d been waiting for me.“Now, lie down on the bed quietly. Don’t even think about moving.”“I-I have a lot of work to do, I also have to organize the box Count Tilburn brought and I haven’t been able to check all the letters…”“Don’t tell me you’re doing work with that body! No, stay still and lie down!”Mary raised her voice as she grabbed me as I was about to get out of bed.As I looked at Mrs. Rotney with a gaze begging for help, unable to resist, and she spoke softly.“The doctor says it’s early in your pregnancy and the baby is unstable, so you shouldn’t push yourself at all. I know it’s frustrating, but just think of it as resting for the baby for a while.”Apparently she’s not on my side.It seemed like a pile of things to do, and the thought of lying down made me feel frustrated, but I had no choice but to do as Mrs. Rotney said.A baby.I carefully placed my hand on my belly.It didn’t feel real because I hadn’t expected it, but it was heartwarming to think that a new life was growing inside me.“Isn’t it amazing?”Mrs. Rotney asked me as I stroked my tummy.“I don’t know… I don’t even feel it.”“It was like that at first time. When I was in the midst of severe morning sickness, I hated everything. However, as the time passed, I became more affectionate.”Mrs. Rotney, who took the towel from Mary, wrapped her hand around my hand and continued.“So, Madam, you need to put your worries away and take it easy. When the mother is healthy, the child is healthy, too.”“I see.”“The Duke should have heard this news, too. It’s good to see how happy he will be.”“I know, right. Shall I tell the butler and send him a letter?”I waved my hand at Mary’s words.“Later. I don’t want to bother him now. And if possible, I would like to speak about it directly.”I wanted to let him know by looking at Helios’ face, not the letter.I’m so curious what kind of expression he will make when he hears this news.“That would be nice. He said he’ll be back soon, so you can keep it a secret and tell him when he gets here.”Thankfully, Mrs. Rotney recognized my heart. I brightly curled my eyebrows.“Then we’ll be off then, so you can get some rest, and I’ll bring your meal to your room.”“Thanks.”As Mary and Mrs. Rotney opened the door to leave the room, I saw Escal pacing in the doorway, his back turned to me.“Escal?”He must have heard me, because he stuck his head through the crack in the door.“Can I come in?”“Of course, come on in.”At my beckoning, Escal stiffened and entered the room.His expression wasn’t very bright. Maybe it was because he was shocked that I suddenly collapsed, or he seemed shocked by the news of my pregnancy.“Escal. Mom has something to say to you…”“My sibling, you’re having a baby?”Escal blinked and asked.The unusually quick-witted child tried to pretend nothing was wrong, but he could not hide the anxiety that had spread all over his face.It was uncomfortable to know that the anxiety was not caused by simple jealousy. This was especially true because he might also feel alienated among his half-siblings.I grabbed Escal’s hand and spoke to him affectionately.“Escal, mother didn’t give birth to Escal, but I’m still Escal’s mother. Right?”“… Yes.”“Even if mother gives birth to Escal’s younger sibling, it doesn’t change the fact that mother is Escal’s mother and Escal is the eldest son.”Ah, I wish he’d been around to say it.“So, even if Escal has a younger brother, you will always be mom and dad’s first son. You know that, right?”“Yes.”The shadow on his face was then erased. I hugged Escal as hard as I could.  ***** I miss you, Helios.Helios, how are you?Me and Escal are doing well.A few days ago, Count Tilburn brought the dragon’s blood and I’m sending it to you.I hope you don’t have to use it, but I’ll keep sending more so you don’t run out.I’m also sending you food supplies, as I think you’re running low, along with some clothes.I heard that the western border is much colder than here, so dress well and always take care of your health.I’ve put in plenty of medicine, so if you get hurt, get treatment on time, and if you need anything more, tell the person who brought you this letter.Helios, I have many things I want to tell you when I see you.Please come back to my side soon and in good health.I always miss you.I love you, Helios.Your Lenia. “…….”Helios sat on a rotted wooden lamp post, re-reading Lenia’s letter.His eyes watered as he read the words, each one carefully scribbled.“… I love you too.”As Helios kissed the word I love you, he put his hand on his waist out of habit and stopped.‘Oh, I lost it.’It’s been more than ten days since I lost the pouch that Lenia had made, but my hand was still pointing towards it as usual.Helios, staring at the empty waist with a bitter expression, folded the letter neatly, put it in his inner pocket, and got up.Dustin, who was cleaning up the food supplies and blood of the dragons on the six carts, stopped working and approached.“Duke.”“I heard Count Tilburn sent dragon blood.”“Yes. It should be enough for half a year if we use it sparingly.”“They sent a lot.”Helios smiled bitterly and glanced at the crates being unloaded from the cart.“It seems that food and medicine are more than a month’s supply.”“It was slowly running out, but I’m glad. Calculate and distribute it accurately.”“Yes.”Dustin, who was instructed, left.Thanks to Lenia’s support, who always arrived when supplies ran out, the battlefield was running smoothly. Still, this boring battle had no end in sight.“It’s a monster!”Another shout came from not far away. Helios shook his head with a look of boredom.Some knights unloading their luggage from the carriage applied dragon blood to their swords as if they were used to it and ran towards the monster.‘They don’t even get tired.’Now that the food has arrived, the monsters who smelled it will be riding for a few more days.Compared to when I first came, the number has decreased considerably, but there are still some of them who attack whenever they have a chance, so I couldn’t be relieved.‘I don’t know when I’ll be able to go back.’In my mind, I wanted to throw it all away and go back to Lenia, but I had too many things on my back to do that.Helios closed his eyes as he watched the people rebuilding the ruined house.Aside from the Emperor’s orders, if the knights are withdrawn now, the western border, which has barely calmed down, will become a playground for monsters again.It was not easy to turn away from those who cringed at the sound of the creatures’ cries but could not abandon their homes.‘Maybe I’m being played around by His Majesty’s intentions.’With a bitter feeling, he placed his palm near the inner pocket where Lenia’s letter was placed.“Is there a monster again?”“—You have come.”When he turned his head to the sudden voice, the knight commander who had gone out to contact the Emperor’s private secretary, approached with a grim face.“Is he asking you to come back?”“His Majesty hasn’t spoken yet.”“He probably didn’t even give me an answer for military support.”“… I have no.”As if he had become a criminal, the knight commander looked at him. Helios rubbed his face harshly.It’s been that way ever since, so I’m not disappointed.“I’m sorry. I didn’t ask for more details, because I was talking with the secretary, and I was afraid that words would spill over to the Marquis.”“I understand.”After all, it was the Marquis Melks who planned all this, not the Emperor.Helios clenched his fists.“How about going up when this place is cleared up to some extent?”The man spoke carefully.“Your Majesty only told you to kill the monsters, but he didn’t give any further instructions, so he won’t blame the Duke. I will stay here.”“I can’t let the Imperial Knights take care of it.”Helios spoke with cold eyes.“Not yet, I will bear it. Until my patience allows it.”