Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 130 After the bitter winter and stormy spring, it was summer again.We returned to the Duchy after rejecting the disapproval of the nobles, putting all our worries aside and focusing all our attention on the baby to be born.As the birth date approached, not only me but also the employees of the Duke’s castle were in a tense state.To prevent an accident, the hallway was carpeted in three layers, and going up and down the stairs was dangerous, so we decided to stay on the first floor until the baby was born.Helios was still busy handling the rush of work, but whenever he had time, he stayed by my side and took good care of me.“….. ♩♫♫♪♬♩♩”I lay at an angle on the couch off to one side of the music room, watching Helios playEvery time a long finger passed over the keyboard, a beautiful melody flowed out.The rustic yet warm sound of the piano, the gentle breeze coming through the open window, and the feel of a soft child in my arms.A pleasant sense of sleepiness enveloped me. I stroked Escal’s hair, who had fallen asleep against me, and closed my eyes.“…….”The clear piano sound gradually faded away, and then suddenly the surroundings became quiet.Suddenly, the sound of a chair being pulled echoed in my ears. But the heavy eyelids did not open easily.“…Lena..?”It was as if I could hear a voice calling me vaguely.When he didn’t get an answer, Helios thought I had fallen asleep and approached me.As I smiled at his familiar scent, but then the warmth of his body against mine was gone.I opened my eyes gently, and Helios laid Escal down on the couch across from me and settled in beside me.“Sleep more.”“I’m not sleeping. I just closed my eyes because I liked the sound of the piano.”“Do you want me to keep playing?”“No.”I curled my eyebrows and shook my head.“Tomorrow, I will call the performer.”“I like your playing the best.”Helios smiled as if he couldn’t stop me at the playful answer. It was Helios who spent more time playing the piano than holding the sword.“Are you bothered?”“Of course not, my wife.”Helios, who responded with a joke to my prank, kissed my forehead with a loving gaze. I naturally wrapped my hand around his neck and pulled him towards me.He was dragged along without resistance and swallowed my lips. The sensation of soft flesh tickling the roof of my mouth brought my whole body to a standstill.I bit his tongue, trying to say no, and Helios grabbed my shoulder.I’m pushing him to stop because I feel like I’m about to groan at the stimulation after a long time.“Hm…”Escal, who had been sleeping soundly, tossed and turned.Helios raised his upper body. I thought he was awake, holding my breath and looking at Escal, but the child changed his position and fell asleep again.“I told you not to do that. What are you going to do if Escal sees you?”“It’s not like I do anything bad.”Helios replied with a smirk, but as if he could see through it, he adjusted his position and sat up.“Put your legs up here.”With a flick, he gestured to my knees, and I stretched out my feet, and he gently rubbed my legs.“Are you tired?”“It’s okay, everyone goes through this.”“Just because everyone goes through it doesn’t mean it’s not hard.”So don’t be foolish.My heart was warmed by the attentive yet friendly whispers, and I raised my lips and nodded my head.Firmly resolved, Helios rubbed his hands together diligently.The languid afternoon sunlight fell on Escal’s face. I lifted my hand slightly to shade his face.After going through the work of Charlet Melks, Escal became a lot more mature.He seemed like an innocent child in front of me, but when he was alone, he could sometimes be seen in a state of exaltation that hinted at unspoken pain.“Baron Hazel hasn’t contacted you, has he?”“Hm.”“Where did he go?”“Hm, he only said he was going somewhere safe…”“Wouldn’t he contact you if he heard that His Majesty had abdicated?”“I wish he did.”Helios answered with a faint smile. I looked at the sleeping Escal with tender eyes.I don’t know when it will be, but I hope to see them again before it’s too late.I sincerely hoped.  ***** At the end of the hot summer, we went out on a nearby lake shore.Helios insisted that we wait until after the birth of the child, since it was so close to the due date, but I insisted.Before the child was born, I wanted to make memories for the three of us. In the end, Helios could not break my stubbornness and climbed into the carriage.“Mom! Come over here!”Escal was reminded of our rare outing.The kid who took my hand and headed to the shore pointed to a family of ducks floating on the lake. Newborn ducklings swam leisurely after the mother duck.“Come here, ducks.”Surprised by the presence of humans, the ducks moved further away despite Escal’s desperate call.Escal picked up the pebble and threw it into the lake. Pong, startled by the ripple caused by the pebble, the mother duck ran away with her ducklings.“Ah.”A look of regret filled Escal’s face. Helios, who was watching him, opened his mouth kindly.“Do you want Dad to catch them?”“What?”“Dustin, go get the bow.”That’s not it. This guy.“Don’t bother them and leave them alone.”I pinched Helios’ forearm slightly and grabbed his hand.“I’m hungry, let’s eat something.”“Oh, right.”Helios gently grabbed me and laid me down on the mat spread out on the grass. I opened the picnic box from the castle and took out a sandwich.“Come on, Escal.”“You will enjoy the food.”After giving Helios a sandwich, I also took a big bite. He must have been as hungry as I was, because his stomach gurgled and patted his belly as the food went in.“Ah.”“What’s the matter?”Helios reacted immediately when I hugged my stomach in the sharp pain. Fortunately, the pain did not last long. I was afraid that I might be worried for nothing, so I smiled as if nothing happened.“I must have eaten too quickly.”“This is water, Mom.”Escal handed the water bottle from the picnic box.“Thank you, Escal.”I took a quiet sip of water, and Helios lightly patted my back.“You look tired, let’s go back.”“Okay.”Escal looked happy and wanted to stay longer, but my body wouldn’t allow it. I climbed into the carriage and headed for the castle.Rumble, rumble. Every time the carriage shook, my stomach ached. I couldn’t stand it, but I looked out the window with my stomach wrapped around me and pretended it was okay, but Escal carefully grabbed my hem.“Mom, are you okay?”“Yes? Uh, Mom is okay.”I pretended to be calm to Escal, but I knew it was serious. While I endured the pain, hoping that we would get to the castle quickly, the carriage stopped.As soon as I stepped out of the carriage following the father and son who got off the carriage first, a moist liquid dripped down between my legs.“Ouch!”The unbearable pain grabbed my stomach and sat down.“Lena? What’s the matter?”“Helios, the baby, it looks like the baby is about to come out….”“Dustin! Call the doctor, quickly!” ***** “Aww!”It was the most terrible pain in my life. A scream that didn’t sound like mine came out of my mouth.Unable to scream, I stretched out on the bed, breathing heavily, and Mrs. Rotney grabbed my hand and encouraged me.“You are doing well, madam. One more time.”“I can’t do it any more….”“You can’t say things like that! Hurry up and meet the pretty baby!”At Mrs. Rotney’s encouragement, I once again squeezed with my power.“Aaaah!”“Lena, are you okay Lena? I’m here, Lena!”“Duke, you are not allowed to come in!”Outside the door, she could hear Helios arguing with Merlin, who had been pacing outside the room for hours, unable to leave even when she told him it was okay and that he should stay in his room.“Madam, it’s almost over. One more last time!”“Aaaah!”“Crying!”At that moment, a loud cry was heard. The long, terrible pain disappeared like a lie.Mrs. Rotney, who had received the child, said with a wide smile.“Congratulations, madam. You have a beautiful little princess.” ***** When I heard that the child was safe, I fell asleep, and when I opened my eyes, Helios was guarding me. His face was visibly tired as he hadn’t slept all night.“Great job.”Helios kissed the back of my swollen hand with wet eyes.“Our baby… How about it?”“It looks just like you. Very pretty.”“Is she in pain or anything?”There was always anxiety in the corner of my heart because I had to go through so many difficult things while I was pregnant. He smiled and shook his head as if he knew how I felt.“You have to check her yourself.”Helios said so and returned with the baby. The baby wrapped in a blanket looked at me without crying.As Helios said, her dark blonde hair and emerald eyes were just like mine. Tears welled up.“Isn’t she pretty?”“… She’s pretty.”“I also contacted Viscount Evelyn. Dustin will come with them.”“Thank you, Helios.”Helios’ delicate consideration made my heart move again.“By the way, what about Escal? Have you seen Escal?”“Not yet. I waited to see you when you woke up. I will bring him now.”Helios left the room himself and returned with Escal.“Escal, come here.”Escal, who had hesitated as if surprised by my haggard appearance, approached the bedside. I repositioned the baby so that Escal could see.“Hello, brother Escal. I’m your sister.”“Uh…”As if unfamiliar with the existence of the baby he met for the first time, Escal could not open his mouth.At that moment, the baby who made eye contact with Escal smiled brightly. The wall in my heart that couldn’t be broken down easily broke down in an instant.Escal furrowed his eyebrows.“Hello, I am your brother.”It was the perfect ending, finally. -End of main story-