Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 132

Side story Chapter 2 That damn princess.Escal, who had stormed out of the reception room, let out the curses he had been holding back.I thought it was strange that His Majesty had suddenly called him. I should have noticed that it was that woman’s trick earlier.The mere suggestion of marriage and talking about becoming the Emperor was enough to make me want to wash my ears of her filthy words.You fool, you can’t even check to see who gave the order, and you make me a laughing stock?The moment I turned the corner, blaming my innocent aide, the servant who hadn’t seen me bumped into Escal hard and fell over.“I apologize.”“…..Tsk.”The servant who had fallen hurriedly knelt down and kept bowing his head. Escal, who was about to get angry and ask if it was okay for a palace servant to be this careless, shut his mouth when he saw the blindfold on one of the man’s eyes.Escal picked up the tray that had fallen on the floor, handed it to the servant, and left the palace.He walked nervously on the floor where the rainwater had pooled, and headed toward the stable. The aide who had found him approached him, leading the horse.“Your Excellency, please come out now-.”“If something like today happens again, I’ll have you fired. Know that.”“Yes?”Escal ignored the flustered aide and jumped onto his horse. The raindrops that had gotten heavier in the meantime hit his face. It was not a good day for horseback riding, but Escal ran at full speed and arrived at the mansion.“Young master? Are you back now?”Merlin ran out to greet him as he passed through the main gate. The old butler clicked his tongue lightly at the sight of him soaking wet from head to toe.“How did you get so wet? Give me your clothes first. I’ll prepare some bath water for you.”“I’m fine, where’s my mother?”“She’s in the living room with the young lady.”“Okay.”Escal took off his dripping outer garment and left it with Merlin as he headed to the living room. As he entered the hallway adjacent to the living room, he heard cheerful laughter. Escal stopped walking at the corner of the hallway.In the living room, a cute young lady with dazzlingly bright blonde hair and emerald eyes who had not yet lost her girlishness was chatting with her mother with blushing cheeks.Claudia Anthemion, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Anthemion, who looked just like Lenia but with a touch of cheerfulness, was beautiful and adorable.Escal also loved his younger sister who was as dazzling as the sun. Sometimes, he was overwhelmed by her dazzling that he did not have, and he was envious.The laughter did not stop for a moment. He felt like he should not interfere, so he tried to say hello, but turned away instead.“Huh? Brother!”A voice full of joy caught him. Escal faintly smiled at the sound of footsteps running across the wooden floor. The small figure hugged the wet body.“What, when did you get back? You’re not hurt, huh?”“A little while ago. My clothes are wet.”Claudia puffed out her cheeks as he lightly pushed away the hand that was holding him.“So what if you get a little wet? You’re bad, you know that? How come you haven’t contacted me for months?”“It just happened. How are you? You’ve gotten prettier since I last saw you.”“Don’t change the subject. You’re trying to sneak up on me again.”Claudia glared, not being fooled. Escal smiled and ruffled her hair lightly.“I’m sorry, I was wrong. If you need anything, just tell me.”“Brother.”“What?”“I need you to promise me that you won’t go anywhere for the next month.”“Haha.”Claudia’s face brightened as he reluctantly nodded to the bold request. She laughed in vain at the sight of him looking around, as if trying to secure a witness.“Escal.”Lenia, who had been waiting for the two siblings to finish talking, quietly called him. Escal could easily read the love and worry in her eyes, which had become much deeper than before.“I’m back, mother.”“Welcome back, my son.”A slender arm wrapped around his waist. Escal was concerned that the thin muslin cloth was getting wet, but he silently surrendered himself to her warmth.Lenia patted his broad back as if comforting a child and raised her head. The hand that caressed his cold cheek was infinitely affectionate.“Did you have a good trip?”“Yes.”“Are you feeling okay?”“Yes.”“Why have you lost so much weight? I told you not to skip meals.”“I guess I pushed myself too hard because I wanted to get back quickly. I’ll jst rest for a few days.”Lenia sighed at his calm answer. She seemed to have a lot to say, but she kept her mouth shut.It was the same when Escal mentioned that he had volunteered for the monster subjugation team. Helios was furious and said absolutely not, but Lenia only shed tears and did not stop Escal.Even though he knew that she would be criticized for putting her stepson in danger for a long time.That’s why he was always grateful and sorry to Lenia. It was even more so after he found out that Lenia had been searching for Baron Hazel’s whereabouts for a long time.Escal avoided her affectionate gaze and changed the subject.“What about father?”“He had a meeting and went to the palace.”“If I had known sooner, I would have waited and come with him.”“Are you coming from the palace?”“Yes.”“What are you doing at the palace?”“Princess Adela called me.”Lenia’s face darkened when she heard Adela’s name. She quickly rolled her eyes and spoke to Claudia, who was next to her.“Claudie, go to the kitchen and tell them to prepare dinner especially carefully tonight. Make a lot of food that brother likes. And when you come back, stop by my room and bring me five embroidery floss.”“Yes. Brother, are you going to eat shrimp croquettes?”“Huh? Yes.”“Okay. I’ll tell them to make lots of delicious food.”When Claudia, who was quick to notice, left, Lenia grabbed Escal’s arm and pulled him to the sofa.“Why did Princess Adela call you?”Her straight eyebrows furrowed. It was an overly sensitive reaction to say that she didn’t like Princess Adela, so he chose his words carefully.“Just to see my face.”“That’s all?”“Yes. I just had a cup of tea and left.”After repeatedly emphasizing that nothing had happened, her stiff face finally relaxed a little. Escal carefully opened his mouth.“Why? Did something happen with the Princess?”“No, it wasn’t like that. I heard a bad rumor.”“A bad rumor?”“It seems that the princess’s husband’s death was not an accident….”“Yes?”My voice cracked without me knowing.Everyone knew that Princess Adela’s husband had died suddenly, but no one questioned the cause of death. They were careful not to speak because they thought of the Princess who had lost her husband at a young age and was now alone.“I heard that the kingdom sent a request to the Princess to return to the kingdom because they wanted to reinvestigate the case. His Majesty refused, saying that it had nothing to do with the princess.”The kingdom would never make such an unreasonable demand to the Empire without evidence, so it’s highly likely.“In fact, His Majesty brought up Princess Adela when asking about the marriage plans a while ago. The princess must have pressed you.”“…….”Escal clearly realized Adela’s true intentions.She must have calculated that if she remarried before the kingdom began its reinvestigation, she would be able to avoid repatriation, and if her remarriage partner was Escal, it would be difficult for the kingdom to put pressure on her.… There was a reason why that woman talked about the throne.“I’m sure you know it better even if I don’t tell you, but the princess is very greedy, so you must be careful.”“You don’t have to worry.”Escal answered lightly and stood up.“I’ll wash up. I’ll see you at dinner.”“Yes, get some rest.”The dinner table where the whole family gathered for the first time was full of laughter.Helios drank with his son who had returned after a long time, and Lenia personally served him food on his plate like she did when he was young. Claudia was always laughing and chatting beside him.After finishing dinner that lasted three hours, Escal returned to his room and collapsed on the bed. His vision was dizzy because he had drunk too much for the first time in a long time.“Haa.”His breath, which was soaked with alcohol, leaked out between his lips. Perhaps because he had become accustomed to forcing himself to sleep while wandering around the battlefield, his body was tired, but his mind was still clear.Escal looked up at the shadows flickering in the candlelight and reached out to the side table. Only then did his trembling heart calm down as he held the handkerchief that had been washed and ironed cleanly.… I miss you.Perhaps because of the alcohol, his longing grew stronger. Escal gently covered his stinging eyelids with his palm. At that moment.Thump, he heard the sound of something hitting the glass window and falling. He instinctively got up and went out to the terrace. There was a white piece of paper on the terrace floor where rainwater had collected. Escal carefully unfolded the wet paper.[Pink Roses Under the Cabin West of the Ebony Forest]Thud, thud. His heart began to pound again. Escal grasped the paper tightly.“Just wait a little bit.”Wherever you are, I will definitely find you.