Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

“Uh….”

Morning in the Viscounty came early.

I woke up to the light birdsong and rubbed my sleepy eyes.

The two men were still dreaming as they were quite tired from the journey.

‘I suppose I can wake them up later.’

I stretched out and cautiously got out of bed.

As I put on my robe and left the room, I could smell the delicious smell.

I looked around the kitchen to see if there was anything I could do to help, but my mother came out of the kitchen holding a tray.

“Lena? Why are you awake already?”

“Already? The sun is high.”

“You should have stayed in bed. I was going to wake you up when breakfast was ready.”

“I slept a lot. But, what is it?”

I asked, pointing to the tray in my mother’s hand.

A glass of black liquid was placed on the tray.

“Your father medicine.”

“Is father sick?”

“He has been coughing frequently these days and is losing energy. But that’s what happens when you get old.”

My mother replied with a bitter expression.

“Give it to me. I will bring it to him.”

After receiving the tray from my mother, I headed to the room.

The door was open. My father was reading his newspaper with a magnifying glass.

“Father.”

I knocked softly and formally on the door and stepped inside, and my father folded the newspaper and looked up.

“Why did you bring that?”

“Mom seems to be busy, so I brought it instead.”

As soon as I put down the medicine bowl, my father frowned.

“Tsk, there’s no point in eating something like this.”

“Don’t say those words and eat before it cools down.”

At my urging, my father reluctantly emptied the medicine bowl.

“Is it that bad? Have you seen the doctor?”

“No I haven’t. He sounds like a quack when you meet him.”

“Still, you need to know where you are sick to get treatment.”

“What’s the point of treating me, you cranky old man? It’s easier for you to die quickly without causing trouble.”

You’re good at saying things you don’t mean.

“Why are you telling me that? Don’t do that. You will upset mother.”

“Cough.”

My father coughed in frustration and turned away.

“When are you going back?”

“It’s only been a day since I came, and you want to get rid of us already?”

“What do busy people come to this corner of the country for?”

“What are we coming for? I came here because I miss my father and I miss my mother.”

“Then you should have come alone. Why are you bringing those Anthemions here?”

“How can a married woman do that? Doesn’t my father want my mother to go somewhere far away by herself?”

“A woman shouldn’t go anywhere dangerous alone.”

“Then what about me? I am also at risk.”

“Tsk, look how you speak.”

My father clicked his tongue and scolded me. I waved away his disapproving glance with a laugh.

“Don’t do that, just look at him. He’s so good to me.”

“Good enough to hurt you like that?”

“It’s not that person’s fault. There are more times that person suffered because of me.”

“You have no fear. I know how much you suffered because of that incident.”

“…..”

“So does that kid. If he really cares about you, he should have sent the kid first.”

“Escal is Helios’ biological son. He should be with his father, not sending him away.”

“I’m saying this because you’re weak-hearted. After all, the black-headed beast is not to be reaped.”

TL/N: It’s similar to ‘Save a thief from the gallows and he’ll turn your enemy.’ 

… Although Escal has black hair.

My father was still stubborn. I carefully tried to persuade him again.

“He’s not like that, Dad, you’ve met him. How nice and pretty he is.”

“Well, that’s something I don’t know. Right now, you may be fine just looking at that child, but what do you think will happen if you have a child?”

“I don’t want to have a child.”

“What?”

My father asked me with eyes that seemed to eat me.

“It’s hard enough to raise one, Escal. Let alone another.”

“That’s what you call it? If a woman is married, she should have at least one child from her stomach!”

“There is no such thing, all children are the same.”

“You, you immature thing!”

I calmly spoke to my father, who grabbed the back of his neck and shouted.

“I know what father is concerned about, but I believe in Helios. And I’ve never seen a kid so kind as Escal.”

“Well, the bloodline doesn’t go anywhere. He’s the son of that wicked woman, no matter how good he is.”

“Children don’t have to be like their parents, and I’m not going to raise him that way.”

“We’ll see. Who is right.”

After a long argument, my father got up from his seat and left the room.

Taking his stubbornness with him.

I sighed and relieved my frustration.

 *****

“Lena?”

Helios woke up late in his sleep and raised his upper body while looking for the invisible Lenia.

Looking at the pajamas laid neatly on the sofa, it seemed that she had already woken up.

After changing clothes and going out to the living room, Viscountess Evelyn greeted me in the morning.

“You’re awake? I hope you didn’t find the small room uncomfortable.”

“Thank you, I slept comfortably. Where is Lena?”

“She went to her father’s room.”

As soon as the Viscountess’ words fell out, Viscount Evelyn came out of the room.

Helios quickly greeted him.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Cough.”

Viscount Evelyn ignored Helios’ greeting and passed by him.

Seeing this, Viscountess frowned.

“That old man, he’s so grumpy.”

Helios passed the awkward atmosphere with a smile.

Lenia, who was coming out of the living room groaning, looked at Helios and was delighted.

“Helios, when did you wake up?”

“A few hours ago. Did you sleep well?”

“I slept well. You must have been quite tired, you slept like a baby.”

“The bed was comfortable and I slept well.”

Helios pulled Lenia’s shoulder and kissed her forehead.

Lenia smiled softly, but her expression soon turned dark.

As The Viscountess watched her husband pacing the garden beyond the window, she asked.

“What does your father say?”

“The same old thing, I suppose.”

Helios’ eyes narrowed as he watched Lenia’s bitter expression.

“Don’t mind it. Where are you going for today?”

Viscountess spoke brightly, as if trying to light up the atmosphere.

“You must be hungry, I’m going to go see if the meal is ready, so please wait.”

“It’s okay. Lena, I’m leaving for a while.”

“Where are you going?”

“Outside. Don’t come out.”

Helios left the front door, pointing his thumb out the window.

In the garden, the sound of chopping firewood was loud.

Helios walked over to Viscount, who was chopping wood.

“I’ll do it.”

“I don’t need it, go away.”

Viscount Evelyn, who stubbornly refused, slashed the wood.

Cracked, split wood shards splattered in all directions. Helios once again reached out his hand.

“Please give it to me. Viscount.”

“Forget it, Why would the Duke chop the firewood? Don’t disturb me and go inside.”

Viscount Evelyn raised his ax as if grumpy.

Puck, the ax that was struck was not in a log, but in a mud.

“Oh, my waist.”

Helios casually snatched the axe from the Viscount’s grasp while he held his back.

He placed a thick piece of firewood on the mortar and brought the axe down.

Puck, the firewood was easily cut in two with an axe.

“You’re young, so you have good strength.”

Viscount Evelyn murmured to himself.

Helios split the mountain of firewood into smaller pieces and stacked them in an orderly pile to one side of the garden.

“This should be enough for a month.”

“Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No.”

The Viscount shook his head.

Helios, returning the ax to its place, cautiously opened his mouth.

“It looks like you don’t have enough staff, but if it’s okay with you, I can get you a servant.”

“I don’t need one. There are enough people in this small house.”

“With the two of you doing all the housework, Lennia is always worried.”

“She’s the only one who worries. Don’t worry about me.”

Helios smiled faintly.

Viscount Evelyn looked at him disapprovingly and picked up the watering can.

“I will…”

“I can do this much.”

Viscount Evelyn, who pushed Helios away, sprinkled water on the flower bed. The petals with buds soaked up the water and bloomed freshly.

The Viscount, who had been silently spraying water, suddenly opened his mouth.

“The child, Is he okay?”

“He’s fine.”

“It’s fortunate. Please don’t let Lena worry about the child.”

Viscount Evelyn continued speaking while avoiding Helios’ gaze.

“That’s how parents feel. No matter how old she is, they will always look at her like a child.”

“…….”

“I know Lena adores him, but my daughter is the most important to me. Anyone who makes her suffer doesn’t look good in front of me, no matter who they are.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“If you understand, please be nice to Lena. Considering the things that child went through because of the duke, I want to separate the two right now—”

Viscount Evelyn put down the empty watering can.

“My daughter loves the Duke so much, so I bear with it.”

“I will do my best to make her happy.”

“You must keep that promise.”

Helios lowered his head deeply and listened.

Lenia came out into the garden.

“Father, Helios. Come in and eat.”