Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

It was my father who burst through the door.

“Dad.”

“What are you doing, locked up in your room as soon as you arrive?”

My father spoke bluntly.

Escal, who woke up from a loud noise, closed his eyes with a surprised face.

“I was just resting because I was tired from the journey, and you just came home?”

“Yes. Your mom’s is working, and I thought I’d come out and help out, and it’s been spreading since broad daylight-”

“What are you doing as soon as you arrive?”

My mother appeared with her sleeves rolled up and slapped my father on the back.

“Why are you nagging her as soon as you arrive, the kids can’t even rest.”

“Rest, what kind of inn is this? Are you coming to rest?”

“Then is this a construction site? Get to work as soon as you arrive. Where’s your groceries?”

“In the carriage, I suppose.”

“You haven’t even unpack your groceries and you’re harassing the kids first? you’re so grumpy.”

“Cough.”

My father coughed in response to my mother’s scolding.

“Go ahead and get your groceries.”

“Okay, I’ll get it!”

My father, who was angry, left the room.

His voice was loud, but my mom’s grip on him was tight.

“I’ll come and help you.”

Helios left the room to help my father.

I headed to the living room with Escal rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Through the large window, I could see two men walking with both hands full of bags.

My father was muttering something behind Helios as they walked in silence, and though I couldn’t hear what he was saying, I could tell by the look on Helios’ face that it wasn’t pleasant.

The Duke of Anthemion is suffering so much.

Thinking that the power of love is great, I followed him as he entered the mansion.

“Lena, where do you put this?”

“Bring it to the kitchen.”

“Okay.”

Helios hugged the bags and headed to the kitchen.

“Honey, these bags—.”

When my father came into the hallway with a bags, he saw Escal and shut his mouth.

My mother, who was waiting for the groceries bags, came out of the kitchen and shouted.

“What are you doing standing there? Come on, bring it here!”

“Uh? Yes. I’m on my way!”

All you had to do was say sorry.

He can’t be honest.

*****

Dinner was served on the terrace instead of the narrow dining room.

The sun was just setting and the sky was tinted with exotic colors.

Even though it was midsummer, it was not too hot thanks to the cool breeze blowing from the lake shore.

“Come on, eat.”

My mother urged, pushing a salad bowl toward me as the kitchen maids brought in the food.

I put the salad on a plate and placed it on Escal’s plate.

“Eat a lot of Escal.”

“Yes.”

Only after I saw Escal grumble and start eating did I lift my fork.

The food was quite good, probably thanks to my mother’s attention.

The stew made with potatoes and carrots was savory, and the salad with celery and tomatoes was refreshing and fresh.

“Is it edible?”

“Yes. it’s delicious.”

I answered by slicing the steak that Escal had served.

“Why are you slicing the grown-up kid steak?”

My father, who was watching me carefully without eating, said bluntly.

“Escal hurt his arm, so it’s still difficult to cut.”

“… Were you hurt a lot?”

“It’s almost healed now.”

Shaking my head at my father’s question, my mother who put down the dishes opened her mouth.

“I know you said you lost him, but was that when you got hurt, and how did it happen?”

“That is… It’s a bit complicated to explain, and it’s true that I got hurt because of it.”

“You should have been more careful, how surprised he was.”

She said looking at Escal as if she felt sorry.

“I’m sorry. It is all my fault.”

Helios, who had been eating in silence, interrupted.

“I apologize for my inadequacies, and I am truly sorry to the two of you.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. They are both alive, so that’s all that matters. You just need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“… Yes.”

“Come on, let’s eat. All the food will be cold.”

My mother kindly recommended a meal to Helios.

“I eat a lot, Escal. If you want more food, tell Grandma. Okay?”

“Yes.”

Escal, who was rolling a piece of steak in his mouth, answered bravely.

“You, too, stop staring at them and eat.”

“Cough. I’m doing it.”

My father coughed and picked up a glass of wine.

The dinner table was very friendly.

*****

It was midnight by the time we finished our two-hour meal.

I headed straight to the bathroom and relaxed in the tub with my full stomach.

The pre-made bath water was just the right amount of cool, soaking away the fatigue of my long journey.

The moonlight floating in the dark night sky softly illuminated the bathroom.

‘It’s pretty.’

The facilities were not comparable to the bathroom of the Duke’s house, but the night view through the window was as beautiful as it was enchanting.

I looked up at the sky that looked like scattered jewels and closed my eyes.

The moment I fell asleep in a drowsy feeling.

“…Lena?”

As I slowly lifted my eyelids, I heard a voice calling me again.

“Lena.”

“Helios?”

“I’ll go in.”

Before I had a chance to respond, Helios opened the bathroom door and walked in.

His body, wearing only a towel, was so strong that admiration came out.

But I was too busy to cover my body, so I didn’t have time to look at him.

Watching me pick up the towel that had been thrown away and quickly wrap it around my body, Helios said sarcastically.

“It’s not the first time I’ve seen it, so what?”

While my face was blushing at the joke, he entered the bathtub without hesitation.

“Wa-wait a minute. Helios. I’m almost done, so if I get out—!”

“Stay still.”

Helios lifted me up lightly and took a seat in the bathtub and sat me on his thighs.

The sensation passing through the thin towel shook me in embarrassment, and he wrapped his arms around me tightly to keep me from moving.

“I can’t do this.”

The bathtub water gurgled and overflowed, but Helios didn’t care.

I tried to pull away, but the more I did, the tighter his arms tightened around me.

It felt like my heart was about to explode after a long time in touch.

Helios hugged me and said nothing.

I was suffocated by the stillness, so I broke the silence first.

“Escal, what is he doing?”

“Sleeping. He must have been tired.”

“I haven’t even changed him to pajamas.”

“Mary changed him.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to get out.

“Isn’t the bed too narrow for three people?”

“It was enough. If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“That’s not what I mean…”

He won’t let me say anything.

I groaned slightly and turned around.

“Weren’t you offended by my father? What was he saying the whole time you brought the groceries bags?”

“He didn’t say anything.”

“Don’t worry if my father says something you don’t like. Because he’s not mean it.”

“It’s okay. Of course I have to bear it, and I fully understand that the Viscount hates me.”

“Helios.”

“If it weren’t for me, you would…”

The body that touched me trembled softly. Helios buried his lips in the nape of my neck.

I flinched as sensations raced through my body, and his lips skimmed the length of my back, moving slowly downward.

When his lips touched the wound on my back, my whole body tingled like electricity.

“Ahhh.”

He lifted his head at the involuntary groan that escaped from me.

“Does it still hurt?”

“No. It’s just a little, it feels weird…”

Helios gently stroked my back. Every time his hand brushed against the wound, a strange shiver broke out.

“I’m sorry.”

“… What?”

“I should have protected you.”

Self-reproach in his voice.

I turned to look at him.

“Don’t say that. What more could you have done in that situation?”

“But if I had been more careful…”

At the clear guilt that flashed across his face, I cupped his cheek and whispered.

“Helios. We’re here to forget all our bad memories.”

“……”

“What do you want to do with what’s already happened? I’m fine like this, and you and Escal are all fine. That’s enough for me.”

I smiled at him as brightly as I could.

Helios, who looked at me with tender eyes, opened his mouth.

“This is why I love you.”

His damp lips covered mine.

Drunk by the sweet and ecstatic scent, I slowly closed my eyes and Helios pulled my neck into his embrace.

Breaths were mixed between the gaping lips. It felt hot and sweet as if my body would melt.

The faint moonlight was obscured by the clouds.

We didn’t leave the bathroom until the water cooled.