A Stepmother’s Marchen

Chapter 15

Well, it had never been like this before. When my husband suddenly collapsed, when he died, when my children were sick, when I was sick… Even when I brought in a contracted lover, there was no disturbance like this that bothered the whole house.

“Madam…”

“What?”

Hearing the voice coming from behind, I was frightened. But soon after realizing that the other person was only a family knight, I immediately felt relieved.

“What’s going on?”

For the most part, the knights never approached me or talked to me. Their mission was to protect the house and its owners thoroughly, and all reports and petitions were sent by the Knights Commander.

There were occasional written reports, but they only came from the Knights commander not the knights themselves.

Did the knights themselves make a thorough investigation into a scandal I didn’t know about?

But why did a young knight, who seemed to be in his late teens at most, look so hesitant?

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“You dropped your handkerchief.”

He carefully stretched his hand where laid a cute yellow handkerchief.

Instead of taking it, I just stared into the knight’s eyes. Because the handkerchief was never mine.

Was he playing a trick on me, so people would misunderstand that he was my lover?

But the thought that popped into my mind at the moment was just an illusion.

“Thank you.”

With a slight smile, I leaned forward to get the handkerchief, then at the moment before I pulled it back, he whispered, “The commander is asking for an audience.”

What’s going on? Things are getting more mysterious.

If the knight commander wants to see me, the process is very simple. He just has to make an appointment with the butler then come and meet me.

But what’s the point of this unnecessarily secretive and thoroughly cautious procedure that I’ve never heard of before? What the hell is going on?

Before I knew it, my pulse began to beat fast. I strode straight to the study room, “Robert!”

“Madam, I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“Call the knight commander and the maid right now. Come back as quietly as you can.”

Robert the butler and Gwen the maid were the ones I could trust for sure. The same was true of Albert, the knight commander.

I needed them to tell me what’s going on underneath the calm water.

Robert carried out the mission straight away without any questions, apparently feeling the unusual tone in my voice.

How many minutes has it been since I waited while tapping on the desk?

The three people with tense faces stepped inside one after another.

I ordered them to sit down and shut the door.

Robert and Gwen exchanged nervousness and bewilderment glances while Albert just looked at me quietly. The calm water flashed a bright light in his eyes.

In the past, there were times when I was frightened by his ferocious appearance, but now I know that he is a knight who values honor more than anyone else.

“Sir Albert.”

“Yes, madam.”

“Whose idea was the handkerchief?”

When the knight commander said nothing, I sighed briefly and looked back at the other two, “Gwen, Robert, do you know something?”

“What? Madam, I’m sorry, but what handkerchief are you talking about…”

The puzzled expression on Gwen and Robert’s face was genuine. Albert was glancing at the two with hesitating eyes.

“Sir Albert, I understand that you are a knight who values honor more than anything else. If you think those two are suspicious, then just trust me here and tell me. If the story you’re hiding is about the children, there shouldn’t be any delay.”

The loyal butler and maid, who had been supporting the family for a long time, now looked very spectacular and stared at the knight commander. And likewise, the loyal knight commander stared into my eyes for a moment, and finally opened his mouth, “I thought you might know something about it.

“What?”

“It’s not my problem, but I’ve been hesitating because I didn’t think you’re going to condone it…”

“So what do you mean? Condone what?”

“Is it Lord Valetino or Countess Lucretia? I let the two of them in so that the children can settle down as soon as possible. Based on the atmosphere right now, it seems to have gone the other way around, what the hell is going on?”

In the midst of the mysterious silence, the three exchanged looks for a moment. Albert then continued in a strange and perplexing tone, “I received reports from some knights, madam. You know that Lord Valentino visits every afternoon and teaches Master Elias swordsmanship.”

Of course, I know. It’s what I agreed on!

“With all due respect, Lord Valetino’s discipline toward Master Elias is excessive. Of course, I realize that it’s really none of our business…”

“No matter how badly he treated him, it’s between uncle and nephew, but as a commander it’s natural for me to express my concern over this matter.”

“I’m sorry, but he seems to be severely punished every day. As the Madam knows, even the deceased Marquis didn’t treat them like that in his lifetime….”

Considering our age gap, my legs couldn’t have caught up with Elias’ long legs.

However, God helped me, the one who was running away fell on the grass roots the next moment, and I ran and held him.

“Argh! What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me?! I’m curious, too!”

I don’t know where this power came from. Had my dead husband seen my outspoken behavior of squawking Elias’ shoulders with one hand and pulling up the hem of his shirt with the other, he would surely be surprised.

And, my God, the evidence was right there. The bruises were on the back of the 13-year-old boy.