Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 137

Side story Chapter 7 Death was very close to Escal.Escal had been on the brink of death countless times since he jumped into the battlefield.Every time he wandered between life and death, he had a dream. It was a dream where a girl with pink hair as sweet as cotton candy smiled at him.That dream was so happy that sometimes he didn’t want to wake up.“…….”Is this a dream again?Looking at the pink hair that came into his floaty vision, Escal thought. If I touch it, will it disappear without a trace? The moment he reached out his hand while thinking that, he felt a stabbing pain.“Don’t move.”A voice full of tears woke up his hazy mind. When the cold, wet towel touched his face, his blurry focus completely returned.… It wasn’t a dream.If it was a dream, Tia wouldn’t be looking at me with that kind of expression.Tiaris, with her swollen eyes and a face full of fatigue, was crying. Despite the pain that seemed like he was going to die, he burst into laughter.“Are you laughing now?”“……”“You almost died.”“……”What was so sad that the tears that had been held back rolled down.That’s why she was so swollen.A faint smile appeared on Escal’s lips. He had thought that he would be okay dying like this, but when he looked at her face, he thought it was fortunate that he didn’t die in front of her.I don’t mind dying, but I don’t want you to suffer.Escal looked at the water droplets soaking the sheet and opened his mouth with difficulty.“…. This…”“What?”“I’m sorry for getting your.. handkerchief… dirty.”Ha. Her breathing was rough as if she was in disbelief.Was she angry? But it didn’t seem so.Tiaris, who had been biting her wounded lips as if to suppress her anger, opened her mouth.“Is that a handkerchief a big deal?Tiaris, who had been shaking her head, let out a long sigh and exclaimed, “Ah.”“Grandpa.”“Grandfather?”“The person who attacked me and my grandfather in the past. My grandfather’s sword stabbed his left eye. By any chance….”Escal nodded.A man who became the royal dog to avenge his master. It would be difficult for him to survive with such a deep wound, but he was so tenacious that it was impossible to guarantee anything.And Princess Adela was not the type of person to give up easily just because her dog died.Escal forced himself up. His side, wrapped in bandages, felt hot as if it had been burned. He looked at Tiaris, who was supporting his back, and said.“It wasn’t me… It was you, Tia.”“Are you saying that person was after me?”“Yeah.”Her eyes, filled with tears as if she was surprised, shook. Escal lowered his head, unable to face her.“I’m sorry… It’s all my fault.”“…….”“They’ll probably come back soon. It’s dangerous here… It’d be better to go somewhere else.”“…..”“If you feel uncomfortable with me by my side… I’ll send someone to help you.”Escal held back his cracking voice, wondering how shameless it would sound to tell her to leave the place she had lived in for so long.“I’ll stay until you’re safe, and I’ll never show up again-”Without even realizing what he was saying, his mouth, which had been spewing out words, was blocked. Escal grabbed the sheet as the dizzying scent covered his lips.The kiss was too clumsy to be called a kiss, but it was very short. Without wasting a moment, Tiaris spoke.“You jerk.”Her large eyes were filled with tears.“If it was going to be like this, you shouldn’t have come to me in the first place.”“……”“Why are you always doing what you want? You make people suffer and then you just say sorry and disappear?”“… You told me to go.”“Yeah, I told you to. Brother is someone who will live well even without me. But what is this? Who did this…!”Tiaris stopped talking as tears suddenly burst out. Blood rushed to her clenched lips as if trying to hold back tears. Escal carefully caressed her lips.“Tia.”“…….”Tiaris didn’t avoid him as he got closer. Escal’s lips awkwardly touched Tiaris’ lips. Her wet eyelashes fluttered. Escal closed his eyes tightly.He no longer felt pain.*****“Did you take everything?”“Yeah.”Tiaris, who was carrying a small bag, nodded. Escal took the bag from her hand and put it on the carriage.After putting Tiaris on the carriage and following her, Dustin started the carriage right away.It was a shame that his injuries prevented him from riding a horse, but traveling by carriage wasn’t bad.“Go ahead and lie down.”Tiaris urged him, offering her a knee. He pretended to lose and laid down on her knee, and she patted him on the back.“Here you go. I’ll wake you when we get to the inn.”“What about you? You’re tired too.”“I’m fine.”It was awkward for Escal to pretend not to know even though he knew she hadn’t slept all night. Looking for words to reassure her, he gently kissed the back of her hand.“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”“… Yeah.”The carriage quickly raced toward the capital. ***** Exactly ten days after departure, the carriage arrived at the capital. Contrary to their fears, no one followed them. After a forced march that lasted all day and night, the carriage passed through the gate and stopped in front of the town house.The door of the town house, which had received news of Escal’s arrival, was wide open. The carriage passed the main gate and stopped in front of the stairs.Tiaris got out of the carriage and looked up at the mansion with a nervous expression. The mansion that she had not seen in a long time was much more luxurious than she remembered.“Let’s go in.”Escal grabbed her hand without hesitation and led her inside. Tiaris’ expression was not bright as she was dragged into the mansion.What if they hate me?In her memory, the Duchess was a kind and affectionate person, but back then, she was a child, and now, many things have changed.Tiaris thinks that she had many shortcomings as a partner for a promising son who was treated as a hero of the Empire, so she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable, and decided not to get hurt no matter what she heard.“Escal.”When she reached the middle of the hallway leading to the drawing room, Lenia ran out through the door and into the hallway. She greeted Escal happily, but stopped walking when she saw Tiaris.“Tia…?”Tiaris swallowed dry saliva and bowed her head.“Hello.”“Oh my!”Before she could even raise her head, Lenia suddenly hugged Tiaris.“How long has it been! Come in, Tia.”Her tone was as affectionate as ever. Tiaris felt a little relieved at the warmth of the hand patting her back.“Lena?”A man who looked just like Escal appeared over her slender shoulder. Lenia looked back at Helios and opened her mouth in a moved voice.“Helios, look who’s here.”His eyes, which were much softer than before but still sharp, turned to Tiaris.“It’s been a while.”“How have you been, Duke?”“Good.”Helios lightly patted her shoulder and turned his gaze to Escal. The face of his son, whom he had not seen in a long time, looked very much like his old self.Helios understood Escal’s feelings better than anyone else.“Congratulations.”A smile spread across his pale face. Escal, suppressing his surging emotions, spoke first.“Please help me, Father.” ***** With a bang, the door slammed open and soldiers poured in. Adela, who hadn’t been awakened by the commotion, sat up“What’s that noise?”“I’ll find out.”The maid, who had left the room in a hurry, didn’t get far. It was because the knight commander with a sword had barged into the bedroom. Adela shouted at the soldiers surrounding the bed.“What are you doing! Do you know where this is-”“You have to come with me, Princess.”“Get out now!”With a loud noise, the clock on the table hit the knight commander’s chest and fell.“Do you think a lowly person can enter the princess’s bedroom and get away with it?”The knight commander picked up the dropped clock at the princess’s outburst and signaled the soldiers.“I’m sorry, Princess.”As if they had waited long enough, the soldiers threw back the blanket and forcibly lifted her up.“Let go of this!”Adela, who was screaming and struggling, was forcibly dragged out by the hands of the sturdy soldiers. The knight commander who left the room bowed his head to someone.It’s the Duke. The Duke was clearly the one who planned this. Princess Adela glared at him, breathing heavily.Helios Anthemion appeared among the soldiers.“The decision to repatriate has been made, Princess.”