Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil Chapter 76

It was a man I met at the Imperial Palace on the day of the Empress’s birthday banquet.

“We meet here again?”

The man said with a smile. I nodded nervously.

“I guess.”

Despite the unfavorable reaction, he was still smirking.

Contrary to his cold appearance, he seems to have a pointless personality.

“Do you remember me?”

“I remember. You spilled alcohol on my dress at a banquet.”

“I wasn’t talking about that.”

The man tilted his head and asked again.

“Don’t you remember me?”

“I don’t know what you mean. Have you ever approached a woman like this?”

You saw me on the day of the banquet, so there’s no way you wouldn’t know that I’m Helios’ wife.

The man’s expression changed strangely when he showed displeasure at the obvious manipulation.

“It’s sad to say. Anyway, I’m glad you look healthy.”

“I don’t know why you care about my health, but you can go on your way, I’m busy.”

I replied coldly and started to walk away, but he stopped me.

“Wait. I agreed to pay you back for ruining the dress last time.”

“That’s okay. At that time, it was my fault, so I’ll just pretend it never happened.”

“I’d like to treat you to a meal as an apology, though…”

“I am grateful, but since I am a very busy married woman, and I don’t have enough time to take care of my husband and child. Goodbye then.”

After pouring out words like a rapid-fire gun, I immediately turned around.

I have to walk while looking at people for work…

“Your back, is it okay?”

“…….”

I stopped walking and turned my head as I felt the nape of my neck getting sore. He had a strange smile.

“How do you know that?”

“… I really don’t remember.”

My heart sank at the muffled voice. I hardened my expression and questioned the man.

“Who are you?”

“Are you interested now?”

The man who asked me playfully bent down and whispered in my ear a little.

“Your lifesaver.”

… This crazy guy.

As I stared at him with an absurd feeling, the man narrowed his eyes and said.

“Just kidding, I guess you didn’t find it funny.”

I don’t need to say more.

I thought he had some big secret, but he was just a playboy.

I turned to walk away, feeling pathetic for a moment, but the man grabbed me lightly by the arm and said.

“Aren’t you curious how I know the wounds on your back?”

What is this man? Do you really know something?

I know I should ignore him, but his words stuck with me as I turned to leave.

“How did you know?”

The corner of his mouth twitched up at my question, as if he knew I would.

“That, in the cave-”

“—!”

Flash! My mind went white as if struck by lightning, and my whole body began to shake.

Without even realizing that I had lost the bag of clothes I was holding, I wrapped my arms around my throat.

 

‘Die!’

 

“Ah… No…”

No. Don’t do that. Help me.

My vision went black. Light and darkness blurred together.

I curled into a ball, feeling my breath catch in my throat.

“Ugh….”

“Hey, are you okay?”

The sounds around me instantly faded away.

 

‘Die! Hurry up and die!’

 

A cold hand wrapped around my neck.

The heat of the back was as hot as burning.

The feeling of the rope tightening the whole body painfully.

And the woman who choked me and shouted.

 

‘Please die! Die!’

 

“Ugh!”

My breath came in ragged gasps, like I’d forgotten how to breathe.

I gasped and waved my hands like I was drowning.

But the more I did it, the clearer the feeling of squeezing my neck.

“Hey! Breathe! Hey!”

“Ugh… Hah…”

 

 

*****

 

“… It seems to.”

“The prescription is…”

“Relax… If not… recover soon….”

A soft voice was heard over the rising consciousness.

As I lifted my eyelids with difficulty, I saw the faces of unfamiliar men.

One was the man she had been with before she lost consciousness, and the other seemed to be a doctor.

“Ugh…”

“Are you awake?”

I let out a moan and got up, and the man spoke to me.

I couldn’t figure out what had happened, so I grabbed my hair and looked around.

Looking at the tools scattered around the sour smell of disinfectant, it looks like a hospital. Why I was… ah

I’d passed out.

“Are you okay?”

“… Where am I?”

“It’s a hospital. You suddenly lost my mind and I brought you here.”

I’m screwed.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but Harriet hasn’t been caught, so Helios has become more sensitive.

I hurriedly got out of bed, wondering if he was overturned because I disappeared.

“Be careful.”

I staggered, perhaps because I moved too quickly, my legs lost their center of gravity and leaned.

The man quickly grabbed me and hugged me. I pushed the man away and asked.

“Where am I?”

“It’s not that far from there. There is a carriage waiting outside the building, so I will pick you up.”

“Does the coachman know that I am here?”

“As soon as you fell over, I got into the carriage and came here. Don’t worry, he’s got the clothes you bought too.”

My heart was relieved when he said that there would be no commotion.

“How much time has passed?”

“It hasn’t been long. About 30 minutes?”

“Ha…”

If I can get the coachman to come in, I can blame it on a long day and be late.

“It’s not a serious illness, and you lost your mind for a while from shock, so if you go back and rest well, you will recover quickly.”

“Thanks, I owe you one.”

“You’re welcome.”

When I thanked him, he smiled.

I searched my dress pocket to pay my hospital bills, but I couldn’t find my wallet.

It must have been lost somewhere.

I said to the doctor with a puzzled face.

“I’m sorry, but I will send someone to pay the hospital bill tomorrow. I am Antemi…”

“I paid for it.”

The man said, squinting one eye.

“I think it’s to pay for the dress I ruined.”

“Ah… Then tell me your name and where you live. Tomorrow people….”

“Sirius Winternight.”

Sirius Winternight, that’s an odd name.

I know that there is no family with a surname like that in aristocratic families, but are they commoners?

But can commoners attend the Empress’s birthday party?

Somewhere in the suspicious answer, I questioned his identity.

“Where do you live? Where can I send my people?”

“I don’t have a residence. I like to wander around.”

You don’t have a place to live?

“Then tell me which inn you are staying at.”

“If you want to repay your debt like that, you will only see me three times.”

“Yes?”

Why is this man like this?

“I think I said this before, my husband is the Duke of Anthemion and I have a six-year-old son.”

“So?”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but don’t you think it’s very rude to approach me this way?”

“I don’t want to meet you as a woman.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“I have a question. Don’t you have any questions for me too?”

“…….”

Does this guy really know something about me?

Even though I thought he was a dangerous person, I thought I would regret it if I refused for some reason.

Could this person be able to find the lost memories?

I knew it was a curiosity I had to let go of, but I couldn’t deny it.

Noticing the hesitation, the man asked with a smirk.

“Will you meet me?”

“Only three times.”

 

*****

 

“Lena.”

As soon as I returned to the mansion and lay down on the bed, I heard Helios shout.

Helios, who ran into the room before getting up, had a face as pale as mine.

“I heard you fell, are you okay?”

What a loudmouth coachman.

I’ve been begging you never to say that.

I shook my head as if nothing was wrong.

“It’s okay. I must have been tired for a while because it was very hot.”

“What did Your Majesty say to you?”

Black eyes sank deeply.

It seems that he misunderstood that I collapsed as a result of the shock when I heard the abusive language from the Empress.

I grabbed his arm and sat him down on the bed, ready to storm into the palace if I said yes.

“No. She called me because of what happened at the last birthday party. She was sorry.”

“Is that all?”

Helios looked at me suspiciously and confirmed again.

“Because it is.”

I took out a check from Her Majesty, and handed it to him.

“Look. They even donated like this to help run the academy.”

Helios, who even checked the signature on the check, was still dissatisfied.

“If you have any doubts, you can ask Her Majesty.”

“…That’s it. Next time you go to the palace, you come with me.”

“Yes.”

He sighed and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

“Please be careful. Do you know how surprised I am?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was in bad shape.”

“It’s probably because you’re overwhelmed with the academy, I should really lock you in our room.”

“You scare me with your jokes.”

“I’m not kidding. If you get sick one more time, I’m really going to lock you in our room.”

“I see. I won’t make you worry anymore.”

I smiled casually and buried my face in his chest.