A Stepmother's Marchen

“Lady Neuwanstein , Duke of Nurembert .”

“Lady Neuwanstein , my condolences.”

“Lady Neuwanstein .”

“May he rest in peace, Lady Neuwanstein .”

Everyone greeted me politely, but the crowd seemed to be shocked by my appearance. The atmosphere wasn’t tense as in the past.

Here, the age of most cardinals wasn’t different as before compared to my current mental age, from early 30s to late 40s at best.

Duke Nurembert and Duke Heinrich were also less than 40 years old.

The case involving the children’s relatives the other day would have spread by now. It was obvious that they’d accuse me of being a cold-blooded woman.

Would it be fortunate if the only person here who favors me is Duke Nurembert?

As for Duke Heinrich, who had been my in-laws in the past, he only wanted to have a marital relationship with Neuwanstein.

Despite his neutral attitude on the day of the hearing, the only reason I accepted the engagement between his daughter and Jermey was for the children’s future.

…Of course it’s a different story from now on.

Phew, it would have been better if the Duke Nurembert had a daughter. But as far as I know, he has only a son, Jeremy’s age.

Jeremy, who will fight madly for the position of the Empire’s strongest knight in the near future.

Perhaps the Duke is so generous to me because he has a son of the same age.

Whatever he thought inside, he smiled quietly and exchanged greetings before sitting down.

There was a reserved seat next to Duke Nurembert in the center. A position that my husband occupied in his lifetime.

“Before we begin the parliament, I’d like to say a prayer to honor the deceased who was here with us not too long ago.”

With Duke Nurembert’s remark in the silent cardinal, the people who were staring at me began to recite a prayer.

After the long and slow recitation of the prayer was over, while everyone drew the cross sign with a short sigh, I turned to Duke Nurembert and opened my mouth with a light smile, “By the way, Duke. I’m planning to hold a memorial banquet soon. I’m sending you an invitation, so would you please come with your wife?”

This was originally a suggestion this duke made to me in the past. He asked me what I thought of holding a memorial banquet in memory of the Marquis.

At that time, I was so busy and out of my mind, so I said I would think about it later.

Now that I think about it, it was an opportunity to show my position.  Although it’s very strange for me, I caressed my chin with my hand for a while and then showed a calm smile.

“Memorial banquet…? Well, it’s a good idea. I was about to make a similar offer to you.”

“Thank you, but I think that’s the right thing to do on my side… Of course, would you please come?”

“Of course, the Emperor misses the deceased quite a bit, and was about to discuss it with you.”

“Lady Neuwanstein, I feel like I’m being excluded. But when do you think it’s the right time?” Duke Heinrich coughed, and I couldn’t help smile at his words.

No matter what they think of me, my position as a widow, who accounts for more than half of the shares of the imperial treasury, wasn’t something that could be easily reduced no matter how young I was.

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I, the temporary owner of such a family, and Duke Nurembert, the younger brother of the Empress, are planning a memorial banquet to honor the Emperor’s loyalty, so if they fail to show their faces there, they will be humiliated.

“Oh, is Duke Heinrich going to come?”

“Well, of course. Yohen was also my best friend.”

“Am, it’s a banquet in honor of the Emperor’s loyalties, and it’s something that everyone deserves.”

I think the first step was somehow taken. This banquet would be the key to prevent the hearing.