A Stepmother's Marchen

“You still don’t believe in Santa Claus?”

Naturally, I also bought a special gift for Elias. Although it was also a weapon, it was a special crossbow that I bought because my second son was more talented using it than the sword. It came with silver arrows. If he used it, he could catch up with his brother when he goes fox hunting in the future.

“Hahahaha, come on, you idiot! A long-range duel is the best!”

“Don’t get so excited and shoot yourself in the face, little brother. If you’re a man, you have to fight with a sword! Shuri, can I bring this to the banquet?”

“Me, too!”

While my two sons were acting like that, I turned away from them to look at the cute twins.

Unlike his brain-muscle brothers, little Leon, who had the face of an intellectual since early on, was so happy to hold a new telescope and an encyclopedia that he had hoped for.

As for Rachel, she went to the front of the mirror with the shoes I picked for her and was doing a fashion show.

Rachel always liked shoes the most. Even if she wore an out-of-date dress, she never went out without new shoes.

Anyway, the children may be happy, but Christmas was a very expensive event. I had to prepare gifts for not only the children but also for the employees and knights, as well as gifts for the church and the imperial palace.

Furthermore, the budget for today’s Christmas banquet, and preparation of clothes and accessories to wear to the banquet.

It was then that something surprising happened. My daughter, who was showing off wearing cute silk shoes, suddenly approached me and took something out of her robe pocket.

“My older brothers said that since mother is an adult, Santa Claus wouldn’t give you a present.”

Needless to say, I was speechless for a moment.

My eyes were wide as I looked to see if the others had joined the plan. To my surprise, both of my sons had an awkward face confirming it!

What a surprise!

What was in Rachel’s small hand was none other than a handkerchief. On the handkerchief with a bright light green background, four baby lions and a rabbit were embroidered together.

…It was good, but why am I a bunny?

“Thank you… Rachel. What a beautiful handkerchief.”

“I haven’t done much.My brothers told me what to put on, and Leon chose the color of the thread. All I did was embroidery.”

That said, in the end, she did it herself.

When I smiled, Rachel looked at her three extremely useless brothers while puffing cheeks. If my late husband had seen this scene, he would have been proud.

The palace banquet, funded by the Neuwanstein family and the Schweig family, was much more lavish than I remember.

Whether or not he wanted to show his sincerity to the family who voluntarily donated the budget, even if he removed a single jewel hanging from a fir tree that soared through the ceiling with countless five-tiered chandeliers, it would become a one-year relief fund for the poor.

 

At the entrance of Crystal Palace, where the banquet was held, there was a simple dart game stand. It was a game in which a person needed to hit the center with a wooden arrow, and prizes wrapped in colorful packages were given one by one.

Count Müller was the first to greet me, who had just arrived with the children, while the people who arrived early before the banquet started playing darts and chatting.

…My husband’s eldest brother.

“Long time no see. Lady Neuwanstein.”

Since it was a Christmas banquet attended by all the nobles, it was impossible to avoid these people, so I replied with a fake smile, “Yes, it’s been a while.”

“Well, uh, can I talk to you for a second? It’ll only take a moment.”

I glanced over my shoulder for a moment at the children rushing near the statue where the drinks were served, then nodded.

Count Müller led me near the dart game table, where young men and women giggled and enjoyed the game, and then said in a low and subtle tone, “Madam, I heard about that unsavory incident the other day. I was going to come earlier and apologize, but I wasn’t in good health.”

“Well, if it’s an apology, the parties should apologize themselves.”

Count Müller’s green eyes narrowed in a matter of seconds, feeling the bitterness mixed in my voice.. Why did they have the same eyes as my children? I don’t like it at all, no matter how pedigree it is.

“If you want me to, I’ll tell them to apologize.”

“I don’t really want an apology that is not voluntary.”

“Madam, it’s not that I don’t know what you think of us.”

“Wrong, Count Müller. I don’t even think about you guys. So there’s nothing to think about. What do you want?”

In people’s eyes, we would just appear to be exchanging greetings.

Although the reality was completely different, I expected Count Mueller to reveal his family’s unique characteristics like his brother, but he was surprisingly self-restraint.

The dark green eyes, just like Johan’s, flashed, but then quickly regained their businesslike coolness.

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“All right, madam. Now that it has come to this, let me be frank with you.”

Push!

“Argh!”

Many people let out a short scream at the same time. I, too, almost screamed.

A silver arrow quickly grazed our side, precisely by Count Müllerr‘s ear, and was stuck in the damask wall!