Spoiler A Stepmother's Märchen

twistingfeelings · Oct 15, 2023

A Stepmother's Fairy Tale
어떤 계모님의 메르헨
Author:
ORKA
Artist:
ORKA

Description:
The iron widow, the spider widow, male hunter, the witch of Neuwanstein castle, the embarrassment of noble ladies....... These were all the words used to describe the Marchioness, Suri Van Neuwanstein. Despite receiving such criticism from the world, she raised her 'children', who were unrelated to her by blood and were old enough to be called her siblings. And finally, on the day of the first son Jeremy’s wedding, she felt that all her hard work had tied all the loose ends together. But she had been terribly mistaken. After hearing the message requesting her to not attend the wedding, she got caught up in an accident and died while leaving the castle. But when she opened her eyes, she woke up on the day of her husband's funeral, seven years ago. I refuse to suffer any more. I won’t live as I had in the past a second time!

The translation is chapter 2 now, and MC still not yet turn back time. I wonder anyone knows the story? Where is the real mother of those children? Why MC chosen as the wife?

Spoiler Curator · Jan 15, 2025

[/QUOTE]SPOILERS
Novel Official Link:
https://page.kakao.com/content/50992110
https://page.kakao.com/content/53446914
Manhwa Link:
https://page.kakao.com/content/52854258
Table of Contents

A Stepmother's Märchen Plot Summary

A Stepmother's Märchen - Rachel Marriage Partner

A Stepmother's Märchen - Second Life Marriage's (more details at bottom of content table)

A Stepmother's Märchen - First Life Spoilers

A Stepmother's Märchen - Prequel Story Spoilers

A Stepmother's Märchen - Characters Background

A Stepmother's Märchen - trials

A Stepmother's Märchen - Nora x Shulli

A Stepmother's Märchen- Shulli Death in first life

A Stepmother's Märchen - Nora First Life

A Stepmother's Märchen - Creep Cardinal

A Stepmother's Märchen- After Shulli Death + Nora First Life Flashback

A Stepmother's Märchen - Jeremy Marriage

A Stepmother's Märchen - Side chars BG

A Stepmother's Märchen - Shullis Married Life with Nora

A Stepmother's Märchen- Nora Confession

A Stepmother's Märchen - Trial in Novel

A Stepmother's Märchen- First Life Jeremy Marriage +ToC of tl'd chaps

A Stepmother's Märchen- Timeskip three years (End of Webtoon 1st season)

A Stepmother's Märchen- The whole story's timeline

Does Jeremy have feeling for Shuri? CH.114 (S2 CH.49) goes more into detail how Jeremy feels (the manhwa is more detailed about this than the novel)

he never truly starts thinking of her as a mother, even when he moves on. he just accepts that this is their relationship, imposed by the legal situation. he will always think of her as someone special who is part of his family & a girl who deserved to move on with her life. He does addresses her as "mother" sometimes in a teasing way, but mostly in public because outside this is their only recognized relationship. in private he calls her by her name because at the end of the day, she is not really a mother, but a girl near his age. Cr. AdamantineW (1) (2)

Jeremy confess to Nora

She's the late Empress and Theobald mother. She died in childbirth. She has a history and was childhood friends with Johannes, Albrecht (Duke; Nora father more info in #6) and of course the emperor. Each of them loved her but she was the emperor lover only and choosed him. Her death caused a lot of grieving for all three

Johannes being sweet on Ludivika up until the moment she told him the news of her impending marriage with the emperor, he reacted violantly in a fit of anger and strangled her apparently (Albrecht has to kinda beat up the truth out of him) which is why Ludovika refused to have him at her wedding.
Cr. AdamantineW on Twitter

There's two reasons; one is mainly because Shuri resembles Ludovika, second is because her resemblance to Ludovika would benefit Shuri on the politcal scene eventually – and he was right on that point, because the Duke of Nuremberg and the Emperor both showed a soft spot for Shuri in the novel/manhwa.
Cr. AdamantineW on Twitter
Wasn't just necessarily him needing someone take care for his childern.

No, Jeremy does not continue wedding the with Ohara/Ohera in the first timelime due to Shuri death, nor was it mention he married in the first timeline after.

that is true, After reading a novel. The female lead had Dissociative amnesia which occurs when a person blocks out certain events, often associated with stress or trauma, leaving the person unable to remember important personal information. Which is exactly what our female lead did.
Cr. Bri2415
Johannes was manipulative. He never got physical with her except grabbing her wrist (happens in CH.96 in manhwa). But he was vebal and emotionally abusive.
Cr. Plumpuppeach

Her name is Diana, she has black hair and blue eyes, shes a relative to Nora. Sadly we don't know they fell in love nor how they met but Jeremy marries her when he's 27 (near the end of the last side story) and its not an arranged marriage. No mention of any kids

He marries Ohara/Ohera, they have one daughter together, the daughter name is Anabelle, she's blonde with green eyes.
Note: Novel and Manhwa Ohara are quite different.

No Ohara did not baby trap Elias in the first or second timline. In the first timeline they barely met each other. In the second both grew feelings then begin dating.

He has a son with an unknown/unnamed women, so he's illegitimate and his son is terrified of Nora and Jeremy. I don't remember but one of them accidentally made the poor child cry once

_____________________________________

Volume 1
Prologue
Chapter 1- This Ridiculous Restart
Chapter 2- A Winter's Dream (Part 1 ) [by ruruka ]
The Other Story: A Fairytale's Ending [by eatnyc]
Chapter 3: Winter's Dream, Part 2
Chapter 4: Ending

Volume 2
Chapter 5: The First Family Trip
The Other Story: The Prince and the Priest
Chapter 6: That Summer, Part 1
The Other Story: A Fairytale's Ending, Part 2 [by Vivixoxo]
Chapter 7: That Summer, Part 2

Volume 3
Chapter 8: The Lie for Your Sake
Chapter 9: The Original Sin
Chapter 10: The Winds of Change

Volume 4
Chapter 11: The Flash Point
Chapter 12: The Opening
Chapter 13: The Sunlight and the Moonlight
Chapter 14: The Setting Sun, the Rising Sun
Chapter 15: The Harvest
Chapter 16: Finale
Epilogue

Volume 5
Side Story 1: The Honeymoon [by Vivixoxo]
Side Story 2: Once Upon a Time
Side Story 3: Christmas Crisis
Side Story 4: Father's Day Special
Side Story 5: A Spring Day Disturbance
_____________________________________

Spade_Ladyz said: ↑

The whole story's timeline.

*T/n: There would be some mistakes in this spoiler cuz I don't remember them very well and the order is a little messy; sorry about that. And also I did not mention the whole plot, especially about the Civil War since it's quite complicated and hard to translate.

Until now, chapter 62 of the webtoon had been released, which I will continue from that timeline (since Orka pretty much didn't change any of the significant contributions from the original novel). She has passed the first book of the novel (divided by four chapters, and Orka reaches Chapter 5 and the Extra.)

Starting from chapter 58 to the end of the webtoon 1st season, called "The end of A Fairy Tale" (Book 2)
It's the death of Shuli in the first timeline, what happened after her death, and the culprits, .aka the Church, etc...
Also, there's another side story named "The Prince and The Priest" from the POV of the two psychopaths, Prince Theobalt and Cardinal Richelieu. Since it's gross af imma skip it because you knew what happened.

And I translated the second part of Chapter 7, Book 2, "That Summer". It's the timeskip 3 years after the family trip to Berchtesgaden (Chapter 55 webtoon) and Shuli turned 19.

As Shuli and the children were messing around until the Sword Tournament, obviously the last two opponents are Nora and Jeremy. In this part of the time, Shuli was heavily stressed because the memories from the past life kept coming like a nightmare haunting her, made her unknowingly sleepwalking. The children tried their best to comfort her, and they all wished her a happy birthday, showered her with gifts. Jeremy and Nora both bought the exact same necklace, which they kept making a fuss about, but Shuli happily kept both.

Even though it ended up in a draw about the sword tournament, Shuli noticed that Nora let Jeremy win. Because of her past life, Nora has won Jeremy already, and in this timeline, he didn't want to make Shuli disappointed, so he gave up. I believe Jeremy knew it too and didn't mind that much.

Also, I don't remember where this scene occurred (in this arc). The gambling that Elias involved in was found by Nora, and he informed Shuli about this. She scolded him, and surprisingly he listened to her (he took her money to the casino after all). The second Prince also quickly got out of this case and later found out, Crown Prince Theobalt is the culprit.

After the match, a trial happened, and the applicant for the court was the Church. They stupidly said that there is something sketchy between Jeremy and Shuli's relationship, who, legally by law, are mother and son. It's an incestuous crime, for specification. They claimed: "It's not normal for a lady whose husband has passed away for three years yet not to remarry and has an unexpectedly close relationship with her first son, who is only two years younger than her." (The real shitty thing is, if she remarried or dated any guy, they were gonna gossip about what a gold digger she is, came into the household just for money, and if she wasn't, then this happened. Wtf?)

Prince Theobalt, who was involved in this trial, sent Shuli an extravagant royal necklace with the excuse for her birthday. His plan was to cause the Church to become chaotic because of Shuli's authorities with the aristocracies, turn into this trial and so on, he would appear as a saviour and save the day- probably to lie that he and Shuli hold affection with each other, and use it as a chance to built up a relationship with her. A thing out of his speculation is that Shuli no longer trusts him, she has distanced herself from him after the first trial, and part of it was due to Nora's hostility towards him.

Shuli's old family, the Ighfir, all went against her in this trial. Well, it's no surprise that they did, as Shuli refused to use the Neuschwanstein's fortune for their greed. Her mother lied to accuse her (her lie was exposed), her brother also being annoying af, and her dad... I would mention him later. Even though under the court's pressure, Shuli and Jeremy still treat each other naturally; as always, Jeremy usually said they don't give a damn about other people's opinion; all they need is Shuli, their loving mother.

Since the conquest almost fell to the Neuschwanstein, the Church still desperately tried to overturn the situation somehow, and they challenged for a 'Battle of Honour'. Basically, they will send two knights to represent each side, both of them would solemnly swear to risk their lives for the defendant/ plaintiff and would have a sword fight. Sometimes even the accused could choose to be the knight; that would happen in Jeremy's old trial if he hadn't been proved innocent sooner.

But I think they banned Jeremy from becoming the knight since he was 'the criminal of incest', and he was 'not pure' enough. Like seriously wtf. And guess what, boom, Nora jumped in. Heh, he really told Shuli that he didn't mind dying for her.

There is a scene where Nora asked Jeremy,

"Don't you resent?".

He was trapped in this convoluted affiliation with the woman he loves so bad, and he was also scared of what would happen if she found out.

And Shuli, who gives him all the love he needs, just not the love he wants.

But that's enough, for him and for her; he wishes all the best for his little mother.

***

The trial ended with Nora's victory, a.ka the Neuschwanstein. And right after that, Jeremy and Nora chased after the Ighfir. They killed Shuli's brother first. Jeremy apologised to Shuli, but she told him it's fine either way; she no longer sees them as her family. And then her mother, I think they stopped the carriage in her runaway and investigated her? Not really sure if they let her go or they finished her, but that is what they informed Shuli. And lastly, her alcoholic father, who made a commotion out of the Neuschwanstein's mansion, ended by Nora.

Shuli saw how he was brutally murdered, and she was stunned; as the smell of blood reached the tip of her nose, tears started to fall unknowingly.

She wasn't even sad, but somehow she felt so poignant. The person born and raised her wished for her death, yet she never longs for anything like that. All she wants is that the Neuschwanstein children grew up happily and brilliantly, but it seems like the whole world wanted to go against her. And then it hit her; maybe the problem isn't how God fiddled her in his palm, but herself.

---

'Maybe I am just a desirous stepmother, who tried to fulfil the responsibility solely because I didn't want any of them to leave me all by myself, to hold people who are dear to me back. Maybe all of the children's affection is just selfish fear because, without them, I am nothing.

There's nowhere for me to go now.'

---

Shuli never forgets once why the late Marquis Johannes brought her here because she, by all people, resembles his first love. It's ever because of herself, but her old family saw her as a money-milking machine, or may the children saw her as a substitute mother figure.

Nora saw Shuli's crying face for the first time, and he was terrified.

---

"I'm sorry, Noona, I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

He held my face with both hands and looked directly into my eyes, the man who willingly risked his own life for me, the man who soiled his hands with blood for me.

Soon he embraced me as he put me on his lap. He began to wipe the blood with a handkerchief even though my whole dress was soaked in it while holding my upper body with one hand.

I did not resist and stay still.

I can't even say sorry to him any longer.

"...Your hand. It's covered in blood. Because of me."

"I am Noona's knight. I told you so myself to do this."

His gentle retort was soft. His movement was cautious and sensitive, as if he was holding a fragile glass.

The tenderness burst me up.

"If you stay with me like this, there would be countless similar incidents coming."

"So it's because of this world. Ask them if they come again. Doesn't matter whether it's the Church nor the Imperial Family."

"Then what about me? What should I do for you?"

"Just as it is... Safely, beautifully, and-."

His touch paused for a moment. Nora's blue eyes bowed equally to me, flashing through a fervent and dim longing for the first time.

The next moment, the raven hair covered my vision as a hot breath blew next to my ear.

"...-Look at me."

---

When Jeremy and Nora went and finished the Ighfir, they also found how Johannes met Shuli and decided to take her home. I am not sure about this piece of information, but it seems like he physically abused Shuli to train her into becoming a suitable person on top of the house as fast as possible.

Johannes actually hurt her.

When Jeremy found out the truth, he was devastated as never before. The witness said the young girl hurt badly, and even though his father did not lay a finger on his four children for once, he would hurt a girl who raised his children on his behalf.

Part of Shuli's nightmare came with this. She was so traumatised to the point she has no memories of it at all. (psychogenic amnesia.)

Jeremy just cried himself out while Nora silently stood and looked at him dazed.

He was so scared that he did not dare to ask Shuli what had happened, but all she said is that even when Johannes was a bad man to her, it's nothing to do with Jeremy- and it is normal for him always to expect his father as a good man. And it's not the end as Jeremy continued to find out why Johannes brought her to the Neuschwanstein.

While Nora stayed and comforted Shuli at the time, Theobalt invited Jeremy to the palace, and he showed Jeremy with a picture of Ludovika- the previous Empress. At first, he thought he had seen a large picture of Shuli, somehow her hair turned purple, and her eyes were golden. Shuli looks exactly like her, the late Empress who was loved by all. Theobalt told him that Ludovika was the three men's first love, his father the Emperor, the Neuschwanstein Marquis and the Nuremberg Duke. And like father, like son, it's their turn now. The Crown Prince tried to persuade the young lion, but Jeremy lost it. He knew clearly that Theobalt wanted to separate the children from Shuli, but he could not since no matter what happened, Shuli always loved them, so Theobalt decided to make peace as he slowly approached her.

---

"If things had gone wrong during the sacred trial, who knows where you and your stepmother have fallen into? In fact, it's very strange that Nora just waited until that moment. All of the evidence points at him as if he planned for such an incident."

Theobalt paused, as he smiled and continued:

"You know it's impossible for me to interfere with the Church's movement in any way. I just want to be a good rival, I hope you are okay with this; we've been very close since we were kids."

For a while, Jeremy stared silently at the Prince in front of him. Then he suddenly raised his hand and grasped Theobalt's neck while pushing him hard towards the wall.

To put it correctly, he threw him halfway.

The sound is not so loud because of the thick Damask Wooden wall, but his answer was as clear as daylight.

Literally half picked-up and stuck to the wall, Theobalt barely stood on two feet.

In the meantime, Jeremy kept moving forward as he gave his opponent no time to come to his senses. His eyes were burning brightly, and he burst into an eerie smile.

"Your Highness, I don't know where that bullshit comes from, but my mother is my mother. No matter how many times I've told you, I can't guarantee what crazy thing I'd do if you keep making such jokes about my mother and me."

"I- I…"

"If you thought this kind of meddling would work for me, it would be a big mistake. It seems like this father-and-son warfare only applies to His Majesty, who is not even interested in His Highness's ignorance at all. You must have been desperate enough to insult the Duke; he seems to have stopped watching over your Highness so far. Unfortunately, even though I am a fool, I have an eye for people."

Jeremy's voice was low, but it was so fierce to the point it's overwhelming. For a terrifying moment, it seems like he could really split the Prince's body in half, from head to toe.

It's strange how he could just call the guard while Jeremy was still clasping his collar, but Theobalt could not utter a word. The eyes of the young man, flashing treacherously, suitable for his name 'The lion of the Neuschwanstein'.

As he quickly nodded, Jeremy slowly let go of his neck, the light in his emerald green eyes died down.

While the young lion stormed out of the room, Theobalt silently looked at his back and moved his eyes to the portrait of the woman.

***

If his friend, whom he knows so well, found out the truth, how would he react?

The voice of Crown Prince Theobalt kept echoing in his head. However, Jeremy was totally against such frivolous thought. A father and son conflict. Shuli is not an empress, even when she passes away. Just like they were not their fathers, they were all different human beings.

It had to be. When he was overwhelmed with guilt and remorse, Shuli hugged him and said that she was okay. When his father's sins weighed heavily on his shoulders, Shuli comforted him and told him that he had nothing to do with this tangle anyways. So no matter what happens, he has to remain a family with her forever, because for her, who embraced all of him.

Even if her existence would make him never able to yearn for anyone else, he chose to be satisfied with it, unless this connection between them was broken till the end.

She has to be loved, to shine and happy no matter who she meets. So he would stay where he is and make it happen.

---

After everything settled down, Nora and Shuli became closer; she started to understand her feelings towards him and usually got flustered whenever he showed her affection, especially when Nora kissed her on the cheek; Shuli felt like she was about to explode.

When Queen Elizabeth's birthday came, Nora attended the celebration with the Neuschwanstein. Shuli and Elizabeth have gotten quite close as she often threatened that she would end their friendship if Shuli didn't pass by and pay her a visit. When the gathering began, Nora immediately came and nonchalantly asked Shuli for a dance while she was keeping Elizabeth's company (She could feel the Queen's stare after being abandoned heartlessly.) She was pretty embarrassed by the jealous gaze from all kinds of ladies; even though she was an expert, it was her first time dancing with Nora.

It was still the same gaze, how he stared at her that day while his hand tightened at her waist. But she could spot the look in his blue eyes as if he was longing for something he could not reach. Shuli rarely made mistakes while dancing, so Nora teased her all the way he could. But the happy moment did not last long since Theobalt came in and ruined the mood. He asked Shuli for a dance, but Nora declined; while they kept arguing Jeremy jumped in and took Shuli away.

They danced and had a warm conversation; the Emperor called the Neuschwanstein in and offered a trip to Safavid to soothe the relationship between the two empires. At first, only Shuli was expected to go because she knew them from the start, but Jeremy insisted on sticking to her as 'the responsibility of the first son' who had to protect his mother at all cost. The final decision was that Shuli and Rachel went to Safavid with Nora's escort (he claimed to be the bodyguard); the three boys would stay at home and look after the Neuschwanstein even though Jeremy didn't like this idea at all. Leon also got jealous since Rachel has gotten close with the Safavid's young Prince; tho he rarely got in a fight with his twin sister, he usually yelled at her:

"If you went to that hot place, your corset would melt!"

"Whatever, you dummy! He told me we could ride on an elephant if I want to!"

***

Before they go, Jeremy threatened Nora that he would kill him if Shuli lost a strand of hair, they fought as usual, and the three boys were upset that their mother and sister suddenly got away. The trip wasn't so great since Shuli got sick on the ship; luckily, Rachel and Nora were fine. When they arrived, they were welcomingly greeted by the King of Safavid, Pasha Bahjat and Prince Ali Pasha. Since the Crown Prince of Safavid passed away last year, Prince Ali was the only last candidate for the throne, and he would soon inherit it. He and Rachel got along well, and Shuli always thought that they looked good together. Since Safavid is a tropical country next to the equator, the temperature was really high, so they changed into their traditional halter dresses, which showed all of their arms, shoulder and back. With her introverted personality, Shuli was really embarrassed when she wore that kind of gown and endured an incessantly stare from Nora. (He also praised her non-stop) Nora also changed into their customary men's clothes, which showed his arm and muscle all the way around (remember he's a hunk lol).

The dinner passed away serenely until Nora ate a piece of star fruit, and he collapsed while coughing lots of blood. Everything turned chaotic as Prince Ali called the doctor and hurriedly took him for treatment. Shuli was terrified; she began to blame herself for bringing him along with them, looking at his pale face and shallow breath; Shuli never felt so agonising. They were informed that the poison was put directly only in Nora's serving. Soon the doctor who saved Nora's life apprised them about the poison, which was called 'Cantarella' (It is a real poison with no flavour that could easily mix in any type of food or drink.) This type of poison can not be found in Safavid, so they believed it that was an intentional assassination- to put the blame on the Safavid's imperial family. Shuli and Prince Ali came to the agreement that they would calmly investigate the truth before they delivered this bad news back to the Kaiserreich Empire and started a great war. So on, the alliance between the Neuschwanstein and Safavid was established.

Shuli looked after Nora the whole night, and then comes the confession~

At this point, Shuli has already had a hunch who is the culprit of this assassination: Cardinal Richelieu and the Church- as the doctor mentioned, Cantarella is a rare poison yet well-known between the Pope, one of the Cardinal passed away years ago with the exact same symptoms. She also never forgot the cold gaze, how Richelieu looked at her whenever their eyes met. There's one thing for sure, the person who dared to assassinate the Young Master of the Nuremberg must be the one who would get the advantage when the great war between the two nations happened.

The trip to Safavid soon ended; even though it was hectic at the start, everything went well. The alliance was decided, Nora and Shuli started a relationship while Rachel and Ali got closer. There's a scene where Nora and Shuli returned home; he kissed and solaced Shuli, his warmth made her feel like she had prepared for every upcoming storm.

Rachel, Nora and Shuli returned to the Kaiserreich Empire, and they are officially dating now. Still, Shuli didn't dare to tell the children about her relationship, and you know, Nora being a huge simp, agreed with everything she wanted. He was satisfied enough that Shuli would allow him to share a kiss whenever no one's around or somewhere private and would adore her flustered blushing face. He also got jealous since Shuli was utterly unaware of how well-known she was and even received a love letter without knowing what it is.

The Nuremberg Young Master assassination attempt was revealed, and the Duke was shocked. Even though he'd been regretting his cruel education for a while, only then did he realise the worth of his one and only son, not Ludovika's son. Though Nora no longer expected any affection from his father, now he has Shuli next to him. And they kept their relationship a secret, Nora also enjoyed that since it felt like a forbidden love (?) When they arrived home, they were greeted by the noisy boys asking for their present, while Jeremy was fainting inside because he looked through a bunch of paper since yesterday (It was his work he forgot since Shuli went aboard, and quickly looked at it before her return.)

Shuli came home before Elias Coming-of-Age Celebration, when he turned 17 years old. Because her second son was very excited about his birthday, Shuli carefully prepared the celebration as thoroughly as possible. It was a masquerade ball, where the person who attended the party must wear a mask and enjoying themselves, and everything went well, until-

(*I want to mention one thing, in the novel, Elias is 2,3 years younger than Shuli, unlike the webtoon version where he was 4 years younger than her.)

---

The invitations were sent to the parliamentary noblemen and other prominent families. As soon as I came back, I also sent an invitation letter to Empress Elizabeth, who must have been sulking that I didn't even come to see her.

"Wahaha, I am a real adult now! You twin, when will you grow up, little dorks!"

...That immature creature is already of age, I can't believe it. On top of that, I scolded him for asking even more presents, whether or not the gifts from Safavid were not enough. It would be great if you grow up as fast as your body grows! Still, it is no longer an issue about the gambling incident.

At Elias's Coming-of-Age Celebration, I dressed up more carefully than usual before the guests arrived. Wearing a rosy dress with long sleeves and a narrow skirt, which has recently become popular, I added the emerald earrings and the Peridot necklace. The hair was curled up with a brooch and rolled down. When I looked at the mirror reflection after finishing my makeup, it looked kind of pretty.

"Madam, who do you want to show this to first?"

My head maid, who kept laughing and praising me non-stop, asked a question that carelessly reached me. Maybe it's someone who's been filling my head all this time.

Perhaps it's then that I realised. Why is it that I used to be so confident in fashion, particularly concerned about myself lately? After putting a coronal opera mask over my perfectly clean face, I felt like butterflies were flying around my heart.

"Who are you? Where did our ugly Mother Shuli go?"

I sighed and glared at my eldest son, who was whining in boredom and idly niggling me. Though he looked annoyingly outstanding wearing a white tailcoat with a mask covering half of his face, which I did my best to decorate carefully. Our handsome lion cubs were also very flashy.

"Now that I see it, Shuli, you're the best partner for a masquerade."

Today's main character was giggling while helping out his brother. The proper appearance in the cream- coloured suit and the dazzling golden mask covering his entire almost grown-up face.

"Thank you for the compliment. Ellie, you look so cool, too. Congratulations on your Coming-of-Age."

"Right? Hahaha, I'll be-"

"Rachel and Leon’s would also come soon. You are all getting closer to leaving me..."

When I dropped my head and uttered in a gloomy voice, both the arrogant Elias and the smiling Jeremy, along with the twin, quickly became embarrassed and started shouting all at once;

"Wh-who's leaving! It's just a Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Why are you suddenly sad?!"

"Hey! This is all because of you sons' behaviour is terrible!"

"What did I do?! I'm just..."

"I'm still 13, Mum! According to social psychology, I am still in the prime of the need of a mother!'

"I don't know if little big brother turned out to be an ungrateful colt, but I'm not leaving Mum! I know you like me the most!"

Hehe. That is quite a satisfying reaction. How does it taste, boys? Why did you keep teasing your mom?

***

Fortunately, most of the people who got the invitation attended the banquet, and among them, Empress Elizabeth was the one. She entered quietly, covering her face with a colourful feather mask. It was easy to recognise her, aside from her unique dark red hair, who could think of anyone other than the Empress? The ball's most implicit rule is to pretend that you don't know who the other person is, but how young boys and girls looking for their fate under the fancy masks was so ingenious.

When Jeremy and I were greeting the Reicher Count, someone came near me and casually held my hand.

"Why don't you join your handsome son in his first Coming-of-Age dance?"

"Are you sure? There must be a lot of ladies who wanted to share your first dance."

"You danced with brother Jeremy last time and now don't give it to me! This is child favouritism!"

Anyways, I can not be branded as a favouritism (?) mother at the Coming-of-age Ceremony of my pretty second son, so I happily headed to the dance floor with Elias. However, the music turned into an exciting fast waltz, people who were dancing in groups started to separate themselves into pairs. I hesitated for a moment, yet since Elias kept provoking me, so I jumped in and joined the cheerful dance tune.

"Wah, you really jumping in?!"

"What? I'm not joking!"

Even though I wore a mask, it still felt so free; it's an excitement that hasn't come in a while. People started to join the stage, performed their dances while twirling around. I alternately held hands with the beautiful young ladies, dressed in dazzling masks and elaborate dresses, and turned around the dance floor. It was then that someone's hands wrapped around me, a man coming from the opposite direction.

"You are melting my heart out."

I was out of breath—the man who wore a frock blouse over a slim khaki-coloured tailcoat; his black hair dyed with the light of the gorgeous chandelier shone brilliantly, and his sapphire eyes were seen through a white simple opera mask, also sparkling.

"You're late!"

"Forgive me. I was spacing out for a while because a lady was mesmerising me."

Nora, who playfully answered back, smiled gently.

It felt like the heartbeat was jumping out.

***

Count Reicher- the kids’ uncle, got drunk and made a big fuss. Probably because Jeremy kept urged and provoked him, and now standing there giggling with Nora. Shuli went after and cleaned the mess (as always). She talked to the Empress and the Duchess of Nuremberg for a while and then left for a drink. And the unexpected guest came and ‘greeted’ her.

---

After that, I put down my glass, took a deep breath, and finally started walking toward.

“It’s been a while.”

The person who suddenly approached me and talked to me was the Young Lady, who wore a gorgeous purple mask with embroidery. Due to the graceful platinum blonde hair and purple eyes inside the front hollow, I could quickly recognise who it was.

“Long time no see. How are you.”

“That’s it.”

I slowly stopped smiling. The beautiful Young Lady, who was the symbol of elegance in my memory, seemed a little drunk. It was quite obvious to see the rosy cheeks and the sharp voice that appeared under the mask covering half of her face. Is this the power of the Masquerade?

“I think you are a little tipsy. It’s good to have fun, but have in mind you should take care of your body as well…”

“Of course, you would not do such a thing, unlike me.”

“What else does that mean?”

“I know what kind of person you are very well.”

And now she’s pretty outspoken, defiantly turning her violet mask towards me and continuing in an arousing tone.

"Anything would be easy for you. Even if you get drunk just once, you can lure all the guys. Whenever you're in trouble, there are so many knights coming and save you. In addition, you would just wander around and get to be his father's concubine and inherit an enormous fortune? Do you have to be that greedy? Why did you try to ruin the future of a man who had nothing to do with your insatiability?"

"What the hell are you saying now..."

“I am different from Madame. Do you know how hard I struggled? You don’t want to lose control of your sons, do you? And I am also sure that you don’t want to lose your seat.”

It was natural that the ball had become deadly quiet. Probably it’s one of the most exciting things to see other people fighting. As I looked at Rachel with her arms folded, Ohara just happened to realise what was wrong. After a while, she comprehended that a lot of sticky apple juice had been poured over her head and onto the gown, so the Young Lady began to wipe her whole body.

“This, what is this…”

“Oh, my apology. I also thought that it was an honour that the lady who grew up without enough parent’s attention dared to mix up words and talked to my mother like that. If you kept saying such things, I wouldn’t mind ripping your hair off.” (lmao Rachel mah favourite)

With Rachel’s creepy whispering, Ohara hardened for a while as she shook her shoulder and turned to me. I swallowed a bitter smile and opened my mouth, saying;

“It is not easy to see your father hanging out with his lover at a young age, isn’t it?...But my Lady, if you’re angry, you should go and argue with them. We would not welcome you if you came here and said rude remarks.”

“Me, I…”

“And please don’t come to me and argue about my son’s taste. How preposterous is that? And how upsetting would it be if my lady’s late mother saw this?”

Ohara said nothing. Instead she started to shake her shoulders slowly. It was just then before she burst into tears, but to make the matter worse, Elias- who ran here to see what was happening, immediately captured by the juice over the Lady’s body, held his stomach and laughed.

“Hahahaha! What, is this Rachel’s work?! Oh my, it’s terrifying…!”

I held my tarted smile again, as I looked at Ohara’s faint back dashing away with a crying sound. The room soon became noisy again; this place is in the middle of the dance floor anyway.

“Pahahaha! My brother should have seen that!”

“Elias…”

“Oh, why? It’s funny! Puhak-”

To be honest, it was a bit hilarious. Is this why people said ‘A mother is a daughter's best friend’? I pinched Rachel's adorable cheek, who was smiling triumphantly, and returned to my step.

---

After this scene is Elias and Ohara's POV, and even though Ohara was mean to Shuli, she's also very pitiful. Her mother passed away early, and her father neglected her, turning a young child into an incomplete woman. She confronted Shuli because she knew Jeremy had something for her, and she needed a person like Jeremy to take her out of the Dukedom's miserable life. Elias came and teased her at first, but he also noticed that Ohara didn't truly love Jeremy since she never tried to win his heart. He told her that don't come here and complain about his brother with Shuli, and she wasn't the kind of person Ohara thought she was. Ohara cried and said that if Shuli understands her heart a little, it would be better. So Elias comforted her; he also noted that he was lucky to have Shuli as a mother. They were a great couple; since Elias is a carefree (troublemaker) person and Ohara is the complete opposite, she was raised to be as dignified and graceful as possible, still, a poor girl who needs to be loved. They balanced each other out, and that was probably when Ohara started to fall for Elias.

While in the ball, the Duke of Nuremberg (Nora's father) argued with Heinrich Duke (Ohara's father). He seemed to be quite suspiciously tangled with the Pope; Nuremberg Duke has been planning to investigate and expose the Church. It was pretty chaotic, so Shuli and Nora went out to the balcony to take some fresh air (and for some personal space hehe.) Nora still didn't believe that his father would dare to go against the Church, especially since Theobalt was involved, even though the Duke was not as loving with the Crown Prince as before after the gambling incident. Shuli convinced him that the Duke had changed recently and he shouldn't be worried since she's here now. Nora smiled as he changed the subject; he did not want to continue this topic.

---

"What I saw earlier, it seemed like you were quite assertive."

(Remember the first time they danced Shuli almost stepped onto his foot)

"Unexpectedly, I'm always assertive. Were you surprised?"

"It wasn't surprising but rather attractive."

Oh? I pulled myself off the railing and smiled back a little.

"Really? How do you find it attractive?"

"Do I have to put it into words?"

"Yes. It's important to express your feelings."

The man who was touching his chin with his hand in glove while humming suddenly entirely turned toward me, causing me to flinch. The next moment, I realised his arms wrapped around my waist, and he pressed down his lips on mine, as hot as a flame. A sense of thrill came to the feathery kiss.

Then, just like when he came, he quickly stepped back.

"To the point and wanted to do this. Is it enough to express my feelings?"

How his blue eyes sparkled innocently and asked me was a little mischievous. I put my hand on the edge of my chest, where started to running wild and stuttered:

“Y… You…"

"Hm?"

"Wh.. What if someone sees this!"

"Doesn't matter. Isn't this the uniqueness of a Masquerade?"

"Then why did you stop…"

Ah.

I wanted to dig a hole and jumped in. What the hell did I just say? I'm crazy; I am going crazy!

I felt so thankful because of the mask since my face was burning hot, and it would be ridiculous for him to see my tomato look. I couldn't take back what I've said and didn't know what to do, and Nora seemed to have completely frozen. After a brief pause, he broke into a laugh.

"N, no! Don't laugh!"

"Ha, Noona, hahaha!"

"Don't laugh! I, I'm leaving!"

This giggling man immediately held my hand back and said in a slightly shaky voice.

"It's because I don't have enough confidence."

"What do you mean you're not confident?"

“I think it would be hard to stop if I continue. I’ve been barely holding it in the entire time.”

Holding in? I looked up at his grinning lips with that plump face for a moment. It took a while to fully understand the meaning behind his words, and I could feel my cheeks were blushing. What, what was that…?!

"It was Noona's dance, it was too alluring for my heart."

"Ah…"

I hesitated for a moment while hiding my red face and turned my head abruptly to the sound of something coming from the stairs.

"Noona?"

"I, I wonder who was there…"

"Oh, are you worried that Noona's lion cubs will see you?"

Of course, I'm worried. To be precise, of what reaction the kids would make. However, it was impossible to postpone forever; it's not okay to force Nora's secrecy. Because of my request that he couldn't reveal it to anyone, it's a pity that he had to do this as if he was a bad guy hiding his crime.

"Sooner or later, I'll set a suitable time. So please wait for a bit longer."

"Don't worry about me."

Nora, who shrugged his shoulder as if it wasn't a big deal, kissed me at the tip of my finger and tightly held my hand.

"Because I can wait until the day my Noona's ready."

I don't know what's up my mind, but I suddenly thought, no matter how long I've been back from the future, I couldn't predict all of it. This present, there wasn't only me anymore.

---

The ball ended peacefully. Shuli greeted and said goodbye to the guests and the Empress; she became extremely exhausted. The twins were sleepy, and Jeremy was also tired. She saw Elias sitting quietly on the sofa and wondered why.

---

"You're tired, aren't you? Or maybe it wasn't fun?"

"-..."

"Ellie? Why is today's star so quiet?"

I was just about to reach out and take off his mask because I was wondering if he had fallen asleep. Elias, who had maintained a noble silence until all of the guests left and we gathered in the cosy living room, suddenly took off his mask with his hand and threw it to the floor, roaring loudly.

"Did you enjoy it then?!"

My eyes widened at his exclamation of vivid anger. Jeremy, who was hanging around the room biting the cane-shaped candy, and the twins leaving just by the door, also looked back to this side.

"What, little big brother? Are you crazy?"

"Crazy? Am I crazy? Ha! I think you should ask her that question, not me."

"Oh, what the hell are you talking about now?"

As Elias glared at me, my heart was pounding hard; I covered my mouth with my hands. Oh, my God. Then, the person earlier was…

While I hardened on the spot, Jeremy bit the candy in his mouth and stared at his brother as if he was going to snap at him.

"Do you want me to repeat that bullshit? Damn it! Your friend was snuggling with her earlier! He was kissing her! Looking at her expression, I thought I could've denied it!"

While Jeremy looked back at me with literally frozen eyes, Elias growled with even more ferocity.

"When did you start?! How long have you been in that relationship with him? When did it start?!"

"Ellie, I'm… that was, please listen to me first…"

"Are you crazy?! How could you do that?!"

"Why couldn't she?"

It was none other than Rachel who popped in. She was leaving the room back then but now came back with slightly tousled hair and a puzzled face. Elias's eyes widened as his face became ridiculously offended.

"What did you say?

"What's the deal, big little brother? Of course, it's a bit of a surprising new, but-"

"Hey! Did you two think that I was making a fuss?! She was bewitched by that jerk!"

"My God! Why am I still saying this?! Don't you get it? It wasn't unexpected at all! If you considered everything that has happened so far..."

"No matter who the other person is, it is absolutely unacceptable! I can't tolerate this even if I die! How can that be-"

"Mum is a person, too! My mother is also a person!!"

The lioness stomped her feet as hard as she could, and even Elias flinched. As for me, I just looked at Rachel with blank eyes, wondering how long she had noticed something.

However, I didn't know that Rachel, a so unpredictable child, would take my side so aggressively.

***

“No, who said she's not a human? I'm just saying, how long since my father passed away…"

"Dad! He has already been buried under the ground for three years! How old is our mother? And what do you want her to do for the rest of her life?!"

"Father's anniversary is coming soon! How could she do this to him!"

"Why does it matter? A living woman should live!"

"Stop it! I don't care what you said, but even then, I will never let her live! Until the dirt gets into my eyes, I can't accept this!"

"Can't you shut up?"

Jeremy, who seemed to be frozen in shock, shouted. Both Rachel and Elias, who were growling at each other, look back at him in disbelief. Rachel seemed surprised that the target of that decree wasn't her, but Elias for sure.

"What? Brother, you don't agree with her right now, do you? He's your friend! How could you leave this alone?"

"Why don't you hold it in and ask all the knights this land? Eight out of ten would say they are suitable. So are you saying that Shuli, who is my age, should be lovey-dovey with those old, middle-aged men like our father?"

"Ahhh! I'm not saying that! I mean, how could she betray father!"

My head was shaking for a moment.

So that's how you feel, that I betrayed your father. A smile bursted out as I felt something hot rising from my heart. It occurred that it would have been the same even if it was for a month, but three years, no, ten years.

If I didn't recall those seven years after my husband's death, I wouldn't have felt this much grief if I hadn't gone through that miserable death and was brought back to the past.

I could understand Elias's reaction. But on the other hand, it is a strange feeling of disappointment the way he wanted me to be. Or is it just because of Nora's existence? Is that change-making me changed?*

(She thinks that Nora's is the only one she wished for so long, but now that maybe his existence is turning her into a selfish person, not because of him, but her.)

Jeremy looked at me, moved his step and came near me. He then uttered in an unfamiliar voice that seemed to suppress something sorrowful just before it exploded.

"If you mentioned the word 'father' once more, I would tear your mouth."

"What the hell is wrong with you?! So you're fine with this?

"It's an act above what we could allow, but what could we do now, besides sleep and cry."

There was a pause. Leon quietly opened his mouth when I, Jeremy and Elias stared at him, and he had not said a word so far, just listened to his brothers and sister babbling with a blank face.

"I thought we would be the only thing forever…"

"Leon…"

"Just because I said so, it's not exactly what I would do."

Leon quietly turned his back and left the room as he was going to. Before I could catch up to him, Elias shouted in an elated tone again.

"Our youngest brother doesn't like that either! Is it just me and Leon who's normal?”

"Well, rather than dislike, Leon-"

"You shut up! Just look at your twin brother! You both went to Safavid and got possessed by something!"

"If I tear your snot finely. You won't be able to tell my sister to shut up again, you know?"

"Huh, why did you only treat me like this?! Really, I thought big brother would be the most upset one! Why the hell are you sticking to that side?!"

Jeremy didn't reply to Elias' cry. He just moved his eyes at me with a complicated look.

I could barely open my mouth. It felt like my heart broke. It was thumping to the point I thought it's going to jump out.

"I thought about how to explain this to you guys, too. I know you wouldn't ever accept this, but… Honestly, what happened to me, I was just feeling so absurd…"

"Do you like him?"

Jeremy's slow and soft voice was gentle enough to feel a sense of incompatibility. Rather than prevent the opponent's blast, it feels strange as if he was trying to stop his own outburst. Of course, in this situation, I couldn't be the one who loses control. I felt Elias's glaring as I breath in, replied as if half-begging:

"I really like him… And I don't want to apologise for that. Please understand…"

"Ha! You're all crazy, out of your mind! I can't consent to this even if I die!"

Elias, who shouted out loud in the end, ran out of the room. Rachel also screamed back at him.

"Oh, my God, that jerk! Until the end! I wish you would just slip and fall while holding that tantrum!"

As soon as she said so, there was a loud crash and a short scream followed by a harsh curse. I shouted reflexively.

"Are you hurt?"

"Don't care about me!"

"Really, no matter what he did."

Jeremy looked back at me and smiled. It was not the usual playful smile but a soft and subdued smile.

"Don't bother, he's going to fall again anyway."

"Jeremy…"

"Well, I was wondering who the lucky guy was, and thought it's me. Anyway, let's go and get some rest now. You look tired. Let's talk again tomorrow."

I hesitated for a moment and soon nodded helplessly. What could I do in this state? First of all, I have to calm my head and rethink about it.

“Shuli?”

“...No. Good night to you guys.”

“You too. Good night.”

---

Usually, especially when it was a tiring banquet, Elias rarely came into his brother's place at a late hour. But tonight, when the truth was revealed, Elias found himself in his room without even knocking on his door, looking at his brother bowed down helplessly.

"Talk to me!"

Jeremy, who was sitting by his bed, was deep in thought and didn't mind changing his clothes, responded very unusually.

"Sit down."

Of course, Elias, who realised the weird manner of his brother, hesitated for a moment. Soon he quietly sat down on one of his chairs, then swelled and growled.

"How can you be so casual!"

"...Do I look like I'm fine in your eyes?"

"Oh, anyway, I can't let this just pass my eyes like nothing! The next time I see him, I'll surely put an arrow on his condescending face!"

"It would be good for your mental health if you just shut up and accept it nicely."

Jeremy's voice, whispering quietly, was terrifying low. Elias stared at his brother with his mouth gaped and then snapped back.

"What the hell are you thinking? Shuli might be leaving us because of him…"

"Is that what you're afraid of? Shuli might leave us?"

"Of course it is. And soon it will be our Father's anniversary…"

"If you know what kind of husband our father was, you won't be talking about this betrayal."

This time, Elias's eyes opened wide. Something is strange. He didn't know what it was, but still, why was it his father? At least what he remembers, whenever he visited them, his father always asked for her forgiveness by lots of dresses and accessories.

"...What is it, brother? Did you know something that I don't?"

At the time, the firmly closed door was unleashed again, and there were only the twins in the house, other than Elias, who would dare to do this.

He wondered if the two had guessed that they were going to be like this, so they came with pillows in their arms. They walked in and took a seat in the gorgeous room. The first person who opened their mouth was Rachel.

"Okay, everyone, let's stop arguing, especially big little brother! What was all the fuss you kept making! I've been expecting this to happen!"

"What? Hey, you…"

"She had already told me that when she went to Safavid with mum and on the way back, mum never showed any symptoms of sleepwalking. It's occurred whenever our particular guest stays here. What do you think that means?"

Elias stared at the face of the young boy for a while and yelled back;

"What do you mean? It's just a coincidence! Or maybe the condition disappeared just in time…"

"The main cause of sleepwalking is that anxiety inherent in her unconsciousness. I checked and checked all the dates my mum had sleepwalking so far and found out that every time the Young Master was there, there was always nothing wrong. It means that the presence of the Young Master somehow gives it away, the basis of mum's concern, which only God knows."

As if he was reading a mystery novel, Leon pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and stared at his brothers one by one as Elias dazed and dropped his jaw.

"What the hell is that… Does that even make sense?!"

"Let's see, first of all, I don't think I need to mention the Holy Trial again, and mum's symptoms still happened normally until the Young Master was involved. She probably doesn't know that herself, since this requires deeper psychological knowledge…"

"You, why are you suddenly changing your stance?! Until now…"

"Well, honestly, up until now, I once thought about that naïve idea that we would be together forever, but it was actually ridiculous, and isn't it okay if it was the Young Master?"

Rachel nodded her head eagerly at Leon's word while Elias's mouth was wide open, and his chin almost touched the ground. The drool was going to fall off if he didn't stop it in time.

"What...what do you guys want me to do?! Everyone is accepting this so easily because you haven't seen what they were doing earlier! That wicked wolf stared at Shuli as if he was about to eat her…"

"Don't be vulgar, big little brother. And are you in the position to sneer at anybody?"

"Hey!!"

"What!!"

While Elias and Rachel continued bickering, Leon turned his head and looked at his oldest brother, who was sitting on the sidelines out of the disturbance.

"Are you okay now, big brother?"

When his little intellectual brother asked him so, Jeremy frowned a little. It was a strange question. Is he okay now? What the hell.

"Well, I expected it to end up this way."

Leon responds with a significant glance at his low-tone flowing words. Jeremy also didn't expect an answer from him either, so he just smiled vulnerably and ruffled the golden hair in his hand. Yes, Jeremy guessed it would end up like this anyway. It was not as much of a shock as he thought it would be because he had already settled down in such way.

Even the bitter feelings that wiggled faintly at the bottom were bearable. Nevertheless, he couldn't figure out why the hot flame was going upside down. A friend of his took away part of his family that was more precious than anyone else. He knew so well this would come someday, but when it actually came, he somehow felt furious. It is common sense to say how many people can just laugh it off in this circumstance and say, 'Oh, I see.'

Additionally, the dramatic reaction of Elias is currently contributing greatly to the scratch on his heart.

Of course, it's not like he doesn't understand such a response from his younger brother. But do they have to come out like this? Should he just spit out his father's bluff to his siblings and how ugly he really was? For who endured all of these hard shifts? But Jeremy did not want his brothers and sister to share this heavy burden that would never disappear. He didn't want them to feel the grief and shame he felt when he found out the truth.

But if Elias kept throwing his tantrum like this, he would have no choice but to say.

'Do you even know what kind of husband our father was, so none of us dares to make Shuli give up the happiness she feels..'

"Oh, I'm absolutely against it anyway! I'm opposed to it! And I'm going to die, so if you don't want this innocent brother to die trivially, break it!"

---

Meanwhile, at the Nuremberg's mansion, the family were in chaos for planning Nora's marriage. His grandfather showed a picture of a Princess from the Teutonic Order, and Nora ultimately didn't remember her even though he just went to the founding banquet days ago. He thought to himself at the time he was captured entirely by 'someone'. While Nora was still wandering somewhere in his thoughts, Jeremy came and screamed till the top of his lung.

---

"Hey, you sneaky shitty dog! I swear you won't slouch yourself out here by yourself now, but get the heck out!"

The tremendous roar that came out of nowhere teared up the air incredibly in time, even if it was intentional. While the wolves gathered in the hall all showed the same expressions as if they had been planned all at once, the roaring sound that did not match this place rang once again.

"Where are you hiding your goddamn tail?! Can't you just pop out right now?! If you don't come here in ten seconds, I'll cut your nose off today!"

It was a terrifying warning that would make a man shudder. Nora looked at the adults' eyes staring at him for a moment and soon swallowed a sigh and strode out of the hall.

"What, such a terrible yell in the morning? Do you think this is your territory?"

Jeremy, who had been shouting wildly in the front yard of the wolf's mansion since dawn, jumped straight up the stairs, giving the knights no time to be confused in fear. Nora staggered for a moment after Jeremy threw a fist right at his cheek, soon regained his balance, raised his hand, and touched the frigid lips.

For a moment, he wondered if the blue eyes passed the unclear dimness and immediately came to the smile he knew.

Jeremy's ferocious look on his face became even more horrified.

"Laughing…? Are you laughing now?"

"...No, if you want to hit me more, do it now."

"What?"

"Do it now cause it's the only time you get to do this."

Jeremy stared at his friend for a moment and obediently obeyed. The Duke's household's valiant knights looked like they didn't know what to do, and given the atmosphere, it wasn't easy to interfere; and that didn't mean they could abandon their duty of protecting the Young Master.

To make the matter worse, the Duke, who came out to check what was going on in his yard, took out a tobacco pipe and smoked it while watching the scene with an eye of absurdity, amplifying the knights' confusion.

Nora, who had been beaten more gently after about three or four hits, suddenly raised his hand and grabbed his friend's fist. Before Jeremy could even growl at him to let go, he declared;

"I'm taking back what I said earlier. I can't stand this anymore."

Puck!

This time, Jeremy's body staggered wildly. Soon, the two young men scream at each other those hard-to-understand swear words, entangled and rolled down the stairs and started to flutter the lawn of the beautifully decorated courtyard.

This show, which took place with a group of dark knights and a middle-aged man as the audiences, seemed more like a fight to get rid of the stress that had been built up by this opportunity.

"The fact that you were born is a disaster for this Empire, you evil bastard! Do you think I'm going to hand over our Shuli to you? How dare you covet your friend's mother! I wish you will fall into hell!"

"Yeah, I kissed your mom! All right?! Now call me Daddy!"

"You shameless bastard! I'd rather go to hell than have a father like you!"

"I'd rather cut off my arm than have a son like you!"

By the time the two knights, who both had been beating so madly, were finally gasping for breath and declaring a truce, as the blue dawn was fading away and slowly shattering.

The two men lying side by side on the ground just like they were done, was far from that fantasy of all the famous romantic chivalry.

"From when the hell is it...From Safavid?"

"Hah…Yeah."

Jeremy lifted his leg and kicked his friend's leg. Nora also kicked him in the shin without losing. The two men were still exchanging childish kicks for a long time, and finally, they were exhausted and stretched out into large spheres.

The cool morning breeze blew through the two men's sweaty hair, and Jeremy stood up and looked at the morning sky and sat down again. He then smacked Nora's foot with his legs.

"Hey."

"What."

"Are you confident?"

"What?"

"Are you confident that you'll make her happy? Can you swear that you will never make her sad?"

Nora quietly raised his upper body and faced his friend's blazing eyes. Perhaps because of the morning fog, the water seemed to be dripping out of the dark green eyes.

"Will you believe me if I say yes?"

"...Last night, Elias went wild. He happened to see you two. The twins didn't seem to have many confrontations, but the problem is Elias. Do you know what I thought about?"

"What was this stupid guy thinking?"

"I wondered what if Shuli suddenly came up with a memory that she shouldn't have thought of. I'm worried that the last time she saw that fucking necklace, and suddenly remember it all. Do you know how anxious I was because of this concern that she will recall everything?"

Jeremy's expression, who was making a mockery with a mischievous tone, was so miserable. It was wretched. Nora just silently stared at his face.

"Only God knows if Shuli really doesn't remember or pretend so. But I thought it would be better if she doesn't, because I hope to God, please don't let such painful memories come back to her life…"

"-And, what I didn't tell you was, it may be a coincidence, but she never had sleepwalking symptoms when you were around, even during Safavid."

The slow murmur was low. At the same time, it held a strange tremor. As if he were desperately suppressing his tears. After a heavy silence that was hard to stop, Nora finally opened his mouth,

"So are you afraid that I will betray her? Or I'm going to swallow my Noona alive like your father? I won't do anything like an oath to relieve your anxiety."

Jeremy immediately frowned at the remark, which was so cold. Nora continued to speak, whether or not he saw the change.

"I'll try as hard as I can. And sometimes, I'll unintentionally disappoint her or make her cry. I can't assure you that. But I swear I won't hurt her no matter what. And nevertheless, I won't leave her."

The green eyes faced the calm blue eyes. Jeremy's desperate look in his eyes, he dropped the gaze to the floor and began to rub his eyes roughly with the back of his hand. Thinking that it wasn't a very good view, Nora looked away and clicked his tongue.

---

After the fight, Nora went and got his sword while going out of the Nuremberg's mansion. The Duke asked him where he was going; Nora indifferently replied that he would murder the Crown Prince and the Pope, and surprisingly the Duke didn't stop him this time. But Nora thought of himself as a knight, not an assassin. So he wanted to give her a glorious flower after everything ended. Shuli deserved much better than that.

Nora looked back at his father and told him that he would never marry anyone without his will. And it would be fine if he got kicked out of the genealogy. The Duke asked him if the Neushwanstein's Madam was so important to him. Nora got upset and told him that she was his whole world, that she was the reason he was still breathing until now. The Duke looked at him bitterly and apologised to Nora after what he had done for so long.

---

"You said you fought with Nora…?!"

"Don't worry too much. I-"

"Jeremy!"

"Agh, I think I've been hit once more."

Oh, my God. I was wondering where he had disappeared silently from dawn, and he went and fought with Nora?

"What the hell is wrong with your face? Ah, dear God, look at your burst lips!"

"Aya. Don't touch it too hard. It's hurt."

"Did it hurt when you get hit then?!"

"It didn't! He would be, but not … Ayaya!"

I shook my head and ordered the maid to bring a medicine jar. Jeremy asked in a cautious tone that didn't suit him and looked at me while I carefully taking the ointment from the round bottle.

"You're not mad at me for hitting him, aren't you?"

"Oh! What are you talking about? I'm really upset that he dared to make my golden eldest son turn out to be like this!"

Even though I said so, I felt sorry for Nora. What if it was because of me that Jeremy and Nora's friendship turned out to be the other way… But anyway, it seems like Jeremy was satisfied with my answer, he gave me a big smile.

"He had it tough, too. No, it's worse than me."

"Hm."

"What, why? You don't believe me?! Don't you tell me that you thought he was stronger than me! Is this how it feels? Wow, it already comes, the favouritism! I'm hurt!"

...Even you, too, keeping this rhyme of favouritism. On the other hand, I was grateful to see him act playfully as usual. If Jeremy started to express his disapproval or mostly distancing himself from what happened between Nora and me, I really wouldn't figure out what to do.

"Ouch!"

"Stay still. You have to apply all of this to get better soon. So, what did you say after the fight?"

"I sat down on him and warned him that if he dared to make a teardrop from your eyes, I would immediately tear his leg and kill him!"

Wah, he sat on Nora and violently warned him so? I thought that myself was a bit weird as I hid the smile in the corner of my heart.

"Did you go just to say that…?"

"Then, did you think I'd be ragging him to get away from you? Even though I don't want to say this, but to be honest, there's no one who's as good for you as he is. The last few days, you seemed to be shining… Well, if you're happy, I can't ask for anything else."

My touch of applying ointment around his bruised eyes stopped. It seems like my face looked like a fool without I even noticed, and him, who gently blinked his eyes, made a giggling sound as he folded his eyes thinly.

"What's so surprising? I've said it many times before."

"Jeremy…"

"I don't know what kind of luck he was born with to win your heart, but whether he's my friend or not, that really doesn't matter. The point is how good he was to you. No matter who he is, you must be loved and happy. If you don't, I won't leave him alone."

His sweet and warm words made my eyes ache. I even forgot that I had been applying ointment just now, as I raised myself and wrapped my arms around his head as I kissed the soft golden hair on the top.

"Thank you, Jeremy. Thank you so much for saying so..."

It was then that I heard completely unexpected voices.

"When did my big brother start talking so well?"

"What a great improvement. It's funny to talk so seriously with that face."

"...Rachel? Leon? Since when have you been there?"

The twins, who had been watching Jeremy and me with their heads peeked out from the door, rushed in. Then they took a seat and sat down one by one on the sofa we were sitting on.

"Be honest, my big brother. You wanted to get rid of him, so you beat him and rushed here to complain with your mom for failing, right?"

"My beloved sister, you are hurting my heart. In fact, I dare say I wished it had happened that way!"

While Rachel and Jeremy had such a heartwarming (?) conversation, I anxiously looked at Leon with an uneasy feeling. It wasn't as much as Elias last night, but Leon, who had a pretty sensational reaction, already said so.

I awoke all night wondering about what to say, but Leon looked at the cookies places in the middle of the table and turned his eyes to me and asked,

"But mum, does that mean the Young Master becomes our father?"

The silence subsided. How much of an awkward stillness that could not be described has passed.

When I stared at Leon with a don't-know-what-to-say expression.

"Daddy, who's your daddy?!!"

"Oh, my God. What's wrong with you, big brother?"

"It's because you said a terrible thing!"

"Even though you said it was terrible, what I told you is just a scheduled genealogical fact…"

"Stop it!"

"Aya, that's a bit provident of my big brother. Doesn't that mean your rank is lower than your friend?"

"What are you talking about, sister! A son surpasses his father in every way… No, not this! Anyway, don't say terrible things!"

The laughter burst out thanks to Jeremy scratching his arm as if it was horrible to imagine. Rachel, who covered her lips with her hands and grinned, looked back at me with her eyes sparkling.

"I'm glad there's someone who can make my mother happy, right?"

"...Thank you, my daughter."

Indeed, my daughter is the best! I opened my arms while swallowing the tears of emotion and hugged Rachel tightly. Then Leon cried:

"Huh? What is this, big brother and Rachel, why won't you do so with me? This is favouritism!"

...I think the rhyme of favouritism in my family is no longer an exclusive property of Elias anymore. I smiled as I wrapped my other arm around Leon's shoulder and kissed him on the golden hair on the top of his head. No matter what others say, their recognitions are the most important things to me. Thank God, what's a relief.

...Not yet completely fortunate. Glancing sideways in the South East of Elias's room, I hold in a weak sigh. Jeremy must have noticed my sigh; he coughed quietly and said.

"Don't mind him, just leave him alone."

"But he's stuck in there without having breakfast, I couldn't do so."

"What are you going to do?"

"I would hold on and try to talk to him, he must be hungry. How long is he going to stay like that?"

"But mum, little big brother is going to be mean again."

"Well, let him be! That's what I have to go through."

So I left the three brothers and sister trying to dissuade me and headed straight to Elias's place. Standing in front of the tightly closed door, I took a short deep breath and carefully raised my hand as I knocked on his door.

"Ellie?"

"...Go away!"

Sure enough, the bitter smile leaked out of my mouth.

"Ellie, talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about! If you don't want to end with him!"

"You didn't even have breakfast."

"It doesn't matter whether I have it or not!"

"Even if you don't want to talk to me, come out and eat. And don't go to the kitchen and eat anything."

"My, when did I do that?! I won't eat anything until when you're done with him!"

"Are you saying you're on a hunger strike?"

I was patient and knocked on the door again.

"Ellie, come out and let's have some eggie. Listen to me for now."

"Why should I listen to you?! I'm not going to talk to you, and I'm not going out of this room until you're done with that black guy!"

"Are you threatening me now? Why did the man who just came of age yesterday make this kind of childish threat?"

"Say whatever you want! If you want to see me starve to death, do as you please!"

"Please don't say such nonsense. Why would you choose to starve?"

"Because I want to die! I'm going to starve or hang myself, so be happy with him!"

"Ellie…"

"If you want to see me die in front of you, then go and play with him! Ha, ha! And if you want to be branded as the mother who kills your child for a man, too… Wha, what, what?"

My head was spinning, but when I came to my senses at the moment, for the first time, I pushed Elias's door so hard as I went inside his room for the first time since the gambling incident. As soon as I came in, Elias, who was sitting sloppily by the window with his only gown roughly tied, jumped as he freaked out.

"What, what?! What is this?"

"Dying? Are you going to die in front of me?!"

"Ah, no, that's why you…"

"It's that so?!"

"No, it's just a metaphor…"

"How could you say it so casually! How did I raise you until now to make you say you're going to die right before my eyes? How could you say that to me?!"

"So I thought you were…"

"Oh, it's my fault! It's all my fault! I'll go jump out of the window and die! Sure, I'm going to kill the stepmother who made her stepson feel like he was going to kill himself!"

Those words Elias said yesterday flowed back were upsetting, and my voice burst out without me realising it. And Elias's face turned vain.

"Shu, Shuli!"

"Mom!"

"Madam!"

I never screamed this loud for the most part. Anyway, as I sat on the floor and sobbed uncontrollably, the children, the crew and the knights rushed in and started to make a fuss without knowing what to do.

"Oh, you stupid brother, is this all you can do!"

"Oh, no, I'm just… Shuli, I'm sorry! It's all wrong! I won't say I am going to die anymore! You have heard it! I was just saying!"

Even if he was just saying so, I was so upset that I couldn't utter a word, as what he told me yesterday made me cry even harder.

"Shu, Shuli!"

"That's right! How could you say so to your mom?! Big brother, hit him a little harder!"

"Ah! Ouch! Ahhh! I was wrong! I, I wasn't serious!"

Elias was trying to protect his head from his brother's fists. I watched him struggle pitifully for a moment and finally lifted myself up. Then I opened my mouth as I felt countless anxious eyes pouring at once.

"Are you going to eat…?"

"Yes, I will! I will eat it!"

---

Meanwhile, the Duke of Nuremberg talked to Emperor Maximilian about the issue of the Pope. He decided to expose the Pope about his son assassination and officially divide the Empire's workforce into two, the Aristocracy and the Church if the Imperial family restively don't want to get involved. But that's mean the Emperor's reputation would be ruined. He thought the Duke of Nuremberg did this since he wanted to revenge him from taking away Ludovika.

But the truth is that the Duke has already overcome the pain of losing one's love and moved one, and he couldn't forgive the organisation which tried to murdered his son. And the noble council has to be reopened.

As they clearly showed their suspicion towards the Church about the Cantarella poison, the Pope denied it anyways they can. Shuli was seen as treason, but she didn't mind. She firmly told them that they had no authority to control the noble's movement, specifically the Neushwanstein's movement. Every Cardinal was stunned (in Shuli's POV, she even said they looked as if she declared she would take their testicles), except Richelieu. He kept his composure, and so was Shuli; she held onto Nora's hand under the table (I think Nora came to the gathering as the victim of the poison in Safavid.) The council ended as Shuli got the advantage, so was the aristocracy.

When Shuli went to greet Empress Elizabeth, and she immediately spotted 'something strange'.

---

Elizabeth, who was staring at me with a mysterious look, suddenly asked me while she was swallowing her laughter and kept the exaggerated voice,

"But you… Are you in a relationship these days?"

"...!"

Just when her words reached me, I immediately spat out half of the water in my mouth. It was impossible.

And instead of blaming me for my mistake, Elisabeth squinted her eyes and clapped her hands.

"You can't fool my eyes! Then it was true, isn't it? Who's your lover! Huh? Hurry up and tell me!"

She looks more like a teenager than a middle-aged empress. I barely coughed and had no choice but to confess. No, I was going to admit.

"Is it my cheeky nephew?"

"No, how could you do that…"

"Hah! I knew it! You don't have a really good eye, do you? What's so good about him?"

I just blankly stared at Elizabeth for a moment. With her chin supported by both hands, as she exhaled with her face glowing brightly, it's quite touching to see.

"What do you mean you knew this?"

"Oh, my God, you think this is new? It's obvious, just look at what he had done so far. Whoever sees it, it's palpable that he aspired after you. Isn't that why he was so caring towards you? How's the progress? It is quite 'usable'?"

"Your, Your Highness The Empress!"

She burst into laughter as I shouted out a loud scream. At a time like this, I could see why Nora and she shared the same blood.

"Why are you so shy? Oh ho ho, you have this side of your, too, so it's good to be in that relationship. I've seen flowers bloomed on your face lately! Ha, I envy you. I used to be like that."

It was a statement that made us realise the age difference between us.

---

Shuli kept Elizabeth's company for a while, as she told her about her past. A long time ago, in her debut, she was so nervous as she tripped while dancing. A young writer caught her, and she fell in love. She was thrilled to meet him ever since, even though she has a marriage settlement with the Emperor. They never really hold any affection for each other. But in the end, she became the mother of Ludovika's children, which she didn't appreciate at all. And Theobalt used that weakness of her to push Letran- the second prince, to his limit. The Empress regretted her action badly that she let Theobalt get the advantage and left behind her own child since she always blamed herself for taking a dislike for Theobalt because of his biological mother, not knowing how he manipulated the people around him. Shuli comforted her as she cried.

***

When Shuli left the palace, it's already dark outside. As she walked towards the carriage, someone suddenly hugged her. Thinking it was Nora, Shuli turned around and horrified to find out Theobalt was the one who embraced her and sobbed. Shuli tried to stop him, and she scolded him, saying that if he didn't tell her the story honestly, she wouldn't tolerate him any longer. While so, Nora came and attacked Theo; he held the Crown Prince collar as he threatened him. Theo dropped the portrait of Ludovika, and Shuli saw it. He told her that Emperor Maximilian really loved his mother, and so was he. Shuli did pity him, but thinking over what he had done, she couldn't be the one to forgive him. Before the conflict started, Shuli urged Nora to go and they left, when Shuli looked back, Theobalt was standing there smiling faintly, looking at her longingly for the love he wished he had.

When they came into the carriage, Shuli asked Nora if he was upset, and he was, so he kissed Shuli until he's satisfied (?) and hugged her. At one point, Shuli whispered to him that Johannes actually married her for Ludovika's appearance. Nora said it didn't matter, because whoever she looked similar to he would fall in love with her anyway. They came back to the Neushwanstein's mansion together as Nora decided to have dinner there. And Nora was greeted by Shuli's loudest child, Elias.

---

Elias, who was about to jump inside quickly across the garden while holding his bow, saw a stranger loitering in his garden, right at the spot he just targeted with that stranger's imaginary face; and of course, he stopped immediately.

"Hey, you punk! When did you crawl in here?"

Nora, who was sitting and exchanging glances with the hounds in the cage, naturally turned his head and looked at him.

"Nice to meet you, too."

"...I don't feel nice at all! Why the hell are you here?"

"I'm not here to see you, and I'm also not that happy either."

"My little brother may have accepted you, but I'm not! We can't give Shuli to a wicked man like you! No, I can't give her to anyone else!"

Nora, who looked like he had nothing to say, turned his head again and looked at the dogs in the cage. In the meantime, he kept touching the nose of the hound, and it raised it's hand and gave it to him; seems very easygoing. So Elias naturally found himself even angrier.

"I don't approve of you!"

"Yes, yes."

"Hey! Are you looking down on me! Get out of my house! Don't ever bother us again!"

"Well, I'll have to ask Noona to eat out. I think it will be a great date."

"Don't even get around Shuli! I don't care why she was bewitched by you, but as long as I'm here, things will never work out your way! I'm going to do anything to keep you two apart!"

"The more hardships arise, the deeper the love grows."

"Ya!!!"

Elias was holding the bow, the extra ivory bow Shuli brought back from Safavid, swiped it right in the back of Nora's head!

After a solemn sound of dull friction, Nora, who was about to raise his upper body, sat back with his arms wrapped around his head.

There was a pause.

While Elias was not aware of what he had done at the moment, Nora slowly groaned and deliberately raised himself with his head wrapped in one hand. Then he slowly turned around to Elias.

Elias took a step backwards, swallowing his dry saliva without even realising it. It was the fact he never wanted to admit, but Nora's momentum was quite terrifying. The eerie glare of the deep blue eyes was like the wolf's angle just before it hit the prey.

It's okay, no way he can do anything to me in my house. I mean, yeah, yeah. As Elias struggled to think so, there was a lively growl in his ears.

"...You."

"Well, what…?"

"How long are you going to live like that?"

"...What?"

"How long are you going to live like a kid who can't think of anything? Is it natural what Shuli Noona has done for you? Have you ever thought of paying it back?"

Elias was so furious that he was about to scream, but he soon hesitated because he had a hunch that the beast might split himself into two right at the spot.

"Yes, why...do you care…?"

"Ha…"

Elias immediately regretted it, as the look on Nora's face turned horribly distorted. Oh, I shouldn't have said anything.

However, Nora, who had been staring at Elias as if he was going to tear and kill him for a while, suddenly changed his expression with his eyes wide open. While Elias was staring blankly and wondered what was going on, Nora was now half sitting on the floor, half kneeling and wrapped his hands around his head as if he had a concussion. While so, he made a sound that didn't suit him at all.

"Ahhh…"

At the same time, another voice rang.

"What are you all doing here… Nora?!"

The protagonist of the voice was none other than Shuli. As she, wide-eyed, ran straight to Nora, who was sitting on the floor and Elias sneaked his bow behind his back, even though it couldn't be covered up.

"Ah, ouch! It's okay. It's nothing."

"Oh, my God, it's bleeding! What the hell happened?!"

"It's just a little…"

Nora and opened his mouth as his wailing eyes headed toward Elias, who was standing stiffly. Therefore, Shuli's gaze naturally went that way, too. The grassy eyes flashed an incredible light.

"Elias, you…"

"Oh, no, I'm… No, that guy, just now…!"

“Elias Von Neuschwanstein! No matter what, how could you do this?!"

"No, I mean, he did that on purpose right now..."

"What's on purpose?! Oh, my God, how could I look at the Duke in the eyes."

So Elias was right. He really should have hit that ugly head with a bow. Still, Elias found himself swept away by the inexplicable injustice. Was he a fox, not a wolf?

"No, that's why I did it…"

"Elias, please! If you want to get angry, just give it to me. I really didn't know you would do this much. I didn't expect it to be so unconventional!"

"Oh, no, he was like…"

"Don't be mad, my Noona. I'm okay. That's how we get close."

When Nora, who raised his body as he rubbed his head, said soothingly, Shuli sighed with her hand resting on her waist. Soon, she held Nora's arm, and Elias was just looking at them with his mouth open like a fool. To make the matter worse, Nora, who was following Shuli energetically, turned his head toward him and frowned.

"...I, I…! Hey! Hey, you dog!"

In the end, Elias, who finally caught up in the resentment with no way to express it, screamed with momentum as if to destroy his entire mansion. He continued the long scream, poured out his non-educational swear words, and was finally beaten up by Jeremy, who came out after hearing his voice as he became quiet.

---

After that everyone had dinner together. It was a peaceful meal, except Elias, who was thinking about how to abolish Nora. He really wanted to scream, but looking at Shuli, who was acting as nothing had happened, it seemed like she would be very angry this time. What if she cried like the last time, he wouldn't know what to do. So Elias decided to hold the yell back. While everyone was having their desserts, Shuli asked Elias if he wanted some raspberries pie. He grumpily replied that don't treat him like a child. Shuli was getting him some more milk as his enemy- Nora also asked for it. Elias pissed off and screamed, "It's my milk!!!" which caused everyone to die in laughter, even the maids who were carrying the milk, and Elias thought he could die at this instance.

He continued thinking about how to murder Nora. At first, he thought of bringing the bow, but then realised it won't come out in handy; he changed his tactic and wanted to throw the glass of milk at him. As he glared at Nora fiercely, Nora turned at him and blinked his blue eyes innocently,

"Shall I give you my pie, too? Instead, I could watch my Noona."

"... Don't pretend to be nice in front of Shuli!"

"Ellie, what's your tone to someone wanting to share with you? And you haven't eaten all of yours yet."

"..."

As he stared at Nora's shameless face, who seemed to be smiling, Elias felt a homicidal urge to turn the table and destroy everything. He's really gonna end this.

Then Jeremy, who finished all of his pie, snapped Nora's knee under the table.

"Hey, can you give it to me if you don't wanna eat?"

"You've had three. Overeating isn't good for your body."

"Is that what you're going to say?"

"Jeremy, don't put your legs on the table."

"He ate a lot, too!"

"Jeremy, please!"

"... Huh hu hu, this is favouritism! How could you do this to me…"

While everybody was arguing like dog and cat, Leon quietly gave Elias nervous stabiliser pills to drink whenever Nora was there.

***

After the dinner, the boys went out and made a fuss, leaving the two exhausted ladies as they left the dining room. Nora and Jeremy talked a while and decided they wouldn't tell the children about Johannes, the previous Marquis.

---

Then goes the corruption of the Church. Lots of protests happened as the Vatican's assassination exposed, and the aristocracy got the advantage even though no matter how great the army is, dealing with the Emperor and the Pope isn't so easy. It seems like the Duke of Nuremberg and Empress Elizabeth came to the agreement of changing the Crown Prince's position. Fifteen days before Christmas, a loud signal was fired to announce the end of all those breathtaking Temperances.

Christmas came, and the Neuschwanstein went shopping for the Nuremberg's banquet. As Jeremy and Elias were in the other store, Rachel and Leon also got impatient and loitering around. Shuli stayed in the clothing shop they went to every year and bought nice clothes, the shop named 'Melissa clothing store' <Check chapter 16 of the webtoon> At one point, Shuli drank the tea prepared by the owner as she fainted. It was the Church's plot. They bribed the owner, or I think she was also one of them, kidnapping Shuli and then try to murder her since she was the symbol of the rebellious aristocracies. But Cardinal Richelieu was the one behind this all.

When Shuli woke up, she was in the main residence of the Chief's mourner, so it was no use for screaming or yelling, as Richelieu said. He even prayed and told himself he couldn't be lured by the lewd woman craving for precious life (?) Anyways, he told Shuli that she herself was quite incredible, now that the unity and the heresy movement of the aristocrats had a large influence. Shuli also gave him back a compliment as he had quite the courage to dare poison the Young Master of the Nuremberg. She knew it was because of his petty jealousy, even though he denied it and told her it was because he was trying to save the Young Master from the grasp of the witch. Shuli laughed as she heard the word 'witch'; she didn't even have a magic broom.

They continued the conversation, Richelieu still saying that all of the God's believers would support the Pope, but the Neuschwanstein also got Safavid's backup.

As he couldn't menace Shuli anymore, the Cardinal spat out that they were going to burn Shuli alive, as the example of all traitors. But he could save her with one condition. Shuli felt the disgust spread out her whole body as he whispered that she had to cut all ties and stay with him forever. Shuli laughed, as she sarcastically said with Elias's exact tone:

"Ahaha…! I apologise, but I'm a very worldly person, and I can never be satisfied with a man like you who can't even wear my knight's old socks. I'm sorry that you stick with all of these poor guys. It's a pity to think that you misunderstood me. I would rather burn myself to death than stay with you all my life!"

She could feel the black eyes burned like a flame from hell. At the next moment, when Richelieu tried to crush her, Shuli kicked her knee as hard as possible, as it was the self-defence Jeremy taught her and ran to the window, covered herself by the thick tapestry hanging on the wall. She didn't hesitate and jumped down, starting her runaway even though it hurts like hell.

Shuli ran and hid; luckily she met a group of people who gave her a ride, and she asked them to ride to the Neushwanstein's mansion. On the way, she saw Nora, so she called his name and literally jumped out of a running carriage and rushed toward him. Even though Nora's embrace was crushing her, Shuli still managed to say who was the culprit of the kidnapping.

---

"Ugh, the Cardinal, he abducted me. In that dressing room…"

"Shu, Shuli? "

Thump, thump, thump!

Jeremy, who ran with a fierce roar, rushed straight to me right away.

"Oh, my God! Shuli! My mother! Are you okay?! No injury?! What the hell happened…"

"Jeremy, Leon and Rachel…"

"Both are at home, ha, thank God. Get away from her, my mother!"

"Who gets away from who? Is she your girlfriend?"

"Agh, shut it!"

"Shu, Shuli."

I lifted my head while getting stuck between Nora and Jeremy. There stood our Elias, who dressed in military uniform, holding a bow.

The sorrowful tears filled his emerald eyes.

"Ellie."

"I,I… I thought… Ha, I thought that I will never see you again… I was so scared…Hh… I'm glad you're back safely!"

Elias was stammering and stuttering, suddenly bursted and rushed at me. While squeezed between hugs, Elias's unfamiliar appearance, but a surprising and warm feeling aroused.

---

After this abduction, the civil war officially began. The Nuremberg and Neuschwanstein lead the aristocratic army. So the man must go for the war, they temporarily say goodbye for a while. Shuli was terrified; somehow the nightmare from her past life kept coming back again.

When Nora and the lions went away, Shuli and Rachel had to migrate to a safer place. On the carriage, Shuli held Rachel tightly and felt her pulse jumping out.

Three years ago, the exact man who came and took away her life reappeared, Abbington Albert- the head knight of the Neuschwanstein. Shuli still didn't know that the culprit was him, but she could feel it; the man hunted each of her dreams.

Meanwhile, Ohara's letter arrived at Elias. Her father joined the Church, Shuli's assassination was coming. Elias hastily told Nora and Jeremy, they were all astonished and wanted to go straight away. But Nora stopped Jeremy since he was injured, and he had to stay and lead the Allies to victory. Even though they argued a bit but in the end, Nora and Elias went away first.

At the time, the murders had already reached the carriage. Shuli was also injured, but with her daughter behind, she couldn't give up. Holding a heavy sword didn't suit her slender body at all; Shuli's shoulder and arms were all tattered, but she felt no pain. As they were going to stab her, Elias and Nora came in time.

The war ended with the Allie's victory. The Church fell apart; the Imperial Family lost their prestige as Theobalt got expelled, Letran got the Crown Prince position. After this is a four years time skip, where Rachel and Leon's Coming-of-Age ceremony began, as Rachel and Ali officially married. Even though Jeremy opposed this marriage because both of his mother and sister were leaving the household, since he couldn't get angry with Shuli, he then turned to Rachel. Rachel was upset, and they fought a lot, like usual.

In their wedding, Rachel thanked Shuli for raising her so well, and as the ship to Safavid went far away, Shuli cried her eyeballs out. The three sons were embarrassed and tried to soothe her, even though it made her cry even more. Nora then kissed her and whispered softly; he was confident that he would be the best husband in the world. Shuli thought she had been delaying an answer for too long. Now that everything changed, Albert, who she once believed in, saw her as the stain of the Neuschwanstein, Richelieu who tried to commit suicide by drinking the poison, was found by Jeremy; they were all gone now. Elizabeth and Shuli were best friends now, as she usually said she was on the wrong side before. Letran got to be the Crown Prince and soon inherit the throne, but he would probably be the Puppet Emperor since the aristocracies gain enormous initiation, and Shuli now would be the Duchess of Nuremberg. Their wedding was coming soon.

---

"I never thought I'd step down this way."

"Congratulations, my eldest son. Finally, the Marquis of the Neuschwanstein."

"Even though it's not the way my dad hoped for, wouldn't it be better?"

She opened her round eyes for a moment and laughed broadly. Shuli, the goddess of spring, wrapped in a dazzling white wedding dress.

"Yes, as always, I can't refute what you say. Then tell me with that difficult logic. How do I look?"

How do you look? Jeremy clapped his hand together and made a face that seemed like he was considering for a while. How do you look right now? If it was the usual, it was natural to tease her, 'Where is my ugly girl?'

However, at this moment, such a prank did not work. She laughed shyly and touched the hem of her wedding dress; aside from her honest and objective appreciation, perhaps it was because of the thought that she should have done this in the beginning.

Yeah, it should have been like this from the very beginning. For her, it should have been like this from the start , not to marry his father, not to become the young concubine and got all kinds of glare from the public.

In this way, with a bright smile of excitement and happiness, the wedding should have been filled with blessings, sparkling with dazzling beauty…

"I can't recognise you. I don't know where the ugly girl went. Nora's going to faint when he sees you."

"Oh, how are you complimenting me?"

"Heh, now I'm a Marquis. I have to treat my only mother with great care as a family member to set an example."

"Ah, come on. I'm proud of you. But even when you're the Marquis, you're still a crybaby."

What's a crybaby, how is he supposed to be a crybaby? But before Jeremy could refute, Shuli, who was still smiling brightly, reached out her lace-armoured hand and gently touched his tingling eyes.

"You've always been a tearful guy. Even though you couldn't be seen like that in front of anyone."

Like a hotshot knight who was completely indifferent inside, Jeremy tried to negate to that remark. However, his voice somehow was not coming out, as if it had been completely locked. The desperate suppression on the eyes seemed useless. What the hell is wrong with him?

"Don't cry, Jeremy, I'm not going anywhere far. Even if I became a Nuremberg, not Mrs. Neuschwanstein. I'm your mother forever."

That was true. She wasn't leaving as far away as Rachel. The Duchess of Nuremberg is close enough to visit anytime. She just put down her name and wrote Nuremberg's name.

Nevertheless, Jeremy found himself unable to control his tears, which kept flowing freely.

What's wrong with you? Because you thought you should have understood this from the beginning? Because you know it's right? Or do you know that now you really have to let her go completely?

Maybe it's because of that. Knowing all the lingering feelings of his boyhood, all the yearning, the sorrow, the gratitude, and now it's the end, he just wanted her to be shining and happy forever, standing next to the friend whom he trusted more than anyone else, and enjoy what she should have enjoyed.

This may ruin Shuli's wedding. Jeremy, so desperately holding back his heart, tried to rub his eyes with the back of his hand and murmured in a cracking voice, saying.

"What do you mean? If you give birth to your real child, we'll all be in the background, and… Ahh!"

Shuli's smooth pale face turned red.

"What kind of fool is that!"

"Why, am I right, if you and he have a child, I'll no longer be the golden eldest son!"

"What, what do you think? And you're always my golden eldest son! Don't you say so, after you would meet a pretty wife and never nag your mom like this!"

"Sorry for disappointing you, but you're the only one in the world!"

"Please, put both of them in moderation!"

Shuli and Jeremy, who were clapping at each other, turned their gaze at once to look at the entrance of her wedding room as they witnessed the appearance of the arrogant bloody lion.

"What, you're done crying now?"

"When did I?!"

"I've seen it all! You were squeezing with your tears!"

"When?! What hours, what minutes, what seconds?!"

The scene of two truly childish growls with their eyes wide open, the whimpered appearance of two men was not a good sight in a splendid wedding. So Shuli turned to her youngest son, who was keeping a decent attitude on the day of the unprecedented event.

"I feel bad because you seem so upset."

"I'm just sad since I'm afraid I won't be able to monopolise my mum's affection in the future. But my older brothers are a little childish."

Leon, who pointed out confidently, approached Shuli with a graceful gait and covered her head with a wreath he was holding. It was possible because now he was much more vast than her. The immature little boy who once held onto her skirt and nagged, now has become a beautiful young man with a scholarly look.

"Congratulations on your wedding, Mum. I'm ready to call my mum's husband dad. Unlike the childish brothers."

"Hey! Who the hell is your dad? Don't say anything terrible!"

"If the day comes when I call that black wolf my dad, it must be the end of this Empire! You-short-legged nerd!"

"Why am I short-legged?! At least I reach your neck by now?!"

"Guys... are you going to keep fighting like that again?"

At the sound of Shuli's muttering with a weak smile, the three Neushwanstein men shut their mouths as they had promised at the same time instead of continuing the childish argument in the scared bride's waiting room. Then they smiled and looked at the bride one by one.

***

It was Shuli who couldn't be able to detect the extremely dangerous and meaningful eyes light of her sons as they have been planning this for a long time. She stepped back, but there was nowhere to go, as she didn't know what to do with them, it's hard to call these children cubs now.

Her three enormous lions roared at the same time and rushed to her.

"We don't know, but this bride is the main character of the wedding!"

"Wahhh! What are you doing?! Put me down! Put me down, boys!"

Shuli's whole face was blushing, all red and helplessly shrieking, as the three Neushwanstein men lifted her on their shoulders and happily exited the waiting room.

Then, they headed directly to the venue, where the guests- nobles of all status countlessly filled the auditorium had the same expression at once. In other words, they began to show off their mouth's width. Some of the bands who were about to play the music almost dropped their violin's bow, and Count Reicher, who had a solemn look on his face on the podium, was coughing in vain.

However, it was Neushwanstein's children who didn't care a bit about how people looked at it. It was their adage.

"There's nothing to care about the sound of people who aren't one of us!"

"Wahaha! Today is my little mother's wedding!"

All of the people out there came to their senses when Elias needlessly shouted with momentum. Soon afterwards, the most romantic and triumph music began to flow, and guests' applause. No one knew why they started clapping.

And today's groom, standing in front of the aisle ending with a pink rose-covered Virgin road, stared at the three who proudly succeeded his bride with a grim smile as if he knew it would happen. Faced Nora, dressed quite brightly as a groom, Jeremy briefly exchanged glances and talked in silence. Blazing dark green eyes and blue eyes caused an intense collision.

'Good luck, you bastard.'

'Hurry up, you punk.'

Jeremy gently put Shuli down and handed her over to Nora, his friend who had no wife. Finally, the groom, who took over the bride, held her hand and smiled as he looked up into her eyes. She also smiled.

The tall bell tower, the magnificent Church in the centre of Wittelsbach Lake, and the stained glass of historical relics, which is now a variety of event artefacts, illuminated the main characters of today.

With the fond scenery in his eyes, Jeremy now stepped back to the bride's mail order with his brothers, who were now blunting their eyes toward the groom.
It's okay, it's okay. It'll be alright.

As soon as the date of the wedding was set, Elias, who went on a hunger strike and picked up the white flag in half a day, and Leon, who were frustratedly saying: "Do I have to stay with my muscle-in-brain brothers from now on?"; but Jeremy himself would be fine.

As a result, he was a different person from his father. Just like what his ugly friend once told him. So Jeremy was fine. He may not be as good as Elias, but by hanging out with women his age, he would be able to meet good people. And if that kind of luck came at one point, on a sunny morning, he would look back at the women who used to stay by him and remind himself of the fact that he loved her.

However, is this regret that subtly tickles a corner of his heart because of the words that have not been conveyed before?

"Nora Von Nuremberg, do you take Shuli Von Neuschwanstein as your wife and swear in the name of the Holy Mother and Father that you would cherish and love only her for the rest of your life?"

"I swear."

Lastly, Shuli, there's something I really want to tell you.

"Shuli Von Neuschwanstein, do you take Nora Von Nuremberg as your husband and swear in the name of the Holy Mother and Father that you would cherish and love only him for the rest of your life?"

"I swear."

It was fortunate that you are our mother.

[A Stepmother's Märchen | Complete]

This book is the collection of all side stories, which was divided by 5.

Side stories 1: The Honeymoon
Side stories 2: Once Upon a Time
Side stories 3: Christmas Crisis
Side stories 4: Father's Day Special
Side stories 5: A Spring Day Disturbance

I would try to translate it separately and update soon.

Click to expand...

wildthorn · Jul 28, 2019

It is pretty sad for her, after wasting your life and love for these 'kids' she got nothing and died
Please spoil us

morticia_addams · Jul 29, 2019

Why did she have all those rumors said about her?
Why wasn't she invited to the wedding
Did the kids she raised hated her all this time
How was their reaction when she died in an accident
How exactly did she die
Why was she in the castle
Was the son marrying a princess

so-chintzy · Aug 2, 2019

morticia_addams said: ↑

Why did she have all those rumors said about her?
Why wasn't she invited to the wedding
Did the kids she raised hated her all this time
How was their reaction when she died in an accident
How exactly did she die
Why was she in the castle
Was the son marrying a princess
Click to expand...

All those questions except for the last 3 are answered in the prologue. (She died falling down a flight of stairs I believe. Seemingly a complete accident.) <- This one's also wrong, sorry. She was killed by bandits.

[It looks like they didn't invite her because they really did hate her. <- Okay, I was wrong on that one. Judging from JUST the prologue though, it looked that way. Apparently they stopped hating her a while before the wedding & figured it out.]

Reasons why they hated her:
She was literally around their age when she married their dad for a huge sum of money even though they're still grieving over their own mom's death (apparently he married her because she resembled his wife & thus treated her well but made her promise to protect his kids/household).
So they're already upset with her (& probably grossed out) & probably went to their relatives for comfort, only to get brainwashed by them. The dad then asks for her on his deathbed & not for his kids, which makes them even more upset. Then after he dies & the kids are reeling from the loss of both their blood parents, she kicks out all the (scheming) relatives or cuts off ties with them & has affairs with nobleman or noblemen (earning her the rep of a golddigging harlot) to (probably) use them as pawns & power to protect the household.

Of course the kids don't know this (because they're kids who grew up sheltered & naive while MC had her dreams broken from day 1 & lived in pretty shitty circumstances), so this just makes them hate her even more, especially since MC keeps insisting that they properly call her mother in public, which is probably kinda gross to them since she's THEIR age. (Again - not her fault, she has to assert her authority & legal rights as their mother to protect them in public). Since she kept them from any real suffering (although all of her protection did emotionally damage them in the process, what with everyone thinking that they had an overcontrolling golddigging slut for a stepmom), they never experienced any real hardships/betrayals & thus they don't appreciate what she's done for them.

The prologue shows that they eventually figured out that she was protecting them & went to apologize to her, but it was too late (since she died).

twistingfeelings · Jul 29, 2019

Do you know the continuation of this story?? There are 2 male on the cover, one of them is the oldest son I think, but the other not known. Do you anything about it?

Regalia1896 · Jul 29, 2019

twistingfeelings said: ↑

Do you know the continuation of this story?? There are 2 male on the cover, one of them is the oldest son I think, but the other not known. Do you anything about it?
Click to expand...

According to the wiki (MTL from Korean- my brain) he is a prince? noble? Also Eldest son's fiancee lied about him not wanting her at the wedding...

kiara8 · Jul 29, 2019

Can’t find the raws at my usual site T^T

twistingfeelings · Jul 29, 2019

Regalia1896 said: ↑

According to the wiki (MTL from Korean- my brain) he is a prince? noble? Also Eldest son's fiancee lied about him not wanting her at the wedding...
Click to expand...

Jealously talking or is there any hidden plan for that family???

morticia_addams · Jul 29, 2019

so-chintzy said: ↑

All those questions except for the last 3 are answered in the prologue. (She died falling down a flight of stairs I believe. Seemingly a complete accident.)

It looks like they didn't invite her because they really did hate her. She was literally around their age when she married their dad for a huge sum of money even though they're still grieving over their own mom's death (apparently he married her because she resembled his wife & thus treated her well but made her promise to protect his kids/household).
So they're already upset with her (& probably grossed out) & probably went to their relatives for comfort, only to get brainwashed by them. The dad then asks for her on his deathbed & not for his kids, which makes them even more upset. Then after he dies & the kids are reeling from the loss of both their blood parents, she kicks out all the (scheming) relatives or cuts off ties with them & has affairs with nobleman or noblemen (earning her the rep of a golddigging harlot) to (probably) use them as pawns & power to protect the household.

Of course the kids don't know this (because they're kids who grew up sheltered & naive while MC had her dreams broken from day 1 & lived in pretty shitty circumstances), so this just makes them hate her even more, especially since MC keeps insisting that they properly call her mother in public, which is probably kinda gross to them since she's THEIR age. (Again - not her fault, she has to assert her authority & legal rights as their mother to protect them in public). Since she kept them from any real suffering (although all of her protection did emotionally damage them in the process, what with everyone thinking that they had an overcontrolling golddigging slut for a stepmom), they never experienced any real hardships/betrayals & thus they don't appreciate what she's done for them.

The prologue shows that they eventually figured out that she was protecting them & went to apologize to her, but it was too late (since she died).
Click to expand...

How did they find out about the truth

Sara0jan · Jul 29, 2019

She was killed.

When she wanted to go to the eldest son’s wedding despite him not wanting her to attend, she was attacked by someone on the way.

Suddenly, she woke up as her younger self.

(I didn’t read the novel and only 4 chapters of the webtoon are free so I didn’t read it either.)

If the pics don’t open then try seeing them through the direct links.

https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/gh9qbqo1hf0d.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/i62kruh0gvza.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/jo4afnvv3mvz.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/7c688pud1i5t.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/fxc1p61up5vp.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/1vhg9r6lzf73.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/t0sz7vd1gsh2.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/y7tmcey8g1m5.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/0hfxg7j2okje.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/tb19fbucyzk1.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/icvltzvg9n4j.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/6lkadl7npumh.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/52agxqflzpgk.png
https://www.up-00.com/i/00134/sepp6fv4zt1y.png

lazynoodles · Jul 29, 2019

Is someone translating the novel? If so can someone type the Korean title so I may search in either tookor and funbe sites to find more raws?

ChuChi · Jul 29, 2019

@lazynoodles the korean title is in the 1st post after the title... if you managed to read the raws, can you give some spoilers? Tnx

Regalia1896 · Jul 29, 2019

twistingfeelings said: ↑

Jealously talking or is there any hidden plan for that family???
Click to expand...

Hidden plot type of situation. If i recall correctly, she was from a noble family that was either working to destabalize/manipulate the siblings.
The eldest (Brat 1), and the rest of his siblings had actually realized by then that Stepmother was doing her best by them and prtecting them. They were planning to surprise her by finally calling her mother and giving her respect in a grand way, which is why he dragged out his wedding prep. When Stepmother comes up dead, he is devastated like his siblings, and out of the woodworks come their relatives trying to get a slice of pie they never made. Eventually, Brat 1 realizes that his fiancee's somehow apart of this and s*** goes down. In the first life. That's all I could understand.

twistingfeelings · Jul 29, 2019

And how about in second life? Will there any romance between Brat 1 and stepmother or their relationship getting better? How about the stepmom, will she has any lover and happy end?

Sorry for the questions, but I really curious

Regalia1896 · Jul 29, 2019

There was a lot, but MTL Korean/Hangul is not my forte (read: my brain). The most I gathered, she still protected them but did so more tactfully and made it known to them that she was protecting them. I think Brat 1 was low-key in love with Stepmother, but I cannot tell bc my brain...

lazynoodles · Jul 30, 2019

It's a big NOPE on both sites. Couldn’t seem to find them. Will continue to look into it.

lazynoodles · Jul 30, 2019

Regalia1896 said: ↑

Hidden plot type of situation. If i recall correctly, she was from a noble family that was either working to destabalize/manipulate the siblings.
The eldest (Brat 1), and the rest of his siblings had actually realized by then that Stepmother was doing her best by them and prtecting them. They were planning to surprise her by finally calling her mother and giving her respect in a grand way, which is why he dragged out his wedding prep. When Stepmother comes up dead, he is devastated like his siblings, and out of the woodworks come their relatives trying to get a slice of pie they never made. Eventually, Brat 1 realizes that his fiancee's somehow apart of this and s*** goes down. In the first life. That's all I could understand.
Click to expand...

Oooohhh. JUICY. When does he find out? What chapter? How does the shit go down? Were the siblings able to protect their inheritance?

Wandering Cultivator · Jul 30, 2019

Really looking forward to the translations, Korean just doesn't go through google as well as other languages IMHO.
From what I gather from its Korean wiki it seems like there's some drama with the MC's family: her brother's a playboy and seemed to have gotten involved in running a gambling house? And the father was an alcoholic gambler himself, he tried to fight someone and ends up losing his balance, hits his head on an iron spike, and dies. But take it with a big grain of salt, its 80% gibberish.
I think the age gap between the oldest child and the MC is 2 years.

Negiomi · Aug 2, 2019

Does anyone know if there is a male lead?

Log in

Spoiler A Stepmother's Märchen

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

Spoiler Curator Hi , Click Edit and Edit My Posts

wildthorn Well-Known Member

morticia_addams Well-Known Member

so-chintzy One of the editors for Yukkuri Translation Service

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

Regalia1896 Lady Sagittarius of the Moonlight Procrastinators

kiara8 Lurking

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

morticia_addams Well-Known Member

Sara0jan Well-Known Member

lazynoodles Softie for Villainess & BL

ChuChi Well-Known Member

Regalia1896 Lady Sagittarius of the Moonlight Procrastinators

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

Regalia1896 Lady Sagittarius of the Moonlight Procrastinators

lazynoodles Softie for Villainess & BL

lazynoodles Softie for Villainess & BL

Wandering Cultivator Well-Known Member

Negiomi Idiot | Grandurr's

Log in

Spoiler A Stepmother's Märchen

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

Spoiler Curator Hi , Click Edit and Edit My Posts

wildthorn Well-Known Member

morticia_addams Well-Known Member

so-chintzy One of the editors for Yukkuri Translation Service

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

Regalia1896 Lady Sagittarius of the Moonlight Procrastinators

kiara8 Lurking

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

morticia_addams Well-Known Member

Sara0jan Well-Known Member

lazynoodles Softie for Villainess & BL

ChuChi Well-Known Member

Regalia1896 Lady Sagittarius of the Moonlight Procrastinators

twistingfeelings Well-Known Member

Regalia1896 Lady Sagittarius of the Moonlight Procrastinators

lazynoodles Softie for Villainess & BL

lazynoodles Softie for Villainess & BL

Wandering Cultivator Well-Known Member

Negiomi Idiot | Grandurr's

Useful Searches