I Became The Stepmother Of An Irrevocable Dark Family

What Duke Arvida said was true.
In Leona’s memory, there was information about this country.
This empire upheld monogamy for generations and valued the obligations of couples.
But that didn’t mean you couldn’t get a new wife.

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The emperor used to depose or execute his wives and empresses using all kinds of reasons to bring in a new empress.
The same was true for the rest of the nobles.
The long-lasting monogamy law became a harmful law.

Because of that law, if the nobles were unhappy with their wives, they would say that their wives cheated on them or had flaws.
They even went as far as murdering their wives.

“How funny,”

As if Duke Arvida had waited, he took a piece of paper out of his arms.

“You can clearly see your handwriting and stamp here, yet now you’re denying it?”

“Well, I don’t know either.
I don’t remember doing so, and I think someone else stamped it, pretending to be me.
I don’t use such a crude stamp.”

At his words, Duke Arvida went through the documents and burst into laughter as if it was ridiculous.

“Th-this…but you certainly came!”

“I don’t know.
I’ve never been there.
Oh, Luca, did you go?”

Luca, who stood next to him, smiled and nodded as if he enjoyed the situation.

“I think so.
Perhaps, I’m the one who came.”

“…Th-that’s ridiculous! There’s no way we wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between a duke and a knight.”

“But you’re the ones who kept saying nonsense.
In any case, thanks to the stupid father and daughter, I’ve solved my problems.”

“Yo-your problems?”

“Did you really think I was going to fall for that woman and marry her? I’m not a fool.
It was only to reveal your dirty works…haven’t you noticed?”

Duke Arvida flinched and bit his lips.

“Ju-just now, what did you say…”

“I don’t think it’s the right time for you to do this.
If you make one wrong move, you may lose everything you’ve obtained illegally so far.”

Looking at Ian smiling in a relaxed manner, Duke Arvida’s face stiffened as if he sensed that something bad was going to happen.

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“If you’re trying to kick me out with that kind of threat…”

“If I had any intention of kicking you out, I would’ve done so from the start.
I could’ve instructed the knight to drag you out and never let you in.
That should’ve been enough.
Why do you think I let you in?”

When Duke Arvida’s arrogant attitude faded away, Ian took something out of the drawer next to the sofa.
He took out the stamp from the drawer as if it was purposely placed there.

“I’ll show you in case you don’t believe me.
It makes no sense for you to make such a fuss here.”

Duke Arvida’s face turned pale.

“This is my real stamp.”

“Huh…!”

“The one in your hands hasn’t even been notarized.”

Duke Arvida, who tried to soothe his agitation, made a deep sigh as if he could make an objective judgment in this situation.

“That’s ridiculous.
This can’t be like this.
No wonder! I should have known when you wanted to register the marriage behind schedule!”

“But Duke Arvida made everything easier for me.
You thought I was married to Princess Arvida, so you shared your information with me easily.
Thank you for that.
But I won’t go easy on you and your daughter for hitting my wife and making fun of my daughter’s birth.”

Ian nodded his head, and in a flash, the knights were already standing around Duke Arvida.
They seemed to be ready to drag him out anytime.
Only then did Duke Arvida feel as if something was wrong and clenched his fists tightly.

“Don’t grab me, I’ll go out on my own.”

“Oh, father! Why are you leaving? Didn’t you just realize how harsh I was treated here?!”

Astra, who had only been looking at the situation, had her face flushed red.

“Be quiet and follow me, Astra.”

“What? What are you doing? I’ve been through a lot! Father!”

“…I need to check something first.
You can always make a fuss after that.”

“Father, you should speak up! I’m the duchess, and you said you’re going to scold that man!”

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But Duke Arvida only dragged his daughter with a pale face.

“Follow me first.
If only you hadn’t fallen for him at first sight!”

He was in such a hurry to leave as if he was worried about something.
Eventually, Astra, who was so annoyed at the fact that she was dragged away, shouted.

“I won’t sit still! Don’t think this is the end! I’ll make you regret it!”

Yes, yes.
Goodbye.

I waved my hand calmly.
I hoped that she would never return.
Perhaps because my gesture angered her, she shook off her father’s hand and ran towards me.

“But I’m so angry.
Every time I see that wench’s face, I get so angry.
I can’t just leave like this.”

But in an instant, Ian got up from his seat and grabbed her hand.

“What are you doing to my woman?”

“Kyaah!”

“Do you want me to break your arm? Is that what you want?”

“Ha, let go.
It’s annoying! So annoying!”

“I’m certain that you want to die so badly.”

“Look at what that beggar has done to me!”

“Princess Astra.
Even if you’re the only Ducal Princess in the empire, you should not do this.
She is a duchess.
You shouldn’t treat her recklessly like this.
If you keep making a fuss here, I’ll consider it as a declaration of war on Duke Petri.”

Only then did Duke Arvida rush in and snatch his daughter’s hand.

“Come out now!”

“Father! Are you going to let this slide? I won’t leave even if I die!”

Astra was busy throwing a tantrum like a child.
So, I came closer to her.

“You’re not even a child, so cut it out and leave.”

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“Ha, wh-what? How dare a wench like you say that to me?”

“Watch your mouth.
Don’t you know I’m the real duchess here? If so, you should behave accordingly.
Get out of here before we drag you out shamefully.
Do you understand, Princess Astra Arvida?”

At that time, Duke Ian smiled pleasantly and nodded.
Not long after, the room was filled with knights to the point that it was so crowded.

“Disrespecting the duchess equals disrespecting the duke.
Aren’t you curious? Of what the consequences are?”

I feel alive.
An unknown chill filled the room because of my words.
Duke Arvida’s face suddenly hardened.

“That’s nonsense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?”

The room became colder in an instant.
I tightly wrapped Rere in my arms in case she felt cold.
Meanwhile, Duke Arvida’s face was so crumpled that he looked hideous.

“…Let’s get out of here first.
Follow me, Astra! I won’t tolerate any rebellion even if you’re my daughter.”

Was it because of my words? Or was it the chilly atmosphere I felt a little while ago?

Astra, who was glaring at us, was eventually dragged by Duke Arvida.
After looking at the scene quietly, I finally sat on the sofa once they left.

“Ha…finally.”

“Try to come again.
I’m going to step on your feet!”

Rere, who was in my arms the whole time, puckered her lips.

“If it wasn’t for Big bunny, I would’ve beaten them up!”

“Really? Then Rere should give them a lesson next time.”

At that time, Rere, who sat on my lap, turned around and made eye contact with me.
The child’s small hand patted my cheek carefully.

“Your cheek is red.
It’s swollen.
Just how hard did you get hit?!”

“I’m okay.
What should we play now?”

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“…I’m not playing anymore!”

“…Huh?”

“I’m going to bed.
Big bunny is pretending to be fine.
So, I’m going to sleep now.”

Rere was determined.

“Let’s go.
Hoam~ I’m sleepy.”

“Re-really?”

“Yes, so stop talking and follow me.”

Rere, who suddenly yawned, pulled me away.
I had no choice but to leave my seat and follow Rere.

I would normally just walk out like that, but the Duke had been bothering me lately.
Therefore, I stopped and looked at the duke first.

“We’ll return to the room now.”

I thought he was going to say something, but there was no reply from the duke.
He just looked sideways with a face full of worries.

 

***

 

While the two were on their way to Rebecca’s room, Duke Arvida forced Astra into the carriage and returned to their residence.

Astra, who was forced into the carriage by her own father to the point that her arms were red, screamed.

“Father! What the hell is this! Why did it turn out like this?!”

“You’re my precious daughter, but I always told you to be a useful person.”

“Just like father said, I wanted to be a useful person, so I became a duchess.
You supported me back then, but now that I became one, what’s wrong with you?”