A Stepmother’s Marchen

Chapter 23

The children have been the object of envious gaze wherever they went since childhood. If people saw the true image hidden behind their beautiful looks, they’d probably be surprised.

When my husband was alive, before he was sick, we used to go out together like this to eat in a famous restaurant. Come to think of it, the last time we did that was a year ago.

Leon and Rachel held my hands tightly with their emerald eyes wide open, perhaps because they hadn’t been out for a long time. It was quite cute to see them looking at the buildings with bewildered eyes.

On the other hand, the first son and the second son were acting bored.

“Oh, this place is boring. Is there a weapon store here?”

“Jeremy, Elias, if you want to go to the weapon store, you two go separately with the knights. We’ll be over there in the red roof building.”

It would be beneficial for the owner of the clothes shop and our peace to separate from the two, who were anxious to tease me and the twins somehow.

Fortunately, Jeremy and Elias obeyed me for some reason, and I entered Madame Melissa’s shop, one of the two currently well known leading designers in the capital, with the twins.

Before coming, I had made an appointment in advance.

“So, well, he’s… Oh, my.”

“Madam, look over there.”

“Oh, my God.”

“Isn’t she the Marquis’ wife?”

“That’s right. Those kids… oh, my God.”

“She brought the kids with her. How…”

Madame Melissa’s clothes shop was famous for being the best fashion pioneer for young boys and girls as well as ladies.

Inside the reception room where the plaster mannequins wearing whalebone corset and a narrow-brimmed hat are located and all kinds of large and small gloves displayed, many of the people, who sat at the window table and chatted with the tea, began to lower their voices and gossip.

For me, it’s a very familiar scene.

“Welcome, Lady Neuwanstein, thank you for coming on time.”

Madame Melissa came out from the inside and smiled brightly at me, her warm brown eyes made me feel a little relaxed.

Madame Melissa, of course, couldn’t help but be kind, as it would be a good thing to have a fixed relationship with our family.

That was one of the advantages I had as a member of the Neuwanstein’s family. The fact that it is full of power and money.

“Nice to meet you. Thank you for providing time in the midst of your busy schedule.”

“Don’t mention it, I’m honored. Is madam trying to match the twin’s clothes?”

“Yes, the other two will be here soon. I don’t know if I can find something for them.”

“Let’s take measures first. Do you have a specific design you want?”

After the staff took my measurements, I was about to come out and look at the catalog.

Rachel, who was taking measurements in the other room, suddenly shouted as if she were declaring the whole area her territory!

Madame Melissa half-bounced from her seat, the staff members were in chaos, and the ladies who were drinking tea spilled it over.

Leon, who was looking at the mannequin with a keen eye while eating the cookies the staff gave him, screamed and kicked the mannequin.

“What the hell is going on…”

“Mom, get me out of this bad place! I hate standing alone in this rat hole!”

Is it so hard to stay still for a while? That’s why I had to watch from the side until they finally took Rachel’s measurements. I pretended not to see Madame Melissa smiling strangely. (Sighs)

In the meantime, customers continued to enter the place. Is it just my illusion that there are more people looking at us outside the huge window and snooping around in curiosity?

Jeremy and Elias appeared by the time we decided on mine and the twin’s costumes for the memorial banquet after taking all the measurements.

The two lion cubs approached me straight away, shed their gazes and ears from the greetings around them.

Why is Jeremy sulking?

“Jeremy? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, some guy annoyed me!”

“Why? What happened?”

Elias began to explain on behalf of Jeremy, who was unable to continue talking, apparently because of his anger.

Elias spoke without hesitation in a tone that showed his amusement, “A scum snatched a sword that Jeremy liked first and ran away. That’s why he’s mad.”

“You shut up! If I see that bastard again, I’m gonna rip his legs off on the spot!”

Staff and guests were now looking at us in confusion. Jeremy, who didn’t realize that this was a public place, looked at me.

“Are you done shopping?”

“…Jeremy, go with Elias to take your measurements.”

“Oh, why? I know my size!”

“You might have grown, so you need to get new measurements. Since this banquet is for your father, you need to dress well.”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure I didn’t grow taller. Anyway, are you saying that how we look in front of people is important?”

“Yes! It’s very, very important!”

When I, who had finally lost patience, retorted, Jeremy and Elias exchanged glances with blank faces, followed by awkward scratches on their heads and gently followed the staff.

What’s wrong with listening when I’m talking gently?

“My life is such a hassle because of my brothers, they never listen!” It was truly spectacular to see Rachel sighing with her hands on her waist in a very wise little lady-like way.

Madame Melissa, who had been looking at me with amusement, coughed, “Lady Neuwanstein, when do you need them?”

“How long does it usually take?”

“There are five of you, so… It will take between 10 to 15 days. If before that…”

“If you send them within 7 days, I’ll triple the price. I’ll even pay extra for the staff.”

Madame Melissa immediately agreed to my offer, without even looking at the calendar with the small schedule engraved. It went without saying that the faces of the busy employees became very bright.