I Became The Stepmother Of An Irrevocable Dark Family

But his thinking was completely different from mine.

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“It’s okay.
You don’t have to do that.
I can have a meal together with Rere…”

“You don’t have to feel burdened.
I haven’t had my meal anyways.”

“…Don’t tell me you haven’t eaten until now?”

There was no answer.
The Duke only beckoned his servants to prepare the meal.

“Good.
We can eat here together.”

But the long table was already conveniently sitting in Rere’s room, and the servants quickly went outside to prepare the meal.

I was looking at the Duke in bewilderment, but Luca, who was standing next to the Duke, smiled leisurely.
His smile seemed to confirm that the Duke hasn’t eaten yet.

“Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable to eat with us?”

Saying this much must be enough to get him back to his senses, but he was quite a stubborn guy.

“It’s okay.”

No, you might be fine, but not me.

“Regretfully, I feel uncomfortable.”

In the end, I spit out the words in my mind.
This is the strength and weakness I gained while staying with Rere.

Spitting out everything without hiding your thoughts.

But my words didn’t get through him.

“I think it’s better to do something than stay idly still, so I want to spend time together.”

The Duke’s gaze touched Rere more dimly than usual.

‘So it’s not me, but Rere.’

I realized right away that I misunderstood, so I took a step back.

“Okay, I’ll eat separately then…”

“No, you usually eat with Rere, so let’s eat together today.”

Then Rere gently held my hand.

“Yeah! Let’s eat together, Big Bunny! From now on, all three of us should eat together!”

“If Rere wants to…I shall do that.
But Rere, do you really want it?”

I wouldn’t do this if not for the child.
Frankly speaking, having a meal time with him was nauseating.
But I had to accept his invitation because the child asked for it.

“Then get it ready.”

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The servants, who had stopped working for a moment as if waiting for my answer, quickly filled the long table.

The Duke stealthily tried to sit at the top seat, but Rere quickly ran and occupied the seat before him.

“This is Rere’s seat!”

“Okay.
Do as Rere wants.”

“Yay! I feel great!”

Looking at Rere, whose cheeks seemed about to explode, I sat next to her.

“Do you like it so much?”

“Yeah! Everyone is here.
I looooove it so much!”

I smiled at the excited child.
She swung her tiny feet back and forth.

“Rere.
You seem to be into painting these days.”

At that moment, the child’s feet stopped moving instantly.

“Ah, no, that’s…Rere is not into painting…”

“Feel free to do that.”

Rere’s mouth turned round after mumbling as if she didn’t know what excuse to make.

“C-can I paint? Can I really do that?”

“Yes.
Do you know why daddy wouldn’t let you paint?”

“…Yes…kind of..”

The child, who was unsure, mumbled to herself.
Meanwhile, the Duke leaned down with his chin resting on his hand.

“Your mother loved to paint.
Her body was weak, so she used to paint in her room all the time.”

So the Duke was someone who could show that kind of eyes.
Anyone could see the despair in his eyes.
Maybe he loved his wife a lot.

“That’s why I didn’t allow you to do that.
Since Rere’s body is not well either.
I’m scared that you’ll follow in your mother’s footsteps.”

“No! Rere is strong! Sometimes Rere is sick…but Rere will eventually get better!”

The Duke’s eyes had become more lonesome than before.
There was no medicine that could cure Rere.
It was the predetermined plot of the novel.

There was no clear way to save the child’s life until she was eventually killed by others.

‘I want to save her.
I can’t help but be greedy to save my child.’

The Duke would do his best to find a way, too.
Both in the novel and right now.

But the fact that he couldn’t find any cure so far meant that everything was hopeless for now.

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‘I can’t understand.
Why can’t he figure out the cause of her illness?’

I couldn’t believe that a very capable duke couldn’t cure his daughter’s illness.
Even though he was a man with so much money and a mana stone mine.
Why can’t he?

So I looked at the Duke.
He clearly couldn’t hide his sad eyes because he had as many worries as I had.

“Yes.
Our Rere should be healthy, so let’s eat.”

His cool eyes softened up.
I didn’t know whether it was because he was in front of his daughter or because he knew about the child’s future, but my heart sank a little.

‘Those eyes that seem to know the future.’

It strangely bothered me.

“Yes! I will eat a lot from now on!”

Rere filled her mouth with food eagerly.

Enough of this.
A child just needs to grow up like a child.
Let the adults solve the health problem.

“Big Bunny and daddy should eat, too.
I know I’m pretty.”

“Huh?”

“Even if you don’t look at me like that, I know I’m pretty.”

Both the Duke and I were speechless at the child’s sudden declaration.

“I know everyone is watching me because I’m pretty.
Did you both become speechless because you got caught looking at me?”

After a long pause, we eventually burst into laughter.

“Yes.
It’s because Rere is too cute.”

“How about daddy? Is it only Big Bunny who thinks so?”

“No.
Our Rere is pretty and lovely.”

“By the way…daddy, do you love my mother so much?”

“Your mother?”

“Yes.
Why would I be talking about another child’s mother?”

The Duke smiled and put a small piece of sliced meat on Rere’s plate.

“I love her more than anyone else.”

“Really? Then you should also love our Big Bunny the same way.
Okay? Honestly, it’s a loss for our Big Bunny to be with daddy, but I wish my family would last for a long time…”

“…Huh? It’s a loss to be with daddy?”

“Of course.
You have a bad personality, and you’re not that handsome either.
Meanwhile, our Big Bunny is pretty and lovely.
That’s not all.
She’s also foolishly kind and treats me nicely.
I’m worried about Big Bunny if she stays with daddy.”

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Neither the Duke nor I could hide our embarrassment.
In particular, the Duke seemed more bewildered than I am.

“Rere.
Even if I look like this, I’m quite popular outside, you know?”

Rere only smirked at the Duke who didn’t want to lose.

“That’s funny.”

“Rere…how can you make fun of daddy…”

“Honestly, daddy is nothing much.
If I could choose, I’ll choose Luca rather than daddy.”

“…But daddy is also better in other aspects.”

“Ah! There is! I know daddy’s good side!”

The Duke’s expectations soared more than ever.

“Daddy is rich.”

“Rich…?”

“Yeah.”

“….”

“What do you expect? Daddy has no conscience anyway.
Daddy’s conscience is just like crap laying around on the floor, so don’t expect anything.”

Rere gave me the piece of meat the Duke had given to her earlier.

“Big Bunny should eat.”

“Rere should eat more than I do.
Speaking of which, Rere, didn’t you just say mom is pretty, lovely, and kind?”

“…I’m just saying it.
Geez, I can’t seem to say anything.
Let’s stop talking nonsense and eat.”

Rere immediately gobbled up the meat.
I was left speechless by her behavior.
But it didn’t matter as long as Rere was happy.

The child looked happier than ever.
Of course, I felt troubled because I was unable to hear more about her mother’s story, but I didn’t want to risk hurting the child who wasn’t ready to talk about her yet.

‘I’m sure Rere will open up to me someday.’

Because I believe in Rere.

The meal went by more smoothly than I thought.
Just when I thought the dessert would be served, the Duke slightly pulled his chair back.

“Let’s have tea outside.
There’s a tree swing in the garden.
It’s Rere’s favorite place.”

“No way.
Rose garden?”

“That’s right.”

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“Really? Can I really go there? But daddy doesn’t like it if I go there..”

For a moment, I could see the sorrow resurface in the Duke’s eyes.
His red eyes, which I always found upsetting, were watery and seemed vulnerable.
Something must be going on in that place.

“You can go.
I can’t forbid you forever.”

After the Duke sighed deeply, he rose from his seat and took Rere’s hand.

“Let’s go together.”

“Really…? Really? Daddy, you’re being weird.
Didn’t you get angry when I went there last time?”

Although Rere thought something was off with the current situation, she got up from her seat.
She was so excited and jumped around.

“Are we really going? You won’t be angry, right?”

“Of course.”

“…What kind of place is it that you wouldn’t let Rere go there?”

“It’s the rose garden that Rere’s mother decorated.”

“Have you decided to talk about her from now on?”

At that time, before I could hear his answer, I was dragged by the excited Rere.

“Hurry up!”

“Rere.
Slow down.”

Then the Duke, who was looking at us, let out a small voice.

“I’ve decided to face it.
I used to avoid it…but now I know I should because of you.
Thank you.”

“What did you say?”

“It’s nothing.
Let’s go.”

I was wondering if I really saw him smile at me.
It might be an illusion, but his eyes were as sweet as they were towards Rere.

I wanted to ask why the man, who used to kick me out and throw a fit, was looking at me with such sweet and kind eyes, but Rere already dragged me far away from him.

“Rere, do you like it that much?”

“Yes! Big Bunny never goes there, so you have no idea.
The rose garden is really beautiful.
There are so many flowers and tree swings.
There’s even a slide!”

The child, who was beyond excited, walked faster than ever.

How long did I walk? The place that I faced right now was extraordinary.
It was full of roses.

“Wow…”

“What do you say? Isn’t it pretty?”