“Wait a moment, Karl. You seem too agitated.”

However, that was clearly mockery just now.

I wanted to stay quiet, but as an educator, I couldn’t let the child’s behavior cross the line.

I inserted my arm between the two, breaking Kardiel’s gaze.

I had already explained the situation, and Kardiel seemed to understand, so now was the time to persuade and seek understanding.

“Listen. Let me say this first – I’m not trying to take anyone’s side here. I understand that you may feel hurt and angry about not being told about Lord Joseph’s situation before. After all, you are the direct heir of Daiern, not me.”

“…”

“But Karl. Even if you don’t acknowledge it, I am now in the position of your mother.”

If not that, then at least as an adult.

“I didn’t want you, still a minor, to worry about heavy matters like family affairs or the future of the household if possible.”

Just like others his age. I hoped he would get frustrated over unsolvable problems, feel upset about conflicts with siblings… or even imagine romances with pretty young ladies.

“So I want to tell you that I decided to remarry Lord Joseph after much thought and deliberation. It wasn’t that I was swept up in Lord Joseph’s schemes or plots, but that our conditions matched each other.”

After saying that much, I put on a deliberately stern face this time.

“In that sense, I’m a bit disappointed, Karl. Do I seem like someone who would be easily swayed by others’ schemes? Someone whose heart would flutter like a young girl at courtship?”

“But isn’t Lord Joseph objectively an excellent person? In terms of appearance, ability, and other aspects, he’s certainly someone who could attract…”

“Kardiel. I’m not that shallow. And what you’re describing is closer to admiration.”

Above all, the things Kardiel mentioned were factors I already possessed in abundance.

In other words, no matter how great a person he is, those aren’t conditions I would admire.

The reason I gave my heart to Lord Joseph…

It must be for a different reason.

“Besides, whatever his initial intentions may have been, Lord Joseph has never been negligent or insincere towards you all. It’s also true that he recently provided help significant enough for you to recognize.”

“…”

Kardiel said nothing. The fact that he didn’t refute meant he acknowledged at least that much.

I know. Even so, it won’t be easy to accept.

As the eldest, he’s a child burdened with great responsibility and anxiety that he’s shouldered alone all this time. That makes it all the harder for him to forgive Lord Joseph.

I spoke in the calmest and gentlest voice possible.

“I’m not saying your feeling of betrayal is wrong. But if you’re thinking of preparing to become an adult as you leave your childhood behind, I’d like to advise you to learn more sophisticated ways of expressing your emotions.”

Sometimes, it’s good to learn how to hide your inner feelings and become as cunning as a fox.

Especially in the social and political circles where the future Duke of Daiern will be involved, it’s a place where crafty individuals wag their tongues.

You don’t need to become wicked, but you need to understand cunning. That’s how you avoid being taken advantage of.

Half-rising, I leaned towards Kardiel and whispered.

“That mockery just now… was actually a bit childish.”

“Pardon…?”

In an instant, Kardiel’s earlobes turned bright red.

As I sat back down, I took in the sight of Kardiel, who was biting his lips tightly while avoiding my gaze out of embarrassment.

At times like this, I’m reminded that despite his grown body, he’s still just a young boy.

“Anyway, Karl. As for the fact that Lord Joseph has now inherited the Mado throne and is a magician… as you know, it’s hard to believe in this glorious era, and it could throw the entire continent into chaos. Unless Lord Joseph intends to reveal himself, I hope you understand that we couldn’t openly disclose it anywhere right away. I too couldn’t tell you earlier because it was a personal matter.”

“…”

Fortunately, Kardiel was a child who could be reasoned with.

As I explained calmly, the disappointment and resentment that had filled his eyes earlier gradually faded, as if he had come to understand better.

“…I understand your words, Stepmother. I also understand the situation. I will sincerely apologize to Lord Joseph for my misunderstandings.”

Yes, now that sounded more like a proper apology.

“No, Young Master. I’m the one who should apologize to you for trusting and following me.”

A warm exchange of apologies passed between them. The surrounding air, which had felt like a heavy snowfall, seemed to have become a bit more peaceful.

Have we managed to ease the tension somewhat?

Well, Kardiel’s feelings won’t be completely resolved with just these words. But if they’ve subsided for now, that’s enough.

After all, emotional processing usually requires time alone.

Still, I should say this.

“And I’d like you to remember this too, Karl. That you, Euphy, and Chelsie will always be my top priority.”

“…Is that really true?”

“You’re surprised by something so obvious.”

I shrugged lightly and smiled kindly.

From the beginning, my engagement to Lord Joseph was to protect the children. Not to prolong my own life.

Hm? But why do I feel a stinging gaze?

“…?”

Yet when I looked to the side, Lord Joseph’s gaze wasn’t on me. It must have been my imagination.

Then it’s about time to wrap up the conversation and put Kardiel to bed.

It’s not right for parents to keep a young child up too late, after all.

“But there’s something I’m curious about, Lord Joseph.”

Kardiel tilted his head. His deepened blue eyes were quite serious.

“You said you needed Stepmother to suppress the pain of chronomancy. Why, specifically, does it have to be Stepmother?”

Huh?

“Didn’t you say you reversed thousands of years’ worth of time? With that much, I would think you’ve traveled all over the continent, so was there really no other way besides Stepmother? Or do you not know the reason why it must be Stepmother?”

A shock like being hit on the head reverberated through my skull.

Right, come to think of it, I too had wondered about that aspect before.

It’s just that I always meant to ask but forgot, or the timing wasn’t right so I let it pass…

Now that I think about it, it was full of questions.

That’s right. Why me? What am I supposed to be?

“Ah, could it be I haven’t mentioned it before?”

…?

But Lord Joseph’s response was even more outrageous. My pupils dilated in shock, filled with the image of Lord Joseph.

“Perhaps, my lady, you haven’t heard? About how the founder of the Landgritz barony was a magician…”

“Pardon?”

Of course.

There is something I remember. It was exactly what my grandfather had jokingly told me before his sudden death.

At the time, I had dismissed it as a joke. And I didn’t take it seriously.

Because for me, who was receiving the heir’s education for Landgritz, such fairy tale-like stories weren’t a topic of much interest.

An ancestor who only exists in the family tree doesn’t raise next year’s profit margins for the Envar merchant group, does it?

But…

“Because I have the bloodline of a magician, I can calm the pain of Lord Joseph’s chronomancy?”

“Hmm, rather than that…”

Lord Joseph paused for a moment.

It seemed like he was choosing his words, but to my impatient self, it just felt like he was stalling.

Just as I was about to urge him to answer, he finally opened his mouth.

“It seems it would be better for you to ask someone with expertise in this field, rather than me.”

“You mean Lord Sergei?”

“That’s right.”

At that moment, Kardiel’s gaze slowly turned towards me.

Strangely, I found myself shrinking under that gaze.

It was a tingling pressure that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“It seems you knew about Lord Sergei as well, Stepmother.”

“Uh… yes?”

“I mean about Lord Joseph’s true identity.”

Ah…!

‘Well, it’s not that I told him, Sergei figured it out on his own…!’

Beads of cold sweat were on the verge of trickling down my back.

Where and how should I start explaining this so that Kardiel won’t feel hurt…

“Well, if it’s Stepmother, I’m sure you had a reasonable explanation.”

But making my suffocating worries seem pointless, Kardiel quickly turned his head away as if it wasn’t an important topic.

His attitude suggesting it wasn’t a big deal left me dumbfounded this time.

“But I’ll remember it.”

…No, cancel that.

There was no time to be stunned. It felt like my neck was being squeezed and released completely.

Is this right? Even in my dazed state, there was a strange sense of pride.

“Then it would be best to go ask Lord Sergei after daybreak. Please allow me to accompany you at that time.”

“Ah… yes. Let’s do that.”

Kardiel said this as he stood up. I also rose from my seat reflexively.

Suddenly, fatigue washed over my entire body. Well, the long carriage journey had certainly taken its toll.

‘I had Dorothea restrained with iron chains, so I’ll deal with her later…’

Only after escorting Kardiel to his bed did I realize the nature of the strange sense of pride I had felt earlier.

‘The last method was certainly more sophisticated.’