Selected as the New Stepmother (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3
Finally, someone has passed the first stage.
The child, cheeks slightly flushed, covered them with her hands and spoke. Her identity was Rublion Artenbach.
A boy who celebrated his tenth birthday earlier this year, possessing hair as black as the night sky and eyes so bright they glowed even in darkness.
The sole heir of the Artenbach Ducal House, and the family’s pride for his intelligence far surpassing that of his peers.
His nickname is the Black Serpent.
“Still playing that game?”
The man asking Rublion was an imperial duke, with the same hair color and eye color as the boy.
Ascal Modesto Artenbach.
He asked Rublion, who had barged into his office without permission, with indifference.
Rublion replied with an intense voice.
“It’s not a game. It’s a grand plan, a foundation for a perfect family.”
Ascal’s expression subtly hardened.
“I hope you realize I’m trying hard so you won’t feel the absence of a guardian.”
“I hope you realize I’m trying hard so you won’t grow old lonely and alone.”
Ascal set down his quill with a thud. Of course, such a gesture had no effect on Rublion.
“Anyway, the first stage is over. Now you just need to pass the second and third stages!”
The boy made no effort to hide his joy. Even the rhythm of him chewing his cookie was cheerful.
“……Alright, do as you please.”
He knew from experience that no amount of scolding would make the boy listen.
Rublion hummed as he drank milk, then suddenly remembered something and looked up. He walked over to one of the maids clinging to the wall beside the door.
“Eat this.”
The startled maid hesitated briefly, then accepted the cookie politely.
“Just in case, I’m checking ahead, though I doubt it would happen.”
As Rublion flicked his finger, the maid bowed low and brought her ear close to him.
“If someone comes asking about the note you wrote, never admit it was yours.”
“Don’t worry, Master.”
The maid smiled sweetly in reply. Rublion returned to his seat and took another sip of milk. Then he met Ascal’s gaze, which was looking at him with disdain.
“Oh, Duke. By the way, there’s one problem.”
“What now?”
Ascal sighed deeply, propping his chin on one hand.
“The issue is whether that woman suits your taste…”
Rublion grew serious, stroking his chin with his finger—a habit he often mimicked from Ascal when the duke was deep in thought.
“Unfortunately, she isn’t particularly pretty.”
“……”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter, does it? She’s a woman, after all.”
“Leave. The Duke is busy.”
At last, Ascal glared. Rublion gathered up his half-eaten cookie and milk, stood up, and said to Ascal, whose expression was stern.
“If you keep working like this, you’ll grow old without ever holding a woman’s wrist.”
A new line appeared on Ascal’s brow. Sensing his reaction, Rublion quickly retreated and called out.
“I’ll come report again!”
Ascal shouted after Rublion’s retreating back.
“Don’t come back.”
[This is the timeline separator]Today, Blackswan was unusually quiet. At least five visitors usually came each day, but not a single one had arrived by mid-morning.
“Anna, what about the Blacksmith’s side?”
Anna, who had been sitting idly, suddenly smiled and replied.
“It seems they still haven’t made a decision. Ranson hasn’t either.”
“Hasn’t anyone approached them from elsewhere?”
“No information has come in yet.”
Ranson certainly has the talent to become a sculptor of the century.
With Blackswan and the Viscount Dely’s house as his foundation, it would be a perfect scenario.
‘By the way, it’s so quiet today… It feels just like the calm before a storm.’
Only the ticking of the clock echoed loudly in the office. The uneasy atmosphere made him rise from his chair and glance out the window.
Rumble.
As if waiting for it, thunder rolled across the sky. The heavens didn’t look like they would rain, yet.
A damp, rainy scent seeped through the slightly opened window. People strolling calmly along the streets quickened their steps.
Thud. Thump.
Finally, the rain began to fall. Noon, the time meant to be most peaceful, instantly became a chaos.
“Director, a visitor has arrived.”
While I was peering out the window, Anna brought in the guest. There stood the Blacksmith I had been expecting.
“Welcome. I was just thinking you’d be arriving soon.”
The Blacksmith smiled awkwardly as he removed his raincoat. Even when I gestured for him to come inside, he remained standing.
“Visitor?”
“I… I’ve come to cancel my commission.”
It was the last direction I expected. I forced my stiffening face to relax and asked.
“What’s happened? Is it about your daughter’s marriage?”
“Not exactly…”
The Blacksmith fidgeted with the raincoat he had just taken off.
“There’s someone trying to recruit Ranson, and I plan to use him to raise the dowry.”
Could it be that place again?
“May I ask who this person is?”
“They didn’t ask me to keep it secret, so I can tell you. It’s the Curator of the Artenbach Art Gallery.”
The art gallery operated by the Artenbach Ducal House. It’s not the empire’s finest, but it’s the only art gallery in the north, and quite skilled at discovering and nurturing rising young artists.
‘I’m too late.’
If the Artenbach Art Gallery took Ranson, then his chance of joining Blackswan was gone.
A future asset had vanished.
‘If only I had sufficient funds, I could have recruited him.’
Even if I couldn’t compete with the Artenbach Art Gallery, I might have persuaded him by emphasizing the advantage of personalized care.
The Blacksmith kept apologizing profusely and left.
I smiled and replied that it was fine, that it was for the best, but inside, my heart burned black.
‘It’s oddly coincidental.’
The talents I worked hard to uncover are snatched away at perfect timing.
Even one painter, whom I had secured just barely ahead of the art gallery, spent dozens of times a day comparing the Artenbach Art Gallery’s offer with Blackswan’s, complaining endlessly—until he voluntarily walked into the gallery himself.
‘Sigh. Complaining won’t bring Ranson back.’
Sometimes life brings this, sometimes that. It’s not the first or second time I’ve had a commission canceled.
‘……I really don’t feel like working today.’
The 3 million Tiga I had lost floated uselessly in my mind. How long his father’s written vow would protect him from returning to the gambling den remained uncertain.
“Director, another visitor has arrived.”
Anna peeked through the door and poked her head in. I gestured with my finger, signaling her to bring them in.
“Hello, have you been well?”
At the sound of the child’s voice nearby, I looked up. There stood the Kid who had visited a few days ago.
I waited for someone else to enter. But when Anna closed the door fully, I realized the Kid had come alone.
“You didn’t come to look for the diamond, did you?”
“No, that’s later… Today I came for another reason.”
The Kid pulled out a large piece of cloth from his satchel. Even a quick glance revealed it was luxurious.
The Kid carefully spread the cloth on the guest sofa. Then, with his hands, he brushed it repeatedly and sat down on it, looking at me with a vacant expression.
“Let me stay here for three hours. I’ll pay enough for the consultation fee.”
I sighed deeply. The weather was bad, my mood was worse, and the idea of this Kid turning my office into a shelter didn’t sit well.
“No, that’s impossible, Visitor. I have appointments after this.”
“The woman outside said no one else has come today.”
“There will be someone soon.”
“Then I’ll leave when the other visitor arrives.”
“Kid. This isn’t your playroom.”
The child pulled out a stiff piece of paper from his satchel.
“How long can I stay if I give you this?”
I shook my head as I looked at the child holding a 1 million Tiga check in a hand no bigger than half mine.
I had thought this before—his concept of money was questionable.
“Do you even know how much money this is when you just hand it over so casually?”
“Is it a lot of money?”
“Of course it is. With that money, I could do nothing for a whole week.”
“Wow, really?”
The child’s eyes sparkled brightly. Instantly, I realized I had made a mistake—it was too late.
“Then I’ll give you all of this, so please give me a week of the lady’s time.”
“As I just said, I have another appointment scheduled, so that’s…”
“I know there isn’t one.”
He stepped closer, sat down quietly, and said,
“My father left me alone to work far away. When I go home, there’s no one. No family. No mother…”
Seeing the Kid speak in a weary, slumped tone, different from before, I suddenly felt like the guilty one.
“I won’t interfere with your work. I’ll just sit quietly beside you. So please, just spend a week with me, okay?”
How could I avoid those sparkling eyes?
“……A week. No more.”
“I’m so happy! Thank you, Sister.”
Just moments ago he called me ‘auntie,’ now he calls me ‘sister.’
Should I call him clever or simply innocent?
I picked up the check the child had placed on the table and called Anna, instructing her to deposit it along with the pink diamond. The Kid, who had been listening with a beaming smile, clapped his hands happily the moment our eyes met.
‘Why does this feel so unsettling?’
I probably need to find out the Kid’s true identity.
I gestured for Anna to come closer and whispered softly, so she wouldn’t be overheard.
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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