Selected as the New Stepmother (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9

Rublion fidgeted with his small fingers, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“But, Duke, isn’t it possible that Mama can’t spend more, even if she wants to?”

Ascal watched the young boy, his chin resting on the back of his hand.

“You’ve already investigated, haven’t you? The Dely family isn’t particularly wealthy. So I think you can’t judge Mama’s spending habits so easily.”

Ascal was about to nod in agreement, but hesitated. Yet Rublion had already realized he was sympathetic.

“Give me five million Tiga. I’ll show you exactly how Mama spends.”

“Rublion, I don’t care how Mama spends her money.”

“Really? Why?”

The child’s eyes widened in shock, trembling intensely.

“You’re the one who likes the Youngae, not me.”

“Could it be because Mama isn’t pretty?”

Ascal’s expression darkened.

“It’s late. Go to bed early so you can wake up early.”

“Really? So it’s because Mama isn’t pretty?”

Rublion jumped off the sofa, shoulders slumped. He turned around with a listless face.

“I can’t help it anyway…”

Watching the boy mutter to himself, Ascal sighed and said,

“I don’t judge people by their appearance. So don’t misunderstand me.”

Ascal rose from his desk and strode over, kneeling down to meet Rublion’s gaze.

“And the Youngae is closer to cute than to pretty.”

The boy’s eyebrows twitched.

“Anyway, if you like her, I’ll hire her as your tutor or nanny. I’ll fulfill any need you have.”

“Then give me five million Tiga. What I need right now is to confirm how Mama spends.”

The child’s golden eyes sparkled.

“The Mama whom the Duke himself called cute might even match your own spending tastes.”

“When did I ever say…”

“Goodnight!”

Rublion turned and dashed out. Left alone on the office floor, Ascal rose from his seat, feeling a sharp throb in his temple.

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“Mama, I got homework from the Duke.”

The moment the Kid stepped into the office, he said this.

“Homework?”

The Kid dashed to the sofa, now his personal seat, sat down, gulped down the milk Anna had given him, then pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket.

A moment later, what emerged in his small hand was a five-million-Tiga check.

“You have to find a way to spend all of this within two days.”

“Is that the homework?”

“Yes.”

To give a ten-year-old such a large sum and tell him to spend it all in two days? Was this really the Duke family’s method of education?

“He said I’d find it hard to do alone, so I’m allowed to ask adults for help.”

“Really? That’s perfect.”

I showed the Kid a newspaper clipping.

“In an hour, this lady will come to the office. She matches the mother criteria you requested.”

“…There was someone who matched?”

“Yes, there are more. But today, only this lady.”

I patted the Kid’s head, his eyes wide with surprise.

“Hope you like her.”

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The lady, her long brown hair neatly styled, arrived at the office. Guided by Anna into the consultation room, she spotted Rublion waiting there and smiled gently.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting.”

I greeted her warmly and guided her to sit across from the Kid. A sweet fragrance drifted from her neat, understated yellow dress.

“Now, this is our client, the young master, and this is Miss Olive, who runs a large business in Rubiga.”

I introduced them back and forth.

“Nice to meet you, little master.”

Olive extended her hand. The Kid glanced at me, grinned, then took her hand in greeting.

“Hello, big sister!”

His higher-than-usual tone struck my ear. Perhaps he’d already taken a liking to her?

“You two talk. I’ll step out for a moment.”

I stood up, smiling warmly at the Kid, feeling content.

Perhaps the request would end sooner than expected.

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The moment Schmidt left, Rublion changed his expression entirely and turned to the woman before him.

Her face looked kind, but only her mouth smiled faintly.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“We’re not close enough yet for you to know my name.”

Rublion replied indifferently to Olive’s question.

“Whatever. I’ll find out gradually. Are you sure you have no other siblings?”

“Yes.”

Olive finally relaxed, her posture loosening.

“What does your father do?”

“He’s in business.”

“What kind of business?”

“He does many things.”

“What’s his biggest business?”

Rublion tilted his head slightly, then answered in a voice entirely different from before.

“Why do you care? What my father does has nothing to do with Mama’s position.”

Refusing to answer, Rublion made Olive’s irritation evident.

“If you don’t want to answer, don’t.”

“Yes.”

She clicked her tongue and slammed her teacup down.

“Then can I ask my questions now?”

Olive crossed her arms, silent. She had transformed completely from the person she was at first glance.

“You seem more interested in my father’s business than in becoming my mother, right?”

“Yes. At least I need to know how much your father earns before deciding whether to become your mother or nanny.”

Olive, who had been leaning back on the sofa, straightened up and continued.

“A single woman marrying a widower with children shouldn’t go in blind, right? Frankly, your father might not be a man with a clean private life.”

Rublion’s expression darkened. But Olive paid no attention.

“So tell me—what exactly does your father do?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.”

Olive tapped her fingers impatiently.

“My father operates the Artenbach Bank and Art Gallery. He has hot springs and hotels in the tourist zone, does some trade, and even sells spoils from the annual beast-hunting event.”

“Young one, I don’t know where you heard this, but the Artenbach Bank and Art Gallery are operated by the Duke’s family…”

Olive’s voice trailed off in disbelief, her mouth hanging open. Then she noticed again—the dark hair, the golden eyes—there was something unmistakable about him.

“…Could it be?”

The amusement vanished from Rublion’s face. Olive realized her mistake and clenched her lips tightly.

“I didn’t realize I’d meet the heir to the Artenbach family here. I’ve never seen you at official events, so I didn’t recognize you.”

Since noble debut in the empire usually occurs around age eighteen, the ten-year-old Rublion had never appeared at formal gatherings. So, like Schmidt, Olive hadn’t recognized him.

Olive rose gracefully from her seat, then slightly bent her knee before standing straight.

“My questions… you understand they were asked for future considerations, correct?”

Rublion didn’t answer. He only remembered Schmidt’s words: be wary of those who treat you differently based on your family and wealth.

“Yes, I understand perfectly.”

Olive smiled brightly, then moved closer and sat beside Rublion.

With the tender gaze of a devoted mother, she said,

“I don’t know why you’re searching for a mother in such a small office, but whatever you’ve wanted until now, I’ll do it all with you.”

Rublion looked at Olive, her hand gently holding his. Then he smiled back, just as she had.

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“I’m leaving right now!”

Olive, her face ashen, fled the room. I stood with Anna, dumbfounded, watching her vanish without looking back.

“What happened?”

After a moment of confusion, I rushed into the consultation room.

“Mama.”

The Kid sat there, face scrunched, tears streaming heavily. My heart sank.

“Why are you crying? What happened?”

“I just… I don’t want to look for a mother anymore.”

The Kid wiped his tears with his sleeve. A surge of anger and guilt rose in me. I should’ve stayed with him.

I pulled out a tissue and handed it to him, then crouched down to his level.

“I was short-sighted. I should’ve stayed beside you.”

“Huhh…”

The Kid’s small shoulders trembled. I wanted to grab Olive right now and demand: what did you say to make him cry like this?

“Just cry. When you feel like talking, tell Mama afterward.”

“Mama… sniff.”

“Yeah, I’m right here.”

Without thinking, I pulled the Kid into a tight embrace.

The child, overwhelmed with emotion, buried his face against my shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.

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After putting the Kid to bed, his eyes swollen and puffy, I stepped outside and began the meeting with a serious expression. Though the only attendees were Anna and me.

“I’ll go to Rubiga and find out what happened.”

Anna raised her hand. I handed her several banknotes for transportation, telling her to go immediately.

Alone at the reception desk, I replayed the Kid’s words: “I won’t look for a mother anymore.”

“What could she have said…?”

I never imagined it would go this wrong. I’d carefully chosen the candidate based on my own standards, her reputation, and character—yet the disappointment was greater than expected.

The Kid didn’t want to reveal he was from the Duke’s family, so he’d only casually mentioned that he was from a noble household and his father was in business.

“Mama.”

“Already awake?”

He hadn’t slept an hour. I grabbed his hand as he stepped out of the consultation room and walked back in with him.

“Want some water?”

The Kid nodded in response. A pang of sorrow struck my chest.

“Do you feel better?”

“Yes, I’m fine now. But I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“You said because I’m a widower with a child, the conditions matter. Does that mean a widower is bad?”

“…Did that woman say that?”

“Yes.”

An oath nearly slipped from my lips. How foolish of me to have hoped the request would end quickly after pushing such a person on him.