The Fantasie of a Stepmother

Chapter 5

It was hard to believe the position I found myself in.

Jeremy’s hair was still downy soft. He was only a hands-width taller than me, but soon enough, I would have to crane my neck to look at his face.

I had never let it show, but I surged with pride whenever I looked at him. Neuschwanstein’s Lion and the Crown Prince’s Sword, who made the hearts of all young women in society...

“You...” he finally said.

My breath caught.

What now? With what words will you gouge my insides?

Yet, Jeremy didn’t go on. Instead, he did something unexpected.

He took a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to me.

I stared, wide-eyed, like a rabbit.

“Your makeup is smeared,” he finally said in his sarcastic voice.

Why, thank you very much. From what embarrassment you have saved me. Ha ha ha. What an unchangeable rascal you are.

***

Three important items came into my hands once my husband was buried: the master key that opened every storage room and bedroom in the marquess’s house, the box that held the will, and the seal embossed with the house crest.

When these came into my possession in the past, I was so busy that I didn’t have time to sleep.

I had to take care of all the work that my husband had been doing on top of any housekeeping issues—comprehending and resolving reports and petitions from the marquess’s province, guilds, and my own; calculating profits and margins; settling accounts with the imperial family and keeping the account book in order; and seeing to the knights’ wages, punishments, and incentives.

I had to learn it all in a short time, leaving no hours to spare for sleeping or eating.

Without help from the head maid and butler, who had managed the housekeeping even before I married my husband, I would have probably died from overwork.

Of course, that was the past. Now, I could scan the tiny writing in an account book and pinpoint exactly what was missing or wrong. I could sip my tea while reading countless pages of documents and stamping them with the house seal.

As Count Mueller had remarked, the House of Neuschwanstein was a goose that laid golden eggs.

They were a respected, historied house that had protected the imperial family since the empire’s founding.

Moreover, the profits from their merchant guild and gold mines were astronomical.

It was no wonder that some said the imperial family might rule the empire, but the Neuschwansteins made them look good. The marquess’s knight uniforms were so fancy as to be comparable to the imperial guards’ uniforms.

However, it must be noted that Marquess Johannes von Neuschwanstein’s most valuable legacy was nothing so materialistic. He left behind four remarkably beautiful children, the care of whom was entrusted to a stepmother young enough to be their sister.

Whenever we attended a public event, no one could ever keep their eyes away.

Elias was the only one to inherit his mother’s red hair. The rest had the family’s signature brilliant blond hair and bright green eyes that glowed like emeralds.

They also grew faster than most other children. Jeremy was always big relative to his age. They grew faster than weeds. If I had been a boy, I would have felt ashamed as they towered over me.

Of course, they were more than just their looks.

Jeremy was knighted at fifteen and, after a string of victories, earned his title as the Crown Prince’s Sword.

Elias followed in his older brother’s footsteps.

Rachel showed skill in fashion and the arts from a young age. Leon could remember the contents of a book after one cursory look.

I couldn’t help but think God was unfair.

Then again, they do say not everyone receives God’s grace. I didn’t know who said that first, but I believed it.

After nearly a decade of living under the children’s harassment, I knew that the most prominent trait shared among the Neuschwansteins was neither beauty nor talent but a hot temper.

The twins, Leon and Rachel, knew nothing about compromise. They were extremely true to their emotions. When things didn’t go to their liking, they threw violent tantrums until they were appeased.

It grew worse after my husband died. Even veteran nannies and governesses couldn’t handle them. To be fair, they were young, I supposed.

On the other hand, when Elias was offended, he always responded with his fists, no matter who he was talking to. I didn’t have enough fingers to count the number of times he troubled me with his mishaps!

They say that there is always someone worse, don’t they? If I had to pick the worst of the monstrous siblings, it would have to be Jeremy.

One would never guess it to look at him, but Jeremy was the most impatient of the four. He was the type to cut the knots of a saddle with a knife instead of undoing it with his hands. Nagging him to stay calm was useless. He never listened.

If Elias was a hotblooded colt that wandered the land, Jeremy was a wild beast that charged for one’s vitals.

Was it any surprise that such an impatient boy hated me when he had to wait seven years to inherit his title?

Not that it wasn’t my fault. Whatever.

He was engaged to Duke Heinrich’s daughter when he was seventeen but delayed the wedding himself.

They said Duke Heinrich’s daughter had countless young men lovesick for her. When it came to family lineage and social reputation, she was flawless.

And it was I who had arranged that engagement.

It was no wonder I became such a miserable person after living with those temperamental lion cubs for nearly a decade.

It also led me to become someone unfazed by any situation.

***

Eight people gathered in the large sitting room. It was lavishly decorated and received plenty of sunlight.

I sat with seven guests: Count and Countess Mueller, Marquess Friedrich, Count and Countess Penceler, and, lastly, Sir Valentino and Countess Sebastian.

Besides Countess Mueller and Countess Penceler, these were all my late husband’s younger siblings. The youngest among them, Countess Sebastian, was seven years older than me.

I’m sure you understand. As the representatives of the collateral bloodline, they were gathered here to pressure me! At least, that was what I remembered.

I looked like a fearful rabbit surrounded by hungry predators. They looked quite confident. I could tell from their attitudes that they thought showing their canines and growling would be enough.

Count Mueller spoke as the eldest among them. His tone was haughty as if he had forgotten our conflict at the funeral. “I can’t help but be reminded of our childhood now that we are gathered here. Our brother loved this estate, the place where we grew up.”

“Ha ha, you and Johan were always running around and fighting with each other.”

“Indeed. And you would go and tattle to Father, Otto.”

“When I look back, you all behaved just like beasts, like Mother said. It’s no wonder—”

“Did you all come here to share your memories with me?” I interrupted sharply. “As you all know, I am very busy.”

Their faces, which had been glowing with nostalgia, crumpled as one and turned to me.

In the past, I would have cowered under the simultaneous gazes of these confident predators, but I felt nothing now. After being harassed for years by lion cubs, I had become cold and dispassionate to survive. I sniffled internally.

During the suffocating silence, Count Mueller surveyed my emotionless face. He seemed to change strategies.

“Lady Neuschwanstein,” he said, sounding relaxed. “Since we are gathered here, I will speak frankly. I will begin by saying that nothing that follows is because we doubt you, so please do not misunderstand. We are simply concerned.”

“Concerned?” I echoed.

“Isn’t it natural?” Count Mueller went on in a friendly tone. “As you know, the House of Neuschwanstein is the most reputable noble family in the empire. Our trust in you being secondary, my lady, you and the children are so very young.”

He made himself sound as if he truly sympathized, adding a subtle shade of generosity.

I lowered my gaze softly, trying to appear moved by their concern. “I understand that you worry.”

“Of course. Everyone here is worried that you will be seduced by some loathsome scoundrel and besmirch the proud Neuschwanstein name.” The count paused. “Pardon me, my lady, but have you ever attended a society gathering before?”

“Several times.”

“Society noblewomen are more frightful than vipers, and even scarier still are their husbands—people like us. Even if you follow your husband’s will, all they will see is a young woman sitting in parliament, and they will not stand for it. A fourteen-year-old boy would be infinitely more tolerable.”

He wasn’t wrong. I had experienced exactly what he was talking about.

The parliament of nobles was held once a month except in cases of war or misfortune in the imperial family and was comprised of the leaders of predominant noble families and renowned cardinals, and it was led by Duke Nürnberger, the empress’s younger brother.

The parliament had immense sway over every decision made in the empire. Neither the emperor nor the pope could defy their decisions easily.