Chapter 5

Agatha was neither kicked out nor punished despite how she acted. It made her even more confident and the Duchess' maids began to muzzle and watch Agatha, who was more likely to become the Duchess-to-be. The discipline of the Demancier estate had deteriorated a lot, even for an outsider like me.

With spring just around the corner, Marilyn's condition became critical. Marilyn, who had foreseen death, became more determined as she faced it. Her doctor said tonight would be her last night, and her bedroom was home to Carlos, Count Betrika, me, Carlos' two nannies, and even the barely seen Duke.

The Duke of Demancier was sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace and said nothing while his wife was on her deathbed. And Marilyn also did not speak to her husband. At first, I was a little embarrassed and nervous about his appearance, but I quickly forgot the existence of the Duke sitting there like a statue.

Marilyn breathed heavily with a feverish face. Even the act of taking a breath became hard for her. I carefully raised her hand so Carl could hold her finger. The baby grabbed his mother's skinny finger tightly, turned around, and wiggled on the bed where his mother lay. Sometimes patted Carl's stomach and tickled his side, making him laugh. The innocent laughter of the baby with his dying mother next to him made the adults smile, but it also brought tears to their eyes. Wiping tears secretly, I watched my dear friend die in bed.

"Mandy, Carl, please Carl..."

Carl blinked his green eyes that looked just like his mother with an innocent face as if he already understood my name. Oh, Marilyn. I couldn't give her the answer she wanted and left a vague message that I would watch her child. Then the door of the bedroom opened. Everyone's eyes were on the person who entered, Agatha, the guest who was not invited, entered proudly.

"That crazy girl..."

A few curse words were waiting to leave my lips. Oh, my God, Agatha. That crazy girl was wearing a beautiful winter dress and flashy accessories. Her look was slightly lowered and her expression looked somber, so her outfit itself was strange.

"Marilyn, how are you so weak?"

Agatha, who had never visited Marilyn before, sat at Marilyn's feet with a worried face. The seat was very close to the Duke sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace, and I saw Agatha gently looking the Duke up and down with an innocent face.

When the Duke looked up to see who the new woman was, Agatha's cheek turned red when their eyes met. He had never visited his wife, who was dying after childbirth but came to her deathbed. Even though he was suspicious of her personality, Agatha's appearance was as prosperous as it could be. He was an impressive man with a strong and determined spirit, unique to knights who always travel through the battlefield, and an overwhelming atmosphere like the ruler of the northern part of the country. Besides, he was young. For Agatha, who wants to be the wife of a powerful man, the Duke is a very coveted groom.

"Oh, it's hot in here…"

Agatha shrugged her shoulders slightly and slipped off her robe. Surprisingly, she was wearing a white dress that revealed her shoulders and collarbones. Marilyn's room, which was always lit up with the fireplace, was hot, but it wasn't to the point of wearing such a revealing dress. Besides, what she wore was not a dress for the house, but a dress she would wear to the party. Agatha, who showed off her thin and soft shoulders, did not hide it and sent a candid look to the duke.

From the look of it, Agatha never seemed to be a good stepmother for Carl. Marilyn is still living with her eyes open, and she's flirting with her husband, the Duke. The Duke of Demancier turned his head back to the fireplace as if he were not interested, and Agatha seemed a little embarrassed, but soon he stood.

"Oh, Carl. You're here."

Carlos's pet name sounded friendly and seemed to show off that she had the potential to be a good mother. Carl was the wrong nickname for how unfamiliar she was with Carlos. Agatha came at him with her arms stretched out, and his eyes sparkled.

Carl opened his arms and Agatha held the baby in her arms. In particular, he turned his head to me and looked as proud as he could be. Carl seemed completely distracted by Agatha's necklace, and the baby, who was born to have anything he could hold, also held Agatha's necklace. Agatha calmly walked slightly in front of Marilyn's bed, showing off Carl in her arms, and sat on her bed again, while Carl put the necklace in his mouth.

"Oh, it's ok, ok."

"Ah, what's this? That's dirty!"

Agatha and I had different ideas of duty. Agatha let go of Carl in fear of her necklace, and Carl, who had never experienced such a cold touch, burst into tears and opened his arms to me. He came into my arms, soothing the crying Carl, I glared at Agatha, who was frowning at the baby's saliva-stained necklace.

"That's why I told you not to wear jewelry with big gems when you hold him."

Countess Desman, who once grabbed Agatha by the hair, pointed out the opportunity. She could not hide her complaints and Agatha stared down the Countess.

As not to get involved, I focused on soothing Carl.

"Young Prince, be a good boy. Oh, are you ok? Yeah, you're fine now, you're fine. Shhh."

In the quiet bedroom, I could only hear the sound of me soothing Carl and the sound of him sobbing. When I hugged him, he quickly touched my hair and buried his face in my arms, and I gently patted him on the back.

"Mandy..."

Even while coughing, Marilyn looked at me with a mournful face. The moment I saw her face, I was heartbroken and felt intense guilt at the thought of not seeing her before her death, although it was not my fault.

"Mandy, please, Carl..."

Her voice was as dry as a leaf that could break when touched.

"Be Carl's mother."

Over and over again, she used to ask me to take care of her and to be there for Carl. This was the first time Marilyn had asked me so clearly.

"Marilyn..."

"What are you talking about? Carl's stepmother is me!"

Agatha raised her voice and forcibly took Carl, who had become quite in my arms. It happened suddenly. At that instance, Carl started crying again. Agatha tried to soothe Carl, but the baby's cry only grew louder. Carl, who was gentle no matter who hugged him, kicked his hands and feet. Agatha stared at me, holding the baby in her arms, thinking that if he was taken away, she would miss the position of the Duchess.

The child's crying was getting louder and Carl struggled harder. I tried to ignore it, not listen, and look away, but I couldn't.

The baby, Carl was crying.

"Let Carl go, Agatha!"

My voice grew because of Carr's loud cry. Agatha was just hugging Carl without comforting him and he struggled more. Eventually, Agatha let go of Carl and I quickly brought him into my arms.

"Shh, don't cry. Everything's fine now. It's all right now."

Countess Desman blocked Agatha, who was trying to get Carl back. Fortunately, the two women did not fight at the meeting. Carl was in my arms, crying sadly and clenching my hair and clothes. A small, chubby hand grabbed tightly and desperately. Marilyn reached for us.

"Oh, Mandy... Please, there's no one besides you. You, I need you."

Marilyn begged. Marilyn, who was still on the verge of dying, grabbed my collar to beg for her young son. I sat by her bedside again and held her boney hands. My heart ached for her. Carl was burying his face in my arms and grabbing my clothes with his hands.

How can I turn a blind eye to these two?

Oscar's handsome face became blurred while I looked at them, and the future that I dreamed of with him became blurred. I finally made a promise to her as she faced death.

"I promise, Marilyn. I will raise Carl like my child, but I will make sure that he does not forget you, his mother."

"Mandy..."

"Marilyn, I'll give Carl the love you have for him. I'll be Carl's mother and take good care of him. I'll do my best."

"Oh, Mandy."

What should I say to reassure a mother who has to leave her baby behind? I couldn't talk more and shut my mouth, and Marilyn smiled feverishly.

"Thank you, I trust you."

Was the past time we spent together enough to reassure Marilyn? As far as she knows, was I trustworthy enough to leave her little boy? Marilyn closed her eyes with a smiling face. She was worried over Carl until the very end, leaving him to me she was relieved.

"Marilyn!"

I called her name like a scream when she didn't open her eyes again, the doctor came up and looked at her condition. Her doctor pronounced her dead. Count Betrika gasped loudly and Agatha looked around with a bewildered face. I burst into tears holding Carl in my arms. Then the Duke got up without saying a word and left the bedroom. I knew Agatha chased after him, but I let them go.

The next day the chariot of Count Betrika carrying Agatha left, and Merlin's funeral began. A few days later, my father, mother, and three older brothers came to the estate.

They tried to persuade me to hold Carlos but failed, and the next day the Duke and I became a couple on paper. It was not long after the funeral of the Duchess Marilyn, we were unable to hold the wedding. The Duke and my wedding was postponed but I didn't think he and I would have an official ceremony.

I sighed as I signed a document confirming my marriage with the Duke.

Eventually, Amanda became Carlos' stepmother.

First way. Don't be a stepmother. Failed.