2. The second way. To be recognized as the wife of the Duke. Chapter 6

It was necessary to put aside the failed method and plan out the next method. Now that I have become the stepmother, I can be a good mother to Carl as I promised Marilyn. After Marilyn's funeral, I decided to hold Carl in my arms. Is a good stepmother such a big deal? A good stepmother just has to be nice to be considered good.

My mother said that no matter how much I raise him like my child, other people's children are other people's children. Also no matter how much I care about Carl and Carl follows me, I will not look good to others. She warned me of the exhaustion of raising my husband's ex-wife's child, not the one I gave birth to. Finally she asked me to reconsider becoming the Duchess, but my decision was final.

I guess it would be a fine life to be the stepmother of the main character of this world, rather than living with Oscar, a handsome knight.

Although I was determined to do so, unfortunately, I was not Carl's nanny, but his stepmother and Duchess of Demancier. As the Duchess, there were many things to do, but most of the lords and knights went to war for half a year. This was due to the geographical characteristics of the Duchy and the Northern territory, so there were even more things to do.

Marilyn was pregnant and bedrest at the same time, because of this the Duchess's seat was virtually vacant. When I decided to marry on her deathbed there was no one I took over from. Marilyn's departure did not stop time, so as spring was just around the corner, Mrs. May looked at me and asked how to prepare for the campaign.

"Ready to go? What should I prepare?"

Unlike me, who just became the Duchess, Mrs. May, who had been a maid before Marilyn became the Duchess, answered without hesitation.

"While the Duke and his aides are charged when the military supplies and war efforts, the Duchess must prepare to gather the women of the castle to mend the armor or make military uniforms. It was supposed to be done during the winter…"

In the North half the year was winter and the other half was spent in war with monsters trying to move south from the border. From now on, my husband, Duke Demancier, will spend half the year on the battlefield. During the winter, monsters did while much, so only a minimum number of soldiers were on guard. Most of the knights, including the Duke, returned to their homes to prepare for the battle that would begin in spring.

And this winter, Marilyn lay sick giving birth to Carlos. The work Marilyn was doing before stopped, and the maids did only minimal work; cleaning up the castle and such.

"When will the Duke go to war?"

The goods had to be prepared in time for the Duke's departure. At the moment Mrs. May informed me that I only had a week, I felt dizzy. Originally, there were celebrations to welcome spring, but there were no celebrations or ceremonies the year Marilyn died.

I looked at what Marilyn had done, but it was still too much to prepare in a week due to things being left unattended for a long time. Eventually I had to spend money to buy new items. The delivery time was barely met by spending more money. The Duke and his aides did not take issue with the expenditure, knowing that Marilyn's position as the Duchess was vacant while she was ill, and that she could not do what she did every winter. However, as soon as the Duchess died, those who were interested in the new Duchess had already said that I was incompetent and extravagant, and that I made the Duke spend a lot of money on me.

It felt so dirty but refreshing to be blamed for something that was not my fault. A week has passed since I started looking for new war supplies, and the ceremony for the knights and soldiers to head back to the border was just around the corner. I made sure that all the supplies were in the carriage and prepared for the ceremony with Carlos.

Spring was just around the corner, but the weather was severe with the remnants of winter. Carlos was dressed in thick clothes and wrapped with fur. I went outside wearing Marilyn's fur coat. As a new Duchess, I didn't have many clothes and I couldn't make it because I didn't have enough time to get new clothes that fit the dignity of the Duchess.

"My Carl, are you frustrated? Just hold it in even if you're frustrated. It's cold outside, so it would hurt if you caught a cold."

I came outside with the child wrapped tightly, soothing Carl that was frustrated in the thick clothes. Sure enough, a fierce wind was blowing. Hugging him closer, I went toward the Duke, who had yet to climb on the horse. Being careful as possible to prevent Carl from being hit by the wind.

He seemed calm as if he didn't appreciate the expedition he went on every year. I know he survives until Carl grows up, but war has always been accompanied by numerous variables. Besides, for about half a year, the Duke, who would not come home from the battlefield, hoped to strengthen Carlos' position, whose stepmother had come in as soon as his mother was killed. While you're at it, I'd like to build up my prestige as a Duchess, but... I don't expect much help from a man who didn't respond to Marilyn, who was dying.

The Duke of Demancier saw me approaching him, his aide approached him at the same time and whispered something. The Duke came to me after handing over the reins of the horse with a slight nod to his aide.

The Duke of Demancier, who spent half the year in battle, was truly endowed. In my family there were three tall brothers, and thanks to the second brother, who is a knight, even I was familiar with the big people but I was still surprised. The Duke stride was so wife that it would encompass three of mine. Whenever I watched him walk towards me, my head naturally tilted back and up.

The Duke was approaching without an expression, but was so big that it felt threatening as he got closer. I couldn't figure out the Duke's intentions by his silent approach.

In the confusion, I suddenly stuck Carl out at him. With his green eyes from Marilyn, Carl saw his father, with the same black hair as his. The Duke's silent stride stopped when I held him out in front of me.

He eyes the baby, then turns his attention to me. His face asked 'what should I do?' I shook the baby slightly and gave him a hint.

Hug him!

The Duke held Carl in his arms as if this was the first time. Carl seemed puzzled by the unusually stiff chest, as the Duke wore hard armor and a cape on top. Carl's chubby hands groped the Duke's cold armor, because of the Duke's clumsiness with the baby, Carl's fur wrapped flowed loosely down.

Oh, my God, do you even know how to hold a child. I hurried and tightened Carl's fur. When he felt my touch, Carl opened his arms without any hesitation and hugged me. The Duke dropped his hand awkwardly and glanced out at Carl.

"You should hug him when he is going far. Huh? You have to say good-bye to your father."

Carl just smiled brightly. Indeed, I don't know if Carl understands the concept of the Duke being his father. Maybe it's just another unfamiliar guy. I had to tilt my head to see the Duke's face. The Duke, who I had never seen the face of properly was um...

He was much more handsome than I thought. His skinny, long neck blended into his firm and clear jawline. Even looking at him at an angle his handsome face was sculpted with a high nose.

"Then, Duke, well-."

The Duke lowered his upper body and suddenly brought his face next to mine. I stepped back without realizing it, but there was a cold hard gauntlet wrapped around my shoulder.

"Oh."

"I'll be back, wife."

The Duke's face came very close to mine. He was so close I was able to tell his eye color, they were a light purple like violets. Merlin's green eyes were also very pretty, but the Duke's were such a beautiful color that it was regrettable that Carl did not inherit them.

"You can call me Gellerhard in front of others."

The fact that a wife called her husband's name didn't mean much, but it meant a lot between me and the Duke. Everyone knew that we were just a couple on paper and that I was here to raise Carl. To tell me that I can call the Duke's name affectionately in front of others, was a sign that the Duke cared about me.

"Yes."

This was probably the advice of the aide who whispered to the Duke before I approached him. The Duke didn't pull his face back until he heard my answer and his breath reached me. The Duke slowly raised his head from over me, I had stopped breathing for fear that my breath would reach him.

Ha, I breathed out a long breath and held Carl close to me. The Duke went back to his horse and got on it gracefully, I slowly moved away from him walking into the castle.

My heart beat loudly and my cheeks turned red for no reason. Oooh, he's making my heart race.

I grumbled into the castle, surprised to hear that the Duke and I looked like we were kissing each other. That's what he intended. In fact, the lips that didn't even touch my cheek, but what others knew as a kiss was better for me.