Saved by Crazy Stepfather! - Chapter 90

“Wh-When did I do that?”

“Look, even now. If you were really crying, you wouldn’t be speaking like that.”
Her mouth trembled at her brother’s sharp words.

Aster’s face also hardened as she held Harris.

“Is that so, Harris?”
“Ah… No, Sister! Harris can’t do such a bad thing. He’s… always hated me, that’s why…”

“Harris, Allen has always wanted to have you as a little sister but you said you didn’t like him.”

It was unexpected. Aster, who thought she would take her side, stroked her head and spoke in an emotionless voice.

“But, but… Anyway, my brother is fascinated by that person over there and he keeps saying bad things to me.”

Aster’s gaze calmly turned to Allen.

“No, I’ve never been possessed or said anything bad, Sister.”

“I think it’s real, Allen. You’ve always flinched when I looked at you.”

“Yes, I’m confident. She’s the one who’s not confident. Do you know how much she’s made a fuss about Bebe?”

As if remembering what happened, Allen huffed and pursed his lips.

“This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for her. It’s all because of that Bebe person!”

“Everyone, stop.”

Aster spat out coldly as if she didn’t want to see it. With that voice that sounded exactly like my father’s, as well as the same expression, it seemed to work pretty well. The siblings, who were making a fuss just now, hardened as if they had become statues.

‘Are you the scary older sister?’

I can’t believe she was able to overpower these uncontrollable siblings so easily. I stared at Aster in surprise.

“Then now, instead of listening to the children, Father will tell me. Please tell me what happened so that I can understand.”

“I checked Harris’s blood using the Imperial family’s treasure to make sure she was real and it turns out she’s not. That’s all.”
“I see.”
Rather, Aster made eye contact with Harris without much emotion.

“You’re not my sister.”

“Oh, not you. There’s no way I’m not your sister. I’m…!”

“But they said so.”

“They would be wrong, Sister…”

Aster stared at Harris. Afraid, Harris quickly turned her head.

“I’m scared… Sister, you’ve always been kind to me. You’ve embraced and loved me more than anyone else.”

“That’s why you called for me?”

She even called for her, saying ‘Come here quickly, it’s urgent’.

“If it wasn’t for you… I think Dad would kick me out right away. Daddy’s gone crazy. He doesn’t listen to what I say. I think he’s been possessed by a strange girl.”

And then Aster’s eyes fell on me. As if to examine my existence, her sharp eyes looked at me more fiercely than ever.

“Are you saying she’s a weird kid?”

“Yeah, she showed up out of nowhere… and she’s got some kind of weird power… Well, that doesn’t mean she should get close. Sister, she’s very dangerous.”

Aster strode closer to me, setting Harris down on the floor, despite Harris’s words.

“S-Sister…!”

Then she put her hand on my head without hesitation.
“Lady Aster!”

Cecilia came up in a hurry, as if surprised by such an action, but Aster stopped her.

“I have to check with my own hands. What is this?”

As if meeting her father for the first time, Aster spoke emotionlessly. Meanwhile, her hand, which rested on my head, became hot. However, the hot feeling soon became warm and warmed my head.

“Huh…”

“Don’t do that!”

Harris, who came running before she knew it, clung to Aster’s feet.

Aster, who came out and looked at Harris, put her other hand on her head.

“S-Sister…!”

“Wait a second, Harris.”

But unlike me, Harris’s face gradually hardened.

“Ah, it’s hot. It hurts! It hurts!”

Shortly afterwards, Harris shook her head mercilessly. I felt warm and nice, but Harris frowned in anguish.

In the end, Aster let go of her hand to see.

“Hmm… twins, come here.”

This time, she called Lexit and Allen. Nothing has changed since just now. As she did to Harris and I, Aster calmly put her hands on the twins’s heads. Unexpectedly, the twins looked at Aster without much reaction.

“Twins, you didn’t turn hot.”

“Yes!”
“It’s just warm.”

“…I see.”

Aster’s face, which had been looking at me with a sharp expression, had relaxed slightly.

“…I guess you’re not it.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Anyway, Dad, I get it.”

A small smile appeared on my dad’s face at Aster’s change, who had been resolute the whole time.

However, she suddenly stroked Harris’s hair.

“Of course, I don’t think you should kick out Harris.”
“Aster!”

“She’s still my younger sister. I can’t believe you’d kick out a kid in a day. That’s ridiculous.”

“Hah, I don’t know who you resemble. You’re so determined.”

“I’ve always been like my father. You’ve always liked it.”

The older sister, who smirked, still looked at Harris.

“And even though Harris was not the real daughter of the Grand Duchess, she was able to persist to the end because there was someone behind her. After we’ve executed them… we’ll deal with her then.”

She had her own grace period, but Harris’s lips trembled.

“Do you think I’m not real? Sister, I’m serious. I’m your real sister. We’re so alike… we are…”

“Harris.”
“…I hate you. I hate you too. Everyone says I’m not real. I mean it… I’m serious…”
“I know. You’re real. I believe you.”
“Do you really trust me?”

“Sure. Let’s go in now.”
Aster walked with Harris in her arms.

“Aster…”

Dad called the older sister, but there was no way she could turn back.

“Twins, follow me.”
Eventually they disappeared in a hurry. All that was left was my father and the vassals who came to check.

“Ha…”
I ran to my dad.

“Daddy.”

“…Yes.”

“Are you okay?”

Dad nodded, but he didn’t look any better. Rather, he just looked at Harris with a regretful face.

“If you think about it, it’s right for Aster to appease Harris.”

“Do you want to?”

“Even if you force her, she won’t spit out what she knows. Now, who had brought Harris and Ellin’s shawl here… I don’t know about Harris, but the one who brought the child here must be the one who killed Ellin. That’s why I can’t forgive her.”

“Daddy…”

“But don’t worry. I won’t get carried away. Shall we go back?”

“Okay!”

I smiled brightly at my friendly father. I didn’t see Harris get kicked out, but I at least knew for sure Harris wasn’t related to my dad.

That was enough.

‘Now I can refute whatever Harris says!’

Seeing me like that, my dad leaned down to affectionately stroke my head.

“Aster took Harris away, so there’s no time left. I think we can talk to Adele as promised. Shall Dad go to Mom?”

Dad smiled pleasantly, as if to reassure me.
“Okay! But Mom’s asleep!”

…Are you also going to sleep?”

“Yes! She’s already asleep!”

“It’s been a while since the priest came and went, but she’s asleep?”

As usual, my dad’s expression looked quite serious.

“Yes, can’t you?”

There was no answer to my question.

“…I think we should call the priest right away.”
“Dad?”

As if something had happened, Dad hugged me and walked with a serious expression. Then, he gave orders to the servant that was following him.

“Go and call the priest right away.”

As if waiting for the word, the servant disappeared quickly.

“What’s the matter? Did something happen to Mom?”

“Oh, no, Bebe. I’m just calling the priest because she’s asleep. Adele… will be alright.”

Was I mistaken to hear that something was going to happen today but nothing will happen?

“Dad… are you sure Mom is okay?”

“Sure. When the priest comes, she’ll be fine. I may have misunderstood something, so don’t worry, Bebe.”

I found out for the first time today that the words ‘Don’t worry’ is the scariest thing in the world.