If it's to become my favorite stepmother, I'll gladly do a fake marriage! [Main story complete] - Chapter 19

The trio arrived at the mobile amusement park with much excitement. As they disembarked from the carriage, Diarmid, Nisha, and Brigid made quite the entrance, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

“Marquis Frozevitnir is always such a sight to behold.”

“Brigid-sama has blossomed into even greater beauty since becoming a Marchioness.”

“Is that the adopted child? Rumor has it he’s the orphaned child of Marquis Hrozevitnir’s missing brother.”

“Then who will be the heir?”

“Perhaps it was a sham marriage to facilitate the adoption?”

Nisha overheard these whispers and looked up at Brigid with a worried expression. Diarmid, aware of the rumors, put his arm around Brigid’s waist.

(It’s time for us to play the part of a close couple, isn’t it?)

Brigid thought as she gazed up at Diarmid and surrendered herself to the role.

Diarmid, who found comfort in touching Brigid, couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. He was gradually getting used to this feeling.

(I’m really trying hard at this act, aren’t I? Well, I should lend a hand too!)

Brigid thought, smiling.

“If I hold you this closely, everyone will be watching. I understand that you don’t want to let me go even for a moment, but… it’s embarrassing,” Brigid remarked, looking up at Diarmid.

Unexpectedly, Diarmid blushed.

“Ah… ah…”

He responded hesitantly, covering his face with one hand and looking away.

“If you keep calling the Marquis by his name…!?”

“…Well, even the unyielding Marquis can feel shy.”

The surroundings were abuzz with chatter. Even Brigid was taken aback by Diarmid’s unexpected shyness.

Nisha, with her warm eyes, tugged at Brigid’s hand. “Mom, let’s ride the merry-go-round together!”

Seeing Brigid being pulled along like that, it didn’t seem like a typical stepmother-stepchild relationship.

“They seem to get along so well; it’s reassuring to see.”

“It’s no wonder they say they could be parent and child.”

“Apparently, he’s a child from the orphanage that Brigid-sama supported.”

“In the first place, Brigid-sama’s abilities as a governess were widely praised.”

“Yes, I heard that Marquis Hrozevitnir fell in love with Brigid-sama after witnessing her deep affection for the orphans…”

“Well, it’s like that child is Cupid! Such a heartwarming story!”

Brigid didn’t pay attention to these voices. She was being led by Nisha.

(Ah, what a reward! What a reward!)

Brigid thought gleefully as they headed to the merry-go-round.

“What would you like to ride, Nisha?”

“I want to ride a horse! A white one! Oh, but I want to ride with Mom, so I’ll choose a carriage after all.”

As Nisha answered, Diarmid picked up Nisha and gently placed her on a white horse.

“…Uncle!” Nisha began to say but then remembered that she was supposed to call him “Father” outside.

“…I want to ride in the carriage with Mom, so please put me down.”

Upon hearing this, Diarmid picked up Brigid and placed her behind Nisha.

“It’s okay,” Diarmid reassured with a smug grin.

Nisha and Brigid looked at Diarmid with sparkling eyes.

“Thank you!”

Nisha thanked him obediently, and Diarmid cleared his throat in embarrassment.

“‘Daddy’ is fine,” he added, surprising Brigid and Nisha.

“…?”

“That’s what I said. If you’re uncomfortable calling me ‘father,’ you can call me ‘daddy.'”

Diarmid explained while scratching his neck. Brigid smiled warmly at him.

Nisha, however, remained confused. She still couldn’t fully open her heart to Diarmid. Diarmid gently patted Nisha on the shoulder with a wry smile.

“Don’t fall off, Mom.”

“Alright!”

Nisha smiled up at Diarmid, and the merry-go-round’s buzzer sounded, starting its gentle rotation.

Diarmid left the rocking horse and stepped outside the merry-go-round fence. From there, he could see Nisha and Brigid riding together on the white horse.

The wooden horses turned slowly to the sound of nostalgic music. A mother and child happily riding a white horse returned to the front of Diarmid. When Nisha spotted him, she waved happily, and Diarmid waved back with a small smile.

Seeing the two of them, Brigid felt genuine happiness. She was pleased to see that the distance between the two, who were often awkward around each other, seemed to be closing, even if only a little.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Brigid hugged Nisha tightly from behind, and Nisha felt a profound sense of happiness.

“Mom, I want to ride a real horse someday.”

“That’s a great idea. When you’re a bit older, we’ll practice together.”

“Will I be able to ride too?”

“Of course.”

“Then will you ride with me?”

Nisha tilted her head slightly, and Brigid was on the verge of ascending to heaven.

“Thank you, Princess.”

Brigid answered with a trembling voice, and Nisha found it amusing and giggled.

The three of them thoroughly enjoyed the mobile amusement park and took a break.

Brigid bought the toffee apple that Nisha had been eyeing, a caramel-covered apple.

Nisha’s eyes lit up as she took a bite of the toffee apple.

“It’s hard!” Nisha exclaimed as she bit into the candy-covered apple

, making a cute mess with her big mouth and flushed cheeks.

Brigid gently wiped the area around Nisha’s mouth, and Nisha thanked her by offering a bite of the candy apple.

Brigid accepted the half-eaten treat, and Diarmid playfully wiped some of the caramel from Brigid’s cheek with his finger and licked it.

To those around them, they appeared to be a parent and child who got along wonderfully.

A clown approached them and handed Nisha a flying balloon, shaped like a cute cat.

“Thank you!” Nisha said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Brigid tied the balloon’s string to Nisha’s arm as she bowed to the clown. Then, as if by magic, the clown pulled an artificial flower from his pocket and placed it in Brigid’s hair. It was perfumed, smelling of roses.

“Hey!” Diarmid called out, looking somewhat accusatory. The clown handed him a circus flyer and bowed again.

“Oh, it’s an advertisement for the circus,” Brigid said, noticing the flyer.

Pierrot, the clown, nodded in agreement. “Nisha, would you like to see the circus?”

Nisha’s eyes shone with excitement as she nodded.

“Diarmid, what do you think?” Brigid asked.

“Of course, I don’t mind,” Diarmid replied.

Pierrot, with a smile, added “Special Service” in large letters to a new flyer and pointed at Brigid’s artificial flowers before tapping the flyer and handing it to her.

“What’s this?” Brigid inquired.

The clown nodded and made an OK gesture with his finger.

“So, with these flowers and the flyer, we can enter?” Brigid clarified.

The clown nodded and then bid them farewell as he moved on to distribute flyers to the next customer.

“Let’s go, then,” Brigid said, heading to the circus with Diarmid.

A large round tent housed a gathering of many people. They presented the flyer at the entrance, and the staff, upon seeing the word “Special,” ushered the three of them to the front row.

No one else had the artificial flowers Brigid had received.

(Perhaps this was a surprise from Diarmid?)

Brigid thought, glancing at him, but he maintained an indifferent expression.

(I should pretend I didn’t notice.)

With that thought in mind, Brigid refrained from asking anything.

“Wow! That’s amazing…!” Nisha exclaimed, filled with excitement.

“Nisha, it won’t obstruct the view for people behind you, so please hold the balloons in your arms,” Brigid advised.

Nisha nodded obediently and hugged the cat-shaped balloon tightly.

Brigid couldn’t help but squirm at how adorable it was. Diarmid, too, looked on with an astonished expression.