If it's to become my favorite stepmother, I'll gladly do a fake marriage! [Main story complete] - Chapter 25

“Shall we continue?”

Nisha tilted her head cutely.

“Y-yeah.”

The boy was already defeated but couldn’t back down.

Wooden sticks clashed, creating a dull sound. With a significant age difference, Nisha was at a disadvantage.

Still, Nisha didn’t retreat, aggressively swinging her stick.

The boy fought back, and other children watched with bated breath as the two engaged in a serious battle.

Their sticks collided, resulting in a standoff. Pushing each other to the limit.

However, the age difference took its toll, and Nisha found herself at a disadvantage.

“Hmph!”

The boy gathered strength and pushed Nisha back.

Nisha froze on the spot.

“I did it!”

The boy raised his stick and offered a hand to Nisha.

“Even though you’re small, you’re strong. Are you really receiving personal instruction from Duke Frosvitnill?”

The boy, now smiling, took Nisha’s hand.

The tense atmosphere disappeared, leaving only the refreshing sight of two boys who had fought their best.

“Yes! My Dad teaches me.”

Nisha replied.

“Just as expected”

The boy laughed.

Applause echoed, surprising both Nisha and the boy.

Looking towards the source of the applause, Sister, Kian, and Diarmid were standing there.

“Well done, Nisha.”

Diarmid praised as Nisha ran towards him.

“Dad! …But I lost…”

Diarmid picked up Nisha who looked frustrated and patted her head.

“There are things you can learn by losing.”

Diarmid said, and Nisha nodded quietly.

The boy who had fought Nisha dropped his stick, glancing at Diarmid.

Overwhelmed by the appearance of Duke Frosvitnill, the boy, fascinated by the godly attire of the Holy Knights, forgot himself.

Diarmid looked down at the boy.

Realizing his impoliteness, the boy turned pale. He witnessed Nisha being cherished by Diarmid. Not knowing what would happen if his rudeness was reported, he bowed down.

The ladies who were having a late tea party also gather. Brigid was among them.

The commotion made the boy nearly cry.

“S-Sorry for the trouble.”

The boy bowed his head deeply, trembling.

Kian smiled calmly.

“I heard from Sister. You called this child an orphan.”

The boy burst into tears at Kian’s words.

Kian gave a meaningful look to Diarmid. He deliberately chose to let the boy know about Nisha’s background.

“Please forgive me, Duke.”

The boy prostrated himself.

His mother joined him, apologizing.

Diarmid looked at them with a stern gaze.

(Nisha is my precious son.)

Diarmid gripped the hilt of his sword.

“Diarmid!”

Brigid called his name, and he snapped back.

Brigid, with an anxious expression, softly advised, “Look at Nisha,” recalling the earlier advice to respect Nisha’s opinions.

As Diarmid looked at Nisha in his arms, her silver hair trembled. Her blue eyes begged, glistening with moisture.

Diarmid suppressed his anger and let go of his sword.

However, we cannot allow this to continue.

“Are you going to apologize to me?”

Hearing Diarmid’s voice, the boy’s body trembled.

“…! Nisha-kun, I apologize for my rude words.”

Nisha laughed in Diarmid’s arms.

“It’s okay. I’m not worried about it. It’s true that I was at the orphanage.”

“In addition, because Papa praised the sword techniques I learned from him with a ‘well done,’ I was happy. I want to play more with everyone.”

Niisha responded, and Diarmid gently patted Niisha’s head.

“Yeah, that’s right. Don’t worry about it.”

Diarmid reassured, and the boy prostrated himself again.

“Thank you very much!!”

Diarmid let Niisha down.

Niisha rushed to the boy’s side, tapped his shoulder, and said, “Please play with us.”

The boy awkwardly lifted his face.

Niisha smiled, extended his hand.

The boy, drawn by Niisha’s smile, smiled back, took Niisha’s hand, and stood up.

The lady also stood up and apologized again.

Applause erupted once more.

“Both of you are amazing!”

The sister shed tears, deeply moved.

Morgan’s eyes were also moist with emotion.

“Niisha-kun, your personality is so wonderful! Truly fantastic!”

The surrounding girls nodded in agreement.

Kian looked on with a bored expression.

He thought that if Niisha caused trouble, Diarmid would reprimand him. Despite carefully selecting individuals with strict manners and high pride, and hosting a tea party, things did not go as planned.

“Bishop Kian?”

Asked by the sister with a puzzled expression, Kian was taken aback.

“It’s good that the children could resolve the issue themselves.”

Kian replied with a smile.

Brigid, tiptoeing, whispered advice.

“Thank you for considering Nisha.”

“Of course.”

The sound of Brigid’s breath, close to a sigh, reached Diarmid’s ears, making him flustered.

He bowed his head slightly and pressed his chest.

The imperturbable God of War blushing and flustered caused a stir among the onlookers.

“…It’s like a boy experiencing his first love.”

“Yes, we’ve witnessed something wonderful.”

Even the sisters squinted their eyes.

“I heard rumors that you, immersed in battles with monsters, had forgotten human emotions. It seems that’s not true.”

The sister addressed Kian.

“Yes, that seems to be the case. Suddenly marrying and accepting an adopted child made me suspect a fake marriage, but I feel reassured now.”

Kian smiled, but internally, he was far from calm.

“Lord Duke seems to cherish his wife and child dearly.”

Kian directed his gaze at the trio, who were laughing together.

In the greenery of the cathedral, it was dazzling. As if they had always been a family.

(Diarmid, love doesn’t suit you. I won’t allow you to be the only one loved.)

Kian’s cold and heavy emotions settled like snowflakes in his chest.