Saved by Crazy Stepfather!

The word ‘not in a good condition’ woke me up from sleep.

“Who’s not in a good condition?”

Then, what I saw was a priest looking at my mother.
From the moment I heard their voice, I wondered, but it was my mom who was not in a good condition.

I’d rather be the one in bad shape.

“Are you awake, My Lady?”

It was the appearance of the priest that came last time.
Unlike the Grand Duke, who radiated darkness like a devil, the priest, who shone brilliantly by smiling like an angel coming down, slightly lowered his head and made eye contact.

“Oh… Yes…”
“I came to see Adelaide in the temple.”

I didn’t know when he was coming in, but the Grand Duke swept my hair after I woke up.

“Wow… I see… But, by the way, Kayle…!”

“You remembered my name? It’s an honor.”

“…You don’t need to know such useless names, Bebe.”

“Huh?”

The Grand Duke drew a clear line, blocking the gap between myself and the new person.

“It will be the same in the future.
You don’t need to know the names of men.
The only name you need to know is Xenox Avelant.”

“…Huh.
I know your name as well.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

The priest, who was looking at us, smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Yes, I’d be happy if you could call me by my name, but just remembering is enough.”

The priest, who was saying that naturally, put his hand on my mother’s head.

“Oh, that’s right.
My mom sleeps more than before.
Is it really bad?”

“It’s understandable.
It’s not as good as last time.
If you don’t get a good response without any reason… it could be dangerous.”

In an instant, my body became weak.
I thought it would be over if I saved my mom, but I guess that was not it.
I barely smiled, holding back my tears.

“It could be dangerous… that my mother would die.
It’s not like that, is it? Huh?”

I urged the priest, but he only bit his lips.

“Then, Mom… is my mom going to die? Are you sure…?”

I couldn’t believe this was the conclusion that I’d come to endure all that time and all that pain.

Then a big hand swept my head lightly.

“Don’t worry, Bebe.
I won’t let her die.”

“What?”

“Kayle, get a way to save her.”

“What?”

“How could you say that so easily? There must be a way.
If you’re a candidate for the ministerial office, you can do much.
Prove to me that the temple is not a useless place.”

The Grand duke looked at him emotionally, as if he were to take back what he had entrusted.

“Your Highness, that is…”

“If you really didn’t know, if there wasn’t a way, you wouldn’t even know why Adelaide was in this state.
I’m sure you’re investigating or plotting something suspicious inside the temple.”

Only then did Kayle bite his lip.

“…I think I may not have talked about it well last time.”

“You didn’t say it wrong, so you should find a way.
We’re okay to make any kind of sacrifices so save her.
Save Adelaide.”

“Ah…! Alright.
Your Highness says so, so I should.
I can’t make a cute girl cry here.”

I nodded as I saw Kayle smiling brightly.

“Do you have to save your mom?”

It was my first time begging God.
‘

God, you and I have gone through so much, please save her for once.
Isn’t that enough to bother us?’ I held my hands together.
‘My mom and I want to live as ordinary people.’ I told God my heart while looking straight at Kayle.

“I want to live.
I want to live with my mom, and for my mom to smile happily for a long time.

In case I cried, I buried my sad heart somewhere in case the Grand Duke hated it.

“You don’t need my power to help save my mom, so please save her.”

Unconsciously, I held my mother’s arm tightly.

“I’ll save her no matter what, so don’t worry.”

Even if he noticed my anxiety, Kayle smiled broadly.

“Whew…”

“Bebe, you don’t have to trust the priest, but you can trust me.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve never failed to do what I set out to do.
So trust me and I will save your mother somehow.”

His determined eyes somehow reassured me.

“Okay! I’ll believe you.
If that’s what Daddy does, then so be it!”

And Kayle, who took turns looking at the two of us, put a hand on my mother’s forehead.
Just like last time, the surroundings became brighter, and as the light faded, the sound of my mother’s breathing became a little more comfortable.