The Fantasie of a Stepmother

Chapter 2

I left my unhappy family to join a new one, where my husband had four children from his past marriage: Jeremy, Elias, and the twins, Leon and Rachel.

I saw such anger and hostility in their eyes from the moment I stepped into this house that it defied description.

Jeremy looked at me with disgust, but at least he was a gentleman. Elias bullied me with pranks that went too far. The twins harangued me to bring back their real mother and did all sorts of wicked things to me.

Only God knew the pain that accumulated inside me, living with them.

Could I have ever loved my husband after being sold off to him like a lamb to slaughter? Could I have loved this man who was my father’s age, who married me simply because I looked like someone else?

He had been kind to me, unnecessarily kind and considerate. He had never touched me, even though we were husband and wife by law, because I had no desire. He had, essentially, purchased me and had no obligation to respect my wishes. But he did.

My family had never respected me like that.

I may not have loved him, but I respected him, and I was grateful. Our relationship was friendly and harmonious until he died of pneumonia, only two years after we were married.

When they heard that he was in critical condition, relatives gathered. He chased them out and sent his children away so I alone could write his will.

Perhaps this had been his last kindness to me. It was the only measure he could take to ensure I would still be respected in this household after his death. Even back then, no one treated me like a marchioness.

It was a heavy responsibility, but I still remembered his every word.

His words transferred the house’s authority to Marchioness Shuri von Neuschwanstein, to remain in effect until the eldest son, Jeremy von Neuschwanstein, came of age and wed.

The endnote said that in the case that the marchioness died before then, all Neuschwanstein property would be absorbed into the imperial family.

Obviously, this caused an uproar. The head of the house’s authority was not the same as other inheritances; imperial law said only the eldest son or an adopted son-in-law could be named heir.

If the heir was too young, an uncle often filled in until they came of age.

But Neuschwanstein was not an ordinary noble house.

The will gave the marquess’s young wife the power to wield their house knights, to resolve all issues of direct and collateral lineage, and to have a seat in parliament. This was confirmed with the marquess’s signature and seal.

People said he was mad. Even I wondered if he was in his right mind before he died.

He left his children to me. I would be their sole caretaker even though I was far too young to be their mother and a complete outsider in this grand house.

He asked me to protect the family name from collateral relatives who would try to seize it as soon as he died. He made me promise.

His trust was almost foolish, but I believed I had kept my promise to him.

I can’t describe my fear when, at age sixteen, I was surrounded by distant family members who pressured me to forfeit my authority and renowned nobles who regarded me with contempt.

No one cared about my sadness or my fear. Still, I tried to find a way to get by.

My family rushed in when they received word that the daughter they’d sold had become a widow. Worthless men from branch families loitered around the house. All of them tried to arrange my next marriage to suit their ambitions.

I resolved this by bringing nameless lovers into the house.

No one knew the truth. My “lovers,” whom I changed out every few months at first, were contracted mercenaries to whom I paid regular wages.

That was how I got by.

I became a ruthless mistress in order to maintain control over the employees who secretly looked down on me. I frequently replaced the staff since there was no knowing when someone would plant a spy among them. If any of the children fell ill, I nursed them alone since I trusted no one.

Society came to know me as a scheming and arrogant young noblewoman. In this way, no one would think I could be deceived.

I became the formidable Spider Widow, Man Hunter, and Witch of Neuschwanstein Castle, who stole her husband’s heart at a young age, took over a powerful house, and treated men like exchangeable toys.

I worked so hard, so ruthlessly… but what did it leave me?

Johan, I kept my promise. But for what?

Where did things go wrong?

***

Thwack!

“Ahh!”

I had just passed the stables when I crumpled at the sharp pain on the back of my neck. I lifted my hand by instinct to touch it and felt something warm and wet.

“Elias! Are you mad?!”

When I lifted my head, I could barely see through my tears, but I could see Jeremy rushing over from a distance. His face was pale and tense.

Elias stood frozen, looking flustered. Even though he had done the deed, he looked dumbstruck. It made him look five years old.

“How could you throw a rock like that, idiot?! You could kill someone!”

“I-I didn’t know it would hit that hard... Th-that moron just has bad reflexes!”

Their arguing became less and less perceptible. I lost consciousness as blood ran down my neck.

***

I had lost count of the number of times Elias pulled excessive pranks like this on me, but they had never harmed me like this before.

Luckily, the bleeding stopped before long, but I had a scar on the back of my neck from that day forward. As such, I would never be able to wear my hair in the elegant styles popular with noblewomen.

“Apologize to your mother.”

It was fascinating to see these savage boys, who otherwise seemed to feel no fear, turn into cowering dogs in front of their father.

I was uncomfortable receiving their apology like that.

“Elias! Apologize right now! And Jeremy! Were you just watching all of this happen?!”

“I’m sorry, Father.” Jeremy’s head was bowed, and I couldn’t see his face.

Elias’ head was also lowered. His shoulders trembled. Suddenly, he looked up and glared at me.

His burning gaze seemed to slice me into two.

“That wench is not our mother!” He cried. “I’d rather die than call her that! No matter what you say, Fath—”

Johan slapped Elias so hard that the resounding crack startled me. My hand flew to my lips.

Elias looked as surprised as I felt. He looked, dazed, up at his father, his eyes swirling like ocean waves. He seemed to be frozen in shock.

My husband met his gaze with frosty coldness. “Now you have two things to apologize for.”

Elias blinked. He turned back to me. His dark green eyes were moist and filled with rage. They seemed to burn my skin.

***

At fourteen years old, Jeremy didn’t hit me but slammed his fist against the wall with a thunk. It was the first and last time I ever saw such violence from him.

“Father hasn’t been on the grounds for a month. One month!” He shouted. “And a lover? Are you out of your mind?!”

“Of course not!” I shouted back. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I was!”

“What are you thinking? What are you up to?! If you were in your right mind, you would never waste time on that lowly tramp! Do you expect me to just sit by and watch you do this?!”

“What other option do you have?! If you’re worried about your inheritance, don’t be. I have no interest in remarrying, and I plan to give everything back to you, all according to your father’s will!”

“You know that’s not what I mean. Goddamnit!” Jeremy snarled. “You are clearly scheming something, so tell me what it is! Aren't you concerned about what people will say?!”

“Tell you? You?” I scoffed a laugh. “Does that sound like something I would do?”

“You...”

“Don’t act like you’re suddenly worried about me! Do you think I want to be stuck here looking after you?! Do you think I’m happy to mother you?!” I screamed. “Just leave me alone! I need not listen to a thing you say before you’re married, so go on and do whatever you want! Throw your beloved sword around, or hunt or talk about me behind my back with your siblings! Just go!”

Jeremy looked like he wanted to hit me. He gritted his teeth. His incandescent dark green eyes seemed to calm. They turned ice cold.

“You’re right, of course.” He said polite words in a sarcastic tone. “As you wish, my lady.”

Jeremy left and slammed the door so hard I worried the ceiling would crack.

As soon as I was alone, I crumpled to the floor and wept.

I was so young. All of us were so young. We were all wandering children who didn’t know anything.