It Feels Like I’m About to be Divorced, But my Husband is My Favorite

Episode 45

I felt deeply embarrassed to say such words myself, but there was no other way to avoid ruining my first meeting with the children by scolding them to the point of tears.

But then—

“Y-You’re beautiful… No, I mean—!”

Dior, who had been staring at me blankly as I approached, as if under a witch’s spell, suddenly covered his mouth in shock after blurting out his words.

Observing the children carefully as they hesitated, I lifted one corner of my mouth into a sly smile.

“Oh, really? It’s not? Got it.”

Then, I slowly pulled out what I had been hiding under my cloak.

The children, who were watching me tensely, widened their eyes as they spotted colorful candies in a transparent glass jar.

Before they could tear their gaze away from the candies, their mouths agape, I popped a candy into each of their mouths while they were distracted. Then, with a mischievous tone, I said:

“Ah, so I’m a witch who lures children with sweet treats, huh?”

***

“Marianne… is she mad?”

Dior hesitated as he approached Marianne.

Marianne, who had been looking away with her arms crossed, sighed deeply and turned to face him.

“I told you not to do that. I told you not to follow Amy’s orders.”

“But…”

Dior’s small lips quivered, and his gaze fell.

In truth, he hadn’t wanted to act that way either.

— When I come back, you’ll have a new family member.

When their ever-kind and gentle uncle announced that he was getting married, seven-year-old Dior, who had only ever known his uncle and sister as family, had been overjoyed and thrilled at the prospect of a new addition to their little circle.

— She might not be able to play with you much since she’s a very busy person, but still, make her feel welcome.

Though this part had been a bit disappointing, he hadn’t expected her to play with him anyway. The mere thought of having another person join them at meals, which had always been just the three of them, was enough to excite him.

Dior had promised himself he would never be troublesome and would always act politely and kindly. Perhaps, if he behaved well, his new aunt would find him a little endearing too. Secretly, he harbored a small hope.

But then—

— How could he! How could the Duke choose another woman over me? And that too, such a vile one!

Amy had said so. She claimed that the woman their uncle was marrying was truly terrifying. She insisted that if the woman saw Dior and his sister, she would surely yell at them in anger and beat them with a whip.

‘Goodness! That sounds just like Amy!’

Dior had been horrified.

He couldn’t bear the idea of having an aunt like Amy. No matter how much she threatened him, he refused to utter, “I wish Aunt Amy were my new aunt.”

Though Amy had punished him before by pinching him, she had never used a whip…

‘And she even admitted she doesn’t love Uncle!’

At least Amy liked their uncle. But this woman? What was she even doing marrying him?

Dior had been so agitated that he wanted to ask his uncle if he truly had to marry such a person. But by then, Eucleid had already left for the capital.

Terrified, Dior couldn’t believe Marianne’s reassurances that their uncle wouldn’t marry someone like that. It felt like everyone was hiding something from him, and the gloomy expressions of the household staff after their uncle left only added to his fears.

Even the stern head maid had advised them not to bother the new Duchess unnecessarily. She seemed genuinely concerned they might incur her wrath. Even Marianne, who usually exuded confidence, remained silent.

But the worst was yet to come.

— Call her a witch. Got it? Embarrass her!

On the very day their uncle returned to the estate, Amy had instructed Dior to yell out the word “witch” instead of offering a proper greeting.

Hadn’t she said the new Duchess was a frightening person? Dior’s entire body trembled at the thought of angering such a person.

What’s more, their uncle had explicitly asked them to welcome her. If he acted rudely, his uncle would surely be disappointed in him.

But Amy had threatened that if he didn’t obey her, she would punish Marianne instead.

Dior felt terrible for his uncle, but the thought of Marianne being scolded was even scarier.

“Sigh.”

Marianne, who understood better than anyone why Dior had acted that way, let out a deep sigh.

The fault lay in her own outburst. Dior had been frozen stiff at the sight of their new aunt’s far more intimidating face than he’d imagined. He might have been able to endure Amy’s sneaky pinches if Marianne hadn’t reacted.

“But, Marianne… you know…”

Sensing that his sister’s sigh signaled her anger subsiding, Dior carefully called her again.

Marianne, who was watching her perceptive younger brother with an exasperated expression, responded curtly, “What is it?”

Dior hesitated for a moment at her reaction but soon couldn’t hold back his thoughts any longer.

“About Auntie…”

“She’s a good person, isn’t she?”

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

Dior’s eyes widened in surprise, then he broke into a shy smile as his sister stole the words he was about to say.

“It’s not just because she gave us candy…”

And as if embarrassed, he hid the glass jar he was holding.

Just moments ago, the aunt who had given him sweet candies had placed it in his arms.

It was the first time he had ever received a gift like this—a glass jar filled with such sparkling, beautiful candies.

And that wasn’t all.

Even while they were whispering quietly, the people who had come with their aunt were busy moving toys, dolls, and other things into their rooms.

Not even during the faintly remembered days of his early childhood had Dior played with toys like these. It felt as though their room was turning into a toy store.

And yet—

— Lady… no, Madam said she didn’t know what you’d like, so she could only order a little. She asked me to tell you not to be disappointed, as she’d like to pick more with you later.

The dashing knight who had accompanied their aunt said this.

A little?

Marianne and Dior’s mouths fell open at the sight of their room filled to the brim with gifts.

‘When she first got off the carriage…’

Marianne thought, sadly, that Amy might have been right.

At first glance, their aunt looked like she would have a terrible personality.

Even the usually kind and reliable retainers and uncles had knelt before her, visibly terrified.

Startled by the unexpected sight, Amy had pinched Marianne’s arm, causing her to cry out. This, in turn, led to Dior blurting out the word witch.

But then—

— In the fairy tales I’ve read, witches are always very beautiful. Were you saying I’m that beautiful?

Instead of getting angry, their aunt had smiled, given them candies, and showered them with gifts!

Marianne had never read a fairy tale about a witch luring children with sweet treats, but if such a witch did exist, surely she’d be dazzlingly beautiful.

And their aunt, despite her stern expression, was breathtaking up close, with her snow-white skin and striking features.

Marianne’s suspicions had been correct.

Puffing up her chest as if to show off, she said:

“Dior, what did I tell you? I said Uncle would never marry a bad person…”

Bang!

At that moment, the door slammed shut.

While they had been whispering to each other, the people moving the luggage must have left the room.

The person who had slammed the door angrily was none other than—

“You fools! Did you really fall for her just because of a few gifts like these?”

It was Amy.

Marianne and Dior had thought she had stormed off and gone home earlier when she left in a fit of anger.

This happened right after their uncle had told them they should thank their aunt for the candies, and they’d awkwardly offered their gratitude, creating a more pleasant atmosphere.

“Why is she acting so differently from the rumors? Could she really… No! There’s no way she’s fallen for the Duke. She was obsessed with the Crown Prince, wasn’t she? Yes, this must just be a momentary whim.”

Amy muttered to herself while pacing around the room, clutching her head. She truly looked like a madwoman.

At that moment, Amy stopped in her tracks and glared at Marianne and Dior.

Both children flinched, their shoulders shrinking instinctively as they held each other’s hands tightly.

N/ my babies!!!! Eve should kill her actually