She Became The Devil’s Stepmother Who’s About To Be Killed - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – There’s Something About Her

“Despicable Tyrant!”

Gerard was stunned by Sinclair’s accusation.

After the accession of the current Emperor Herace, he executed all inhabitants of the Demon Realm living in the Viatria Empire and burned books related to the Demon Realm and magic.

It was called book burning.*

After that, all those who possessed these books were put to death, and their families or clans were sold into slavery.

‘Was it Sinclair who summoned the mist of the Demon Realm last night?’

Since her mere presence unraveled the library’s magic, she might be able to use that kind of magic.

But Gerard quickly shook his head. That mist took over her mind and even threatened her life.

‘However, how was the barrier broken?’

No magic or practice related to it were allowed in the Empire. Even wizards and witches were expelled from the Empire.

She was a pure-blooded daughter. Of course, it shouldn’t have been possible to break the barrier.

[tl/n: pureblood meaning she’s 100% human lmao]

‘But… what if you want to tear me down?’

The small suspicions he had were spreading like a wildfire.

Okay. If you mean to hide it, I’d have to just dig it out.

Gerard looked at the forbidden books she was reading and asked as if reprimanding her.

“What were you trying to do with all this?”

“Th- that…”

Sinclair couldn’t help but stutter.

‘How would I describe an ion water purifier in this era?’

“I wanted to make it.”

“…?”

“Clean water.”

“Water?”

“Theodor’s… ”

“Theodor?”

“Because Theodor drinks wine.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

Gerard put the book down on the desk as if he couldn’t understand it.

“Because wine harms children’s health.”

Gerard thought she was making fun of him. In his world, it was natural to drink wine instead of water, so he couldn’t think of anything else.

“Isn’t that a lame excuse?”

Gerard placed his hand on the table and leaned his upper body deep toward Sinclair.

Sinclair unexpectedly pulled back as he dug in.

“So why did you push Molli like that earlier? Because of wine?”

Only then did Sinclair understand why he was so angry.

‘It’s because of her.’

She didn’t realize it was a good thing. Because she thought that there was no need for a deep relationship since her main plan was to make Theodor good, break the curse and leave this place.

“Because I will take care of everything about Theo!”

“Remove your hand!”

Sinclair’s eyes widened, she opened her mouth,

“I can’t do that.”

‘If I remove my hands from Theo, I die, and our Alfred will suffer!’

“I am Theo’s mother!”

Sinclair didn’t feel the need to talk to him anymore. As she was about to leave with the book, Gerard grabbed her by the wrist.

“Where are you going to take that book?”

“Where else? My room.”

Sinclair tried to shake off his arm, but Gerard’s strong hand didn’t budge.

At that moment, the director of the martial arts dojo resounded in her ears.

“Do you know what the basics of martial arts are? It’s survival, survival!”

Even for survival, she couldn’t bear it any longer. She had to get out of this dangerous situation with minimal force. Sinclair held it so he couldn’t pull, then pushed her elbow inward and pulled her arm out. And then she held the book tightly.

“Don’t touch my body recklessly!”

Sinclair raised her eyebrows and glared at Gerard.

‘You seem to have no idea the seriousness of the situation.’

“Why would you take a forbidden book to your room?”

“Forbidden?”

Sinclair’s voice grew louder at Gerard’s questioning tone.

“…?”

“Is this a forbidden book?”

She opened her eyes wide and looked down at the books. Gerard’s eyebrows twitched at her reaction.

Sinclair covered her mouth with both hands. She remembered the description of the existence of the forbidden books kept separately in the basement of the Viatria Empire’s Library in the novels she had read in her previous life.

It was a place only accessible to Emperor Herace and Alfred.

Monopoly and control of information. They were forbidden because they dared to challenge the Emperor’s power and authority.

Only then did Sinclair understand why Gerard was so angry. However, since the novel didn’t list one by one the names of all forbidden books, Sinclair couldn’t have known they were forbidden.

“I’m sorry. I just knew there were forbidden books. I didn’t know these books were forbidden.”

‘I didn’t know.’

It was a convincing answer.

“But if you have a forbidden book… You could be sentenced to death.”

Sinclair lowered her voice as if concerned about who would hear her. Gerard staggered back as Sinclair’s soft breath touched his ear.

‘Is she some kind of bouncing ball? Unpredictable, she’s simply unpredictable.’

In addition, it was unpleasant that she didn’t seem to listen to him properly.

“Didn’t I say that I put a barrier on the study?”

As Gerald’s voice grew louder, Sinclair only muttered, “Ah…”

‘So you grabbed my hand as soon as you came in? Trying to find out who I am?’

Sinclair’s hair stood up as she thought about it that far. She secretly hid her palms behind her back.

‘Maybe… I heard Sinclair’s birth mother was a witch, but did she have this kind of ability?’

However, finding out that she was a witch would make things difficult, so Sinclair had to avoid this place quickly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I will leave the book here.”

Sinclair calmly put the book down on the desk and left the study. Gerard’s expression grew serious.

He watched her as she casually opened the heavily barriered door and walked out as if it was nothing.

“…!”

Gerald crossed his arms, fiddling with his lower lip.

* * * 

I got scared and ran out of the castle. It was a situation where I could be revealed as a witch.

If I were to be sacrificed in a witch hunt, I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything, so I had to be careful and thoughtful.

As I left the study and received greetings from a few servants, I saw the river through the window, so I decided to take a walk to get the river breeze… However, the river was farther away than expected.

Still, I was already out and it was a waste to just go in, so I walked towards the river.

Sycamore trees standing on both sides of the road covered the sun with green leaves.

In the flower garden behind the sycamore, the sound of bees buzzing gentled my pounding heart.

Thump, thump, thump.

The river glistening with its silver shining scales swayed beautifully, spreading its fishy smell. By the river, mangroves* were gently leaning into the water holding hands.

Plop~

An unknown fish bounced off the surface and fell.

My trembling heart was slowly returning to normal. I carefully looked around.

The grayish-brown ash tree gracefully waved its leaves. Below it, clove-scented bluebirds, which grow well in the shade, were enjoying the cool midday. Wild roses formed vines and bloomed red and yellow buds.

On top of it, black butterflies were flying in the sunlight.

A breeze cooled down my heated mind. I closed my eyes for a moment and inhaled with my arms wide open like the weeping willow standing next to me.

As fresh air filled the lungs, the body full of photosynthesis roared.

When I was afraid, my body insisted on warming up, considering fighting was the best option.

‘Yeah, just a little…’

I first looked around. It would be bad if servants from the castle saw me. Fortunately, no one was there.

‘Should I warm up?’

I turned my neck from left to right a few times, and there was a crackling sound.

‘Hmm… You’re quite stiff.’

As I tried putting both hands on the pelvis, turning my back three times to the left and three times to the right, there was a crackling sound from the side of the pelvis.

‘Isn’t it because I’m not moving much lately?’

I put my hand on my waist, stretched my left foot forward, and touched the floor with my heel. After a while, I pushed it with the sole of my right foot, but there was a clicking sound.

“Gosh…”

I groaned realizing how out of practice I was. I guess I’ll have to resume martial arts training and running every morning.

I took a basic stance and then jab, jab, jab! I threw some punches into the air.

I raised my guard, took a basic stance, and threw a jab, straight, hoot, and uppercut into the air.*

‘Since I moved my arms, should I loosen up my legs a bit?’

I did a side kick. 45 degrees angle, 70 degrees, and finally about 90 degrees. Lastly, use your right leg as a support and draw a circle to the floor!

I loosened my arms and legs, but it was still not enough.

Crak-

At that moment, I glanced at a cottonwood tree with its arms outstretched toward the sky. My heart pounded when I saw the cool, stretched shape.

‘Wow, you’re quite wonderful, right?’ It was good.

I ran and kicked the tree with a double side kick.

It seemed that the nervousness I was feeling about getting caught by Gerard was eased.

I turned my body and bang! I kicked with the other leg. Front kick, back kick, side kick, back kick, side kick, back kick, strike, turn.

And again, front kick.

“Ha… haaaa…”

My breathing got a little ragged.

Kicking alone wasn’t enough, so I stretched my arms out to do a jab.

Power Jab, Flicker Jab, Straight, Short Hook, Long Hook, Overhand, bam, bam Hook!

Sweat dripped down my nose.

Of course, cottonwood leaves fell over my head, but what a big deal!

I turned the anger and bitterness I had accumulated over the years into a thrilling martial art.

And then,

“Clap clap! Bravo!”

I looked around, startled by a strange man’s voice.

“That’s rude. Show yourself.”

Then someone jumped from a tree next to me. Startled, I backed away and went straight into a fighting posture.

His silver hair fluttered in the sunlight. He was a man with transparent red eyes, slightly different from Theodor. He quickly greeted me with courtesy.

“I’m sorry for being rude. I was resting on the tree. Coincidentally, I’ve become a follower who peeps at others.”

‘Who is it? Someone from the castle?’

“Who are you?”

“I’m Curtis, a broker.”

I bowed slightly and tried to turn around. It was dangerous to enter into a relationship with anyone, whether they worked on the Castle or not.

However.

“If you didn’t mind, I’d like to get in a bout.”

‘Huh? Do you want to fight?’

As I was about to turn, my feet hesitated in temptation.

‘Did he say he’s a Broker? In other words, he’s not a person of the castle or the territory…’

So even if I beat him up, nothing will happen, right?

A corner of my mouth rose to one side. He must have thought I was offended.

“There’s no other meaning behind it. It’s just that it’s different from the fighting style I know, so I’m curious.”

‘That’s right. Because this is not a martial art from this world.’

“Okay.”

In need of an opponent, I gladly accepted his challenge and prepared my posture.

“Let’s get started.”

“Haha, you have a fiery personality. Wouldn’t it be polite to share names even if we had a match? Lady’s name is…”

“Looking.”

Since he was peering so much, I quickly found the perfect name.

“Looking… It’s a pretty name.”

Ignoring his maneuvers, I took a stance and motioned him to come forward.

——

*분서: Book burning is the practice, generally promoted by political or religious authorities, of destroying books or other written material; it is linked to ideological fanaticism and usually accompanies many war conflicts. The practice is generally public and motivated by moral, political, or religious objections to published material. Is to burn books that do not fit the will of the ruler to control the media.

**A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species.

I was going to describe all the boxing terms Sinclair used but oh geez they’re too much, I’m sorry~