How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

“Then shall we start writing the invitation now?”

 

“Yes, Ma’am, I have brought you a list of nobles from the North.”

 

Now that the wedding date has been set, the first thing to do is send out invitations.

 

With Lucius’ help, I opened the noble list and began writing invitations. The first thing I wrote was an invitation to the Imperial Palace.

 

Sending out invitations, which were not even sent when getting married in the capital, was almost like a half-report.

 

The other half was to show people that I was properly established in Ajas.

 

In fact, I can still remember the gossip about how having the wedding in the capital was a way to avoid having it in Ajas, and because Leonhard wanted to avoid introducing me to his vassals and servants.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor won’t come all the way here… So will someone from the royal family come to my wedding?”

 

“It is likely that they will only send a congratulatory message.”

 

“That would be nice.”

 

I didn’t like the first prince, and I didn’t like the first princess even more.

 

Actually, I’d like to see the second prince once in the sense that he’s the father of the male protagonists, but I don’t have any good memories of the imperial palace, so I don’t want to get involved with either the prince or the princess.

 

‘Please just send me a congratulatory message.’

 

After I finished writing the invitations to be sent to the imperial palace with such feelings, I wrote invitations to the vassals. 

 

Of course, I also sent invitations to my family.

 

“My sister Lily said she’s busy for the time being and can’t leave the capital.…’

 

‘My brother Alex won’t be able to come because of the Knights. Maybe my older brother will be able to come?’

 

After sending out the invitations with such hopes, I wrote a last letter to Rebecca.

 

It wasn’t an invitation, because Rebecca couldn’t come up north right now.

 

Instead, I wrote to let her know that I was getting married on this date and to ask her how she was doing. I also included a small gift.

 

‘I hope the child is born safely.’

 

Letters written with great care were sent throughout the empire.

 

After that, I got busy with other things and started preparing for the wedding in earnest, so I forgot about the invitation for a while.

 

It was only three days later that I was reminded of it again.

 

Because of the replies and gifts the messengers began to return carrying in great numbers.

 

* * * 

 

“This…what is this? Why are there so many gifts?”

 

“This is a wedding gift that was asked to be delivered in advance. This gift was sent by Baron Tisien, this gift by Viscount Million, and this gift by…”

 

In an instant, gifts piled up in my office, and I had to open up not only the office but also the living room.

 

I was scratching my head as I looked at the gifts I hadn’t even unwrapped.

 

Although it was supposedly a wedding gift, I could tell at a glance that it wasn’t a gift with just that kind of meaning.

 

‘More than half of it is bribes…’

 

‘Would it be better if it was a bribe? Maybe it was a trap to persuade me.’

 

If I swallow expensive things just because they are offered, I will end up in trouble.

 

“But I can’t just send them all back.….”

 

‘How on earth do I sort out the pure congratulatory gifts and bribes among these?’

 

When I can’t find any answers and just stare blankly at the gifts that keep piling up.

 

As if I should just die, a very thick and sturdy cord of copper came down on me.

 

“It’s been a long time, Marquis. How have you been?”

 

“Layla!”

 

That was the arrival of Layla, who volunteered to be my maid.

 

* * * 

 

When I saw Layla for the first time in a long time, she looked much healthier than when I saw her at Cloud Castle.

 

Her sagging cheeks had gained some weight, and her haggard face, which looked like it had been covered in dust, was now bright and lively.

 

I was so happy about the change that it made me feel excited.

 

I sat Layla down on the living room sofa and poured her some tea, asking her.

 

“How have you been? You look good.”

 

“Yes. Thanks to your concern, I was able to rest well. Thanks to you, I was finally able to come to Castle Ajas to deliver the reply to this invitation. My mother had been against it all along, citing my health as a reason.”

 

As Layla made an elegant gesture, the maid who had been quietly standing behind her approached me and handed me an envelope.

 

The seal on the letter was that of the Marquis of Cloud, and it said that would gladly accept the invitation.

 

Also, the attached paper contained a letter from her mother, telling me that she couldn’t break Layla’s stubbornness, but that she couldn’t be lenient if Layla made a mistake or caused trouble.

 

‘It seems like she really cares about her daughter.’

 

Each letter, pressed down hard, contained the mother’s heart, too big and heavy to be contained on a single piece of paper.

 

Feeling somehow happy and touched at the same time, I read and reread Marquis Cloud’s letter.

 

“Oh, and there’s also a wedding gift that my mother asked me to give you. It’s big, so I left it with the servant, so please check it later.”

 

“Gift?”

 

Now, I find myself frowning at the thought of a wedding gift.

 

‘But wouldn’t it be okay if it’s from the Marquis of Cloud?’

 

I relaxed my face as I thought about that, but it seemed like the process that I thought was quick was completely visible to Layla.

 

She lifted the teacup gracefully, pinky finger extended, and inhaled the aroma of the black tea, blinking a little in surprise.

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

“No, rather than a problem….”

 

I shook my head reflexively, then looked at Layla’s face as a thought suddenly occurred to me.

 

As she stared at me with questioning eyes, Count Langifer’s words flashed through my mind.

 

“She has wide feet and is well-versed in the northern situation, so there is no one more suitable to have as a maid…I’m sure it will be a great help.”

 

“I’m sorry you just arrived at the castle, but could you help me?’

 

“Oh my god, that’s what I came here for. If you need my help, just let me know, Marquise, and I’ll be happy to help.”

 

The smile on her face was so reassuring that I almost shed tears of emotion.

 

I took Layla’s hand, thanked her from the bottom of my heart, and explained what had happened.

 

“That’s why, now, every room except my bedroom is filled with gifts. More than half of the gifts are left unwrapping because I couldn’t finish unwrapping them.”

 

“Where do you get the most gifts from?”

 

“Huh? Where was it…? I think it was Countess Victoria’s house. They sent a whole carriage load of gifts.”

 

“Countess Victoria?”

 

Layla blinked, then lifted her head slightly and looked behind me.

 

As I turned my head to follow her, Leona, who was standing behind me, smiled brightly and nodded confidently.

 

“Yes, it’s my family.”

 

Layla’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her.

 

“I guess your family is so concerned about you because because you’re the Marquise’s escort knight.”

 

“Of course, that’s true, but isn’t it proof of loyalty to His Excellency the Marquis and the Marquise? The next most effective way to prove loyalty, after one’s life, is money.”

 

It was just a snobbish remark if I thought about it, but Leona’s voice was so refreshing that it sounded quite logical.

 

So, as I nodded without realizing it, a spark flew from the eyes of Layla sitting across from me.

 

“I see, that’s right. Money is something that can’t be earned without time, effort, and luck. There’s no greater loyalty than offering that to someone you serve, right?”

 

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, young lady Cloud.”

 

“You don’t have to call me that formally. I will be your colleague who will be serving Marquise from now on, so please call me Layla.”

 

“Okay, feel free to call me Leona, too.”

 

“Yes, Leona.”

 

Layla nodded her head, sipped her tea, and gestured to the maid standing behind her.

 

Then she covered her mouth with her hand and whispered in her maid’s ear.

 

“Tell my mother. Two carriages, no, three carriages.….”

 

‘Did I mishear that?’

 

“Then, Ma’am, may I check the gift list first?”

 

“I’d appreciate it if you did that, but… aren’t you tired? I think it would be better to get some rest today.”

 

“No. After all, I am the eldest daughter of Marquis Cloud. I am confident in my physical strength.”

 

‘However, I feel something strange about Leona… No. I must be mistaken.’

 

“Please let me help you, Ma’am, I am your one and only maid!”

 

Layla received a gift list from Lucius, repeatedly emphasizing the words ‘one and only’. Then she brought a temporary desk to my office and sat down in front of it, quickly reorganizing the list.

 

Thanks to that, the gifts that had been piled up in a mess were neatly sorted under Layla’s direction and divided into gifts that could be accepted and gifts that needed to be returned.

 

This happened just a few hours after Layla arrived at the castle.

 

“Layla…! You are the best!”

 

“Haha, I’m the one and only maid of Marquise.”

 

To the delighted Layla, I offered her the guest room to stay for the day while I prepared her room.

 

Layla was very happy to know that the guest room in the west palace on the fourth floor was not available to just anyone. 

 

“Tell the chef to add an extra person to tonight’s dinner. Oh, send someone to Layla to ask her what foods she likes and if there’s anything she can’t eat, and then tell the chef.”

 

“Yes, Ma’am.”

 

That evening, I invited Layla to dinner and introduced her to Noah.

 

* * *