How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

[Your wedding date has finally been set. In fact, I had already packed my bags, thinking that I would hear news by now.

 

How fortunate that the news came before I unpacked and repacked for the season. Thanks to that, John is now breathing a sigh of relief because he doesn’t have to do the work twice.

 

I will send you this letter and leave for Ajas the very next day.

 

I thought it would be better to arrive a little early than to miss the date due to unavoidable circumstances. Surely you wouldn’t let your brother sleep outside just because he arrived a few days early, right?

 

I wish Lily and Alex could attend your wedding in Ajas. They are much busier than I, the Count, so I can’t promise anything.

 

If those kids can’t come, don’t be too upset. Just think of me as a representative of the family.

 

Helen also wanted to go, but something came up. I’ll tell you that story when I get to Ajas. It’s a happy thing, so don’t worry about it.

 

You always write to me that you are doing well, but even so, your brother is worried.

 

I look forward to seeing you again in good health. 

 

With love, your first brother.] 

 

The wedding invitation, sent earlier than other letters using magic, also received a reply much earlier than other letters.

 

Moreover, the contents of the letter were so joyful that I had already ordered my servants to prepare a room for my older brother so that he could rest comfortably even if he arrived early.

 

But my excitement about my older brother attending my wedding was short-lived.

 

Of course, it was a joy that cannot be expressed in words.

 

As if the passage of time brings darkness to a once bright room, there was also a voice in my head that I had forgotten.

 

“Perhaps the rumors won’t be put to rest unless Young master’s real father shows up.”

 

“In fact, in situations like this, they sometimes bring in a look-alike to act as a stand-in…But Loyalty is a matter of the heart, not something that can be solved with plausible deniability.”

 

“Young master’s real father? Well, I thought it was highly likely that he was not from this world since he never showed up until now……But, even if the real father of the Young master really appeared, I don’t know if people would believe it because there’s no proof that they’re related.”

 

“Ah, the barbarians have dark skin…But I heard that mixed-race people are less likely to have barbarian appearances…Especially from the quarter onwards, it is almost zero.”

 

“Instead, they say that the blood is not diluted, but I don’t know what that means.”

 

“Still, His Highness the Marquis has solidified the young master’s position as successor. At least everyone won’t show their discontent towards the young master.”

 

But not showing it on the outside means they’re still harboring it inwardly.

 

In the book I read, it was only after Leonhard passed his power to Noah that the vassals swore loyalty to Noah.

 

But less than half of those who swore their oaths sincerely.

 

Because of this, when Noah later rebelled, more than half of the people left Noah as if they had been waiting for it and sided with the empire.

 

‘Of course, I won’t let Noah rebel…But if they are not loyal to Noah because of bloodline, wouldn’t the same problem apply to the children Noah would have if he married?’

 

No matter how much I thought about it, this was a problem that couldn’t be ignored.

 

‘Whether we brought in a stand-in and staged a tearful reunion to show that this was Noah’s real father, we would have to dispel the suspicion that Noah was of barbarian blood.’

 

‘To do that, it is important to know information about his biological father first.’

 

‘What should I do since there is no one in the castle to ask about it?’

 

As I stared at my desk and grunted, there was a soft knock on the door.

 

“Ma’am, it’s Lucius.”

 

“Come in, you came at a good time!”

 

“Yes?”

 

Lucius was just opening the door and coming in holding a bundle of documents.

 

He opened his eyes wide and looked at me.

 

Judging from his expression, the documents he had were ones I had to review and approve. Since I was always the one who would die in such situations, it was not understandable that I would welcome him.

 

I put the documents he handed me away on one side of the desk. It was an urgent matter, so I didn’t intentionally ignore them.

 

“By any chance, do you know anything about Noah’s biological father?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You knew who Noah’s biological mother was, so I was wondering if you knew who his father was.”

 

“ah…You mean the young master’s biological father.”

 

But contrary to my expectations, Lucius shook his head. It wasn’t that he was hiding it, but that he really didn’t know.

 

“I only knew about his biological mother because my master told me so. I don’t know about his biological father. I think the master doesn’t know either.”

 

“You don’t even have a guess?”

 

“No. At that time, the young lady didn’t have a fiance.”

 

“She didn’t even have a fiance?”

 

“After all, the situation inside the castle was complicated.”

 

Lucius ended his speech there, as if he was concerned about the ears listening.

 

I nodded, thinking that it wasn’t something I should hear while sending the maids away. I had a rough idea.

 

‘Even though she was the successor, she was unable to manifest the symbol of Ajas.…I guess it would be enough to hold an engagement ceremony after the symbol was revealed.’

 

However, the symbol did not fully manifest on her body and she left the castle on her own. It seems that because of that, she was unable to hold an engagement ceremony.

 

“And she didn’t date anyone else?”

 

“Yes, as far as I know. She probably didn’t have the luxury of that at the time.”

 

“I see.…”

 

‘I guess it would be better to give up on finding his biological father. Then how do we resolve Noah’s lineage?’

 

‘Can we come up with a really plausible stand-in?’ If we search this continent, we will probably find at least one man who looks like Noah.’

 

It was at that time that I thought of something and became worrying.

 –Tok Tok. 

“Ma’am, Old Man Mallet of the Magic Tool Shop has sent someone urgently.”

 

“The magic tool shop? Old Man Mallet? What could he possibly need to contact me from….Ah!”

 

‘Rod!’

 

I had put in a request to make a rod with the magic stone that Leonhard had given me. I had been so busy with work that I completely forgot about it.

 

‘But if it’s finished, why don’t you just send the finished product to the castle? Why did you send someone in such a hurry?’

 

“Oh, Marquis! We’re in trouble, we’re in trouble!”

 

“What do you mean, trouble?”

 

The one who came in, pushing aside the servants and shouting in an urgent voice, was a short boy who was sweating profusely.

 

I looked closely at his face and I remembered seeing him somewhere.

 

I think he was the disciple and assistant of Old Man Mallet.

 

“A wizard suddenly appeared and started a commotion demanding that we hand over the rod you requested!”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s no use telling that wizard that the Marquise entrusted it to us specially. He’s just being ridiculous. First, he offered us a huge amount of gold coins, but now he’s saying he’ll take it by force if we don’t give it to him…”

 

“Take it by force? This thief dares to aim for my rod?”

 

‘How much does a multi-attribute magic stone cost!’

 

“Prepare the carriage! I’ll catch that thief myself!”

 

“By yourself, Ma’am?”

 

“If my escorts catch him, it’s the same as if I caught him myself. Right?”

 

I looked at the escorts behind me for agreement, and Leona clenched her fist and thumped her chest, telling me to trust her.

 

“I will definitely punish that thief!”

 

So, I decided to take my trustworthy Leona and Ethan, and maybe even Sage, with me to head to Old Man Mallet’s shop.

 

“Mother? Where are you going in such a hurry?”

 

The moment I was about to go to the carriage, I ran into Noah, who somehow knows. No, he didn’t know, he seemed to have found me while playing with Rake in the garden.

 

I answered Noah while touching the head of the Rake that flew towards me and sat on my palm.

 

“I heard there was a thief in the city, so I was on my way to catch him.”

 

“By yourself, mother?”

 

“It’s my stuff. Do you remember when I asked Old Man Mallet to make a rod for me?”

 

The clever Noah nodded immediately.

 

“Yes. Is that thief after my mother’s rod?”

 

“Yeah. And besides, it looks like he’s not just trying to steal, he’s also trying to threaten Old Man Mallet.”

 

I was about to tell him that I had to hurry up and go, but Noah gave me a strange look and said that he would go with me.

 

“Please take me too. I will catch any thieves who dare to take my mother’s belongings.”

 

“You?”

 

The question, “How?” almost escaped my lips.

 

Barely able to swallow the words, I tried to think of a way to stop him, then tried to sound soothing.

 

“But isn’t it dangerous? We don’t even know exactly how many thieves there are or who they are.”

 

Then the boy assistant, who had been rolling his eyes and observing the situation, quickly answered.

 

“There is only one opponent. He is an adult man, and my teacher says he is probably a wizard.”

 

‘Well, since he’s a wizard, he’d probably make a fuss and take my rod.’

 

‘Is he confident in his own abilities?’

 

I thought about it for a moment and then asked Sage, who was standing next to me.

 

“If we’re going to capture the wizard, would it be better to take more escorts?”

 

“It’s okay. Trust me, Ma’am. I’m a wizard of Ajas, I can take down any wizard, even alone, right?” 

 

Ethan sighed briefly at Sage’s wink, and Leona nodded with a confident expression.

 

“We also have silence scrolls. We can just tear them off if necessary.”

 

The Silence Scroll prevents a wizard from casting spells.

 

Tearing it up would definitely give the side with two knights an advantage.

 

With that additional thought, Noah, who had been waiting for my answer, gently grabbed the hem of my skirt with both hands.

 

“Mother, please. Take me with you.”

 

* * *