How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

“You’re in the garden again, leaving the living room.” Leonhard wasn’t too surprised by the sound behind him, as he already felt the grass being stepped on. The old wolfdog, almost in his arms, only raised his head slightly and wagged his tail a few times as if to sweep the floor. It was hardly a rude gesture toward his master, but Duke Daphnen didn’t judge his old pet. An old dog whose life expectancy had already surpassed three years was an honor just to be breathing, even slowly. “I’m sure I was inviting you for lunch, but it looks like your meeting with His Majesty has been extended.” “Yes, I’m sorry to keep you waiting. What about your lunch?” “I ate alone. Sarah’s cooking is as good as ever.” “Haha. I’m not being facetious, but more wheelbarrows went into the kitchen than I’ve ever seen at a banquet in this mansion. Lady Sarah was so insistent on sending it to you to be fattened up, how do you think you could live up to her expectations?” “I tried.” ‘I’m much taller now, and my chest has expanded, but I guess I’m still a skinny boy in her eyes.’ Leonhard smiled a little, remembering Sarah, who couldn’t stand to watch his mouth rest and would bring him food. “She’s probably still trying to get you some dessert. Let’s go into the living room.” “Yes, uncle.” Leonhard’s hand fell on the old dog’s head. The old dog, who had been enjoying being petted, lifted his head slightly to look at Leonhard, then walked unceremoniously to a sunny spot and curled up his body. Leonhard observed the old dog’s peaceful and lovely demeanor for a moment, as most likely, that would be the last time he would see him. ‘If I go back to the territory, I won’t come back to the capital…’ No, before that, it was a matter of when he would return to his territory. According to his original plan, he would return to the manor as soon as he found his fiancée. ‘I had no intention of attending the New Year’s celebration ball.’ However, two months had already passed since he came to the capital, and was running toward three months. ‘I should probably return to my territory as soon as possible, even if the situation in the capital is more complicated.’ Entering the living room and sitting down on the couch, Leonhard looked at Duke Daphnen across from him and spoke softly. “You look quite tired, Uncle.” “I haven’t been able to sleep for the past few days…Bring me coffee. No sugar, please. And you?” “I think chocolate would be good, with lots of sugar and cream.” “ha ha ha! That’s a good idea. Sarah would love to hear it.” The two servants quickly placed two teacups on the table and poured coffee and chocolate. At the same time, Leonhard let out a sigh involuntarily at the dessert plate that was placed so that the plate protruded out of the table. “There’s something else I want to ask you.” When the three plates were dutifully emptied along with small talk, Duke Daphnen set down the glass he was holding on the table, as if finally ready to get to the point. Leonhard, who was frowning because of the sweetness in his mouth, corrected his posture when he saw Duke Daphnen’s serious face. ‘Did he want to talk about the second prince?’ The physical evidence and witnesses collected by the investigation of the Duke of Kereis were perfect. Even if it had been fabricated, there was no way the Second Prince could have gotten away with it, and the Emperor, still wide-eyed, had ordered him to self-restraint in a separate palace. No, it was not self-reflection, but it was confinement for him. There was only one way to turn this around. To be exonerated. But the investigation was already closed. In order to publicize this case once again, which the emperor himself concluded, a person with the qualifications had to raise an objection. It was impossible for the second prince’s supporters to step forward. The first prince’s supporters couldn’t stand it. Therefore, a nobleman who is neutral and has the courage to stand up to the emperor must step forward. Currently, there was only one man who met all of these requirements. It is Leonhard. ‘even if Uncle asks me to, I can’t intervene.’ It wasn’t that difficult to step forward for the second prince. But at that moment, he gets involved in the politics of the capital. Breaking the history that since the flag of Estroa was planted in this land, the Marquis of Ajas has not intervened in the dispute. If he did, the next generation of Ajas was also involved in the next battle for the throne. ‘I can’t put that burden on Noah.’ With just that thought, Leonhard tensed slightly and waited for Duke Daphnen to continue. “What happened to the youngest daughter of the Howard family?” “Yes?” So he made a puzzled expression at the name of Raenel that popped out of nowhere. ‘It was so unexpected, really.’ “I don’t know what you mean by that, Uncle.” “If you don’t know what it means, then you don’t know the rumors that have spread through the capital…” “Ah…” Seeing his understanding, Duke Daphnen nodded once and continued his explanation. “At first, the lady was aiming for you, the Marquis of Ajas, and deliberately made a scandal.” “It’s not like that! How can you make such a guess when you don’t know about her?” Duke Daphne looked at him with a bit of surprise as he interrupted and raised his voice in anger. ‘It was an unbelievable overreaction for a guy who didn’t even react even when I curse openly in front of him.’ Duke Daphnen laughed in disbelief, but he insisted on listening to the end. “Since your name goes up and down on the lips of many people, I tried a little bit of digging. It turns out that the princess doesn’t like the young lady. Count Howard seemed to already know.” “Have you talked to Count Howard?” “Yes. If he didn’t know, I was going to tell him. Since the young lady was disliked by the second princess, she would not be welcomed at any social gathering, but wouldn’t it be very pitiful to be rejected without knowing why?” She would be equally unwelcome at Marquis Calvin’s gatherings. The Empress’s circle would use her as an adopted child to mock the illegitimate First Prince, and Marquis Calvin wouldn’t have guessed it. “Fortunately, she is returning to her country soon, which is unfortunate for a young lady who has only just traveled to the capital, but better that way. She’s got a lot of socializing to do.” “She’s going back to her country? Raenel?” “Yes. with Count Howard…Raenel? Could it be that you were close enough to call her by name?” However, Leonhard did not hear Duke Daphnen’s question. His mind was filled with only the words he had just heard and the questions arising from them. ‘She Going back to her country…Then what next? Can I meet her?’ Leonhard desperately racked his brain and recalled Howard’s country. If his memory was correct, Howard’s territory was northwest of the capital. In terms of simple physical distance, it is located closer to the Ajas’s Territory than the capital. But that didn’t comfort him much. Aside from the capital, there was not a single reason for him, the Marquis of Ajas,  for visiting the Howard Territory, which he had no connection with. “Leon? Can’t you hear me?” “Ah…yes, uncle I can hear you.” “Huh, what are you thinking about that you don’t even know the person in front of you is talking?” At Duke Daphnen looking at Leonhard with his questionable eyes, Leonhard shook his head and dropped his gaze. ‘Is it because of the question in my head that I can’t get rid of no matter how hard I try?’ He filled his mouth full of sweets and chewed, but strangely, his mouth felt bitter. Even as he emptied his dessert plate. * * * “Captain.” “….” “Hmmmm, Captain?” “What?” After calling him exactly five times, Leonhard barely responded. Seeing the look on Leonhard’s face, Robert swallowed hard and spoke cautiously while examining his gaze. “What should I do with the dungeons’ investigation data?” “Destroy it all.” As soon as the monster appeared in the capital, Leonhard ordered his aides to investigate the surrounding dungeon, but he stopped them shortly after the investigation was handed over to Duke Kereis. Still, in that short time, his aides found a few clues. Things like how unidentified individuals have been entering and leaving the dungeon. If Duke Daphnen had wanted it, he would have handed it over on the condition that their source not be revealed, but he had given up on overturning this decision. Leonhard was right to do nothing, then. “Hmmm, but what happened? You look bad.” “Nothing, except that I’m a little bloated from eating too much dessert.” “I don’t suppose the railroad chewers were just feeling bloated from too much dessert?” I told you not to talk about it, you’re making people think that Marquis of Ajas has the strength of steel and can really chew through steel.”.” “Oh, the carriage has arrived.” Naturally ignoring Leonhard’s wide-eyed stare, Robert flung open the carriage door and went outside. Leonhard followed him and stepped out of the carriage. His muscles ache all over the place, and he regretted that he should have ridden his horse. “Ruby, stop!” As soon as he entered the hotel, he heard Leona’s voice from the top of the stairs. When Leonhard turned his head to where the sound came from, Ruby spread her wings and flew towards them with something in his mouth. “Robert!” “Yes, Captain.” Robert immediately created a wind with his magic and wrapped it around Ruby’s body. Ruby is caught by something invisible out of nowhere, He screamed loudly and struggled in the air. ‘However, where did you scream loudly after being looked at as cute?’ Robert didn’t break the magic until Leonhard grabbed Ruby and held Ruby in his arms. It was only when they captured Ruby that Leona came down in front of them panting. “You’ve come back just in time, Captain…” Leona was breathing harshly as if she were about to collapse from exhaustion. ‘Ruby makes Heilang Knights exhausted like this?’ Robert glanced at Ruby, who was struggling to break free of Leonhard’s arms. “He’s been calm for the past few days, so why is he getting excited again and coming down to the first floor again?” “I don’t know either…He was playing well alone, and suddenly ran away with Lady Howard’s letter in his mouth.” “A letter from Lady Howard?” It was Leonhard who responded to those words. Leona nodded and explained to him who picked up the envelope that Ruby had dropped. “This letter was brought by Lady Howard’s maid earlier in the afternoon. But she said there was no need to reply.” “I don’t need to reply…Do you have my cloak? Didn’t the maid bring my cloak?” “A cloak? No, only that letter was delivered by the maid.” At those words, Leonhard’s shoulders, which had been stiff, sank lightly. but his lips pursed. Swallowing dry saliva, Leonhard left the ruby to Robert and immediately opened the envelope. ‘What is the content of the letter so that there is no need for a reply?’ Perhaps it was a letter announcing that she had returned to her country. A little anxiety rolled around in his heart, but the letter contained something completely different from what he had imagined. [When the moon rises above my head, I will open the window so that the moonflowers you gave me can receive the moonlight. With a single white rose petal stuck in the corner of my ear.] * * *