How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 153

Felix’s words did not end there. His gaze, which had been directed at Noah, shifted to Catherine.

 

“Compared to us, who are half or quarter-blooded, she must have even more.”

 

I had no idea why he kept talking about things only he seemed to understand.

 

I couldn’t understand what he was saying, so I just blinked. Then Noah continued speaking, sounding a little annoyed.

 

“It’s not an unknown affection. Mother has been very good to me. Even after hearing that the blood flowing in my body was mixed with that of a barbarian, she still hugged me. How could I not…”

 

As his voice gradually became faster, Noah was unable to control his emotions and closed his eyes tightly.

 

I felt so sorry for him, so I hugged Noah’s body tightly.

 

“That’s right. I like Nell because even knowing that I’m part barbarian, she doesn’t feel disgusted. She was the first to suggest we become friends, she gave me gifts… Of course, I do feel strangely comfortable and happy when I’m around Nell….”

 

Felix shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “Look at that,” as Catherine tilted her head, adding her remark.

 

“Even if she had been mean to you, you’d still feel the same. No matter how cruel her words might have been, you would have worked tirelessly, desperately, to gain even a little of her attention.”

 

At Felix’s words, which carried a faint hint of mockery, I tightened my arms around Noah. My reaction was prompted by a fleeting memory from the book.

 

The parts where, despite being mistreated, Noah never told Leonhard about it. Or how he followed Raenel’s insincere lies all the way to the Hiyela Gate.

 

“Originally, there was one more pattern in addition to the five that remain on this continent. For convenience, we will refer to that pattern as the sixth pattern. Its name is Sesto.”

 

“Sesto…”

 

“When the pattern is manifested, you can freely control monsters. Judging from your reaction, it seems that the pattern has not appeared on your body. However, it is certain. The three barbarians here are proof enough.”

 

Felix spoke to me as if he were a judge passing judgment.

 

“You are of Sesto’s bloodline.”

 

* * * 

 

“Marilyn! Is it true that the Master brought his son?”

 

“Is it true?”

 

“What does he look like? Does he resemble the master? How old is he?”

 

“I know! He must be about five now, right? He must’ve been born to that lady who stayed in the tower back then!”

 

“Stop making such a fuss. So, Marilyn, where is the young master? He has magical power too, doesn’t he?”

 

“There’s no way he wouldn’t be. He’s the Master’s son.”

 

“So, will he stay in the tower now? Will the master personally teach him magic?”

 

“Get out of the way, you punks! Little ones get out! Ahem, the master, as the owner of this tower, has much to do. He won’t have time to teach his son. And just recently, I completed a 10-year-long research—”

 

“Shut up, old man! You failed to produce results after 10 years! I’ll be the one teaching the young master!”

 

“What? You brat!”

 

It was chaos.

 

Apparently, no one knew the story of Noah until the time when the barbarians who had gathered at the tower were captured and beaten.

 

So where and how did the rumor come from that all the wizards in the tower gathered and started causing such chaos?

 

‘Everyone came here except for those who are locked in the lab doing their own research.’

 

‘Maybe tomorrow they will find out about this too.’

 

Marilyn sighed, Hoping the flock of people wouldn’t grow even larger tomorrow.

 

“Nothing has been decided about the young master yet. So, stop getting your hopes up. Don’t dream up things, and don’t ask questions until the master brings it up himself. Things are complicated enough.”

 

“Why? What’s so complicated?”

 

“I want to see the young master too!”

 

“How unfair! You’ve already seen him!”

 

“Isn’t this the privilege of being the chief disciple? If you’re jealous, get better at magic.”

 

Marilyn laughed loudly, covering her mouth with her hand.

 

The gathered wizards grumbled in unison about the unfairness, but Marilyn didn’t bat an eye and quickly teleported away.

 

If she stayed, she would only be bombarded with complaints from her juniors, peers, and seniors.

 

Besides, she had to quickly send a letter from the Marquise of Ajas to the castle.

 

‘What on earth is happening…’

 

The day had been so chaotic that she still felt dazed.

 

The tower’s magic barriers had all been broken, barbarians had swarmed in, and the master, leaving the tower for the first time in five years, had returned with a child he hadn’t known existed.

 

“Barbarians? Are you saying the blood flowing through your veins is barbarian blood? And the child in my womb… this child, too?”

 

“I’ve… carried the seed of a barbarian?”

 

It was Marilyn who took care of Louise while she was staying at the tower. To be exact, she was in charge of nursing Louise, and after she got better, she naturally started running errands for her.

 

When Louise first arrived at the tower, she had shut herself off as though she had locked away her heart, refusing to let anyone get close.

 

But as time passed, little by little, Louise began to open up to Marilyn, like rain gradually soaking through the cloth.

 

When Louise finally gifted her a carved wooden flower as a token of gratitude, Marilyn was as happy as the day she became Felix’s direct disciple.

 

Even so, Louise’s status in the tower had always been that of a guest. She carried an aura of rootlessness, like a lotus floating on water, as if she could leave at any moment.

 

Looking at Louise like that, Marilyn always wished that she could become a member of that tower family.

 

So when Louise became pregnant with Felix’s child, she was overjoyed. 

 

Giving birth to Felix’s child, the owner of the tower, meant she had become a member of the tower.

 

Marilyn celebrated Louise’s pregnancy as though it were her own joy, even organizing a surprise party with the other wizards.

 

But then…

 

Felix confessed to Louise about his bloodline.

 

“How… how dare you… how could you?!”

 

Marilyn had never seen Louise scream and swear so madly before. And it was the last one.

 

A few days later, Louise left the tower forever, leaving behind only a letter.

 

Marilyn didn’t know what the letter said. But she could guess based on what Felix said after he returned to the tower a few days later.

 

“That woman will never come back to this tower again. No—if she comes, tell the gatekeeper she’s no longer welcome here. Never open the door for her.”

 

“What? But, lady Louise is pregnant with your child…”

 

“She said she’d rather die than give birth to it.”

 

“What?”

 

“If there’s anything of hers left in this tower, throw it all out. Don’t leave even a single handkerchief behind.”

 

Felix’s anger had been so overwhelming that Marilyn hadn’t dared to secretly keep anything.

 

Every item Louise had touched was thrown out—except for the wooden flower she had given Marilyn. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Louise’s but Marilyn’s, so she was able to keep it.

 

Time passed like that, and Louise never really came back.

 

Sometimes Marilyn would cry because she missed Louise, but now her name remained only as a memory in her head. A memory that, for now, remained vivid.

 

‘The master was truly at fault there. He should’ve kept quiet, or at least told her sooner.’

 

Marilyn sighed as she recalled the mix of resentment she had felt back then—blaming her master for his poorly timed confession, but then she resented Louise, thinking that even so, she should at least say goodbye to her in person.

 

‘If she was going to have the baby… she could’ve just stayed in the tower.’

 

The emotions she had swallowed and buried deep, pretending everything was fine in front of Noah, now clawed at her chest.

 

Noah was a perfect reflection of Felix. But in fleeting glances, Marilyn could also see traces of Louise.

 

Now, she can barely remember Louise’s face, so how can she know such things?

 

“Is….Master okay?”

 

She doubted he could be, no matter what.

 

Marilyn sighed heavily with her hands in her pockets.

 

It was a night when the feel of the wooden flower at her fingertips was particularly vivid.

 

* * * 

 

‘Where am I and who am I?’

 

I’m completely out of my mind. I don’t know what’s going on. I just stroked Noah’s head, holding him tightly in my arms, half out of my mind.

 

“Nell, if you keep doing that, the young master’s hair will all fall out.”

 

“Huh? Oh! I’m sorry, Noah, was I too harsh?”

 

“No. Not at all. Please keep stroking my hair, Mother.”

 

Noah’s voice was softer and more subdued than usual as he buried his face into my embrace.

 

‘He wants me to keep stroking his hair?’

 

This was so unlike him. The request made my heart ache even more.

 

“You must have been really surprised today, huh?”

 

“Yes…a little bit.”

 

‘He said it was a little, but was it really a little?’

 

Instead of asking further, I hugged Noah and rested my cheek on his head.

 

And while patting the child’s back, I organized the new things I learned today.

 

First, Noah is the son of Leonhard’s older sister, Louise, and Felix, the owner of this tower.

 

Second, Noah’s biological father has barbarian blood, making Noah a quarter-barbarian.

 

Surprisingly, the words of the vassals who said that they could not swear allegiance to Noah because he was of barbarian blood turned out to be true.

 

‘It doesn’t matter if he’s half or quarter—it’s the fact that even a single drop of barbarian blood flows in his veins that matters.’

 

‘The owner of the Silver Frost Tower is Noah’s biological father!’

 

The sweet fantasy that revealing that fact publicly would solidify Noah’s position as successor melted away like cotton candy in water overnight.

 

* * *