How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 155

“Really…?”

 

“Yes. When you first called me your son, when you told me I could call you mother, and even when you said you loved me…your voice never trembled.”

 

Ironically, Noah’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke those words.

 

He must have realized that fact because his voice became stronger as he continued to speak, but the trembling continued.

 

“I don’t know what it means that you carry Sesto’s blood, but the reason I love you is simple. Because you love me, Mother… that’s why.”

 

‘Was it my imagination that I heard a sobbing sound behind those fading words?’

 

As I instinctively hugged Noah’s back, I heard a voice whispering, 

 

“Mother…, please say that you love me.”

 

‘What if that’s a lie?’

 

Even I hesitated, not being sure, but Noah urged me to tell him, as if he couldn’t wait even for a moment.

 

It was really ironic. I was actually scared. I’m hesitating, but this kid is urging me.

 

‘How can this child be sure that I love him?’

 

At that moment, a memory from my childhood flashed through my mind.

 

“There you are. I was looking for you everywhere.”

 

“Brother Liv? Why did you come looking for me? Where’s Alex?”

 

At that time, I was playing hide-and-seek with my brother Alex. 

 

But it was my older brother who found me. Not my brother Alex.

 

“Alex lost his temper and is yelling about kicking out a servant for speaking out of turn. Father and Mother are trying to calm him down.”

 

“What? If that’s the case, he should have told me the game was over! No wonder he never came to find me..”

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Not at all! I was starving but stayed hidden for two hours so I wouldn’t get caught.”

 

“No, I mean… Alex said you overheard something the servants were gossiping about.”

 

“Oh, you mean the part where I’m not mother and father’s real daughter? That’s nothing new. Honestly, I had a guess. I don’t look like anyone in our family at all.”

 

I still vividly remember my older brother’s startled expression at those words.

 

“Not alike? Your smile is round like Father’s, your piano skills come from Mother, you cause trouble just like Alex… and besides—”

 

“You don’t have to piece together a puzzle that doesn’t fit. Blood doesn’t matter. Even if I’m not their real daughter, I’m still family. Right, brother Liv?”

 

“Of course, you are.”

 

“Even if we’re not related by blood, I know my family loves me. That’s all that matters!”

 

‘How could I say that so confidently back then?’

 

‘How could I not doubt that my family loved me when I didn’t have any of the powers that Noah had?’

 

Finding the answer wasn’t difficult.

 

All the moments I had spent with my family at Howard’s estate had already told me everything.

 

“Noah.”

 

“Yes, mother.”

 

I leaned down and placed a kiss on Noah’s cheek.

 

Holding his small body close, I thought of all the times we had laughed together—planting seeds in the greenhouse, playing the piano, eating each other’s favorite foods.

 

Love isn’t something complicated. As long as we smile happily together, that’s love.

 

“I love you, Noah. Even if you’re actually a very evil monster, I will still love you.”

 

I heard another sobbing sound from somewhere. 

 

‘Was it Noah crying?’

 

Worried, I reached out to touch his face, but his warm, soft cheeks were dry.

 

His voice, too, was as steady as ever.

 

“I love you too, Mother.”

 

The voice that answered, as if it knew that would happen, was simply calm.

 

Despite all the pain and loneliness he must have endured, he spoke of love as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

 

Proud of him, I hugged Noah even tighter.

 

“As long as I have you, that’s enough. So please… don’t abandon me, mother…”

 

“Why would I abandon you? That won’t happen.”

 

“Then you will take me back with you to the castle?”

 

“Of course! You are my son and the successor of Ajas. Even if he is your biological father, I would never send you to a man who didn’t even know you existed. Absolutely not.”

 

Maybe that was what Felix wanted to talk about tomorrow.

 

But no matter what he said, I had already made up my mind—I would never agree.

 

“And even if I did, your father wouldn’t allow it. He’d definitely storm this tower to take you back.”

 

“Father…?”

 

“Well, he is just not good at expressing himself because he is clumsy, but your father loves you too. That’s why he arranged for us to meet.”

 

“Ah…..”

 

‘Of course. Leonhard came all the way to the capital because he truly wanted to find a good mother for Noah.’

 

“That’s right. Father is the one who brought you to me…”

 

“You’ll realize when you spend more time with him. Your father loves you too.”

 

‘I hope the day will come soon when Leonhard himself, not me, proves that fact.’

 

‘I miss him.’

 

I closed my eyes, thinking of the face I think of every day, but today for a slightly different reason.

 

It would be nice if I could see it even in my dreams.

 

* * * 

 

Contrary to my wishes, Leonhard did not appear in my dream.

 

I should have known the lingering disappointment was the sign of a storm ahead.

 

The conversation Felix had postponed to today was something I never could have expected.

 

“The magic stone embedded in this wand was probably a Dragon Heart. It was bothering me that it was hiding the whole time. It must have been wary of me because it lost its Dragon Heart.”

 

“Dragon Heart…?”

 

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know? Even with a dragon right beside you?”

 

Felix’s gaze was directed to Rake, who was still sleeping soundly.

 

‘Dragon? Rake is a dragon?’

 

“Hahaha, hey, that’s nonsense….”

 

At that moment, several puzzle pieces began to fit together in my head.

 

A tiny one was clearly where the dragon’s egg should have been.

 

A bird that acts so cleverly that it seems to understand human speech.

 

The bird that headbutted the dragon’s heart, causing it to vanish, only to fall into a deep sleep afterward.

 

“A bird…it’s a bird, no matter how you look at it!”

 

“A dragon can take the form of any species that exists in the world. Though… they don’t usually take a form that small.…”

 

Felix looked down at Rake, thought for a moment, and then came to his own conclusion.

 

“It seems that since it doesn’t have a Dragon Heart, it chose a form that consumes minimal magical power.”

 

If there was any comfort in this shocking revelation, it was that I wasn’t the only one surprised.

 

While everyone was speechless and silent, I felt dizzy looking at Rake, who was still sleeping soundly.

 

‘A dragon! My pet bird was actually a dragon.’

 

‘Of all the shocking secrets I had learned in the past two days, this was by far the most unbelievable!’

 

* * *

 

The sound of Marquise Calvin’s footsteps echoed through the corridors of the First Prince’s palace, sharp and urgent.

 

The servants of the palace, sensing her mood, quickly pressed themselves against the walls, lowering their heads and holding their breaths.

 

If she had been even slightly less angry, she might have grabbed someone at random to vent her frustration on.

 

But in her current state, she was too furious to even notice them.

 

“Kyle!”

 

“Ahhh!”

 

The moment she opened the bedroom door herself, ignoring the guard and servant standing guard in front of the door, Marquise Calvin was greeted by the screams of a young woman.

 

But what was felt in that scream was not an emotion like embarrassment or shame, but something closer to joy or pleasure.

 

As if to prove it, the woman lying on the wide bed whispered to the man next to her.

 

“Your Highness, the Marquise has arrived, so please let me go now. Okay?”

 

“Where are you going? Just stay here. My mother won’t be here long.”

 

“Your Highness, you’re so mean!”

 

Marquise Calvin felt dizzy as she put her hand on her head, hearing the loud laughter.

 

Was this really how her son behaved in front of his own mother who gave birth to him?

 

The Marquise Calvin eventually exploded and screamed.

 

“How utterly insolent! Who dares to act so insolently in front of me?”

 

“Oh my god! Your Highness, I’m scared.”

 

The behavior of the woman who clung to Kairos and trembled was simply disgusting to Marquise Calvin.

 

However, Kairos, who should have taken her side, simply ruffled his already disheveled hair and grumbled in irritation.

 

“Lower your voice, Mother. You’re giving me a headache.”

 

“A headache? Of course, you have a headache! You drank so much—how could you not?”

 

A look of disgust and pity passed through her eyes as she glanced at the bottles rolling on the floor.

 

Kairos, who knew all too well the expression she must be making even without looking at her, sighed, his voice laced with frustration.

 

“Please tell me in advance that you’re coming. That way, I could have prepared myself accordingly.”

 

“As if you’re going to do it! Now, go take a shower. The smell of alcohol makes me nauseous!”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

Kairos, who made a voice that seemed to say, “I’ll give in,” put on the gown the servant gave him and headed to the bathroom, dragging his slippers.

 

Meanwhile, the woman left alone in bed watched Marquise Calvin, then hurriedly picked up her clothes and ran outside.

 

“Then, Marquise, please pass my regards to His Highness Kyle on my behalf.”

 

“What…?”

 

As if the icy gaze of Marquise Calvin wasn’t scary at all, she winked cutely and quickly left.

 

‘Didn’t they say you can’t get mad at someone if they’re too amazing?’

 

Marquise Calvin was so shocked that she could only make a “huh, huh” sound as if the wind was going out of her lungs.

 

* * *