How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 162

Leonhard, who had been tending to his sword while sitting on a rock, suddenly stood up.

 

Robert also had his mind clear of all distracting thoughts.

 

“Are you sure it’s the Silver Frost Tower?”

 

“Yes. I’m certain. I heard someone from there even came out to greet us.”

 

“Greet us…?”

 

“Yes. They apparently already knew we were looking for the tower and said they would invite us all in.”

 

“Captain, is this a trap?”

 

There were over fifty knights and wizards in total. All apprentices have been excluded to prioritize mobility, and only experienced individuals capable of responding quickly in sudden combat are selected for this special unit.

 

‘If they already know our purpose, they must also know our numbers and armaments. Yet, they invited all of us?’

 

“Even if it’s a trap, I have no choice but to go. My wife and son are there.”

 

“Ah…”

 

‘Of course. If things went bad, we could easily be taken hostage. Why hadn’t I thought of that sooner?’

 

As Robert’s face turned pale, Leonhard ordered the scattered search teams to regroup.

 

“Is Vermon the leader of the second search party? Where is he now? Did he enter the tower?”

 

“No. He’s waiting where the tower is in sight. Should we tell him to enter the tower?”

 

“If they’re willing to let him in peacefully, tell him to go ahead. And first, confirm whether my wife and son are safe.”

 

What if they’re not safe?

 

That question remained unspoken purely because they were afraid of Leonhard. 

 

By now, everyone in both the knights and wizards units knew just how much Leonhard cherished his wife and son.

 

‘Rather than picking on unnecessary trouble, it was better to quickly confirm the safety of the Marquise and young master.’

 

The Wizard from the Ajas messenger immediately sent signals to the search party leaders scattered across the area.

 

* * *

 

Knock knock.

 

“Um… Is it alright to come in for a moment?”

 

Peeking into the bedroom, the atmosphere inside was still gloomy.

 

Though the crystal lights on the ceiling shone brightly, the room felt oppressively dark.

 

Standing just outside the door, Marilyn nervously shifted her gaze around, unable to step inside. Ethan, looking visibly exhausted, acknowledged her.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

The voice was as gloomy as the atmosphere in the room.

 

No, it wasn’t just the voice. Marilyn, who saw Ethan’s face, which was completely darkened, reflexively looked at the people in the room.

 

‘Ugh… At this rate, we’re going to be dealing with a corpse.’

 

‘The condition of Marquise, who had fallen asleep and was not waking up, was fine…at least on the outside. But today marked the third day since she had fallen into this deep sleep.’

 

“Don’t worry. She’ll wake when the time comes.”

 

‘That’s what my master had said. But when exactly was “the time”?’

 

Marilyn, who had initially trusted her master’s words without much thought, was now starting to worry.

 

“Ahem…, people from Ajas Castle have arrived.”

 

“From Ajas?”

 

Noah, who had been staring at Raenel’s face without paying attention to whether Marilyn knocked on the door or spoke, suddenly turned his head.

 

As Marilyn shrugged her shoulders at the sight of Noah’s amber eyes gleaming sharply, Noah got up from where he had been sitting and approached Marilyn, asking.

 

“Who came? Is my father here?”

 

There was anticipation and hope in that voice that could not be hidden.

 

Marilyn could easily guess where that feeling came from.

 

When a child faces difficulties that they cannot overcome on their own, it is natural for them to look to their parents.

 

‘Looks like the young master has a good relationship with the Marquis… And he’s also quite attached to the Marquise, whom he only met a few months ago.’

 

Marilyn, who had been hoping to bring Noah to the tower, sighed softly.

 

‘No, what’s the use of having such expectations in the first place? My master, the one who had caused this mess, was hiding somewhere without showing any sign of himself.’

 

‘I really don’t know what he’s thinking.’

 

Not that she had ever been able to read him.

 

Cursing her irresponsible master in her heart, Marilyn spoke.

 

“The people who just arrived are knights and wizards under the Marquis of Ajas. They’ve come to escort the Marquise and the young master, and the Duke himself is said to be on his way.”

 

“So when will he arrive?”

 

“I’m not sure. They said he’d arrive within a few hours, but that’s not the important part…”

 

As Marilyn swallowed briefly, Noah looked up at her with a look that said, ‘What could be more important than that?’ 

 

Wondering how she could convey this message without making her young master feel bad, Marilyn opened her mouth.

 

“The knights from Ajas who have arrived are requesting to be allowed into the tower to check on the safety of the young master and the Marquise…”

 

“Then?”

 

“As you know, our tower has been sealed off for quite a while, right? Except for a lucky few who caught the master’s eye, most of us were born and raised here like fragile flowers in a greenhouse.”

 

“Just get to the point.”

 

Annoyed by the long explanation, Noah’s frown deepened, resembling her master’s expression. Marilyn quickly responded.

 

“Even if they mean no harm, we can’t let armed knights into the tower. But if we outright refuse, they might get suspicious… So I think it’d be best if someone personally testified to our innocence.”

 

As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp voice came out of Catherine’s mouth.

 

“Innocence? When Nell has been asleep for three days?”

 

“I have nothing to say to that, but… still, three different doctors have said the Marquise is fine…”

 

“If she’s fine, why won’t she wake up!”

 

Catherine, her hair disheveled like a lion’s mane, screamed with the veins in her neck standing out.

 

While Marilyn flinched under the pressure, Sage, who was now crouching down with no more tears to shed, spoke softly.

 

“It’s noisy, so lower your voice.…My head hurts…”

 

“But Nell—!’

 

“You’re not the only one worried about her.”

 

Sage, who was sobbing, took the wand that Raenel had given her and cast purification and recovery magic on her.

 

But since Raenel wasn’t poisoned or injured, the magic had no effect.

 

No one stopped Sage, though, because everyone here shared the same feeling—the desperate hope that even a little magic might save Raenel.

 

“I’ll go.”

 

“Huh, really? You, young master?”

 

Noah, who had finally taken his eyes off the sleeping Raenel, nodded.

 

“Father will surely wake Mother up.”

 

“Uh….”

 

The question, ‘How on earth would Marquis Ajas wake up his wife?’ rose to the tip of Marilyn’s tongue and went back inside.

 

“Yes, the Marquis might indeed wake her! Just like in fairy tales! With a kiss of true love to break the curse!”

 

Marilyn’s exaggerated reply drew incredulous stares from those around her.

 

Marilyn felt a sting from the sharp stares, but surprisingly, the one person who was the most important was nodding.

 

“That’s right. There was a story like that in the fairy tale my mother read to me.”

 

“No, that’s—”

 

Marilyn was about to say something at Noah’s serious reaction, but she shut her mouth like a clam.

 

‘How do I tell a five-year-old that it’s just a fairy tale after I’ve said it myself?’

 

“Guide me to the knights. I’ll wait outside for Father to arrive.”

 

“Yes, I’ll guide you!”

 

Then Ethan walked toward Noah.

 

“Then I will escort you, young master.”

 

“That’s not necessary. Sir Ethan, please stay with Mother.”

 

“No. The Marquise told me to protect the young master.”

 

Ethan knelt on one knee and looked Noah in the eye.

 

“Please allow me to follow the orders of Marquise.”

 

“Okay…”

 

Noah, who had briefly lowered his gaze, finally nodded.

 

“I will leave my mother to you.”

 

“Yes, Young master.”

 

“Please, make sure to bring the Marquis.”

 

Sage spoke in a determined voice, sniffling her dry nose.

 

Noah nodded and followed Marilyn with Ethan.

 

“I’ll open the door to the outside, so please step back a little.”

 

After passing through the corridors and round staircases and arriving at a wide hall, Marilyn took the wand out of her waistband.

 

As she uttered a short spell, the tip of the wand flashed brightly and transformed into the shape of a key with several protrusions.

 

In response, the magic circle on the floor sparkled, and dozens of square light panels rose in a circle around Marilyn.

 

She selected one and inserted the tip of the wand into its center.

 

As she twisted the wand like a key, the white panel of light opened like a door, connecting it to the outside.

 

Before they knew it, the other light panels had disappeared. Marilyn stepped back and gestured toward the door.

 

“You may exit through here.”

 

“I’ll go first.”

 

As Noah nodded, Ethan placed his hand on his sword’s hilt and cautiously stepped outside.

 

But there was no need for such caution. The knights who had been outside the tower had already discovered the door of light and gathered around it.

 

“How long were we supposed to wait for someone…Huh? Ethan?”

 

“Is this the real Ethan? Not a fake?”

 

“Captain Vermon! Come here! Ethan—Young master! The young master is with him too!”

 

“Young master!”

 

The knights who had been rushing towards Ethan, spotted Noah beyond the door and shouted even louder.

 

As Noah blinked in confusion, several knights came through the door and surrounded Noah.

 

* * *