How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 165

– In the future I saw, she distorted many things. Not only her own life, but also the lives of Leonhard and Noah Ajas.

 

“So, you’re saying… that’s the real future, not just a story from a book?”

 

– Yes, in that future, the Ajas family was supposed to be destroyed with Noah Ajas as the last. Of course, everything that has a beginning must have an end. But even for me, I didn’t want to see the family I lent my power to fall into ruin like that.

 

So Hiyela decided.

 

To save its child and prevent the fall of the Ajas family, Hiyela decided to use ‘Raenel Ajas’ as a variable.

 

– I used the remaining dragon hearts to contact the soul that was supposed to be born as ‘Raenel’. Originally, I intended to show that soul the book, like I showed you, and help avoid such a future. But that soul refused.

 

“That soul refused?”

 

– That soul refused to be born at all. The soul said that being adopted by a countryside noble would only lead to unhappiness, no matter what. So, instead, I searched for someone suitable to become ‘Raenel’. Since all souls here have their destinies set, I looked into another world.

 

“….Was that me?”

 

– Yes. Don’t you remember it yet?

 

Maybe those words were the spark.

 

Finally, the memories that had been sealed and buried deep began to rise in Raenel’s mind.

 

* * * 

 

‘I remember now.’

 

I was in a daze, as if I had just woken up from a deep sleep.

 

A vague memory came to my mind.

 

‘That’s right….I died.’

 

I once thought about it. I’m more scared of someone who follows me around until I’m alone in a dark alley.

 

That person killed me.

 

The memory of the moment I was murdered was blurry, and I couldn’t recall the culprit’s face. Thankfully, the pain didn’t come back either.

 

But I was certain I died at that moment. I had so many things I wanted to do, and dying so meaninglessly felt so unfair—that much still lingered sharply in my memory.

 

‘After losing consciousness like that…’

 

As I was blinking helplessly, reminiscing, a tiny bird that had been pecking at a chocolate chip cookie perked up and looked at me.

 

– You’ve finally remembered?”

 

“Yes… I remember. I saw you before.”

 

The faint memory of waking up and screaming at the sight of Hiyela’s massive true form came back.

 

And how Hiyela had transformed into a small cat to calm me down.

 

“In exchange for granting my wish, you told me to find the dragon heart and return it to Rake, right?”

 

– Yeah, that’s right.

 

“Then why did my memories disappear? I don’t remember anything about our promise, Rake, or the dragon hearts. The only memory I recovered later was just reading a book, so I thought I’d been reincarnated into the world of the book.”

 

– There was an unexpected variable. I just didn’t expect it. 

 

“Variable?”

 

– Do you know about ‘witches’?

 

“I’ve heard….that my biological mother might have been a witch.”

 

When I said I didn’t know the details, Hiyela explained in a kind voice.

 

– the witch is the first human sorcerer. It’s known that they spread magic, which originally belonged to dragons, to humans… but the truth is, they were dragons themselves.”

 

“Dragons? Witch?”

 

– I told you earlier, right? Some dragons became completely human, and witches were among them. The vast magical power they passed down to their descendants originates from dragon hearts. Your biological mother, Asta, was also a Witch.

 

“Asta…”

 

‘So that was my mother’s name.’

 

As I repeated the name Asta in my mouth, I belatedly focused on the fact that she was a witch.

 

“So, you’re saying I’m kind of a dragon’s descendant?”

 

– Yes. That’s why your mother’s sealing magic was able to seal even me.

 

According to Hiyela’s explanation, My mother used up all her magic to seal the power within my body.

 

But because her magic originated from dragon blood, it didn’t just seal my power—it also sealed Hiyela’s presence, which was bound to my soul.

 

To be precise, the remnant of Hiyela’s consciousness, who had promised to guide me from birth, was sealed as well.

 

– The reason you’ve been recalling your memories recently is probably because your magical power has grown stronger and the seal has cracked. If the human Felix hadn’t artificially broken the seal, your magical power would have run wild and become dangerous. I would have disappeared without even being able to say goodbye to you.

 

“Goodbye?”

 

I asked in surprise, and the little bird nodded lightly.

 

– My time to remain in this world as a remnant of consciousness was only until my child safely obtained the dragon hearts.

 

“Oh…”

 

– In the end, I left you to struggle on your own, and for that, I’m truly sorry… but also very grateful.”

 

“No, me too….”

 

Maybe because I had just recalled these memories, everything about the moment I made the contract with Hiyela felt incredibly vivid, as if it had happened just yesterday. Thanks to that, I could clearly remember what wish I had made.

 

“I have a question, Hiyela.”

 

– What is it?

 

“Did my wish come true?”

 

“Please let me be loved by my family in my next life…”

 

-Make another wish. Raenel was originally destined to be loved by good people. Even if I don’t make it happen, you will be loved by your family.

 

“Then, please let the soul that should have been born as Raenel, not me, grow up happily…”

 

– That soul rejected its destiny. You don’t need to feel guilty about taking its place.

 

“It’s not about guilt… You said that soul was supposed to take the place where I reincarnated. What if that soul couldn’t adapt and wanted its fate back?”

 

– Even if that soul did, that soul rejected its own destiny, so that’s the end of it. But even so, you’d use your one wish for that soul?

 

“Yes. I don’t really have anything else I want.”

 

– The soul is as happy as you wish. The last time I checked, that soul won the lottery and slapped a resignation letter on the annoying boss’s face.

 

“Really?”

 

‘Wow, I’m jealous! You won the lottery!’

 

– that soul was super excited about going on an overseas trip. There’s no need to worry about that soul anymore. It turned out just as you wished.

 

“That’s a relief, really.”

 

This world wasn’t just some storybook world. And the people I loved weren’t just characters from a book.

 

More than anything, I finally felt like I could truly let go of the story. That made me really happy.

 

– It’s almost time to part ways.

 

“Already?”

 

– It’s not already. You’ve been asleep for three days now.

 

“Three days?”

 

‘That long?’

 

– The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Your prince has arrived to wake you up.

 

A small bird flew up and landed in front of me. Then it extended one wing as if to shake hands, so I extended my hand in return.

 

When I gently held its soft wing between my thumb and forefinger, a cool sensation rushed into my fingertips.

 

– My dragon heart was completely used up the moment I made the contract with you, but there’s still a bit of dust left. I’ll use this power for you.

 

“Huh?”

 

– One last warning… Do you know where the six remaining powers on this continent come from? The ones that surpass human strength?

 

“Powers? Hmm….”

‘Surpassing human strength?’

 

“Don’t tell me, those are dragon powers too?”

 

– That’s the correct answer. When dragons transformed their bodies into human form, their dragon hearts melted into their blood. If the witches’ dragon hearts turned into magical powers, the others’ dragon hearts transformed into what you call powers.

 

“I think….I get it, sort of.”

 

I understood what Hiyela was saying, but I had a hard time accepting it in my heart.

 

So, that means my husband, my son, and I all inherited dragon powers? What are we, ‘the Dragon Family’?

 

– The reason powers pass through bloodlines is because of that. But injecting that blood into a normal human body is very, very dangerous. A typical human body can’t withstand dragon power.

 

“I know what you mean, but why are you telling me this? To be careful when donating blood?”

 

‘Wait, does the concept of blood donation even exist in this world?’

 

At that thought, Hiyela laughed out loud.

 

– You’re something else, thinking about giving it to someone else even now.

 

“But other than that, I can’t think of any situation where blood would be dangerous.”

 

– One day, the time will come when you’ll need to prioritize yourself over others. In that moment, wish for what you truly want and call my name.

 

After saying that, Hiyela folded its wings and rubbed its round head against my fingertips.

 

– Thank you, Nell. Choosing you was the best decision of my life. 

 

“I should be the one thanking you… for letting me be born as Raenel. Thanks to you, I’m happy now.”

 

I thought I heard a chirping sound in response. The sound was so cute, not dragon-like at all, and I chuckled. But then I hurriedly asked Hiyela.

 

“One last thing! The book you showed me—why were Siegfried and April the main characters?”

 

– I couldn’t show you Raenel’s future in detail since you were the one who’d change it. And…. 

 

Hiyela’s voice continued with a small laugh.

 

– That book was written to suit your taste. So it’d be easy for you to read.

 

“I see….”

 

‘So that’s why it became a romance novel.’

 

‘If I had liked mystery novels, would it have been a mystery genre instead?’

 

As I imagined how that book would’ve been written, Hiyela fluttered up and gave its final farewell.

 

– I hope your future path will be filled with happiness.

 

“You too, Hiyela. And don’t worry about Rake anymore—just rest comfortably now!”

 

With a chirping sound, my vision was suddenly flooded with a bright white light.

 

I instinctively shut my eyes tightly and lost consciousness once again.

 

* * * 

 

– Nell.

 

I heard a voice calling me from somewhere.

 

It wasn’t Hiyela’s voice.

 

It was much more familiar…

 

– Nell, please….wake up.

 

‘Leon?’

 

As soon as I muttered that name, my body felt heavy as if lead had been tied to my limbs.

 

No, it’s not that my body feels heavy. It’s just that I didn’t feel the weight of my body until a little while ago. It was like I’d been dreaming.

 

‘Ah. So we’re back to reality.’

 

With that realization, I forced my eyelids open.

 

* * *