How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love – Chapter 172

Author: Chewyy

“Oh, no? Why would I avoid you? It’s not like I did anything wrong.”

“Then, may I ask why you are still standing there?”

“There’s no particular reason……”

I moved my feet hesitantly and entered the bedroom.

Just passing through the side door between the bedroom and bathroom, the air felt very different.

Avoiding Leonhard’s gaze, I lowered my eyes halfway and shut the door behind me.

That…. Are you done with your work? You said you had a lot to take care of.”

“I’ve taken care of everything. But I just found one more task I need to do.”

“Really? Then you should hurry and go.”

I was a little nervous at the thought of making eye contact, but when I heard that he had to go again, I felt a little disappointed.

This contradictory feeling must mean that I’m still not mentally prepared for this.

Okay, let’s just let it go for now.

“Then please sit down.”

As I was about to say goodbye to him, Leonhard pulled out a chair next to the bedside table for me.

And then, I blinked in bewilderment for a moment as he stood behind it quietly waiting for me to sit down.

“Uh… Didn’t you say you had something to do? Shouldn’t you be going now?”

“I don’t have to go anywhere. All I have to do is dry and comb your wet hair.”

As Leonhard gestured to my hair with his eyes, I instinctively clutched the towel wrapped around my wet hair.

“Didn’t you specifically instruct me to do so? That was one of my duties as your husband, so I must do it.”

“I don’t think I said you must do it……”

‘Or did I? Did I say that?’

I can’t even trust my past self.

While I was rolling my eyes, recalling old memories, Leonhard, perhaps frustrated with my unwillingness to move, quickly moved his feet and approached me.

The legs were so long that even with just one step, the distance became incredibly close.

I was lost in thought for a moment, and I was startled and took a step back without realizing it.

And in that moment, silence fell between us.

“……”

“Oh, no, wait! It’s not like I was avoiding you, it’s just that….”

“If I make you uncomfortable, please tell me. I have no intention of troubling you.”

His lowered eyelids cast shadows over his face, painting it with a touch of melancholy.

Even without hearing another word from him, the way his shoulders slumped as he turned away told me he was hurt.

‘No, I didn’t mean to do that.’

Worried that he might leave the bedroom like this, I quickly chased after him and tightly hugged his broad back.

“Don’t misunderstand! It’s not that you make me uncomfortable… It’s just that I feel nervous.”

“Are you saying that I frighten you…?”

‘How could he possibly interpret my nervousness that way? That took a special kind of talent.’

‘Did I not express myself properly?’

My face was already heating up, and considering I hadn’t even fully explained myself yet, I was sure this was the first time I had ever said this out loud.

‘Was it his body heat making me feel so warm, or was it just my own embarrassment?’

With my burning face pressed against his back, I finally found the courage to speak.

“Why would I be scared of you? You said you fell in love at first sight—how do you not understand this? Have you never felt your heart race when looking at me?”

“Huh? Ah…”

His low exclamation, carrying a hint of realization, told me he had finally understood my words.

I had already conveyed enough with just that, but I tightened my arms around his waist.

“Of course, I’d be nervous. I just heard the person I love say he fell for me at first sight—how could I not be?”

The fact that the person I loved was my husband was amusing.

The fact that we have been married for months and only now do I feel this way was also amusing.

‘Are all couples who date but aren’t married like this?’

No, probably not. If you look at the northern social circles, where affairs and secret lovers are openly accepted, it’s clear that not everyone experiences this.

I realized once again how lucky I am.

The person I like and the person who likes me, is my husband.

‘Is Leon thinking this too?’

I slowly loosened my grip and peeked to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of his face.

I was trying to check, but my loose arm was pulled forward and I ended up burying my face in his back again.

“Leon?”

“Don’t look. It’s ugly.”

The voice was so small that it was almost a whisper.

‘But how did he know I was trying to look at his face?’

‘When someone says not to look, it only makes you want to look more.’

I tried to pull away, struggling slightly, but Leonhard held my arms firmly, refusing to let go.

I had to hold him in my arms almost forcibly.

“Hey, please let go of me, I’m not going to eat you. I’m just going to look at your face for a while.”

“I told you it’s ugly. I can’t let you.”

“Tsk. I’ve seen your face blush more than once or twice.”

“H-have you seen it before?”

‘This is the time!’

Taking advantage of the moment when he was startled, I quickly tried to pull my arm out, but How could I, who had been a homebody in Howard until a few months ago, surpass the agility of Marquis Ajas?

He must have been a little flustered because this time he ended up burying my face a little harder into his back.

“Ouch….”

“Nell, are you okay?!”

Startled by my groan, Leonhard quickly turned around, cupped my cheeks with both hands and lifted my face.

Thanks to that, our eyes finally met, and I could see his face, still red, right in front of my nose.

“Your face is really red.”

“Your face is like that too.”

“My face is like that because it hit your back.”

“Did you hit it that hard?”

His thumbs gently rubbed against my cheeks and the corners of my eyes.

His eyes, full of concern, carefully scanned every part of my face.

‘We were too close…’

Only now did I feel my own face burning.

I didn’t know what to do and averted my gaze.

“Did I rub too hard just now?”

There was a hint of laughter in the voice that asked mischievously.

“Why are you teasing me…?”

‘Ah.’

The moment our eyes met again, I saw it.

A gaze overflowing with affection for me.

It wasn’t the first time he had looked at me like that.

From some point on, he always looked at me like that.

‘I was the one who hadn’t realized it.’

‘No—I had refused to acknowledge it.’

Blinding myself with the belief that ‘Leonhard’ didn’t love ‘Raenel’.

Afraid that if I expected something, I would only be disappointed.

“Why do you look like that…?”

“You know, if you hadn’t confessed your feelings for me first, I might have never told you that I liked you.”

‘Because I’m a coward.’

Even though I knew that the Leonhard in front of me was different from the ‘Leonhard’ I knew, I still couldn’t find the courage.

“I only realized it just now… I think I was afraid of being rejected by you.”

“Did you truly believe I would reject your feelings?”

His slightly furrowed brows seemed to ask, ‘Why would you think that?’

I was at a loss as to how to explain that, and then I buried my face in Leonhard’s chest without saying a word.

Then, as if it were natural, he put his arm around my back and hugged me.

“Now that I think about it, I was also afraid of what would happen if your feelings weren’t for me. But I convinced myself that it was fine since you were already my wife….. It’s all my fault.”

“No, this isn’t your fault…”

Suddenly, I felt an urge to tell Leonhard everything.

‘Should I say it?’

Before, I never considered telling anyone because I believed this was just a world inside a book.

But now, I know better.

“Raenel?”

“There’s something I want to tell you… It might sound completely ridiculous.”

“No matter what it is, just say it.”

Leonhard nodded, then spoke in a serious voice.

“But can I dry your hair while listening? If you leave it wet, you might catch a cold.”

‘I wondered what he was going to say with a serious face.’

“Are you worried about that in this situation?”