How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 180

“It’s okay, you can eat it. I’ll have a cup of tea too.”

 

“Hehe, then I’ll eat well.”

 

Marilyn, holding the fork tightly, ate the cake so deliciously that I also got hungry.

 

I watched Marilyn happily devour her snack, and then introduced her to Layla, who was standing next to me.

 

“Say hello. This is Marilyn, a wizard who helped me when I stayed at the Silver Frost Tower. And this is my one and only maid, Layla. Please greet each other.”

 

“Hello! I am Marilyn, the direct disciple of Felix, the master of the Silver Frost Tower. My main attribute is water, and I am a high-level wizard.”

 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Layla Cloud. Right now, I’m the only maid serving the Marquise and assisting her with her duties. Thank you for doing what I should have done.”

 

“Hehe, please feel free to speak comfortably. I’m a commoner, after all. I’m an orphan, so I don’t even know who my parents are.”

 

“Oh….”

 

It wasn’t a story that could be told with a smile like that, but Marilyn was smiling brightly.

 

Seeing her like that, I noticed Layla looking a little flustered, so I casually joined the conversation.

 

“You’re just like me. I’ve never met my biological parents either.”

 

“Oh, the Marquise too? There are quite a few people like that in our tower. The only ones who know their exact lineage are the wizards born inside the tower.”

 

“Really? Are wizards born in towers too?”

 

“Yes. Our tower has been cut off from the outside world for a long time. Because of that, relationships come naturally from inside… Most young wizards were born that way. In my case, I was lucky.”

 

“How were you lucky?”

 

“When the Master went out, he recognized my potential and picked me up. Considering he only goes out once or twice a year, I was incredibly lucky!”

 

Marilyn eagerly explained how some magicians searching for traces of the Silver Frost Tower in the White Land would sometimes find it after persistent exploration and be admitted after passing several tests.

 

Layla and I were so engrossed in Marilyn’s story, which wasn’t something we heard every day, that we kept nodding along, without even noticing that our tea was getting lukewarm.

 

“But Felix seems to go out quite often even though he has cut off all contact with the outside world?”

 

“That’s because he’s the master of the tower. All the rules of the tower are set by the master of the tower. That’s why he can be free from all the rules.”

 

“So, he’s the one who cut off communication with the outside?”

 

“Yes. That’s also why I was allowed to leave the tower. Oh, right.”

 

Marilyn suddenly remembered something, quickly put down her fork, and rummaged through her bag.

 

“Here, this is from my master. He asked me to deliver it to you.”

 

What Marilyn handed me was a large box and a letter.

 

The box likely contained the magical tools I had requested.

 

What surprised me more was that Felix had written me a letter at all.

 

I checked the envelope front and back before opening it.

 

“Is this for me? Or..… ”

 

“The Marquise. He told me to give it to you.”

 

For a moment, I wondered if it was meant for Noah, but I realized I had expected too much from Felix.

 

‘He really isn’t fit to be a father.’

 

At least he didn’t try to claim custody of the child, that’s a relief, I guess.

 

I sighed deeply and opened the letter right away.

 

I was curious about what the person who didn’t even write a letter to his own son could have written to me.

 

[Bill of Expenses]

 

And then I quickly folded the paper just by looking at the words written at the very top.

 

“Hah….”

 

“Marquise? What’s wrong?”

 

Marilyn and Layla both looked at me with curiosity.

 

I briefly stared at the ceiling before responding.

 

“Suddenly… I have a headache…”

 

“Huh? A headache?”

 

“Should I call a doctor?”

 

“No, it’s not a headache that gets better with medicine.…”

 

I handed the bill to Layla and told her to look at it herself.

 

After asking me if she could look at it, Layla unfolded the folded paper and an exclamation of ‘Ah…’ soon escaped her lips.

 

“What is this…? Repair costs? 132 broken glass panes? What in the world could have shattered this much glass? And then there’s the number of scrolls used, Wizards labor costs…”

 

“Oh, my head is going to explode.”

 

I took a deep breath, covering my face with both hands.

 

Otherwise, I felt like I would suffocate.

 

“Even the cost of making magical tools… Are the items in the box magical tools? Two of them?”

 

“Two? He charged for two magical tools?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That despicable man…”

 

I took the bill from Layla and checked the details.

 

As Layla had said, the cost of making magic tools was set at two.

 

Furious, I grabbed a pen from Layla.

 

“He seriously charged me for the magical tool he gave his own son? Should I bill him for child support instead?”

 

Marilyn opened her mouth in surprise at my words.

 

“Oh my… Did my master really bill you for Young Master Noah’s magical tool?

 

“Everything else aside, I refuse to pay for this. If he has a problem, he can come argue with me himself.”

 

I firmly crossed out the charges for the magical tool and wrote a short reason before handing it back to Marilyn.

 

Thankfully, Marilyn hadn’t picked up her master’s bad habits. She quietly took the bill and put it away in her bag.

 

“I will take responsibility for this and make sure it is deleted. Just trust me.”

 

“Alright, I’ll just trust you.”

 

Marilyn had never looked more reliable than she did at that moment.

 

She needed to eat well to handle such a big task.

 

I called a maid and ordered more cake.

 

“By the way, are either of you taking magic lessons?”

 

“Not yet. I’ve been too busy preparing for the wedding to even think about it. If I do, I’ll start by improving my magic control. As for Noah, he’s interested in crafting magical tools, so I plan to start by teaching him the theory of magic.”

 

Felix had said Noah had talent in that field, but Noah himself also showed interest.

 

In the future I had seen, Noah had indeed used magical tools—but mostly for attack and traps.

 

‘I hope our Noah doesn’t make something like that.’

 

“Has a teacher been assigned to teach the young master?”

 

“For now, the castle’s wizards are taking turns teaching him little by little.”

 

“Taking turns?”

 

“Yes. There’s no official teacher yet. Ideally, I’d like to get him a wizard who specializes in crafting magical tools, but those who specialize in making magical tools are all busy, so it’s hard to ask them to do it.”

 

If we were in the capital, I could have asked my sister.

 

‘Maybe I should write to her and ask if she could help, even just briefly.’

 

Now that I think of it, I should write a letter to Sister Lily right away.

 

Then Marilyn raised one hand.

 

“Then, by any chance! May I volunteer?”

 

“Marie, you?’

 

Surprised, I looked at her.

 

Misinterpreting my reaction, Marilyn suddenly stood up and began passionately presenting herself.

 

“Even though I’m like this, I’m also good at making magical tools! This is the first magical tool I ever made!”

 

Marilyn dramatically pulled an item from her bag and presented it with flair.

 

It was none other than… a butter knife.

 

“This is a magic tool…?”

 

“Yes! If you say the name of a jam, it will automatically spread that jam onto your bread. It can remember up to five different kinds!”

 

“Five kinds? Wow, that’s cool!”

 

As I clapped in admiration, Marilyn puffed up with pride and started taking out more magical tools to explain.

 

“This is a teacup enchanted with a warming spell, so your tea will never go cold, no matter how much time passes. And its sister product! A beer mug enchanted with a cooling spell so you can always enjoy ice-cold beer!”

 

TL: In the business context, “sister products” refers to products that are closely related or share a commonality, often being part of the same product line or category, and are marketed or sold together.

 

The number of magical tools Marilyn took out was quite a lot, and it was amazing that they were all related to drinks or food.

 

“I can teach him as much as he wants about the theory of making magic tools. If you make me his teacher, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to educating the young master!”

 

“Hmm, well, I’d love to have you teach Noah… but will Felix allow it?”

 

If he says no, I’ll make sure he says yes! I’ll get permission right away!”

 

And when Marilyn said “right away,” she really meant it. Leaving behind only those words, she disappeared in a flash.

 

She had arrived suddenly, and now she had left even more abruptly.

 

At that time, I was looking at the various magic tools lying on the table and wondering what to do with them.

 

Layla let out a deep breath as if she had no idea what was going on, and asked me while sipping her cold tea.

 

“Um, Madam. If it’s not too rude, may I ask you something?”

 

“There’s nothing rude between us. Ask me anything.”

 

Layla looked deeply moved by my response. Then, after a brief pause, she cautiously opened her mouth.

 

“Was it true that the master of the Silver Frost Tower is young master Noah’s biological father?”

 

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