How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love – Chapter 186

Author: Chewyy

“The maid? You mean Diana?”

Layla opened her mouth in surprise at my words.

“Did you remember?”

“Of course. You introduced her to me yourself. And I even ran into her in the garden just a few days ago… She already left the castle? Why?”

At my question, Layla hesitated for a moment, then smiled, the corners of her lips tugging at the corners.

“Something happened.”

“Is that so?”

No matter how I heard it, it was obvious she was hiding something from me.

I could have pressed her for details, but seeing her awkward smile made me not want to push. I just nodded casually.

“You should’ve told me sooner. Don’t you need a new maid to help you?”

“Oh, I’m getting help from the castle’s servants. And when my mother comes for the wedding, she said she’ll bring the maids from Cloud.”

“Really? Hmm… Then until then, I’ll send my maid to help you. You can rely on her.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Well, I’m not. One of my maids, Sally—she’s really good with her hands. A massage from her will melt all your fatigue away.”

I asked if there was anything else she needed or if life in the castle was uncomfortable in any way, and suddenly, Layla looked like she was about to cry.

“Why, what’s wrong? Was something hard for you? I’ve been too thoughtless, haven’t I? I’m sorry. I should’ve paid more attention…”

“No, no. That’s not it.…”

Finally, tears fell from Layla’s eyes.

‘Was it really that hard for her?’

‘Come to think of it, it hadn’t been long since Layla had gone through something terrible. And yet she had been working so hard…’

“Well, if work is too hard, would you like to go home with Marquis Cloud after the wedding? You can rest there for a while.….”

“No! Once a maid, always a maid. I will continue to work as the Marquise’s maid.”

Even as she sobbed, Layla spoke firmly.

“I’ll do better from now on. I’ll work hard so I won’t be a burden to the Marquise anymore. So please don’t send me away.”

“No, I didn’t mean to send you away… You’re such a help to me. Don’t think of yourself as a burden.”

“But because of me….”

As if she was holding back tears again, Layla’s face crumpled.

To comfort the crying Layla, I pulled her into a hug and gently patted her back.

“Yeah. It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s been hard for you. I’m sorry I didn’t notice.”

“Ugh, Wahhhh!”

She cried for a long time, as if letting out all the sorrow she had held in.

I didn’t know how to calm her down, and just then, the sound of a horn from outside saved me.

—Bwooo… bwooo…

“Oh? What’s that sound?”

“Ah, that.”

The sound seemed to bring her to her senses and Layla blew her nose into her handkerchief.

Then, she wiped her tear-stained face with her hands, but eventually gave up and coughed a few times.

“I know that the horn that blows twice is the sound that announces the arrival of guests.”

“Really?”

To think Layla knew that and I, the lady of the castle, didn’t—I reflected on how I should pay more attention to managing the household.

“But a guest, huh… Did a messenger arrive at the castle?”

“No, I haven’t heard anything like that.”

Unless it was an unofficial visit, it was common courtesy to send someone a day before your arrival to another territory so that they could prepare to welcome you.

“Also, I don’t think it’s a vassal. They’re people of the Marquis, not guests, and I’ve heard they don’t announce themselves with the horn like that.”

“Then who could it be?”

‘Someone who received an invitation, but wasn’t a vassal or retainer…’

‘Oh no, could it be—!’

“I guess I should go out. You too, Layla—”

I was about to ask her to go with me, but then I saw Layla’s face, swollen and puffy from crying.

She touched her face with an embarrassed expression, as if she knew that fact.

“Um, if it’s not too rude… could I fix my face and come down later?”

“Sure, that’s fine. I can introduce you at the dinner party tonight.”

“Introduce me?”

“If the person visiting just now is who I guessed.”

After sending Layla back, I hurried down to the castle gate with my guards and maids.

Leonhard was already there, greeting the guest, probably having come out after hearing the horn.

A man shaking hands with Leonhard.

I exclaimed loudly, looking into the soft brown hair and deep blue-green eyes.

“Brother Liv!”

I ran to him, clutching my skirt, and threw myself into his arms.

Caught off guard by my momentum, my older brother staggered a little.

Fortunately, my older brother, who had managed to keep his balance without falling, hugged me and burst into laughter, as if nothing had changed.

“You’re a Marquise now, and yet you still act so recklessly.”

“Reckless? Is a Marquise not allowed to be happy to see her family?”

“There are more elegant ways to show that, aren’t there?”

“That wouldn’t feel sincere.”

I stepped back from my older brother with a playful pout, then held out my skirt and bent my knees.

“Welcome to Castle Ajas, Count Howard.”

“It definitely feels a bit cold.”

He sounded genuinely disappointed, so I laughed.

“Right? See? That was all for your sake.”

My brother chuckled loudly at my quick change in demeanor.

“Honestly, I can never win with you.”

“You didn’t think I’d calm down just because I got married, did you?”

“I didn’t expect that. Still, I’m glad that you’re doing well.”

‘Well… to be honest, there had been a lot of incidents lately, but everything turned out fine in the end.’

I smiled back at my older brother, who was smiling at me.

“By the way, what about Helen? You said there was good news.”

‘Was she getting married?’

I thought about it all the time, but that was the only thing that came to mind, and then my older brother said it with an awkward smile.

“Well, it is good news… but how should I put it… She got into a bit of trouble.”

“Trouble? Helen?”

What trouble could she have gotten into while I was away?

And what did that have to do with not coming to Ajas?

“She’s pregnant.”

“What?”

Oh my goodness.

“With who? Who did she get into trouble with?”

“With Kevin. Do you remember him?”

“Of course I do! Wow, so that’s why she couldn’t come.”

Kevin was one of the servants working at the Howard Territory.

No wonder Helen always avoided heavy lifting—there had already been something going on between them.

‘Helen, you traitor. You didn’t even say a word to me…!’

That was the most shocking part.

To think their relationship was serious enough for an unplanned pregnancy—and I didn’t even know? She kept it from me?

‘I’m going to Howard territory soon. I’ll make her spill everything!’

Hiding that resolve in my heart, I turned back to my older brother.

“Your room should be ready soon. I’ve prepared it in advance, but it’s not tidy enough to rest right away.”

If only he had sent someone just an hour earlier, the room would have been perfectly prepared.

‘I worried he might think his sister was neglecting her own family.’

My older brother smiled and nodded at my words mixed with useless worry.

“Since I came without any notice, there’s nothing we can do about it. Take your time—it’s okay to go slow. Let them know there’s no need to rush.”

“Alright. But seriously, why didn’t you contact us? Was it supposed to be a surprise?”

“Well, something came up along the way.”

“What’s going on?”

When I asked what was going on, my older brother just shrugged his shoulders.

“Let’s talk about the details later.”

Then, looking at the way he winked at Leonhard, it seemed like he had talked to him before I came.

‘Wait a second—of all people, the two who should never exclude me were exchanging knowing looks behind my back? Even if the whole world left me out, they weren’t allowed to!’

I started wondering if it was time to bring out the classic “Howard troublemaker” attitude when something behind my older brother caught my eye.

More precisely, it was the pattern on the armor of the knights standing behind him.

“Cloud…? Why are the Silver Leopard knights with you?”

“I stopped by Cloud Castle on the way here. The Marquis of Cloud thought we were short on escorts for the journey and assigned some knights to accompany me.”

“Hmm… but isn’t this a bit too many…?”

Just by roughly counting, there were over twenty people.

“I thought so too at first. But…..”

“But? What happened on your way here?”

‘I hope he didn’t get hurt anywhere!’

As I belatedly examined my older brother’s body, he shook his head and said that he was fine.

“I’m fine. But…”

“Then someone else got hurt? Who?”

Ah, this is it. The reason why my older brother came straight to Ajas Castle without even sending a message.

He must’ve seen the realization on my face, because he gave a small nod, looking a bit troubled, and said,

“My matchmaking partner.”

‘Huh? Who?’