How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 189

“May your future be filled with happiness and peace, Lady.”

 

“May happiness and peace fill your future as well, Count.”

 

Though she was wearing hospital pants instead of a skirt, Sophia bent her knees and pretended to grab the hem of her skirt.

 

“It was truly a pleasure to meet you.”

 

In response, Oliver smiled broadly and left the room.

 

Sophia, who was still standing up and looking at his back, briefly imagined what would have happened if they had properly met through a formal marriage meeting when she was still Lady Vincent.

 

Count Howard was certainly a good man. If she had become his wife, a countess, she would have certainly gotten along well with him.

 

But that was it. No further pictures were drawn.

 

This must be what people mean when they say it simply wasn’t meant to be.

 

Shaking off any lingering regrets like dust, Sophia lay back down on the bed. First, she needed to regain her strength.

 

Because as a mercenary, her body is her asset.

 

* * *

 

Oliver’s footsteps, echoing down the hallway, suddenly stopped.

 

“Hmm….”

 

‘How should I express this feeling? Refreshing or bittersweet?’

 

‘Though it feels more like a relief than anything else.’

 

Having unknowingly carried a burden in his heart, he now felt it lift — and that sense of relief was stronger.

 

Oliver raised the corners of his mouth as he recalled Sophia saying with her straight eyes that she would rather live as a mercenary than a noble.

 

‘I hope you’ll live well wherever you go from now on.’

 

When she suddenly ran out of the forest and cried out for help, Sophia was seriously injured.

 

Even the number of pursuers chasing her was not small.

 

If the Marquis of Cloud hadn’t assigned knights to protect him, Oliver might have ended up harmed as well — and Sophia surely would have died.

 

Yet, even after all that, she still preferred the life of a mercenary.

 

It was obvious how harsh her life was when she was Lady Vincent.

 

‘It makes sense since she grew up under a father who treated people like objects.’

 

How does Oliver know the total amount of Baron Vincent’s debt?

 

Because the baron had personally come all the way to Howard territory to explain everything.

 

He said he would somehow find Sophia and bring her back, so he asked for a dowry in advance.

 

“It’s not that I have other greed. I accidentally got into debt and the interest has piled up this much. If you want to take Sophia without any trouble, you should pay off the debt in advance. Wouldn’t that be good for you too?”

 

In that long story, there was no concern for his daughter, whose whereabouts were unknown.

 

Only anger and annoyance toward Sophia, who had “caused” all that trouble.

 

‘I know there are a lot of people like that,…. But I just can’t understand it. How can someone think of selling off their own family for money?’

 

Having personally arranged marriages for his two younger sisters — each to men they loved — Oliver could not comprehend such behavior.

 

‘If I had a daughter someday after marriage, I would surely understand it even less.’

 

‘Daughter, huh…’

 

He chuckled at himself — worrying about future daughters when he didn’t even have a fiancée yet.

 

Oliver shook his head, finding himself funny, and started walking again.

 

‘I should go see my nephew.’

 

‘It had been about an hour since his magic lessons started, so it should be over by now, right?’

 

‘I hope he likes the present.’

 

He was rounding a hallway corner, lost in thought, when—

 

—Thud!

 

“Ahh!”

 

A woman running from the opposite direction bumped into him and stumbled backward.

 

Oliver instinctively reached out and grabbed her elbow to support her.

 

Realizing that she was a young lady of Raenel’s age, he spoke in a much softer voice.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

“I-I’m fine! I wasn’t paying attention and ran right into you… I’m so sorry.”

 

“No. I also didn’t see what was ahead, so there’s no need to apologize.”

 

Oliver shook his head, let go of the elbow he was holding, and looked at her.

 

Looking at the way she was standing, it didn’t look like she had twisted her ankle or other injuries.

 

Since she wasn’t hurt, they could simply part ways.

 

But before Oliver could say, “Well then,” and give a short nod, the girl who had been looking at him with a somewhat hazy look in her eyes spoke first.

 

“Ahem, ahem. I’m Layla Cloud, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Cloud. May I ask your name, sir?”

 

Layla Cloud.

 

Oliver looked a little surprised when he heard the name, but he stopped himself and offered a proper greeting.

 

“So you’re Lady Cloud. Your family has been a great help to me. I’m Oliver Howard.”

 

“Really? You know my mother— oh, wait, Howard?”

 

Her pale violet eyes blinked rapidly, emotions plain on her face, though she quickly masked them again.

 

But is it his imagination that her eyes look bloodshot as if she had been crying?

 

Perhaps because she was around the same age as his youngest sister, Oliver felt a soft spot for her and unconsciously softened his tone further.

 

“Then, are you… related to the Marquise?”

 

“I’m her eldest brother.”

 

“Ah, so the horn that sounded earlier today was from you, wasn’t it? No wonder she looked so delighted running outside!”

 

“Had you been with Raenel before I arrived?”

 

“Yes! I’m her one and only loyal maid!”

 

The reason why Layla’s boastful speech feels cute is probably because the person she is proud of is his own younger sibling.

 

Oliver smiled broadly, suppressing the urge to pat her head as if she were her youngest sibling.

 

“I heard the story from Nell a little while ago. She said she’s been lonely living away from home, and that her one and only maid has been a huge support to her.”

 

“Really? She really said that?”

 

Oliver nodded, looking at her smiling face.

 

Seeing her so delighted at the words ‘the one and only’, it seemed like something big would happen if Raenel brought in a second maid.

 

‘Still, it’s fortunate she’s so cheerful.’

 

He couldn’t be certain yet, but Layla seemed like she would get along well with Raenel — they were close in age, and might even become good friends.

 

Sending a silent wish for her to continue supporting his sister, Oliver smiled at Layla, who was stealing shy glances at him.

 

Unfortunately, he didn’t notice that the tips of Layla’s ears turned bright red at the sight of that smile.

 

“U-um, Count, I mean… are you, perhaps… m-married?”

 

“Married?”

 

‘Ah, so that was what she had been struggling to ask.’

 

Oliver wondered why the question had been so difficult for her to voice, but he nodded gently.

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“You are?”

 

“Huh…? No, no — I mean I came here to attend Raenel’s wedding, not that I got married.”

 

At that clarification, Layla immediately pressed further, a determined glint in her eyes.

 

“So, have you married or not!”

 

“I haven’t.”

 

Almost confessing under the force of her will, Oliver rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

 

“It’s embarrassing to be single at this age.”

 

He was worried that Raenel might misunderstand and form some strange prejudice against him.

 

Even at this moment, all the bachelor could think about was his younger sibling’s well-being. Without realizing it, he smiled at Layla’s next words.

 

“Embarrassing? Not at all! You just haven’t met the right person yet!”

 

“Thank you for saying so.”

 

“Obviously for today’s meeting…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Oh, nothing. Hmph, I see. So, you don’t have a fiancée yet, correct?”

 

“That’s right…..”

 

After confirming that, a bright smile blossomed across Layla’s face.

 

“I’m sure you’ll have good news very soon!”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Oliver smiled along with Layla, completely unaware that she intended to personally make that “good news” happen.

 

* * *

 

Until an official magic teacher was appointed, Noah was taught by the wizards of Ajas.

 

However, since the teacher changed every day, the lessons were disorganized. About two weeks ago, Robert had been assigned as Noah’s temporary teacher.

 

Robert also didn’t have much time because he had his own work to do.

 

The class time is set like this: two hours a day, twice a week.

 

But “two hours” was in name only—once they got into discussions and questions, the lessons often stretched to three, sometimes nearly four hours.

 

Noah wasn’t just absorbing what was taught; he often went a step further, asking questions and making insights no one had anticipated. He was truly an exceptional student.

 

Excited by Noah’s aptitude, Robert became passionate about teaching him, even going so far as to learn new material himself to keep up.

 

“If only I had fewer duties, I’d beg to take you on as my formal disciple. What a pity,” Robert lamented.

 

“Do you have a lot of work to do?”

 

“Goodness, Young Master, are you underestimating me? I’ll have you know, I’m the personal aide to the Marquis of Ajas.”

 

It was thanks to this position that Robert had been selected as Noah’s temporary teacher in the first place.

 

Though he was often scolded, even Leonhard recognized Robert’s outstanding magical skills.

 

“No, I’m not underestimating you.”

 

Noah, still unfamiliar with jokes, shook his head in surprise.

 

Robert held back his laughter at that innocent reaction.

 

Previously, Noah had always felt distant—someone Robert rarely spoke to.

 

‘But could it be because we now have a temporary master-student relationship?’

 

As they spent time together, the prejudice that had been clouding Robert’s eyes began to disappear, and he began to see the young master in front of him as a cute little boy of that age.

 

Of course, Robert held back the urge to pat his head because he was afraid he might get in trouble if he treated Noah like a kid.

 

“Then I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, Young Master.”

 

“Yes, see you then.”

 

Noah gave a polite bow, and Robert, hiding a smile, bowed back.

 

It felt like a distant memory now—the time when Noah, flustered, had insisted on speaking formally to his teacher.

 

Eventually, they had compromised: Noah would maintain polite gestures like bowing, but the warmth between them had grown.

 

‘I never thought I’d want a student….’

 

But if it were someone like Noah, Robert thought, it might be worth it.

 

Humming a tune, Robert made his way back to his quarters.

 

* * *