How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 191

‘Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if I should call him “uncle” yet — or if I was even allowed to call her “mother” in front of him.’

 

Noah carefully watched Oliver’s expression, hiding his true feelings.

 

Thankfully, Oliver didn’t seem upset this time either. He didn’t get angry.

 

He just raised his hand and patted Noah’s head, with an expression that looked a bit lonely for some reason.

 

“Did you say something like that in front of Nell too?”

 

“No… I didn’t say it to Mother.”

 

Oliver sighed in relief at Noah shaking his head.

 

“Don’t say that in front of her. She’ll definitely be sad.”

 

“Yes….”

 

“And to answer your question,”

 

Oliver picked up Noah’s body without warning.

 

Surprised by the sudden change in view, Noah instinctively clung tightly to Oliver’s neck.

 

‘Ah.’

 

It was a reflexive action, so Noah couldn’t control his strength.

 

It must have hurt. But Oliver didn’t show any sign of pain, instead adjusting Noah’s weight in his arms more securely.

 

“Taking something means it already had an owner. But you didn’t steal anything. You simply became Nell’s first child.”

 

“But I don’t have Mother’s blood……”

 

“Family isn’t only about blood. Nell and I aren’t blood-related either, you know?”

 

“I know. I heard….”

 

Being held like this wasn’t new to Noah — Raenel and Leonhard had done it too, so he relaxed naturally in Oliver’s arms.

 

Oliver noticed that the tension had released from Noah’s body and began walking through the garden with a small smile.

 

Although it was summer, there were originally more trees than flowers in the garden of Ajas Castle.

 

As a result, the air passing by had a stronger scent of pine than of flowers.

 

Thinking the breeze felt nice, Oliver spoke.

 

“When my parents first brought Nell home and introduced her as the new youngest member of the family, I simply thought, ‘Oh, now I have three younger siblings instead of two’.”

 

Oliver paused for a moment and explained that he had twins, Lily and the younger one being Alex.

 

“I’m sure Alex never thought Nell stole his place either. Actually, he probably felt grateful to no longer be the youngest. He always wanted to act like a big brother, even though they mostly just got into trouble together.”

 

Oliver’s voice, as he added, was filled with love for the other person, thick as honey.

 

Noah, who only knew Alex’s face through a portrait, could also realize that Oliver loved Alex very much, not just Raenel.

 

At the same time, Noah remembered that when Raenel had introduced her sister and brothers while showing him their portraits, her voice had also been similar.

 

“How about thinking of it this way? You didn’t take away the first place, but you became the older sibling or brother of the child that Nell will have.”

 

“Older brother….?”

 

“Yes. And I’m sure Nell would be far happier knowing her second child was loved by their older brother, rather than just inheriting money or titles.”

 

There was no tremor in Oliver’s gentle voice.

 

Noah bit his lip hard, feeling like he might cry.

 

“How can that be….?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Mother has been kind to me ever since the day she arrived at the castle. Now she even says she loves me.”

 

Noah knew she meant it — he could always tell when someone lied.

 

But what if he didn’t have that ability? Would he still believe his Mother’s words if he couldn’t detect lies anymore?

 

Noah wasn’t sure.

 

After all, he couldn’t think of any real reason why someone like his mother would love him.

 

“Is love automatic just because you’re family? And if you’re no longer family, do you stop loving each other?”

 

“No, it’s the opposite. You stop being family once you no longer love each other.”

 

“Even if you’re related by blood?”

 

“Even if you’re related by blood. Blood is just… a coincidence, nothing more.”

 

“A coincidence?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Oliver’s steps stopped.

 

Standing under the sunlight pouring through the leaves, he turned to Noah with a warm smile.

 

“Just like how you and I met.”

 

A gentle breeze ruffled Noah’s hair, and something inside his chest fluttered.

 

Unable to reach that fluttering feeling, Noah instead gripped Oliver’s clothes tightly.

 

It felt strange. His chest was swelling with something warm, like he might burst if he didn’t let it out.

 

Finally, unable to hold back, Noah opened his mouth — this time not out of reflex, but because he truly wanted to speak.

 

“Uncle, do you love me?”

 

Even if the answer was no, Noah felt like he wouldn’t be too hurt.

 

“Hmm… I think it’s too early to say for sure.”

 

And so, even when he heard something close to a “not yet,” it didn’t hurt as badly as he’d thought.

 

Noah figured that maybe, from now on, no words would make his heart sink so heavily again.

 

At the thought, he smiled a little.

 

Oliver gently stroked Noah’s head.

 

“I’ve heard a lot about you in letters from Nell. You hate carrots, and your favorite class is swordsmanship.”

 

“You’re good at drawing. You love stories about clouds and sheep. You adore the cats and birds you keep at the castle.”

 

As Oliver folded his fingers one by one while listing things off, Noah eagerly nodded, his heart pounding.

 

Suddenly, he remembered something his mother once told him:

 

“It’s still too early to say we’re truly family. But that’s not because we’re not related by blood. It’s because we don’t know each other very well yet.”

 

“So if we get to know each other… can we become family even without blood ties?”

 

“Of course!”

 

“As I read Nell’s letter, I thought of you a lot. And the child I imagined… turned out to be even more lovable than I thought.”

 

His voice, as he whispered, was like a lullaby, easing Noah’s heart.

 

“I’m still not sure if I love you or not. But I can tell you this for sure. I came here ready to love you.”

 

Oliver’s voice didn’t tremble at all.

 

But Noah didn’t even care whether his voice trembled or not anymore.

 

It seemed like it might never be so.

 

“Then… I want to prepare myself to love you too, Uncle.”

 

“Really?”

 

Oliver’s voice sounded happy as he asked that question.

 

As if to prove it, Oliver’s steps started walking again, a little faster than before.

 

“Well then, you’ll need to learn about me too, right? Where should I start… Ah! I know. If I eat shrimp, I break out in hives. My family knows that.”

 

Noah’s eyes widened at the unexpectedly serious revelation.

 

Seeing Noah’s reaction, Oliver chuckled mischievously.

 

“Actually, I don’t eat it because I don’t like it. But I couldn’t say that to my younger siblings because I’m the one teaching them not to be picky eaters.”

 

Oliver put his right index finger to his lips and spoke softly.

 

“It’s a secret from Nell. Got it?”

 

“Yes….”

 

Noah nodded and smiled bashfully at Oliver.

 

Just by sharing a small secret, Noah felt as if they had grown much closer.

 

He felt a little guilty about keeping a secret from his mother, but Noah knew that his mother would forgive him for keeping such a secret.

 

* * *

 

That evening.

 

“Originally, today’s main dish was supposed to be a shrimp dish, but since my brother came over, we had to change it at the last minute. Still, considering how rushed it was, the chef did a good job— Huh? Why are you suddenly laughing? Noah, you too?”

 

Just like Raenel, who blinked in confusion, Leonhard looked puzzled as he sat across from them.

 

The two comrades, who had exchanged a tiny secret, couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter together.

 

Even when asked why they were laughing, they wouldn’t answer, causing Raenel to pout in frustration.

 

“What? You two went for a walk together once and then suddenly became close?”

 

‘Maybe I should forbid walks when I’m not around?’

 

While Raenel was childishly worrying about such things, Oliver and Noah’s bond was deepening even further— by Oliver secretly eating the carrots that Noah disliked.

 

* * *