How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 195

“The Third Prince…?”

 

“Yes, the Third Prince. Apparently, they suspect he’s the emperor’s illegitimate child. If not, there’s no explanation.”

 

He bore the symbol of Estroa and could wield its power freely, so the emperor decided to officially recognize him. Still, he adamantly denied the boy was his.

 

But no one believed him—especially given what had happened with the First Prince.

 

Raenel chattered about the stories she had heard from Rebecca about the capital.

 

“Becky said the Third Prince has the same first letter in his name as the family name, and she doesn’t like that.”

 

“If it’s the first letter of her family name….”

 

Leonhard’s face hardened terribly at the thought that occurred to him in an instant.

 

But Raenel, unaware of that fact, had firmly stamped her stamp on his thoughts.

 

“His name is Carl. Just one syllable—Carl.”

 

* * *

 

“You haven’t forgotten that you owe me for the Pendent Isles incident, have you, Duke Khalid?”

 

Saying he “owed” him was a stretch. Duke Khalid had paid a massive sum of gold in return.

 

The amount given to the emperor at the time equaled half a year’s budget for the entire Khalid duchy. If you included the separate compensation given to Duke Kereis, the amount doubled.

 

Still, the emperor acted like he had granted the duke a great favor for free, constantly bringing it up whenever he needed something—like the duke should feel morally obligated to comply.

 

But this time was different. For the first time, the emperor plainly demanded repayment for the past debt.

 

Duke Khalid agreed, if only to finally rid himself of the emperor’s manipulation.

 

Once this was settled, he wouldn’t have to hear about “favors” again.

 

“All the previous princes and princesses, except for me, received the pattern sealing procedure.”

 

“Only my blood can awaken the Estroa symbol. So how did that child—someone not of my blood—manifest it?”

 

Rumor had it that the emperor had slept with a woman other than the empress or Marquise Calvin and now refused to admit it.

 

But that wasn’t true.

 

The emperor, fully aware of the consequences of sowing his seed carelessly, was extremely cautious.

 

Even if drunk and unaware of his own actions with a maid, the nearby attendants, guards, and scribes would always remember and record everything.

 

Yet none of them had any memory or record of a man named Carl being the emperor’s child.

 

“Find out if that is truly my seed—or perhaps from a brother I didn’t know I had. Investigate thoroughly and bring me a convincing answer. Understood?”

 

It was an unreasonable demand. How was Duke Khalid supposed to investigate a royal lineage even the emperor didn’t know about?

 

But with the emperor insisting, there was no choice.

 

The only consolation was that once this was over, there was really no need to be dragged around by the Emperor’s will.

 

‘Maybe I’ll finally retreat to my lands.’

 

“Welcome, master.”

 

“Honey! You’re late again.”

 

As he entered the mansion, his wife and the butler greeted him.

 

He took off his hat and handed it to the butler along with his cane, then wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders and kissed her lightly on the lips.

 

“I told you not to wait outside. You’re still not well.”

 

“I said I’m all better. Look—I’ve even gained weight. I must’ve been eating too well. I should go on a diet.”

 

“No need for that. You’re beautiful just the way you are.”

 

Duke Khalid kissed her lips once more and entered, wrapping his arms around his wife’s waist.

 

“April.”

 

“She’s sleeping now. She must be tired from crying all day long because she missed her dad.”

 

“She missed me….”

 

Forgetting that April couldn’t even babble yet, Duke Khalid’s face twisted with emotion.

 

Of course, he longed to see his beloved daughter. But royal obligations kept him away, no matter how much he wanted to be home.

 

How on earth does he investigate the bloodline of a man who suddenly appears as if he fell from the sky or rose from the ground?

 

“He’s from an orphanage and knows nothing about his parents…”

 

Still, they couldn’t ignore someone who bore the symbol, so the emperor decided on a prince-appointment ceremony.

 

After much delay, it was scheduled for two months later.

 

Until then, Duke Khalid had to bring the Emperor some results, truth or otherwise, that would satisfy him.

 

‘And if it all goes wrong, I’ll be the one taking the fall.’

 

‘How many years have I been suffering because of those damn pirates?’

 

Suddenly, Duke Khalid missed his daughter terribly. Just seeing her peaceful, sleeping face would wash away all his exhaustion.

 

“Oh. Do you remember sending someone to Ajas?”

 

“Of course. How could I forget?”

 

If it weren’t for the magical tool that Marquise Ajas gave to his wife as a gift, he would have lost both his wife and his daughter.

 

[You may be offended by receiving a letter like this, I’m going to risk being rude because it’s about Becky.

 

Count Gordon harbors deep resentment against Becky for taking his late sister’s place.

 

Now that he knows she’s pregnant, he’s vowed to make sure she never has that child…

 

Could you possibly increase surveillance in case any household servants are colluding with Count Gordon? I ask you as Becky’s friend.]

 

Duke Khalid did as Raenel said, though he was skeptical. Increasing surveillance wasn’t that difficult.

 

But under that strict surveillance, someone who was actually in collusion with Count Gordon appeared.

 

Even the servant was a butler who had been a vassal of the Duke Khalid family for generations.

 

When questioned about why he did that, he confessed with bloodshot eyes that he had secretly admired the former Duchess Khalid.

 

“If Master hadn’t so coldly rejected the pirates’ demands, Madam wouldn’t have died such an unjust death!”

 

He said he wanted revenge on the Duke who had killed the Duchess, and on Rebecca, who had taken her place.

 

So he accepted Count Gordon’s offer and poisoned Rebecca’s meal.

 

Upon discovering the betrayal of the butler who had once been kind to her, Rebecca was so shocked that she collapsed and gave birth to April prematurely.

 

Fortunately, April was born safely without any pain, although she was smaller and lighter than average.

 

According to the Duke’s doctor’s opinion, there was no poison remaining in either Rebecca’s or April’s bodies.

 

‘If it weren’t for the magic tool, one of them would have definitely been in danger…’

 

The magical tool was a gift Rebecca had received before her marriage.

 

Within the Duke’s residence, only Rebecca’s maid from her family and Duke Khalid knew of its existence.

 

It was a relief that the butler hadn’t known about it.

 

“When you recover and April grows healthy, we should visit Ajas. We need to express our gratitude properly.”

 

“I agree. Besides, Nell offered to be our child’s godmother.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. It would have been nice if Nell had gotten married near the capital.”

 

Rebecca grumbled that the cold was a problem, but the fact that it was too far away was a bigger problem, and then she let out a small “Ah!”

 

“Oh, I almost forgot. Marquis Ajas said he had something to discuss with you.”

 

“With me?”

 

“Yes. Remember I sent a communication ball to the messenger so I could talk to Nell? Marquis Ajas asked me to tell you he wants to speak through it.”

 

“Is that so…?”

 

What could be so important that he wants to speak via the crystal ball?

 

Duke Khalid received the crystal ball from Rebecca and sent her to the bedroom first before entering his office.

 

“Your Highness, I have brought you some wine.”

 

“Wine?”

 

On the trolley that the servant was pushing in was a glass of ice with his favorite drink and some cheese to go with it.

 

He hadn’t asked for it, but then remembered he’d been drinking a bottle of alcohol each night after returning from the palace.

 

Realizing that habit only now, he sighed and gestured to the servant.

 

“That’s enough…”

 

“Pardon? Should I take it back out?”

 

Duke Khalid paused for a moment as the servant looked at him with a surprised face, then gestured again.

 

“Leave it. But from tomorrow, don’t prepare anything.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Worried about being scolded, the servant hurried out.

 

Left alone, Duke Khalid stared at the trolley and mumbled, “Just for today…” as he placed the bottle and glass on his desk.

 

“Ah, it’s here.”

 

At that moment, the crystal ball began to sparkle and shine.

 

Duke Khalid, who was holding the bottle of wine, hesitated for a moment, but since it was not an official meeting, he thought that this would be okay, so he poured the wine into the glass and activated the crystal ball with his magic.

 

– Duke Khal.….

 

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness. How have you been?”

 

With his top button undone and the bottle in hand, the relaxed appearance of Duke Khalid left Leonhard momentarily speechless.

 

Though he hadn’t even started drinking, Duke Khalid already felt unusually lighthearted, lifting the glass with a slight smile.

 

– Duke… are you drinking right now?

 

“Please understand. I had quite the ordeal with His Majesty today. Sometimes, I envy you. You shouldn’t have involved yourself in the headaches of central politics.”

 

– If it hadn’t been for that pirate incident, you wouldn’t be so entangled with His Majesty now.

 

“Yeah, I guess so. Sometimes I wonder if I killed those pirates too easily. I would have been more rational if I hadn’t been blinded by their nonsense.…”

 

* * *