How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 201

—Pop Pop!

 

The ceaseless sound of fireworks gradually diminished and the fireworks that had been decorating the sky began to die down.

 

At the same time, the curtain of darkness surrounding them began to crack and crumble like broken glass, disintegrating and scattering.

 

The fragments turned into small dust and scattered around.

 

Among the several noble ladies who were trying to run away in case the soot got on their clothes, one of them let out a gasp of surprise.

 

“Oh my, it’s a flower petal!”

 

In the blink of an eye, the black powder that had been flying like ash turned into light pink flower petals and covered the garden.

 

The rain of falling flowers, with thousands and tens of thousands of petals fluttering in the wind, was a spectacle rarely seen in Ajas.

 

Who could frown at this scenery that seems to be blessed by the heavens?

 

Laughter and heartfelt applause poured out from all over the place at the unexpected joy.

 

“A petal fell in my cider!”

 

Though surprised, the voice didn’t sound the least bit troubled. With a burst of giggles, wine glasses clinked once more.

 

Oliver didn’t miss the sound of Raenel’s laughter mixing in with the clear and cheerful sound.

 

Their eyes met briefly, and she was smiling so joyfully that Oliver couldn’t help but smile just the same.

 

* * *

 

The wedding, which was more cheerful and enjoyable than ever, ended with Raenel throwing the bouquet to Layla.

 

At the wedding reception, which began immediately after the bride and groom changed their clothes, Oliver was the first to receive the cake cut by Raenel and the wine poured by Leonhard.

 

In this way, the fact that he was the older brother of Marquise Ajas became publicly known.

 

“I got the cake, now I can run away.…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“No, it’s nothing… But wasn’t this cake supposed to have seven layers?”

 

Even counting the portion laid down on the table, there were only six layers.

 

Was it so big he just miscounted? As he tilted his head in confusion, Laenel giggled and whispered like she was sharing a secret.

 

“The seventh layer belongs to someone else. It’s a reward for running an errand for me.”

 

He didn’t fully understand, but since the owner knew where it was, he didn’t have to worry anymore.

 

Next was Noah. Raenel carefully cut a slice for him, and Leonhard poured orange juice.

 

“Sorry, I couldn’t spend time with you today. Enjoy the cake.”

 

“It’s okay. I’ll stay with Uncle. You don’t need to worry about me.”

 

“How could I not?”

 

Next to Raenel, who was sighing lightly, Leonhard bent one knee and met Noah’s eyes.

 

Then he lightly touched Noah’s slightly crooked bow tie.

 

“You look handsome today.”

 

“That’s because he looks like me.”

 

A hand lightly tousled Noah’s hair, and Oliver turned in surprise. He hadn’t sensed anyone approaching before the man made a sound.

 

How was that possible? The man, though expressionless, radiated immense presence.

 

A neutral appearance with a languid, mysterious air, with jet-black hair that reaches down to the waist and a light blue robe embroidered with snowflake patterns.

 

A silver metal chain wrapped loosely around his waist, its tip swaying like the tail of a living snake.

 

Following the man’s movement, Oliver’s eyes landed on the crystal medal at his waist and widened in disbelief.

 

‘A snowflake emblem… and now that I look more closely…’

 

Tiny snowflakes were fluttering around the man.

 

Just as flowers bloomed wherever the owner of the Deep Green Tower walked, it was said that the owner of the Silver Frost Tower brought snow wherever he went.

 

“That man… don’t tell me… is he the master of the Silver Frost Tower?”

 

“So that rumor was true?”

 

“What rumor?”

 

“You know, that the young master is actually…..”

 

Only then, from the murmuring around him, did Oliver realize: that the man was Noah’s biological father.

 

The rumor had already spread not only to Castle Ajas, but also throughout the entire border county.

 

Oliver was left speechless at the news he heard from all over the place.

 

‘Who started this rumor? If it’s not true…..’

 

But he stopped himself.

 

Because the scene before him said it all.

 

The rumor was true.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“I came because I was invited. No, I should say I was dragged here by force.”

 

“I came too, young master!”

 

Noah looked up, his eyes catching something behind them.

 

Following his gaze, Oliver turned to see a woman with blue hair—and then dozens of other faces following behind her. He blinked in surprise.

 

“Hehe, we all came to celebrate this happy occasion! The invitation didn’t say anything about limiting the number of companions, so that’s okay, right?”

 

“Congratulations on your wedding!”

 

“Live happily!”

 

“You two look great together!”

 

From girls looking about sixteen to elderly mages with wrinkled foreheads, they all wore matching robes and offered their own congratulations.

 

‘That guy, and those people, where the hell did they come from and just suddenly appear like smoke?’

 

Luckily, at least one of them truly had received an invitation, because Raenel welcomed them with a bright smile.

 

“Thank you all for coming! The fireworks earlier were all your work, right?”

 

“Oh, how did you know? It was a surprise!”

 

Raenel grinned proudly at the surprised Marilyn.

 

“Of course I was surprised! I never imagined I’d see such beautiful fireworks in broad daylight. Thanks for coming. Eat lots of good food and enjoy the party.”

 

“Thank you!”

 

Raenel gave a piece of cake to each of the wizards, including Marilyn.

 

Leonhard was the same. He poured wine and juice for the wizards who received cakes from Raenel, and he also poured wine for Felix, who was pushed to the last turn, and spoke to him.

 

“I didn’t know you would come to the wedding, and you brought your disciples with you. Wasn’t the door to the Silver Frost Tower still closed?”

 

“It’s open.”

 

“What?”

 

Felix responded to Leonhard’s surprised voice with an indifferent voice.

 

“Starting today, the Silver Frost Tower will officially reopen after 112 years of closure. We’re not ready to receive guests just yet, though.”

 

The tone was light, but the content was not.

 

Leonhard stared blankly for a moment, then closed his eyes tightly as if he had a headache.

 

Gasps and astonished murmurs spread through the crowd.

 

Among them, the one who sounded the most surprised was none other than Raenel.

 

“You’re announcing that—right here, at our wedding?”

 

“I don’t want to bother making a separate space.”

 

Felix, sipping his wine, nodded lightly to Leonhard and Raenel.

 

And then, the way he turned around was so leisurely.

 

If it weren’t for the fact that she had to endure it because of the position, Raenel would have screamed.

 

‘Of all the ways to ruin someone else’s wedding!’

 

Probably more than half of the guests gathered here will now be talking only about Felix and the Silver Frost Tower.

 

At least, Raenel consoled herself, this meant that doubts about Noah’s lineage would be erased once and for all.

 

* * *

 

The Silver Frost Tower opens After 112 Years. The Truth About Noah’s Father, the Heir to the Marquis Ajas.

 

Each and every one of these facts is so amazing that no other topic can even be discussed.

 

Although there were occasional conversations among some of the ladies that the Marquis and his wife seemed to be very close, and that the rumors that the Marquis’s wife adored the young master were true, most were more interested in the owner of the Silver Frost Tower.

 

“I can’t believe the rumor was true… But how on earth could the master of the Silver Frost Tower have fathered a child with the symbol of Ajas?”

 

“Maybe there’s some blood relation with a former Marquis Ajas from generations ago.”

 

“No, no. That’s not it. There’s Lady Louise.”

 

“Lady Louise? Oh… Now that I think about it.”

 

“She was known to be missing… Perhaps she went to the Silver Frost Tower? I wonder how they crossed paths.”

 

“Then the young master must be Lady Louise’s biological son? Oh my, so that’s why he was chosen as the heir.”

 

“That makes sense. If her symbol had manifested, Lady Louise would’ve been the one to inherit the title.”

 

While some grew wistful over a long-forgotten name, others snorted dismissively.

 

“Still, I don’t get it. The one who inherited the position is Master Leonhard, right? Whatever the story of the heir, that’s the past. Was it really necessary to appoint a new heir already? What if the Marquise gives birth to a child with the symbol?”

 

“Maybe they wanted to prevent exactly that by confirming the heir in advance.”

 

“What good is that now? If the Marquise really gives birth to a symbol-bearing child, never mind the child—her feelings might change entirely.”

 

“No way. They looked very much in love today.”

 

“Well, she isn’t even pregnant yet, is she?”

 

Whether someone said something mean or not, the atmosphere at the banquet became more and more tense as time went on.

 

At first, the wizards of the Silver Frost Tower seemed to be hanging out among themselves, but they started hanging out with the Black Wolf Knights and White Hawk Wizards of Ajas, who they knew well.

 

Then, intoxicated by the alcohol and the atmosphere, they started showing off all sorts of trivial magic that suited the party.

 

A butterfly of light with fragile wings that seemed ready to break scattered sparkling light powder, and colorful paper flowers poured down in all directions.

 

As the sun set and the sky grew dark, someone asked for another fireworks display. Several wizards quickly drew their wands and launched fireworks into the sky.

 

The other wizards responded, and the White Hawk Wizards of Ajas followed suit, shooting flames.

 

The knights of the Black Wolf whistled as they watched, and then they brought out the trumpets they used during the ceremony and started blowing them.

 

The lively and exciting atmosphere showed no sign of cooling down.

 

When the stars rose in the night sky, the bride went up to the bridal chamber first, and the groom stayed behind to give final greetings to the guests.

 

And no one realized that instead of heading to the fifth floor, where his bride awaited, the groom—responding to someone’s glance—quietly slipped away to a secluded spot.

 

“Count! Marry me!”

 

It was because Layla, who had been holding the bouquet she had received from the bride, got drunk and proposed to Oliver.

 

* * *