How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 204

‘Why hasn’t this man come yet?’

 

‘Did he get stopped by someone on the way…? Still, isn’t this way too late?’

 

‘Don’t tell me… he ran away?’

 

“At this rate, I’ll probably end up drinking a whole bottle of wine……”

 

One glass to calm my nerves, one because I was thirsty, one more out of boredom.

 

Before I knew it, after one glass, then another, the wine bottle was nearly empty.

 

“Wait a second, when did I drink this much?”

 

‘I promised to only drink three glasses!’

 

The bottle… I should get rid of the bottle.

 

And pretend I didn’t drink anything.

 

No, since there’s a trace of wine in the glass, should I pretend to drink a single glass?

 

Yeah, that sounds reasonable—

 

—Click.

 

“Aah!”

 

A scream escaped my mouth without my knowledge.

 

Hugging the wine bottle tightly to my chest, I flinched and shouted reflexively when I saw Leonhard standing at the door.

 

“I haven’t had a drink yet!”

 

“…..”

 

Leonhard, with only a robe draped over his still-damp body, calmly crossed his arms and looked at me.

 

His narrowed eyes didn’t seem all that sharp, but my voice trembled on its own.

 

“It’s true, really! It’s just that, um… it was already empty when I opened it….”

 

It was a ridiculous excuse. Even in my opinion, it was so lame that my cheeks turned red.

 

I stammered as I continued to speak, worried that he might mistake the blush on my cheeks for alcohol.

 

“I didn’t mean to drink like this! It’s just that… you weren’t coming, and I got bored waiting, so I just—”

 

While I was talking nonsense, holding the empty bottle tightly in my arms, Leonhard quickly closed the distance between us, grabbed the back of my neck, and lowered his lips to mine.

 

The breath I gasped in melted between our joined lips.

 

I blinked in surprise, then shut my eyes tightly the moment Leonhard turned his head.

 

The bottle of wine I was holding fell to the floor and rolled away.

 

The robe in my hands crumpled in my grip.

 

Pushed by his force, I was pressed into the corner of the chair.

 

Leonhard, practically wrapping his arms around me and the chair, continued to kiss me.

 

It was a dizzying kiss, enough to blow away any traces of alcohol.

 

Even when Leonhard’s lips left mine, I couldn’t come to my senses and just blinked slowly.

 

“You truly are from Howard.”

 

“What are you talking about out of the blue?”

 

As I tried to interpret his words, Leonhard bit my lower lip lightly and pulled away with a smirk.

 

“I could smell Howard’s scent on my wife’s lips even though she hadn’t had any wine.”

 

“Wow. So that’s how you get your proof?”

 

So that’s why he kissed me?

 

I glared at him with betrayal in my eyes, but he just chuckled softly. His laughter irritated me even more.

 

“This is all your fault for being late! It’s our first night together and the groom doesn’t even show up! Of course, I was nervous! I had no choice but to drink, seriously—”

 

“Yes, I was wrong. Did I keep you waiting long?”

 

“I waited so long, you have no idea!”

 

I pouted on purpose, and Leonhard apologized as he lifted me into his arms and sat in the chair with me on his lap.

 

“I’m sorry I’m late. I had to have an urgent conversation.”

 

“Tch, what’s more urgent than the first night of your wedding?”

 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

 

Leonhard wrapped his arms around my waist and kept kissing my cheeks and lips repeatedly.

 

I was turning my head from side to side because the sensation was ticklish, but I ended up bursting into laughter when Leonhard persistently pressed his lips against mine.

 

“So, all the urgent work is done?”

 

“Yes. Now no one can disturb us anymore.”

 

His firm voice made it clear that even if someone did try, he’d ignore them completely.

 

Yes, unless the barbarians suddenly invade through the Hiyela Gate and reach the gates of Ajas, no one’s coming up to the fifth floor.

 

‘Finally, our wedding night.’

 

We’ve already slept in the same bed dozens of times, but it only now feels real.

 

Strangely, even after a whole bottle of wine, I felt nervous again.

 

“Nell.”

 

“Huh?”

 

The arm around my waist became stronger.

 

Whether I wanted it or not, I found myself leaning even closer, resting my head gently on his shoulder.

 

It’s really strange. I’m not even a kid, and at this age, I’m sitting on someone else’s lap and I don’t dislike it at all.

 

If anything, I felt a warm sense of security.

 

“Do you remember our first night?”

 

“The first night? It’s today.”

 

“Not today, but when we get married in the capital.”

 

“Well, of course, I remember! It wasn’t even that long ago. Why?”

 

Through the open front of his robe, I spotted a drop of water sliding down his chest.

 

I poked it with my finger, and Leonhard flinched at the touch.

 

His voice that followed also seemed to have sunk lower for some reason.

 

“Then I guess you remember what promise you made with me back then.”

 

“Of course I do. We promised our real first night would be here, in Ajas.”

 

“Not that one.”

 

“Not that one…?”

 

Wait… what other promise did we make?

 

I blinked, trying to remember, and Leonhard’s brows furrowed slightly as he looked down at me.

 

“Seems like you have completely forgotten the promise you made to me. And it wasn’t even years ago.”

 

“N-no! Of course, I remember! There’s no way I forgot something like that!”

 

“Really?”

 

“Of course! It was… uh…”

 

What was it, what was it… Ah! I remember!

 

“I promised I wouldn’t get drunk without you, right? I didn’t forget.”

 

I puffed out my chest and replied confidently.

 

Leonhard raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

 

“You didn’t forget and drank a whole bottle of wine by yourself?”

 

“As long as I don’t get drunk, it’s fine, right? I’m not drunk. Really. I’m completely sober.”

 

Leonhard narrowed his eyes and asked, as if he couldn’t believe what I was saying, even though I was emphasizing it twice or three times.

 

“Are you really not drunk?”

 

“Of course! Actually, I wasn’t drunk at that time either. So I didn’t forget the promise I made back then.”

 

“You didn’t forget, but you drank it all by yourself without leaving any for me?”

 

“That’s not true! There’s still your share.”

 

“Where are you talking about?”

 

Leonhard’s gaze glances at the wine bottle rolling on the floor.

 

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I placed my hands on his shoulders, straightened my back, and kissed him.

 

Leonhard’s hand, which had been frozen for a moment, hugged my back deeply.

 

Then, responding to the strength of the hand that was wrapping around the back of my head, I wrapped both arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

 

Before I knew it, I felt his hand on my shoulder, pushing my gown aside.

 

Suddenly felt cumbersome, so I shrugged it off completely and let it fall to the floor.

 

Now all that covered my body was a thin chemise nightgown.

 

It was so thin that it was completely transparent, and it couldn’t even block the hot warmth of his firm palms.

 

Feeling his body heat as I held him close, I exhaled a shaky breath between his lips.

 

“How’s… the wine aroma?”

 

Leonhard let out a languid breath and then bit my lip.

 

“I think I’ll need to savor it a bit more to tell.”

 

The sound of fabric rustling followed every time his hands caressed my shoulders and back.

 

After several kisses, Leonhard suddenly lifted me in his arms, as if he couldn’t wait any longer, and carried me to the bed.

 

He laid me down, then climbed on top of me and kissed me again.

 

In the process, his robe fell open to both sides.

 

I slid my hand through the opening and caressed his back and shoulders.

 

I could feel the firm muscles, filled with heat, twitching and moving under my touch.

 

It felt like I was holding a piece of heated metal.

 

“My wife… Nell.”

 

“Leon…”

 

His lips were constantly brushing my lips and cheeks.

 

Soon, I felt his hand behind my neck begin to untie the knot of my nightdress.

 

The cool air briefly brushed my exposed skin, but his lips quickly returned, sharing their warmth.

 

I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling his lips press against me like sealing stamps.

 

“I love you, Nell.”

 

“Mmhm, me too….”

 

His continuous whispers of love felt like wine—each word made me feel more intoxicated.

 

Breathless, I gasped softly as I felt his hands exploring me.

 

It was the beginning of a long, passionate night.

 

* * *

 

When I fell asleep as if I had fainted after suffering all night, I found myself in the bathtub, still in Leonhard’s arms.

 

But it almost felt like a dream—when I closed my tired eyes and opened them again, I was back on the bed.

 

The only thing that hadn’t changed since before was that I was still in my husband’s arms.

 

Leonhard, who knew that I had opened my eyes, stroked the hair near my ear and asked in a low voice.

 

“Are you awake?”

 

“Mmm… not really…”

 

“You can sleep more. We have plenty of time.”

 

I felt the soft patting on my back through the thin fabric of my nightdress. Since I didn’t remember putting it on, he must’ve dressed me himself.

 

“It’s cold….”

 

Even though I was under the blanket, I felt cold and burrowed closer into Leonhard’s embrace.

 

The body I instinctively clung to was solid with well-trained muscles, hard as a rock.

 

But somehow, it felt soft and comforting.

 

As I playfully caressed his abs, Leonhard spoke to me in a sleepy, languid voice.

 

* * *