How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 217

“My older brother was worried about the large age gap between Layla and himself. And Layla isn’t even an adult yet.”

 

“Hmm, there are more than a few scoundrels who prefer large age gaps, but in that sense, your brother seems… Oh dear, I’ve been too loose-tongued in front of the Marquise. I apologize.”

 

“No need. That’s something any parent with a daughter might say.”

 

I took a sip of the honey tea and swirled it with my tongue before swallowing.

 

“It might sound strange, but… My older brother’s always seen me a bit like a daughter. And Layla is even younger than me, so it’s only natural that it would bother him.”

 

“Daughter? The age difference between the two of you?”

 

“Seven years old. But I guess my image as a newborn is deeply engraved in my older brother’s mind.”

 

Though I honestly don’t know how he could look at me now and still imagine a baby.

 

“Looking back now… I think my older brother accepted Layla not because he seriously considered her a marriage partner, but more because she insisted and he didn’t know how to say no.”

 

“But what about the invitation to Howard territory? Doesn’t that mean he’s interested?”

 

“Probably, my older brother expected that if he invited Layla, I would naturally come along.”

 

From others’ perspectives, it would look like he was visiting me with my maid, Layla, simply tagging along.

 

No one would guess that an unmarried man would invite an unmarried lady.

 

“And besides, I thought Layla would be disappointed once she saw Howard’s estate. I loved it there, but honestly, it’s in the countryside. Even the lord’s mansion isn’t as big as this castle. It’s only a three-floored house at best.”

 

It was literally the countryside, with nothing but vineyards.

 

“Honestly, I hope the two of them work out… But no matter how much I want it, it only matters if they like each other.”

 

At my words, Marquis Cloud made a complicated expression.

 

I was quietly watching her, who seemed to be lost in thought, and then suddenly asked a question.

 

“Did you have someone else in mind as a potential husband for Layla?”

 

“No, not really. I’ve been looking for a fiancé, but Layla has such picky tastes…”

 

What came to mind when I heard that were the things Layla always said about her ideal type.

 

‘Yeah, she was picky… I still couldn’t believe all those conditions perfectly described my older brother.’

 

“She was a child my late husband cherished dearly. He used to feed her while she sat on his lap until she was seven. Do you know what his dying wish was? That we do not force her into a political marriage, but let her marry someone she truly likes.”

 

“I see…..”

 

‘Oh, so that’s why Layla said she never had any marriage talks with Leonhard.’

 

“When looking for a marriage partner, there are cases where the age difference is more than ten years, so an eight-year age difference is not a problem. Besides, what better match is there than becoming in-laws with the Marquise Ajas?”

 

Calling me “Marquise,” Marquis Cloud suddenly grabbed my hand.

 

I blinked in surprise as she said seriously,

 

“Please take good care of our Layla.”

 

“Take care of her? That decision is entirely up to my older brother…”

 

“But if you, Marquise, speak well of her, maybe his heart will sway, no? Please, just do it for the sake of this old woman.”

 

“You’re not that old—”

 

“If this marriage goes through,”

 

She added, her eyes suddenly gleaming like a predator targeting prey,

 

“I’ll send you unlimited honey wine from our estate.”

 

“Unlimited?”

 

Now that’s tempting—wait, no, stay focused.

 

“Even if you gave me that much, I couldn’t drink it all. My husband wouldn’t like it.”

 

Did she pick up on the hidden message: I’d love to, but he wouldn’t?

 

Marquis Cloud lowered her voice conspiratorially.

 

“Then just drink it secretly. Our honey wine isn’t even that strong. If you drink just one bottle a day, it hardly smells like alcohol.”

 

“Really…?”

 

Well, that’s true—the honey scent was stronger than the alcohol.

 

“Ahem, well, it’s not necessarily because of the alcohol, but I also want the two of you to get together—”

 

– Tok Tok

 

A soft but weighty knock cut through the moment between me and the Marquis.

 

Startled, I turned to the door, a bad feeling creeping in.

 

‘No way. That person standing out there could not possibly be my husband….’

 

“Marquis. This room is soundproof.…”

 

“That doesn’t sound very good. I should either redo the castle construction or use another room for more secret conversations.”

 

The person who opened the door without our permission was, as expected, my husband.

 

The moment our eyes met, I hiccuped in surprise and pulled my hand from the Marquis’s grip to cover my mouth.

 

“D-Did you hear that? From where?”

 

“From the part where the Marquis said she’d send you unlimited honey wine.”

 

‘Why that part?! Out of everything, why that?!’

 

“Ahem. Your Highness, I didn’t say I would really give it to her, but I meant that I could show that much sincerity…..”

 

“No matter how long I waited, my wife didn’t come back, so I came to look for her.…”

 

Leonhard’s gaze quickly scanned the table.

 

‘Luckily I was drinking honey tea!’

 

I straightened up proudly, with nothing to hide.

 

Leonhard let out a small sigh.

 

“I thought you’d be bragging about weapons or something. I didn’t expect you to be plotting to turn my wife into a drunk.”

 

“No, not me! She meant to give it to you! Right, Marquis?”

 

“That’s right. Of course. To be exact, I was talking about sending it to Castle Ajas.”

 

“I see. My wife and I have agreed to limit our drinking to three glasses a day, so there’s no need to send unlimited amounts. One box a month should be enough.”

 

“Would that be acceptable, Marquise?”

 

M-My honey wine……

 

I watched hundreds—no, thousands—of bottles vanish before my eyes.

 

But how could I shake my head and say no now?

 

I had no choice but to nod with a tearful heart

 

* * *

 

“No matter how I think about it, it feels like I’m the one who’s at a loss.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

I couldn’t find it more annoying to see him ask that question with such a natural, innocent face when he was the one who ruined my deal.

 

What can I do? I should blame myself for being drunk.

 

I turned off the lights in the bedroom and stared at Leonhard as he came up and lay down next to me, then asked.

 

“What about Noah?”

 

“He fell asleep while playing with Rake. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to bother him where to sleep.”

 

“He slept well even in the carriage.”

 

That was a relief. Really sensitive kids can’t even sleep if their pillow changes.

 

“But seriously, I think Noah has more stamina than I do. How is that even possible?”

 

“Well, you…..”

 

Leonhard, who had been reaching out to me and playing with my hair, shut his mouth for a moment.

 

That silence was very suspicious. My eyes narrowed.

 

“What?”

 

When I poked his shoulder and forearm, telling him to hurry up and talk, Leonhard opened his mouth as if he couldn’t handle it.

 

“You don’t exercise.”

 

‘No, this guy suddenly hits the bone?’

 

“Who said I don’t exercise? Did you see that?”

 

“I’ve never seen you exercise.”

 

“Wow, that’s funny. Where in Ajas Castle can you live without exercising? Just going up and down the stairs to eat three meals a day is enough exercise!”

 

“How is that… I mean, yes, of course, you’re right. Ajas Castle has too many stairs.”

 

“It’s too late to try to appease me now!”

 

How dare he tell a homebody that she doesn’t exercise!

 

‘Even if he’s right!’

 

Still, the stairs weren’t an excuse. They really were tiring.

 

It’s really hard to go up and down stairs.

 

“Speaking of which, our bedroom being on the fifth floor is too much. Even the fourth floor is high. Honestly, I’d rather just use a room on the first floor.”

 

“There’s a better solution than that.”

 

“A better solution? What is it?”

 

Ask Rake to teleport me?

 

“I will carry you.”

 

This man, seriously.

 

“Weren’t you the one telling me to exercise before?”

 

“When did I ever tell you to exercise? Anyway….”

 

Leonhard, who had been lying beside me, quickly leaned over and cast a shadow over me.

 

“Don’t we exercise every night?”

 

“…Okay, okay, now get off.”

 

My face is going to explode, seriously!

 

I lightly slapped his shoulder repeatedly, He saying “Ow, ow, that hurts.”

 

Leonhard put on a ridiculous act that no one would believe, then returned to his spot.

 

“Nell?”

 

“What?”

 

“Is it not allowed…?”

 

What is this, seriously?

 

“No. It’s embarrassing to do it in someone else’s house.”

 

“What are you embarrassed of? No one is watching.”

 

“The servants of this castle will take care of the aftermath.”

 

“Then we just have to make sure there’s nothing for them to clean up.”

 

With that, Leonhard suddenly picked me up without giving me a chance to say anything and got off the bed.

 

“What the heck? Where are you going now?”

 

“I’m going to the bathroom.”

 

“Why the bathroom!”

 

“Don’t worry, Nell.”

 

The room was pitch dark since all the lights were off, but Leonhard crossed it effortlessly, smiling at me.

 

“I’ll wash you up thoroughly.”

 

My cry of ‘Don’t do anything that requires washing in the first place!’ was once again snatched away by Leonhard, and I ended up sleeping in late the next morning.

 

* * *