How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 223

– Delicious!

 

Rake rolled around in the air as if she really liked the macarons.

 

Then, she magically lifted the paper box containing the macarons and flew to the corner of the carriage.

 

– This is all mine! I’ll eat it all!

 

“Yeah, you can eat it all. It’s yours.”

 

I knew Rake would be like that, so I bought a lot from the beginning.

 

Marilyn went to meet the artist who was staying at the mansion because she wanted a portrait of herself too, and Layla went shopping with the maids.

 

I even bought plenty for my guards.

 

One of the boxes was meant for Noah.

 

“Noah, you try it too. Which one do you think will taste best? Strawberry? Chocolate? Raspberry?”

 

– Strawberries are the best!

 

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I can eat anything right now….”

 

“Why? Are you getting motion sickness?”

 

Now I see that his face has turned pale.

 

While I was surprised and folding the macaron box aside, Leonhard, sitting across from me, picked up Noah and sat him on his lap. He then cupped his forehead with his large hand.

 

“I don’t think you have a fever.”

 

“When you get motion sickness, don’t you usually not get a fever?”

 

‘Or do you?’

 

I’ve never had motion sickness before, so I just let out a confused groan.

 

Noah, still with Leonhard’s hand on his forehead, shook his head.

 

“I’m just a little bit nervous.”

 

“Because you’re meeting your aunt and uncle?”

 

Noah’s neck was slightly quivering.

 

Holding onto his father’s sleeve, he gave a small nod.

 

“It’s okay, you don’t have to worry. They’re going to adore you.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah, your uncle Liv also loved you very much, right?”

 

Was he thinking of my older brother? Noah’s stiff face relaxed a little.

 

Then Noah muttered in a small voice.

 

“I wish uncle was here too…”

 

“Yeah, it would’ve been nice if we could all meet again.”

 

But my older brother had been away for over a month, visiting Ajas.

 

Especially now that the vineyard was in short supply, he had to stay behind.

 

“How about we stop by Howard’s estate on the way back instead? We have to join the fishing competition anyway.”

 

“Okay! I’m definitely going to catch a fish!”

 

“I’ll show you a special spot where fish are easy to catch. Even a beginner will be able to catch fish there. You said you’ve never fished before, right?”

 

“Yes. I’m counting on you.”

 

“Great. I’ll turn you into a fishing king. It’s all about technique, you know…”

 

As we chatted cheerfully about fishing, the carriage arrived at the mansion.

 

And before I could even get out of the carriage, as soon as the door opened, I heard a very familiar voice.

 

“Nell!”

 

“Sister!”

 

“R-Raenel!”

 

Normally, Leonhard would get out first and escort me properly, but I was too excited to wait.

 

As I jumped out of the carriage without an escort, my sister Lily, who was outside, hugged me tightly.

 

“Oh my god, how long has it been? Let me see your face. Have you been well?”

 

My sister, who had grabbed my cheeks with both hands, began to turn my face around and examine it.

 

My voice was somewhat muffled because my cheeks were grabbed.

 

“Of course! I’ve been doing great. How about you?”

 

“I’ve been working hard to earn money. Did you check the money deposited into your account?”

 

“I used it once, but I haven’t had much reason to spend it since.”

 

I hadn’t even opened the account properly, let alone used the private funds that were being sent monthly. I’d just been too busy.

 

“It’s been a while, Nell. You’ve been healthy, I hope?”

 

Benjamin, who was standing next to my sister at that time, greeted me belatedly.

 

“Of course! My brother-in-law seems a bit thin. Did you go on a diet?”

 

It wasn’t just my imagination—his cheeks really were thinner than the last time I saw him. Benjamin sheepishly touched his face.

 

“Haha, yeah, I’ve lost a bit. I’ve been trying to eat more, but I just can’t seem to put the weight back on.”

 

“Wow, I’m so jealous of that…”

 

I looked at Benjamin with genuine envy for a moment, then I remembered belatedly that I wasn’t alone, and put my hand on Leonhard’s shoulder as he got out of the carriage.

 

“Have you met my husband before?”

 

“Yes, on the wedding day. It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

 

“No need to be so formal.”

 

“Haha, I’ll try to get used to it.”

 

While they shook hands, I reached back into the carriage. Noah, who had been hesitantly peeking outside, finally took my hand and stepped down.

 

I motioned to Rake, who was sitting on Noah’s shoulder, not to talk, then introduced the child to my sister Lily and Benjamin.

 

“This is your first time meeting him, right? This is my son, Noah Ajas. And this here is Rake. Aren’t they both adorable?”

 

As if responding to my words, Rake let out a cheerful chirp.

 

As long as she didn’t speak human language, she just looked like a cute bird. Lily also exclaimed at how cute Rake was.

 

“You seem to be smart, judging from the way you’re sitting so quietly.”

 

“Peep, Peep!”

 

“That’s right, she’s really smart. She understands people well. Rake, come here.”

 

As I held out my hand and spoke, Rake flapped her wings and landed on my palm.

 

“Oh my, she even listens well,” said Lily, clapping her hands as Rake puffed up her chest and chirped excitedly in front of her.

 

I stroked Rake’s head with my index finger and then gently pushed Noah’s slightly stiff back forward.

 

“Noah, this is your aunt and soon-to-be uncle. Say hello.”

 

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Noah Aiap—Ajas.”

 

Noah’s words were slightly twisted, perhaps because he was still a little nervous.

 

Benjamin was the first to burst out laughing, looking at the child whose cheeks were red from embarrassment.

 

“Hello, my name is Benjamin Theorde. I’m not married yet, but I plan to be, so I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Uncle in advance.”

 

“Yes, Uncle.”

 

Benjamin smiled as he watched Noah nod, then without warning, he picked up the child.

 

Though he let out a startled sound, Noah quickly and naturally wrapped his arms around Benjamin’s neck.

 

My sister Lily approached Noah like that.

 

“It’s just like Nell said. You’re really cute. Would you like to call me aunt?”

 

“Aunt….”

 

The voice was still small, and the face was still flushed.

 

My sister Lily pinched Noah’s chubby cheek as if she thought he was cute.

 

“Then shall we go inside first? You must be hungry. The food’s ready.”

 

At the word “food,” Rake chirped loudly and excitedly from my shoulder.

 

‘Hmm… Should I show them how Rake eats dessert?’

 

If they think it’s odd, I’ll insist that Rake just loves grain-based desserts because he’s a bird that likes wheat.

 

Or I could just feed Rake mostly fruit.

 

“By the way, where’s Alex?”

 

“He’s not back yet. Seems like he’s been busy lately.”

 

While I chatted with my sister Lily, Benjamin, holding Noah, walked into the house with Leonhardt.

 

Their pace wasn’t particularly fast, yet somehow they were already quite far ahead.

 

It was because my sister Lily deliberately slowed down her pace when she glanced toward the dining room door and spoke to me in a low voice.

 

“Nell, do you know what rumors are going around in the capital right now?”

 

“Of course I do…”

 

As expected, my sister knows that too.

 

Well, it would’ve been strange if she were the only one unaware of the rumors that have spread throughout the capital.

 

“Let me ask you this first. Who’s Noah’s biological father?”

 

“Felix. The master of the Silver Frost Tower… The rumors haven’t reached the capital yet?”

 

“The rumor that the gates of the Silver Frost Tower have opened is already famous among wizards, and it is natural to hear that the person is the biological father of the successor to Marquis Ajas.”

 

When I looked at her with a face that said “Then why ask?”, my sister Lily let out a small sigh.

 

“But in high society, the only thing that’s talked about is the fact that the Marquis Ajas has a successor who’s already five years old.”

 

She glanced toward the dining room where Leonhard and Noah had entered, then leaned in and whispered to me.

 

“People are saying Noah is the Marquis’s illegitimate child.”

 

“What?”

 

“He’s not, right?”

 

“Of course not! I told you, Noah’s father is the master of the Silver Frost Tower. If anyone saw the two of them together, they wouldn’t doubt it for a second. They look so much alike.”

 

When I explained that the man had black hair and amber eyes, just like Noah, Lily felt relieved.

 

“I was so worried that the person who acted like he would spend his whole life looking only at you might actually be playing around like that behind the scenes.”

 

“That’s ridiculous… If he even heard someone suggest that, he’d be appalled. We both made a firm promise before we got married—no mistresses, ever.”

 

“There are so many men who will act like they will give you the stars in the sky. Anyway, I’m glad it’s not true. If the rumors were true, I would never have sent you back to the North.”

 

“You don’t have to worry about that. And as for the rumors in the capital… I wasn’t planning on telling the family, but if you’re this concerned, maybe it’s better to be honest. It was Julia.”

 

“Julia? Why is she involved?”

 

“Well, I ran into her the day I arrived at Ajas Castle.”

 

I then gave her a brief summary of what had happened with Julia at Ajas Castle.

 

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