How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love – Chapter 232

Author: Chewyy

“Ah, I greet you, Your Highness, Marquis Ajas. My name is Baron Sorbet.”

“Nice to meet you, have a seat.”

Marquis Ajas asked whether he would prefer tea or wine, and Baron Sorbet gave a nervous nod.

When Baron Sorbet realized he’d answered incorrectly, Marquis Ajas interpreted his nod as meaning “whatever” and ordered his servant to serve tea.

It was a cold tea that was perfect for the hot late summer. Baron Sorbet, who was already sweating profusely and feeling thirsty, drank the cold tea as if it were cold water.

Without even realizing what he was doing, he offered the important documents he’d been holding so dearly to the Marquis of Ajas.

“I-I would like to propose an investment for the development and commercialization of this magic tool.”

“Magic tool?”

“Yes. That magic tool is…….”

From this time on, Baron Sorbet’s memory became hazy.

He knew he had spoken, but couldn’t remember what he had said. All that remained in his mind was the image of Marquis Ajas flipping through the documents with an expressionless face.

‘It’s ruined.’

It wasn’t until he drained a second glass of iced tea in one gulp that his mind came back to him.

‘What on earth did I say?’

Baron Sorbet stared at the ceiling, not having the courage to look at the Marquis’s face.

Then—

“So, how much investment are you asking for?”

“What? Ah, th-that’s…”

A certain amount of money came to Baron Sorbet’s mind. But he dropped a zero before speaking it aloud.

“It’s about that much…..”

“Is that really enough? You need money not just for development, but for commercialization as well.”

“Yes? That, that’s—”

“Speak clearly. I won’t ask twice.”

Marquis’s gaze on Baron Sorbet was unbearably intense.

‘What does that mean? Did I ask for too much?’

‘But that amount of money is barely enough to make one magic tool.…’

Unable to open his mouth, Baron Sorbet looked as if he were about to cry. Marquis sighed quietly at the sight.

At that sound, Baron Sorbet bit his lips tightly, thinking that everything was over.

“Robert.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Take a look.”

He called his aide and handed over the documents.

Robert flipped through the papers, making a humming sound.

“This amount is nowhere near enough. He needs at least one more zero.”

“H-how…”

Robert winked one eye as he watched Baron Sorbet’s eyes widen in surprise.

That casual attitude only made Baron Sorbet lower his eyes in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Marquis Ajas picked up the checkbook on the table, wrote down the amount, and signed it.

“I’ll give you double that.”

“Yes?”

Baron Sorbet nearly screamed in disbelief as Leonhard tore out the check and handed it to him.

“If the magical tools made by the Baron pass the examination of the Hermen Commercial Guild, I will allow them to be sold through their distribution network. Free of charge.”

“Yes…?”

Being allowed to use the Hermen Commercial Guild’s distribution network for free was effectively the same as being granted membership to the guild.

“I–I mean the magic tool that I made….?”

“The Hermen Commercial Guild’s review is extremely strict. Keep that in mind.”

“O-of course, that’s only natural.”

The Hermen Commercial Guild’s review process is strict. However, being admitted into the guild was even harder.

Currently, joining the Hermen Commercial Guild required connections, since open applications were closed.

‘Am I dreaming…?’

Baron Sorbet secretly put his thighs under the table.

Baron Sorbet secretly pinched his thigh under the table. He was prepared to cry if he didn’t feel anything—but it hurt so much he teared up.

He stared at the check the Marquis Ajas had handed him, eyes filled with disbelief.

“W-why are you doing all this for me?”

Even if his magic tools were truly worth investing in, giving money would’ve been enough. Why go so far as to arrange for the Commercial Guild to examine him?

What did the Marquis Ajas see in a man about to go bankrupt under the weight of inherited debt?

“Your wife must’ve heard about me and my wife at some social gathering.”

“Yes?”

“She said something like, ‘Isn’t it wrong to speak about uncertain rumors as if they were fact?’ and ended up being ostracized, didn’t she?”

“H-how did you know…?”

It was true. That had happened.

His wife had been excited to go out after finally receiving an invitation, but came home with a face holding back tears and locked herself in the bedroom.

Only later did he find out what had happened. Feeling it was all his fault for being incompetent, he had tried to comfort his crying wife while swallowing his own tears.

“It feels like the whole world is laughing at me.”

She had said that through tears. And ever since, she hadn’t left the house. Baron Sorbet could no longer remember her smiling face.

“I am only repaying the righteous and courageous lady who stood up for the honor of Ajas.”

“Ah….”

“If anything happens, contact me. I’ll help you out one time.”

Holding the returned documents and check in one hand, Baron Sorbet left the grand mansion of Paul Herbina, still feeling like he was in a dream.

“Baron, how did it go?”

His servant, who had been waiting outside, ran up to ask about the result.

He looked at the check in Baron Sorbet’s hand and screamed before Baron Sorbet could even answer.

“You did it! I knew it! I always believed in you, Baron!”

“No, I didn’t do it….”

“Yes?”

Looking at the face of the servant who had served him for twenty years, the image of his wife came to mind.

Finally, he felt the crinkle of the paper in his hand.

Baron Sorbet barely held back his tears.

‘Darling….’

More than the fact that he had overcome a major crisis and landed an incredible opportunity—

He was happiest that he could now tell his wife that no one would laugh at her anymore.

* * *

Baron Sorbet, who was on the verge of bankruptcy due to inherited debt, had received investment from the Margrave of Ajas!

Rumors that he had even secured a review from the Hermen Commercial Guild spread quickly, sending those who had been rejected from audiences with Marquis into a panic.

“What?! My business plan must’ve been better than Baron Sorbet.”

The rumors didn’t end there. Aside from Baron Sorbet, there were several others who had received investments from Marquis Ajas.

The terms they received were not significantly different from the ones in the earlier rumors.

Someone even claimed to have been promised dozens of magic stones.

People flocked to Paul Herbina’s main gate from early in the morning.

“Your Highness, please take a look at my business plan!”

However, Leonhard had already declared that he would no longer accept any audience requests.

He claimed he needed time to prepare for the imperial banquet in a few days, and for his wife’s sister’s wedding a month later.

And soon, rumors began to spread — about the common traits shared by those who had secured investment promises from the Lord of Ajas.

From that day on, those who had much to gain from the Marquis of Ajas began to keep a close eye on their surroundings.

Husband, wife, parents, children, friends, etc.

Especially those who had casually gossiped over tea or laughed with cigars in their mouths in bars while talking about the Marquis of Ajas— they were now restless and sleepless with anxiety.

‘What if Marquis Ajas takes revenge,…’

People still talked about how, on the day of Duke Khalid’s wedding, Viscount Skella’s son was struck with a glove and collapsed unconscious.

It is not surprising that he ended up like that, since he kept talking about the illegitimate child.

Some people were so afraid of accidentally encountering Marquis Ajas on the street that they shut themselves in their houses.

* * *

All of these facts were written down in one document and placed on my desk.

“There have been fewer people talking about the Ajas family in the busy district’s area or at bars.”

“Even if they do talk about Ajas, it’s mostly warnings to be careful about what they say,”

I nodded with a slightly impressed expression as Layla and Marilyn explained in turn.

“Wow… this really is a textbook case of using the carrot and the stick.”

While one side wields the stick, the other hands out carrots—it’s no wonder the contrast had such a dramatic effect.

It was only natural that the contrast would be striking, with one side swinging the stick while the other side putting a carrot in their mouth.

‘Especially for those who suddenly got hit with the stick… how tempting must that carrot look to them?’

‘That carrot was never theirs to begin with, but now they probably feel like it was taken from them.’

‘Leonhard really understood human psychology.’

I rested my chin on both hands, thinking that to myself.

“So, I guess we don’t have to worry about the rumors anymore?”

“No, now is the time to drive the wedge in!”

“Wedge?”

I blinked at the unexpected answer, and Layla nodded with a serious face.

“Strictly speaking, this incident was led by the Marquis, right? That’s why people are saying the same thing. It seems that the Marquis truly loves his wife.”

“So now it’s my turn to show something, huh?”

“That’s it!”

I made a “hmm” sound and furrowed my brows as Layla lightly clapped her hands.

“But how am I supposed to show that? I feel like we’ve already gone on as many dates as we could…”

Layla thought for a moment and then answered.

“Well… what if you just grab His Highness by the collar and plant a fiery kiss on him right in front of everyone?”

“Wow, that’s a good idea!”

“Look at this girl—how could you even suggest something like that?!”

Marilyn and I reacted in opposite ways. Layla tilted her head in confusion as she looked between us.

“Why? I think it’d work. It’s the clearest way to say: ‘This man is mine!’ and make sure everyone knows it.”

Watching her blink innocently, like she genuinely didn’t get why it was a problem, I suddenly thought:

‘My poor brother… I think he’s really gotten himself into something wild.’