How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 239

Left alone in an instant, I frowned as I stared at the balcony door through which the two had exited.

 

“Seriously, why am I the only one being left out?”

 

Thankfully, the exclusion didn’t last long.

 

Leonhard soon returned with Rake, pulling a handful of nuts from the snack pouch on the table and spreading them out in his palm.

 

“I don’t think we need to worry about the barbarians anymore.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Now we just need to focus on Onyx and Marquise Calvin.”

 

“Why don’t we need to worry? What happened to the barbarians?”

 

“Rake gave them a good scolding.”

 

– I did! I scolded them real well!

 

No, seriously, how exactly did you scold them?

 

Whether or not she knew how frustrated I was, Rake was deliciously munching on almonds and walnuts on Leonhard’s palm.

 

Then, sensing my gaze, Rake glanced over and flapped her wings again.

 

– I hit them with my wings and kicked them with my feet.

 

“What?”

 

– It must’ve hurt a lot because they cried and begged. So kind and generous Rake forgave them!

 

‘Are you asking me to believe that right now?’

 

My gaze turned to my husband, who most likely had told Rake to say that.

 

“Leon?”

 

“It’s getting late. Time for bed.”

 

“Don’t change the subject! Tell me too!”

 

But Leonhard, along with Rake—who had clearly been bribed—kept their mouths and beaks tightly shut, refusing to answer.

 

‘No, why on earth are you hiding it from me? If you’re hiding it from Noah, then I’d understand.’

 

‘Wait… did Rake do something cruel and they think I’d find it upsetting?’

 

Even though she’s a dragon, she’s a glutton who only looks for strawberries or desserts when she opens her beak.

 

– Leon, Leon. I like something sweeter than this.

 

“Okay, I got it. I’ll prepare everything for you tomorrow.”

 

They were now openly bartering with bribes.

 

I sighed quietly as I watched Rake rustle around, pecking at the nuts.

 

‘A glutton who has been persuaded by dessert can be persuaded with more dessert.’

 

Resolving to try again tomorrow, I lay down in bed.

 

Anyway, I don’t really need to go to bed early since I’ll be staying in my bedroom tomorrow to avoid Marquise Calvin.

 

‘I’ll just practice magic with Noah.’

 

‘When will I be able to learn magic properly?’

 

Thinking of the snow-covered snow globe brought nothing but a sigh.

 

* * *

 

“My wife is resting now, exhausted from the long trip. The doctor told her to rest in a quiet place, so please leave without making a fuss.”

 

“You were the one who barged in without permission. Next time, send a letter requesting a visit first. That way, you won’t be wasting your time like today.”

 

“Butler, from now on, anyone who comes without an invitation—kick them out immediately. Even if it’s His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“How outrageous… Does he really think being king of the North makes him someone important? That little brat!”

 

Seething over the disrespect she’d received from the Marquis of Ajas, Marquise Calvin walked quickly down the hallway of the prince’s palace.

 

Seeing her flushed face from anger, the servants quickly pressed themselves against the walls, nervously waiting for her to pass.

 

They were afraid she would attack them for no reason, but to their relief, she did not have the energy for that.

 

Her mind was too full, replaying the earlier situation.

 

‘My power is not working…’

 

It was a power that could manipulate the Emperor, the Duke of Kereis, and even the wizards of Onyx.

 

‘Could he have gotten his hands on the drug they made…? No, that can’t be. If he’d encountered those after his wife, he would’ve captured them already.’

 

If so, there was only one conclusion that could be drawn.

 

“Even the emperor, who is likened to the supreme sun, cannot resist your charm…But expect one….”

 

“A man who truly loves someone more than himself.”

 

It was what her mother had told her when passing down the power.

 

But in all her life, she had never met a single man who could resist her power.

 

The Emperor, the Duke of Cereis, the previous Marquis Ajas, and even Marquis Calvin, whom she had killed and usurped of his title.

 

All of them, in the end, cared more for themselves than their wives who had given birth to their children.

 

That’s why she’d come to believe: there was no man in the world who truly loved someone more than himself.

 

But now…

 

‘That Marquis—he loves his wife that much? And they’ve been married less than a year?’

 

“Wait…..”

 

‘Wasn’t this… an opportunity?’

 

‘If I succeed in kidnapping Marquise Ajas….’

 

She could use the woman’s life to control even the Marquis.

 

By holding his loved ones hostage, he had no choice but to obey.

 

‘Because he cares for the Marquise more than himself!’

 

The realization became a bright light that melted away the worries of the Marquise of Calvin.

 

“Kyle!”

 

Without knocking, she flung open the bedroom door and stormed inside, looking for her son.

 

‘Did he drink too much last night and fall asleep?’

 

There were bottles of alcohol piled up or rolling around on the table and floor.

 

“This guy is really… Kyle! Get up, now!”

 

“hmmm…”

 

Grumbling as if tired of his mother’s nagging, Kairos pulled the blanket over his head and curled up.

 

The only good thing is that he’s the only one lying in bed today.

 

Thankful not to see any unpleasant sights, Marquise Kelvin pulled the blanket covering his son.

 

“Wake up! Your mother just suffered a massive insult at the Marquis Ajas’s Mansion! And you’re sleeping? Can you sleep right now?!”

 

“Where…..”

 

The eyes of the man who seemed like he would stay glued to the bed no matter what was said slowly opened.

 

“Paul Herbina! Ha, I’ve never met someone so rude in my life. His father was such a gentleman—how did he end up just like his mother?”

 

Clicking her tongue, the marquise tossed the blanket aside and pulled the rope to call the servants.

 

She ordered them to put away the bottles and opened the window herself to let the musty smell of alcohol out of the room.

 

“You know the previous Marquis and Marquise?”

 

“Of course I do. If I hadn’t been caught back then… Ugh, that woman was persistent. No wonder she couldn’t win over her husband’s heart.”

 

Scoffing, the Marquise Calvin who had made the noise, only then noticed the servant clearing the table and glared.

 

“You guys, if you gossip about anything you heard in here…”

 

“We didn’t hear anything.”

 

The marquise’s anger went far beyond what the word “wrath” can describe.

 

The servants, fearful of becoming scapegoats, hurriedly cleaned up the bottles and left the bedroom.

 

Watching them tremble like scared rabbits, she let out a short laugh, then motioned for her son to sit.

 

“Just look at your face. Didn’t I tell you to drink in moderation? What happened to that handsome face? Your skin’s ruined.”

 

“Just leave me alone. I’ll take care of it.”

 

“Take care of it yourself? The only thing you ever take care of on your own is getting drunk and making a scene! Do you know how desperate I had to be to actually feel grateful to the Third Prince?”

 

“The Third Prince?”

 

Kairos frowned, clearly displeased, knowing who “Karl” truly was.

 

Marquise Calvin sat with her legs crossed, as if to say, How bad must it have been for me to feel that way?

 

“I hate even saying his name. Ha, I didn’t know that kid was doing that behind my back.”

 

The anger of Marquise Calvin, who had been gnashing her teeth, was suddenly diverted to the First Princess.

 

“If she had just behaved herself, none of this would’ve happened! How could she offer up her blood without even knowing who those people were?”

 

“And how is she any different from Mother? Mother gave them my blood without knowing who they were either.”

 

“Still, if it weren’t for her, that guy would never have manifested the symbol!”

 

“I’m not so sure about that….”

 

The deal between Marquise Calvin and Onyx was broken because they started dealing with the First Princess instead.

 

If they hadn’t found a new prey in the form of the princess, they wouldn’t have broken their promise with Marquise Calvin.

 

Then His Mother would have continued to give his blood, and somehow, they still would’ve managed to manifest the Symbol of Estroa.

 

“We have to somehow get that guy out of the palace before the ceremony.…”

 

“But how, when it’s already been confirmed that the symbol he bears is real?”

 

“Of course, we can’t touch the symbol.”

 

It’s not because the emperor said the symbol was real.

 

It was because if they were to judge the authenticity of his symbol without any reason, the sparks could fly to Kairos as well.

 

“If we mess with it carelessly, they’ll come after your symbol too. If we’re going to eliminate him, we have to do it thoroughly.”

 

If only the charm magic had worked on him, she could have ordered Karl to write a will and commit suicide.

 

Marquise Calvin bit down on her darkly colored lips.

 

“After all, the only correct answer is Marquise Ajas.”

 

At that sudden name, a crack appeared in Kairos’s brow.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Onyx once asked us to find someone. The range was too broad and the information too vague, so we never found her… But it turns out that person was the Marquise of Ajas.”

 

Kairos’s face twisted entirely.

 

“Why are they looking for the Marquise of Ajas?”

 

“Why else? Because she holds the power they desire. They don’t know she’s the Marquise. Which means I can use that information to my advantage.”

 

The wizards of Onyx already know that Raenel is the daughter of Pell Sesto.

 

But Marquise Calvin, unaware of that fact, assumed they ignored her messages because they didn’t believe her.

 

‘If I bring Marquise Ajas in front of them, they’ll have no choice but to believe me.’

 

As long as Marquise Calvin secured control over her, every problem she faced could be solved.

 

Marquise Calvin truly believed that.

 

* * *