How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 241

“Oh my god…! Ma’am, you are truly beautiful. I am sure that you will be the star of today’s banquet!”

 

“Yes, what a beautiful dress! Everyone will be unable to take their eyes off you.”

 

“You’re amazing! You’re really the best, ma’am!”

 

As I listened to the exclamations of Layla, Marilyn, and the maids, my shoulders naturally puffed up in pride.

 

When I got dressed up in a dress, put on makeup, and accessorized, I looked pretty even to myself in the mirror.

 

‘The fabric is really pretty.’

 

The hem of the dress, which was made up of many layers of fabric and was puffed out, was dark green, and as it rose above the waist it became lighter green.

 

Since the fabric itself shimmered subtly, the only additional decorations were floral lace accents along the hem, sleeves, and bodice.

 

Instead, my hair was braided and decorated with a gorgeous white jewel hairpin in the shape of a flower.

 

Since the motif of the hairpin was lisianthus, Leonhard decided to put lisianthus in the boutonniere.

 

“Both the necklace and the earrings are so, so pretty, but….”

 

Layla’s gaze, which was adjusting my dress, glanced down. To be exact, at my left wrist.

 

“Hmm….The color is fine, but the appearance is too plain and breaks the overall harmony…”

 

Even as Layla spoke, I could tell what she didn’t dare say aloud.

 

‘The necklace, earrings, and even the hairpins are made of expensive jewels, but this is a cheap stone bracelet!’

 

Even Layla knew that this bracelet was a magical tool. That’s probably why she couldn’t really object.

 

Honestly, this bracelet doesn’t really suit my current outfit.

 

If it were winter, I could at least hide it with long sleeves, but unfortunately, it was summer.

 

‘Plus, the dress was off-shoulder.…’

 

The sheer white shirring only covered from the middle of my upper arm to my elbow.

 

I glanced sideways at my reflection in the mirror, then turned around to check my back.

 

Thankfully, the symbol on my back wasn’t visible at all.

 

If that were the case, I wouldn’t have worn this dress in the first place.

 

‘I’m not going to take this dress off outside, so there’s no chance of the symbol being seen. Still, just in case, I have to wear this bracelet.’

 

‘I haven’t met Marquise Calvin yet. If she’s trying to find me with ill intent, this bracelet will protect me.’

 

‘Even though she wasn’t invited to tonight’s banquet… who knows.’

 

I was looking down at the bracelet that looked like a chain for a while when Marilyn asked me if I liked it.

 

“What if we just make the bracelet invisible?”

 

“Really? Can you do it?”

 

I asked eagerly, and Marilyn giggled and shook her head.

 

“I can do it for a short while, but the banquet goes on until dawn, right? I can’t maintain it that long. But…”

 

She whispered quietly, “There’s someone who can do it.”

 

‘Ah! Of course.’

 

‘Right! There’s a dragon who can do that!’

 

I immediately asked Marilyn to bring Rake.

 

Rake, who’d been hiding on a kitchen shelf munching cookies, was soon dragged into my dressing room.

 

“Peep, Peep!”

 

Rake protested with birdlike squeaks, so I asked everyone else to leave the room.

 

Only after we were alone did Rake raise her voice.

 

– My cookies!

 

“If you do me one favor, I’ll give you a box of cookies as a gift. What do you think?”

 

– A box of cookies? What do you want?

 

I held out my left hand to the Rake who was flying towards me with a fluttering voice.

 

“I want to keep this bracelet out of sight of other people.”

 

– But still keep its magic active?

 

“Do you know what kind of bracelet this is?”

 

– Yeah, I am a great dragon! I can tell this just by looking at it.

 

“That’s right. Our Rake is amazing.”

 

Rake, who shrugged her wings at my compliments, circled my wrist and examined the bracelet.

 

It was distracting, so I rested my hand on the table, and Rake perched beside it.

 

– hmm… The magic engraved on this bracelet is intertwined and intertwined to form one. No matter how much I try, it’s difficult to add a spell to it. If I mess with it for no reason, the balance will be broken.

 

“Then it’s impossible?”

 

– We can engrave the hidden magic on another magic stone.

 

Tapping my left ring finger with his beak, Rake pointed to my wedding ring—specifically, the clover-shaped gemstone next to the coral pearl.

 

-Shall I engrave it here?

 

“Oh, yes, I haven’t engraved any magic on that magic stone yet.”

 

The ring my husband gave me as a gift and the bracelet my mother left me.

 

I nodded happily, thinking that I would not let either of them fall off my body easily.

 

“Please do it.”

 

– Okay..… Okay. All done!

 

“What, already?”

 

– This was as easy as eating strawberries lying down. By the way, the magic won’t work on people who already know you’re wearing the white bracelet.

 

“Really?”

 

I brought Rake downstairs to the first-floor.

 

There, Leonhard was chatting with Noah, both ready for the banquet.

 

“Leon! Noah!”

 

A look of admiration passes over the faces of the two people who turn their heads at my call.

 

Certainly, I look a lot prettier today.

 

Leaving my proud heart behind, I stood in front of the two people and raised my arms high.

 

“Do you see it? Can you see it?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“A bracelet?”

 

Leonhard’s puzzled response reassured me the magic worked, but I couldn’t hide my disappointment at Noah’s words.

 

“Can you see the bracelet?”

 

-I told you. The magic doesn’t work on anyone who already knows you’re wearing it.

 

“Weren’t we checking that just now?”

 

– no.

 

‘Then who should I ask?’

 

I thought about it for a moment, then called Logan and asked him to call a servant from the mansion who I had never met before.

 

So the maid who worked in the kitchen was called in.

 

“Why did you call me, Ma’am…?”

 

“I have a question for you. Do you see this bracelet?”

 

“Huh? A bracelet?”

 

Her gaze wandered around my two wrists as if asking what kind of bracelet I was talking about.

 

“Ah, I can’t see anything….”

 

‘Was it because she felt burdened by the situation where she had to answer that she couldn’t see it that I’d just asked if she could?’

 

The young maid looked around with a slightly frightened expression.

 

I was just wondering if the magic was working, but I felt bad for tormenting an innocent child, so I patted the maid’s head.

 

“Thank you, it was helpful.”

 

“O-oh… really?”

 

“Yeah. Thanks for your time. Logan, give this kid a box of cookies as a reward.”

 

“Yes, ma’am. I will do so.”

 

“Oh, thank you!”

 

The maid forgot her fear and thanked me with flushed cheeks.

 

I sent Logan off with the maid to get some cookies, then spoke to Rake, who was sitting on my shoulder.

 

“Thank you. I’ll give you a box of cookies when I get back.”

 

– It’s a promise!

 

“Of course.”

 

I rubbed Rake’s head and put on the lace gloves that I received from Layla.

 

“Then shall we go now, Nell?”

 

“Yes, Noah. Can you keep an eye on Rake so she doesn’t get into trouble?”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

– When have I ever caused trouble!

 

“Sorry, I won’t be able to read you a fairy tale today. I’ll read you two tomorrow instead.”

 

“Yes, you promised.”

 

While I was internally shouting So cute! at the sight of Noah smiling so brightly with his eyes crinkled, Leonhard gently patted Noah’s head.

 

“I’m sorry I can’t take you with us.”

 

“I’m not old enough to debut in society yet. Of course, there’s no reason for me to debut in society in the capital.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Leonhard nodded immediately at Noah’s words.

 

I was a little shocked by the conversation between the two men.

 

“Oh… you’re not going to debut?”

 

“Yes?”

 

Startled by my question, Noah glanced at Leonhard, and then asked me back.

 

“Should I?”

 

“No, I’m not saying you have to… Never mind, I made my social debut in the capital, so I assumed you would do the same.”

 

To be exact, it was because I saw Noah’s debut in the capital’s high society in the future Hiyela showed me.

 

“I’ll do it if my mother tells me to.”

 

“No, no. Hmm, let’s talk about this later. You’re at least ten years too early for this conversation.”

 

Noah nodded as if what I said was correct.

 

“Okay. Then have a safe trip.”

 

“Thanks. Have a nice dream, Noah.”

 

I kept looking back as I held Leonhard’s hand and got into the carriage.

 

‘It’s not like Noah was left alone in the mansion, so why did it feel like I’d left a child alone by the water’s edge?’

 

‘How does this man go around leaving Noah behind all the time and stay so calm?’

 

Leonhard, who had knocked on the carriage wall to signal for departure, noticed my gaze and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

 

I shook my head as if it were nothing and leaned back comfortably on the carriage seat.

 

“Hey, didn’t you say the Third Prince isn’t coming to tonight’s banquet?”

 

“More precisely, he can’t come. He wasn’t invited by the host.”

 

“He can’t do things like barge in? I’m royalty! Open the door! Things like that.”

 

Leonhard let out a short laugh at my exaggerated voice.

 

“There’s no precedent for that, so I can’t say for sure… But considering the place is the Imperial Palace and the host is Her Majesty the Empress. Even if you come in without permission, you will be kicked out immediately.”

 

“I see…”

 

I nodded and asked quietly.

 

“So… What were the results of the investigation?”

 

While I was holed up in the mansion having fun, Leonhard went out once to meet Duke Khalid.

 

I’d meant to ask him if he found anything when he got back, but I ended up falling asleep before he returned.

 

‘I forgot about it so I didn’t ask……. And then I couldn’t find the timing. But now, isn’t it possible that I might run into people who might try to kidnap me?’

 

‘I need to know what’s going on, at least to be prepared.’

 

Maybe he could sense the serious look on my face, or maybe he’d always intended to tell me—either way, Leonhard didn’t hide anything and told me everything.

 

“Was it four days ago? Thinking back, everything started going wrong the moment I left the mansion that day….”

 

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