How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 247

After the couple’s dance ended, the banquet officially began.

 

Leonhard, as if he was excited about a long-awaited banquet, hugged me and danced with me three times.

 

If I hadn’t told him I needed a break, I’m sure he would’ve gone for a fourth or even a fifth round.

 

“I’m saying this so you don’t get the wrong idea, but I’m not tired because of stamina. My feet hurt from wearing high heels.”

 

“Of course. I know. How could I not know?”

 

“You don’t sound like you know…”

 

Leonhard started to offer me various desserts as if to appease me who was pouting.

 

It was sweet chocolate and cake and I felt good when I put it in my mouth.

 

After taking a short rest at the table, we went to greet the Empress and the Second Prince.

 

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. May the noble radiance of the moon shine upon you.”

 

As I spread my skirts and bent my knees in a deep curtsy, a disapproving voice came from above.

 

“Strictly speaking, this isn’t the first time we’ve met, Marquise.”

 

“Pardon? Oh… Do you remember me?”

 

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

 

Technically, it wasn’t our first meeting.

 

The Empress had been present at the New Year’s banquet earlier this year, when I drank the wine of blessing.

 

But I didn’t go to greet the Empress at that time.

 

To be precise, I couldn’t. I was just the daughter of a poor count at the time.

 

It wasn’t just me, there were dozens of people who couldn’t say hello.

 

So I had assumed she wouldn’t remember me. Or maybe she was just saying that, since it wouldn’t be hard to find out I attended that banquet.

 

“How could I forget? The lovely young lady who danced with the First Prince.”

 

“Ah…..”

 

I could barely control my facial expressions in front of the Empress.

 

‘So that’s why she remembers me.’

 

And I’d bet the blue diamond on Leonhard’s left ring finger that she didn’t bring it up with good intentions.

 

Leonhard also noticed this fact and quickly intervened.

 

“Her Majesty is absolutely right. My wife looked so beautiful that day, I spent the whole evening in a daze, just staring at her.”

 

Leonhard, being a fool in love, took my side. But the Empress was not so easy.

 

“If I recall correctly, that day you were escorting my daughter. And yet you were so captivated by a woman dancing with another man that you left the one right next to you?”

 

A sharp question, one that could insult the First Princess if you answer incorrectly.

 

Leonhard opened his mouth to respond anyway—

 

But before he could, the Second Prince gently stepped in, smooth as flowing water.

 

“Haha, isn’t it natural for men to become blind and deaf when they fall in love?”

 

“Prince.”

 

“I, too, have had the same experience, Mother. So please don’t scold the Marquis. My heart is pounding as I listen to it from the side.”

 

“Is that supposed to be an appropriate thing to say?”

 

The Empress’s gaze turned sharp, clearly disapproving of her son defending my husband.

 

But perhaps because they were mother and son, the Second Prince didn’t even flinch as he gently soothed her.

 

“I can’t express how grateful I am to my mother for giving me the opportunity to meet her. If you think about it, isn’t today’s good news all thanks to you? Hey, bring me some wine.”

 

He called a nearby servant and ordered wine to be brought.

 

He handed two cups to Leonhard and me, and shared the other with the Empress. The Second Prince winked at us.

 

“Come to think of it, I owe you my life, don’t I? I’m truly happy to be able to share this joyful moment with you.”

 

Now that her own son was talking about a life debt, the Empress could hardly say anything more to us.

 

With a sigh, she clinked her glass against his.

 

“May today’s joy last forever.”

 

Then we lightly clinked our glasses with theirs, and after downing the mild, juice-like wine in one go, we politely excused ourselves.

 

Only when we reached a quiet table away from others could I finally breathe again.

 

“Oh my, that was intense. I didn’t expect Her Majesty to come at me like that.”

 

“Me neither. Just one dance with the First Prince, and she dislikes you that much? I doubt she’s jealous like I am, though.”

 

“You’re jealous?”

 

“Isn’t it natural? I lost my wife’s first dance as an adult.”

 

“Oh, please. You make it sound like you didn’t dance with any other women.”

 

I shot him a playful glare, but Leonhard replied proudly, as if he were completely innocent

 

“Once I became an adult — no, even before that, aside from family, you were my first.”

 

“Liar. You’re saying you never danced at any parties or balls?”

 

Leonhard nodded.

 

“Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit… but back then, if I danced with someone, rumors would spread that she was my fiancée.”

 

It would have caused trouble for both him and the woman, so he avoided dancing on purpose.

 

“That guy came to the capital and asked me to dance right away?”

 

“Because I fell in love with you at first sight.”

 

“Tch, you speak well.”

 

Even as I gave him another glare, Leonhard spoke without a hint of shame.

 

“If it weren’t for that reason, I wouldn’t be able to explain my actions. No. I feel like I’m not me anymore since I met you.”

 

“So you don’t like it?”

 

“Of course not.”

He smiled gently and kissed my cheek while wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

 

I looked around in surprise and then hit him on the shoulder.

 

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing where everyone can see?”

 

“I didn’t kiss your lips, since people are watching.”

 

“That’s your defense?”

 

I glared at him, but Leonhard just smiled sweetly — a smile so warm it could melt you on the spot.

 

“Please forgive me. I’m getting annoyed by the fact that there are so many guys who don’t know that you’re my wife.”

 

Leonhard still hugged my waist and whispered in my ear.

 

I glanced around in response to his words, but honestly, more women than men were looking this way.

 

“Oh my… You know what? There’s something I still regret.”

 

“Regret? What regret are you talking about?”

 

“That I didn’t put a veil on you during our wedding.”

 

If I hadn’t been so distracted from visiting the Silver Frost Tower!

 

“I want to put a veil on you right now. Only I should see how handsome my husband is, but here you are, showing yourself off to everyone!”

 

I was serious, but my husband was smiling brightly like a flower.

 

Whether he knew what I was thinking or not, Leonhard gently lifted my hand and kissed the back of it.

 

“Don’t worry, Nell.”

 

Then he brought my fingertips to his neck.

 

To be precise, above the button that fills all the way to the neck.

 

“Because no one knows below this level except my wife.”

 

“Oh my goodness…..”

 

My husband… when did he get this bold?

 

If we weren’t in public, I might have yanked him down for a breathtaking kiss right then and there.

 

Or grabbed his wrist and dragged him out to the garden.

 

“You… better be ready for tonight.”

 

Leonhard’s ears turned visibly red at my words, and he looked genuinely flustered.

 

“Yes, my lady.”

 

So well-behaved when he answers, too.

 

I was about to say we should head home since we’d already greeted the Empress, when—

 

“Ah, there you are.”

 

Duke Khalid, who had gone to talk to the others, came towards us with Rebecca.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“The servant just came to me and said that His Majesty is looking for us.”

 

“Us?”

 

Leonhard pointed his index finger alternately at Duke Khalid and himself.

 

Duke Khalid nodded.

 

“Yes. Seems he wants to ask something in private.”

 

Probably about how the investigation with Karl is going.

 

“Do I really need to go too? Considering what His Majesty entrusted me with, I think it would be better to dance one more dance with my wife.”

 

“Who can guess His Majesty’s intentions?”

 

Leonhard could only sigh at Duke Khalid’s shrug.

 

“If it’s going to be like this, why doesn’t he just attend the banquet?”

 

“Don’t say that.”

 

Although he said that, it seemed that Duke Khalid also found it quite bothersome to be summoned all the way to where the Emperor was.

 

Rebecca and I shared a small smile as we locked eyes.

 

Then I pushed Leonhard’s back.

 

“Hurry up and come back. I’ll stay with Becky in the meantime.”

 

“Yeah. We’ll be out on the terrace, so come over there when you’re done.”

 

Both men looked absolutely reluctant, their expressions screaming I really don’t want to go.

 

“I’ll be back quickly.”

 

“If anything happens, scream immediately.”

 

“Oh, come on. With so many people around, what could possibly happen?”

 

“Still….”

 

The two men escorted us directly to the terrace and then left to meet the Emperor.

 

As soon as the two of them left, we immediately locked the door and closed the curtains.

 

“Ah, it feels so much better out here. We should’ve come out sooner.”

 

“Exactly. Being stuck inside with all those people was exhausting.”

 

Just from the look on her face, I could tell she’d had a rough time.

 

As expected, Rebecca started to grumble in earnest about why there were so many people interested in other people’s business.

 

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