How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 259

“I’d like to verify it here and now, if possible.”

 

“I’m eager to prove my innocence, but since we only have four doses, it’s better to save them. We may need to do this in a more official setting.”

 

Leonhard nodded, knowing that he wasn’t just saying that to avoid the situation.

 

No matter what schemes someone might be planning behind the scenes, if the symbol had been artificially manifested, the prince would have no choice but to be stripped of his title.

 

“Then I’ll keep the medicine until the day it’s needed.”

 

“Yes. With you, someone uninvolved in the capital’s politics, there’ll be less room for gossip.”

 

Watching Leonhard pack the medicine into his magic bag, Duke Khalid was seriously tempted to say, ‘While you’re at it… could you put this envelope in there, too…?’

 

‘It is a matter for the imperial family, so His Majesty will take care of it.’

 

He told himself with a sigh as he took charge of the envelope.

 

Felix, who had been watching the scene, said as he poured more alcohol into the empty glass.

 

“When the time comes to use that potion, someone might raise concerns about its safety. So be sure to contact me before using it.”

 

“I will.”

 

Of course, no one would object to the item guaranteed by the Sage of the Silver Frost Tower.

 

Unless they intend to turn all the Sages and wizards of the Magic Tower into enemies.

 

“So, where’s that mirror you wanted me to track?”

 

“Oh.”

 

He’d been so focused on the potion that he’d forgotten. Leonhard belatedly pulled the mirror out of his magic bag.

 

“This is it. Can you track it?”

 

Felix first received the mirror from Leonhard.

 

Felix took the mirror from him and, holding it by the handle, examined the patterns engraved on the frame with only his eyes.

 

“A relic from the wizard’s Renaissance era… Tracking it is possible, but I need to make preparations.”

 

“How long will it take?”

 

“Not long. About ten minutes.”

 

Leonhard nodded, accepting the brief wait.

 

While Felix went to prepare, he turned to Julius with a question.

 

“By the way, how’s the situation at the detached palace?”

 

“Well… It didn’t look like he was doing anything.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Leonhard thought there would be at least one reaction, since he hinted that he had taken the mirror.

 

First possibility: they’d try to contact the mirror’s pair, assuming it had been lost.

 

Second: they’d attempt something to retrieve the mirror now in his hand.

 

Thanks to the attempted poisoning incident, the Second Prince had been able to put his knights openly in the detached palace.

 

If either Karl or Tommy had tried to contact another wizard by any means, it would’ve been noticed by the Second Prince.

 

‘It doesn’t seem like there’s any movement to retrieve the mirror.’

 

Just in case, he’d even bought Rake ten cakes to deliver to the mansion.

 

He’d told Rake: “If you see anyone trying to break into the mansion, tie them up tightly and throw them to the Black Wolf Knights.”

 

-That’s easy! Leave it to me!

 

But when he asked if anything had happened, Rake just shook her head every time.

 

‘Should I rather be thankful that nothing happened?’

 

‘Or… have they already taken countermeasures against the mirror?’

 

While Leonhard was lost in thought, Duke Khalid asked a question, as if he too had been curious.

 

“More importantly, what happened to that guest?”

 

“The guest?”

 

Leonhard looked puzzled, and Julius explained, realizing he still didn’t know.

 

“There was a guest who came looking for Karl. They seemed rather close, so we kept an eye on him as well… but then he suddenly disappeared.”

 

Julius explained that they even searched his belongings under the pretext of an attempted poisoning incident, but they found nothing.

 

“We did confirm he left the palace early in the morning. But while quietly following him, he suddenly  disappeared.”

 

“He suddenly disappeared? Did he use teleportation?”

 

“If he could use magic, maybe he did.”

 

“But teleportation can’t get you past the capital’s walls, right?”

 

That was why even Felix, after teleporting near the capital, had time to cross the bridge on foot.

 

“Exactly. Which means he must still be somewhere inside the capital. We don’t know exactly where or why he’s hiding, though.”

 

Maybe the search of his belongings made him feel threatened. Still, he couldn’t hide in the capital forever.

 

“I’ve already told the captain of the gate guard, so we will know when he leaves the capital. If we chase after him then, we’ll be able to get some clues.”

 

At the Second Prince’s words, Leonhard thought,

 

‘If that man heads south, we might be able to pinpoint Onyx’s base.’

 

Now that he thought of it, he still hadn’t told Duke Khalid about the Doctor’s assistant.

 

The second prince arrived first, so Leonhard couldn’t say anything.

 

“How did Onyx know something even the Duke didn’t—something only the personal doctor knew?”

 

“You should dig into that. There might be an unexpected lead there.”

 

After hearing that from Leonhard, Duke Khalid called his personal doctor and asked if anyone else knew about the former Duchess’ pregnancy.

 

The doctor then replied that only he and his assistant knew.

 

It was unclear whether one of the two betrayed the duke, or whether both of them betrayed him.

 

Originally, both of them were supposed to be investigated by Duke Khalid, but he was wasting a lot of manpower investigating Karl.

 

So he asked Leonhard to investigate the assistant who had left the capital while he investigated the doctor.

 

That was why Ajas’s messengers chased the doctor’s assistant.

 

And they’d kept this discussion from the Second Prince because it was an internal matter for Duke Khalid—and also…

 

‘Is it really right to talk to the Second Prince about Onyx?’

 

Leonhard and Duke Khalid had agreed to keep everything about Onyx from the Second Prince.

 

That included the bloodstone, how Karl had forged the symbol, and the fact that someone in the royal family may have given him their blood.

 

Even if the Second Prince was cooperating in the investigation, there was still no proof that he hadn’t been the one to give Karl that blood.

 

However—

 

‘Between the mirror and the way he handled the visitor at the detached palace… At this point, I feel like we can take the Second Prince off the suspect list.’

 

‘If he keeps cooperating like this, it’s only a matter of time before we uncover Onyx’s hideout.’

 

Leonhardt was starting to believe in the Second Prince’s innocence when—

 

—Fwaaash!

 

A sudden burst of light filled the room, making everyone squint and turn toward the source.

 

“Has the tracking already started?”

 

Seeing that the light was coming from the mirror, Duke Khalid asked.

 

But Felix shook his head.

 

“It wasn’t me.”

 

He pointed to the center of the mirror with his index finger.

 

“They’re trying to make contact from the other side.”

 

“What?”

 

Everyone was surprised, but Leonhard was the most surprised.

 

The people targeting Raenel were on the other side of that mirror.

 

Leonhardt asked Felix, trying to relax his clenched fist.

 

“Is it possible to track it right now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Felix nodded, then gave him a look, silently asking for permission.

 

Leonhard took one look at Duke Khalid and Julius and nodded, indicating that they should begin right away.

 

“At first, I’ll cast an illusion so they won’t notice our presence. Of course, they’ll realize it soon enough.”

 

All he needed was five seconds. Just a precise five-second window, and he could perfectly trace their location.

 

After Felix finished all his preparations, he picked up the mirror that was still shining brightly.

 

And then—

 

-Hello? Oh, wait, this isn’t… Is it? Ahem, honey, are you there?

 

“Nell….?”

 

Leonhard echoed the name blankly, then suddenly jumped to his feet like he had been struck.

 

– Why can’t I see anything? Is this broken?

 

He ran to the table in an instant and snatched the mirror from Felix’s hand.

 

“Nell!”

 

“Ugh… what kind of strength…”

 

A groan of pain escaped Felix’s lips at Leonhard’s rough grip.

 

As he clutched his stinging hand from just a brief brush of that force, everyone watching let out bewildered murmurs at the strange voice.

 

“What’s going on? Is that really the voice of the Marquise of Ajas?”

 

“I’m not sure, but… it seems similar.”

 

“Nell!”

 

– It’s strange. I can hear voices. Can you see my face? Noah, can you see your father’s face?

 

– I can’t see it either.

 

“Noah? Noah is there too?”

 

Nothing could be seen through the mirror. But the voices coming through were unmistakably Raenel’s and Noah’s. The blood drained from Leonhard’s face in shock.

 

‘When on earth? When were they kidnapped by them?’

 

A wave of helplessness crashed over him, and his hands trembled.

 

The one who calmed him was Felix. Still rubbing his sore hand, he frowned and spoke.

 

“Calm down. I don’t know what’s going on… but their location is the capital. Most likely their mansion.”

 

“What?”

 

– Is that Felix’s voice?”

 

– I think so.

 

“Wait a moment. I’ll dispel the illusion.”

 

Felix snapped his fingers in the air.

 

Then, the previously white mirror began to glow, and the faces of Raenel and Noah appeared on it.

 

– Ah! I can see you now! Leon!

 

– I can really see Father’s face.

 

“Nell! Noah! Are you both okay?”

 

– Why do you look so shocked? We’re at home right now, so don’t worry.

 

Raenel lifted the mirror and showed her surroundings.

 

The familiar layout of the room was clearly Raenel’s study, one Leonhard knew well.

 

And beside them stood Leona, Ethan, and even Sage.

 

Realizing they were truly in Paul Herbina, Leonhard’s body finally relaxed, and he sat down without realizing it.

 

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