How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 263

“The child’s name was Raenel..”

 

“Ra-Raenel?”

 

“Pretty, isn’t it? It means happiness in the ancient language. I truly hope this child will be happy.”

 

‘I wanted to meet Asta’s daughter. But at the same time, I didn’t.’

 

‘Because if I did meet her, I felt like I’d end up shouting—asking why Sister Asta had to die for her.’

 

Because Pan wasn’t sure he would be able to grant Asta’s wish to make the child smile if she were ever brought to the tower.

 

‘Because all this time, I had believed Asta had been taken from me by that child.’

 

But… Pan already knew the truth.

 

Asta only ever wanted her child to live happily, to be able to smile.

 

It was just that such a life wasn’t possible in the tower.

 

“Bring her back no matter what! How dare she stab me in the back after all the kindness I showed her? I won’t let her get away with this!”

 

That master, who had once screamed that not only Asta but also her child would be kept alive just to suffer, was now treating Kana like a fragile treasure—afraid she might break if held too tightly or vanish with a breath.

 

“Just let me borrow it for a bit. I’ll return it in perfect condition. …No, I’m just asking to borrow it, really.”

 

“Can’t you lend me something small like this, with everything we’ve been through?”

 

Despite being warned not to lose or break the mirror because it was a precious item, Karl ended up losing it.

 

He had called Pan to the capital for his own needs and did not even tell him the fact with his own mouth.

 

‘What did they say about the mirror?’

 

“Not only his Highness, but the Master in the tower could also be in danger, so leave that mirror behind.…”

 

“…What? Seriously? How many times do I have to tell you to speak clearly? I said leave it. Just do as you’re told. Or do you want me to break it right now?”

 

His Master, Karl, and Tom were all equally selfish.

 

‘So now, isn’t it okay for me to act however I want?’

 

‘Sister Asta… she was trying to protect that child.’

 

That gentle child, who had called even someone like him “family” without hesitation.

 

If someone like her—who resembled Asta so much—were to cry… surely even the dead Asta would be heartbroken.

 

Clutching the pendant tightly, Pan made up his mind.

 

‘I… I will protect that child. On behalf of Sister Asta.’

 

* * *

 

“Marie, Rake… Oh, fast asleep already?”

 

The ice cream that had been piled up like a mountain compared to the small body of Rake had

disappeared without a trace along with the snacks that had been stuck on it.

 

Instead, a bird with a bulging belly was spreading its tail feathers out and breathing evenly.

 

Marilyn sighed and shook her head, covering Rake with a handkerchief like a blanket.

 

“I was just amazed—wondering where all that food could even fit in that little body.”

 

“Right? I still find it fascinating no matter how many times I see it.”

 

‘If there was something like mukbang in this world, wouldn’t Rake have become a popular star in an instant?’

 

TL: Mukbang = food shows.

 

“So, why were you looking for Rake?”

 

“Mm, I had something to ask… But I guess I’ll just ask later.”

 

Leaving Rake in Marilyn’s care, I stepped out of the room.

 

‘I wanted to show Rake the magic stone that Pan gave me.…’

 

To be exact, I wanted to ask where the teleportation magic engraved there was directed.

 

“S-Soon… y-you’ll f-find out where it leads. When the time comes that y-you need to go there… u-use it with someone who c-can protect you.”

 

‘When on earth will that soon be?’

 

‘And how did Pan know that I’d need to go there in the first place?’

 

‘Maybe I should’ve kept him around a little longer…’

 

I sent him off because I had work to do, but I couldn’t help feeling regretful.

 

If I had known I would suddenly meet my biological mother’s acquaintance like this, I would have prepared a list of questions in advance.

 

‘But…’

 

“S-Sister Asta…. tried to… p-protect you…”

 

If he knew that, then he must also know that my real mother had been chased by Onyx.

 

‘I wonder if he knows anything about Onyx.’

 

That was one thing I truly regretted.

 

‘Well, I guess there will be another chance someday.’

 

After shaking off my regrets, I returned to the study.

 

Noah was sitting on the long sofa next to Sage, both of them peering at the magic stone.

 

He noticed my presence and looked up.

 

“What do you think, do you know something?”

 

“Not really. I still need to study more, I think.”

 

As Noah shook his head, Sage groaned, rotating her stiff neck.

 

“It’s definitely a teleportation spell, but the structure is really complicated. The only thing I can be sure of is that it can break through a barrier somewhere.”

 

“Barrier?”

 

“Yeah. How do I explain this… There’s a ‘key’ keyword at the center of the formulas linking everything together. That corresponds to a ‘lock’ keyword somewhere else.”

 

Sage continued explaining, but that was the only part I even understood.

 

I nodded my head as if I understood, then picked up the mirror on the table to change the subject.

 

“Should we give this a try?”

 

“A mirror?”

 

“He said Leon has the other one, right? If we activate it, maybe he’ll respond?”

 

Noah nodded, his curiosity piqued by my words.

 

“Then, let me give it a try.”

 

I silently handed the mirror to Noah.

 

If I made one wrong move, I would have turned the magic tool into a bomb.

 

‘When will magical power control be perfect?’

 

Others worried about not having enough magic. Me? I had way too much.

 

At this rate, I wouldn’t even be able to touch Lira, the gift Rebecca gave me.

 

My already overflowing magical power would only amplify even more through a magic stone.

 

“Ah, it’s ready.”

 

Meanwhile, Noah, who had infused magic into the mirror, gave the mirror to me with an excited face.

 

A pure white light shone on the mirror surface, as if to indicate that a signal was being sent.

 

I sat in the seat Sage had given me and waited for Leonhard’s face to appear in the mirror.

 

“That’s strange… there’s no response?”

 

“Why can’t I see anything?”

 

“Maybe he doesn’t know we activated the mirror from our side…? Oh!”

 

At that moment, the white light that had been on the mirror surface disappeared.

 

Thinking it had finally connected, I looked into the mirror—but still, nothing appeared.

 

Just in case, I tried saying something into the mirror.

 

“Hello? Ah, wait, that’s not—no, maybe it is? Ahem… Honey, are you there?”

 

Sometimes I think I can hear something faintly, and sometimes I don’t.

 

“Why can’t we see anything? Is it broken?”

 

– Nell!

 

At that moment, Leonhard’s voice was heard from beyond the mirror.

 

Startled, I turned to Noah, who also stared at the mirror, equally surprised.

 

As if to let me know that I hadn’t misheard, Leonhard’s voice came through the mirror once more.

 

– 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?

 

It was hard to tell since I couldn’t see his face, but Leonhard’s voice sounded more like someone desperate than surprised.

 

Not understanding why he was reacting so strongly, I just stared blankly into the mirror.

 

At that moment, a voice other than Leonhard’s was heard from beyond the mirror.

 

– Calm down. I don’t know how this happened, but… they’re in the capital. Probably in a mansion.

 

– What?

 

That voice… I definitely recognized it.

 

‘Ah!’

 

“Is that Felix?”

 

“I think that’s right.”

 

Noah nodded beside me. And as if Felix heard us, his voice came again.

 

– Wait a minute. I’ll lift the illusion.

 

And then, just like that, there was the sound of fingers snapping.

 

In the next instant, the mirror flashed brightly, and finally—Leonhardt’s face appeared.

 

“Ah! I can see you now! Honey!”

 

“I can really see Father’s face too.”

 

Noah, a little flustered, had flushed cheeks. Seeing the two of us, Leonhard asked urgently, his expression tense:

 

– Nell! Noah! Are you both okay?

 

‘But why does this man keep reacting as if we are in danger?’

 

“Why do you look so surprised? We’re at home, so don’t worry.”

 

To prove we were safe, I lifted the mirror and showed Leonhardt the study where we were sitting.

 

Sage, Ethan, and Leona made a brief salute as their eyes met with Leonhard’s in the mirror.

 

Only then did Leonhard feel relieved as he spoke from beyond the mirror in a relaxed voice.

 

– thanks god…..

 

“What is going on?”

 

– I should be the one asking that, Marquise.

 

“Huh?”

 

‘Whose voice is that? Where have I heard this voice before?’

 

– Long time no see, Marquise.

 

Leonhard’s face disappeared, and what appeared above the mirror was the second prince’s face.

 

I almost screamed.

 

“Oh my—Y-Your Highness the Second Prince! May the light of the sun shine upon you.”

 

“Your Highness the Second Prince.”

 

Startled by my words, Noah quickly followed my lead and greeted the second prince.

 

But he waved his hand lightly beyond the mirror, as if there was something more important than greetings.

 

– Okay, that’s enough greetings. First, can you answer my question? How do you have this mirror?

 

“A mirror? Someone gave me one a little while ago.”

 

– Someone’? Who exactly?

 

“Um, well, that is…”

 

‘Was it okay to tell him about Pan?’

 

But since the Second Prince had asked directly, I couldn’t just brush it off.

 

So I began explaining, leaving out the specifics about Pan and instead saying a friend of my birth mother had come to visit me.

 

* * *