How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 267

“Almost done?”

 

– A-Almost… A-Anyway, the Tower has c-closed its gates… and the capital has P-Pel’s daughter, right?

 

“What about the Marquise? Whether there are many or few of them, it’s not like monsters can kill someone of Sesto’s bloodline.”

 

– D-Did you forget? If she uses too much of the power embedded in her b-blood… her body and m-mind won’t be able to handle it.

 

The moment he heard Pan’s words, Karl came to his senses.

 

‘That was right. Even if you had manifested the symbol, and even if you had the power, that power wasn’t something you could use infinitely.’

 

– If monsters attack the capital, s-she’ll try to send them back out.

 

“Yeah. Controlling that many monsters would inevitably cause her to collapse.”

 

Karl’s goal had never been to kill the Marquise of Ajas. It was to kill the Imperial family and the Emperor.

 

If the Marquise collapsed trying to defend against the monster attack, then there would be no one left to interfere.

 

“You’re a genius! Right, there’s no need to actually kill her! Hahaha!”

 

– Monsters… kill… can’t… if you… disappear…

 

“Huh? What did you say?”

 

– Oh, I didn’t say anything.

 

“Really? I guess there was some noise mixed in.”

 

Karl didn’t think much of it.

 

He was too giddy with the thought that every last nuisance had been dealt with.

 

“When will you arrive at Count Gordon’s territory? No, when will you be ready to lead the chimeras and monsters toward the capital?”

 

– G-Give or take… in five days…?

 

“Five days… That’s the new moon. A perfect night to invade peaceful lands.”

 

Karl chuckled to himself.

 

“On that night, attack the capital square with the chimeras and monsters. Once Marquise Ajas collapses, leave the high-level monsters behind and lead only the chimeras to the palace.”

 

As if he were so excited for that day, the corners of his lips rose high into the sky.

 

“The Emperor will die, every royal heir will die… and I, the sole survivor, will become Emperor of this empire.”

 

* * *

 

“Y–Yeah, I got it.”

 

Karl ended the call after wrapping up his business.

 

Pan put the piece of wood that was no longer moving into his pocket and released the soundproof barrier he had set up around it.

 

Immediately, presences that had gone unnoticed before began to stir between the trees behind him.

 

But Pan wasn’t surprised.

He had sensed those distant eyes watching him ever since he left the capital.

 

The Marquis’s people… maybe?’

 

Since they said the Marquis had the mirror, those following him were likely his subordinates.

 

Or perhaps knights of the Imperial Guard investigating the poisoning incident.

 

Either way, if Pan wanted to shake them off, he could.

 

But he chose not to.

 

‘If I lead them to the dungeon in Count Gordon’s territory, they’ll report what they see to someone.’

 

There were probably two, maybe three.

 

It’s impossible for them alone to stop the numerous chimeras and monsters in the dungeon. But they could at least report to the capital.

 

If the capital could be prepared in advance, the damage could be minimized. Besides, the Marquis of Ajas would never leave his wife’s side.

 

‘Monsters can’t kill her anyway. If only people like you would disappear…’

 

Five days later.

 

Pan will lead the chimera and superior monsters to the capital as instructed by Karl.

 

However, contrary to Karl’s orders, he will not head to the capital’s square, but straight to the imperial palace.

 

‘There…’

 

‘I’m going to kill them all.’

 

Carl, Tom, and the Marquise of Calvin.

 

‘Everyone who tried to harm her.’

 

* * *

 

Julius’s steps toward the Rose Quartz Palace were as fast as running.

 

“Your Highness, a guest from the detached palace has come to the Rose Quartz Palace.”

 

“What? Are you saying they just left it alone without stopping them?”

 

They said it was a get-well visit, and we had no grounds to stop them… More importantly, the problem is that the First Princess didn’t reject the visit.”

 

“What?”

 

Mariette never allowed her older brother to visit her.

 

Yet she allowed a suspicious man of unknown background to see her?

 

‘Why?’

 

‘Marie must have heard the news that the ceremony was postponed today.’

 

If he took the moderate route, he’d want to check for himself whether her illness was truly serious enough to postpone the coronation.

 

If he were the violent one, he would be angry that his ceremony was delayed because of her.

 

‘There’s no way Marie didn’t expect that.’

 

‘So why did she allow his visit? What did she intend to say to him?’

 

As Julius mulled over the answer, he quickened his paces—only to stop dead in his tracks at the palace gate of the Rose Quartz Palace.

 

It was because he encountered Karl leisurely walking out with his attendants and escorts.

 

“Oh… I never thought I’d see you in a place like this. I guess you’ve come to visit your sick sister.”

 

Julius’s aides and guards all glared at Karl in unison at his flippant nod.

 

Of course, the knights who had followed Karl from the detached palace to monitor him looked no different.

 

“How dare you…!”

 

Julius raised his hand to stop the knight, who couldn’t hold back and took a step forward.

 

Meanwhile, Julius’ gaze was fixed only on Karl’s face.

 

So intensely that Karl’s smug smile finally began to stiffen.

 

“And you… you’re just coming from Marie’s room?”

 

“Yes. I was worried. What sort of grave illness could possibly delay my coronation.”

 

Karl shook his head dramatically.

 

“But now that I see her in person, I think it’s quite reasonable. Maybe I should prepare mourning clothes.”

 

“This is crazy….!”

 

“Hey you! Don’t talk nonsense with your open mouth!”

 

“It’s not like I said anything out of the blue. I heard that you came to visit the princess every day, so I’m sure you know. Oh, they said that you were turned away at the door every time you visited?”

 

Karl cackled as he spoke. Even the knight who had raised his voice in anger was rendered speechless.

 

How could this man—no matter how close to coronation—be so arrogant and shameless?

 

“I hate to say this, Your Highness… but even though you made the effort to visit today, it would be best if you turned back now. I just came out after seeing Her Highness the Princess falling asleep.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m telling you this for the sake of the person in critical condition, so please don’t be too angry. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

 

With an exaggerated bow, Karl whistled as he brushed past Julius.

 

Everyone was speechless at his rude behavior that could not be described in words, and could only swallow dry saliva.

 

Even Karl’s own attendants and the knights trailing behind him were frozen.

 

It was a moment where it wouldn’t have been surprising if fury had exploded.

 

Tommy, who had been just observing Julius’s expression, quickly followed after Carl, who had been shouting at him to ask why he wasn’t coming.

 

“Your Highness…”

 

“You two, follow him.”

 

The two knights who had been shadowing Karl looked uncertain, unsure of what to do, but Julius gestured to the other knights behind him.

 

Once the two knights left to follow Karl toward the detached palace, Julius turned to the two remaining knights.

 

“What did Karl do to Mariewhile he was here?”

 

“Ah, we don’t know either.”

 

“Her Highness the Princess requested a private conversation with him…”

 

“Does that mean you left Marie alone with him?”

 

Julius let out a long sigh as the two knights lowered their heads as if they had nothing to say.

 

He knew it too. It wasn’t the knights’ fault.

 

If they had been Princess Mariette’s own guards, they might have disobeyed for her sake.

 

But since they served the Second Prince, any misstep would be seen as the Second Prince interfering with the First Princess’s authority.

 

In any case, since the knights were serving Julius, they could not do anything that would create a political weakness in him.

 

“Never mind. I’ll be asking you both for detailed reports on everything that happened today at the detached palace and Rose Quartz. Prepare the documents ahead of time.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Julius tried to enter the Rose Quartz Palace to check on Mariette’s condition.

 

But as always, today the head maid stood in his way.

 

“Your Highness…”

 

But today, Julius did not back down.

 

“Get out of the way.”

 

“Her Highness is in a deep sleep…”

 

“I told you to move. I won’t say it a third time.”

 

As if to support his words, the knights led by Eric tensed, their presence growing sharp and threatening.

 

Seeing Julius was prepared to use force if necessary, the head maid finally bowed her head.

 

“Please just keep in mind… Her Highness is not in a condition to receive guests right now.”

 

“I would never do anything to harm my sister.”

 

So, Julius finally stepped into Mariette’s bedroom and sighed as he saw Mariette lying there as if she were dead.

 

“Why is her face like that?… Were the rumors I heard true?”

 

Julius had believed all along that Mariette’s illness was just an act to delay the Third Prince’s coronation.

 

More precisely, he thought she might be slightly unwell, but not seriously so—and the claims of her being gravely ill were exaggerations.

 

But Mariette’s appearance now really looked bad for something that had been made up.

 

“Maid. What on earth is Marie suffering from?”

 

The maid, who had been hesitating to answer, finally opened her mouth under Julius’s sharp gaze.

 

“Her Highness is suffering from severe anemia. At least… that is what I’ve been told.”

 

* * *