How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 268

“Is that what you were told?”

 

“That was the palace doctor’s diagnosis.”

 

The head maid, who had previously heard from Julius that the palace doctor had been given too much work compared to his abilities, spoke in a resigned tone.

 

“What causes anemia?”

 

“They say they don’t know.”

 

At this point, even if someone said the royal doctor was truly incompetent, there would be no rebuttal.

 

“Didn’t His Majesty send another doctor?”

 

“His opinion wasn’t much different either.”

 

In that case, it would be difficult to simply blame the palace doctor’s skills.

 

If the palace doctor sent by the emperor himself had made that diagnosis, then anyone else sent would have made a similar diagnosis.

 

‘But… is that the face of someone who simply suffers from anemia?’

 

Julius had never seen such a pale face as that of a blank sheet of paper.

 

There must be another problem, obviously.

 

Something that even a doctor who majored in medicine could not notice.

 

‘In that case…’

 

He had no choice but to ask a different kind of expert.

 

Julius left the Rose Quartz Palace right away to give Mariette some rest and summoned Eric to assign him a task.

 

“Go quietly to Paul Herbina’s mansion without letting anyone know.…”

 

* * *

 

Let’s turn back time for a moment.

 

It was the second day since Leonhard had decorated his bedroom with roses he had personally picked from the Iris Palace.

 

When my sister Lily came to visit me while I was sick, she complimented how beautiful the roses were, and I happily bragged about my husband.

 

“Isn’t it pretty? Leon saw them blooming in the Iris Palace garden, asked the Second Prince’s wife or her Highness the princess for permission, and picked them himself. He even trimmed the thorns!”

 

“How thoughtful of him. So, did you send a thank-you gift to her Highness the Princess?”

 

“Huh? …No, I didn’t.”

 

“Oh, come on. Are you serious? You received flowers personally grown by Her Highness and didn’t even send a thank-you gift?”

 

“No, I just thought of them as a gift from my husband…”

 

“Your husband only got permission to pick them under the pretense of giving you a gift. Broadly speaking, that means Her Highness practically gave them to you herself.”

 

 “Is that how it is?”

 

“Yes. You said this happened two days ago, right? It’s not too late. Send someone to the Iris Palace right now.”

 

The truth was, I hadn’t even considered sending a thank-you gift because I thought that, since Ayas wasn’t supposed to be involved in imperial politics, I shouldn’t get too close to the royal family.

 

If my sister Lily hadn’t pointed it out, I would’ve ended up being a shameless woman who accepted a gift from royalty and didn’t even acknowledge it.

 

I hurriedly consulted with Logan and sent herbal medicine and tea, known to be good for pregnant women, along with a thank-you letter to the Iris Palace.

 

“Phew, thank goodness… I would’ve been in big trouble without you, sister.”

 

“You’re the Marquise of a border territory now. You can’t afford to overlook things like this. Your reputation is Ajas’s reputation too. Be more careful from now on.”

 

“Yes, Ma’am!”

 

That evening, Leona came back from the Iris Palace and told me that the Princess had gladly received the gift and letter.

 

I thought that would be the end of that little incident.

 

But then—

 

“Leon! Leon!”

 

“Nell? What’s the matter?”

 

Leonhard greeted me with a surprised look as I knocked on the office door and barged in without even waiting.

 

He dismissed Robert, who had been working with him, and guided me to the sofa in the middle of the office.

 

I grabbed Leonhard’s arm as he sat next to me and handed him the letter I was holding.

 

“Look at this, there’s an invitation from the Iris Palace!”

 

“An invitation? From the Iris Palace?”

 

“When you brought the roses last time, I sent back herbs and tea as thanks. Now, in return for that, she says she wants to share some good tea and invites me to visit.”

 

Leonhard, who was casually skimming through the letter he had received from me, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

 

“You sent a gift?”

 

“Sister Lily said that since I received flowers she personally grew, it’s the same as getting a gift from Her Highness… Anyway, if all she wanted to do was share tea, she could’ve just sent someone with it, right?”

 

She even mentioned that she had originally planned to visit me at the Paul Herbina residence herself, but because she needed to rest, those around her strongly advised against it, so she was asking for my understanding instead.

 

‘Wait… Isn’t that basically saying she’ll come in person if I don’t accept this?’

 

The Princess was a member of the imperial family. If someone like her expressed this strong desire to meet me, I had no choice but to accept.

 

‘Of course, I had a really big accident a while ago, so I can use that as an excuse to refuse.…’

 

“But what if the person who actually wrote this invitation was the Second Prince himself?”

 

Leonhard had told me he spoke with the prince and all went well, but what if the Second Prince still hadn’t fully let go of his suspicions about me receiving the mirror from Pan?

 

‘What if he was using his wife to summon me to the palace… to interrogate me?’

 

“That can’t be true. If that were the case, he would have told me two days ago.”

 

“You saw him two days ago?”

 

“Not directly, but I did meet his knight. Eric actually wanted to meet Felix.…”

 

Leonhard slowly waved the invitation as he seemed to gather his thoughts, then said:

 

“Still, your hunch might be right. This invitation likely reflects the Second Prince’s wishes too.”

 

“See? I thought so.”

 

“But it’s probably not for the reason you’re worried about. And even if, by some chance, it is… with me by your side, they won’t be able to treat you carelessly.”

 

Then Leonhard checked the date written on the invitation.

 

“It’s tomorrow. His Highness must have a specific purpose to have set the date so soon.”

 

“Right? There must be something urgent that requires one of us or both of us to go to the palace.”

 

If not, then the Second Prince had no sense at all. And I agreed with my husband on that point.

 

“Will you come with me tomorrow?”

 

“Of course. You absolutely mustn’t go alone, my lady.”

 

“I’d never do that. When we go to the palace tomorrow, you have to stay right by my side, okay? Promise?”

 

When I held out my pinky, Leonhard linked his with mine, wearing a solemn and serious expression.

 

“I will definitely stay by your side.”

 

Leonhard’s voice was infinitely serious.

 

I guess he still remembers how I almost drank poison while he was away.

 

As both comfort and thanks for coming with me, I kissed him lightly on the cheek and headed to the living room, where the imperial messenger was likely waiting.

 

I was going to deliver my reply that I would visit with pleasure.

 

“Wait! I can’t go empty-handed again. Logan! Layla!”

 

I couldn’t let this cycle of gift, thank-you gift, gift-for-the-thank-you-gift repeat endlessly, so I needed something simple, but not too trivial.

 

“Okay, let’s bake cookies!”

 

Since I was invited for tea, it made perfect sense to bring some snacks.

 

‘They wouldn’t be very precious, but they would be full of my sincerity and effort-enough to not feel too trivial…!’

 

I called the chef and the doctor to help me choose ingredients that would be safe for a pregnant woman but still taste good, and I asked Layla and the maids to help me choose the dress I would wear tomorrow.

 

And the next day.

 

I got into the carriage with Leonhard, determined not to be surprised no matter what happened.

 

“You didn’t forget that you promised to stay by my side, did you? Even if they try to send you away, don’t go.”

 

“Of course not. And if Her Highness tries to drop any hints, I’ll just shamelessly ask for a cup of tea myself.”

 

“Okay, that’s it.”

 

My husband is a steel Ajas, so he’d be good at putting iron plates on his face, right?

 

But unfortunately, there was something we didn’t expect.

 

“Let the ladies enjoy their quiet time together. Why don’t you come with me for a moment?”

 

“Actually, I’d prefer to stay with my wife—”

 

“My lady. May I ask, were the guests you invited today the Marquis and Marquise of Ajas?”

 

“No, I only invited the Marquise.”

 

As the fragrant aroma of tea wafted up from the table, the Princess smiled at us with elegance and warmth—almost saintly.

 

“Marquis, we ladies are about to engage in some delicate, private conversation. Since you’ve fulfilled your duty of escort, please excuse us.”

 

“…….”

 

Leonhard’s eyebrows furrowed as if he had not thought of that.

 

And now that the words “delicate, private conversation among ladies” had been uttered, if Leonhard continued to sit there, he’d risk being seen as a freak.

 

‘Well, I can’t let that happen.’

 

I couldn’t ruin my husband’s reputation just to ease my nerves.

 

I poked Leonhard’s side with my index finger and nodded for him to come out.

 

But Leonhard looked at me with a conflicted expression, clearly not wanting to leave. Then he turned to the Princess and made a request.

 

“Actually,  I was really looking forward to the tea Her Highness would serve today. I won’t stay long—may I have just a taste?”

 

“Hm?”

 

The Princess looked at the Second Prince, visibly surprised by the request.

 

The Second Prince, who had been wearing a similar expression of surprise, seemed to realize why Leonhard had said that.

 

With a low sigh, he gave a small nod.

 

“My lady, serve the Marquis a cup of tea. A sip or two should be fine.”

 

* * *