How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 269

“Two sips?”

 

The princess tilted her head, but poured just enough tea to barely cover the bottom of the cup.

 

Even that tiny amount sent up rising steam.

 

But Leonhard paid no attention and drank the tea in one gulp.

 

“Thank you. That was very good.”

 

He probably didn’t even have time to taste it. Still, Leonhard offered a crisp compliment about how good the tea was, then stood up.

 

“I mean no offense, but my wife recently had an accident and isn’t in the best condition. Please don’t keep her too long.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Only after hearing that did I understand why Leonhard insisted on drinking tea.

 

‘He did that to reassure me, who almost drank poison in the palace.’

 

The Princess seemed to realize the reason as well, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she nodded.

 

“You don’t have to worry. I need to rest as well.”

 

She placed a hand on her belly, clearly emphasizing that she also had someone to protect—and therefore had no reason to cause harm.

 

Leonhard, who had softened a little, nodded to me as an apology.

 

“Well then, Nell, please enjoy your time.”

 

“You too.”

 

As Leonhard kissed the back of my hand, I quickly glanced at the Second Prince.

 

As if expecting it, he smiled the moment our eyes met.

 

Just as the princess had earlier, I let out a couple of dry, fake coughs, to emphasize that I wasn’t feeling well.

 

‘Did my act work?’

 

The Second Prince said nothing to me and simply led Leonhardt out of the Iris Palace’s living room.

 

“You guys should get out too.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

She sent out all the maids and escorts who had been waiting in the living room.

 

And so, I was left alone with her.

 

The woman who had called me out, though I still didn’t know for what purpose.

 

‘That talk of a “private matter” must have just been to get Leon out of the way, right?’

 

Was the one who sent the invitation the Second Prince, who just walked out with Leonhard?

 

Or was it the Second Prince’s wife, now sitting alone with me?

 

Still unsure, I took out the cookies I’d brought from home.

 

“As a thank you for inviting me, I baked some cookies to go with your tea.”

 

“You baked them yourself, Marquise?”

 

“Yes. I even asked my doctor for advice and excluded the ones that are harmful to pregnant women, so you can eat them without any worries.”

 

I took a bite of the strawberry jam cookie first, just to prove it was safe.

 

‘I heard that the security at Iris Palace is tight these days.’

 

Especially anything the pregnant consort uses—food, items that touch her skin—all of it is thoroughly inspected, from its source to who handed it over.

 

‘So unless she’s really trying to harm me, I shouldn’t need to worry about poison.’

 

Even so, thinking about how Leonhard drank the tea to reassure me, I took a sip as well.

 

“Wow…. I feel warm inside.”

 

“I’m glad you like it. This tea is good for revitalizing your energy when you drink it warm. Oh, and if you like it cold, I’ll make some cold tea separately.”

 

“No. It’s cold here, so I prefer warm tea.”

 

They must have installed a cooling magic tool, the air inside the living room was cool like an autumn breeze despite the hot summer.

 

“It must’ve been a surprise to get such a sudden invitation. Thank you for coming so willingly. You probably figured it out already,…. the one who really wanted to send an invitation to Paul Herbina was his Highness.”

 

“Ah, I thought so….”

 

So the real reason was to call Leonhard here.

 

I let out a short sigh of relief.

 

“But please don’t misunderstand—I also wanted to have a conversation with you, Marquise.”

 

“With me?”

 

“Yes. First of all, I wanted to apologize for the unpleasant incident that happened not long ago.”

 

“Apologize?”

 

The princess let out a weak sigh, her shoulders drooping.

 

“Because the banquet that day was held to announce my pregnancy.”

 

‘Oh, that’s right.’

 

The Empress’s presence was so great that I completely forgot about it.

 

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that both the Duchess and the Marquise are safe.”

 

“Thanks to His Highness’s attentiveness that day, I was able to calm down quickly. I also heard separately that the Duchess is well, so please don’t worry too much.”

 

Looking back, if something had happened to me or Rebecca at that banquet, the princess—or her unborn child, Siegfried—might have carried that stain for a long time.

 

Even if they weren’t at fault, those looking for trouble could twist anything to their liking.

 

‘I couldn’t let people say Siegfried was “cursed” before he was even born!’

 

Even though I now know Siegfried and April aren’t the actual protagonists of this story, I can’t help feeling affection for them, maybe because of how I once thought they were.

 

Thinking I’d done the right thing by bringing it, I took out a separate gift I had prepared and handed it to the princess.

 

“It’s a bit late, but congratulations. I’m sure you’ll have a healthy baby.”

 

“Oh my god… Thank you, Marquise.”

 

Looking a little surprised at first, the princess then smiled brightly as she accepted the gift.

 

I guess she was more pleased with the meaning behind it than the gift itself.

 

In the end, both Rebecca and I were unharmed—and by giving this gift, I was showing that I held no grudge toward her. That would make it hard for anyone to pick a fight over that incident.

 

‘Wait, could His Highness have anticipated this outcome?’

 

As I considered that very plausible possibility, the princess, her cheeks slightly flushed, spoke to me in a warmer tone.

 

“Actually, ever since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve been staying in the palace. You’re the first outsider I’ve met.”

 

“Oh my, really?”

 

“Yes. As you know, the current situation in the palace… it’s not exactly reassuring, is it?”

 

‘That’s right.’

 

But I couldn’t nod too obviously, so I just gave a soft, awkward cough.

 

‘The Marquise of Calvin will certainly try to kill the unborn baby if she gets the chance.’

 

That must be why the Second Prince is guarding the Iris Palace so tightly.

 

“I couldn’t invite just anyone because I was worried that I might lose my child if I was not careful. That’s why I was so excited for this meeting today.”

 

The princess’s face, smiling brightly, held not a trace of suspicion toward me.

 

Her complete trust made me feel a little uneasy, so I had to ask:

 

“I know it’s strange to say this myself, but… you don’t suspect me?”

 

“Of course not. You’re from Ajas, after all.”

 

“You trust me for that reason alone…”

 

“Ajas doesn’t interfere in capital politics. What reason could be more trustworthy than that unwritten rule? And, as I said earlier, it was His Highness who invited you, Marquise.”

 

The princess smiled brightly.

 

“There’s no way His Highness would invite someone who’d harm me.”

 

Her face was full of trust in the Second Prince.

 

‘Come to think of it, Siegfried said something like that in the book.’

 

That his parents always maintained formality in public, but in private they had a sweet, almost romantic atmosphere—like a couple who’d married for love.

 

‘I’m curious now! I want to hear their love story!’

 

As if she had read my mind, the princess gently made a suggestion.

 

“If it’s not too much trouble… would you come visit me from time to time while you’re in the capital?”

 

“Well, like you said, I shouldn’t give the impression that my husband is getting involved in capital politics, so I can’t come too often… But I think the occasional visit would be fine.”

 

“That will be enough. Thank you, Marquise.”

 

The princess smiled radiantly and held my hand in both of hers.

 

It made me wonder how lonely she must’ve been to crave this kind of human warmth.

 

I looked at her and smiled back.

 

“Oh my, what a cute mobile! Did you make this yourself too?”

 

“Yes. I made one as a gift for my… ahem, my goddaughter, and thought I’d make an extra. It’s not much, but I’d be grateful if you find it charming.”

 

“Not much? This is one of the sweetest little gifts I’ve ever received. I’ll tell the nanny to hang it right above the baby’s crib.”

 

As she gently touched the little dolls hanging from the mobile one by one, the princess suddenly asked:

 

“I’ve heard the Marquise and the Marquis have such a loving relationship. Any happy news of your own yet?”

 

“Ahem, no… not yet.”

 

Ever since I collapsed at the palace, Leonhard and I hadn’t shared a bed.

 

But if we go by the frequency before that, it wouldn’t be strange to hear some news any day now—wait.

 

‘Now that I think about it, my period’s late… But then again, my cycle was never that regular.’

 

‘It’ll probably come soon.’

 

Thinking nothing of it, I picked up my teacup.

 

And while I imagined myself letting out a muffled “oh no” in my head, in reality, I simply took in the tea’s lovely aroma and smiled sheepishly to myself.

 

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