How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 298

“His Highness the First Prince insisted on bringing the Second Prince’s wife here, though I cannot fathom why. Officially, I told him Ajas will record this as never having happened.”

 

“And His Highness the First Prince accepted that?”

 

“Yes. He even left a warning—as if he wouldn’t let it pass if so much as a scratch appeared on Her Highness’s body.”

 

“…So his real purpose really was to protect her?”

 

“It seems so. According to Her Highness, the First Prince and the Second Prince actually get along very well.”

 

“Is that even possible? Were they always like that?”

 

Even after thinking over the contents of the book Hiyela gave me, I don’t think there was anything like that.

 

There were never any specific details about Julius’s days as a prince before he became Emperor.

 

‘That’s right. By this time, the First Prince, Kairos, was already dead.’

 

‘Then… back then, did my real father also pass away?’

 

‘Now that Hiyela is completely gone, I can’t ask her about it….’

 

I let out a quiet sigh, then went to visit the Second Prince’s wife, to ask after her well-being and carefully inquire about the relationship between the First and Second Princes.

 

“Yes. Contrary to what the public believes, the two of them were said to have built a deep bond.”

 

I almost couldn’t believe it when such an answer really came back.

 

“A… deep bond?”

 

Only after I asked back without realizing it did I realize that this was a rude response.

 

Looking at me saying “Oh no” the princess smiled faintly as if she understood.

 

“You find it hard to believe, don’t you? To be honest, so do I. If you think about it separately… yes, Marquis Calvin’s behaviour is too… lawless, isn’t it?”

 

From manipulating the Emperor through pillow talk to obstruct the Second Prince’s work, to even sending assassins into the Second Prince’s palace.

 

Even I, who don’t pay much attention to the capital’s politics and social circles, hear these big stories.

 

How much more must have happened in the shadows, away from people’s eyes and ears?

 

To be frank, even if someone stood in the middle of the capital square and shouted, “The First and Second Princes were actually loving brothers!”, no one would listen with interest. It’s fortunate that no one points fingers and calls you crazy.

 

“In public, both of them treat each other rather coldly. And with the First Prince’s reputation being far from good… I too couldn’t believe it until recently.”

 

“And now you do?”

 

“Yes. Do you recall? The day of the imperial banquet, when monsters attacked the palace.”

 

“Of course I remember. I heard the First Prince was gravely injured in place of the Second Prince that day…”

 

That incident had drawn the Emperor’s wrath onto the Second Prince, who was forced to shoulder all the blame for the monster attack.

 

Because of that, there was even talk of making the first prince the crown prince.

 

Since things had unfolded that way, the general opinion was that the First Prince had only shielded the Second Prince and taken the wound as part of a ploy to provoke the Emperor.

 

‘Honestly, I thought so too.’

 

“In truth, before that day, the First Prince had warned us that monsters would attack the palace.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. But I thought it was a trap. I didn’t believe him, and because of that mistake, the two almost got seriously hurt.…”

 

With a faraway look, as if recalling that day, she turned her eyes back to me and continued.

 

“Others think the whole event was a stage play by the First Prince. But I know. If he hadn’t come to us that day, both I and the Second Prince would have died.”

 

“Was the situation that dangerous?”

 

“Yes. Since that day, I’ve resolved never to doubt the First Prince’s words again. I came here on his advice as well—he told me this was the safest place in the capital right now.”

 

Originally, the safest place in the capital was the imperial palace. That was how it had to be.

 

However, more than half of the hundreds of buildings in the palace collapsed due to the rampage of the chimera, known as the dragon.

 

Even the emperor’s palace collapsed.

 

“Marquise, do you perhaps know the current situation in the palace? Or at least whether the two princes are safe?”

 

“Well, that’s….”

 

There was only one thing I heard and confirmed through the window on the upper floor.

 

The sky surrounding the palace is covered with red clouds, and a chimera named Dragon is running wild.

 

All except the imperial knights and wizards who had resolved to give their lives had evacuated, since there was no way to stop the giant monster that was rampaging fiercely.

 

‘Whether the two princes are still in there… I can’t say.’

 

This is just my guess, but I think the two princes are probably still in the palace.

 

If they had fled, surely they would have come here, where the Second Prince’s wife resided.

 

‘…Neither this nor the palace being reduced to ruins are things I can tell her.’

 

From what I could tell, the Second Prince’s wife wasn’t a frail person—but the problem was that she was pregnant.

 

If I carelessly said the wrong thing and she suffered a shock that caused a miscarriage… How could I possibly bear that responsibility?

 

“I haven’t heard anything certain yet. But my husband has gone to the palace, so we should soon receive news.”

 

“Ah, the Marquis…! Then I can be at ease.”

 

She let out a sigh of relief, as though a heavy burden had been lifted.

 

Seeing her place absolute trust in my husband—that he would resolve things, chimera or not—softened my heart as well.

 

‘Of course. There’s no monster my husband can’t bring down.’

 

And besides, Rake had gone with him.

 

I don’t know how long it will take, but Leonhard and Rake will take care of that giant monster.

 

So I just have to do what I can here.

 

“Then, Your Highness, I’ll take my leave to inspect the estate. If you need anything, please tell Leona.”

 

“I will. Truly, thank you, Marquise. I’ll never forget this favor.”

 

She placed a hand over her heart and bowed her head. I quickly waved it off.

 

“There’s no need to call it a favor. In times of crisis, we simply help one another.”

 

Even so, the Second Prince’s wife only smiled gently at me, as if to say she was grateful nonetheless.

 

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I gave her a polite farewell and rose to leave.

 

“Marquise, where are you going now?”

 

Marilyn, who had decided to temporarily stay by my side in place of my escorts who were away doing their own work, asked.

 

I answered without hesitation.

 

“I’m going to go out to the garden first.”

 

“In the garden?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Leonhard had said he would go out and punish the nobles who had caused the disturbance, but if they found out he was away, they might start causing trouble again.

 

Normally, fear of consequences would be enough to keep them quiet… but honestly, if they had that much sense, they wouldn’t have made a scene here in the first place.

 

“If anyone dares run wild without thought, I’ll teach them a very harsh lesson.”

 

I went down to the garden with that determination, but fortunately, I didn’t see any nobles causing trouble.

 

On the contrary…

 

“Uh, um… I-I’m thirsty, may I have some wa—eeek!”

 

“Thirsty, huh? What do you think this is, your own house? A café? Why don’t you just call for a servant while you’re at it?”

 

“I’m sorry. I’ll keep my mouth shut.…”

 

In one corner of the garden: a mountain of bloodied sheets, young men scrubbing them with their feet, and before them, a man and woman standing guard.

 

The woman slapped her wand against his palm, glaring like a strict school disciplinarian dealing with troublemakers.

 

I blinked, wondering what on earth that sight was, then grabbed the hem of my skirt and ran.

 

“Sister Lily!”

 

“Huh? Oh my, Nell!”

 

“Eek, M-Marquise…!”

 

I hugged Lily, who had a happy expression on her face, and looked over her shoulder at Benjamin.

 

“I heard you weren’t feeling well and were resting! Is it alright for you to be out?”

 

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine now. I got some rest and I’m feeling better.”

 

Someone—probably Leonhard—must have explained my absence that way.

 

‘After all, I had lost consciousness. It wasn’t a complete lie, though the real reason was because of the power.…’

 

‘No, let’s not think about it now.’

 

I somehow managed to shake off the sadness that had suddenly come over me and asked Lily to change the subject.

 

“But, sister, what are you doing here?”

 

“Disciplining some spoiled nobleman?”

 

“Huh? What does that mean?”

 

In response to my question, Sister Lily explained what had happened before she arrived here.

 

“I saw a monster going wild, and while I was evacuating with people, I ran into Alex. He said everyone was taking shelter here, so we came… but the atmosphere was a complete mess. So I checked what was going on, and then…”

 

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