How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 316

“Tell me what?”

 

– I met Nell’s dad when I went to that tower before.

 

My heart sank at those words.

 

I knew from Leonhard that Rake had met my biological father.

 

‘I heard that the conversation was quite long.… How about asking Rake about him?’

 

Of course, I wanted to.

 

But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t bring myself to ask Rake about my father.

 

‘Later. When I’m ready. Later, later…’

 

And after postponing it again and again, I ended up having this conversation here — in front of my father’s grave. Somehow, that felt ironic.

 

I finally gathered myself and forced my lips to move.

 

“What… did he want you to tell me?”

 

– I love you.

 

‘Ah.’

 

– I’ve never seen you before, but I loved you before you were born, and I still love you now.

 

‘Ah.’

 

-He asked if you were healthy, if you were happy, and if you found a good family. I told him he didn’t need to worry! Because you have me, Lord Rake!”

 

Even while I swallowed back my tears, the little chirping sound carried through the quiet night and reached my ears clearly.

 

– Nell’s father said, ‘We’.

 

“We…?”

 

– Yeah. I don’t know who he meant. I didn’t hear the rest.

 

“It’s okay.… I think I know.”

 

Before the overwhelming rush of emotion, the fragile dam inside me finally broke.

 

I buried my face against my knees and held my breath, but I could still feel my pajamas getting wet.

 

– Nell…? Are you crying?

 

“I’m—trying—not to—!”

 

When I think about it…

 

Even if it started with Hiyela’s request, being born as this me was ultimately a choice I made.

 

In other words, it was as if I had personally chosen the parents who loved me so much.

 

No one gets to choose their parents. How incredibly lucky I am.

 

‘…Still. Even so.’

 

‘Just once. Not twice, not three times — just once.’

 

To see his face. To hear his voice.

 

‘How… how could I not even have that, not even once…?’

 

“Hh… hff… R-Rake.”

 

– huh?

 

Beyond the dripping tears, I could see Rake looking helpless.

 

Was this how she felt? Hearing that her mother loved her so much, enough to sacrifice everything the moment she was born?

 

I should have hugged Rake more back then. I regret not having done so.

 

“Rake, can you, by any chance, transform into a human like before?”

 

– I can do it! Should I?”

 

“Yes, please.”

 

As if it were an easy request, Rake turned into a cute little girl in the blink of an eye.

 

“Rake, come here.”

 

As I spread my arms wide, Rake immediately fell into my arms.

 

“Our Rake… You know I love you so much, right?”

 

“Of course! We’re family.”

 

“That’s right, we are family.”

 

I have Rake. And Rake has me. I don’t know how many times I’ve thought about it, but I’m grateful every time.

 

I hugged the warm child tightly and cried.

 

Rake, who had been silent for a long time as if she didn’t know how to deal with me like that, suddenly opened her mouth and spoke.

 

“You know what your dad told me? He said dragons were thought to be extinct, but since I was born, maybe somewhere out there… another dragon was born too.”

 

“Yeah, that could be true.”

 

“Right? Right? One day, I’m gonna travel and find my kind!”

 

‘You’re leaving?’

 

“When are you going to go?”

 

“Mm? Ummm… dunno. There’s still a lot of snacks I haven’t eaten…”

 

The fact that the only thing stopping her was snacks made me laugh—because it was so perfectly, overwhelmingly Rake.

 

“Rake is still young, so not now… When you get a little bigger, let’s go together then.”

 

“Together? Will you go with me?”

 

“Of course. We’re going to find a dragon who’ll stay friends with Rake forever — we should go together.”

 

I gently pulled Rake away from my arms and held out my pinky.

 

“So don’t go alone. Promise.”

 

“Yes! We’ll definitely go together!”

 

Promise, we whispered at the same time as our pinkies hooked, and for a moment, it felt like something faintly glowed between them.

 

“Come to think of it, I have a gift for our Rake.”

 

“Really? To me? What? Strawberry cake?”

 

Of all things to guess first — strawberry cake.

 

With how much this kid loves snacks, would we even make it on a journey?

 

“It’s not something you eat. What I mean is,…”

 

* * *

 

“A chick! Rake is not a chick!”

 

“It’s not a chick like Rake, it’s a cute chick doll like Rake.”

 

“Really? But to be as cute as me, it has to be really, really cute. Is it that cute?”

 

“Of course. I knitted it with all my heart, stitch by stitch.”

 

Holding the little girl version of Rake tightly in her arms, Raenel’s face looked much better than moments ago as she chatted happily.

 

A short distance away, behind a tree, the father and son watching the scene both let out a relieved sigh at the same time.

 

“I’m glad mother stopped crying.”

 

“Rake showed up at a really good time.”

 

Leonhard had been following Raenel since she left the bedroom, and Noah, who had gone out to look for Rake, who had not returned, found Leonhard heading out to the backyard.

 

Because of that, both of them started watching Raenel from the moment she crouched down in front of the small stone tower.

 

If Rake hadn’t shown up, one of them would’ve approached her eventually — but they wouldn’t have put a smile back on her face like that.

 

“I never knew being bad with words would hurt this much…”

 

Next to Leonhard, who was sighing deeply, Noah spoke in a determined voice as if he had made up his mind.

 

“When I return to Ajas, I want to learn the art of speaking.”

 

Noah’s schedule still had plenty of space, so adding a new subject wouldn’t be a problem.

 

“I want to learn words to comfort my mother when she is sad like this.”

 

‘My poor boy… suffering because his father’s so useless.’

 

Leonhard stroked Noah’s head and thought to himself.

 

‘Maybe it’s not too late. Should I… learn with him?’

 

Just a few months later.

 

Someone would arrive — thrilled about becoming tutor to the future Marquis Ajas— only to break out in a cold sweat when seeing father and son seated at the same desk.

 

But for now, Noah looked toward Raenel and Rake and murmured with a slightly gloomy expression:

 

“Before I learn how to comfort my mother, what should I do if she becomes sad again like she was before?”

 

“Well… for at least two more days, I don’t think you have to worry.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because in two days, someone who knows very well how to handle your mother’s tears will arrive in the capital.”

 

And if Leonhard’s prediction is correct, Noah will be happier than Raenel.

 

Of course, that prediction was exactly right.

 

* * *

 

Now or then.

 

Noah, who had been peeking out the window since the morning sun rose, couldn’t keep still even now that he was out the front door.

 

Then, finally — the carriage arrived.

 

The instant his uncle stepped out, Noah shot forward like an arrow.

 

“Uncle!”

 

My older brother, who had been looking a little surprised, burst into laughter, lowered his posture, and spread his arms wide.

 

Noah jumped into his arms with all his might, as if diving.

 

“It’s been a while, uncle.”

 

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

 

Strictly speaking, it hadn’t been that long.

 

But instead of embarrassing the child with such words, my affectionate older brother lifted Noah up from the ground.

 

With his arms around his uncle’s neck, Noah wriggled in excitement — then placed a kiss on his cheek.

 

‘Oh my god.’

 

It was clearly unplanned — the kind of gesture done before thinking.

 

Uncle laughed loudly at Noah’s round-eyed shock and kissed his cheek in return.

 

“Have you been well?”

 

“…Yes!”

 

Watching Noah grin happily in his uncle’s arms, someone muttered:

 

“I envy…..”

 

Even if the voice hadn’t been familiar, it would’ve been easy to guess who said it.

 

The same person who boldly proposed to my brother at my wedding — no surprise if she did something impulsive again.

 

The image of Marquise Cloud clutching her head flashed in my mind, so I quickly stepped forward.

 

“Count Howard, I hope you had a comfortable journey.”

 

“Did I do something wrong…?”

 

My older brother looked at me with a rather nervous expression.

 

I couldn’t hold back my laughter and let it spill out loud.

 

“Nothing. I just wanted to tease you.”

 

“When on earth are you going to grow up?”

 

He sighed, shaking his head, and Noah looked at him with wide, sparkling eyes.

 

Almost… admiring.

 

“Just as expected…”

 

At the same time, Leonhard, next to me, muttered something like this.

 

My older brother must have heard those words as he gave Leonhard a puzzled look.

 

Leonhard smiled as if he had been waiting for this and greeted my older brother.

 

“I hope you had a pleasant journey, Count Howard.”

 

“I heard the capital went through a serious incident — and that you played quite a role.”

 

Leonhard clearly noticed the subtle teasing, but pretended not to and answered with sincerity.

 

Leonhard let out a soft laugh and shook his hand.

 

“I didn’t do much — I only protected my family.”

 

“That alone is the greatest accomplishment.”

 

Before I knew it, a satisfied smile appeared on my older brother’s face.

 

We suggested continuing to talk inside and guided him into the house.

 

* * *