How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 318

“What?”

 

“Wh—kh—cough!”

 

My brother Alex coughed and hit his chest, as if he had swallowed the bread he was chewing wrong.

 

Proving she wasn’t his partner for nothing, Violet briskly thumped his back where he couldn’t reach.

 

Thanks to that, he finally managed to swallow the offending piece of bread. With tears clinging to the corners of his eyes, he stared at Violet and demanded,

 

“No, wait—what do you mean, a date? You’re saying the two of us eating together was a date?”

 

“No?”

 

“Of course not!”

 

“I see.”

 

Nodding, Violet turned to me and calmly corrected herself.

 

“Then it seems what we did was not a date after all. The problem isn’t that we like each other, but that I’m the only one who likes him.”

 

“Pfft!”

 

This time, water spurted out of Alex’s mouth.

 

Still, as a knight, he turned his head quickly with excellent reflexes, so the table was not contaminated.

 

“That’s why I accepted the invitation even though I knew it was a family gathering. I wished to make a good first impression on the family in advance. I plan to remain by Alex’s side for a very long time.”

 

“…….”

 

Besides my brother Alex—who had frozen with a thoroughly idiotic expression— Violet lowered her head slightly.

 

“I’m sorry for ruining the atmosphere of what should have been a cozy family gathering.”

 

She looked ready to excuse herself and leave with a polite If you’ll excuse me, so I hurriedly spoke up.

 

“B-Before that! Thank you again for your help at the imperial palace. I wanted to properly thank you another time, but things were so hectic that I never had the chance.”

 

“No, I was just doing what I had to do.”

 

Her voice was a bit firmer than when we met at the palace.

 

How should I put it… It felt as though she’d found her core—like someone who wouldn’t be shaken no matter how strong the wind blew.

 

‘Is it because I’m thinking she might become my sister-in-law?’

 

People really do look different depending on how you see them. Already impressive as the youngest Sword Master in the Empire, she now seemed to shine even brighter.

 

“When and how did you first meet Alex?”

 

“The first time I met Alex was….”

 

As I steered the conversation with Violet, I had a servant bring out the food.

 

“Nell, you said you were going to make some big announcement.….”

 

“Brother, be quiet. I’m talking to Lady Violet.”

 

At this crucial moment, when we’re deciding whether or not to let our troublemaker get married, is a major announcement really the issue?

 

By coincidence, my older brother and Leonhard were seated on either side of Noah. With the two of them looking after him, I could relax and focus fully on my conversation with Violet.

 

“How’s Alex doing in the Knights? At home, he says all he does is train from dawn till night. Is that really true?”

 

“For the most part, yes—excluding duties and patrols. Ah, though there was one time he overslept and nearly arrived late…”

 

From Sir Violet’s mouth, my brother Alex’s dark history spilled out mercilessly.

 

Unable to take it any longer, he finally groaned and protested,

 

“You—after dropping a bomb like that, is now really the time to be telling those stories…?

 

“Alex, I’m trying to impress your family right now, so don’t bother me.”

 

“That’s right, that’s right! Just eat, brother. Weren’t you hungry?”

 

“My appetite’s completely gone… Do I look like I can eat right now?”

 

At that point, my older brother spoke up in a gentle but firm voice.

 

“Alex, she is your guest. Do you intend to let her leave this house with an unpleasant memory?”

 

It was a perfectly fair reprimand—reminding him not to neglect his duties as host.

 

My brother Alex, who had his mouth shut like a clam as if he had nothing to say, scratched his head and then spoke to Violet, who was sitting next to him.

 

“Um… later, let’s talk. Just the two of us.”

 

“Is that a date invitation?”

 

“It’s n—! No, I mean—haah…”

 

He started to raise his voice, then caught my older brother’s gaze. Immediately, he stuffed bread into his open mouth instead.

 

Watching that, I applauded under the table

 

Our troublemaker finally met his match!

 

* * *

Eight people in total.

 

Sometimes all together, sometimes splitting into twos or threes, the dinner we enjoyed while chatting like that was immensely satisfying.

 

My brother Alex, however, looked like his soul had left his body as he pushed away dessert and poured himself a glass of beer—clearly having a very different experience.

 

‘Well, not everyone can enjoy themselves, I suppose!’

 

I enjoyed double the dessert, including my brother’s share.

 

Perhaps because I was surrounded by people I loved, the lemon pie, milk ice cream, and Earl Grey cake all tasted far better than usual.

 

“By the way, regarding the medal ceremony next week, has Your Excellency the Marquis been invited?”

 

“That’s true, but it’s not just me. Noah was invited, too. For opening the mansion and helping evacuate the people.”

 

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Noah at Leonhard’s somewhat unexpected remark.

 

Noah’s cheeks instantly flushed as he scooped up ice cream with a long, square biscuit.

 

“No, I just… I just did what I thought my parents would do. The real work was done by others.”

 

“Still, it was your single word that moved so many people.”

 

“If you remember this experience and the impact a single word from a leader can have, you will become a better leader in the future.”

 

“Brother, if you put it like that, Noah might start feeling pressured already. At his age, it’s fine if all he does is play. Want to make some toys with Auntie?”

 

“At that age, he’s supposed to play, right? Then just make them for him. Why are you trying to teach him something again?”

 

“Hey, I’m remembering those words exactly. Try dragging him off saying you want to ‘check his swordsmanship’ again and see what happens.”

 

From that very moment, sparks began to crackle between Lily and my brother as they glared at each other.

 

“Noah likes practicing swordsmanship, right?”

 

“You only say that because you don’t know—he likes making magic tools way more.”

 

“He’s an Ajas!”

 

“And he also carries the blood of a Sage.”

 

Just a moment ago, the mood had been all about offering warm congratulations to a nephew who’d brought home a top-ranked report card. How had it turned into this?

 

Meanwhile, Noah was calmly opening his mouth and accepting biscuits from my older brother.

 

‘This must be what they call ‘reaping the benefits while others fight, right?’

 

While my sister Lily and my brother Alex were busy arguing, they really ought to look at my older brother’s expression.

 

That face that clearly said, Whether you fight or not, I’m the one monopolizing the kid’s affection.

 

“Your Excellency, if it’s not too much trouble, would you mind being my opponent in the demonstration duel at the medal ceremony?”

 

“A demonstration duel? They do that sort of thing then?”

 

“Yes. They say they plan to make a grand announcement that day that I have become a Sword Master.”

 

“An announcement is one thing, but is a demonstration duel really necessary—ah. I see what this is about.”

 

Leonhard’s expression tightened slightly, as though he’d developed a headache. Seeing that, Violet spoke calmly, as if she’d half expected it.

 

“If it’s an inconvenient request, please feel free to decline.”

 

“It’s not so inconvenient as it is likely to become troublesome.… Is there a report to the higher-ups about who will be the opponent for the demonstration match?”

 

“Yes. From what I understand, final approval rests with His Highness the Second Prince.”

 

“So it was his idea after all….”

 

Leonhard clicked his tongue briefly, thought about something for a while, and then nodded.

 

“I’ll agree to the request, but it may still be rejected at the level of His Highness the Second Prince. If that happens, there’s nothing I can do.”

 

“Why do you think His Highness would refuse?”

 

“Because I’m too popular.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

Following Violet’s wide-eyed gaze, I looked at Leonhard with surprised eyes.

 

‘Did this axe-like remark just come out of my husband’s mouth?’

 

Leonhard, who belatedly noticed my gaze, waved his hand and explained that he didn’t mean it that way.

 

“Haven’t I gained a lot of popularity after defeating the Chimera Dragon while His Majesty the Emperor was away? From His Highness the second Prince’s perspective, he would want to lower the attention surrounding Ajas.”

 

‘aha.’

 

“So in short, he wants to make Lady Violet the new hero?”

 

“She did, in fact, distinguish herself that day.”

 

And Violet belonged to the Red Lion faction. From the Second Prince’s point of view, there was no better candidate to elevate in Leonhard’s stead.

 

‘Ah, I get it now. He decided to promote Lady Violet instead of Leon, but if the two of them end up sparring in the demonstration…’

 

‘I feel sorry for Violet, but no matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t seem like Leonhard would lose.’

 

And if that happened, the whole ‘Make Violet a hero instead of Leonhard’ plan would essentially collapse.

 

No matter how great an achievement, wouldn’t the praise for the winner be louder than that for the loser?

 

“So there were political considerations behind the demonstration duel… I can’t say I fully understand, but I’ll report to the higher-ups that Your Excellency has agreed.”

 

“Do that.”

 

Leonhard nodded and pushed the rest of the desserts towards me, except for the ice cream he had already given to Noah.

 

As if he’d planned it from the start, both the lemon pie and the cake were untouched.

 

I was a little disappointed, but how did he know? I was so excited that I picked up the fork.

 

“You ate mine, and you’re still going to eat more?”

 

“Of course I will. Normally, the stomach for rice and the stomach for dessert are separate.”

 

As if sick of hearing that excuse, my brother Alex clicked his tongue.

 

“Eat moderately. You’ll get a belly if you don’t.”

 

There it was again. Without even looking in his direction, I huffed.

 

“Even if I don’t eat, my stomach will stick out. I’m pregnant.”

 

* * *