How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 329

“The forest seems to be almost right next to the mansion. Are there any dangerous animals that come out?”

 

“Yes. There’s no dungeon nearby, and that mountain you see over there belongs to a neighboring territory. There’s a barrier installed at the entrance to the mountain, which marks the territory’s border, and at the edge of the forest, so bears and wild boars rarely come down.”

 

At most, the animals you’d see in the forest would be squirrels, rabbits, weasels, or foxes.

 

Still, my parents strongly warned my siblings and me not to enter the forest without a guardian, because we never knew when or where wild animals might appear.

 

‘Alex and I got scolded plenty of times for sneaking in together to go on “adventures”…’

 

If we’d been unlucky, we might really have encountered a wild animal just like our parents warned. For all the reckless running around we did, my younger brother and I were actually pretty lucky.

 

“When I was young, I even made a secret base in that forest.”

 

“A secret base?”

 

It seems that the word brings dreams and excitement to all children.

 

I chuckled as I stroked Noah’s head, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

 

“It’s gone now. My parents realized my brother and I were going in and out of the forest so often because of it, so they got rid of it.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Noah nodded with a slightly disappointed expression, and I found myself feeling regretful too.

 

If that base still existed, I could have taken Noah there to play.

 

“Still, there might still be traces. Should we pack a mat and a lunchbox tomorrow and go look for them?”

 

“Yes!”

 

– You have to put a big cake in your lunch box! Pie too! Macarons too! Ice cream too!

 

At that moment, Rake, who had easily eaten a bunch of grapes, flew in and shouted.

 

I said sternly, reaching out to the tiny bird that gave off a sweet grape scent with every flap of its wings.

 

“No, that’s too much. The lunchbox is getting heavy, so let’s just pick two.”

 

– Then two really, really big cakes!

 

“I said no. If it’s bigger than the basket, it doesn’t go in.”

 

– Then you can just take a really big lunch basket.

 

‘Ugh, that won’t work.’

 

After I put Noah down from Leonhard’s arms, I pushed Leonhard’s back towards Rake.

 

“Leon will be packing lunch for tomorrow’s picnic, so talk to him about it.”

 

“Nell?”

 

“In the meantime, I’ll be reading a storybook with Noah.”

 

I pretended not to notice the faint look of betrayal flashing across Leonhard’s eyes and reached out to Noah.

 

“Noah, remember when you came here I promised to read you Alex’s adventures?”

 

“Alex’s… yes, I remember. It’s Uncle Alex’s favorite fairy tale, right?”

 

“That’s right. Our Noah has such a good memory.”

 

Holding Noah’s hand tightly, I waved my other hand at Leonhard.

 

“Then we’ll go.”

 

“Nell, wait—”

 

— Leon, Leon! You’re strong, so you can carry a huge basket, right?

 

“It’s not a question of whether I can carry it—first of all, does such a basket even exist…?”

 

– Just make it! I can make you a huge picnic basket. I’m great, after all!

 

Unlike Ajas Castle or Paul Herbina, there is only one chef at the mansion, so it is impossible to make a mountain of desserts in one day.

 

‘…Leon will talk her down, right?’

 

Since he is Ajas of Steel, he will not be easily broken.

 

‘My husband, fighting!’

 

* * *

 

“Alex raised his broken wooden sword and—”

 

“Nell.”

 

At the soft whispering voice, I instinctively checked Noah first.

 

The child, lying on the blanket that covered his chest, had his hands neatly folded on his stomach and was already closing his eyes and breathing deeply and evenly.

 

The same goes for Rake, who is lying on a round, flat cushion at Noah’s bedside.

 

When she’d first been born, she used to doze sitting upright, but at some point she started sleeping flat on her back like this.

 

‘Probably from the moment his lower belly started sticking out.’

 

When I gently pressed the round belly covered in white fluff with my index finger, a squeak came out of the Rake’s beak.

 

It sounded like a protest not to be disturbed while sleeping, so I quietly covered Rake’s body with a handkerchief.

 

Meanwhile, Leonhard slipped a bookmark into the fairy tale book I hadn’t finished reading and set it neatly on the table.

 

I gestured toward the door, then rose onto my tiptoes and carefully made my way out into the hallway.

 

When I saw Leonhard follow me out and quietly close the door to the room where the child slept, I felt like the day’s duties had been safely completed.

 

‘Oh, I’m hungry.’

 

I thought I heard a growling sound inside my stomach, so I unconsciously grabbed my stomach with both hands.

 

Leonhard’s face instantly became serious upon seeing that sight.

 

“Should I call a doctor?”

 

“No, it’s not that my stomach hurts, I’m just hungry.”

 

‘It’s strange. I ate so much at dinner earlier, but why am I already digesting it?’

 

‘Is our Titi very hungry?’

 

Even though I knew it was me who ate, not the baby in my stomach, I had that thought for a moment.

 

The moment I realized I was hungry, I became so hungry I couldn’t stand it.

 

“This won’t do. Darling, let’s go raid the kitchen.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be easier to call a maid?”

 

“Oh, come on. If we go back to the castle, how am I supposed to raid the kitchen then? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

 

The large kitchen of Ajas Castle has a fireplace that burns all day long.

 

This was because there were many guards on duty at night and many servants who woke up early in the morning, so they took turns diligently preparing food.

 

However, Howard would have both the chef and the kitchen maid leave after dinner unless there was a special request to prepare a late-night meal.

 

That means it’s possible to sneak in and steal food from the cupboard.

 

“Then won’t the chef be in trouble tomorrow morning?”

 

“It’s okay. Our chef is used to this kind of thing.”

 

Thanks to my brother and me, regardless of his position.

 

‘I never imagined that even as an adult, I’d still be sneaking into kitchens—this time with my husband.’

 

I, too, would like to maintain my dignity as a noblewoman, but is it because I returned to my hometown where I spent my childhood?

 

I just wanted to act like I did when I was younger, reckless.

 

Part of the reason I could act like this was that I thought this visit was my last chance.

 

“Follow me. Don’t forget to be careful not to make any noise.”

 

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

 

Indeed, Marquis Ajas. He’s very confident, as if infiltrating the kitchen is nothing more than a simple task.

 

Still, I warned Leonhard as we stood before the stairs leading to the first floor.

 

“If we get caught, I’m running away and leaving you behind.”

 

“Madam, just like you did with Rake earlier, aren’t you abandoning your only husband too easily?”

 

“I’m just saying—don’t let your guard down. To get to the kitchen, we have to pass in front of Brother Liv’s office.”

 

Only after hearing those words did Leonhard’s face become a little serious.

 

“Is there no other way?”

 

“There is a back door to the kitchen, but we can’t use it. The barley house we saw earlier is right near there.

If it sees me, it’ll bark no matter what.”

 

“Does it bark because you raid the kitchen so often?”

 

“It barks because it’s happy to see me, okay?”

 

Honestly—anyone listening would think I broke into the kitchen every day!

 

Leonhard chuckled softly, as if my glaring gaze didn’t bother him at all.

 

Lately, he seemed to tease me more—and laugh more because of it.

 

The latter is certainly a good thing, but the fact that I’m the cause of it is a bit unpleasant. What if this guy gets used to teasing his wife?

 

“Anyway, now be quiet. There might still be someone awake.”

 

I put my index finger to my lips and made a soft shh, shh sound and tiptoed down the stairs.

 

But even after reaching the first floor safely, I didn’t sense anyone following behind me.

 

When I turned around, a large shadow was pressed right up against my back.

 

‘Mom!’

 

I almost screamed in surprise, but Leonhard covered my mouth with his hand, which saved my life.

 

Blinking rapidly with my mouth covered, I finally managed to calm my racing heart.

 

“When did you get behind me?”

 

“I’ve been right behind you the whole time.”

 

“Really? I didn’t notice because I didn’t feel any movement.”

 

When the Sword Master decides to hide his presence, even though you know he’s behind you, you can’t feel his presence at all.

 

I thought it was amazing again and sent Leonhard in front of me.

 

“You go first. If I’m in front, I can’t tell whether you’re following or not.”

 

“I don’t know the way.”

 

“I can just tell you.”

 

I held Leonhard’s waist with both hands and pushed his body with my palms.

 

Then Leonhard started walking ahead, hesitating.

 

Heading to the kitchen, the hallway on the first floor was lined with lanterns.

 

The fact that the butler hadn’t turned them off meant my older brother was still in his office.

 

“But why is the Count’s office near the kitchen?”

 

It’s crowded with people coming and going, the smell of all kinds of food and ingredients mixes together and fills the air, and it’s also dangerous because fire and knives are used.

 

For various reasons, the kitchen was usually located far from the study or the room where the owner of the house stayed.

 

But why is Count Howard’s office located near the kitchen?

 

‘It’s because of me….’

 

* * *