How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 337

“I like all of them, but disqualified is disqualified and eliminated is eliminated.”

 

“So you’ll even accept suggestions for elimination? In that case, young master, I also have something to say!”

 

Revealing, targeting, forcing accusations, and nitpicking continued without pause.

 

In the end, after opening dozens of boxes, the only thing that survived was a single music book.

 

“A duet collection…?”

 

“Yes. I gathered only pieces that are easy to play. With your current skill, young master, you should be able to play them at sight.”

 

Only after it was confirmed as first place did Layla step forward and explain that it was her gift.

 

“I thought the young master must have practiced the piano alone until now. So I purposely collected only duet pieces.”

 

“Then since we’re talking about it, shall we try playing together, Mother? It’s a duet piece after all.”

 

“Yes! Let’s try it.”

 

The music room in the lord’s residence was too small to fit dozens of people, so the piano was moved from there to the lobby. Since there were plenty of strong people and even wizards, it was done very quickly.

 

“Mother, but what if I make a mistake…?”

 

“Just pretend you didn’t. It’s okay—if we act shamelessly, no one will notice.”

 

Remembering how harshly Noah had once been scolded by Julia when I first arrived at Ajas Castle, I deliberately pressed the wrong keys not long after we began playing.

 

Noticing it, Noah opened his eyes wide and looked at me.

 

I winked at him, and after that, I pressed the wrong keys a few more times.

 

“Marquis! It sounds like I’ve been hearing dissonance for a while now!”

 

“So what? As long as we’re having fun!”

 

Beside me, where I spoke confidently despite playing the wrong keys, Noah giggled.

 

From that moment on, I could feel the child’s slightly stiff fingers relax and move more smoothly.

 

After that, I stopped intentionally making mistakes and happily played the piano—plunk plunk, plunk-plunk-plunk.

 

Then Helen, who often played with me, picked up a flute, and Layla brought a violin.

 

As more and more instruments joined the performance, the clapping that kept the rhythm and the laughter gradually grew louder as well.

 

It was the lively, cheerful noise that perfectly suited a child’s birthday celebration.

 

* * *

 

The harmony created by the many instruments was completed by the sound of a child’s bright laughter.

 

Leonhard watched Noah and Raenel, who were sitting side by side at the piano and happily striking the keys, with a strange feeling.

 

Even without comparing it to today, the birthday he had spent with Noah on this day last year had been extremely quiet.

 

He had said “Happy birthday,” given a present, and received a polite thank-you. That was all.

 

It had been a formal exchange where neither side could be certain whether the feelings were sincere. Worse, back then he hadn’t even realized it was merely formal.

 

When he left Ajas to find a wife who could raise the child well in his place, he had never dared imagine a scene like this.

 

He still regretted deciding to propose to Raenel simply because he thought she would be a good mother to the child.

 

He would probably continue to regret it in the future as well. But even if he could go back to the past, Leonhard would still propose to Raenel again.

 

With all his heart placed into a vow—that his love would not fade until every flower blooming on this land withered, and until every star in the night sky lost its shine.

 

* * *

 

After the birthday party ended.

 

While Noah went to the garden with my older brother to personally see the tree that would be planted there, Layla came to find Leonhard and me and said,

 

“I don’t need the special leave. Instead, please help me go on a date with the count.”

 

Her voice sounded unusually determined, which made my own voice become serious as well.

 

“Why don’t you just ask him directly for a date? My brother isn’t someone who would refuse a lady’s request without reason.”

 

“I was going to… but the count looks so busy that I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to make time.”

 

“Well, this really is the busiest season.”

 

In a territory where grape farming was the main source of income, there was no time busier than harvest season.

 

And this year, the harvest was especially plentiful, which meant there were even more grapes to collect—and processing them was also a lot of work.

 

“I want to go on a date with the count without causing him trouble, and with a proper reason.”

 

“Hm… alright, then there’s one way.”

 

“Really? What is it?”

 

I held Layla’s hands and said,

 

“You know the fishing tournament on the Nasir River the day after tomorrow, right?”

 

“Yes, I know. Since the count himself is hosting it, I’ve already registered to participate.”

 

“Perfect. Let’s win first place there.”

 

As someone who had once won first place, given the prize to second place, and obtained an exemption from scolding, I declared confidently.

 

“Ask for a date coupon as the first-place prize!”

 

The grand plan called “Operation: Make My older Brother Go on a Date with Layla.”

 

But there was one problem.

 

“By the way, Layla… are you good at fishing?”

 

“I’m thinking about something.”

 

“Hm? Thinking about what?”

 

“I’m wondering if it’s better to go ‘Eek, gross! Count, could you please put the worm on the hook for me?’ and act cute… or if it’s better to swing the rod confidently and catch a huge fish.”

 

Seeing Layla seriously worrying about something like that made her look so adorable.

 

As an older sister by one year, a married woman who already had a child, and someone who had lived with my brother my whole life, I gave her careful advice.

 

“Brother Liv isn’t the kind of person who would find that kind of acting cute or charming. He’d probably just think, ‘Oh, she must be afraid of worms.’”

 

“That’s what I thought too.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Going ‘Eek, scary!’ and subtly clinging to someone wasn’t a trick to be used carelessly.

 

It was a high-level technique that could only be used on a man who had the awareness to notice it was an act, the affection to still find it adorable, and the boldness to say, ‘If you’re scared, hold my hand.’

 

Unfortunately, my older brother… failed all those conditions.

 

‘What about the current Leonhard?’

 

I was confident about the second and third conditions, but not the first.

 

I narrowed my eyes slightly as I looked at Leonhard, trying to gauge him, and when he returned a puzzled glance, I shook my head and signaled that it was nothing.

 

“Anyway, for this operation it’s better to focus on practical results. Let’s absolutely get first place. If you ask for a date as the first-place prize in the fishing contest, Brother Liv will never refuse.”

 

“But will I really be able to get first place?”

 

“Hmm……”

 

That wasn’t something I could confidently promise either. Honestly, fishing depended too much on luck and timing.

 

‘Besides, since it’s an event held every year, most participants are people who are quite skilled at fishing….’

 

“I don’t know how good your fishing skills are, Lala, so I can’t really say. Since it’s come to this, shall we go practice tomorrow?”

 

Even though no one was listening, I leaned closer and whispered into Layla’s ear.

 

“I’ll tell you about a special spot where lots of big fish gather.”

 

At that, Layla suddenly grabbed both of my hands.

 

“Please take care of me, future sister-in-law.”

 

Oh dear, what if you get indigestion? You’re already celebrating too early.

 

I simply patted Layla’s shoulder to show my support.

 

Hoping that everything she experienced here—including the fishing contest—would become beautiful memories.

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

Right after finishing breakfast, the four of us grabbed our fishing rods and headed to the riverside.

 

“Noah said this is his first time fishing, and it’s your first time too, right?”

 

“Yes. I never really had the chance.”

 

“Why? Didn’t you ever catch fish while traveling around? Even just to eat them?”

 

“If I wanted to eat them, there was no need to fish. I could simply catch them.”

 

“Huh? How do you just catch fish? With something like a spear?”

 

“There’s no need for a spear.”

 

After arriving at the river, Leonhard took off his shoes and rolled up the hems of his pants before stepping into the water.

 

Then he stared quietly beneath the flowing surface for a while…

 

And in the blink of an eye, he swung his hand and struck the water.

 

No—he hadn’t struck the water. He had struck the fish swimming underneath and sent it flying onto the shore.

 

“Good heavens… what is he, a bear or something….”

 

Even the fish flopping on the ground probably didn’t understand what had just happened to it.

 

“Wow…! Father, that’s amazing!”

 

“With a little practice, you’ll be able to do it too, Noah.”

 

“Really? Then can I try now?”

 

It looked like he might really take off his shoes and run into the water, so I quickly stopped him.

 

“No. The water is too deep for you to go in, and the temperature is cold. You might catch a cold.”

 

Speaking in an unusually strict voice, I widened my eyes and gave Leonhard a meaningful look.

 

Leonhardt, who had been about to show off his “bear act” a few more times after hearing the praise, cleared his throat and stepped out of the water.

 

“My feet are too cold to stay in any longer. When you grow a little older, Noah, I’ll teach you the trick.”

 

“Yes. Then let’s fish together today, Father.”

 

“Shall we?”

 

Leonhard personally put a worm on Noah’s hook, and I explained the basics of fishing to him.

 

“You see that float floating on the water over there? Just watch it quietly. If it starts to shake, gently grab your fishing rod. At some point, you’ll suddenly feel a tug in your hand. Then you pull.”

 

“What’s a tug?”

 

“Well… um… the feeling when a fish just nudges the bait is different from when it really bites it… It’s like a difference in weight you feel in your hand? A kind of heaviness?”

 

Trying to explain it with words was difficult. So I simply told Noah to try casting the rod.

“Here goes!”

 

Even though it was his first time casting, Noah’s fishing line drew a perfect arc through the air.

 

It seemed I wasn’t the only one impressed, because Layla clapped too.

 

“You threw it very well, young master! I’m sure you’ll catch a fish soon. Please cast mine for me too!”

 

Noah accepted the fishing rod Layla handed him, his cheeks turning slightly red, and swung it again with enthusiasm.

 

The fishing line flew out with a much stronger and prettier curve than before.

 

Perhaps he felt it himself, because a small laugh escaped Noah’s mouth without him even noticing.

 

‘Since we’re already doing this, maybe I should let him cast the spare rods too.’

 

I brought the extra fishing rods and walked over to Leonhard, who was sitting in front of the bait container.

 

“Nell, the worms look extremely disgusting.”

 

What did my husband just say?

* * *