How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 338

‘Someone who can slice a giant worm in half without hesitation saying something like that… Ah!’

 

The question mark in my mind suddenly turned into an exclamation point.

 

Suppressing the laughter that was about to burst out, I walked over and crouched beside Leonhard.

 

“Ahem, let’s see. How disgusting are they?”

 

“This one right here. It’s the most disgusting worm I’ve ever seen in my life.”

 

The round container was filled with worms, and honestly, the whole thing was disgusting enough that there wasn’t really any point in arguing which one was worse.

 

‘If I hadn’t followed my older siblings fishing when I was younger, I probably would’ve been horrified too.’

 

I never expected the experience of running around everywhere as a child would prove useful after getting married.

 

I boldly wrapped my arm around my husband’s shoulder.

 

“It really does look extremely disgusting. You must have been quite startled. Are you okay?”

 

“My heart is still pounding.”

 

As if telling me to check it myself, Leonhardt took my hand and placed it against the left side of his chest.

 

The heartbeat I felt under my palm was certainly not slow.

 

But the heartbeat I had always felt when I was in his arms had been like this.

 

Not the rapid thumping of someone who had just been running, but the light, fluttering beat of excitement.

 

“Oh dear, it’s beating so fast. What should we do if your heart keeps racing like this?”

 

“I think it would calm down if my wife comforts me.”

 

“How should I comfort you?”

 

I leaned close beside Leonhard so that our shoulders touched and whispered softly.

 

“With a kiss?”

 

Leonhard let out a short laugh that sounded almost like a quiet chuckle and quickly closed his eyes while looking at me.

 

I leaned in and gave his lips a brief peck.

 

It happened so quickly that I thought Layla and Noah behind us wouldn’t notice…

 

“Young master. You must absolutely not turn around.”

 

“Why?”

 

“You never know when the fishing float might move…”

 

Layla answered like that, but there was deep regret in her voice.

 

‘Since when did she see that?’

 

Feeling embarrassed that I had unintentionally shown off our affection, I nudged Leonhard’s side with my elbow.

 

Realizing the situation as well, he quickly threaded a worm onto the hook.

 

It was the very worm he had just said made his heart pound because it was so disgusting.

 

“Alright, Noah. Try casting these fishing rods too.”

 

“But is it okay to throw this many fishing rods at once?”

 

“If you have a wide field of view, it’s fine. It might be hard for you to watch them all at once, right? So your mom and dad will watch them together with you.”

 

Since there were six rods set up—excluding Layla’s—we decided each of us would watch two.

 

But aside from the floats swaying in the wind, there were no bites at all.

 

Noah flinched every time a float moved even slightly, but after thirty minutes he eventually got tired and slumped his shoulders.

 

“The fish aren’t coming.”

 

“You’re right. It’s rare for it to be this quiet.”

 

“Sitting still like this is making me a little stiff. Can I walk around nearby for a bit?”

 

“Then shall we take a walk together, mother?”

 

I was getting bored with sitting still anyway. We couldn’t leave Layla alone, and we couldn’t abandon the fishing rods either, so Leonhard decided to stay.

 

“I’ll try my best to catch at least one fish while you’re gone.”

 

“Yes, Father!”

 

“But don’t go into the water again.”

 

Judging by how Leonhard avoided my gaze slightly, it seemed he had been considering exactly that.

 

I shot him a look, then took Noah’s hand and started walking along the riverbank.

 

“Let’s walk a little further inward, just in case.”

 

“Yes, Mother. I’ll escort you.”

 

“Oh really? Our Noah turned six and has already become more reliable.”

 

At my praise, Noah—who had already been walking properly—straightened his back even more.

 

Seeing that made me realize something again.

 

I had noticed it once back in the capital, but compared to when I first met him, he had clearly grown.

 

‘They say children grow quickly.’

 

Felix was already quite tall, and judging by Noah’s growth speed, he would probably catch up to my height in no time.

 

‘Right now I was looking down at him, but someday when we talked, I would probably have to look up at him instead…’

 

‘It feels a little touching somehow.’

 

Yes, I should make an album.

 

I should paint many portraits of how he looks now, and take many photographs too.

 

“Noah, have you taken many pictures with the camera Mom gave you?”

 

“Yes. I’m also writing in my picture diary every day.”

 

It had been my suggestion for Noah to keep a picture diary.

 

Since he liked drawing, I recommended it—and as expected, he really enjoyed it.

 

On days when he had a lot to write and draw, he would even go back to the bedroom with Rake instead of asking me to read him a storybook.

 

‘Just like yesterday.’

 

Since it was his birthday, I had wanted to spend a special evening together, but Noah said he wanted to write his diary while the memories of the day were still fresh, and went back to his room early after dinner.

 

“Noah, did you enjoy your birthday party yesterday?”

 

“Yes. I was very happy.”

 

The child’s face looked genuinely happy as he spoke about happiness, which reassured me.

 

“Among the presents you received yesterday, which one did you like the most? Can you secretly tell Mom?”

 

“Among the presents I received yesterday…”

 

“Oh, except for the one Mom gave you.”

 

I said that so he wouldn’t feel pressured to consider my feelings, but instead, Noah suddenly widened his eyes as if remembering something.

 

“Oh right—I had a dream about Titi yesterday, Mother.”

 

“What? Really?”

 

“I guess it helped that I slept with the portrait you drew next to my pillow.”

 

Noah began telling me what he had done with Titi in his dream.

 

“Titi was a very small child who could fit right in my arms. I carried her around and proudly told everyone we met that she was my little sister.”

 

“So how did people react?”

 

“They said my little sister looked just like her big brother. Some people even asked first if she was my little sister.”

 

Speaking excitedly, Noah suddenly went “Ah,” and glanced at my belly, as if checking my reaction.

 

“Of course, it’s okay even if Titi doesn’t look like me. I’ll still love her.”

 

“Hmm, Noah, did you know? People can resemble each other in many ways besides appearance.”

 

“In what ways?”

 

“Habits, hobbies, the way they speak or act, their tastes, or even the foods they like. All kinds of things.”

 

After telling Noah about the ways people said I resembled my older siblings, I finally said the thing I had wanted to say since yesterday.

 

“So even if Titi doesn’t look very much like you, don’t be too disappointed. If you live together, you’ll start to resemble each other in many ways. Because we’re family.”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

Nodding his head, Noah continued in a slightly serious voice.

 

“But I hope Titi doesn’t resemble me in not liking carrots.”

 

“That’s true. It would be better if she disliked something else, so you two could eat each other’s food, right?”

 

Instead of answering, Noah giggled.

 

It was the mischievous laugh of a child who had just turned five—no, six.

 

“So Noah, aren’t you going to tell me which present you liked the most?”

 

“Well… I liked all of them…”

 

While Noah was thinking, I lightly kicked a noticeable black pebble with the tip of my foot.

 

The pebble rolled along just as I intended, right in front of Noah.

 

Noah reflexively kicked the pebble and looked at me.

 

I ran forward to where it had rolled and kicked it again with my foot.

 

Realizing what I was doing, Noah ran over and kicked the pebble too.

 

We kept kicking the pebble like that until the one Noah kicked flew far and plopped into the river.

 

“Should we head back now? Maybe Dad has caught a fish by now.”

 

“When we go back, I’ll try sitting patiently for longer this time.”

 

“Really? Since we came all the way out here, you should experience the feeling of catching a fish at least once.”

 

This time we walked quietly back along the path without kicking stones.

 

Then Noah suddenly said to me,

 

“Actually… The present I liked the most was the one Father gave me.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. Before going to sleep last night, I looked at the coupons for a long time and thought about when I should use them.”

 

Noah told me it was very fun imagining all the different possibilities.

 

“Rake said she was jealous too, so I decided to give her the ‘I want to eat this’ coupon.”

 

Out of all the more than ten coupons, that was the one she wanted—how very like Rake.

 

I burst out laughing.

 

“I should make the same thing for Rake on her birthday. Then you can ask her to give you one too.”

 

“The ones I got are already enough. And…”

 

Noah squeezed my hand slightly, as if it was difficult for him to continue.

 

After hesitating for quite a while, he finally spoke again when Leonhard and Layla came into view in the distance.

 

“The greatest present in my whole life is that you became my mother.”

 

“Oh my.”

 

Surprised by the unexpected words, I widened my eyes.

 

By the time I recovered, Noah—his ears bright red—had already let go of my hand and run toward Leonhard as if escaping.

 

“Father! Did you catch a fish?”

 

“Hmm, unfortunately I didn’t catch even one.”

 

“Same here. I have to win first place in the fishing contest tomorrow…”

 

Sighing deeply, Layla began collecting the fishing rods and called out to me, who was still standing a little far away.

 

“Madam! It’s a bit early, but shall we eat the lunch boxes?”

 

“…Yes! Let’s all eat together!”

 

We had planned to grill fish if we caught any, but today’s lunch ended up being only the lunch boxes prepared by the manor.

 

Throughout the meal, Noah stayed glued to Leonhard’s side and hardly looked at me, as if he was too embarrassed about something.

 

The two of them noticed this and gave me puzzled looks, but I simply put on a proud expression as if to say it didn’t matter.

 

‘I want to tell you that you’re a gift in my life too.’

 

But our shy boy couldn’t even meet my eyes while finishing his lunch and cleaning up, so I never got the chance to say it.

 

There wasn’t even time to feel disappointed.

 

Just as we were about to gather our spirits and try fishing again, the sky suddenly darkened—and in the next moment, heavy rain began pouring down.

 

“Summer is already over, so why is there a sudden shower?”

 

“I’m not sure, but somehow it doesn’t feel like just a shower…”

 

“You mean it’s not a shower, even though it’s raining this hard?”

 

“It would be best if we head back for now.”

 

Just as Leonhard had predicted, the rain that began falling in the afternoon didn’t stop quickly and continued late into the night.

 

It was so heavy that the fishing contest scheduled for the next day was canceled.

 

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