How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love – Chapter 341

Author: Chewyy

The moment the sentence she had been trying so hard to say in a roundabout way suddenly slipped out of Layla’s mouth first, Oliver blinked several times in surprise.

He, who had struggled to even bring up the topic in the first place, took a bit of time just to nod his head.

Thanks to that, Layla—who had already finished preparing herself mentally—was able to respond right away.

“Is it because I look too young for you to see me as a woman?”

“Yes. It’s not that you lack charm, my lady, but that I’m an older brother who has a much younger sister.”

“Then what if I were about three years older than I am now?”

“If that were the case……”

Even then, there would still be a five-year gap, but it felt much smaller than an eight-year difference.

Either way, since it was all hypothetical, Oliver gave up thinking further and nodded.

“In that case… I’m not sure.”

As if she had been waiting for that answer, Layla spoke immediately.

“Then please give me just three years.”

“Pardon?”

“I understand that you see me as young. So please give me three years. I’ll become so much more mature that you won’t recognize me when I stand before you again.”

Three years. Compared to an entire lifetime, it wasn’t a very long time.

But it was enough time for a girl to grow into a woman. At least, that’s what Layla believed.

“If even then you still can’t see me as a woman, I’ll truly give up on you.”

“But……”

“Of course! If, during those three years, you meet someone better… then I’ll step aside cleanly, wishing for your happiness. But if that doesn’t happen, could you please wait for me for just three years?”

Her pleading voice carried such desperation that it was impossible to coldly refuse.

Oliver didn’t see her as a woman, but he did see her as a girl even younger than his youngest sister—so her words struck him quite strongly.

“You do know how old I am this year, right? In three years, I’ll practically be an old man—”

“I don’t mind! Even if you’re not thirty but forty or fifty, you’ll still be wonderful!”

“Well, it’s easy for you to say. I’m the one who’ll be too old to marry……”

“Ah, that’s fine too—… ahem.”

Layla accidentally blurted out her true thoughts, then quickly pretended nothing had happened and smiled brightly.

Seeing how well she used the fact that he only saw her as a young girl, it was a relief that she didn’t seem hurt.

Of course, if she had been, she wouldn’t have been able to boldly ask for three years in the first place.

“If another suitor appears for me in the meantime, will you really be able to step aside cleanly?”

“To be honest, I might not be completely graceful about it. But I’ll try not to act pathetic in front of you.”

“As long as you don’t act that way in front of my future partner.”

“……”

At Oliver’s remark—assuming a partner that didn’t even exist—Layla’s eyes dimmed in an instant.

It was so brief that by the time Oliver blinked, she was smiling again.

“Then it’s okay if I act pathetic in front of you, right?”

Her completely innocent smile made Oliver want to apologize for his earlier thoughtless remark.

But seeing her trying so hard to brush it off as if nothing had happened, he simply returned her smile.

“You may do so as much as you like.”

After checking Layla’s empty teacup, Oliver changed the subject and asked her,

“I brought several kinds of tea. Would you like me to brew a different one this time? Please choose whichever you like.”

“Ah, then I’ll……”

Even after the rainbow in the sky had faded, the two continued their long conversation until a whole teapot was emptied.

After sunset, Layla returned to her room escorted by Oliver, and made one final request of him.

“For the next three years, I’ll hold back even if I want to see you. But may I keep writing you letters instead?”

“Of course. Even if I’m late, I’ll make sure to reply.”

“Thank you!”

“Then, goodbye.”

From the day they exchanged polite goodbyes and parted, about three years later—

Layla finally succeeded in becoming the lady of the Howard County, just as she had proudly declared to the servants when she first arrived.

But it wasn’t because her appearance had matured beyond recognition.

It was because of the letters she had steadily exchanged with Oliver over those three years.

At the time, Layla had no idea.

* * *

The short week passed quickly, and the day we leave Howard County is already tomorrow.

“The enjoyable vacation ends today……”

“Whether we die tomorrow or not, we should burn bright today. Let’s go, everyone!”

“Wooo!”

While my guards headed out in broad daylight to empty out the village taverns, Noah gathered all the ginkgo leaf bookmarks he had carefully made and—

“You may do so as much as you like.”

After checking Layla’s empty teacup, Oliver changed the subject and asked her,

“I brought several kinds of tea. Would you like me to brew a different one this time? Please choose whichever you like.”

“Ah, then I’ll……”

Even after the rainbow in the sky had faded, the two continued their long conversation until a whole teapot was emptied.

After sunset, Layla returned to her room escorted by Oliver, and made one final request of him.

“For the next three years, I’ll hold back even if I want to see you. But may I keep writing you letters instead?”

“Of course. Even if I’m late, I’ll make sure to reply.”

“Thank you!”

“Then, farewell.”

From the day they exchanged polite goodbyes and parted, about three years later—

Layla finally succeeded in becoming the lady of the Howard County, just as she had proudly declared to the servants when she first arrived.

But it wasn’t because her appearance had matured beyond recognition.

It was because of the letters she had steadily exchanged with Oliver over those three years.

At the time, Layla had no idea.

* * *

The short week passed quickly, and the day we leave the Howard County is already tomorrow.

“The enjoyable vacation ends today……”

“Whether we die tomorrow or not, we should burn bright today. Let’s go, everyone!”

“Wooo!”

While my guards headed out in broad daylight to empty out the village taverns, Noah handed out all the ginkgo and maple leaf bookmarks he had carefully made to everyone.

To everyone who had given him birthday presents, including the servants of the manor.

“Marquise! Look at this. The young master gave me this bookmark, and he said this is the only one made with light purple petals. Isn’t it pretty?”

Layla’s face, as she proudly showed me how pretty the bookmark was, was as bright and cheerful as the morning sunlight.

Thinking it was admirable how she took the three-year wait so positively, I agreed that the bookmark was really pretty and then shared some news I had secretly learned through the butler.

“You know, it seems quite a few marriage proposals have come in for Brother Liv.”

“No way! ……Ah, I mean, the Count is a wonderful person, so it’s not that surprising……”

“Listen to the end. He had been putting them off without answering, but it seems he eventually sent rejections to all of them.”

“What? Why?”

“Why do you think?”

I had only heard Layla’s side of what had been said between them, not my eldest brother’s.

But we’ve been family all our lives—it wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking.

“Even if Brother Liv said things like he might meet someone else, he’s not that kind of person. Even if, by some chance, he does start to like someone, he’d probably put off seeing them until after three years.”

“Really?”

“Of course. So do your best for these three years.”

“……Okay!”

Layla said she needed to go write the letter she would leave behind tomorrow right away, and returned to her bedroom.

‘Leon and Noah are probably still handing out the bookmarks…….’

Ah, before leaving tomorrow, I should take one last walk with Bori.

“Bori! Let’s go for a walk with Auntie!”

“Woof woof!”

At the word “walk,” Bori perked up his ears and dashed off toward the back of the manor.

At the gate in the back garden that led into the forest, Bori sat waiting for me. As soon as I opened it, he ran off excitedly.

“Woof!”

“Bori, slow down! Auntie can’t run!”

Ignoring me, Bori ran energetically along the path leading into the forest.

Just like anyone else, that little dog loved fallen leaves—whenever they piled up even a little, he would jump right in and start digging through them with his front paws.

“Woof woof, woof!”

“Right? Playing with leaves is fun, isn’t it? I’m fine, so go ahead and play as much as you want.”

“Woof woof!”

Watching Bori roll around covered in leaves reminded me of Noah running around excitedly.

Maybe he heard my giggling, because Bori—who had been playing happily on his own—ran back to me and circled around me.

I crouched down and hugged him as he wagged his tail at me, stroking him all over.

“Wait, that tickles, Bori.”

“Woof woof!”

After covering my cheeks in slobber, Bori ran off again.

I walked slowly, following the footprints he left behind. I already knew where he would go, so I could take my time.

“Ah…… the air is so nice.”

Thanks to the rain, the air was as clear and fresh as the bright blue sky.

Every time I took a deep breath, it felt like the cool breeze was washing my lungs clean.

Listening to the whisper of the autumn wind brushing the leaves on the branches and the chirping of sparrows, I whistled softly.

Suddenly, I felt a little sad walking this path alone.

‘Maybe I should have brought Rake too?’

What I realized again this time was that our Rake would never go hungry anywhere.

He was just so good at getting snacks from everyone. Nuts and dried fruits were one thing, even crushed cookies—but how on earth did he manage to get cheesecake?

‘He’s probably getting snacks somewhere right now too, isn’t he?’

As I walked, lost in thought, the path ended and the lake appeared before me.

Walking around the lakeside until tired was our usual route, so I thought Bori would be somewhere nearby, but……

“Huh? Bori, where are you?”

As I called out his name, I heard barking from deep inside the forest—beyond the lake.

‘Why did Bori go over there? Did he change the route?’

There, among the red maple trees deep in the forest where no path was even made, Bori was barking at a noticeably large old tree.

“What is it, Bori? What’s there?”

But is it just me? That tree somehow looks familiar……

Ah.

“A secret base!”

It looks just like the secret base I made with my little brother a long time ago!