How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 343

The soft warmth against my cheek melted away my lingering disappointment in an instant.

 

I ended up smiling without thinking, and Leonhard smiled too, as if relieved. I could tell why from the way his hand gently brushed around my eyes.

 

“May I ask what you were doing up there?”

 

Hmm, I guess I was caught.

 

It wasn’t something I needed to hide, so I took the envelope out of my dress pocket and showed it to him.

 

“You know the secret base I mentioned a few days ago? This tree was it. I found a letter from my mother there.”

 

“This tree was your secret base?”

 

“Yes. There used to be a hole between the roots big enough for a child, but I think that’s been filled in……But the hole in the trunk is still there.”

 

Oh right, my treasure!

 

I grabbed Leonhard’s arm and pointed up at the hole above.

 

“There’s a treasure my mother left inside. I’ll stay here quietly, so could you go up and get it for me?”

 

“If it’s my dear’s request, I must fulfill it.”

 

With a small smile, Leonhardt climbed the tree trunk as if walking on flat ground, reached into the hole, pulled out a metal box, and lightly jumped back down.

 

“Here it is.”

 

“It’s bigger than I expected?”

 

But it wasn’t very heavy. When I shook it lightly, something rattled inside—it sounded like there were several things in it.

 

I wondered if I should take it home and open it with my eldest brother, when suddenly I felt a drop of water fall onto my forehead.

 

“It looks like it’s going to rain again. Come over here, my lady.”

 

I followed Leonhardt and stood close to the tree trunk, looking up at the sky.

 

“It was definitely clear just a moment ago……”

 

“Still, it seems like this rain will pass quickly. Let’s wait here for a bit.”

 

“Shall we?”

 

I was a bit worried about Bori, who I couldn’t see, but he’s smart—he’s probably sheltering somewhere from the rain.

 

‘Our Bori is a genius, after all.’

 

Anyway, since we’re already here, I might as well open the box. I tugged on Leonhardt’s hand.

 

“Leon, sit here. Let’s open the box.”

 

“Just a moment, my lady.”

 

As I was about to sit on a thick tree root sticking out of the ground, Leonhardt laid down a handkerchief for me first.

 

It’s nice having my husband beside me. I quickly sat down on it and opened the box.

 

“Wow……!”

 

Inside were four bundles. Each one was neatly wrapped in cloth embroidered with our siblings’ nicknames and tied with pretty ribbons.

 

The pink cloth with my name and a clover leaf embroidered on it was tied with a green ribbon.

 

When I carefully untied it, two small boxes appeared inside.

 

Why two? I wondered—then, after checking what was inside, I understood.

 

“One is an earring…… and the other is cufflinks?”

 

“Yes. This one clearly looks like it’s for a man, right?”

 

A long oval green emerald at the center, with leaf designs starting from the top and bottom wrapping around the sides, set in a gold frame.

 

The two pieces were clearly made as a matching pair.

 

Remembering what my mother had written in the letter, I placed the cufflinks into Leonhardt’s hand.

 

“This one is yours. A gift from my mother to her son-in-law.”

 

“Mine?”

 

“Of course. It’s meant for the person I chose.”

 

Just then, there were slots on Leonhardt’s sleeves where cufflinks could be placed.

 

Maybe because the autumn air of the Howard County felt warm, his sleeves were half rolled up—but I pulled them down and fastened the cufflinks for him myself.

 

“Let’s see…… Ah, they’re pretty! Emerald suits you well too.”

 

“Does it?”

 

“Of course. These were made just to decorate your wrist.”

 

Leonhardt, who had been touching the cufflinks on his sleeve, smiled happily and held out his hand to me.

 

“I’ll put your earrings on for you. Give them to me.”

 

I handed him the box and tilted my head slightly, offering him my ear.

 

With careful hands, Leonhardt placed the emerald earrings on me.

 

“How is it? Pretty?”

 

“Yes. They look like they were made just to hang from your ears.”

 

Whose husband is he? He’s quite good at this.

 

We giggled together and then put the earrings and cufflinks back into the box.

 

“When we return to Ayas Castle and hold a banquet, I’ll wear these cufflinks.”

 

“Then I’ll wear these earrings too.”

 

It’s a shame we can’t show our parents directly how we’re wearing these matching pieces together……

 

Still, I’m glad we found the treasure our mother left behind.

 

‘When I get back, I should write to Sister Lily and Brother Alec first.’

 

I put the letter into the metal box so it wouldn’t get wet from the rain.

 

I want to show it to my eldest brother as soon as possible. I wonder when the rain will stop.

 

“By the way, my lady.”

 

“Yes?”

 

As I turned my gaze from the sky, Leonhard looked at me with a subtle smile and asked,

 

“Isn’t this situation similar to what you imagined?”

 

“My imagination?”

 

“Under a tree, with a tall and handsome man.”

 

Leonhard smiled with his eyes as he looked at me.

 

“What did you say you would do?”

 

Honestly, how sly.

 

If someone asked when our last kiss was, I’d have to say three hours ago—yet he still doesn’t get tired of this.

 

“Don’t you feel embarrassed saying to yourself that you’re tall and handsome?”

 

“Not at all. Because you’re the one who acknowledged it.”

 

Well… that’s true. I did say that.

 

Though honestly, it’s not just me—everyone would agree.

 

“But dear, there’s one thing that’s a bit different from what I imagined.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“That was something I imagined before I got married. So the tall and handsome man in my imagination was someone I was in a ‘some’ relationship with.”

 

“Some?”

 

“Hmm, it means… when both people like each other and kind of know it, but haven’t officially confessed yet?”

 

“Then if both people know they like each other, why don’t they confess?”

 

“Maybe because they’re not completely sure? Like, it feels like that person likes me, but since they haven’t actually said it, I can’t be a hundred percent certain?”

 

Leonhard looked like he kind of understood, but still a bit confused as he asked again.

 

“You imagined kissing someone like that?”

 

“Well, you know—when neither person is completely sure yet, and then it starts raining like this? The two of them have to stand under this tree alone until the rain stops.”

 

Dark clouds gather, making it dim even though it’s daytime, and the sound of rain pours down quietly around them.

 

While one person takes out a handkerchief to wipe the other’s wet forehead and cheek, their fingers brush slightly—and suddenly warmth sparks between their skin.

 

Startled as if sparks had flown from flint, they suddenly realize how close they are and quickly pull apart.

 

In the awkward silence, one of them stares at the falling rain, while the other lightly pats their cheek with the handkerchief, secretly glancing over—until their eyes meet.

 

As if by promise, or as if time has stopped, neither of them looks away.

 

No words are spoken. There’s no need for them.

 

The distance between their eyes slowly closes, and their eyelids lower along with trembling lashes.

 

Trying to hide their nervousness, they clench their fists tightly as their breaths meet.

 

“……And with that kiss, they confirm each other’s feelings, and from that day on, they become lovers.”

 

After listening to my long explanation, Leonhard responded like this.

 

“So you had such a specific idea of your first kiss, and then ended up having it with a man you didn’t even have feelings for… You must have been very disappointed.”

 

His voice sounded a bit sharp—he seemed to be jealous of the man in my imagination again.

 

What am I supposed to do? My husband is too cute.

 

He looked a bit embarrassed himself, unable to meet my eyes, so I looked straight at him and held back my laughter as I spoke.

 

“If he was a man I had no feelings for, do you think I would have gone on my tiptoes and kissed him first?”

 

It seemed he had just now remembered that on the day of our wedding in the capital, I was the one who initiated our first kiss while he hesitated.

 

Seeing him let out a late “Ah,” this time I puffed out my lips.

 

“I proposed first, and I even did the first kiss.”

 

Leonhard gave an awkward smile, as if feeling guilty.

 

“But I was the one who confessed first, wasn’t I?”

 

“That’s why I let it slide. Otherwise, I would’ve made you suffer a lot.”

 

“I’m really glad I confessed first, then. ……Or should we try doing it again now, just like in your imagination?”

 

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