How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 346

Side Story 2. If it’s love, you’ll definitely know

 

When we returned to the North, what welcomed us was the heartfelt congratulations from those who had heard the news in advance—and a mountain of work piled up high.

 

“My lady, you mustn’t overwork yourself, so please review just this much for today.”

 

“…Isn’t ‘just this much’ usually used to describe a relatively small amount?”

 

The top of the stack of documents towered all the way up to my eye level as I sat at my desk.

 

As I carefully flipped through each page with my thumb and index finger, Lucius nodded.

 

“This is after reducing it as much as possible. Winter is coming soon, after all.”

 

“Ah, winter…”

 

Preparing for winter was already a lot of work, but in Ajas Castle, located in the already cold North, there were several times more things to worry about.

 

From storing firewood and food, to buying and replacing cotton, wool, blankets, bedding, curtains, and carpets.

 

‘Hm? The guard dogs protecting the castle had a lot of puppies?’

 

As if bewitched, I stamped approval on a document asking for a slight increase in the budget for their food, when Lucius handed me another paper.

 

“This one doesn’t need reviewing, just confirmation.”

 

“There’s more?”

 

I was relieved it was just one sheet—until I read it and was startled.

 

“My personal allowance is increasing this much? Why?”

 

It wasn’t unheard of for my allowance to be adjusted, but usually that happened at the end of the year, when the family’s annual income and next year’s budget were decided.

 

And most of the time, adjustments meant reducing it—either because the family finances were tight or because the head of the house wanted to restrict the lady of the house.

 

I had never heard of it increasing for no reason. And it was already a surprisingly large amount.

 

“It’s the master’s order. Since he hardly spends money, his personal wealth keeps accumulating every year. He said that rather than letting it pile up meaninglessly, he would prefer if you used it, my lady.”

 

As a Marquis, he invested in and supported many businesses, but personally, Leonhard didn’t make separate investments.

 

Why? Because even without that, the inheritance he had received—and the wealth still piling up—was already more than enough to handle.

 

And he didn’t collect things, had no hobbies, and didn’t sponsor anything either.

 

I heard he only started spending a bit after marrying me.

 

Starting with the proposal gift he gave me, and during our recent trip to the capital, he even made some personal investments and sponsorships under his own name.

 

“Even so, did he really have to increase my allowance… Ah!”

 

Suddenly, a thought came to mind.

 

‘Was he that happy about the ring I got in the capital?’

 

My impression was that the diamond was too big to wear comfortably every day, and Leonhard had agreed.

 

But surprisingly, after returning to Ajas, he wore only that ring for nearly a week.

 

Using the excuse that the stone was so large it kept turning, he kept fiddling with it as if to show it off.

 

‘Honestly, he has such a cute side sometimes.’

 

Well, it wasn’t money taken from the family budget—it was his personal wealth.

 

And since he’s not the type to spend money on clothes or jewelry for himself, I should just buy him lots of things instead.

 

‘Should I get a few more formal outfits made? Maybe matching ones with Noah this time.’

 

If I did it without reason, he’d find it bothersome, so maybe I should hold a banquet on New Year’s Day.

 

And while I’m at it, officially announce my pregnancy too.

 

‘If I invite all the nobles of the North for a grand banquet… I’ll have a lot to prepare starting now.’

 

For now, dealing with the pile of documents in front of me came first. As usual, I rubbed my lower belly and started reviewing from the top.

 

* * *

 

While everyone at Ajas Castle—including Leonhard and me—was busy preparing for the coming winter and the banquet,

 

Noah was busy in his own way too.

 

It wasn’t just because he had resumed the lessons that were paused during our trip to the capital.

 

It was because Noah had decided to decorate Titiana’s room, which was being made across from his own.

 

“Mother, the mobile you made for me when we went to the capital—can I hang it above Titi’s bed?”

 

“That’s yours, Noah, so you don’t have to ask my permission. But are you sure you’re okay giving it to Titi?”

 

“Yes. Titi will be lying down every day since she’s little. I think it’ll be better in her room than mine.”

 

This for this reason, that for that reason— Noah moved all his favorite storybooks, dolls, and toys into Titiana’s room.

 

“Noah, are you giving all of this to Titi? Are you really okay with that?”

 

“I thought about it, and I think I’ll be in Titi’s room every day once she’s born.”

 

In other words, no matter what book he read or what toy he played with, he planned to do it all with Titiana—so it was fine to put everything in her room.

 

As Noah’s belongings moved into the baby’s room, the furniture placed there naturally started to match as well.

 

Each time, Noah carefully considered everything—the placement, size, color, shape, and even the material—so thoroughly that neither Leonhard nor I needed to interfere.

 

‘With Noah decorating Titi’s room like this, I have nothing to do.’

 

The room, which Noah rearranged several times a day, looked just like a princess’s room from a fairy tale.

 

And that wasn’t all. Every morning, he practiced by picking flowers from the greenhouse and arranging them in a vase—and his skill improved day by day.

 

Thanks to that, Titiana’s room wasn’t just beautifully decorated—it also had a bright and fresh atmosphere.

 

Anyone who stepped into that room even once would immediately know—

 

How much Noah was looking forward to Titiana’s birth, and how much he already loved the child who wasn’t even born yet.

 

‘Come to think of it…’

 

I’ve never even been to my husband’s bedroom.

 

‘Leon always comes to my room to sleep, so there was never a reason to go.’

 

Even though we’re married, our personal spaces were strictly separated, so it made sense that I hadn’t gone to his room.

 

Originally, he shouldn’t have been coming to mine either.

 

‘Since Leon uses my room like it’s his own, it should be fine if I use his room like mine too, right?’

 

If he says no, then fine—we’re sleeping separately tonight!

 

…Still, just in case. Just in case, I decided to ask Lucius first.

 

“I want to take a look at my husband’s bedroom… is it okay for me to enter the east wing?”

 

“The master’s bedroom…? Yes, of course. My lady may enter anywhere in this castle.”

 

Even though Lucius looked a bit puzzled, he nodded without hesitation.

 

That response gave me confidence. If Lucius said that, it meant Leonhard had already given permission beforehand.

 

I headed to the bedroom in the east wing, taking only my guards, Sage and Leona, with me. Even they decided to wait outside the door.

 

“It wouldn’t be right for us to enter the Marquis’s private space.”

 

“We’ll wait outside, Marquise.”

 

“Okay.”

 

I didn’t think there would be anything dangerous in my husband’s bedroom anyway, so I went in alone.

 

For a moment, my heart fluttered with a strange sense of anticipation. But after looking around the room, I soon let out a long sigh.

 

‘Why does this room feel like… a model house?’

 

Of course, as expected of the room of the Marquis who ruled the North—and the owner of this castle—it was filled with large, antique furniture and luxurious, expensive decorations.

 

But it didn’t feel like anyone actually lived here.

 

Whether it was the furniture or the decorations, it all felt like they were just placed there because they were supposed to be.

 

The servants must have maintained it perfectly—no matter where I touched, there wasn’t a speck of dust.

 

Maybe that’s why it felt even more empty.

 

‘Well, it makes sense… he’s always in my room.’

 

Since I came to this castle, I had never once seen Leonhard sleep here. Unless he was away from Ajas Castle, he always slept in my bedroom.

 

‘What a waste… it’s such a nice room.’

 

After looking around, I lightly sat at the edge of the bed.

 

The sheets were tucked so neatly and tightly around the mattress that even sitting on it felt uncomfortable.

 

‘Feeling like this in a place meant for rest… that’s not right.’

 

I grabbed the neatly arranged sheets and deliberately messed them up.

 

I opened the windows and untied the tightly fastened curtains so they could sway in the wind. I also patted the cushions on the sofa and left them slightly crooked.

 

‘The jewelry box Leon treasures… would it be in the dressing room?’

 

The box that held the ring I gave him, the bookmark, and the emerald cufflinks.

 

Considering what was inside, it seemed more likely to be in the dressing room than here.

 

If the jewelry box had been here, maybe this room would have felt more lived-in.

 

Then maybe he would have come here more often.

 

‘Since I’m already here, I might as well give this place that kind of feeling.’

 

Creating a lived-in atmosphere is kind of my specialty.

 

I pushed myself up from the sofa and headed toward the door.

 

* * *