How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 353

“Clover Magic Tool Workshop—Ajas branch?”

 

“Yeah. It’ll take some time before we can properly reopen in the capital, so we’re thinking of opening a branch in the meantime.”

 

Since Lily’s main attribute is fire, many of Clover’s main products were fire-related magic tools.

 

For example, magic curling irons, hair dryers, electric heating mats—

 

They were perfect items to sell in the cold north.

 

“I see. Is there anything I can help with?”

 

“It’s okay. We’ve already received various offers from different places.”

 

“Are you taking investments? Then I want in too.”

 

The profits Lily had been steadily depositing into my account were just piling up.

 

I couldn’t even spend all the money I had, so if there was a safe investment, I wanted to put everything into it.

 

“Hey, you’re already not able to spend all the money you make. What are you going to do with even more?”

 

“I’ll buy tasty food for my husband and our kids.”

 

Oh, my husband likes that. He likes that.

 

“Don’t you buy tasty food for your sister and brother-in-law too?”

 

“Of course I do. What do you want to eat, brother-in-law?”

 

“I’d like cheesecake. I’ve been really into it lately. Right?”

 

The one Benjamin asked for agreement was Lake, who was sitting on a round plate on the table, pecking at a cheesecake.

 

“Pchirrr!”

 

Lake flapped its wings excitedly, while Lily and Benjamin looked at it with strangely knowing expressions.

 

You know… the kind of look that suggests they’re sharing some secret between themselves.

 

‘…Did they figure out what Lake really is?’

 

No way.

 

‘They’re probably just surprised that a bird is eating cheesecake.’

 

Come to think of it, when *am I* going to reveal Lake’s true identity? I missed the timing once, and now it’s hard to find another chance.

 

And just like that, I spent another day only worrying about it.

 

* * *

 

While Lily and Benjamin stayed in the north preparing the Aias branch, Hiyella’s sighs finally stopped and spring arrived.

 

As time passed, my belly—where Titiana kept kicking—grew quite large.

 

Because of that, Alexander—no, Leonhard—became extremely sensitive.

 

Even when he went to his office to work or to the training grounds, he would stop by several times a day just to check if I was okay.

 

“Honestly, if someone saw you, they’d think your wife was in danger somewhere. I’m just quietly staying in my room—what are you so worried about?”

 

“What you said before is correct. This castle is unnecessarily large and has far too many stairs. It’s not designed with the elderly or vulnerable in mind at all.”

 

“Noah gets around just fine.”

 

“Exactly. For Noah—and for Titi—we need some kind of solution.”

 

Leonhard actually summoned all the castle’s wizards to come up with a plan.

 

Lily and Benjamin joined too, saying it looked interesting.

 

Marilyn, who had settled in Ajas Castle as Noah’s magic teacher, also participated.

 

There were dozens of skilled wizards. With everyone putting their heads together, they finally came up with a solution:

 

Teleportation magic circles were installed next to the castle stairs.

 

In simple terms—

 

“Wow, this is basically an elevator.”

 

“An elevator?”

 

“It’s like a big box in tall buildings. You go inside, press a button, and it moves you up or down to the floor you want.”

 

“It’s not magic, but a box big enough for people to move on its own? How?”

 

“Uh… I don’t really know the exact principle. Probably some kind of mysterious force, like magic. Maybe.”

 

Someone who can clearly explain science to someone who knows nothing about it? Definitely not me.

 

Leonhard didn’t seem too interested in the details either, so he didn’t ask further.

 

“What else existed in the world you used to live in?”

 

“Hmm, airplanes? They’re like huge bird-shaped vehicles that can carry hundreds of people. Even though they’re made of metal, they can fly. And with something called a smartphone, you can talk to people far away, and there’s also the internet…”

 

When I explained that things like magic curling irons and hair dryers also existed in my original world, Leonhardt looked deeply concerned.

 

“From what you’re saying, that world sounds very convenient.”

 

I could tell what he really wanted to ask.

 

“What’s the point of convenience? There wasn’t a single person I loved there.”

 

“Not even one?”

 

“No. Not even one.”

 

I thought that would make him happy. My husband is a bit of a jealous type, after all.

 

But instead, his expression stiffened, and he reached out to pull me into an embrace.

 

“Then if you ever say you want to go back, I will never let you.”

 

“I told you, I have no intention of going back…”

 

As I rested quietly in his arms, I suddenly asked,

 

“What if I said I wanted to leave to meet someone else I love? Would you let me go then?”

 

“…I wouldn’t like that either.”

 

“Which would you hate more?”

 

Holding me tightly as if to trap me, Leonhardt thought for a long moment before answering.

 

“The latter is slightly better.”

 

“Really? Why?”

 

“It would still be painful for me either way. But at least that one would be good for you.”

 

It didn’t seem like a good thing for me either.

 

I didn’t have even the slightest attachment left to the world I came from.

 

At this point, I barely even remembered how I lived there. And if I had anything to regret, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.

 

“But you like me the most in this world, so as long as I’m here, you won’t leave, right?”

 

“You remember that?”

 

“Of course. I’ll remember it until I die—or even after.”

 

His voice carried a kind of conviction that made it feel like that might really be possible.

 

Smiling, I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist.

 

“If you don’t want to hear me say I’m leaving, then you better treat me well. Got it?”

 

“Of course. I’ll become a handsome old man.”

 

Skipping straight past middle age to old man, huh? Guess he’s already confident about the middle part.

 

‘Well, looking in the mirror probably gives him all the confidence he needs.’

 

I wonder when my husband will realize that worrying about me wanting to return to my original world is completely unnecessary.

 

Instead of comforting him with words, I held his handsome cheeks and gave him a quick kiss.

 

If one kiss can make him smile like that, it’s a pretty good deal.

 

“One isn’t enough, my lady. Please love me more.”

 

“How many would satisfy you?”

 

“As much as you love me.”

 

“Greedy. That’s asking for too much.”

 

I pretended to glare at him before wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him again.

 

Just like he wanted— as much as I loved him.

 

* * *

 

About two weeks left until the due date.

 

The birthing room had already been prepared, and my belly was now big enough to clearly be called full-term.

 

At this point, it finally felt real.

 

The fact that I was going to have a baby.

 

‘It’s a bit strange that it’s only hitting me now, when my belly is this big…’

 

Anyway, we had finished all preparations to welcome Titiana.

 

Noah had carefully decorated Titiana’s room, filling it with all kinds of baby supplies.

 

I also made piles of baby clothes—starting with newborn outfits, socks, mittens, handkerchiefs, and cloth diapers.

 

We even hired two nannies after three rounds of interviews to stay by the baby’s side when Leonhardt and I couldn’t.

 

But we didn’t hire a wet nurse. I planned to breastfeed myself.

 

“This should be perfect, right? What do you think?”

 

“Well… I’ve never had a baby either. If something’s missing, we can just get it right away. If you need anything, tell me. I’ll get it for you.”

 

“Really? You’re staying here until I give birth?”

 

“Of course. Since I came all the way here, I should at least see Titi’s face before leaving.”

 

“…I love you, sis!”

 

Maybe the Ajas branch was just an excuse, and she actually came all this way because of me.

 

After all, the branch was already built, staffed, and open.

 

I even heard it was doing well without Lily and Benjamin there.

 

‘She must’ve stayed because she was worried about me.’

 

As if to prove my guess right— a few days later, my older brother arrived in the north.

 

And not just him— my brother Alex and Violet came along too!

 

* * *