How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 73

It was said that the Fresh Green Ball, held every spring at the Imperial Palace to celebrate the crowning of the first princess’s ceremonies, would be hosted by the first princess, not the Empress, and would be attended by a congratulatory delegation from the Kingdom of Canel.

 

During the crowning ceremony of the first prince and second prince, they did not send a separate congratulatory delegation.

 

‘If the first princess makes the emperor happy, she will be able to take a very good first step as a princess.’

 

‘The second prince….is he trying to become the princess’s ally?’ 

 

If so, will the first princess be an ally of the second prince, her own brother, or maintain her own power?

 

The capital’s politics were already divided into two factions: the first prince and the second prince. It won’t be easy to take away their power.…

 

‘If the first princess is greedy for the throne.’ 

 

If she takes care of the nobles’ interests in order to gain power, even if she succeeds to the throne, there will be problems after that.

 

The imperial power, whose support base is unstable, will continue to be shaken by even the slightest wind. 

 

As old history books prove, excessive competition for the throne has always led to the weakening of imperial authority.

 

‘It has nothing to do with me, though.’ 

 

No matter who becomes emperor, whether imperial power is weakened or strengthened. There was only one thing for Ajas to do.

To protect the Hiyela Gate and Ajas Castle to prevent white land monsters or barbarians from invading the empire.

 

“Good job. Go and ask Zenut for a snack.”

 

The gray hawk seemed to have understood Leonhard’s words and let out a squeak. As Leonhard swung her arms high, the gray hawk spread her wings wide and soared above the sky.

 

After watching the gray hawk go to its assigned meal, Leonhard returned to the tent next to the Ajas carriage.

 

Raenel, who was sitting on a chair in front of a large bonfire and warming her frozen hands, saw him and asked.

 

“Who is it? Logan?”

 

“No, it was my uncle. He told me that the crowning ceremony of the princess was held successfully.” 

 

“I see….”

 

Her red, frozen hands didn’t seem to melt easily even in front of the bonfire.

 

Leonhard called someone to make warm hot chocolate and placed a cup in her hand.

 

“Ah, it’s delicious. Leon, please take a sip too.”

 

“I’m fine. Ma’am.” 

 

“It’s delicious.”

 

Leonhard placed the hood attached to the cloak over the head of Raenel, who was muttering softly, then picked up the firewood in the bonfire to make the fire a little bigger.

 

As he gazed at the fire that was burning and devouring firewood, he remembered the red stone held in the wizard’s hand.

 

Suddenly, Leonhard remembered the letter Layla gave him. The people who kidnapped her were looking for someone who wouldn’t be attacked by monsters.

 

It’s definitely true. What they are looking for is Sesto’s bloodline.

 

If the bloodstone he saw was Sesto’s, it was a certain fact that the bloodline was still connected.

 

Originally, bloodstone was made from the blood of a living person.

 

‘But what I didn’t know was why they kidnapped Cloud’s daughter. Because they misunderstood her for Sesto’s blood?’

 

However, even if there is a misunderstanding, there must be circumstances to support it.

 

The origins of the Marquess Cloud herself and her husband are clear. 

 

Moreover, Cloud’s daughter looks just like her father.

 

‘So why, why did it have to be her?’

 

There’s something in common between Sesto’s blood and hers… That’s why they sent a monster to her to check it out.’ 

 

At this point, he doesn’t know what that commonality is.

 

What he can be sure of, however, they’re looking for someone with Sesto’s blood without knowing exactly who or where Sesto’s bloodline lives. Even with the bloodstone in hand.

 

‘That means Sesto has at least two bloodlines.’ There is only one Sesto bloodline they are looking for. Sesto’s bloodline is another source of their bloodstone.

 

Either Sesto’s blood is cooperating with the group, or he is being imprisoned and having his blood drained. It was clear that it was a big problem.

 

‘Was the monster attack in the capital also done by them? So what is it? Have they decided that there is Sesto’s blood in the imperial palace? Did you check with anyone during all that commotion?’ 

 

There were too few clues given to deduce something and come to a conclusion. Leonhard made a groaning sound and immediately shook his head.

 

The people who kidnapped her said they were going in and out of the dungeon, gathering materials and modifying monsters there. They didn’t say exactly which dungeon it was, but the only dungeon nearby was the one below Anild Gorge, so it was probably there.

 

With the cooperation of Marquess Cloud, a person was sent to Anild gorge. It may take some time as the location is different, but if there are really traces of people coming and going there, they will be able to find it.

 

It doesn’t matter if they gather materials there. But if they’re really doing something ridiculous like monster modification there, they’re definitely not the only ones doing it there.

 

‘For now, I can only hope that the Blue Thorn mercenaries find something and bring it back.’ 

 

‘No, rather than just leaving it to the mercenaries, I have to release the shadows of the spy corps when I arrive at Ajas Castle.’

 

‘First, we should investigate all the dungeons located in the north.’ 

 

As he was sorting out his future tasks one by one, Leonhard noticed Leona desperately catching his attention and raised her head towards her. 

 

“why…”

 

Before he could even ask out loud, Leona urgently sent a hand signal.

 

Leonhard frowned slightly when he saw that her gaze had landed on Raenel next to him.

 

‘It seems that the Marquess is homesick.’ 

 

“what?”

 

“yes?”

 

“Oh, no.…Nothing, but what were you thinking, Nell?”

 

Although he was the one deep in thought, Raenel was also the one who sat in silence for a long time, so Leonhard asked thoughtfully.

 

Raenel then smiled brightly and shook her head, as if he had no idea that Leonhard was in deep thought like her.

 

“I didn’t think much. I was just wondering when I could eat sweet potatoes.” 

 

“It looks like it’s all baked. Should I take it out?”

 

Catherine, who was waiting next to her with a stick, rolled the sweet potatoes out of the bonfire and took them out.

 

“David! Peel this for me!”

 

“One gold for every peel. Or I won’t do it” 

 

“The Marquess wants to eat it.”

 

“What? You, you should talk about that first! Hmm.” 

 

David, who was lying casually on the dirt floor reading a book, made an angry voice and jumped up from his seat.

 

He carefully peeled off the skin of the roasted sweet potato using wind magic and placed the roasted sweet potato, revealing its ripe yellow flesh, in Raenel’s hand. 

 

“Eat it, Marquess. The lower part has been cooled, so you can hold it as it is.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

“you’re welcome. Would you like one more?” 

 

“One is enough.”

 

Raenel held the roasted sweet potato with both hands and began to eat it little by little, blowing on the white steam rising from the sweet potato.

 

“Now, give me one of the peeled ones too.”

 

“Give me the gold,”  

 

With Catherine and David beside him arguing, Leonhard looked at Raenel quietly and then turned his head. 

 

Then he asked Leona with a hand signal. 

 

‘What do you mean homesick?’ 

 

Leona explained about the conversations she’d had with the other escorts in the carriage, and how Raenel had been spending a lot of time in thought lately.

 

Even if the distance was a bit far away, if the hand movements were so flashy, it would have attracted attention, but Raenel’s eyes were only fixed on the sweet potato. It was just that she was busy eating sweet potatoes, but Leonhard’s face, not knowing what was going on, soon became serious.

 

* * * 

 

“Raenel, may I come in for a moment?”

 

Just as I was getting ready to sleep on the couch made by reclining the carriage chair, Leonhard knocked on the carriage door.

 

I pulled down the blanket that had been pulled up to my chest and raised my upper body. 

 

“yes.”

 

“Then please excuse me.”

 

We always shared the same room when we slept at the village inn or in the main castle’s guest room, but Ajas’s carriage was a bit too small for Leonhard, so he always slept in the tent.

 

Even now, the chair across from me was clearly large enough for three people to sit on, but when he sat down, it felt like it was full.

 

I was looking at his broad chest and thick thighs for no reason, and then I belatedly noticed the liquor bottle and glass in his hand.

 

“What kind of alcohol is this?”

 

“I asked Robert and he said he had a few bottles, so I got one.”

 

Leonhard turned the label on the bottle toward me, as if confirming it. I checked the label by relying on the magic stone of light attached to the carriage wall. 

 

“Oh, it’s Howard wine?”

 

“They said they found a few bottles in the capital. It is said that he planned to return to the castle and sell it to the knights at a high price.”

 

“If it’s Howard wine, it’s worth paying more for it.”

 

I blurted out as if I’d made that wine. Then Leonhard smiled and lifted his bottle slightly.

 

“Would you like a drink, ma’am?” 

 

“Umm…Can I drink it?”

 

Leonhard nodded lightly as if he knew why I was wary.

 

“Didn’t I tell you that it’s okay to have up to three glasses?” 

 

“Hehe, yes. I’ll just have three glasses.”

 

I quickly lifted my glass and held it out in front of me. The wine filled into the empty glass had a strong scent of ripe grapes.

 

I inadvertently took a deep breath and came to my senses belatedly when I saw Leonhard pouring alcohol into his glass.

 

“Oh, I….”

 

“It’s already poured, ma’am. Shall we make a toast?” 

 

“Yes, I like it.”

 

I clinked my glass and tried to bring it to my mouth. 

 

‘No, let’s drink sparingly. All I can drink is three glasses. If I finish this one first, I’ll only have two left.’

 

While I was hesitating, Leonhard had already downed a glass of wine.

 

As he put down his glass on the carriage’s table, he looked puzzled as he had just noticed that I wasn’t drinking.

 

“Aren’t you drinking?”

 

“No! I’m going to drink it… but I want to drink sparingly.” 

 

Fearing that he might take it back, I took a small sip of my drink, careful not to gulp it down as was my usual habit.

 

“Ah, good.…It feels like I’m home.”

 

Did those words, spoken without much thought, stimulate something in Leonhard? He pushed the bottle toward me with a somewhat sad expression on his face.

 

“Leon?”

 

“It’s all…… for you. So don’t spare and drink as much as you want.”

 

* * *