How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

“Is there a special reason for the large number?”

 

“All weapons supplied to the Hiyela Gate are made here. The smithy at the Hiella Gate is solely for repairs, but many of the pickaxes and shovels, tracks and minecars used in the mines are also made here.” 

 

According to his explanation, carpenters and tanners also make more arrows and armor.

 

However, it is fortunate that the production of kitchen knives, cooking utensils, furniture, toys, shoes and aprons has also increased in recent years.

 

“Anyway, there are definitely a lot of people.…I see a lot of outsiders. Are they here to place orders?”

 

“yes. Because their skills are so good, many people come here and ask them to make weapons. If you, Marquise, have any requests for work, please let me know. I can recommend a good place.”

 

As the guide said, I looked around. 

 

The boulevard was wide enough for two carriages to run side by side, with a row of shops in the center.

 

The lines were so dizzying that there was barely room for a single carriage on the boulevard. I thought to myself, ‘Why was there no fighting among the people?’ and pulled the hood over my head.

 

Even if it were like this, my identity wouldn’t be hidden because of the escorts following me one after another.

 

“I want to meet a magic tool technician.”

 

“Are you talking about a magic tool technician? There are quite a few magic tool technicians here. it would be easier to direct you if you could tell me what you’re looking for.’

 

I nodded as he asked me if I was looking to buy, sell, repair, or commission a specific item to be made.

 

 “I would like to request the production of a rod.”

 

“hmm…For rod production, I recommend Old Man Mallet. He’s been making rods on this street for fifty years now, and according to rumors, he made over a thousand sticks.”

 

“A thousand rods?”

 

“He’s a bit of a temperamental man, but he has such delicate skills that he is said to be trustworthy. The only downside is that he’s so picky that he doesn’t accept any requests.…”

 

The guide, who trailed off while looking at me, soon shook his head. 

 

“Oh, there was no way he would refuse the Marquise’s request. I will take you there.”

 

“Well, I think so too.”

 

The guide looked slightly embarrassed as I nodded as if it was obvious, but I wasn’t really worried.

 

If he was such a dedicated craftsman, there was no way he would refuse my request. It’s not because I’m a marquise.

 

“All…multi-attribute magic stones? Is this really a multi-attribute magic stone?” 

 

“I heard you made over a thousand rods. Was that rumor just a rumor? How can a rod maker not recognize magic stones?”

 

“I just can’t believe it. Oh my god, there are two of them of this size.…”

 

Old Man Mallett looked at the two multi-attribute magic stones I gave him over and over again, frowning with a magnifying glass over one eye.

 

The multi-attribute magic stone shining colorfully in rainbow colors under bright light was certainly pretty to my eyes.

 

‘I have to keep the remaining one.’

 

It’s a waste to place it neatly in a display case, but the person who gave it to me as a gift said so.

 

Besides, I’m going to turn two of the three into rods, so it wasn’t a waste. 

 

“What do you think, can you turn them into rods?”

 

“Of course! If it’s this size…Considering efficiency, I can make three rods per magic stone, a total of six rods. “Do you want me to do that?”

 

“Six? You can make that many?”

 

I didn’t need that many. I only needed three in the first place, so I got one magic stone back.

 

“How long will it take?”

 

“Two months…No, it only takes one month.”

 

In the process of turning the first two months mentioned into one month, Old Man Mallett’s eyes sparkled like flames with desire and greed.

 

With that level of passion, I thought leaving it alone would produce better results, so I nodded yes.

 

“Here’s the down payment, and you can come to the castle when it’s finished and pick it up in person. Oh, and I’d like you to engrave the names of the would-be owners on the pillars of the rods.”

 

I took a small piece of paper from Old Man Mallett and wrote three names on it. And with that, I left the store with a light heart, leaving behind Old Man Mallett, who bowed and bowed.

 Tang! Tang! 

Because the warehouse was right next to it, the sound of a large hammer pierced my ears. 

 

I reflexively looked back and whispered to Noah, who was calmly holding my hand, and asked.

 

“Noah, is there anything you want?”

 

“Me? It’s enough for me to walk around like this with my mother.” 

 

‘Cheeks flushed with the color of apples and bright eyes that sparkle like jewels! My son is so cute!’

 

I left that Street, barely suppressing the urge to hug Noah on the side of the road. 

 

Actually, I wanted to see more places, but there were too many people, so I decided to go next time.

 

We then toured the hunting grounds and apiary outside the castle and returned to the castle by the time the dusk had settled. It was a pity we didn’t make it to the sheep ranch.

 

“Come to think of it, Noah, you don’t have a seal yet, do you?”

 

“Yes. There is no need for it yet.”

 

However, Noah could not easily take his eyes off the wax sets he had received from the apiary even as he returned to the castle in a carriage and walked through the lobby on the first floor.

 

Unlike the gifts he received from other places, including the frost flower honey, he handed them over to me without hesitation.

 

‘Well, I’m old enough to be interested in things like this.’ 

 

After thinking for a moment, I asked Noah. 

 

“Do you want to try those wax seals?”

 

“What? ah…yes. I want to try it.”

 

Noah, who answered ‘No, it’s okay’ when I asked him, is no longer here.

 

Even though he was a little hesitant, I smiled happily at the fact that the child was willing to nod his head.

 

“Then, if I write a letter later, will you put the seal on it?”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. I have a lot of letters to write soon. I think I’ll feel a little more comfortable if Noah helps me then.”

 

“Yes, I will help you!”

 

Thank you. My son is a good son.”

 

Noah looked very excited, so I decided to leave the wax set to him. 

 

‘I’m sure I can leave it to Noah because I told him not to start a fire alone.’

 

“Aren’t you more tired? You’ve been walking around all day today.” 

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes,  because I’m Ajas. They say Ajas are supposed to be strong and have great stamina.”

 

“That’s right…”

 

Suddenly, I thought of my husband, who said he didn’t know what to do with his body, and I quickly shook my face, getting hot in an instant.

 

‘What are you thinking in front of Noah?’ Anyway, since he wasn’t tired, I didn’t think there was any need to postpone the highlight of the day.

 

After I told him to wash up first, I stopped in front of the stairs on the third floor and patted Noah on the head.

 

“Let’s have dinner later and go to a fun place with me.” 

 

“A fun place? Where is it?”

 

I replied with a grin.

 

I could tell without looking in the mirror. The smile on my lips is very playful.

 

“A treasure room!”

 

* * *

 

[All things of value are to be placed in the treasure room, and not taken out unless there is a problem for Ajas’ finances.]

 

The sentence written at the beginning of the treasure room was said to be the words left by the first Ajas while making the treasure room.

 

‘Is it advice to stay away from luxury and pleasure and live frugally, or is it an arrangement for future generations who might experience poverty?’

 

Leonhard told me not to worry about those words and that if there was anything I wanted, I could bring it with me, but I couldn’t help but be concerned about first Ajas’s words.

 

‘Anyway, what’s inside?’ 

 

If it were a place piled high with treasures that the early Ajax would have thought were precious, wouldn’t it be so extravagant that it would sparkle even without light?

 

I thought of gold coins piled high enough to reach the ceiling, colorful jewels, sparkling swords, crowns, etc…

 

The treasure room of Ajas before me was not quite so colorful.

 

Well, that’s what you’d expect from a vault, not a treasure room. Not just gold coins, but gold bars and jewelry for the sole purpose of exchanging money are piled up there. 

 

“Then we will wait here.”

 

“Yes. It won’t take that long.” 

 

“It doesn’t matter if it takes longer!”

 

Ethan, Leona, and Sage were glancing inside the open door of the treasure room with somewhat excited eyes.

 

I promised to come back and explain what kind of treasure was inside, so I went into the treasure room with Noah.

 

The ring began to sparkle and the thick stone door slammed shut behind me.

 

I was a little scared by what had suddenly happened, but the dozens of magic stones embedded in the ceiling glowed white like fluorescent lights, as if welcoming guests, brightening the inside of the treasure room.

 

Noah looked around with amazement next to me, I felt a little relieved.

 

“Wow…. It’s really big.”

 

“Yes. And very…what can I say…”

 

It’s messy and distracting.

 

I looked around, rolling the sentiment I couldn’t bear to express in front of my child on the tip of my tongue.

 

Judging by the documents, all the items stored here were magical or valuable items with legends or long history.

 

It was magic and history, and to my untrained eye, it seemed nothing more than an old relic.

 

Unlike me, who quickly lost interest, Noah’s eyes widened and he pointed somewhere in a fussy voice.

 

“Oh, Mom, that one over there!” 

 

“huh?”

 

“It’s a portrait of Emperor Charles! They said there was only one piece left in the imperial palace!”

 

“What?”

 

‘A portrait of an emperor? Why is something like that in Ajas’s treasure room?’

 

But that question seemed to belong only to me. Noah, who had already let go of my hand, became very excited and looked at the large picture frame standing on the wall.

 

“Hair as black as the night sky and eyes as deep as a lake.…The cross scar on his cheek and the white pet bird on his shoulder are Emperor Karl, mother!” 

 

“Uh…Yeah, I see.”

 

would undermine my dignity as a mother to ask here if Emperor Karl was such a great man.

 

I desperately searched through my memories and tried to remember something about Emperor Karl.

 

‘Emperor Karl, Emperor Karl…I definitely remember hearing it. ah.’

 

“The person who abolished slavery…right?”

 

“Yes. He is the one who sent all of this persecuted tribe back to their hometown. Elves and dwarves hate humans and live in hiding deep in the eldwarf forests, but I heard they love Emperor Karl.”

 

“Yeah, I heard that too.”

 

‘Where? In the book.’

 

The male protagonist visits the Kingdom of Canel on a mission and encounters a group of assassins on his way back. While he was running away, he got separated from his escort and was almost in danger of death. 

 

It was the helper elf who appeared at that time and saved the male protagonist. There is one reason why the elf saved the male protagonist. This was because he was a descendant of Emperor Karl.

 

‘And the one who sent that assassin was…. the cute sub-male lead in front of me.’

 

Once again, I thought that ‘Raenel’ in the book did something really bad.

 

How did she bully such a kind and gentle child so that he grew up to be such a villain?

 

No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think the dark sub-male protagonist depicted in the book and our cute Noah are the same person.

 

“Mother?”

 

“Um, ah, let’s look at other things too. It’s dangerous, so don’t touch the weapon.…” 

 

However, Ajas was not Ajas for nothing; more than half of the items piled up in the treasure room were weapons. Many of them are magic tools.

 

‘If I think about it, Noah in the book used a lot of different types of magic tools.….’ 

 

More than once, Noah’s faithful subordinate clicked his tongue and asked the question. “

Where do you get something like this?”

 

At that time, Noah smiled and answered.

“I have a way to get them all.”

 

‘Could it be that the way to get them was referring to this treasure room?’ 

 

‘Among the magic tools used by Noah in the book…What I remember right now is the pendant that brought such a heavy downpour that it collapsed the embankment?’

 

I wanted to see if it was really here, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. 

 

Thinking that I would look for it again later if I had the chance, I held Noah’s hand and carefully walked inside the treasure room.

 * * *