How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

“It’s not possible yet. This is only possible when his wife completes the registration process and his name is officially listed in Ajas’s genealogy.” 

 

“I see…Where are the registration documents?”

 

 “Yes?”

 

Although Leonhard claimed Noah as his successor, the child could not yet officially use the last name Ajas because the documents had not been processed.

 

“I have to process those documents first. Only then can I confidently exercise my rights as a mother.”

 

At those words, the butler blinked his eyes as if he was very surprised. 

 

“You say it’s your right as a mother,…”

 

“Before that, I want to ask you something. Why wasn’t Noah at the door the day before yesterday?”

 

“yes?”

 

“For him, it’s his first time seeing his father in a long time. Why didn’t he come out to greet his father?”

 

The butler who blinked in confusion at my question soon corrected his expression and answered me.

 

“In the first place, the marquis does not receive a separate greeting from the young master. Also, at that time, the young master was taking a class. That’s why he couldn’t make time, so please understand.”

 

“Piano lessons for a five-year-old child are probably not so important that they cannot be put off for a while.”

 

The butler’s face, which was like clean drawing paper with all his emotions erased, is once again colored with surprise.

 

He must have been surprised to learn that I knew that the class Noah was taking at that time was a piano class.

 

‘It seems like the head butler had no idea that I would play the role of Noah’s mother.’

 

The future is so bleak. I requested the butler, trying hard to hide my sighing.

 

“Once Noah’s registration documents are processed, organize his class schedule and give it to me. Along with the list of teachers teaching Noah.”

 

Oh, I almost forgot. I quickly added to the Butler.

 

“And Noah and I are going to have a leisurely dinner tonight, so if he has any classes scheduled after dinner, cancel them.”

 

* * * 

 

“Ruby!”

 

“Nyaang.”

 

“How long has it been since that?”

 

Time for a short break. Noah, who had returned to his room and was taking a breather, turned his head at the sound of rustling and smiled brightly when he found Ruby with only his head sticking out from under the blanket.

 

Noah quickly ran to the bed and hugged Ruby with the blanket. Ruby, who was suddenly attacked, cried out in protest! He cried loudly, but Noah did not pay attention and roughly stroked Ruby’s head.

 

“Have you been well in the capital? You haven’t met any scary people, right?” 

 

“Nyaang! Nyaaang!”

 

Ruby finally couldn’t resist the barrage of kisses falling on the red magic stone on her forehead and jumped out of the child’s arms.

 

Ruby spread her wings and flew up onto the bookshelf, which was out of reach of the child with his tail raised.

 

Noah realized that he had gone too far with Ruby, and he propped himself up on the bed with his arms outstretched behind his back, tilting his head to look up at Ruby.

 

‘Sorry. I did it because I was so happy to see you. It’s been a few months since we’ve seen each other.”

 

“Nyaang, nyaang!”

 

“Aren’t you hungry? I secretly brought something in this morning for you.” 

 

After becoming friendly with Ruby, the chef found out that Noah was secretly stealing a plate of grilled fish every morning, and as if to stop him from doing so, he gave him one plate of grilled fish without the thorns and seasoning.

 

The grilled fish that had not been on the table while Ruby was away from the capital began to appear again precisely on the day the Marquis and his wife returned.

 

This morning, Noah secretly brought the grilled fish and placed it by the window to prevent it from spoiling.

 

The cold wind blowing through the gap where the nail fell troubled Noah every night, but it also helped in this way.

 

“Now, eat this. Do you like salmon?”

 

“Nyang!”

 

As Noah lifted the plate high with both hands, Ruby snatched up the grilled salmon with his mouth, like an eagle snatching a lamb, and flying back onto the bookshelf.

 

Ruby turned his back on Noah and started eating the salmon flesh, wagging his tail.

 

Ruby is the only living thing that doesn’t push him away, doesn’t lie to him, and stays by his side.

 

“I hope I become an adult quickly.” 

 

“I will take Ruby with me when I go to the capital.”

 

“Yes? Why are you taking Ruby with you when you don’t know how long the trip might be?”

 

“If I leave it behind, Noah will sit next to Ruby all day. He’s a low-level monster, even if he’s tamed. What do you think will happen and leave Ruby alone with him?”

 

‘I won’t let him sit next to me all day. I’ll play with him for just one hour. I won’t do anything dangerous…’

 

Many words were floating around in Noah’s mouth, but Noah swallowed them down in his throat without being able to get a single word out of his mouth.

 

Since he couldn’t show that he overheard Leonhard’s conversation with his aide, Noah could only tell his father, who was leaving for the capital, to have a nice trip.

 

Because he was still young. What would young Noah really say in response to that?

 

‘All I could do was wait for time to pass.’

 

“You know, Ruby.…When I grow up, will you go on a trip with me?” 

 

He knew that he was indebted to his father every day for providing him with food and a place to sleep. By the time he became a self-sufficient adult, Noah could not have guessed how big that debt would become.

 

As an orphan without knowing where he came from, his life was originally destined to end up in the slums, but thanks to the pattern of Ajas, he became the successor of Ajas. How fortunate is his life?

 

However, Noah would have been happier if he had been given a warm loaf of bread. That’s not to say he was full, that’s really what Noah thought.

 

“I’m so sick of it.….”

 

Darkness mooned in his hollowed eyes. Exhaustion hid behind his eyelids.

 

“Nyaaaang!”

 

“Ah, Ruby! what are you doing?”

 

Before he knew it, Ruby had finished his snack and came down to scratch the bottom drawer of Noah’s desk with his claws.

 

These were the claws of a monster, not an ordinary cat, so no matter how sturdy the desk was made of wood, it was being broken into pieces by the claws.

 

Noah quickly lifted Ruby into his arms before the desk was further damaged. 

 

“You can’t do that, Ruby. This desk was expensive.”

 

“Nyang, nyang! Nyaaang!”

 

“What’s wrong, what’s in here?”

 

‘Maybe a mouse?’

 

Noah’s heart sank at the sudden realization and he hurriedly opened the drawer.

 

But the only thing inside was the shawl that had warmed Noah’s hands last night. A shawl was given as a gift by his stepmother.

 

Noah lifted the shawl to see if there was anything down there, but as if waiting for that moment, Ruby snatched the shawl from Noah’s hand at lightning speed and flew up onto the bookshelf.

 

“Ruby, you can’t do that, give it back”

 

“Nyaang, nyang.”

 

“No, that’s my mother— My stepmother gave it to me….” 

 

To get the shawl back, Noah hops and jumps on the bookshelf, but his outstretched hand can’t reach Ruby.

 

Meanwhile, Ruby rolled over on top of the shawl, and before he knew it, his body was wrapped around the scarf like a rope. Even then, he cried out happily.

 

“Ruby…!”

 

“Young Master, Viscount Pierre has arrived.”

 

At that time, a knock on the closed door was heard and the servant’s voice was heard from outside.

 

Noah suddenly came to his senses and took out his watch from his pocket to check the time. It was almost time for history class to begin.

 

“hah…”

 

“Young master?”

 

A knocking sound was heard once more.

 

Noah pursed his lips and looked up at Ruby on the bookshelf, then shook his head in frustration.

 

“I get it. I’ll be there soon.”

 

“Please hurry. The Viscount is waiting.”

 

The tone of voice seemed polite, but there was a hint of annoyance in the servant’s voice. However, Noah, who had become used to it, hurriedly packed a history book and a notebook. 

 

‘I’m taking an exam today…’

 

Viscount Pierre’s exam does not end if Noah gets even one question wrong.

 

Noah, who had finally found out about the fact, pondered whether he should just not answer from the beginning, and then followed the servant to the study room.

 

“What? Today’s class is canceled? What does that mean!”

 

“Not only the viscount’s class, but all of the young master’s classes scheduled after this time have been canceled. A separate messenger will be sent to the other teachers.”

 

“What! I’ve never heard anything like that. What kind of rudeness is this unilaterally!”

 

“This is the order of the Marquess. you have no right to disrespect her orders.”

 

“What, what! I cannot admit it! A woman who was not even married in the Ajas’s castle and whom His Highness did not even introduce—”

 

“Any comments beyond this will be considered as an insult to Marquess and will be dealt with.”

 

Lucious’s eyes sharpened as if asking him to say more if he was confident in taking responsibility for future events. 

 

At that, Viscount Pierre’s face turned red. 

 

“I will definitely complain to the Marquis about this!”

 

“The Marquess himself entrusted the matriarch’s ring to his wife, so there was no need to complain to—Oh, he’s gone.”

 

Lucius clicked his tongue as he watched Viscount Pierre move away as if he were running away.

 

Then, as if already aware of his presence, he turned to Noah, who had stopped in the middle of the hallway and was watching him.

 

“Are you here, young master?”

 

“What do you mean? The class was canceled?”

 

“Marquess invited you to dinner today. She wanted you and her to meet and greet each other face to face.”

 

“Ahh…”

 

Dinner. Invitation. Greeting.

 

As the words swirled around in his head, Noah unconsciously tightened his fists.

 

“We have no other invited guests, so there’s no need to be formal, but…I would suggest you to change your clothes.”

 

“Yes, butler.”

 

“Go and comb young Master’s hair and change his clothes for dinner. ”

 

Lucious took out a pocket watch from his inside chest pocket and checked the time. He soon wrinkled the bridge of his nose.

 

“There’s one hour left. Hurry up.” 

 

“Yes, butler. I will take you, young master.” 

 

“Ah, yes, yes.”

 

And so, an hour later.

 

Noah, who entered the dining room nervous as if his heart was going to explode, finally reached the moment he wanted to put off.

 

The moment he met his stepmother.

 

“I’m sorry I’m late in greeting you. My name is Noah.”

 

His heart pounded in his chest.

 

Noah, who swallowed his dry saliva helplessly due to his nervousness, slightly lifted his bowed head to see his stepmother at the head of the table.

 * * *