How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

“Seeing as there is no answer, it seems like you have never thought about it. Leave now and make a plan. I will decide whether or not to keep you as Noah’s history teacher.”

 

‘Otherwise, what would be the reason for trying to kick out a decent teacher? It’s unlikely that you’re truly worried about a child she hasn’t seen in a while.’

 

“Are you going to raise the successor to be stupid and make him your puppet?…you’re a tougher woman than I thought.”

 

It was unexpected, even the worst.

 

Viscount Pierre gritted his teeth, remembering the innocently blinking face.

 

‘Other teachers will probably hear the same thing as me.’ 

 

If all the teachers were fired and all connections with their successors were cut off, that would be a big deal.

 

There is no way to stop the Marquise from brainwashing the Ajas’ successor.

 

Before that, he had to come up with a solution.

 

‘I hope it’s true that she is close with that woman. If Lady Lamberton cannot appease the Marquise. There was only one answer.’

 

Somehow, he must get that woman out of Ajas before the wedding in the castle.

 

* * * 

 

“Ah, Dr. Danvers.”

 

“Oh, Marquise.”

 

Dr. Danvers, who was coming out of Noah’s bedroom with his assistant, looked at me and bowed his head.

 

Amid the white beard that covers almost the whole of his chin along with his sideburns, his lips are drawn into a smile. It was a little easy to talk with him because of his warm-hearted appearance, like the grandfather next door.

 

I relaxed my still stiff shoulders and approached him with a relaxed mind.

 

“Are you on our way after giving Noah medicine?”

 

“yes. It’s a very bitter medicine, but he took it well. Today, I opened the candy jar and asked him to choose one for himself, but then he asked me if he could take two.” 

 

“Really?”

 

‘That kid picked two candies! This is a very happy story.’

 

As I beamed like a child, Dr. Danvers smiled as if he was seeing me as his grandchild.

 

“I still have a lot of candy left, so do you want one, Marquise?” 

 

“I’m fine. But how much longer does Noah have to take his medication?”

 

“He just needs to take it for a few more days. Because he is not sick in the first place.” 

 

I don’t know how many days he spent in that cold room, but Noah didn’t catch a cold or suffer frostbite on his hands or feet.

 

However, when I said that I wanted to let the child rest even if there was no pain, Dr. Danvers willingly went along with my plan to fake illness.

 

Only we knew that the medicine he was taking now was simply a medicine that replenishes energy and nutrition in the body. Including Noah.

 

“I caught a busy person. You’d better get back to work.”

 

“Okay, I’ll just leave now. Call me whenever you need it, marquise.”

 

“I will do it.”

 

After sending Dr. Danvers away first, I went into the bedroom alone, leaving the maids and escorts outside.

 

“Noah, it’s me. I’m going in.”

 

Noah, who was sitting in front of the table scribbling something with a quill, saw me and jumped up from his seat.

 

“Mother.”

 

I hugged the child who was coming towards me as if he was coming to meet me.

 

“Uh, mother.”

 

“What were you doing? Have you been having a good time?”

 

While I was hugging him, Noah froze as if he didn’t know what to do, and finally put his hand on my shoulder.

 

Apparently, he wasn’t used to being hugged like this every few days.

 

I reminded myself not to be impatient and sat down on the bed with Noah in my arms.

 

“I heard you ate all the medicine today without leaving any. It’s really amazing. When I was young, I often ran away because I didn’t want to take medicine.”

 

“Run away?”

 

“Helen, the butler, and my brother Alex had a hard time catching me….Although I think my brother Alex just needed an excuse to run around in the hallways.”

 

‘Is it because he is an only child? Noah loved hearing stories from me about my brothers and sister.’

 

What he especially liked was the story of me arguing with my brother.

 

‘Should I give birth to his younger brother soon?’

 

Still, I want to enjoy the newlyweds for a year or two.

 

‘We haven’t even had our first night together yet…And Leonhard isn’t even ready to be a father yet.’

 

‘Yeah, it’s not like I’m going to live here for a day or two.’ 

 

Although I said I would divorce him and take Noah with me if things didn’t work out, I really didn’t intend to do that. Because I don’t think Leonhard knew what happened to Noah and neglected it.

 

In that case, he wouldn’t have chosen someone who would be a good mother to Noah as his wife and he wouldn’t have kicked out ‘Raenel’ in the novel. 

 

‘Of course, not knowing doesn’t excuse him.’ 

 

In the letter, he said that he could not return for the time being because the spirit of the barbarians who were leading the monsters and attacking the Hiyela Gate was so fierce.

 

‘But I was fully prepared to immediately bombard him with nags when he came back.’

 

At least when it comes to Noah, Leonhard is worth getting scolded for! 

 

“hmm, mother…”

 

“Huh? What happened?”

 

‘Did I neglect Noah while I was gritting my teeth?’

 

I removed my hand from stroking his hair and looked at Noah.

 

Noah, who was playing with his hands nervously with his small fingers intertwined, looked closely at me and opened his mouth.

 

“The candy that Dr. Danvers gave me.…it’s delicious.”

 

“Oh, did you like it? Should I ask for more?” 

 

“No, I already ate one.”

 

Noah shook his head as if that was enough.

 

‘Oh my gosh, if it’s so good, he has to eat at least three! How to be satisfied with one!’

 

‘huh? But didn’t Dr Danvers say Noah got two candies?’ 

 

Noah put his hand in his pocket as if he knew my question. 

 

Then he hesitantly offered me a candy wrapped in greaseproof paper.

 

“grape…I heard you liked it.”

 

“Are you giving it to me?”

 

When I asked with wide eyes, Noah opened his mouth as if making an excuse. 

 

“Dr. Danvers said he made the candy himself. He boils it with a lot of sugar, makes it into syrup, and then pours a lot of fruit juice into it and hardens it. He said the proportions are a secret, But it was really delicious.”

 

Noah babbled non-stop as if trying to emphasize that the item he had been presented with was not shabby.

 

I accepted the candy the child offered me before the anxiety in his constantly blinking amber eyes grew any bigger. 

 

Then I immediately unwrapped the candy and put it into my mouth. 

 

My mouth filled with the sweet scent of grapes.

 

“Mmm! Yes, it’s really delicious! I should have taken it when Dr. Denver offered it to me.”

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“Yes, thank you. I’ve never had such delicious candy.”

 

The smell of sweet candy mixed with my breath as I spoke. It gave me the illusion that my voice itself was flavored with sweetness.

 

I was very happy because of that illusion, so I lightly kissed Noah on the top of his head.

 

A faint sigh escaped from the tip of his nose as he was relieved.

 

Perhaps the reason he was so nervous in my arms was because he wanted to give me this candy.

 

It must have been very difficult to reach out first. 

 

After a long thought, the child who gave me the candy was as sad as it was, so I made a long speech about how delicious the candy was.

 

“Since Noah gave me such a wonderful gift, I should return the favor, right?” 

 

“Return? No, I-I just want to—” 

 

“No. Actually, I have to say I’m sorry.” 

 

“yes?”

 

What does my mother have to be sorry about?

 

Those innocent eyes were asking me that question. Maybe it’s been so long that he forgot.

 

With the thought that it would be nice for Noah to be happy, I took out the card and put it in Noah’s hand.

 

“What kind of card is this?”

 

“You wrote me a card thanking me for giving you the shawl. It’s late, but that reply—Noah?”

 

I was so confused by the child’s unexpected reaction that my mind went blank.

 

I knew he wouldn’t be mad at me for being late, but I thought he’d be happy to receive it.

 

Noah’s face turned pale, and his eyes filled with tears. As if he’d seen a ghost.

 

“Why, why? Did I do something wrong, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so late in replying, right?”

 

It would have been easier for him to cry out loud, like most kids his age, but instead, he just sobbed silently, thick tears falling down his cheeks as if swallowing had become part of his routine.

 

Noah even seems to be used to crying like that.

 

I had almost no experience comforting a crying person, so I got up from my seat while holding Noah in a panic.

 

“Why is our Noah crying like this? Did I do something wrong? Then I’m sorry.”

 

“No, no, it’s not like that.”

 

“It’s okay, It’s okay, so speak slowly. What made Noah so upset?”

 

I walked around the bedroom holding Noah and patted his back. 

 

I don’t know if it helped, but Noah made a small whimpering noise as his hand-rolled up the hem of my dress.

 

“The shawl…”

 

“Yeah, why the shawl? Are you upset because of that shawl?” 

 

“I didn’t, I didn’t mean to, but I didn’t take care of it properly…”

 

“Did you lose it?”

 

“No, I didn’t lose it.….”

 

His voice, soaked with moisture, trembled violently as if exposed to the harsh winter cold.

 

I mumbled that it was okay and stroked the child’s head. 

 

The child’s holding the hem of my dress and his grip tightened.

 

“I broke it, I’m sorry. really sorry…”

 

“I see. Noah cried because he was upset because of that. It’s okay, I’ll fix it. I’m good at knitting.”

 

“No, you can’t fix it.…that…”

 

‘What? no. Since it is woven with wool, it can be repaired whenever possible. All I have to do is knit it with yarn. Have all the threads come off at all?’

 

I swallowed those words deep in my throat.

 

“That, that….”

 

As if it wasn’t easy to say, tears once again poured out of Noah’s eyes. I found a handkerchief in the drawer and wiped Noah’s cheek.

 

The handkerchief quickly became soaked from all the tears he had been holding back. Noah snorted and stammered.

 

“it was torn into several pieces…”

 

“Torn Into several pieces?”

 

“I didn’t do that on purpose. The shawl you gave me was so warm that I kept it carefully but…”

 

* * *