How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

Because the schedule was much later than originally planned, we planned to leave Cloud Castle the next day.

 

But the Marquess of Cloud caught up with us, saying how she could send a benefactor without any thanks, and after a compromise of opinions, we agreed to attend a dinner party that required a lot of preparation. 

 

‘But it’s a dinner.… It’ll be simpler than a banquet, right?’ 

 

Well, it was wrong.

 

It was a dinner party, but the dinner was no different from a banquet, with not only our group but also the 

mercenaries who had worked hard in a dining room as large as a banquet hall. 

 

There are dozens of bottles of black beer from the whole oak barrel, sweet orange juice, and sour lemon juice. Dozens of bottles of precious honey liquor called Cloud Specialty in wine.

 

Ten whole roasted pigs were so large that two servants had to lift them together and put them on the table. Seven large stew pots of different kinds, dozens of grilled fish, and thirty baskets of bread. A variety of warm soups and cheeses, as well as precious pepper and sugar, were prepared in abundance.

 

Cooking this much food is a lot of work, but preparing several times as many cups, bowls, forks, and knives as the number of people must have been a big task.

 

I even thought that the Marquess of Cloud held a banquet under the guise of dinner.

 

‘The servants of the castle…You must have worked very hard.’ 

 

I ate it eagerly, thinking it would be polite to enjoy it considering all the hard work it had gone through.

 

Since knights and mercenaries were all there, and because a banquet, or rather a dinner party, was held, the atmosphere in the dining room was more lively than formal. I also liked that atmosphere, so I chatted happily with Leonhard and enjoyed the meal.

 

“Wow, this is delicious! This is my first time drinking honey wine. It’s really sweet. I thought it would be a little bitter because it was alcohol.”

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“yes. My drinking capacity is one bottle, but I think I can drink two bottles of this alcohol.”

 

“Two bottles… That’s a little difficult, ma’am.” 

 

“Why? Because it’s a precious drink?”

 

Suddenly, the Marquess of Cloud, whose face became red, intervened with a loud laugh.

 

“What do you mean precious? Nothing is more precious than the grace of the benefactor. If you like it, I’ll give you as much as I want. Hey, give me more honey wine!”

 

“No, Marquess. there is no need for that—”

 

“Ah, thank you. I will drink it with pleasure.”

 

“How about some food? If there’s anything you’d like to eat, just say the word. I’ll tell the chef to make it right away.” 

 

“What I have here is enough. Everything is delicious.”

 

Marquess Cloud looked at the empty plate in front of me and nodded with a happy face.

 

“Fortunately, it seems like northern food suits your taste. Marquess, try this too. It’s a traditional northern dish made with minced meat and vegetables in batter, baked and fried.”

 

“Oh oh…!”

 

The bread filled in the basket held out by Marquess Cloud looked similar to a croquette. But indeed, the taste was similar.

 

After eating something greasy, I was craving spicy stir-fried meat, and after drinking sweet honey wine, I was craving a salty smoked salmon crepe.… When my stomach was so full that I thought I couldn’t eat anymore, I was so drunk that I was in a good mood.

 

My cheeks were burning, and when I looked in the mirror, I thought my face would turn into a burning sweet potato.

 

However, the Marquess of Cloud clapped her hands when she saw me like that. 

 

“Our benefactor drinks very well! Indeed, it’s Marquess of Ajas!” 

 

“Uh, do I have to be a good drinker to be the Marquess of Ajas?”

 

“There is no need to do that. Marquess, you too, stop talking nonsense.” 

 

“What nonsense! The Marquess has already emptied five bottles of alcohol.” 

 

“No, this is not what I drank.…. Wow, Leon, when did you drink so much? You must be really full.”

 

‘If you’re going to drink that much, you should at least share a toast with me’

 

Leonhard sighed, perhaps knowing what I was thinking. It was a sigh with a hint of resignation.

 

“Yes….that’s why my wife is also full now.”

 

“Uh oh, how did you know I’m full right now?”

 

‘Did you see my belly coming out? I thought you couldn’t see it because it was covered by the tablecloth!’

 

“hahaha! Layla, It’s a pity she couldn’t attend. She would definitely get along well with Marquess Ajas.”

 

“We exchanged greetings earlier during the day. There are no serious injuries, right? I’m so glad…” 

 

“yes. She says she’s fine, but I’m sure she’s still in shock. Still, she was already determined to attend the wedding held at Ajas Castle. Maquis Ajas, what’s the wedding schedule?”

 

“I want to do it as soon as I arrive at the castle, but I think I have to go straight to the Hiyela Gate. It will probably be posted in the summer at the earliest.” 

 

“You must invite me. I will also carry the wedding present in the cart.”

 

“What gifts? Is it honey wine? I like that.”

 

“Hahaha! Of course, I’ll bring it! Here, I’ll give you another drink. Drink it up.”

 

I’m excited! I’m going to drink as much as I can here!

 

Astonishingly, that ended with the sight of the Marquess Cloud clinking her glass against mine.

 

* * * 

 

I was obviously tilting my head back and gulping down the sweet honey wine, but when I opened my eyes, I found myself on a bed.

 

Dazzling sunlight pours down beyond the light canopy, and the sound of birds chirping can be heard from afar.…

 

The dress and jewelry I had worn for a dinner hosted by the Marquess of Cloud were nowhere to be found, and only a crumpled nightgown was on my body.

 

How the hell did I get here?

 

While I was putting strength on my head to recall a memory that I couldn’t remember at all, I held my tingling stomach and made a groaning sound.

 

“I feel sick.….”

 

“You feel sick after drinking so much.”

 

“Leon?”

 

As soon as the voice was heard, Leonhard pulled back the canopy of the bed and sat down on the bed, holding a wide tray in his hand. At the same time, a sweet smell reached the tip of my nose.

 

“I brought honey mixed with warm water.…” 

 

“eww, I don’t like it. I’m sick of honey now….”

 

It’s weird. I don’t think I drank that much. Why do I feel sick of it?

 

“Yes, I’m sure you are. I’ve brought you a medicine that works well for the drunkard, please take it.”

 

“What do you mean drunkard…..”

 

Somehow, it seems like there is a bone in his words. Is that just my feeling?

 

I don’t think it’s just my feeling at all. I glance over at Leonhardt and kneel down beside him.

 

Then, I knelt down, took the cup and medicine he handed me, and swallowed it in one gulp.

 

“How much do you remember about last night?”

 

“hmm….I toasted with Marquess Cloud.…?” 

 

“How many toasts?”

 

“What do you mean, how many?”

 

“Did I toast with her a lot?”

 

“You did it five times. You don’t even listen to me telling you to stop drinking now.”

 

“I didn’t even listen to you….?” 

 

‘Why did you do that… Yesterday’s me…..’

 

“From now on, please limit yourself to three glasses of alcohol at any given event. No more than that. Never.”

 

“Three glasses? I’m the Marquess of Ajas.”

 

“After your fifth toast with the Marquess Cloud yesterday,…” 

 

At that moment, a distant light passed through Leonhard’s blue eyes. While he sighed lightly, I swallowed dry saliva as the dark shadow passed over his face for a moment.

 

“Can I tell you what you did while drunk?” 

 

I knew. This is Pandora’s box. If you open it, you will embrace all the worries in the world.

 

“Well, I don’t think you need to. I will only drink three drinks from now on. I promised.”

 

“yes…”

 

As if my rambling can not be trusted, I stuck out my pinky at him, just like the first night we were married in the capital.

 

“More than that, is the medicine effective? If your condition is bad, we will postpone our departure by a day.”

 

“It’s okay, it’s not that bad. We can leave today!”

 

In fact, I felt sick to my stomach, but I couldn’t let people say that The Marquess was sick and had to stay another day when the schedule was already delayed.

 

Uncomfortably, I forced myself to eat a bowl of soup and with the help of Sally and Scarlett, prepared to leave the castle.

 

“Marquess Ajas!

 

“who…Ah, Young Lady Cloud.”

 

“Relax, hehehe, please call me Layla. That kind of title feels too distant.”

 

‘We met for the first time yesterday, so isn’t it natural to feel a sense of distance?’

 

To say that, her kindness towards me was overflowing like water in her light purple eyes.

 

I was an adopted child with a bad scandal hanging over my head because of the second Princess. 

 

I pretended not to hear the mocking gazes and giggling whispers and pretended not to see them, but honestly, it hurt.

 

‘Is that why? Layla’s eyes made me feel brittle, like wet paper. How can I deal with such an honest and cute girl?’

 

“Is it okay for you to go out? I heard you need some more care.”

 

“No matter how unwell I am, I have to see a benefactor off. Greetings again, Marquess of Ajas. Thank you for saving my life.”

 

Layla spread the hem of her skirt wide and bowed gracefully. I nodded, accepting her greeting.

 

“Thank you for being safe. Your family, friends, and servants, I dare not compare myself to their grief, but I was worried about you as well.”

 

“What do you mean incomparable! Your concern touched me more than any other compliment that has ever pleased me; indeed, it is the best fortune of my life to have met you.”

 

Aww, what a beautiful thing to say. I managed to steady my melting face.

 

“It makes me happy to hear you say that.”

 

“In that sense, Marquess Ajas, I have one request.” 

 

“Request?”

 

“yes.”

 

Her cheerful face became serious. I waited for Layla to speak with my body tense.

 

“Please accept me as the Marquess’s maid.”

 * * *